Psalm 119:96-112 What a privilege to be the container of God’s glory. However, for His glory to shine out of our lives, we have to fulfill two conditions—to hear and heed God’s word. In Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, David declares what the Word of God means to Him. He says, “You word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (v. 105).
John 17:1-26 So many in these last days are seeking God’s glory even as Moses sought to see His glory. We, however, are living in the days after the cross and God has chosen to reveal His glory to others through us. We are the body of Christ, and if we believe and heed His Word, He is glorified in us. To think that we as flesh beings can shine radiantly with God’s glory even as Moses did after his encounter with God on the mountain is amazing. In this passage Jesus makes it clear that He will not glorify us in the future, but He has already glorified those who believe in Him. Yes, there will be a day when the fullness of His glory will be revealed to the whole earth, but until that time, we have been appointed to be His glory on earth. Listen to Jesus’ words: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou has loved me” (vv. 20-23, KJV).
John 13:31-14:14 Jesus shared with His disciples that He was going away. They did not understand Him. He told them to not be troubled in their hearts because He was going to prepare a place for them.
Psalm 115:1-18 When we spent three weeks in India in 1980, we agreed with our pastor and his wife that we would not visit any of the Hindu temples. We did not want to expose ourselves to the spirits that dwelled in these temples. We knew that even though man had made the idols in these temples, demonic spirits were all around them.
Proverbs 15:4 You have heard the phrase, “Divide and conquer.” When there is division of any kind that disturbs unity, we are much more vulnerable to the enemy. The enemy does not have to use mighty weapons against us in order to divide us. Instead, he uses the mightiest member of our body, our own tongue, to divide and conquer. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. James tells us the tongue is like the rudder on a ship and the bit in a horse’s mouth; this tiny member of our body has the power to control our whole body.
Proverbs 13:17-19 We talked about faithfulness yesterday and how it is the Lord who enables us to remain faithful (full of faith). This proverb speaks of the faithful ambassador. Verse 17 says, “A faithful ambassador brings health.” We are all called to be ambassadors for Christ. We are passing through a foreign land because as believers we have a new citizenship in heaven. When we are faithful in our role as ambassadors for Christ, we will bring health to others. There are many sick souls on this earth who are wanting healing. Only the ambassador for Christ can introduce these sick souls to the great physician Jesus who can heal every sin-sick soul. He is the healing balm that is poured upon the soul.
Luke 19:1-27 One of my favorite songs I sing to children is “Zacchaeus.” It goes like this: “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. He climbed up in the sycamore tree, the Lord he wanted to see. And when the Lord came passing by He looked up in the tree and said, ‘Zacchaeus, you come down. For I’m going to your house today. I’m going to your house today.'” This passage tells us that Zacchaeus made haste and came down from the tree and received Jesus joyfully. Jesus was on His way to have lunch with Zacchaeus, and those around began to complain because He was going to the home of a sinner. Jesus says, “This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (vv. 9-10, KJV).
Luke 18:18-43 Salvation is a gift from God. We cannot earn it, and we do not deserve it. Everyone needs to know about this priceless gift, which includes forgiveness of sins and love that lead us into wholeness in this life. The question is, “Who then can be saved?” Anyone who comes to Jesus because the Father has drawn him can be saved.
Luke 16:19-17:10 I had a frightening dream one night, and it changed my life. In the dream I saw masses of blindfolded people walking off a cliff into a fiery ravine. Then I saw Jesus standing close by. I cried out, “Jesus, stop them, stop them!! They are perishing.” Then I heard Jesus say, “I cannot stop them. I am in My resurrected form in heaven, but you as the church are My body on earth. On earth My spirit indwells you and desires to use the vessel of your body to do My will. You are My hands, eyes, mouth and feet on earth, and for the Holy Spirit to do His work, you must submit your body to be used by Him. Unless you use your own voice to warn these people, they will all perish.”
Christianity is growing rapidly in the world’s largest Hindu nation. Charisma looks at how the Holy Spirit is changing lives in India. A few years ago on a hot, humid evening in Warangal, a city in southern India, about 8,000 locals gathered in a giant sports field while what seemed like 100,000 insects buzzed in …
How Revival is Transforming the Largest Hindu Nation Read More »
In Venezuela, Pentecostal pastor Samuel Olson is defending biblical faith in an increasingly socialistic society. President Hugo Chavez has been good for the evangelical church in Venezuela, say some Christians in this South American nation. According to the theory, since Chavez assumed power in 1999 the ensuing economic uncertainty, spiraling crime rates and political turmoil …
We all want the genuine manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power. But we must be careful not to allow counterfeits. Almost as soon as I heard about the revival manifestations occurring in Lakeland, Fla., people began asking me questions. “What is it all about?” “Is this really revival?” Rather than answering these questions directly, I …
We need to tell Muslims: “We confess that [we] have sinned against you.”
While the church is growing at a record rate in Africa and Asia, churches are stagnating in the United States. We look at why America isn’t experiencing revival. Revival is not when the top blows off but rather when the bottom falls out.” Those words were spoken to me several years ago when I asked …
Why Isn’t the American Church Experiencing revival? Read More »
Terrorists in Iraq who behead foreigners follow an example set by Muhammad.
