Calvary Chapel Greeneville » Devotional

The Way of Escape

Isabel — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:27 +0000

but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13c

Temptations are enticements that are trying to get you to give into sin. All people have them and they are common to all men. To be tempted is not a sin in of itself but, to give into temptation is a sin. God has provided for us a way of escape from any and every temptation. Jesus used the word of God as His way of escape when it came to Him being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. We can use the word of God to escape temptation as well.
James 4:7- Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
When we place ourselves under the authority of God and His word we will be able to escape any temptation that comes our way. Joseph was tempted in the Old Testament book of Genesis and he literally ran out of the room, and he took the way of escape. When he was enticed by Potiphars wife he refused and he said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So his relationship with God meant more to Joseph than caving into some temptation. We will all be tempted and what we must do is look for the way of escape, and then run away from sin, and run towards God and His word.

Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel

Isabel — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:52 +0000

or if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
1 Corinthians 9:16

Paul had a real sense of his calling to preach the gospel to others. If he did not do that he considered it to be wrong and even stepping outside of the will of God. Paul did not preach because he needed money as he had mentioned that his needs had been met by the Lord. He did not preach because he was looking for the praise and the respect of men.
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Paul preached the gospel because the Lord called him to preach it and he knew that the gospel is the good news of salvation. When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he wanted their faith to be not in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God, to change a life. He came declaring the testimony of God. Paul knew that Jesus died and rose again and that He came to save that which was lost. So he went out and preached the gospel even when he was persecuted and troubled. Paul also knew that if he preached the gospel willingly there would be a reward from the Lord. The same desire Paul had for the lost is the same desire we should have as well. Jesus said, “go into all the world and preach the gospel”.

Preach the Kingdom of God

Isabel — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:42:00 +0000

But he said to them I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also
Luke 4:43a

Part of the ministry of Jesus was to come and to preach the kingdom of God. To preach is to announce good news and to bring it to the people. The good news of the kingdom of God is salvation. Jesus spoke of being saved and set free. John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He also came to forgive sins. Matthew 9:6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.
When Jesus preached the kingdom of God He was introducing a new way of life since He is the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6
So Jesus came to set people free that they might be a part of His kingdom, that they may follow Him and that they would also preach the kingdom. So His disciples went out and preached. Mark 6:12 So they went out and preached that people should repent.
Today the Lord is calling us to know Him, to follow Him and to preach His kingdom to others.

Teaching

Isabel — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:00:30 +0000

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues
Matthew 4:23

Part of the ministry of Jesus was teaching. He taught the multitudes and He taught his disciples as well as the people. He taught the things concerning the kingdom of God and He instructed the people on how to live life. He also taught as one having authority and not as the scribes. He taught in parables and He taught the sermon on the mount. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. The things that He taught, He learned from the Father and when He taught the people were astonished and wondered where He got his teaching. Jesus gave instructions to His followers and He told them in Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
So, as we are being taught by Jesus we are to also go out and teach others about Jesus.

Seasoned with Fire

Isabel — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:33 +0000

For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
Mark 9:49

The word fire is used in the bible several times and it speaks of the consuming power of God in a persons life. John the Baptist mentioned that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire. Fire was present when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples at the day of Pentecost. The Lord desires that our lives would be consumed with Him. When our lives are under the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to spread the gospel with His all consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
After the apostles were filled with power from on high they went everywhere preaching the gospel and doing the work of the Lord. They were on fire for the Lord and their influence spread rapidly. They were accused of filling Jerusalem with their doctrine. In the Old Testament we see that an angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in the flame of fire and spoke to him concerning his mission and vision for God’s people to be delivered.
The Lord desires to speak to us today and to allow us to be on fire for Him as we serve Him and do His will.

Salt life

Isabel — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:00:38 +0000

Have salt in yourselves

Mark 9:50b

Live the salt life. What did Jesus mean when he said have salt in yourselves? Salt represents flavor, seasoning and preserving. To be salty means that we must be walking with Jesus and have joy. Something that is flavorful and attractive to those who have no joy. If we as believers are going to have any impact in a flavorless world we must be living the salt life, serving Jesus and walking with Him in obedience. Every household has salt in it, it is a staple and in the same way every person needs to have Jesus in their life. Go out and share the gospel today and be flavorful in a world that is without flavor. If your life has no flavor than receive Christ by faith and you will have salt in yourself.

Dealing with doubt

Isabel — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:00:25 +0000

“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:31b

Peter had enough faith to walk on the water as he was going to meet Jesus. All was going well for him until he took his eyes off of Jesus and placed them on himself causing him to begin to sink.

Jesus rebuked him for doubting and told him he had little faith. He had enough faith to get out of the boat but, as he realized where he was at, he began to doubt. This is a common occurrence for most believers. There are times that in the believers life faith is powerful enough to move mountains and times where doubt creeps in to not believe the promises of God but also, the very God of the promises.

The reason is the same for believers today, as it was for Peter. Taking your eyes off of the Lord and placing them on self and the circumstance which you find yourself in. Doubt will not only set you back, but also bring discouragement to your heart.

So how should you deal with this? By admitting that you have taken your eyes off of the Lord and looking to the God of the promises. God is almighty, holy and powerful and He always comes through. He has given you some amazing promises of hope which are found in His word.

Hebrews 12:2a- looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is the one that went before us and therefore we can confidence in him and in his word.

Private and Personal

Isabel — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:46 +0000

but you when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your father who is in the secret place; and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:6

Jesus gave his disciples very specific instructions on prayer. He told them that they were to find a place where they could go and connect with the Heavenly Father. This was a different approach than that of the Pharisees that loved to pray in public to be seen by men. Their reward would be the vain praises of men. But, His disciples were to pray in secret and the Lord would reward them openly with Spiritual blessings.

This specific and deliberate time alone with God is critical for every believer, as it will be the place of strength and victory. God desires to connect with each one of us, therefore, we must find our secret place where we can go to pray and be with Him. Jesus would go to the garden and spend time alone with the Father and it is there that He won the battle that He faced at Calvary. This is the reason that Paul spoke of the weapons of our warfare being mighty and powerful- spiritual weapons of prayer.
Through prayer we are able to pull down strongholds and live in the victory of JESUS.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us not ignore our time alone with God!

Fishers of men

Isabel — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:00:45 +0000

and I will make you fishers of men.

Mark 1:17b

Recently I took a trip to the Bass Pro Shop in Sevierville, TN and was looking at all the different fishing gear available. They have just about anything you could possibly need to catch a wide variety of fish. From lures, to poles, to bait, and tackle, you name it they got it and then some. It is like a one stop shop for fishing.

Jesus told his disciples that if they would follow him they would become fishers of men. Several of the disciples were already fisherman but there was a twist, this Jesus said that they would become fishers of people meaning they would go out and bring people into the kingdom of God.

Just like the Bass Pro Shop has everything you need to catch the right kind of fish, Jesus said that if we follow Him we would be able to win others to Christ and bring them into the kingdom. This is known as evangelism and many Christians feel inadequate, under-prepared, they see their lack of knowledge or inexperience as insufficient for evangelism, however, we need to remember that it was Jesus that said if you follow him you will be a fisher of men.

At the Bass Pro Shop all you have to do is ask a salesperson to help you and they can guide you to the right stuff and in the same way all you have to do is ask Jesus for help and He will guide you into how to tell others about Him.

Mightier than I

Isabel — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:00:36 +0000

there comes one after me who is mightier than I.

Mark 1:7b

John the baptist is the one that introduced Jesus as the Messiah. He introduced him as the one who came to save sinners and set them free. John was humble and he had a proper estimate of his position as it related to Jesus. He saw Jesus as mightier than himself and all others. John saw Jesus as the one that would baptize with the Holy Spirit and John even felt that he was unworthy to untie the sandal strap of Jesus. John made the statement that he must decrease that Jesus might increase. John in essence pointed to Jesus as the one that is more powerful and necessary. Jesus is higher than we are and we can come to him and find what we need.

In Luke 18:27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

The Lord truly is mightier and more capable of accomplishing change in a persons life and if we see him the way John saw him we will truly be humble and dependent upon Jesus.