Monday
Having An Overcoming Testimony
Read Revelation 12:10-11, Hebrews 11, James 5:10-11
When we read Hebrews 11 or anywhere in the Word of God where we are reminded of what others have gone through and how they exercised their faith, we should be very encouraged and emboldened to live for God. We are told to consider the sufferings of Job and the prophets in James 5:10-11. The Word of God feeds our soul and strengthens us. Our history is our testimony of those who stood for God’s Word and “loved not their lives unto the death.” I believe our history is sadly underestimated. We are saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and His Word guides and uphold us.
A believer knows he is saved, sins forgiven, through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. Period. No sin, no iniquity, no depravity, no transgression is greater than that shed blood of Jesus Christ. Having an overcoming testimony is the call of faith set to work. It is the call every genuine Christian aspires to and strives for. Yet, many times, Christians, in their weakness, yield to the world, the flesh and satan the devil. How can Christians who have lost their spiritual state of conversion and first love, regain their morality? How can gossips put a bridle on their tongues and find a pure language? How can backslidden thieves and liars and adulterers regain the purity of life ordered by Holy Scripture? It all begins with the words we speak.
Yes, it is by "the word of their testimony." the testimony of our heritage helps us overcome satan and his lies. Every time we share our testimony we are reminding ourselves of the work God has done in our lives.
Tuesday
The Secret Of Overcoming
Read 1Peter5:8-9, Ephesians 6:13-18
These days that we are living in are both great and horrible at the same time. Never in history have we had such a great explosion of wisdom and understanding. On the other hand, never in history have we had the enemy of hell trying his hardest to persuade God's people with his temptations and diverse tricks to keep our eyes off the Lord. We know that the devil is always hard at work and constantly trying to lure us away from a closer and more intimate relationship with the Lord.
To be an overcomer we have to keep our focus on God and His Word, when we study His Word we can we can experience God, not just obtain information. We must apply what we have learned through the study of his word and the experiences that we have with Him to our lives. We cannot just do whatever we want when difficult decisions or circumstances arise in our lives, we must remain strong in faith and seek His guidance and ask Jesus what he would have us do. As long as we keep our focus on God, satan cannot get to us. Remember when Peter walked on water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus he walked, the moment his focus changed he begin to sink. The secret Is keeping your eyes on Jesus.
Wednesday
The Truth Of Heaven
Read Ephesians 2:4-7; Revelation 4&5
What images come to mind when you think of Heaven? Do you think of a mode of life that is exciting and fulfilling? Or do the words of the epitaph of one dear soul come nearer to hitting the mark? Does Heaven awaken for you a sense of anticipation, or does it evoke visions of monotonous and boring inactivity? What is Heaven really like? Is Heaven even something we should spend much time thinking about? Or should we relegate thoughts of Heaven to the dusty corners of our mind, lest we render ourselves of little earthly good?
We know first of all that Heaven is the spiritual realm in which the glory of God's presence is manifest, and in which dwell the angels of God, and all believers who have departed this world. The few glimpses of Heaven given in Scripture reveal a pervading sense of the holiness of God. We are also informed that it is a place which human words are inadequate to fully describe. Many times people want to tell us that heaven is a place we will obtain when we die, but the fact of the matter is salvation, power, the Kingdom of God, and the authority of Christ are a present reality. Salvation is now, faith is now, God is the “I Am” not the I was. Our problem is we are so busy looking back at our past or looking for what will happen , but the fact is God is now. Heaven is here now.
Thursday
Overcoming The Enemy
Read Genesis 4:6-7; John 1:29; 19:30; Romans 10:10
The Bible says that satan is the accuser of the brethren. The word accuser is defined in the dictionary like this, "To make a charge of wrongdoing against another." The devil is constantly trying to put a wedge between us and God the Father, but verse 11 says, they overcame him (The devil) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. We have power because of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross, and the testimony that we have as believers is another strength against the enemy of what God has brought us through.
Even though the enemy may stand before God and accuse us of our past sins; we have an advocate with God the Father and our advocate is Jesus Christ. He bore our sins, sicknesses and infirmities and through His death, burial and resurrection, we have a hope that is everlasting and no devil in hell can ever steal that from those who have made Jesus the Lord of their life.
Remember that there is power in the name of Jesus and the blood that He shed for All mankind. Just as the death spirit skipped over every house that was covered by the blood of a lamb in the Old Testament story of Moses, so it is with those who have been cleansed and
redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The next time the enemy comes to you accusing you of your sins, you need to open your mouth and say "The blood of Jesus has cleansed me from all unrighteousness and in Jesus name I rebuke you satan and bind every evil influence that you try to bring into my life." Testify what God has done for you!
Friday
Giving Your Life For Him
Read Matthew 16:24-25; 22:37-40
His ministry was public, in your face and bold, he calls his disciples to follow this example. No wonder Peter was taken back at the idea of Jesus being crucified! The cross was public and humiliating, not the place for a king or a ruler, a place for a criminal, a thief - or the son of God, doing what was needed to set us free. Disciples are called to follow, not a one off prayer but a life of following, taking up the cross and relying on Christ - live dangerously, walk on the edge where Jesus calls you to be. Jesus was visible, vulnerable and effective - he calls us to be the same. Now something even more radical in our world of self centeredness, striving to win ...
Imaging throwing a race or competition - madness most would think. Jesus tells us to throw the race of life to gain life eternal. He canceled the debt we owe to God and made a public train wreck of the devil and all of his works. He gave up his life to win life for us, follow me he says, let go of your security in the world, live your life dangerously for me. Jesus calls us to daily die, over and again that we might win - sounds crazy, weird and impossible and yet ... its the truth, no longer held by those things that chain us we can soar on wings like eagles for him.
We may not be brave, he can strengthen us;
We may not be gifted in our eyes, he can gift us;
We may feel powerless, he can empower us.
All it takes it to desire to live dangerously for Christ.
Weekender
Looking Back
Let’s look back on what we have learned this week and review. In reflecting it is our desire that if something that you have learned really stands out that you look at ways in which you can implement them into your situation and life that will make a difference in your life.
Why do you think sharing your faith activates faith?
Why do you think that keeping your eyes focused on Jesus helps you overcome?
When you read the word do you experience God or do you just obtain information? Explain: How do you see Heaven?
How Do you handle the accuser when he comes against you?
Do you have what it takes to live dangerously for Christ? Why or why not:
What changes can you make or need to make to live dangerously for Him?
April 26, 2011
April 18, 2011
The Daily Compass April 25-30, 2011
Monday
Carry His-Story
Read Exodus 31-35; 25:16
The ark is possibly the greatest of all the types of Christ; for it is the one type which never failed. God gives the pattern in the Old Testament of who and what He is. A testimony is any spoken or written record of what God has done. They reveal God’s nature and His ways. They create an expectation in our hearts for God's ways to be manifested in our lives. The Hebrew root word for "testimony" means to “do it again." Every record of what God has done in past genera¬tions is a promise of what He will do again in our lives, because He is the same yesterday, today and for¬ever.
Scriptures speak of the ark in a number of ways: sometimes it is described simply as the ark; but at other times qualifying words are added. Thus we read of the ark of the testimony, the Ark of the Covenant, the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, the ark of Jehovah and the ark of God. The ark of the testimony is the first qualifying phrase that the Spirit of God uses in regard to the ark. It is referred to in such a way for the first time in Ex. 25: 22 and for the last time in Jos. 4: 16 at the crossing of the Jordan. It is apparent, therefore that the description of the ark as the ark of the testimony belongs to the wilderness and to the wilderness alone. It is never referred to as the ark of the testimony when in the land. Now throughout the wilderness journey, the ark had to be carried, and in being carried it was a testimony to other nations. The people of God carried the ark of testimony with them wherever they went as a reminder of the Presence, Power and work of God.
When we declare what God has done, power is released to make that testimony happen again in the lives of those who hear it. The testimonies of God are what connect each succeeding generation of believers to His covenant promises. This is why God instruc¬ted Israel in the Law of Moses to remember the testimony on a regular basis and teach it to their children. Their entire social structure of Israel was to be built on the repetition of the testimony. When we set our hope in God we strengthen our expectation of God’s power working in the midst of our situation. When this happens our faith level rises, which actually releases the power of God to work in our situation. When we stop keeping the testimony, our faith in the miraculous power of God to work in our lives diminishes. It is vital just as the Israelites did we must carry His-Story with us.
Tuesday
Declaring What God Has Done
Read Luke 8:26-39
Say the word “evangelism” and Christians get a little uptight. It sounds intimidating and we feel unprepared. “I don’t know what to say”, “What if I am rejected?”, “What if I mess up?”. These questions reflect our uneasiness with sharing our faith. So we read another book, take another evangelism course, memorize another “canned” presentation and then fall back into to inertia.
But maybe it’s not that hard. What if? Now think about this, it is easier than you think, well it is.
Our Story, Our Testimony, what God has done in our lives in our circumstances, we can evangelize to the nations declaring the Kingdom just by sharing our story. As we look at what the scripture tells us in Luke 8:26-39, Jesus heals a man who was tormented by demons for years. Unsurprisingly, the man then wanted to go with Jesus to be with him. But Jesus had another mission for him. In the most succinct statement of what evangelism is, Jesus said to the man: “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” That just about sums it up. Our testimony is nothing more than declaring how much God has done for us. Keep it personal. Keep it real. What has Jesus done for you? What does the cross mean to you? What difference does Jesus make in your life? Not somebody else – you. So, go experience Jesus, and then declare how much God has done for you!
Wednesday
Testimonies of God
Read Daniel 6:21-23; Luke 1:26-35; Genesis 9:9-17
God wants us to experience Him! Every time you see the seasons of God change and every time you see a rainbow, you are seeing testimonies of God. When we have an encounter and experience Him He wants us to share our experiences with the world. Do you know someone who has been healed of cancer or some other type of disease or do you know someone who came back to life after they died? One of the most memorable experiences for me was the births of my three children, to have God use me as a part of the miracle of birth, to see the face of the newborn creation of God, to hold the newborn creation of God and that excitement of knowing that God use me as part of this miracle. There is no way that you can keep from sharing your excitement. That fact is that we should want to share our excitement of what god has done in our lives.
There are many heroes in the bible who were testimonies of God. They proved that nothing was too hard or too difficult for God through their testimonies. When you experience God’s love and you carry that love to the world, you become a testimony of God. We are His testimonies as we share the words and the works of Jesus to a hungry world that desperately needs Him. Like the heroes we read about in the Bible, You are a walking talking testimony!
Thursday
What’s In The Box
Read Exodus 31:18; Genesis 16:14-16; Numbers 17:8; Mark 28:18-20
The Ark of testimony was the box in Moses Tabernacle. Inside this box were the Ten Commandments written on two tablets of stone, the Pot of manna and Aaron’s budding rod. The Commandments were God’s law. The manna represented God’s provision to His children of Israel. Aaron’s budding rod represented God’s power and authority. The box and Tabernacle went with the Israelites everywhere they went.
Today we carry the box inside of us everywhere we go. We are the Tabernacle of God and we carry our experiences with God which is our testimonies no matter where we are. God’s Word and His principles are written on our hearts instead of stone tablets, and we are to share them with others. His Word living in us is fresh manna that satisfies or desires and we should share it with lost and hurting people. God has anointed us to go about our everyday lives in His authority and power. Your “box” has all you need to help you be a power house for God!
Jesus said all power and authority was given to Him and He has given it to us. We are to walk and talk in His power and authority every day.
Friday
What Is The Box
Read Proverbs 3:3; 7:23; Hebrews 8:10; Revelation 21:3
Take a plain ordinary box, that is me, nothing seemingly special, a sinner, struggling with the mundane of everyday life, seeming to go nowhere special, doing nothing remotely remarkable.
Take an extraordinary God, He picks up this plain ordinary box, ordinary has a face to face meeting with extraordinary, with one touch the ordinary becomes precious and valuable, ordinary accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, grace enters in, ordinary is transformed to a beautiful and valuable box covered over with gold, which is God’s nature, life becomes worth living, there is no limit to hopes and dreams, the impossible becomes possible, desires fulfilled and satisfied, just by the touch of our loving Father.
This box now holds the valuable things of God, the things He had shared with the Israelites; He now shares with us, His Holy Spirit, His Spirit teaches us God’s nature for our everyday walk with Him and the world around us. God’s nature changes the very core of who we are. We cannot contain the change in us and we want to share this God, who has taken ordinary and made it extraordinary with everyone we encounter. We want the world to experience EXTRAORDINARY! The box is you! Only through God does ordinary become EXTRAORDINARY!
The Weekender
Looking Back
Let’s look back on what we have learned this week and review. In reflecting it is our desire that if something that you have learned really stands out that you look at ways in which you can implement them into your situation and life that will make a difference in your life.
Declare what God has done for you:
Reflect on your testimony today, what is one thing that God is highlighting about testimony is God telling you to share with others?
What does the cross mean to you?
What difference does Jesus make in your life?
Reflect on and write down one experience with God that has been most meaningful to you:
Share how God’s power and authority has helped you in telling someone about him:
How has a face to face encounter with God transformed your life?
Carry His-Story
Read Exodus 31-35; 25:16
The ark is possibly the greatest of all the types of Christ; for it is the one type which never failed. God gives the pattern in the Old Testament of who and what He is. A testimony is any spoken or written record of what God has done. They reveal God’s nature and His ways. They create an expectation in our hearts for God's ways to be manifested in our lives. The Hebrew root word for "testimony" means to “do it again." Every record of what God has done in past genera¬tions is a promise of what He will do again in our lives, because He is the same yesterday, today and for¬ever.
Scriptures speak of the ark in a number of ways: sometimes it is described simply as the ark; but at other times qualifying words are added. Thus we read of the ark of the testimony, the Ark of the Covenant, the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, the ark of Jehovah and the ark of God. The ark of the testimony is the first qualifying phrase that the Spirit of God uses in regard to the ark. It is referred to in such a way for the first time in Ex. 25: 22 and for the last time in Jos. 4: 16 at the crossing of the Jordan. It is apparent, therefore that the description of the ark as the ark of the testimony belongs to the wilderness and to the wilderness alone. It is never referred to as the ark of the testimony when in the land. Now throughout the wilderness journey, the ark had to be carried, and in being carried it was a testimony to other nations. The people of God carried the ark of testimony with them wherever they went as a reminder of the Presence, Power and work of God.
When we declare what God has done, power is released to make that testimony happen again in the lives of those who hear it. The testimonies of God are what connect each succeeding generation of believers to His covenant promises. This is why God instruc¬ted Israel in the Law of Moses to remember the testimony on a regular basis and teach it to their children. Their entire social structure of Israel was to be built on the repetition of the testimony. When we set our hope in God we strengthen our expectation of God’s power working in the midst of our situation. When this happens our faith level rises, which actually releases the power of God to work in our situation. When we stop keeping the testimony, our faith in the miraculous power of God to work in our lives diminishes. It is vital just as the Israelites did we must carry His-Story with us.
Tuesday
Declaring What God Has Done
Read Luke 8:26-39
Say the word “evangelism” and Christians get a little uptight. It sounds intimidating and we feel unprepared. “I don’t know what to say”, “What if I am rejected?”, “What if I mess up?”. These questions reflect our uneasiness with sharing our faith. So we read another book, take another evangelism course, memorize another “canned” presentation and then fall back into to inertia.
But maybe it’s not that hard. What if? Now think about this, it is easier than you think, well it is.
Our Story, Our Testimony, what God has done in our lives in our circumstances, we can evangelize to the nations declaring the Kingdom just by sharing our story. As we look at what the scripture tells us in Luke 8:26-39, Jesus heals a man who was tormented by demons for years. Unsurprisingly, the man then wanted to go with Jesus to be with him. But Jesus had another mission for him. In the most succinct statement of what evangelism is, Jesus said to the man: “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” That just about sums it up. Our testimony is nothing more than declaring how much God has done for us. Keep it personal. Keep it real. What has Jesus done for you? What does the cross mean to you? What difference does Jesus make in your life? Not somebody else – you. So, go experience Jesus, and then declare how much God has done for you!
Wednesday
Testimonies of God
Read Daniel 6:21-23; Luke 1:26-35; Genesis 9:9-17
God wants us to experience Him! Every time you see the seasons of God change and every time you see a rainbow, you are seeing testimonies of God. When we have an encounter and experience Him He wants us to share our experiences with the world. Do you know someone who has been healed of cancer or some other type of disease or do you know someone who came back to life after they died? One of the most memorable experiences for me was the births of my three children, to have God use me as a part of the miracle of birth, to see the face of the newborn creation of God, to hold the newborn creation of God and that excitement of knowing that God use me as part of this miracle. There is no way that you can keep from sharing your excitement. That fact is that we should want to share our excitement of what god has done in our lives.
There are many heroes in the bible who were testimonies of God. They proved that nothing was too hard or too difficult for God through their testimonies. When you experience God’s love and you carry that love to the world, you become a testimony of God. We are His testimonies as we share the words and the works of Jesus to a hungry world that desperately needs Him. Like the heroes we read about in the Bible, You are a walking talking testimony!
Thursday
What’s In The Box
Read Exodus 31:18; Genesis 16:14-16; Numbers 17:8; Mark 28:18-20
The Ark of testimony was the box in Moses Tabernacle. Inside this box were the Ten Commandments written on two tablets of stone, the Pot of manna and Aaron’s budding rod. The Commandments were God’s law. The manna represented God’s provision to His children of Israel. Aaron’s budding rod represented God’s power and authority. The box and Tabernacle went with the Israelites everywhere they went.
Today we carry the box inside of us everywhere we go. We are the Tabernacle of God and we carry our experiences with God which is our testimonies no matter where we are. God’s Word and His principles are written on our hearts instead of stone tablets, and we are to share them with others. His Word living in us is fresh manna that satisfies or desires and we should share it with lost and hurting people. God has anointed us to go about our everyday lives in His authority and power. Your “box” has all you need to help you be a power house for God!
Jesus said all power and authority was given to Him and He has given it to us. We are to walk and talk in His power and authority every day.
Friday
What Is The Box
Read Proverbs 3:3; 7:23; Hebrews 8:10; Revelation 21:3
Take a plain ordinary box, that is me, nothing seemingly special, a sinner, struggling with the mundane of everyday life, seeming to go nowhere special, doing nothing remotely remarkable.
Take an extraordinary God, He picks up this plain ordinary box, ordinary has a face to face meeting with extraordinary, with one touch the ordinary becomes precious and valuable, ordinary accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, grace enters in, ordinary is transformed to a beautiful and valuable box covered over with gold, which is God’s nature, life becomes worth living, there is no limit to hopes and dreams, the impossible becomes possible, desires fulfilled and satisfied, just by the touch of our loving Father.
This box now holds the valuable things of God, the things He had shared with the Israelites; He now shares with us, His Holy Spirit, His Spirit teaches us God’s nature for our everyday walk with Him and the world around us. God’s nature changes the very core of who we are. We cannot contain the change in us and we want to share this God, who has taken ordinary and made it extraordinary with everyone we encounter. We want the world to experience EXTRAORDINARY! The box is you! Only through God does ordinary become EXTRAORDINARY!
The Weekender
Looking Back
Let’s look back on what we have learned this week and review. In reflecting it is our desire that if something that you have learned really stands out that you look at ways in which you can implement them into your situation and life that will make a difference in your life.
Declare what God has done for you:
Reflect on your testimony today, what is one thing that God is highlighting about testimony is God telling you to share with others?
What does the cross mean to you?
What difference does Jesus make in your life?
Reflect on and write down one experience with God that has been most meaningful to you:
Share how God’s power and authority has helped you in telling someone about him:
How has a face to face encounter with God transformed your life?
April 11, 2011
The Daily Compass April 11-16, 2011
Monday
Commissioned By Jesus
Read Matthew 28:16-20
The call to go into the world! Spread The Good News! Commissioned by Jesus! Some version of the great commission appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and in the Book of Acts, which is the second part of Luke-Acts. In Matthew, Jesus directs the disciples to baptize people of all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Luke, Jesus tells the disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness. In John, Jesus says the disciples will have the Holy Spirit. In Acts, Jesus promises the disciples that the Holy Spirit will inspire them. The most familiar version of the Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:18-20, "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
It is such a great honor for you and me to be witnesses of Christ in our generation. The word witness is used in the courts of law to refer to a testimony of what you exactly saw or experienced. The Apostles were faithful witnesses who greatly impacted their dispensation without the privileges, opportunities and, technologies of our time. Therefore you and I neither have cause nor reason to fail to be effective witness of Christ and impact our generation. (Romans 8:19) declares that all creation is waiting to see the manifestation of the sons of God. We are to manifest Christ in our generation, set the captives free through the message of the cross and minister to the physical needs of our community through our outreach programs.
We may not touch the whole world but we can make a difference one person at a time. Christ began with 12 disciples and his message continues to inspire and transform millions and millions of people across the globe. God richly blesses you when we join with Him and other members of the body to share the love of Christ to the hurting, sick, dying and captive! You Have Been Commissioned!
Tuesday
What Is A Disciple
Read Acts 6:1,2,7; 14:20, 22, 28; 9:10,36; 16:1
Jesus commanded His servants to "make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). But what is a "disciple"? Have you ever asked yourself what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What exactly would that involve? Typically, when people hear the word “disciple” they conjure up one of two images: (1) The image of a contemplative, almost philosophical-looking person, usually dressed in a flowing robe, walking around with his hand rubbing his chin contemplating the meaning of some “deep aspect of life”; or (2) what some would call a “religious freak,” willing to do anything, even kill for his or her master. But what does it really mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
The word disciple means one who follows a teaching-a learner. Jesus said that we must abide in His Word; I believe that this not only means to study the Word but we must be imitators and live in the Word. We cannot pass on what we do not know and live. Every believer is to be a disciple and as a disciple we will always be learning. As a believer we are to make disciples, it is not just up to the Pastor or the leaders of the local body, it is commanded of every believer in Christ Jesus. The church cannot grow and do what God has called her to do without disciples. To be a true believer in Jesus Christ you have to be a disciple.
Wednesday
There Is A Cost
Read Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 14:26-36
Is there a cost to follow Jesus? Oh yes indeed, there is. Jesus intentionally put the rich young ruler in a position in which answering the call of God would have made it would be impossible to go back to the ruler’s old life. He was asking him to sever all ties with his past and make an irrevocable decision to follow Christ. The rich young ruler, like many today, seemed to want to try out the call and see if the conditions suited his needs, then decide later whether or not to stay with Jesus. No. There is no real cost to a decision such as that. You risk nothing. Truly following Jesus means risking everything you have and everything that you are.
The cost that Jesus would have us pay to follow Him is to abandon our focus on ourselves and on earthly things. “Go, sell what you have,” He tells the young ruler, “give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” The cost of following Him and becoming like Him is to fix our gaze on heavenly things. That cost is achieved by allowing God to take away the heart we have and replace it with a new heart. A heart that beats for Him! A heart that yearns not for the things of this world, but that yearns for the same things that the Lord yearns for! It means giving up who we are in our sinfulness, and becoming new creatures that exist to serve His purposes, not our own selfish ambitions and desires.
Thursday
Being Jesus’ Disciple
Read Luke 14:25-35
Just because a person was traveling with Jesus, doesn’t mean he wanted to become one of Jesus disciples. And today, just because people attend church doesn’t mean they are following Jesus. Being a disciple assumes that a relationship with Christ exists. Luke 14 teaches us that the essence of being Christ’s disciple is a willingness to give up everything for Him. A disciple claims no rights, and makes no demand. A disciple is totally willing, totally available, totally confident and totally obedient. Jesus wants us to place him above our closest relationships. Can anything be more emotionally difficult to accept than the notion of risking the approval of your family? Even Jesus understood the opposition that can come from family members. Jesus ask; Will you let Me lead your life? Luke 14:27 - Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. The two key words are “cross” and "Me". The cross represents death. Following “ME” refers to who will be determining the direction of your life.
Being a disciple means following Jesus wholeheartedly, Serving God and others companionship and fellowship with God and each other and realizing it is not about us it is about Him and His Kingdom. We’re simply talking about dying to your own plans and giving Jesus credit for knowing how best to use you. One thing true of a person hanging on a cross -- he has made no further plans.
Friday
Always Learning, Always Developing
Read Matthew 5-7
Recently, as many of you know I recently attended a youth leader’s conference and one of the things that is burning in my heart right now is discipleship for our youth and impacting their lives so I have been thinking a lot about being a disciple and what it really means to follow Christ. For me being a disciple of Christ is to try and follow His teachings and try as best I can to live the way He lived. A true disciple follows Christ's teachings and is always learning and developing. We can never come to a place where we say that we have learned all that we can learn; we have all of the knowledge we need. I think that kind of attitude is backwards, maybe it is just me but I have not arrived yet and I know I have a lot more to learn. God is continually working in my life and through that continual working I am learning daily. I learn by what I hear God speaking to me when I read His Word, I learn through my everyday relationship and fellowship with Him. You know if we will just listen He speaks deep inside our hearts. I believe if we want to truly learn about Christ and want to follow Him closely a great place to start is by reading His Word. If you are looking for a place to start, start with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7. These chapters outline the attitudes and values we should have as Christians and it also talks about how we should relate to God and each other. These chapters have a lot of headings and a short paragraph under each section. You might like to read one section and ask God to help you put that into practice each day.
The Weekender
A true disciple is willing to follow the call, we as believers have been called. Have you answered the call? __________ If not what’s holding you back? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are questions every believer must ask themselves:
Where is your loyalty? ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Do you allow Jesus to lead your life? ______________________________________________
Do you understand the cost? ______________________________________________________
Are you willing to pay the cost? ____________________________________________________
When God calls, will you cast down your nets – as some of the disciples did – and follow Him, or will you walk away downhearted as the rich young ruler, unwilling to give all of your heart to Him so that he can give you a new one? ____________________
Who are you influencing? Give examples of being an influence for Jesus: ____________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Are you taking every effort to learn more about God? ________________________________
The challenge read Matthew chapters 5-7. Choose one section and ask God to help you put that into practice each day.
Commissioned By Jesus
Read Matthew 28:16-20
The call to go into the world! Spread The Good News! Commissioned by Jesus! Some version of the great commission appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and in the Book of Acts, which is the second part of Luke-Acts. In Matthew, Jesus directs the disciples to baptize people of all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Luke, Jesus tells the disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness. In John, Jesus says the disciples will have the Holy Spirit. In Acts, Jesus promises the disciples that the Holy Spirit will inspire them. The most familiar version of the Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:18-20, "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
It is such a great honor for you and me to be witnesses of Christ in our generation. The word witness is used in the courts of law to refer to a testimony of what you exactly saw or experienced. The Apostles were faithful witnesses who greatly impacted their dispensation without the privileges, opportunities and, technologies of our time. Therefore you and I neither have cause nor reason to fail to be effective witness of Christ and impact our generation. (Romans 8:19) declares that all creation is waiting to see the manifestation of the sons of God. We are to manifest Christ in our generation, set the captives free through the message of the cross and minister to the physical needs of our community through our outreach programs.
We may not touch the whole world but we can make a difference one person at a time. Christ began with 12 disciples and his message continues to inspire and transform millions and millions of people across the globe. God richly blesses you when we join with Him and other members of the body to share the love of Christ to the hurting, sick, dying and captive! You Have Been Commissioned!
Tuesday
What Is A Disciple
Read Acts 6:1,2,7; 14:20, 22, 28; 9:10,36; 16:1
Jesus commanded His servants to "make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). But what is a "disciple"? Have you ever asked yourself what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What exactly would that involve? Typically, when people hear the word “disciple” they conjure up one of two images: (1) The image of a contemplative, almost philosophical-looking person, usually dressed in a flowing robe, walking around with his hand rubbing his chin contemplating the meaning of some “deep aspect of life”; or (2) what some would call a “religious freak,” willing to do anything, even kill for his or her master. But what does it really mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
The word disciple means one who follows a teaching-a learner. Jesus said that we must abide in His Word; I believe that this not only means to study the Word but we must be imitators and live in the Word. We cannot pass on what we do not know and live. Every believer is to be a disciple and as a disciple we will always be learning. As a believer we are to make disciples, it is not just up to the Pastor or the leaders of the local body, it is commanded of every believer in Christ Jesus. The church cannot grow and do what God has called her to do without disciples. To be a true believer in Jesus Christ you have to be a disciple.
Wednesday
There Is A Cost
Read Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 14:26-36
Is there a cost to follow Jesus? Oh yes indeed, there is. Jesus intentionally put the rich young ruler in a position in which answering the call of God would have made it would be impossible to go back to the ruler’s old life. He was asking him to sever all ties with his past and make an irrevocable decision to follow Christ. The rich young ruler, like many today, seemed to want to try out the call and see if the conditions suited his needs, then decide later whether or not to stay with Jesus. No. There is no real cost to a decision such as that. You risk nothing. Truly following Jesus means risking everything you have and everything that you are.
The cost that Jesus would have us pay to follow Him is to abandon our focus on ourselves and on earthly things. “Go, sell what you have,” He tells the young ruler, “give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” The cost of following Him and becoming like Him is to fix our gaze on heavenly things. That cost is achieved by allowing God to take away the heart we have and replace it with a new heart. A heart that beats for Him! A heart that yearns not for the things of this world, but that yearns for the same things that the Lord yearns for! It means giving up who we are in our sinfulness, and becoming new creatures that exist to serve His purposes, not our own selfish ambitions and desires.
Thursday
Being Jesus’ Disciple
Read Luke 14:25-35
Just because a person was traveling with Jesus, doesn’t mean he wanted to become one of Jesus disciples. And today, just because people attend church doesn’t mean they are following Jesus. Being a disciple assumes that a relationship with Christ exists. Luke 14 teaches us that the essence of being Christ’s disciple is a willingness to give up everything for Him. A disciple claims no rights, and makes no demand. A disciple is totally willing, totally available, totally confident and totally obedient. Jesus wants us to place him above our closest relationships. Can anything be more emotionally difficult to accept than the notion of risking the approval of your family? Even Jesus understood the opposition that can come from family members. Jesus ask; Will you let Me lead your life? Luke 14:27 - Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. The two key words are “cross” and "Me". The cross represents death. Following “ME” refers to who will be determining the direction of your life.
Being a disciple means following Jesus wholeheartedly, Serving God and others companionship and fellowship with God and each other and realizing it is not about us it is about Him and His Kingdom. We’re simply talking about dying to your own plans and giving Jesus credit for knowing how best to use you. One thing true of a person hanging on a cross -- he has made no further plans.
Friday
Always Learning, Always Developing
Read Matthew 5-7
Recently, as many of you know I recently attended a youth leader’s conference and one of the things that is burning in my heart right now is discipleship for our youth and impacting their lives so I have been thinking a lot about being a disciple and what it really means to follow Christ. For me being a disciple of Christ is to try and follow His teachings and try as best I can to live the way He lived. A true disciple follows Christ's teachings and is always learning and developing. We can never come to a place where we say that we have learned all that we can learn; we have all of the knowledge we need. I think that kind of attitude is backwards, maybe it is just me but I have not arrived yet and I know I have a lot more to learn. God is continually working in my life and through that continual working I am learning daily. I learn by what I hear God speaking to me when I read His Word, I learn through my everyday relationship and fellowship with Him. You know if we will just listen He speaks deep inside our hearts. I believe if we want to truly learn about Christ and want to follow Him closely a great place to start is by reading His Word. If you are looking for a place to start, start with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7. These chapters outline the attitudes and values we should have as Christians and it also talks about how we should relate to God and each other. These chapters have a lot of headings and a short paragraph under each section. You might like to read one section and ask God to help you put that into practice each day.
The Weekender
A true disciple is willing to follow the call, we as believers have been called. Have you answered the call? __________ If not what’s holding you back? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are questions every believer must ask themselves:
Where is your loyalty? ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Do you allow Jesus to lead your life? ______________________________________________
Do you understand the cost? ______________________________________________________
Are you willing to pay the cost? ____________________________________________________
When God calls, will you cast down your nets – as some of the disciples did – and follow Him, or will you walk away downhearted as the rich young ruler, unwilling to give all of your heart to Him so that he can give you a new one? ____________________
Who are you influencing? Give examples of being an influence for Jesus: ____________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Are you taking every effort to learn more about God? ________________________________
The challenge read Matthew chapters 5-7. Choose one section and ask God to help you put that into practice each day.
April 2, 2011
The Daily Compass April 04-09, 2011
Monday
The Legacy Of Testimony
Read 1 John 1:1-4; Acts 1:6-8; Revelation 12:11
"And they overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Revelation 12:11).
Your testimony is about what you have experienced - what you have seen and heard. A real Christian can talk about their experiences with God through Jesus Christ. We as Christians are called to a relationship of real communication with the Son of God. God comes to live inside us. Things change. God deals with every person in a different way. The more Christians that come forward and talk about how God has intervened in their life, the more people will begin to realize that God is for real, miracles do happen, and prayer works. This will inspire others to seek God and turn from their sins so that they too can know the peace and satisfaction that comes to a person who truly gives their life over to God.
Acts 1:8 says, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." To be a witness to Jesus is to speak and communicate the things that you have seen and heard in your life, that happened because of Jesus. Its the Holy Spirit who makes Jesus real to us, and makes Jesus real through us.
God's plan is for people to hear the good news that Jesus Christ paid for their sins, and conquered death for us through rising from the dead. After believing, people should go on to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, and then testify to others what God has done for them.
Tuesday
The Power Of Testimony
Read Acts 1:8; Hebrews 10:5-7; Psalms 110:111
In court, eyewitness testimony usually seals the deal in the conviction of an accused criminal. When a traffic accident occurs, an investigating officer obtains testimony from those involved – and eyewitnesses when available – in order to reconstruct the events which led to the accident. Testimony literally means the “story, or report, of one,” or one’s own story. Testimony is powerful because it is immediate, direct and personal. It isn’t a story about something or a report about what somebody else said or did. It is a personal description of one’s direct experience. This is the key to testimony’s power. It is about a reality that is experienced. It’s not a story about something told in the third person, nor is it a theory or hypothesis.
The Christian faith, nearly 2,000 years old owes its very existence to the power of testimony. The movement started, of course, with Jesus Christ, who identified himself as the long-awaited Messiah, God’s Anointed One, sent to save mankind from its sins. In the gospels, Jesus left no doubt as to his identity as Son of God and Son of Man, co-existing for all time with the Father and Holy Spirit, yet born in flesh as one of us for a specific purpose. Jesus taught in public for three years before his death, and here’s the key to everything he said: His testimony was from the Father. Jesus said he related only that which was given him by the Father and that those who knew him knew the Father. In other words, Jesus was one with God, giving personal testimony that was literally divine. One may argue that there are all types of evidence that support the claims of the Christian faith, that the life of Jesus was a unique instance of divine intervention in human affairs. Many brilliant theologians have come along during the ensuing centuries both to defend and to define the faith. Many inspirational and anointed preachers have come along to lead others to Christ. But the greatest force in the history of Christianity is still testimony.
Wednesday
Three Sources Of Godly Testimony
Read Hebrews 10:7; 1 John 5:11; John 5: 33-36; Luke 2:19
Testimony of scripture: Jesus’ attitude toward the scriptures is manifested in many ways. The scriptures affected every aspect of Jesus. His co-existence with the Father, the testimony of the prophets foretelling His coming, His birth, His life and ministry, trial, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. No person ever had so much written about Him and required of Him as Jesus. And in minute detail, He filled full every demand and expectation required of Him by the Scriptures. He did not meet the expectations some assumed of Him, but He met every requirement demanded of Him in Scripture.
Testimony of men: All through His life, Jesus heard his mother’s testimony about Him. She had kept many things concerning Jesus in her heart. We have the testimony of John and the testimonies of those who received miracles from Jesus.
Testimony of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit always testifies about Jesus. He doesn’t speak His words, but He says what He hears God say. He is truth, so you can be sure He will always tell the truth. He was with Jesus when He hung on the cross. He was there when Jesus died. When a soldier stuck a spear in Jesus side, water and blood together spilled onto the ground. So now the Holy Spirit, the water and the blood all testify and agree about the sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary. The Holy Spirit testifies that His power brought Jesus back to life again!
Thursday
How To Write Your Testimony
Read Revelation 12:11; Acts 26
Skeptics may debate the validity of Scripture or argue the existence of God, but no one can deny your personal experiences with him. When you tell your story of how God has worked a miracle in your life, or how he has blessed you, transformed you, lifted and encouraged you, perhaps even broken and healed you, no one can argue or debate it. You go beyond the realm of knowledge into the realm of relationship with God.
These steps are designed to help you write your Christian testimony. They apply for both long and short, written and spoken testimonies. Whether you are planning to write down your full, detailed testimony or preparing a quick 2-minute version of your testimony to share on a short-term mission trip, these tips and steps will help you tell others with sincerity, impact and clarity what God has done in your life.
First and foremost - remember - there is power in your testimony! Revelation 12:11 says we overcome our enemy be the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. Read Acts 26. Here the Apostle Paul gives his testimony. There are a few things to consider before you start writing your testimony. Think about your life before you met the Lord. What was going on in your life leading up to your conversion? What problems or needs were you facing at the time? How did your life change after that?
Friday
Let’s look back on what we have learned this week and review. In reflecting it is our desire that if something that you have learned really stands out that you look at ways in which you can implement them into your situation and life that will make a difference in your life.
Have you shared you testimony? _____________ God deals with us in different ways, and when we come forward and tell our story people realize that God is for real. Do you see the importance of testimony? __________ Have you shared your testimony with someone? ______
In what ways and what places can you share your testimony? _________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Do you believe testimony is powerful? ____________List how testimony is powerful:
______________________________________________________________________________
What are three sources of Godly testimony and how can they help us in sharing our testimony?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When sharing your testimony what are three important things to share when sharing your testimony? ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Weekender
My Story
Write your testimony and share it with someone.
The Legacy Of Testimony
Read 1 John 1:1-4; Acts 1:6-8; Revelation 12:11
"And they overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Revelation 12:11).
Your testimony is about what you have experienced - what you have seen and heard. A real Christian can talk about their experiences with God through Jesus Christ. We as Christians are called to a relationship of real communication with the Son of God. God comes to live inside us. Things change. God deals with every person in a different way. The more Christians that come forward and talk about how God has intervened in their life, the more people will begin to realize that God is for real, miracles do happen, and prayer works. This will inspire others to seek God and turn from their sins so that they too can know the peace and satisfaction that comes to a person who truly gives their life over to God.
Acts 1:8 says, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." To be a witness to Jesus is to speak and communicate the things that you have seen and heard in your life, that happened because of Jesus. Its the Holy Spirit who makes Jesus real to us, and makes Jesus real through us.
God's plan is for people to hear the good news that Jesus Christ paid for their sins, and conquered death for us through rising from the dead. After believing, people should go on to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, and then testify to others what God has done for them.
Tuesday
The Power Of Testimony
Read Acts 1:8; Hebrews 10:5-7; Psalms 110:111
In court, eyewitness testimony usually seals the deal in the conviction of an accused criminal. When a traffic accident occurs, an investigating officer obtains testimony from those involved – and eyewitnesses when available – in order to reconstruct the events which led to the accident. Testimony literally means the “story, or report, of one,” or one’s own story. Testimony is powerful because it is immediate, direct and personal. It isn’t a story about something or a report about what somebody else said or did. It is a personal description of one’s direct experience. This is the key to testimony’s power. It is about a reality that is experienced. It’s not a story about something told in the third person, nor is it a theory or hypothesis.
The Christian faith, nearly 2,000 years old owes its very existence to the power of testimony. The movement started, of course, with Jesus Christ, who identified himself as the long-awaited Messiah, God’s Anointed One, sent to save mankind from its sins. In the gospels, Jesus left no doubt as to his identity as Son of God and Son of Man, co-existing for all time with the Father and Holy Spirit, yet born in flesh as one of us for a specific purpose. Jesus taught in public for three years before his death, and here’s the key to everything he said: His testimony was from the Father. Jesus said he related only that which was given him by the Father and that those who knew him knew the Father. In other words, Jesus was one with God, giving personal testimony that was literally divine. One may argue that there are all types of evidence that support the claims of the Christian faith, that the life of Jesus was a unique instance of divine intervention in human affairs. Many brilliant theologians have come along during the ensuing centuries both to defend and to define the faith. Many inspirational and anointed preachers have come along to lead others to Christ. But the greatest force in the history of Christianity is still testimony.
Wednesday
Three Sources Of Godly Testimony
Read Hebrews 10:7; 1 John 5:11; John 5: 33-36; Luke 2:19
Testimony of scripture: Jesus’ attitude toward the scriptures is manifested in many ways. The scriptures affected every aspect of Jesus. His co-existence with the Father, the testimony of the prophets foretelling His coming, His birth, His life and ministry, trial, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. No person ever had so much written about Him and required of Him as Jesus. And in minute detail, He filled full every demand and expectation required of Him by the Scriptures. He did not meet the expectations some assumed of Him, but He met every requirement demanded of Him in Scripture.
Testimony of men: All through His life, Jesus heard his mother’s testimony about Him. She had kept many things concerning Jesus in her heart. We have the testimony of John and the testimonies of those who received miracles from Jesus.
Testimony of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit always testifies about Jesus. He doesn’t speak His words, but He says what He hears God say. He is truth, so you can be sure He will always tell the truth. He was with Jesus when He hung on the cross. He was there when Jesus died. When a soldier stuck a spear in Jesus side, water and blood together spilled onto the ground. So now the Holy Spirit, the water and the blood all testify and agree about the sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary. The Holy Spirit testifies that His power brought Jesus back to life again!
Thursday
How To Write Your Testimony
Read Revelation 12:11; Acts 26
Skeptics may debate the validity of Scripture or argue the existence of God, but no one can deny your personal experiences with him. When you tell your story of how God has worked a miracle in your life, or how he has blessed you, transformed you, lifted and encouraged you, perhaps even broken and healed you, no one can argue or debate it. You go beyond the realm of knowledge into the realm of relationship with God.
These steps are designed to help you write your Christian testimony. They apply for both long and short, written and spoken testimonies. Whether you are planning to write down your full, detailed testimony or preparing a quick 2-minute version of your testimony to share on a short-term mission trip, these tips and steps will help you tell others with sincerity, impact and clarity what God has done in your life.
First and foremost - remember - there is power in your testimony! Revelation 12:11 says we overcome our enemy be the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. Read Acts 26. Here the Apostle Paul gives his testimony. There are a few things to consider before you start writing your testimony. Think about your life before you met the Lord. What was going on in your life leading up to your conversion? What problems or needs were you facing at the time? How did your life change after that?
Friday
Let’s look back on what we have learned this week and review. In reflecting it is our desire that if something that you have learned really stands out that you look at ways in which you can implement them into your situation and life that will make a difference in your life.
Have you shared you testimony? _____________ God deals with us in different ways, and when we come forward and tell our story people realize that God is for real. Do you see the importance of testimony? __________ Have you shared your testimony with someone? ______
In what ways and what places can you share your testimony? _________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Do you believe testimony is powerful? ____________List how testimony is powerful:
______________________________________________________________________________
What are three sources of Godly testimony and how can they help us in sharing our testimony?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When sharing your testimony what are three important things to share when sharing your testimony? ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Weekender
My Story
Write your testimony and share it with someone.
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