Abiding TV

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.

— Romans 4:20

You may know the story of Abraham (see Genesis 12:1–7, 21:7). Basically, God promised Abraham a son, but at the time he was 100 years old, and his wife was 90, so their childbearing years were long gone!

But Abraham knew God had spoken and was determined not to focus on the natural impossibility that he and Sarah could have a child. Instead, he planted his faith in God's promise and held on to that promise by praising God. His story is so remarkable that Paul made reference to it in Romans 4:18–21.

Abraham had absolutely no reason to hope. In fact, if any situation has ever been beyond hope, it would be the possibility of two people past 90 being able to have a biological child.

Nevertheless, Abraham kept hoping; he kept believing God's promise. He did not waver in his faith or question God's promise. Instead, "he grew strong and empowered by faith" as he praised God.

The same thing will happen when you praise God. You gain more and more strength, your faith increases, and the things that are coming against you to defeat you are dissipated as you praise Him.

That's why it's important to be diligent to listen to praise and worship music. I encourage you to play it in your home and in your car; learn songs and sing them; thank God and praise Him!

Love God today: God never responds to complaining, but He does respond to praise and an attitude of gratitude.

Prayer Starter: Father, I choose to praise You today! I believe You are able to do the impossible in my life. Help me to see my circumstances with the “eye of faith.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TUESDAY
02
Matthew 6:9-15

When someone wrongs you, what is your biggest concern? Most of us would have to admit we are concerned mainly for ourselves or loved ones. We’re filled with anger or hurt, and forgiveness is the last thing on our minds. But how often do we consider that the way we respond will affect our relationship with God?

Sometimes as we say the Lord’s Prayer, we may quickly recite, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12) without giving the words much thought. But the two verses that follow this prayer remind us how serious forgiveness is. If we don’t move past our hurt and anger toward forgiveness, then God will not forgive us. For those of us who have repented of sin and by faith received Jesus Christ as our Savior, all our sins have been forgiven, based on Christ’s substitutionary payment on the cross (Col. 2:13-14). Therefore, these verses in Matthew cannot mean a loss of salvation. They instead refer to the barrier unforgiveness causes in our fellowship with God.

Holding on to grievances is a sin. If we allow that to continue, our communion with the Lord will be disrupted until we confess our attitude and forsake it. We understand what this is like when a child refuses to obey his parents. Although their love for him hasn’t diminished, there’s an unresolved conflict in their relationship.

As God’s children, we are called into intimate fellowship with Him. Let’s not be like disobedient children who remain under the Father’s discipline and therefore miss out on blessings He wants us to have.

Bible in One Year: Malachi 1-4

Philippians 3:13
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

The story of Israel and their Exodus from Egypt is a classic study of human nature and how people respond to change. Look very closely and you will find yourself!

That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assemble said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt? And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt” (Numbers 14:14).

The Exodus is a classic story of how people respond to change. The children of Israel were slaves in Egypt. They had been beaten with whips like animals. They had been abused, starved and worked beyond endurance. They were living in shacks, dressed in rags. The Egyptians had taken their male babies and drowned them in the Nile River. Do you see a need for change here? The children of Israel prayed one prayer for 400 years. “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, send us a deliverer. Set us free from Pharaoh.” There was a great need for change, and a great desire for a change. But with change comes challenge. And challenge comes the ability to overcome in Christ Jesus:

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Source:  12 Sunday Mornings—Volume 2
Today's Bible Reading

Old Testament

Isaiah 66:1-24

New Testament

Philippians 3:4-21

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalms 74:1-23

Proverbs 24:15-16

October 2, 2018
And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath. (Deuteronomy 28:13 NKJV)

There are far too many people in this world who go through life carrying a sense of rejection that began in their childhood. Negative words spoken to them in their early years, and oftentimes throughout their entire lives, have kept them down and held them back from being all God intends them to be.

Perhaps you are one of these people. Maybe you’ve been told you will never amount to anything. Maybe you were born into poverty, and you’ve been told you will always be poor. Or maybe you have been ridiculed and told you will never be loved by anyone.

But none of this is true. If you go to the Bible, you’ll find out it’s not what God has to say about you. God says He has loved you with an everlasting love. God says you are more than a conqueror in Christ. God says no weapon formed against you will prosper. God says He will supply all your need according to His riches in glory … and He says so much more.

In fact, if you will put God at the center of your life, He will turn your life around for you. If you will let Him, God will take you from being beneath and cause you to be above. He will move you from being the tail and will make you the head.

How will He do this? Through His Word. As you read your Bible, God will reveal His truths to you. And if you believe what He shows you and act on what He reveals, the Word you’ve believed and acted on will turn your life around.

Confession: I have been made the head, not the tail. I am more than a conqueror in Christ. No weapon formed against me will prosper. I live above every problem, not beneath. The Word of God is turning my life around—in Jesus’ name!

Author: Jerry Savelle

Galatians 4:6

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!

Have you ever realized that God was never known as “Father” until Jesus came to earth and revealed Him as such? In His prayer to His Father, Jesus said, “And I have declared to them Your Name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26). What name was Jesus referring to? It was the name “Father.” If there was anything close to Jesus’ heart, it was to introduce God as “Father” to us.

In the Bible, Jesus said, “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:31–32). Once, He said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).

Jesus wants you to always have this image of God in your mind—that He is your Abba, Father. Why? Because He wants you to know that there is nothing more important or too insignificant for the Father when it comes to His children.

Imagine a father playing with his five-year-old son, when he notices a splinter embedded in his little boy’s thumb. The concerned father asks, “When did you get this?”

“A few days ago,” the boy answers.

“Why didn’t you tell Daddy about it?”

“I thought you were too busy and that I shouldn’t bother you.”

If you were that father, wouldn’t it break your heart to hear your child say this to you?

A splinter in one’s thumb may be a small thing, but there is nothing too small when it concerns your child because if it affects him, it affects you too. Now, no matter how old you are today, you are still God’s child, so don’t think that your problem is too small for God. If it is important to you, it is important to your Father too. Beloved, always remember that He is your Abba, Father!

LaMar Boschman- I Was Made To Praise You (Hosanna! Music)

Reconnect, recharge, and receive The Word of God in this message Favor Produces Opportunity from Jerry Savelle at the 2013 Southwest Believers' Convention- http://www.kcm.org

Together they discuss the phases in the training up of boys; from adolescence and launching him into life outside the home, to giving his life for a noble cause, and finally, encouraging him to make a lifelong commitment to his future spouse.

Author Shauna Shanks shares how she fought for her marriage after her husband said he didn't love her and revealed his affair.

Dr. Tony Evans | Sep 19, 2018. Tearing Down Family Strongholds

The Awakening by Dr. Billye Brim

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5).

The Christian is an all-round success. There’s no question about it. It’s part of your make-up and heritage in Christ, to be ever fruitful and productive. There’s no limit to what you can achieve as a child of God, irrespective of your field or endeavour. Read again our opening scripture and see that it makes no difference the work you do or your area of specialisation or interest; as long as you’re connected to the Vine (Jesus), you’ll be a success.

In Christ, we’ve been made champions for life. You’re like a tree planted by the streams, luscious and ever-green; fruitful in and out of season. You’re a wellspring of eternal beauty of divine verities. Your life is for the glory of God; you’re fashioned to produce excellence and manifest righteousness. What you need is to keep your focus on the Word and nothing else. Meditate profusely on the Word and your success in life will be undeniable.

Remember what God said to Joshua: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest Christ is in you, and you are in Him! Everything you do should be done in, and with, excellence; exude excellence, and produce much fruits. It’s your heritage in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah! In your soul winning efforts, be effective. Whatever you’re involved in, produce abundant results, because that’s the will of God for you in Christ.

CONFESSION
I’m a fruitful branch of a fruitful Vine; I produce durable fruits. Whatever I do prospers, because the blessing of God is on me and on all I do. I make progress from glory to glory. Hallelujah.

FURTHER STUDY:
Jeremiah 17:7-8; John 15:16; Colossians 1:9-10

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Philippians 1:1-30 & Isaiah 33-34

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN