Getting Ready · 7 hours ago by New Beginnings Church
2 Corinthians 1:8-11 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Yesterday we learned two ways to prepare for life’s difficulties: biblical thinking and balanced judgment. First Peter 1 has further instructions, which include . . .
Fixing our hope on Jesus (v. 13). No matter how hard the circumstance, life has purpose and meaning in Christ. The Savior has promised always to be with us and to keep watch as a shepherd cares for his sheep (Matt. 28:20; John 10:14). Through the Holy Spirit’s transforming power, troubled times can become opportunities to learn more about God’s faithfulness, draw on His strength, and experience personal growth.
Resisting our former lifestyle (v. 14). When troubles come, it is tempting to revert to ungodly habits or take up new ones. In these seasons of life, Satan will encourage us to pursue any path that leads away from the Lord. We need to remember that we are new creations whose lifestyles are to match our position as God’s children. That old behavior does not fit us anymore.
Making holiness our goal (v. 15). Being “holy,” or “set apart,” begins with giving up control over our life to the Holy Spirit. As we submit to Him, He will begin to express the life of Christ through us. By learning what pleases God and acting accordingly, we cooperate with His efforts to conform us to the Son’s image.
While struggles are part of everyday life, we do not have to be overcome by them. Think about a specific step you can take to start carrying out these instructions today.
-Charles Stanley
Being Ready for Rough Times · 3 days ago by New Beginnings Church
1 Peter 1:13-14 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
The apostle Peter knew that hard days lay ahead for his fellow believers. So he reminded them about their security as children of God: they were chosen by Him, born into a living hope, given spiritual protection during this life, and guaranteed eternity in heaven with their Father. Peter then gave them specific ways to prepare for the coming trials. His words, divinely inspired by the Lord, can guide us as well.
His first instruction relates to our minds: What we believe has a direct impact on our response to life’s problems. If we trust that God is looking out for us, then we will feel less threatened by hard circumstances. But if we decide we must rely on ourselves, then we are more likely to react poorly to situations beyond our control. A negative attitude—whether from anger, fear, worry, or jealousy—can make a hard time worse. Preparation for the future starts with developing biblical thinking.
A second lesson from Peter is to be “sober in spirit”—in other words, to maintain our balance in the midst of crises (v. 13). That requires resisting quick fixes to problems and refusing to embrace ungodly ideas or philosophies. Our enemy Satan is quick to offer suggestions designed to trip us up or turn us away from God’s path. With the Spirit’s help, we can learn to stand firm in a crisis and steadfastly follow the Lord.
Our culture is increasingly distancing itself from Jesus Christ and opposing His followers. Are you preparing spiritually for whatever the future holds?
-Charles Stanley
Judas · 4 days ago by New Beginnings Church
If God has called you to be a Martha, then serve! Remind the rest of us that there is evangelism in feeding the poor and there is worship in nursing the sick.
If God has called you to be a Mary, then worship! Remind the rest of us that we don’t have to be busy to be holy. Urge us with your example to put down our clipboards and megaphones and be quiet in worship.
If God has called you to be a Lazarus, then testify. Remind the rest of us that we, too, have a story to tell. We, too, have neighbors who are lost. We, too, have died and been resurrected.
Each of us has our place at the table.
Except one. There was one at Martha’s house who didn’t find his place. Though he had been near Jesus longer than any of the others, he was furthest in his faith. His name was Judas. He was a thief. When Mary poured the perfume he feigned spirituality. “The perfume could have been sold and given to the poor,” he said. But Jesus knew Judas’s heart, and Jesus defended Mary’s worship. Years later, John, too, knew Judas’s heart, and John explained that Judas was a thief (John 12:6). And all these years he had been dipping his hand in the treasury. The reason he wanted the perfume to be sold and the money put in the treasury was so that he could get his hands on it.
What a sad ending to a beautiful story. But what an appropriate ending. For in every church there are those like Martha who take time to serve. There are those like Mary who take time to worship. There are those like Lazarus who take time to testify.
And there are those like Judas who take, take, take, and never give in return. Are you a Judas? I ask the question carefully, yet honestly. Are you near Christ but far from his heart? Are you at the dinner with a sour soul? Are you always criticizing the gifts of others yet seldom, if ever, giving your own? Are you benefiting from the church while never giving to it? Do others give sacrificially while you give miserly? Are you a Judas?
Do you take, take, take, and never give? If so, you are the Judas in this story.
If you are a Martha, be strengthened. God sees your service.
If you are a Mary, be encouraged. God receives your worship.
If you are a Lazarus, be strong. God honors your conviction.
But if you are a Judas, be warned. God sees your selfishness.
-Max Lucado
Taking the Gloves Off · 6 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Luke 11:43-44 _“Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the front seats in the synagogues, and the respectful greetings in the market places. Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.”_
Have you ever been told that Jesus was always sweet and nice? That He would never say anything harsh to anyone? I had someone tell me that one day years ago. I knew that the person who said this was not too familiar with the Gospels.
To be sure, Jesus was kind and tender and gentle when it came to broken, repentant sinners. The woman caught in adultery in John 8, the prostitute in Luke 7, and Zaccheus in Luke 19 are proof positive of that fact. But when it came to unrepentant, religious phonies, Jesus was as tough as nails and spoke directly and bluntly to them.
In Luke 11, Jesus is having lunch at the home of a certain Pharisee. From the passage, it is obvious that other Pharisees, Scribes and experts in the Mosaic Law (called lawyers) are also at the luncheon. Jesus pulls no punches in His discourse with them. He denounces their white-washed tomb religion (looking good on the outside but rotten on the inside). He tells them repeatedly, “Woe to you!”
To be sure, this was not the Pharisees’ favorite sermon. This was not a feel good message… this was an insulting, scathing rebuke (Luke 11:45). After hearing Jesus say these things, they became VERY hostile to Him. Why? Because Jesus had called them on the carpet and exposed their hypocrisy. He knew their hearts were rotten – that they were walking in pride and selfishness and dishonesty and cover up – and He took the gloves off and told them so.
Why Would Jesus Do What He Did?
Why was Jesus so stern with the Pharisees and religious leaders? Why was He not sweet and wooing and tender in His rebuke? I think for two main reasons:
- As a Warning – The Pharisees were honoring God with their lips while their hearts were far away from Him. God HATES that. That makes God sick to His stomach. If you ever want to experience the anger of God (hopefully you do not), just become a religious phony and see what happens. Start living life as they did – inwardly selfish, proud, mean, rotten, and dishonest… in love with money and respect and power and prestige… while outwardly acting so holy and righteous. That kind of living brings a stern “woe to you” from God.
- As an Example – Far too often, Christians fail to stand up for the truth and call a spade a spade. In our world today, we can get so concerned about being politically correct that we dishonor God in the process. Our call from the Lord is to be faithful to Him and take a stand for Jesus Christ and His Word… even if it offends some people… even if it means we are unpopular… even if it means, as it did for the disciples, that we lose our lives as a result.
There is no telling the impact God’s people could make on this world if they got real, got honest and got right with the Lord in their own hearts… and took a strong stand for righteousness and the truth in their own community. Surely we are to speak to people in love, but we are to speak THE TRUTH in love. May we not get these two things separated from one another.
God will bless with a “well done” if we humbly and honestly walk with Him… and stand for Him amidst the onslaught of compromise and political correctness.
-Jeff Schreve
Time to Hear · 8 days ago by New Beginnings Church
John 14:21 He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.
We live in a day of 12-step programs for this, four points to success for that, and all forms of programmed means of becoming successful. Have you ever wondered how you can guarantee a greater revelation of Jesus in your life? Jesus tells us how this can be done. It is all tied to obedience. In John, He tells us the following: “Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him” (Jn. 14:21). The key here is in the last three words. He will show Himself to us because of our loving Him through our obedience. The more obedient we become, the more revelation of His presence we will feel in our life. Jeremiah tells us, “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jer. 33:3).
Many Christians wonder why they cannot hear or sense God’s presence in their life. It is because they do not seek Him with a whole heart, and they are not obedient to the things He has asked. God does not show us the next move until we are obedient to the first thing He has spoken to us. It is a progressive process. He entrusts the small things to us first, then moves us to the larger. I was like many today who are so focused on seeking the activity of God rather than seeking God Himself. Hebrews tells us that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. In the Old Testament we are told, “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 4:29).
I realized if I was going to hear God’s voice, I had to make time to seek Him and hear Him. I had to spend focused time alone reading, studying, and seeking His face only. Jesus set the model for this when He often left the crowds to be alone and seek His heavenly Father. I also had to tune my “radio” to His frequency. Static comes into that frequency when I am disobedient. My level of seeking determines the power of my “radio” to reach Him. The more I seek Him, the more I hear Him. Seek the Lord today so that you may be empowered by His presence.
-Os Hillman
A Life Worth Living · 8 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Genesis 2:7 The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Breathing. It is the very essence of life, the first action we take after leaving the safety of the womb. For most people breathing comes without thought or effort. It is not until the body is deprived of oxygen that one often gives thought to the breath. Consider these intriguing facts:
Every 24 hours you are 23,240 breaths closer to eternity.
Every 24 hours you breathe in some 20 million particles of foreign matter.
Breath provides the first action of life as well as the last.
Everything that lives has the breath of life in it.
God breathed and all life came into being. Without the breath of God we are mere particles of dust, the potential of life. With the breath of God, however, we become living beings, created in His very image.
There is a powerful mystery in the simple act of breathing. To become aware of that mystery is to come close to the essence of life and the Giver of Life, a life that is not only physical but spiritual as well. Consider the actions of Jesus during a conversation with his disciples shortly after his resurrection. “Again, Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20: 21-22).
Life and breath are bound together. However, there is a noticeable difference between people who are alive and people who are living. You know exactly what I mean. Some people go through life as if each breath brings increased burden. They live life without joy, without purpose and experience life in a shell, deadened to the experiences of each day. Then, there those who live life as if each moment were a miracle, a bubble filled with mystery just waiting to pop. Not only do they live life with anticipation, joy, and hope, they bring life to every arena they touch. The life-giving breath of God has so deeply penetrated their soul, they can’t help but bring life to others around them.
As you go into your day, consider the life that you have been given. God Almighty, the Creator of the Universe, not only gave you your physical life, He longs to breathe His breath into your life each day. Life is not meant to be endured, but to be enjoyed. In John 10:10 Jesus’ description of his purpose is very clear. He says, “The thief comes only to kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
-Leslie Snyder
When Anxiety Strikes · 10 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
If you needed a consultant, would you hire just anyone? Of course not. You’d want to be sure your advisor had experience to back up his suggestions. The apostle Paul was certainly qualified to teach on the value of contentment—he wrote from a prison cell.
In today’s passage, Paul says that prayer safeguards the believer’s heart from anxiety. Praying appropriately will result in the most effective protection, so we are wise to follow the pattern Jesus gave us. The Lord’s Prayer underscores adoration of the Father and de-emphasizes self-talk (Matt. 6:9-13). God does desire to hear our concerns (Phil. 4:6).But if problems are all that keep us on our knees, then we have missed the main point of our relationship with Him.
Why does the Lord expect us to honor Him when what we want is immediate help for our problems? Because where the mind dwells, the heart follows. Focusing on His greatness puts our needs in perspective and encourages us to rest easy. He is in charge and at work (Matt. 6:30; Rom. 8:28). Consider Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane. (Matt. 26:36-46) Even as the Lord was crying out for relief, He nevertheless submitted to the Father’s greater will (v. 39) As a result, a supernatural peace fortified Christ and enabled Him to face His executioners.
Paul offered a radical peace plan: Praise the Lord while suffering persecution; thank Him when facing trial; and pray about everything. Each prayer braces your heart against anxiety. That’s solid advice from a man who practiced what he preached.
-Charles Stanley
Sacrificing at What Cost · 14 days ago by New Beginnings Church
2 Samuel 24:24 _“I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”_
One day I was having lunch with a man who had a certain amount of notoriety in his life. After a time of getting to know each other, he said, “How can I help you?” Those words surprised me coming from a man who obviously already had many requirements on his time. My first thought was that I was impressed with the individual. My next thought was to wonder whether it was a genuine offer or just an effort to impress me with his humility and Christian piety. I have since discovered he was sincere.
This encounter reminded me that each of us must be willing to give to others without a motive to get anything in return. It is simply an act of serving others. Jesus said that we must consider others more important than ourselves. When is the last time you did something for another without a motive of getting anything in return?
When King David came to offer a sacrifice and pray for the removal of a plague on Israel, he was given the opportunity to make the sacrifice without the cost of purchasing the sacrificial animals.
But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped (2 Samuel 24:24-25).
David, understanding the principle of giving, said he could not offer anything to God that did not cost him something. Otherwise, it was not a sacrificial gift.
When is the last time you sacrificed for another that it cost you something with no expectation of getting anything in return? We can all give something to others, such as our time, our money, or our expertise. This is real Christianity that models the Spirit of Christ. The next time you meet with someone, why not consider how you might be a blessing to that person. Why not ask, “How can I help you?”
-Os Hillman
Entering God's Presence through Praise · 16 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Psalm 22:3 You are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel
What is praise? It is adoration, thanksgiving, appreciation, and worship of our Lord and Savior. Praise flows from a relationship of love and devotion from us to the Lord. Praise brings us closer to Him. It changes us and helps us grow in our faith. Praise reminds us of who God is. A life filled with praise places us in a position to receive God’s blessings.
C.S. Lewis said:
Only in acts of worship and praise can a person learn to believe in the goodness and the greatness of God. God wants us to praise Him not because He needs or craves in any sense our flattery, but because He knows that praise creates joy and thankfulness.
Praise is not something that we do for God. Nor is it something that we do in order to get God’s approval so that He will grant our desires. When we praise God, we are changed—even if our circumstances are not. While God is present everywhere, all the time, He is present in a special way when His people praise Him.
Words are the expressions of our hearts. The Bible says, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
What happens to the person who continually complains about the problems and challenges of life?
If he only focuses on those things, he will lose sight of his eternal destiny. He may become pessimistic, even depressed. We all have tiring days, minor setbacks, and unexpected expenses. As believers, we can choose to find strength by praising God, or we may sink into despair.
Regardless of our problems or difficulties, when we praise God our focus shifts. We become aware, once again, of who He is and His love for us. Why wait? Praise God now and experience His power, which is capable of handling anything you might face.
-Michael Youssef
Opening the Door to Calamity · 17 days ago by New Beginnings Church
1 Kings 13:21-25 And he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the LORD said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’” So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse. And there, men passed by and saw the corpse thrown on the road, and the lion standing by the corpse. Then they went and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
Notice that the lion did something very unnatural. The guy disobeyed, the lion killed him, but the lion didn’t go after the donkey. The donkey didn’t run away, but the lion didn’t try to kill the donkey, nor did it drag the guy off to eat him.
And to top it all off, now people start to walk by. Look, people do not walk by wild lions! But here they are: the donkey, the lion, the dead guy, and people are walking by.
What is God up to here? He is giving a snapshot, something He wants indelibly burned into their understanding: Disobedience opens the door to calamity.
If you choose to disobey God, know you have opened your life to calamity!
-Bayless Conley