The Lion's Mouth By Ray Stedman - November 30, 2017

Read the Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-22

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth (2 Timothy 4:16-17).

Here is a rather sad note. When the apostle was brought up for his hearing, no one stood up for him. This was a very dangerous time in Rome. Emperor Nero was noted for his vindictiveness. If anybody even appeared to be against him, Nero's assassins were all throughout the city, ready to take the person's life. Evidently no Christians were ready to risk their lives by standing up for Paul, so he had to face this preliminary hearing all alone. But notice again Paul's lack of vindictiveness. "May it not be charged against them," he says. Actually, the fact that no one stood up for the apostle could have led to his immediate execution. But that did not happen because, as Paul says, "The Lord stood by me." He is the One on whom you can always count. Hebrews 13:5 tells us that God has promised, "I will never, never, ever, under any conditions (there are six Greek negatives thrown in there) leave you nor forsake you." The writer's response is, "What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6). This too is Paul's experience. The presence of Jesus with him accomplished two things.
First, it gave him the strength to proclaim the message. I wish we could all have looked in on that scene as this doughty apostle told the story of his own conversion. Paul is doing what he told Timothy to do in this very letter: "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2). The Lord gave him the strength to do that.
Second, Paul says, "I was delivered from the lion's mouth." Some have read that to mean that Paul was afraid he was going to be thrown to the lions in the Roman Coliseum. The problem with that, however, is that the Coliseum was not built until three or four years later. Also, because Paul was a Roman citizen, the law required that he could not be executed by being thrown to the lions. He was facing death by beheading.
The "lion" here is very likely a reference to Satan, the malevolent schemer behind all the false charges that were laid against Paul, the one who had weakened the courage of the Christians so they dared not stand up along with the apostle. All of this was part of Satan's schemes to accomplish Paul's death, or at least to destroy his testimony. Peter's warning, "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8), is still true today. Many of the problems and unexplainable difficulties that suddenly complicate all the things we are trying to do for the Lord are only part of the activities of the lion that is seeking to devour our faith, to destroy us and weaken our testimony for Christ.
But Paul was delivered from the lion's mouth. In this beautiful verse, he expresses his feeling that he is safe in the Lord's hands.

Thank You, Lord, that even if everyone deserts me, You will stand with me and beside me.

Life Application: Is our faith and witness limited by dependency on others? Where is the real and unfailing source of power on which we can draw for confidence and safe-keeping?
We hope you were blessed by this daily devotion.

From your friends at www.RayStedman.org

Todays Devotional: WAITING IN READINESS FOR CHRIST’S RETURN November 30, 2017

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In his classic book Waiting on God, Andrew Murray explained the bottom line of godly waiting: “The giver is more than the gift; God is more than the blessing; and our being kept waiting on Him is the only way for our learning to find our life and joy in Himself. Oh, if God’s children only knew what a glorious God they have, and what a privilege it is to be linked in fellowship with Himself, then they would rejoice in Him, even when He keeps them waiting.”

Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.MATTHEW 25:13

Jesus taught in today’s parable the importance of waiting in this spirit or with this attitude. One might say the whole purpose of the Christian life is to be ready for Christ’s return! In the story, the “virgins” were the bride’s friends, or as we might say, bridesmaids (v. 1). The “lamps” were torches and burned olive oil. According to the NIV Study Bible, the oil would have had to be replenished every 15 minutes, suggesting that bringing along enough oil was a rather challenging responsibility.

The parable’s first lesson is vigilance or watchfulness (v. 13). The Bridegroom could come at any time! The second lesson is wisdom through readiness. We’re ready for Christ’s return if we’ve trusted Him for salvation. The third lesson is consequences. Having or not having enough olive oil sounds small, but symbolically it means being in or out of the kingdom of heaven (vv. 10–12).

This parable captures several themes from our month’s study, as the wedding metaphor is a rich one: Something good and joyful will happen, guaranteed. Our waiting centers on the coming of the Bridegroom (see John 3:29). The event itself is largely about promises made and kept, and the theme of consummation is involved. Finally, our waiting is not passive, but requires active watchfulness and preparation.

APPLY THE WORD

Spend time reviewing your study this month, perhaps making notes about what God has taught you through these devotionals. What have you learned about God? What might change in your relationship with Him as a result? “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope” (Ps. 130:5).

PRAY WITH US

Looking back at the lessons from the Bible this month, let’s praise God that He is teaching us to be faithful and patient, drawing us closer to Him with His love and mercy. Pray also for those who don’t know God, for whom He is waiting.

BY BRAD BAURAIN

Sound Words For Slaves By Ray Stedman - November 16, 2017

Read the Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:1-5

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of all respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered (1 Timothy 6:1).

Some of you have tyrants for bosses. I have worked for such supervisors myself. They frustrate you; you see them as ignoramuses who do not know the end from the beginning. How they ever got the job in the first place, you cannot comprehend. Yet there they are in charge; they have you in a stranglehold because they control your paycheck. The word of Scripture is that you are not merely to treat them with respect, but that you regard them as "worthy of full respect." Everything is going to rest upon how you feel about them. If you think they are lunatics who are unworthy of your respect, then no matter how polite you may be when they are watching, your attitude toward them will be one of bitterness and resentment; you will be constantly trying to find ways to goof off and justify it because of their attitude toward you. But Scripture says, "consider [them] worthy of full respect"--no matter what they are like, no matter how they treat you. Why? Because they are made in the image of God. Just like you, when God's grace touches them, they are capable of reflecting His glory and beauty; they are the potential bearers of God Himself, so they are to be treated with respect.
The Bible never looks at people as being worthless. The Bible's view is that humans are God's creation made in God's image, and, though they have fallen, they are not worthless. If you regard people as created in God's image, you can see an individual as worthy of respect and honor because of what God has made him or her to be--a man or woman for whom Christ died. This is how Christian slaves were to regard their masters in the first century. If they were unbelieving masters, slaves were still to look upon them as
"worthy of full respect" in order that the name of the God who created them and stamped His image upon them might not be defamed or His teachings scorned by the world.
The satanic view of humans is exactly the opposite. Satan thinks people are worthless; he regards them with scorn and despising. When you think of people as worthless, you treat them that way, and you talk about them that way by cursing them and using language about them that is disparaging and depersonalizing. When you do that, you are reflecting Satan's view of people. Whether slaves or masters, Christians are to treat each other and all other people as "worthy of full respect" and not use language like that, so that the name of God will not be defamed.

Thank You, Lord, that You have placed me where I am for a purpose. Help me to treat those around me as "worthy of all respect".

Life Application: What is the real and basic commonality between masters and slaves, between any socio-differences, that should elicit mutual respect for one another?
We hope you were blessed by this daily devotion.

From your friends at www.RayStedman.org

The Kind of Prayer God Answers By Rick Warren — Nov 16, 2017

“According to your faith let it be done to you”(Matthew 9:29b NIV).

There’s only one kind of prayer that God answers: the prayer of faith. Matthew 9:29b says, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (NIV). We see so little in our lives because we expect so little in our lives.

What is faith? You may say, “I believe God can do it!” But that’s not faith; that’s just a fact. God can do it whether you believe it or not. “I believe God might do it” is not faith either. That’s hope. “I believe God will do it” — that’s faith.

Some people are praying about their spiritual, financial, and health goals, and they think because they’re asking for good things that they want, God will answer their prayer. But desire is not faith. It can lead to faith, but it’s not faith.

If I take a seed and plant it in the ground and in a few months, it sprouts and I get a tomato plant from it, is that a miracle? No. I simply cooperated with the laws of God’s universe, and it happened. When I pray, believing and following the conditions laid out in Scripture, and God answers, is that a miracle? No. It is simply in line with the universal laws of life that God has ordained.

The Bible says, “according to your faith,” not according to your ability, your education, or how good a person you are. If you have met the conditions of Scripture — you have an honest relationship with God, you have forgiven others, you’re willing to share the results with other people, and you’re asking God in faith — you have every right to expect God to answer your prayers.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >

Talk It Over

What would you say to God in a prayer of faith?How can desire lead to faith?Why does God want you to pray in faith?

Open Heavens 15 November 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Time For Consultation

Topic: Time For Consultation — Wednesday 15, November 2017.

Memorise: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. – Genesis 1:26

Read: Genesis 1:26-27(KJV)

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Bible in One Year: Job 36-38, Amos 5:1-17, Hymn: Sing Hymn 9 – On The Hill Far Away

MESSAGE:

From the creation story, the fact that man was the last of God’s creation, though he is the most significant, indicates that God can give you the very best at the end. From this we understand that the end of believers is glorious. No wonder Ecclesiastes 7:8 says,

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

You might have started on a shaky note, but I want to assure you that you will end up being well established. Your faith may be very weak now, but it will become great faith at the end. Never judge your future by the limitation of your present! God will help you overcome those obstacles and limitations, and He will safely take you to your glorious end. Indeed, Job 8:7 says you might have started small but you will end with great increase, provided you sustain a blossoming relationship with God.

In addition, we observe from the account of creation in Genesis chapter 1 that when God was making all other things, He did not call a council meeting, but when it came to the creation of man, a council meeting of the Godhead was called. They all had to be in agreement for man to be created. The implication of this is that to get the best from God, man must be in total unity and alignment with Him. Also, we will be wise to follow the pattern demonstrated by the Godhead in all our decisions. Some issues are more sensitive and volatile than others. There is a time to take a unilateral decision on issues, and there is also a time to consult widely and take a joint decision. Lastly, when it comes to the issue of human management, you would need to go to God for help. Why? Human beings are the most difficult resources to handle. They are very diverse in thought, knowledge and understanding, and so their responses to issues are so divergent and vast. Human beings are also unreliable; it’s no wonder, Jesus did not commit Himself to any man. John 2:24-25says,

“24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

If you will succeed in leading men and women, you must involve God to a large extent. How well are you managing fellow men?

Key Point: To effectively lead men, you must be connected to the One who made man.

Hymn 9: On The Hill Far Away

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:

Step Two in Crisis: Focus and Seek God By Rick Warren — Nov 8, 2017

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17 ISV).

We’ve all had times of crisis that test everything in life, including our trust in God. Daniel gives us a great blueprint for prayer during these difficult times.

We can find six important principles for this in Daniel 9. In the last devotional, we looked at the first of those principles — we let God speak to us before we speak to him.

The second step to praying in a way God will answer during a time of crisis is to focus our attention on God and seek him.

Daniel did this in Daniel 9:3a: “I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him” (ESV).

This is basic relationship advice that works beyond your relationship with God. You’ll improve any relationship in your life if you physically turn yourself toward the other person and focus on them when they talk to you. Whenever my wife talks with me, I turn my face toward her. I’ve been married for more than 40 years. I can tell you this pays great dividends in our relationship. She loves it, because she knows she has my undivided attention.

Turning your face toward someone shows attention. You can do with this God, too. Physically, look up toward the sky. If you can, go outside and look into the heavens as you pray.

Physically turning toward God is the first step in truly focusing on him and seeking him, which is vitally important during a crisis (and every other moment of our lives).

In Amos 5:4b, God says, “Seek me and live.” (NIV). You’re not really living unless you’re truly seeking God.

We’re often in crisis because we’ve stopped seeking the Lord in certain aspects of our lives. To get out of the crisis in life, we have to do things differently.

You’re guaranteed success by God when you seek him. He tells us, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17 ISV).



Talk It Over

How focused would you say you are when it comes to seeking God in every area of your life? Take some time to reflect and decide. What are things you can do to be more consistent and faithful?Where do you find yourself frequently distracted when you pray?Where are you most able to focus fully on God when you pray?