A Great Testimony
By Dr. Jack Graham
This week's topic: Your Testimony
As a Christian, God expects you and me to be productive. What a great example we have of this in the fourth chapter of Nehemiah. Once the plot to stop the work of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem was foiled, everybody went back to work with renewed energy.
"Half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail." - Nehemiah 4:16.
Even those who weren't actively rebuilding the walls kept armor and weapons ready in case the enemy attacked. Nobody sat around idly! First Corinthians 15:58 tell us to "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord...."
And what exactly does "abounding in the work of the Lord" mean? For one, it means we're actively looking for ways to serve God and serve others. It means we're so busy thinking about what we can do next for the Kingdom that we have little time to think about ourselves, worry, and become discouraged!
Today I want to challenge you to go out of your way to serve someone. And don't just do it to do it. Let that person know you're helping them out because your service pleases the Lord you love!
It will be a great testimony of a life that's sold out for Christ. Look for ways to serve and love others today...and every day!
Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:58v
Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation’s largest, most dynamic congregations. The author of numerous books, Dr. Graham is the founder of PowerPoint® Ministries, a radio and television broadcast ministry. For more information about Dr. Graham, log onto http://www.powerpoint.org. …
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Battle Scars That Do Not Disappear
Battle Scars That Do Not Disappear
By Cory Bradley
This week's topic: Your Testimony
Sometimes (if I can just be honest), many of us desire a gospel that is way too pretty. It seems like no one today really wants the battle scars and wounds that often come along with having victory in Christ. Many of us desire to go through life unscathed and untouched; void of any evidence that we have been in the fight.
In my journey with weight management, I endured arguably the toughestseason of my life; when I was really heavy there was so much shame because everybody could see the pain, the anxiety, the fear, and the loneliness I felt because it showed up around my waistline.
As a child, I was often alienated and picked on. Many of my peers called me sissy and gay because my mannerisms reflected the world I understood which was richly influenced by nurturing women. And since I didn’t have a man in my life I could respect and wanted to model, I emulated the women in my life and patterned my life after feminine expressions.
(Sidenote - Please know that every young man raised by single mothers doesn’t have the same experience. Single mothers, we are proud of you! Love you mommy!)
This devotional is especially for those readers out there who believe that their testimony is not as pretty, neat, or tidy as those others tend to brag about. I used to struggle and feel ostracized with that same feeling. Until I read about someone who once shared my story.
In Genesis 32:22-32v, you will find the story of Jacob and the struggle he has one night with God. A struggle and a wrestling match that ultimately left him with a testimony.
I define testimony as an indelible impression and proof that God has COME to you and God is NEAR you. A testimony is evidence that God Almighty has had His hand in and on your life, and what a heavy hand our God has!! When presses down upon our lives, God’s hand tends to break up those things we have relied upon for so long.
That’s what happened to Jacob. God touched Jacob and his human frailty and weakness was exposed. And when that experience passed, Jacob was left with a clear reminder that he had been with God.
A limp.
{Come on God, a limp that everybody can see? Aren’t you Jehovah Rophe, my healer? You’re supposed to make the symptoms disappear, not create new ones!!}
I can just imagine poor old Jacob after returning from that encounter with God. The taunts. The stares. The endless barrage of questions like, “What’s wrong with Him? Why does he “walk” like that? You know Jacob, you can go to the doctor and get that fixed?”
Perhaps today you may be struggling with the fact you’re not like everyone else, or that everywhere you go and walk, you feel the effects of a constant struggle with God.
You’re slower than everyone else.
It takes more effort for you to progress on your journey.
If so, understand that your limp serves as crucial evidence that God is near.
Like Jacob, you share a special experience with God that can always serve as a reference point of when He met you, blessed you and confirmed your identity. If you are in a struggle today, your weakness is evidence that God has come to you and He has touched you.
Do not allow others’ perception of you make you feel unworthy. We serve a Savior that had to endure a few struggles of His own. The nails in His hands and wounds in His side are evidence that He also experienced pain just as we do. But despite His scars, He overcome death, hell, and the grave.
To all those struggling as they read this devotional today, know that as long as you stay in the struggle, so will God. Embrace your testimony now.
Scripture Of The Day: "Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." - Genesis 32:28v (NIV)
Cory Bradley serves as the worship leader for New Birth Charlotte, where Bishop Terrell Murphy serves as Senior Pastor. Cory, who has worked with artists such as LaDonna Mole and William Murphy III, is an emerging worship leader and a explorer of the transformative power worship can have in every believer. For more about Cory, visit http://www.newbirthcharlotte.org.…
Subscribe to receive the SF Daily Devotional in your inbox each morning!
By Cory Bradley
This week's topic: Your Testimony
Sometimes (if I can just be honest), many of us desire a gospel that is way too pretty. It seems like no one today really wants the battle scars and wounds that often come along with having victory in Christ. Many of us desire to go through life unscathed and untouched; void of any evidence that we have been in the fight.
In my journey with weight management, I endured arguably the toughestseason of my life; when I was really heavy there was so much shame because everybody could see the pain, the anxiety, the fear, and the loneliness I felt because it showed up around my waistline.
As a child, I was often alienated and picked on. Many of my peers called me sissy and gay because my mannerisms reflected the world I understood which was richly influenced by nurturing women. And since I didn’t have a man in my life I could respect and wanted to model, I emulated the women in my life and patterned my life after feminine expressions.
(Sidenote - Please know that every young man raised by single mothers doesn’t have the same experience. Single mothers, we are proud of you! Love you mommy!)
This devotional is especially for those readers out there who believe that their testimony is not as pretty, neat, or tidy as those others tend to brag about. I used to struggle and feel ostracized with that same feeling. Until I read about someone who once shared my story.
In Genesis 32:22-32v, you will find the story of Jacob and the struggle he has one night with God. A struggle and a wrestling match that ultimately left him with a testimony.
I define testimony as an indelible impression and proof that God has COME to you and God is NEAR you. A testimony is evidence that God Almighty has had His hand in and on your life, and what a heavy hand our God has!! When presses down upon our lives, God’s hand tends to break up those things we have relied upon for so long.
That’s what happened to Jacob. God touched Jacob and his human frailty and weakness was exposed. And when that experience passed, Jacob was left with a clear reminder that he had been with God.
A limp.
{Come on God, a limp that everybody can see? Aren’t you Jehovah Rophe, my healer? You’re supposed to make the symptoms disappear, not create new ones!!}
I can just imagine poor old Jacob after returning from that encounter with God. The taunts. The stares. The endless barrage of questions like, “What’s wrong with Him? Why does he “walk” like that? You know Jacob, you can go to the doctor and get that fixed?”
Perhaps today you may be struggling with the fact you’re not like everyone else, or that everywhere you go and walk, you feel the effects of a constant struggle with God.
You’re slower than everyone else.
It takes more effort for you to progress on your journey.
If so, understand that your limp serves as crucial evidence that God is near.
Like Jacob, you share a special experience with God that can always serve as a reference point of when He met you, blessed you and confirmed your identity. If you are in a struggle today, your weakness is evidence that God has come to you and He has touched you.
Do not allow others’ perception of you make you feel unworthy. We serve a Savior that had to endure a few struggles of His own. The nails in His hands and wounds in His side are evidence that He also experienced pain just as we do. But despite His scars, He overcome death, hell, and the grave.
To all those struggling as they read this devotional today, know that as long as you stay in the struggle, so will God. Embrace your testimony now.
Scripture Of The Day: "Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." - Genesis 32:28v (NIV)
Cory Bradley serves as the worship leader for New Birth Charlotte, where Bishop Terrell Murphy serves as Senior Pastor. Cory, who has worked with artists such as LaDonna Mole and William Murphy III, is an emerging worship leader and a explorer of the transformative power worship can have in every believer. For more about Cory, visit http://www.newbirthcharlotte.org.…
Subscribe to receive the SF Daily Devotional in your inbox each morning!
God Will Use Your Test to create your Testimony!
God Will Use Your Test To Create Your Testimony!
By Pastor Paula White
This week's topic: Your Testimony
God’s purposes cannot miscarry. God will never fail; He will never falter. And He will be revealed through a remnant that will rise up – that is, in fact, already rising up – to reveal His image, His glory, and His will on earth.
But that remnant will go through things. That remnant will be tested. That remnant will experience loss, trial, shake-up, chaos, and confusion…as God brings changes to our world. That remnant will have a testimony of God’s power of transformation, salvation, and redemption.
If you are being tested today…it’s because God will be using your testimony tomorrow!
We are in a very strategic, critical time in the body of Christ. Anyone and everyone with any spiritual discernment at all can see that we are in transition – that it’s not like it used to be. We’ve are in a different place.
God is raising up a remnant out of the crevices, the darkness. If you are being tested…going through changes…experiencing a shake-up…and through it all, you are still hungrily seeking what it is He has to say – following His Word… and standing (-- or kneeling -- or laid out on the floor in prayer!) in the face of every attack of the enemy of your soul…then you are part of that remnant.
And right now He is positioning you for destiny…because He is about to have His grandest display of glory on the earth – and you are it! He has chosen you! And your test will become part of the testimony He will use so that others might see His glory… His faithfulness…His sovereignty…His grace – in your life.
God is taking us through a process where those who will rise up to the test will be purified and perfected…they will have persevered – and come forth very powerful.
God is raising up a people – His People – and they will represent His company. It is a heavenly summons…this is not the beckon or the call of a man. This is a moment in God that He chose, He observed, and He reserved. He placed and He planted you in the earth, and heaven has now summoned you: it is an upward drawing by the Holy Spirit to the top of Mount Zion. Zion is a place…and Zion is a people! And the people of Zion will remain steadfast to share the glory of God and His will -- through their wisdom… …their love…their forgiveness …their testimony.
So, as part of His remnant of Zion, begin today, to accept your test as part of walking in the destiny He has summoned you for. And no matter what these days, times or seasons look like, continue to stand firm on His Word and His promise…and you will see God use your test to create your testimony…to bring forth His purposes and His will in your life and on our earth!
Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God." - 2 Timothy 1:8v
A life coach, author, and highly sought after motivational speaker, Pastor Paula White is the host of her own television program—Paula Today, which reaches an audience of 2.3 billion people worldwide, spearheading a number of global humanitarian efforts. Her mission in life is to Transform Lives, Heal Hearts and Win Souls. Visit http://www.paulawhite.org.…
By Pastor Paula White
This week's topic: Your Testimony
God’s purposes cannot miscarry. God will never fail; He will never falter. And He will be revealed through a remnant that will rise up – that is, in fact, already rising up – to reveal His image, His glory, and His will on earth.
But that remnant will go through things. That remnant will be tested. That remnant will experience loss, trial, shake-up, chaos, and confusion…as God brings changes to our world. That remnant will have a testimony of God’s power of transformation, salvation, and redemption.
If you are being tested today…it’s because God will be using your testimony tomorrow!
We are in a very strategic, critical time in the body of Christ. Anyone and everyone with any spiritual discernment at all can see that we are in transition – that it’s not like it used to be. We’ve are in a different place.
God is raising up a remnant out of the crevices, the darkness. If you are being tested…going through changes…experiencing a shake-up…and through it all, you are still hungrily seeking what it is He has to say – following His Word… and standing (-- or kneeling -- or laid out on the floor in prayer!) in the face of every attack of the enemy of your soul…then you are part of that remnant.
And right now He is positioning you for destiny…because He is about to have His grandest display of glory on the earth – and you are it! He has chosen you! And your test will become part of the testimony He will use so that others might see His glory… His faithfulness…His sovereignty…His grace – in your life.
God is taking us through a process where those who will rise up to the test will be purified and perfected…they will have persevered – and come forth very powerful.
God is raising up a people – His People – and they will represent His company. It is a heavenly summons…this is not the beckon or the call of a man. This is a moment in God that He chose, He observed, and He reserved. He placed and He planted you in the earth, and heaven has now summoned you: it is an upward drawing by the Holy Spirit to the top of Mount Zion. Zion is a place…and Zion is a people! And the people of Zion will remain steadfast to share the glory of God and His will -- through their wisdom… …their love…their forgiveness …their testimony.
So, as part of His remnant of Zion, begin today, to accept your test as part of walking in the destiny He has summoned you for. And no matter what these days, times or seasons look like, continue to stand firm on His Word and His promise…and you will see God use your test to create your testimony…to bring forth His purposes and His will in your life and on our earth!
Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God." - 2 Timothy 1:8v
A life coach, author, and highly sought after motivational speaker, Pastor Paula White is the host of her own television program—Paula Today, which reaches an audience of 2.3 billion people worldwide, spearheading a number of global humanitarian efforts. Her mission in life is to Transform Lives, Heal Hearts and Win Souls. Visit http://www.paulawhite.org.…
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Free To Love Like Jesus
Daily Devotional
Free to Love Like Jesus
By Alan Riley
This week's topic: Sharing Your Faith
In the day in which we live, it takes a lot to shock us. We see so much sorrow, death and destruction each night on the news that after a while we become desensitized to it. Something I saw around this time two years ago shocked, sickened and saddened me. I'll never forget it. Maybe you remember seeing it too.
A 49 year old woman named Esmin Green was admitted to the emergency room of King's County Hospital Center in New York for psychiatric evaluation, and she was left in the waiting room for over 24 hours. At 5:32 am, the security camera shows her collapsing on the floor. For the next 30 minutes, Ms. Green lay on the floor convulsing, moving and at one point appearing to try to get up. Hospital workers and employees came in, looked at the woman and then left. One even appeared to be looking at the television while completely ignoring the stricken woman. She stopped moving at 6:07 am.
One hour and three minutes after she collapsed, a hospital worker came into the room and nudged Ms. Green with her foot. When she got no response, the worker waited a few minutes more and then summonded help. But it was too late. Esmin Green was dead.
How could someone collapse in a hospital's waiting room and lay there for an hour until she died? How could hospital workers and perhaps other people waiting for treatment in the waiting room ignore someone who was obviously in need of help? How could people be so uncaring and heartless toward another human being?
We later heard that six workers at King's County had been fired for their failure to help Ms. Green and for their attempts to cover it up. Obviously, they should have been. But as I thought about this story, I can't help but think that to one extent or another, you and I are in some ways as guilty of neglect as those hospital workers.
Now to be sure, if someone collapsed in the hall outside my office or in the parking deck as I was walking to my car, I would no doubt act decisively to assist them and to summon help. I am sure you would do the same. But how many times recently have I crossed paths with someone who was in great need spiritually or emotionally and I ignored them just as those hospital workers ignored Esmin Green?
Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to expose the racism and elitism of the Pharisees. He also wanted to point out their lack of compassion for those in need. You remember the story... a man is attacked, beat up, and left for dead. Several religious leaders pass by the injured man before a Samaritan - a group of people hated by the Jews - stopped to help.
In those moments when we are being really honest with ourselves and with God, we know in our hearts that left to our own devices we tend to be like the Pharisees. It is when we are being like Jesus that we reach out in love and compassion to help and to share the gospel with all we come in contact with. Our culture teaches us to withdraw from and distrust those who we don't know and those who are not like us. Jesus has set us free to love like He loves.
And He reminds us that when we touch the least of these we are touching Him. When we refuse them, we are refusing Him.
Lord, make me sensitive to the needs, the cares, the concerns, the hurts, and the spiritual condition of those that I come in contact with today!
Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:20 (NKJV)
Alan Riley is Vice President for Ministry and Media Development for 316 Networks (http://www.316Networks.com), Streaming Faith’s sister media property. He can be found blogging at http://www.alansblog.com or more often opining in 140 characters or less at http://www.Twitter.com/AlanRiley.…
Free to Love Like Jesus
By Alan Riley
This week's topic: Sharing Your Faith
In the day in which we live, it takes a lot to shock us. We see so much sorrow, death and destruction each night on the news that after a while we become desensitized to it. Something I saw around this time two years ago shocked, sickened and saddened me. I'll never forget it. Maybe you remember seeing it too.
A 49 year old woman named Esmin Green was admitted to the emergency room of King's County Hospital Center in New York for psychiatric evaluation, and she was left in the waiting room for over 24 hours. At 5:32 am, the security camera shows her collapsing on the floor. For the next 30 minutes, Ms. Green lay on the floor convulsing, moving and at one point appearing to try to get up. Hospital workers and employees came in, looked at the woman and then left. One even appeared to be looking at the television while completely ignoring the stricken woman. She stopped moving at 6:07 am.
One hour and three minutes after she collapsed, a hospital worker came into the room and nudged Ms. Green with her foot. When she got no response, the worker waited a few minutes more and then summonded help. But it was too late. Esmin Green was dead.
How could someone collapse in a hospital's waiting room and lay there for an hour until she died? How could hospital workers and perhaps other people waiting for treatment in the waiting room ignore someone who was obviously in need of help? How could people be so uncaring and heartless toward another human being?
We later heard that six workers at King's County had been fired for their failure to help Ms. Green and for their attempts to cover it up. Obviously, they should have been. But as I thought about this story, I can't help but think that to one extent or another, you and I are in some ways as guilty of neglect as those hospital workers.
Now to be sure, if someone collapsed in the hall outside my office or in the parking deck as I was walking to my car, I would no doubt act decisively to assist them and to summon help. I am sure you would do the same. But how many times recently have I crossed paths with someone who was in great need spiritually or emotionally and I ignored them just as those hospital workers ignored Esmin Green?
Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to expose the racism and elitism of the Pharisees. He also wanted to point out their lack of compassion for those in need. You remember the story... a man is attacked, beat up, and left for dead. Several religious leaders pass by the injured man before a Samaritan - a group of people hated by the Jews - stopped to help.
In those moments when we are being really honest with ourselves and with God, we know in our hearts that left to our own devices we tend to be like the Pharisees. It is when we are being like Jesus that we reach out in love and compassion to help and to share the gospel with all we come in contact with. Our culture teaches us to withdraw from and distrust those who we don't know and those who are not like us. Jesus has set us free to love like He loves.
And He reminds us that when we touch the least of these we are touching Him. When we refuse them, we are refusing Him.
Lord, make me sensitive to the needs, the cares, the concerns, the hurts, and the spiritual condition of those that I come in contact with today!
Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:20 (NKJV)
Alan Riley is Vice President for Ministry and Media Development for 316 Networks (http://www.316Networks.com), Streaming Faith’s sister media property. He can be found blogging at http://www.alansblog.com or more often opining in 140 characters or less at http://www.Twitter.com/AlanRiley.…
Sharing Your Faith
By Bishop Keith Butler
This week's topic: Sharing Your Faith
All right, which way will it be? Shall we listen to men, or shall we listen to God? That's easy. We will listen to God because His witness is greater than men's witness. God's witness or God's word says "that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us... And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (1 John 5:14-15)
Now if you don not know, that does not apply to you. Some people wonder why God is not answering their prayers. It could be that it is not a prayer of belief. It is a hope prayer. They just kind of threw something out there and hoped that something good would happen. Thank God for His mercy, however. There are times that the mercy of God will get involved in your life. The situation turned out for your good, but you could not duplicate it if you wanted to, because you don't know how it was done. It was God's mercy.
God is merciful. But He requires that we grow up in Him. There are some things we have to know. And there is a voice, the voice of the word of God, we must listen to. "If we know that he hears us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." (1 John 5:15)
Now when you know that you have asked someone for something, and you know that they have given it to you, what do you say to them? You thank. Giving thanks to God is a direct link to your faith in God. So if you are in a tough spot and you find your deliverance in the Word, then pray for that deliverance and thank the Father that you have it, you will see Him manifest Himself in your behalf.
The only thing left to do after that is to thank God. I t should not be asking God to deliver you today. Then tomorrow, ask again, then the next day ask again, because you do not see a change. It should not matter whether you see a change or not. You have confidence that God is taking care of it, and the change is bound to appear.
The word of God is a higher witness than the witness that you can see. His word is the ultimate witness. Faith in the name of Jesus, faith in His blood and faith in the word will cause the manifestation of God in your life.
Finally, the question is: Which witness will you listen to? Listen to the witness of the word of God, for it tells of His provision for you. When men say it ca not be done, God says it can. When men say you are finished, God says you can do all things through Christ. Which witness will you listen to, men or God?
Scripture Of The Day: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son." - 1 John 5:9 (KJV)
Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. For more information about Bishop Butler, visit http://www.woficc.com.
This week's topic: Sharing Your Faith
All right, which way will it be? Shall we listen to men, or shall we listen to God? That's easy. We will listen to God because His witness is greater than men's witness. God's witness or God's word says "that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us... And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (1 John 5:14-15)
Now if you don not know, that does not apply to you. Some people wonder why God is not answering their prayers. It could be that it is not a prayer of belief. It is a hope prayer. They just kind of threw something out there and hoped that something good would happen. Thank God for His mercy, however. There are times that the mercy of God will get involved in your life. The situation turned out for your good, but you could not duplicate it if you wanted to, because you don't know how it was done. It was God's mercy.
God is merciful. But He requires that we grow up in Him. There are some things we have to know. And there is a voice, the voice of the word of God, we must listen to. "If we know that he hears us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." (1 John 5:15)
Now when you know that you have asked someone for something, and you know that they have given it to you, what do you say to them? You thank. Giving thanks to God is a direct link to your faith in God. So if you are in a tough spot and you find your deliverance in the Word, then pray for that deliverance and thank the Father that you have it, you will see Him manifest Himself in your behalf.
The only thing left to do after that is to thank God. I t should not be asking God to deliver you today. Then tomorrow, ask again, then the next day ask again, because you do not see a change. It should not matter whether you see a change or not. You have confidence that God is taking care of it, and the change is bound to appear.
The word of God is a higher witness than the witness that you can see. His word is the ultimate witness. Faith in the name of Jesus, faith in His blood and faith in the word will cause the manifestation of God in your life.
Finally, the question is: Which witness will you listen to? Listen to the witness of the word of God, for it tells of His provision for you. When men say it ca not be done, God says it can. When men say you are finished, God says you can do all things through Christ. Which witness will you listen to, men or God?
Scripture Of The Day: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son." - 1 John 5:9 (KJV)
Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. For more information about Bishop Butler, visit http://www.woficc.com.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tell Them
Tell Them
By Bishop Donald Hilliard
This week's topic: Sharing Your Faith
Josh McDowell writes "An executive 'head hunter' who goes out and hires corporate executives for other firms once told me, 'When I get an executive I'm trying to hire for someone else, I like to disarm him. I offer him a drink, take my coat off, then my vest, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed."
"Then when I think I've got him relaxed I lean over, look him square in the eye and say - what's the purpose in your life?' It's amazing how top executives fall apart on that question.' Well, I was interviewing this fellow the other day, had him all disarmed with my feet up on my desk talking about football. Then I leaned over and said - what's the purpose in your life, Bob? Without blinking an eye he said 'To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.' For the first time in my career I was speechless."
There are basically five reasons why we don't share our faith more often, and not one of them will hold up when we stand before Christ:
(1) We think it's the preacher's job.
(2) We aren't sure of our salvation.
(3) We fear being rejected.
(4) We've never taken responsibility for learning how.
(5) Our love for Christ has grown cold.
But not Paul: he said, "Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him."
Can you say that?
Scripture Of The Day: "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." - 1 Corinthians 9:22 (ESV)
Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr. is the Pastor of one church in three locations in New Jersey: Cathedral International in Perth Amboy, Cathedral Assembly by the Shore in Asbury Park, and Cathedral Assembly in the Fields in Plainfield. For more on Bishop Hilliard’s ministry, visit http://www.thecathedral.org.…
By Bishop Donald Hilliard
This week's topic: Sharing Your Faith
Josh McDowell writes "An executive 'head hunter' who goes out and hires corporate executives for other firms once told me, 'When I get an executive I'm trying to hire for someone else, I like to disarm him. I offer him a drink, take my coat off, then my vest, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed."
"Then when I think I've got him relaxed I lean over, look him square in the eye and say - what's the purpose in your life?' It's amazing how top executives fall apart on that question.' Well, I was interviewing this fellow the other day, had him all disarmed with my feet up on my desk talking about football. Then I leaned over and said - what's the purpose in your life, Bob? Without blinking an eye he said 'To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.' For the first time in my career I was speechless."
There are basically five reasons why we don't share our faith more often, and not one of them will hold up when we stand before Christ:
(1) We think it's the preacher's job.
(2) We aren't sure of our salvation.
(3) We fear being rejected.
(4) We've never taken responsibility for learning how.
(5) Our love for Christ has grown cold.
But not Paul: he said, "Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him."
Can you say that?
Scripture Of The Day: "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." - 1 Corinthians 9:22 (ESV)
Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr. is the Pastor of one church in three locations in New Jersey: Cathedral International in Perth Amboy, Cathedral Assembly by the Shore in Asbury Park, and Cathedral Assembly in the Fields in Plainfield. For more on Bishop Hilliard’s ministry, visit http://www.thecathedral.org.…
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sharing Over Wine
Sharing Over Wine
By Brenda Gittens
This week's topic: Sharing Your Faith
Do you know or can you sense, when that special opportunity comes for you to share your faith with someone whose path you may cross? Not as a big planned project or performance, but just simply being available to the Lord's will and call anytime and anywhere.
Simply sharing what you know about Jesus, and what He's done for you. (2 Corinthians 4:5). The Holy Spirit working through you, giving you what to say and how to say it. It could even be done over wine!
"We don't go around preaching about ourselves; we preach Christ Jesus, the Lord."
While flying back home from Georgia, I was enjoying the plane ride. A young man seated next to me was reading and studying some papers pulled from his briefcase. While eating airline snacks, we began to engage in conversation. He asked about California, and I shared a little about it. He shared that he had to fly into San Francisco for his job, and he was to be at a winery in the Napa Valley for a meeting the next day.
He asked if I drank wine and my response was, “For communion I do.” He then responded back with a smile and began to share his memories with me of him serving communion as a child. He then asked, “Are you one of those ‘new’ Christians?” and He shared that he was not.
The Holy Spirit gave me the opportunity to share with him a little about my upbringing, and how one day I had become a born-again Christian. This was a time of me simply sharing the message in this scripture. "What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Sharing our faith with unbelievers is what we as believers have been called to do. God has given us the privilege of being His ambassadors in this world. While writing this, I couldn't help but think of the joy and delight that comes when sharing my faith. We don't have all of the answers and responses for people that we cross paths with, but we can simply share what the Holy Spirit gives us, remember to pray for them, and leave the rest to God.
To share on this plane with this stranger is something I will never forget. I don't even know that persons name, but God does!
Scripture Of The Day: "For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 (New Living Translation)
Brenda Gittens is a worship evangelist who travels throughout the California Bay Area ministering in song to churches, prisons, and various outreach events. A devoted mother and wife, Brenda is a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, located in Fairfield, CA. For more information about Brenda, log onto http://www.brendagittensministries.com.
Subscribe to receive the SF Daily Devotional in your inbox each morning!
By Brenda Gittens
This week's topic: Sharing Your Faith
Do you know or can you sense, when that special opportunity comes for you to share your faith with someone whose path you may cross? Not as a big planned project or performance, but just simply being available to the Lord's will and call anytime and anywhere.
Simply sharing what you know about Jesus, and what He's done for you. (2 Corinthians 4:5). The Holy Spirit working through you, giving you what to say and how to say it. It could even be done over wine!
"We don't go around preaching about ourselves; we preach Christ Jesus, the Lord."
While flying back home from Georgia, I was enjoying the plane ride. A young man seated next to me was reading and studying some papers pulled from his briefcase. While eating airline snacks, we began to engage in conversation. He asked about California, and I shared a little about it. He shared that he had to fly into San Francisco for his job, and he was to be at a winery in the Napa Valley for a meeting the next day.
He asked if I drank wine and my response was, “For communion I do.” He then responded back with a smile and began to share his memories with me of him serving communion as a child. He then asked, “Are you one of those ‘new’ Christians?” and He shared that he was not.
The Holy Spirit gave me the opportunity to share with him a little about my upbringing, and how one day I had become a born-again Christian. This was a time of me simply sharing the message in this scripture. "What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Sharing our faith with unbelievers is what we as believers have been called to do. God has given us the privilege of being His ambassadors in this world. While writing this, I couldn't help but think of the joy and delight that comes when sharing my faith. We don't have all of the answers and responses for people that we cross paths with, but we can simply share what the Holy Spirit gives us, remember to pray for them, and leave the rest to God.
To share on this plane with this stranger is something I will never forget. I don't even know that persons name, but God does!
Scripture Of The Day: "For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 (New Living Translation)
Brenda Gittens is a worship evangelist who travels throughout the California Bay Area ministering in song to churches, prisons, and various outreach events. A devoted mother and wife, Brenda is a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, located in Fairfield, CA. For more information about Brenda, log onto http://www.brendagittensministries.com.
Subscribe to receive the SF Daily Devotional in your inbox each morning!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
