Verse of the day — 1 Peter 1:6
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
1 Peter 1:6(NASB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
Passion For God's Purpose
He came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? (1 Kings 19:9 NLT)
"You have no business to be here" that is what it means. Yes, prophets and apostles could make mistakes, and they did; but there is this about it because they had seen, and were utterly abandoned to that which they had seen of the Lord's mind, the Lord was abundantly able to come in on their mistakes and sovereignly overrule them and teach His servants something more of Himself and His ways. Now, you never find that with people who are indefinite. The indefinite people, those who are not meaning business, who are not abandoned, never do learn anything of the Lord. It is the people who commit themselves, who let go and go right out in the direction of whatever measure of light the Lord has given them, who, on the one hand, find their mistakes the mistakes of their very zeal taken hold of by Divine sovereignty and overruled; and, on the other hand, are taught by the Lord through their very mistakes what His thoughts are, how He does things, and how He does not do them. If we are going to wait in indefiniteness and uncertainty and do nothing until we know it all, we shall learn nothing.
Have you not noticed that it is the men and women whose hearts are aflame for God, who have seen something truly from the Lord and have been mightily gripped by what they have seen, who are the people that are learning? The Lord is teaching them; He does not allow their blunders and their mistakes to engulf them in destruction. He sovereignly overrules, and in the long run they are able to say, "Well, I made some awful blunders, but the Lord marvelously took hold of them and turned them to good account." To be like this, with vision which gathers up our whole being and masters us, provides the Lord with the ground for looking after us even when we make mistakes because His interests are at stake, His interests and not our own are the concern of our heart. The prophets and the apostles learned to know the Lord in wonderful ways by their very mistakes, for they were the mistakes, not of their own stubborn self-will, but of a real passion for God and for what He had shown them as to His purpose.
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
The Lord reigns.
Do you not fear Me?” says the Lord. “Will you not tremble at My presence, who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.” § Exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.
He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. § You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled.
If God is for us, who can be against us? § Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Ps. 99:1; Jer. 5:22; Ps. 75:6,7; Dan. 2:21; Matt. 24:6; Rom. 8:31; Matt. 10:29,31
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
Take heed to your spirit.
Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we for- bade him because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.” … “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” But He … rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.”
“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” So Joshua the son of Nun … answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!” Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control … And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Mal. 2:15; Luke 9:49,50; Luke 9:54,55; Num. 11:27; Num. 11:28 Num. 11:29; Gal. 5:22; Gal. 5:23; Gal. 5:24; Gal. 5:25 Gal. 5:26
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Quietness And Confidence
In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (Isa. 30:15).
Time is a prime factor in one's assurance of the Father's leading. Rush and agitation are the prime factors in the Enemy's leading. God will give us time to watch and make sure; Satan demands action, right now!
"There is a way to distinguish between the Father's leading and Satan's angel of light' leadings. The Father's promptings never nag, or worry, or harass. Satan's do just that. If one has a seeming leading' to do something that in itself is good, yet with the impulse there is a sense of nagging disquiet, and being driven in a certain direction, that is the Enemy's trademark; and his false leading is to be immediately recognized and rejected. The Holy Spirit's leadings comes with a sense of peace and quiet, even if they point in a really difficult direction which only the grace of the Father can enable one to follow." -C.G.T.
"Be careful who takes you up into the high mountain! When the devil takes you into the heights, he always shows you the kingdoms of this world, and the glory of them; when the Lord Jesus takes you up, He is always transformed before you."
"It is because our life is hid with Christ in God that it is beyond the reach of Satan. The Enemy cannot touch our life in its source, for the Father is its Source and he cannot touch Him. He cannot touch our life in its channel, for the risen Lord Jesus is its channel, and he cannot touch Him. He cannot touch our life in its power, for the Holy Spirit is its power, and he cannot touch the Spirit. He cannot touch our life in its duration, for eternity is its duration, and he cannot touch eternity. The child of God is eternally safe." -J.E.C.
"The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever" (Isa. 32:17).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
A Steep Learning Curve
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Hosea 5:15
Christ’s Return
Israel’s promised kingdom was put on hold, for their King had returned to heaven. Jesus had told his Jewish brethren that He would return at a very special time. Jesus would only return to set up His kingdom when Israel repented of their sins, acknowledged their offense, and called on His name: for I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’ Matthew 23:39
Resurrection Reality
What joy filled the hearts of the apostles and other believers after the resurrection. The reality of Christ’s resurrection gathered pace as more and more saw their Lord. He first appeared to Mary and the women, then Peter – then to James and His disciples in the upper room. His meeting with His absent apostle caused Thomas to cry out, my Lord and my God.
Resurrection Appearances
What joy must have rippled through the crowd of 500 who saw Him at the one time.1 Corinthians 15:5 He appeared over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God, and He gave them many convincing proofs that He was alive. Acts 1:3
Coming Kingdom
How their hearts must have stirred as they heard Christ speak of His coming kingdom. For centuries the little nation of Israel had been expecting their promised Messiah, and for three days and three nights their hopes must have been dashed to the ground – for the One they thought was to redeem the nation – lay cold in a borrowed tomb.
Disciples’ Question
But the shock-horror of the crucifixion melted on that glorious resurrection morn. Their deep despair changed to awe and wonder as He talked of the coming kingdom. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God, and curiosity prompted the question – When will You restore the kingdom to Israel?
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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
God’s Witnesses
We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses …”
Hebrews 12: 1
Called As Witnesses
We are called to be a witness – a witness to the world at large. A witness to our brothers and sisters in Christ – a witness to those we love - a witness to a lost and dying world – a witness to those that hate us - a witness to the holy angels – and to the principalities and powers of darkness - a witness to our own self – for we alone know if our heart is genuine - a witness to the Lord our God – Who alone knows the intentions of the heart.
Worthy Witnesses
We are not lone witnesses, however cheerless, isolated, or hard our spiritual walk. We are not a solitary witness, however deeply Christendom wallows in apostasy. We are preceded by a numerous and exemplary cloud of worthy witnesses – witnesses that however humble in spirit are giants in the faith that pleases God.
Multiple Witnesses
This huge throng of many unnamed souls fills our spiritual horizon. We live and move and have our being in Christ – in the wake of their testimony. Some imagine this huge throng to be peering in on their own private little lives. An intrusive band of peeping-toms invading our personal space or scrutinising us. We have no scriptural authority to see them as spectators, looking in on all we do!
Living Witnesses
Their witness was by their lives – lives that were lived by faith in God – lives that in many cases were sordid and sinful – yet lives that trusted God. Theirs were rarely a life that we should emulate – for many engaged in foolish actions. Oft-times their faith for which they are applauded was weak, sinful, carnal, or careless.
Testimony to God
They were not a witness to what they did but a witness to the One in whom they trusted.. a testimony to His faithfulness, despite their variations of mood or bad decisions; a witness to the One in whom they trusted –
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