September 10

Love Is Patient and Kind

Charity [agape love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not….
— 1 Corinthians 13:4

During the next six Sparkling Gems, I want to speak to you about Paul’s words in First Corinthians 13:4-8, where he speaks of love. These powerful verses are like a mirror. If you will be brave enough to look honestly into that mirror, you will find that Paul lists fifteen powerful points about the love of God and how it behaves. By peering into these verses, you will be able to determine if your life is a reflection of the high-level kind of love God wants you to exhibit toward others.

If you discover that your life is a reflection of this love, you can praise God for the great growth and maturity you have attained in your life. But if you find that your life does not reflect the kind of love God wants you to possess, take it as a signal from Heaven that you need to change and become more like Jesus!

Paul wrote, “Charity [God’s high-level agape love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

In these verses, the apostle Paul tells us fifteen primary marks or characteristics of agape love. We are going to be looking at all fifteen of these points; however, before we get into the specific manifestations of agape love, let’s first look at the word agape itself, for this is a very special kind of love, unlike any other in the world.

In First Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul uses the word agape to describe the highest level of love in this world, which is also the kind of love God expects every believer to demonstrate in his or her life. This word agape describes a love so completely different from what the world offers that it is only used in the New Testament to describe God’s love and the love that should flow from the hearts of believers.

Agape is a divine love that gives and gives and gives, even if it’s never responded to, thanked, or acknowledged. You could say that agape is a love that isn’t based on response but on a decision to keep on loving, regardless of a recipient’s response or lack of response. Because agape is such an unconditional love, I call it high-level love. It is the highest, most noble, purest form of love that exists.

In First Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul describes the characteristics of agape love. God designed these verses to help you determine whether or not you are walking in this kind of high-level love in your own life.

As Paul begins his description of the conduct of agape, he first writes, “Charity [agape love] suffereth long….” The words “suffereth long” are taken from the Greek word makrothumia, a compound of the words makros and thumos. As noted earlier (see July 25), the word makros means long. The word makros may indicate something that is long, distant, far, remote, or of long duration. The word thumos means anger, but it also embodies the idea of swelling emotions or a strong and growing passion about something.

When these two words are compounded into one, it forms the word makrothumia, which pictures the patient restraint of anger and therefore longsuffering. It can be translated as the words forbearance and patience.

The word makrothumia (“longsuffering”) is like a candle that has a very long wick. Because its wick is long, it is prepared to burn a long time. It is ready to forbear and patiently wait until a certain person finally comes around, makes progress, changes, or hears what you are trying to communicate or teach him. This is the picture of a person whose feelings for someone else are so passionate that he doesn’t easily give up or bow out; instead, he keeps on going and going and going, even though the other person doesn’t quickly respond to him.

So when Paul says, “charity suffereth long,” his words could be rendered:

“Love patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed….”

Dear friend, this means agape love doesn’t throw in the towel and quit. In fact, the harder the fight and the longer the struggle, the more committed agape love becomes. Like a candle with an endless wick, it just keeps burning and burning and burning, for it never knows how to quit. This, of course, is contrary to human nature, which says, “I’m sick and tired of waiting and believing. If that person doesn’t come around pretty soon, I’m finished with this relationship.”

Are you in a relationship that tests your patience? Are you tempted to throw up your arms in exasperation? If so, you need a good dose of agape love to be released in you!

According to Romans 5:5, the agape love of God has already been “shed abroad” in your heart by the Holy Spirit. This means you don’t have to come up with this supernatural love by yourself. The words “shed abroad” are from the Greek word ekcheo, which denotes a pouring forth, a discharge, a spilling out, or something that is dispersed in abundance. In other words, God has magnificently bestowed on you sufficient love to be longsuffering in any relationship or situation.

God’s love has literally been poured forth, dispensed, and shed abroad in your heart. So when you ask the Holy Spirit to help you, He will release a river of this divine love to flow forth from within you and cause you to be supernaturally longsuffering toward that person who has frustrated you so much.

It’s just a fact that human nature is short-tempered and intolerant, but agape is slow to anger, slow to wrath, and doesn’t know how to quit! It supernaturally becomes stronger and more committed the longer it takes to get through to the heart of the one who is loved. This is a miraculous love — a love that transforms and changes people’s lives.

Second, Paul tells us that love is “kind.” The word “kind” is the Greek word chresteuomai, which means to be adaptable or compliant to the needs of others. When agape is working in your life, you don’t demand that others be like you. Instead, agape makes you want to bend over backwards to become what others need you to be for them! Thus, the word “kind” portrays a willingness to serve and to change in order to meet the needs of others. This is completely opposite of selfishness and self-centeredness.

So when Paul writes that love is “kind,” an expanded interpretation of this phrase would mean:

“…Love doesn’t demand others to be like itself; rather, it is so focused on the needs of others that it bends over backwards to become what others need it to be….”

If this is what Paul means when he says that love is kind, we must look into the mirror and ask ourselves: Do I become what others need me to be, or do I demand that others be like me? Real agape love doesn’t think of itself first. Instead, it is always reaching out, thinking and focusing primarily on the needs of others. The person walking in agape love adapts to those around him in order to touch them, help them, and impact them in a meaningful way.

Third, Paul tells us that “…charity [agape love] envieth not….” The word “envy” is the Greek word zelos, which portrays a person who is radically consumed with his own desires and plans. This is a person so bent on getting his own way that he is willing to sacrifice anything or anyone to get it. You might describe this person as being ambitious and self-centered. He is so consumed with himself that he doesn’t ever think of the needs or desires of others. His own plans are paramount in his mind, and everyone else comes after him.

Therefore, when Paul says, “charity envieth not,” his words could actually be rendered:

“…Love is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with itself that it never thinks of the needs or desires that others possess….”

I long so much to see this terrible flaw uprooted from all our lives! You see, real agape love doesn’t think of itself first but is always looking outward, thinking of the other person rather than itself. So examine your relationships at home, at church, and at work, and ask yourself: Am I committed to seeing others blessed and successful, or am I more committed to my own cause than anyone else’s? If you’re walking in agape love, your greatest concern is that others succeed!

When all these Greek words and phrases are translated together, this could be an expanded interpretive translation:

“Love passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed; love doesn’t demand others to be like itself, but is so focused on the needs of others that it bends over backwards to become what others need it to be; love is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with itself that it never thinks of the needs or desires that others possess….”

This is what it means when the Bible says love is patient; love is kind; and love is not envious. Now you must look into God’s “mirror” and see what it tells you about your own life today. Do you demonstrate these characteristics of divine love in your life? Are you passionately patient with others? Do you bend over backwards to be what other people need you to be? Are you more focused on people around you than on yourself?

If your answer is yes to these questions, then praise God for the great growth and spiritual maturity you have gained in your life. But if you see that your life is not reflecting these attributes of God’s love, you still have something to rejoice about — you can be thankful that God has revealed this deficiency to you. Now you can ask Him to help change you and make you more like Jesus!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to help me open my heart so that agape love can flow up from within me. I realize that I’ve allowed myself to get clogged up with my own self-interests far too often. I need to be more focused on the needs of others than I am on myself. I realize that the only way I can become this selfless is to yield to the Holy Spirit so He can do a deep work in my life. Holy Spirit, I am asking You today to do whatever is necessary to teach me how to regularly walk in this high-level, agape love of God.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I walk in the agape love of God. I am patient with other people. I am also very slow to anger or to get upset. I am so concerned about the welfare of others that one of my chief priorities in life is to become everything I need to be to meet their needs. Other people see me as a friend who wants to help them succeed. Although God has given me my own dreams and desires, I never neglect to help others achieve their dreams and aspirations as well. Because high-level love works in me, I am becoming more and more like Jesus Christ!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Can you say that you are longsuffering and patient with others, or would you have to admit that you tend to be short-tempered and quick to “blow your top” when other people don’t do exactly what you expected them to do?

2. Can you say that you are compliant to the needs of those around you, or would you have to say you are continually demanding that others meet your needs? If we asked people who know you this question, how do you think they would answer? What would their answer reveal about you?

3. Can you say that you are more focused on other people’s needs and successes than on your own, or are you so totally consumed with yourself that it’s been a very long time since you’ve done something sacrificial to help someone else?

September 10

…If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
— Matthew 18:19

When our family moved to Moscow in September 2000, we were new to the city and didn’t have close friendships with other local pastors simply because we didn’t know them yet. As often happens when a new church starts, some people from other churches began to visit our church, and the other pastors didn’t appreciate that fact. They were concerned that their people would relocate to our church. This didn’t actually happen as much as the pastors predicted, but I fully understood their concern. On one hand, they were glad we moved to Moscow. But on the other hand, they weren’t too happy about the concerns it raised for them.

Yet as time passed, it became necessary for those of us who pastor in Moscow to work together on various issues that concerned us all. As we got to know each other better, fears and suspicions melted away, and an amazing thing occurred — we started to value each other’s gifts and strengths and genuinely care for one another as friends! Soon key church leaders in the city began to reach out to Denise and me and warmly receive us.

When our ministry decided to purchase and renovate a new church facility in Moscow, these local ministers encouraged us with one accord to take that huge step of faith, which has since proven to be a successful venture in God’s plan for our ministry. Years before when we first arrived in Moscow, some of these very ministers had opposed our coming to start a new church. Today we’re all linked together in a vital way that has benefited everyone involved. We’re not just “brothers and sisters in the Lord” — we are friends.

In Matthew 18:19, Jesus taught about the enormous power that exists when believers get in agreement with each other. He said, “…If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

The Greek word for “agree” in this verse is sumphoneo. It means to agree together, to make a bargain, or to come to an agreement. It is the Greek word from which the word “symphony” is derived. A symphony orchestra combines many diverse instruments under the direction of a skilled conductor to produce a beautiful, musical masterpiece, and its impact extends far beyond what any one instrument could achieve on its own. This imagery paints a perfect analogy for the Christian community as God intended it to be.

My own ministry has been powerfully enriched because I am a part of a “symphony orchestra” of ministers in the city of Moscow. The unified front of this group has made an impact that could never have been as great if each of us had tried to accomplish the same goals individually. Over the years, we have spoken to each other in ways that have positively changed our attitudes, doctrines, and practices. Do we always agree on finer points of doctrine? No! But we’re the family of God, and we act like it. After all, we don’t always agree with our natural family members either — but we’re all still family, tied together by blood and birth. The same thing is true in the family of God. We were all purchased by the blood of Jesus and born of God’s Spirit. As Paul said: “There is one body, and one Spirit…one God and Father of all…. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:4-7).

I feel privileged to have experienced the power of agreement when church leaders reach out to each other in esteem and respect for each other’s gifts and callings. And I can tell you this — I wouldn’t want to work in God’s Kingdom any other way. Unity among the brethren reflects the heart of the Father, and He says that where unity prevails, the anointing of His presence saturates and commands His blessing to manifest in their midst (see Psalm 133)!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I am so grateful that unity reflects Your heart and causes the anointing of Your presence to saturate us and manifest Your blessing in our midst. Enormous power exists when believers get in agreement with You and with each other. Holy Spirit, I ask You to teach me and the body of believers You have planted me in how to operate just like a symphony orchestra. I ask this also for the Body of Christ at large. As many instruments combined with a wide array of sounds, help us yield to Your direction as a skilled Conductor so that all those sounds blend together into a beautiful musical masterpiece. Help us symphonize in faith and unity more and more so we may have greater power in prayer and action and make a phenomenal impact on the listeners that extends far beyond what any one instrument could achieve on its own.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I contribute to the unity the Father desires the Body of Christ to operate in. I refuse to adopt an adversarial role when He has called me to do everything I can to achieve unity. We have more that unites us than divides us, so I choose to focus on the things that bring us together instead of the things that drive us apart. I thank You for the support I’ve found from other believers and ministers, and I ask You to help me be a support to others who are stepping out in faith to do what You have asked them to do.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of a time when the Body of Christ really got behind you and supported an idea that God birthed in your heart? What did their support mean to you?
  2. On the other hand, can you think of a time when it seemed no one would get in agreement with what God had revealed to you? Did that make it difficult to forge ahead?
  3. Were there also times when you could have been more supportive of others than you were? What do you think of that now? Have you repented for being unsupportive when your encouragement could have made all the difference in the world for those who were stepping forward in faith?

September 9

Do You Sound Like a Sounding Brass Or a Tinkling Cymbal?

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [agape love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
— 1 Corinthians 13:1

It seems that the apostle Paul encountered a group of people who were extremely “super-spiritual” in the city of Corinth. However, Paul was unimpressed with these people and their level of spirituality because they had an obvious lack of love. Their deficit of love bothered him so deeply that he alluded to it when he wrote First Corinthians 13:1: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

The words “sounding brass” are very important in this verse. Let’s begin our study today with the word “brass.” It comes from the Greek word chalkos, an old word that referred to metal. However, it wasn’t just any metal; it was bronze or copper to which a small amount of tin had been added. This tin caused the metal to have a hollow, empty sound when it was beaten. That is why Paul also used the word “sounding” — the Greek word echo, which described a noise that reverberates or echoes. When these two words were used together, they portrayed the endless beating of metal that produces a hollow, annoying, irritating echo that seems to eternally reverberate.

So when Paul wrote about a “sounding brass,” he borrowed an illustration from the pagan world of Corinth to make his point about super-spiritual people who demonstrate no love. The illustration he chose to use was the endless, nonstop, annoying, aggravating, irritating, frenzied beating and clanging of brass that was performed in pagan worship and that echoed ceaselessly throughout the city of Corinth. The citizens of Corinth could never escape the endless banging of this metal, so this was an illustration everyone in the Corinthian church could readily comprehend.

The unsaved citizens of Corinth were deeply devoted to pagan religions. In terms of paganism and idolatry, Corinth stands out as one of the most wicked, idolatrous cities in world history. The pagan temples of the city were filled with worshipers who danced wildly under the influence of wine and drugs. In order to drive the people over the edge and into an emotionally frenzied state of spiritual ecstasy, the pagan priests would wildly beat the metal drums faster and faster and louder and louder.

The citizens believed the piercing, deafening banging and clanging of the drums was essential for achieving a state of spiritual ecstasy. Nevertheless, it was a constant nuisance to them, for they could never escape the constant, rhythmic pounding of metal that produced this clamoring noise.

As time passed, this well-known and commonly loathed, nonstop clanging noise became the very word people used to describe a person who talked incessantly.

Have you ever been around a person who talked so much that you didn’t even listen to him anymore? After a while did you just look at the person without listening because words never seemed to stop pouring from his mouth? Did his words eventually just sound like noise to you? Well, that is exactly what Paul is talking about here in First Corinthians 13:1 — people who say a lot and claim a lot, but who don’t have a life to match their many words. Paul says people like this are just a lot of empty, shallow, clanging, banging noises that eventually become an irritant to all who are near enough to hear them.

But wait — Paul also likened these super-spiritual people who lacked love to “a tinkling cymbal.” The word “tinkling” is a very poor translation, for the Greek word alalazon means to clash or to crash loudly. The word “cymbal” comes from the Greek word kumbalon, which is the Greek word for cymbals. But when these two words are compounded together, it describes a constant, loud clashing of cymbals, much like the clashing cymbals played by the Jewish people just before they went to war! The clashing of those cymbals was a call to arms! It sounded the signal that it was time to fight!

I find it interesting that Paul would use the phrases “sounding brass” and a “tinkling cymbal” to describe these people. Just as a “sounding brass” was irritating and nerve-racking to all who heard it, and just as the “tinkling cymbal” aroused the mind and emotions for war — a person who claims great spirituality but doesn’t demonstrate love can be just that much of an irritant!

As this type of person goes on endlessly in a perpetual, nonstop, shallow, boastful, self-glorification of himself, he almost makes you want to stand up and fight. But don’t do it! You need to pray for patience when you’re dealing with a person like that. If he isn’t willing to listen and be changed, you need to ask God to show you a way to graciously remove yourself from the difficult encounter. But if a door opens and an opportunity arises for you to speak the truth in love, tell that person how he is coming across to others. If you were in that person’s shoes, wouldn’t you want someone to tell you the truth, even if you didn’t like what he was telling you?

You might as well learn how to deal with this situation, because people who fit this description are not going away. Instead of focusing all your prayers on how these selfish people need to change, maybe it’s time for you to start asking God to change you so you can deal with them in a spirit of love. Maybe they’ve never seen real spirituality, so they don’t know what it looks like or how it sounds. If so, this is your opportunity to show them the real thing!

Don’t wait until this person’s nonstop talking drives you to the point of wanting to rise up and slap him and tell him to shut up. Before that ever happens, go to the Lord and ask Him to give you His heart for that person. When you have God’s heart and mind about the situation, you’ll be able to deal with it in the spirit of Jesus.

But what should you do if you are the one who talks nonstop? You need to pay attention to what you’ve read today. Do your words act like a repellant that drives people away from you? If you’ve noticed that people are avoiding you, maybe you need to find out the reason why! Go to someone and ask, “Would you please tell me what I am doing that is driving people away from me?” However, if you’re going to ask this question, be prepared to receive the answer. You must be willing to make corrections in your character, your words, and your life.

The last thing you or I want to be is a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Therefore, it would be good for all of us to go to the Lord and ask Him to reveal anything in our words or actions that needs to be changed. And if the Holy Spirit does reveal something to us, we need to give all our effort to bringing correction to our lives! 

My Prayer for Today

Lord, please help me be patient with people who are inconsiderate of others and won’t stop talking about themselves. When I am tempted to lose my patience and to become angry with them, give me the grace to moderate my emotions so that I can respond to them in the spirit of Jesus. I know that You have been patient with me so often, and now it is my turn to be patient with others. Help me to show them the same kindness You have shown me and to avoid falling into the trap of being judgmental and impatient.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am loving, patient, and kind, and I do not quickly lose my temper with people who are self-consumed. These “motormouths” are not my enemies. I am their friend. As God enables me, I will speak the truth to them in the spirit of Jesus Christ. I believe that in their hearts, they want to change. Therefore, I overlook their weaknesses and am patient with them as God works on transforming them day by day!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Who is the motormouth you’ve been trying to deal with in your life? Has that person’s perpetual talking about himself revealed impatience in your own character?

2. If you encounter a person who boasts of great spirituality but demonstrates none of it in his or her personal behavior, how do you respond to this situation?

3. If you were the motormouth who negatively affected other people, would you want someone to speak the truth to you in love so you could bring correction to your life? If so, how would you want that person to approach you about the matter?

September 9

This know also, that in the last days perilous times will come.
— 2 Timothy 3:1

I’ve dedicated numerous Sparkling Gems to Second Timothy 3 in this second volume (see May 10-18). The reason for this is that I am convinced we are entering the last of the last days and that the days ahead will be the most challenging period the Church has ever faced. In this verse, Paul prophesied, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times will come.” This word “perilous” is the Greek word chalepos, which means dangerous or difficult. It is translated in Matthew 8:28 as “exceedingly fierce.” So when Paul prophesied by the Spirit that the last days would be “perilous,” he was saying that the end times would be dangerous, difficult, and exceedingly fierce.

This truth was reinforced in me several years ago as I traveled by airplane across the Atlantic Ocean. As I looked out the window of the plane, I saw a vision unfold before me. It was as if someone suddenly pulled a cord to draw back a curtain separating the natural realm from the spiritual realm, and an entirely different picture came into clear view. Before me, I saw what appeared to be ominous, swirling black clouds spreading rapidly across the landscape of the world. I understood that I was seeing demonic forces that are currently attempting to spread and exert their influence.

I immediately turned to Denise and said, “The spirit realm just opened up before me, and I witnessed a vast buildup of demonic activity occurring over the nations of the world. It is an attempt to wage war for the control of the nations just before the Second Coming of Jesus.”

This supernatural vision made a great impression on me as I considered the seriousness of this hour, and it alerted me to step it up in my God-given role as a leader in His Church and call the Body of Christ to action. This is a time when we in the Christian community should not only pray more — we should also work together closely to see God’s purposes brought forth on the earth.

In these last days, everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Since judgment begins at the house of God, we must first be certain our own lives are lived worthily so that, having preached to others, we ourselves don’t become castaways. We then have the divine duty to lead others in taking a righteous stand, actively engaging the forces of darkness, and claiming the nations in Jesus’ name.

If you are in a leadership role in your church, I encourage you to work on implementing the following steps both in your personal life and in your church to a greater degree than ever before. These steps will strengthen your spirit and prepare others to stand firm against the enemy’s strategies in the days ahead.

  1. Increase your prayer in your church, ministry, and personal life. If you’re too busy to pray, you are too busy.
  2. Be open to establishing increased order and accountability in your church or ministry. Christians are usually in one ditch or the other, creating either a dogmatic order that steals their liberty in Christ or an overly relaxed tolerance that unleashes lawlessness and chaos.
  3. Besides encouraging fellowship with believers from other parts of the Body, find new avenues to work together with other Christians to accomplish the business of God’s Kingdom.
  4. Walk in faith, regardless of the circumstances!

As for the clouds I saw in the spirit, they were very dark and perilous. But I want to exhort you not to allow fear to grip your heart as you witness what is happening in the world around you. We have been called by a mighty and all-powerful God, and together we are exceedingly able to meet every challenge!

Long ago the prophet Isaiah declared what the role of God’s people would be when darkness blanketed this world system in the last days: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV).

Our role is clear: We must stand together to drive back the darkness with the light of the Gospel so Jesus can be exalted and the transforming power of God can be displayed to this generation as never before. It’s our honor to have a part in bringing in this end-time harvest of souls. But to fulfill our respective roles in this divine plan, we must refuse to slow down or weaken our stance of faith until the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of God’s glory (see Habakkuk 2:14)!

 

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Heavenly Father, I ask You to help me assume my role in prayer as we charge forward into the last of the last days. In these last days, everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Holy Spirit, since judgment begins at the house of God, I ask You to help me as I examine myself. I want to be certain that I live my own life worthily as I ought so that after having preached to others, I myself won’t become a castaway. Lord Jesus, I embrace my divine duty to build the Kingdom of God until You return and to lead others in taking a righteous stand to actively withstand the forces of darkness by the power of Your mighty name! Strengthen me with Your wisdom, counsel, and might to accept my responsibility to pray and to live with unflinching conviction. Father, although spiritual darkness seems to blanket the nations, You promised that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. So I refuse to let fear grip my heart. By the power of Your might, I know that I am exceedingly able to meet every challenge, no matter what is happening in the world around me! The darker the hour, the greater the opportunity for Christ in me — the Hope of glory — to shine brightly and be revealed to a dying world that needs His life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I live a life of increased prayer and consecration to God. In those moments when I may be tempted to think I’m too busy to pray, I will recognize that I’m just too busy and something has to go — but it won’t be my time in the Bible or in prayer! As the days grow darker spiritually, I will become even more accountable to my church and to fellow believers because we are stronger together. I receive the wisdom of God that protects me from falling into either a ditch of legalism or of lawlessness. I keep myself in the love of God and find new avenues to work with other Christians to build God’s Kingdom. Because I increase my time spent in the Word of God, my faith increases regardless of circumstances, and I continue to pray for those in authority. It is an honor to help gather in this end-time harvest of souls. Therefore, I confess that I take my place to drive back spiritual darkness with the light of the Gospel so Jesus can be exalted and the transforming power of God can be displayed to this generation as never before. I refuse to slow down to weaken my stance of faith until the nations come to His great light and kings to the brightness of His dawn!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you sensed that we are entering the darkest time in the history of mankind? What is your Christian responsibility in regard to shining the light of the Gospel during this time?
  2. How do you shine the light of the Gospel in a society that is deteriorating? Can you state specific ways that you can effectively shine your light in the darkness?
  3. In what ways do you know that God is stirring your heart to shine His light to your family, friends, and associates.

September 8

The ‘Morons’ of the World Are God’s Kind of People!

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise….
— 1 Corinthians 1:26,27

If you feel that you just aren’t smart enough to be used by God, then today’s Sparkling Gem is written just for you! Get ready, because you’re about to be abundantly blessed when you see exactly whom God delights in choosing and using to do mighty things in His name! In First Corinthians 1:27, the apostle Paul writes, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise….”

The word “foolish” is from the Greek word moraino. It depicts someone who is dull, dense, or slow. It was used in New Testament times to portray a person who was stupid or foolish — hence, a fool. It could also picture a person who is mentally ill or mentally deranged. The word moraino was used derogatorily to make fun of people or to put them down for being intellectually inferior. It comes from the same word from which we get the word moron. My thesaurus gives these other synonyms for a “moron”: idiot, imbecile, halfwit, numskull, dimwit, dunce, blockhead, dope, ignoramus, lamebrain, jerk, or twerp!

The truth is, no one is an idiot in God’s view. But the world often has a scathing opinion and view of people whom God chooses. It is simply a fact that the world regularly ridicules us as being nitwits, lamebrains, and idiots. This is precisely the way the word moraino was used in Paul’s time, depicting people whom the world scorned, made fun of, and treated with contempt.

Because much of the Early Church was comprised of servants and slaves, most of the people in the local congregations were very uneducated, uncultured, clumsy, crude, awkward, and unpolished. It wasn’t that they were stupid. They had simply never been exposed to or taught about manners, culture, and refined behavior. Reared and treated as servants since birth, they’d never had a need to know these skills. As a result, it is a historical fact that the vast majority of the Early Church was uncultured.

Although there was a logical reason why many of the early believers were so uncultured, this lack of polish made them look stupid in the world’s eyes. In fact, at first the Roman Empire looked upon Christianity as the religion of stupid, poor people because it grew so rapidly among the lower slave classes.

Yet Paul says, “…God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise…” (1 Corinthians 1:27). The word “confound” is the Greek word kataishuno. It means to put to shame, to embarrass, to confuse, to frustrate, or to baffle. The word “wise” is the word sophos, referring to those who are naturally brilliant, intellectually sharp, or especially enlightened. Paul is saying that God calls people whom the world considers morons in order to put to shame, embarrass, confuse, frustrate, and baffle those who think they’re so smart!

Taking all these Greek words into consideration, an interpretive translation of First Corinthians 1:26,27 could read:

“God selected people who are idiots in the world’s view; the world sees them as imbeciles, jerks, real twerps. Yet God is using them to utterly confound those who seem smart in the world’s eyes.”

If anyone has ever called you an idiot — if you’ve ever been called a stupid imbecile, a jerk, or a twerp — it’s time for you to rejoice! This makes you a candidate! You are exactly the kind of person God wants to use!

So don’t let anyone put you down or make you feel badly about yourself. A lack of education, culture, or polish has never stopped God from using people who have a willing heart. If your heart is right and you are willing for God to use you, you are the very one He is seeking right now! Just say, “Lord, here I am! I’m ready to be used!”

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I thank You for choosing to use people like me! I realize that I may not have the education, skills, culture, or high-level training that others may possess, but I do have a heart to be used by You. I want You to take me and use me for Your work in this earth. Today I surrender to You anew, asking You to take me and to use me mightily in this life!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am exactly the kind of person God wants to use! My heart is right; my attitude is willing; and I deeply desire for God to use me in a special way in this life. I am willing to learn and ready to be corrected. I want God to shape me to become a mighty instrument in His hands. Because of my attitude and willing heart, God is going to use me mightily to further His Kingdom on this earth!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Have you accepted God’s call on your life?

2. If yes, what do you believe He has called you to do? What do you know about the special, unique plan He has for you that He doesn’t have for anyone else?

3. If you haven’t accepted your unique calling yet, what is stopping you today from saying yes to the Lord and stepping into the glorious future He has planned for your life?

September 8

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
— Revelation 2:2,3

Whether we want to admit it or not, it is simply the truth that every one of us as believers must make a firm commitment to retain our fire and passion for the Lord. Busy schedules, work, problems, and challenges in life have a way of wearing us down and dimming the flame that burns in our hearts for Jesus. There’s only one way we can make sure this doesn’t happen in our own lives: We must stay firmly committed to do whatever it takes to retain our fire, no matter the cost.

This was the core of Jesus’ message to the church of Ephesus when He appeared in a vision to the apostle John (see Revelation 2:2-7). The Ephesian believers were full of good works and were widely respected for their soundness in doctrine — and Jesus commended them for it.

In Revelation 2:2 and 3, Jesus said, “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.”

But after praising the church of Ephesus for its stellar performance, its faithful adherence to truth, and its excellence in doctrine, Christ went on to say in verse 4, “Nevertheless….” The word “nevertheless” served as a warning signal to the Ephesian congregation, letting them know that something else mattered to Jesus even more than all their good works. Then He continued, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee….” The word “against” is the word kata, which in this case means, “I have one thing against you — a downward strike, a negative point, or a mark against you.” Essentially, it describes something that was obviously not in the Ephesian believers’ favor.

The believers of the Ephesian church had fallen into the trap of busyness in ministry at the expense of fervency in fellowship with the Lord, and Jesus rebuked them for it. And His message is no less relevant and urgent for us today than it was when He first delivered those words to the apostle John for the church at Ephesus on the island of Patmos almost 2,000 years ago.

Productivity for God must never take the place of passionate love for Him. Christ requires us to be both productive for Him and passionate about Him. Yet it is easy to become so consumed with the busyness of the ministry that we fail to stay focused on our passionate love for Christ.

I learned this during a period of several years that Denise and I maintained an extremely busy schedule, which eventually escalated to an unsustainable pace. There were times I could only vaguely recall what country I was in when I’d awaken during the night. I was trying to accomplish as much as I could for the Lord, but I was moving at a pace He never intended.

For so long, Denise and I had stayed continually busy doing good things with excellent results. Lives were changed, and the Kingdom of God was furthered. But my spiritual fervor had dimmed, and it became clear to me that God was calling me to come aside and get still before Him. So I recommitted myself to reviving the fire of God in my own heart.

Speaking from my own experience, I urge you to take a moment to evaluate yourself and ask yourself the following questions:

These are the kinds of questions every one of us should ponder, allowing them to sift through the embers in our souls and stir us to rekindle the flame of our first love for Jesus. When we take the time to do whatever is necessary to revive and retain spiritual fervor and freshness in our relationship with the Lord, our hearts will find renewed satisfaction in our walk with Him and in the ministry He has called us to fulfill. But more importantly, the Lord will be satisfied with us, because He will find us to be men and women after His own heart. And when all is said and done, nothing else could please Him more.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I desire to retain the fire in my heart that I had when I first came to know You. Life has become busy, and I confess that somewhere along the way I allowed the busyness of it all to dim the fire in my heart. Although I’ve become more experienced and professional, I am less passionate than I used to be. I repent for this, and I confess that it is wrong. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me return to the place of my first love. I have lost sight of loving You more than anything else. For this I repent, and I ask You to forgive me. Purify my heart so that Your presence will ignite a flame in me until You are the highest priority and goal in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I refuse to allow my productivity for God to take precedence over my passionate love for Him. I will not offer diligence toward duty as a substitute for devotion toward Him as I approach my God-given assignment. I return to the place of my first love. I commit to pull away often from the busyness of life and ministry so I can be still in the presence of the Lord in order to maintain a vital connection with Him. I will not attempt to serve God without a fresh touch of His Spirit upon me. In the morning I will lift up my eyes, my heart, and my voice unto the Lord while I wait until His Word speaks to my heart in a fresh way for each new day. From that place of union with Him, I will stay focused on what really matters.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you spend time with the Lord as you once did, or do you find that setting aside time to be with Him is getting more and more difficult for you to do? What does this tell you about the temperature of your spiritual life?
  2. If Christ evaluated you by the questions asked in today’s Sparkling Gem, how do you think He would answer the questions?
  3. What changes do you need to make in your life to return to Christ as your first, passionate love?

September 7

For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.
— Romans 12:3 AMPC

When I was first getting started in the ministry, I was so excited and filled with confidence. In fact, I thought I could accomplish anything — and I naively thought I could do it all by myself without help from anyone else. I’ll never forget the time I tried very hard to impress an older gentleman who had been in the ministry for more than 50 years. I confidently told him about all the areas in which I excelled and all the things I was capable of doing. The older and much wiser leader listened attentively and then responded, “Son, I believe you can do great things. I’m just not convinced you can do small things, or that you’d be able to work with anyone else.”

Being young and inexperienced, I was initially shocked at this older minister’s answer. But decades later, I now savor the wisdom he spoke to me that day. Time and experience have taught me that God watches to see how we serve in the small things and how we work with others. The way we manage the small things in our lives proves whether or not we are worthy of being entrusted with greater responsibility. That means “small things” really aren’t so small at all! My experience has also shown me that nothing great is accomplished by a single person; it takes many hands to do a great job. Those who work alone rarely accomplish anything significant.

In Romans 12:3 (AMPC), Paul says, “For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.” I really like the Amplified translation of this verse. Paul used the Greek word huperphroneo, a compound of huper and phroneo. The word huper means over, above, or beyond, and the word phroneo means to think. Compounded, the new word carries the meaning as translated in the Amplified — to think of oneself more highly than he ought to think or to have an exaggerated opinion of one’s own importance.

In verses 4 and 5 (AMPC), Paul provided us with a balanced view of our different roles and showed us that we are each a vital part of a much greater whole. He wrote, “For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, so we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].”

We see from Romans 12:4 that Paul likened the Church to the human body. This analogy sounds simple, yet it is so profound! Hands are different than ears; a mouth is different than a nose; and so on. The different parts of the body are all unique, yet they’re all equally important and interdependent. The same is true for the Body of Christ. Even Christ — the Head of the Church — is dependent on His Body. We as believers worship and take directions from the Head, but ultimately the Head needs the Body to do what the Head tells it to do.

Let me give you an example from my own life. I’m a writer, and the gift in my life that will have the longest-lasting impact is teaching through writing. I believe that the words I write will long outlast me. An example is the book you hold in your hands. This book and the many other books I have authored will continue to minister to people long after I am in Heaven. However, these books don’t just supernaturally show up on the shelves of a bookstore one day. The book you are reading came to pass because I sat down at my computer one day and started typing. When it was time for me to write, the information came from my brain through billions of nerve cells in my spinal cord, activating the muscles in my arms and every bone in my hand. My fingers began to move on the computer keys, transferring thoughts to words in print as information flowed through my body at lightning speed.

This process happens so fast that we can’t conceive or comprehend it. You can’t see a single one of those nerves because they’re invisible to the eye. But if you ripped those nerves out of your body, nothing could be produced.

In addition to my work as the author, there are editors, researchers, and other talented people who help craft these books. Each book goes through multiple levels of editing, typesetting, proofreading, and design. Someone must send the manuscript to the printer and ensure that the printed books are delivered on time. Contacts are made with distributors, and then finally the books are delivered to bookstores, where someone unpacks them and displays them on bookshelves. Eventually they are sold by someone who works at a sales desk. My name appears on the cover because I undertook the monumental job of writing the book, but if I were the only one involved in the process, those words would be nothing more than a file on my computer. Yes, there are many necessary parts to the successful publishing of a book, and every part is important.

The same is true with our TV ministry. Denise and I are the faces seen on our television program and on the Internet all over the former USSR. However, there are also cameramen who stand behind cameras, editors who edit programs, and individuals who contact the TV stations and ensure the programs are delivered on time. It takes a dedicated team of people working interdependently toward a common goal to produce this TV program and see that it reaches the masses with the teaching of God’s Word.

My own part in writing books and recording TV programs is crucial, but it’s only a “part” of the total process. Nothing would happen if I didn’t do my part, but my part would be fruitless without the help of others fulfilling their own vital roles. Keeping this in mind helps me appreciate everyone else’s role as much as I value my own in an assignment. It also helps me remember that we are interdependent upon each other in the Body of Christ.

Consider all the “invisible” members in the Body of Christ who work for the Lord behind the scenes. I’m talking about those you never see on a platform, behind a pulpit, or over the airwaves on a television broadcast. Every part of the Body of Christ is vital and necessary. Oh, how we need to be thankful for the invisible people who play critical roles in the functioning of the Body of Christ! They are just as important as the more visible roles people play, and often, they are even more important!

Paul makes this truth abundantly clear in Romans 12:6 (AMPC ), where he wrote, “Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us….” Every person has been given a grace to employ in service to God and the Body of Christ. You may feel drawn to practical areas of service. Perhaps you’re called to teach others, or maybe you’re particularly gifted at encouraging people. Or maybe you’re especially motivated by compassion to rescue the lost and hurting.

Whatever gifts and graces God has given you, I highly encourage you to find your place in His house and serve. Don’t despise the “lowly” acts of service you may be called upon to fulfill along the way — they will qualify you for greater places of responsibility.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I am amazed by Your design for the Body of Christ, with each of us interdependent upon the other. Alone we can do our small parts, but together we can accomplish a greater goal. I ask You to help me really see and understand this truth. I repent of the pride that has tried to creep in to make me despise small things or to hinder me from cooperating with others to fulfill my part in Your plan. I confess that these are areas where I need to grow. Father, You resist the proud, but You give grace to the humble. I ask You for Your grace to help me reach new levels in these areas so I can glorify You and be a true blessing to others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I am well aware of my interdependence with others in the Body of Christ. You called us as a whole Body so that we may work properly and accomplish greater goals. I am not willing to be independent in the way I operate. By the grace of God working in me, I submit myself to God and resist the temptation to overestimate myself. I will appreciate those who are called alongside me to work, and I will humbly esteem their great value to God and also to me. The visible and less visible members are equally important, and as I walk with God, I am becoming ever more aware of my need to do my part, along with those who are called by God to do their own part.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. What do you do independently that requires no one else’s participation but has a great impact on many people?
  2. What do you do that requires the cooperation of others in order to reach masses or even to be effective at reaching small groups of people?
  3. What gifts do you have that are effective and far-reaching all by yourself? The “small things” are qualifiers for larger assignments in the eyes of God. Have you learned to be faithful at doing small, almost unnoticeable assignments?

September 7

Learn To Think Like a Snake!

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
— Matthew 10:16

When I was growing up, we had a lot of snakes in the countryside where we lived, and many of my young friends thought it was fun to search for and collect snakes. Because I was a typical little boy, I joined the rest of my friends in their pursuit of snakes. This firsthand experience taught me quite a lot about the behavior of snakes and later enabled me to have a deeper appreciation for what Jesus meant when He said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

In this verse, Jesus commanded His disciples (and us) to be “wise as serpents.” The word “wise” is the Greek word pronimos, which means prudent, careful, cunning, discerning, thoughtful, intelligent, or sensible. This word perfectly depicts the behavior and actions of snakes. They are very careful, discerning, intelligent, and prudent in how they act. The Greek word for “serpent” is the word ophis, which is the normal Greek word that refers to a snake.

It is a fact that Jesus told us that we need to be “wise as serpents”! The Greek literally means we need to be as prudent, discerning, intelligent, thoughtful, and careful as snakes! There is obviously something Jesus wanted us to learn from the behavior of snakes, so I took the time to ponder this subject. Finally, I understood exactly why Jesus used this example and how it applies to all of us regarding our families, businesses, ministries, or any opportunity God places before us in life.

If you are squeamish about serpents and snakes, stay with me for the next few moments so you can get the full impact of what Jesus was telling us. Remember, Jesus is the One who chose to use a serpent to make this point. So let’s consider the behavior of serpents for a moment and see how this relates to us being “wise” in the way we live our lives and conduct our ministry or business.

First, when serpents first move into a new territory, they don’t announce their presence. Instead, they lay low, stay quiet, and blend into the environment. In fact, you can walk right past a snake and not even realize it! Snakes have the ability to be nearly invisible. They are designed to be camouflaged.

This camouflage serves as a protective covering. The vilest aggressor can walk right past, but the serpent is not noticed because it has blended so well into the landscape. That camouflage gives the serpent latitude to move about freely as it finds its way around new territory.

As snakes evaluate a new situation, they see what kind of opportunities are in the area. They identify places of shelter. They find “hiding places” to protect themselves from attack. They observe to see where they can find the easiest prey. When all these facts are assimilated, the serpent is ready to act. But this “settling-in” period is a key time for a serpent. And Jesus said there is wisdom in a serpent’s behavior from which we need to learn!

When God calls you or me to do something new — to move to new territory or to seize a divine opportunity — it is wisdom for us to move carefully and slowly into that new phase of our lives. A common mistake is to act too fast. Acting hastily before all the facts are gathered and assimilated can lead us to make erroneous decisions. In fact, one serious mistake can cause us to lose an opportunity altogether. It is better to lay low, stay quiet, and blend into the environment for a while, learning from the sights and the facts we observe.

Let me give you an example. When Denise and I first moved to the former USSR, we took time to learn the customs and culture of the new territory. We knew it would take time to understand everything we would see and experience, so we moved very slowly and carefully. Although we immediately saw opportunities, we decided to first watch and gain as much knowledge as possible about the circumstances we found ourselves in at that moment. Acting too quickly would have certainly meant making some bad and regrettable decisions.

In the first few months we lived there, we made little noise and our presence was hardly noticed. This allowed us the ability to move about freely and without disruption. We visited churches unannounced. We wandered in and out of different parts of the city to observe and ascertain the spiritual condition of our new environment.

Also, before I made any grand announcement that we were going to go on television, I first wanted to know something about television, and I felt that the best way to learn was to do it covertly. I had observed too many American missionaries who announced great plans that unfortunately never developed. Their ideas were great, perhaps even from God; but because these missionaries had acted before they understood the full picture, they ruined their testimony and lost a glorious opportunity.

Many missionaries were hurt because they acted too fast and got in a hurry. They were trying to take ground for the Kingdom of God in a land they knew nothing about. In reality, it was utter foolishness to start such fantastic projects without first understanding the challenges, risks, and dangers.

My wife and I knew that moving slower might take more time, but in the end such a strategy would produce more stable and serious results. We therefore made the choice to move slowly and steadily, gathering all the facts we could, analyzing the information, and then listening to what the Lord might say to us about the facts we had learned. Then and only then would we make an announcement about our plans. To make such an announcement without first taking the previous steps would have been a mistake.

Most serious mistakes are avoidable when moving to a new situation or environment. I strongly advise you to take your time and be sure of the actions you take before you ever act. I would suggest that you first:

Second, serpents are wise enough to know when to seize the moment and strike! Knowing when to act is as important as knowing when to lay low. When prey passes before a serpent, that serpent knows it’s time to strike! If the snake waits too long, the opportunity will pass by and the prey will reach an irretrievable position.

So when it’s time to act, put your fears and emotions aside and seize the moment!

I have seen so many ministers and businessmen pray and pray for divine opportunities to come to them. They fast, pray, and wait for that golden moment to come — and at last, it does! A great door of opportunity stands directly in front of them. It’s time to act. But rather than seize the moment and walk through that door, they pause to pray just a little bit longer. God brought them exactly what they had been praying for, but because they paused, they lost the opportunity. When they finally got around to saying yes, it was too late.

Let me give you another personal example. In 1993, I earnestly prayed and sought God to open a way for us to start a Christian television network in the former Soviet Union. One day I received a phone call from the top directors of a national television station. They asked me to fly to their city to meet with them and talk about broadcasting our television program every week on national television. My associate and I jumped on the next available plane and went to meet this powerful group of people who were making such an exciting offer to us.

My heart was filled with anticipation. I wondered, Is this the opportunity I’ve been praying would happen? Is it really occurring? Is God answering my prayer? I had a sense that something great and awesome was about to transpire, and I could hardly wait to arrive at the meeting to hear this group’s proposal.

I had already done my homework. I had studied the statistics regarding the full reach of the television channel about to be offered. I had spoken with pastors and churches all over that nation to see what they thought of that channel. My time of “laying low and blending into the environment” had given me the knowledge I needed for the moment I stepped into that meeting with those television directors. I was equipped for this long-awaited conversation, armed with information and supported by the prayers of our partners.

As the meeting began, the directors asked me, “Would you like to broadcast your television program on the national channel and penetrate every single home in this nation?” This is exactly what I had long been praying and waiting for! The opportunity of a lifetime was sitting on the table in front of me in the form of a television contract. But I held my composure, not wanting them to know how excited I was at this chance to reach every home in the nation. I wanted to hear how much this divine door of opportunity was going to cost our ministry each month.

The cost was much more than we had imagined. But I knew it was worth the money, considering the fact that our program would be broadcast into every single home in the entire nation. When I heard the price of the broadcast time, I felt a hesitation at first, a fear that we wouldn’t be able to come up with the cash each month. Yet I knew a door had been opened before me that had never been offered to anyone else before. Only God could open such an incredible door for the Gospel. There was no doubt that He was orchestrating the entire event.

I asked for a few minutes to be alone. When the television directors stepped out of the room, I told my associate, “I don’t know where the money is going to come from to pay for this, but only God could have opened this door of opportunity. It’s going to be a miracle payment each month, but I am going to sign this contract right now before we lose this opportunity for the Gospel.”

My head and logic said, Don’t do it, but my spirit said, DO IT NOW! In my heart, I knew it was the moment to strike and seize this incredible opportunity. So a few minutes later, I picked up an ink pen and signed my name on the dotted line. National television had fallen into my hands! Our programs would now be broadcast into the homes of more than fifty million people each week!

Within days of signing that contract, politics radically changed in the nation. If I hadn’t seized the opportunity at that exact moment, I would have lost it. If I had even hesitated one week, the door would have been closed. Because we seized it at the right time, our television program was locked into a contract that the government had to honor. As a result of acting at the right time, our ministry and television program became one of the most powerful spiritual forces in that nation. Since 1993 when we first walked through that door, we have been impacting that nation with the apostolic and teaching ministry God has given us, and countless lives have been changed forever.

I thank God that I had the spiritual guts and gumption to act at the right moment. I had already prayed and prayed. But as I sat with those directors that day, I sensed that I had to seize the moment and act. It was time to strike! Through experiences like this one, the Lord has taught me that there are moments to “lay low” and there are moments “to strike fast!” Surely this is one of the points Jesus was making to us when He told us to “…be ye therefore wise as serpents…” (Matthew 10:16).

You may be asking, “But how do I know when it’s time to lay low or time to take action and seize the moment?” The Holy Spirit will lead you in these areas if you will be sensitive enough in your spirit to follow His leading. If you will take the time to get quiet and listen for His voice, He will guide you past every obstacle, camouflage you from every attack, and show you exactly when to take action in your family, your business, your church, and the ministry God has given you.

Many people are afraid to obey what the Spirit puts in their hearts to do. Fearful that they will be led astray or that they will make a mistake, they sit on the sidelines and watch other people achieve success, while they remain right where they’ve always been. Let me tell you something, friend — you can trust the leading of the Holy Spirit! If you will let the Holy Spirit become your eyes and ears, you will never fail to recognize key moments and divine opportunities for your life, family, business, or ministry.

You and I are not brilliant enough to figure out the right timing for everything by our own logic. The timing for our actions must be directed by the Holy Spirit, not by us. If we learn to depend on the Spirit’s leading, we will walk through many strategic doors at key moments. But it is imperative that we understand this: When He says “NOW!” it really means “NOW!”

I pray that you have fresh insight into what Jesus meant when He commanded us to “…be ye therefore wise as serpents….” He was giving us a powerful message, wasn’t He? So be very careful not to move too fast, and be careful also not to delay when the time is right to act. Open your heart to the Spirit of God today, and let Him begin to teach you when to lay low and when to strike!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to help me be wise, prudent, intelligent, discerning, and sensible in the way I think and act. You see everything and know exactly what is really happening, so I am leaning on You to lead me in every situation. Teach me when to sit still and when to act. You are my Leader, so I look to You to lead me and to help me do exactly what is right in each situation.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I have the mind of Jesus Christ! His mind makes me sensible, intelligent, prudent, discerning, and accurate in the way I think and behave. Because the Holy Spirit is producing the mind of Christ in my life, I make very few mistakes. In fact, I am getting better and better all the time at seeing things accurately and knowing what to do in different situations. I am careful to lay low when the Spirit says to wait, and I am bold to obey when the Spirit says to act!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Have you had a moment in the past when you knew an opportunity was passing before you — and you had to strike right at that moment or you’d lose the opportunity God was giving you?

2. In that instance, what did you do? Did you hesitate and lose the golden moment God was trying to drop into your hands, or did you seize the opportunity and strike? If you hesitated and lost the opportunity, have you asked the Lord to forgive you for letting fear defeat you? Have you asked Him to give you another chance?

3. Do you recognize the opportunities the Holy Spirit brings before you? What opportunity is passing in front of you right now? How are you going to respond differently now than you did before to assure that you don’t lose another God-given chance to do or to achieve something great?

September 6

…the prince of the kings of the earth….
— Revelation 1:5

We live in an age when darkness is increasing all over the face of the earth. But as we face this looming threat, we need to remember that Jesus Christ is Lord over all. Nothing takes Him by surprise because He has known everything that has and will ever occur before He even created earth. The rulers of the darkness of this world may think they are in charge, but Revelation 1:5 declares that Jesus Christ is “the prince of the kings of the earth.” Therefore, He rules over all the affairs of mankind. We may not always see His hand or understand His movements, but Christ is in charge nonetheless.

This means that no matter what political party, president, or ruler holds power or what verdicts the courts mete out, Jesus Christ’s ultimate authority over the kings of the earth remains uncontested. Others may command an earthly sphere of influence for a limited time, but Christ’s rule supersedes and outlasts them all.

Today I’d like for us to look at the apostle John’s description of Jesus as “the prince of the kings of the earth” and see exactly what it tells us about our Lord and Savior as He rules today! The word “prince” is the word archon, a Greek word that denotes one who holds the highest and most exalted position. That emphatically means Jesus is truly Lord over all.

Furthermore, the word “kings” is a form of the Greek word basileuo, which means to rule or to reign. However, the form of the word used in Revelation 1:5 not only refers to human kings or rulers, but also to governments, which tells us Jesus’ power is greater than any human government. Human governments may think they are in control, but Jesus is exalted far above them, and He calls the shots. In time, every opposing force will be eliminated, and Jesus will remain high and lifted up!

It is significant that John used this terminology to depict Jesus in the beginning of the book of Revelation. As he wrote these words in the latter years of the First Century AD, early believers were suffering greatly at the hands of evil rulers. So John reminded them — and us — from the onset of his message that Jesus holds the ultimate authority and commands the final say in all matters. John boldly proclaimed that Jesus is the most highly exalted King and that He possesses supreme power and authority — more than any ruler or government that will ever exist in the earthly sphere.

Even in the darkest hours or the bleakest situations, the efforts of evil will always be thwarted by the prevailing power of Jesus Christ. Nearly 2,000 years of Church history have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that darkness doesn’t have the power or authority to silence the voice of Jesus Christ and His Church.

When Jesus appeared to John as the risen and exalted Christ, He imparted a powerful message to believers in all ages — He is the King of kings! He holds the highest seat of power; He possesses dominion over all; and His Kingdom will never cease. Other kings and governments will come and go, but Jesus’ Kingdom is everlasting and supersedes all others. There is no better reason to proclaim “AMEN!”

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I am so thankful that Jesus is Lord over all, and that includes my life! Your Word is coming to pass at a rapid pace in these end times: Darkness is increasing; morals are sliding; laws are changing for the worse; and society is rapidly degenerating. But seated above them all is Jesus — the King of the kings of the earth. When all is said and done, rulers may have a temporary say-so in the affairs of man, but Jesus ultimately rules over all. Help me not to despair when I see evil prosper and to remember that Jesus has not lost His grip on the situation. He really IS Lord over all!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I boldly confess that Jesus Christ is not only the King of kings, but the Prince of all the kings of the earth (see Revelation 19:16;1:5). There is no higher power or authority than Jesus Christ. His throne is exalted above all others. Human powers come and go, but the Kingdom of Jesus Christ endures forever. I declare that 2,000 years of Church history have proven that Jesus is highly and forever exalted, and that He will have the ultimate say-so in the affairs of mankind. I may not see how His hand is moving, but none is greater than or equal to Him. Jesus Christ rules over all, and He is directing the affairs of mankind to fulfill His divine purpose!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you despaired over the darkness that permeates society and the governments of the world? Are you ever tempted to think that darkness is in control? How can you best resist that temptation?
  2. What did you learn from today’s Sparkling Gem? If you were to tell others about what you learned today, what truths would you share with them?
  3. Why don’t you shut your eyes and let your imagination take you to the highest Heaven for a moment? Picture Jesus Christ above all the kings of the earth, seated there on His highly exalted throne!

September 6

Here’s How To Extinguish The Fiery Darts of the Wicked!

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
— Ephesians 6:16

Would you like to extinguish every flaming dart the devil ever tries to shoot in your direction? Does that proposal sound too good to be true? Well, Ephesians 6:16 assures you that if you have your shield of faith lifted high in front of you, you will be supernaturally empowered to defend yourself against the fiery darts of the enemy. But more than that, you will be able to literally extinguish every single fiery dart the devil will ever try to send your way!

This makes our shield of faith very important! Therefore, let’s look at Ephesians 6:16 to see exactly what it says about us being able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the enemy. It says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

Today I would like to draw your attention to several very important points in this verse. First, I want you to notice the phrase “…wherewith ye shall be able….” The first part of this Greek phrase would be better translated by which. For the words “ye shall be able,” the Greek word used here is the word dunamis, which denotes explosive power or dynamic power and is where we get the word “dynamite.” When these Greek words and phrases are used together as they are in Ephesians 6:16, it could actually be translated, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, by which you will be dynamically empowered….”

Paul uses these Greek words to explain the supernatural empowerment that occurs when a believer uses his shield of faith. When a believer lifts his shield high and holds it out in front of him where it belongs, that shield divinely energizes the believer to stand bravely against every assault of the devil. That shield of faith becomes dynamically and supernaturally empowered to act as an impenetrable wall of defense against the enemy’s tactics. In other words, faith is a shield to the believer!

The shield of faith is so powerful that it makes you fortified, invulnerable, and armed to the teeth! It equips you to hold an ironclad position. It turns you into a spiritual tank so you have the ability to move your position forward without taking any losses yourself. This doesn’t mean the devil won’t try to stop you, but when the shield of faith is held out in front of you as it ought to be, you become divinely empowered “…to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The word “quench” in this verse is the Greek word sbennumi, which means to quench by dousing or to extinguish by drowning in water. It refers to the water-soaked shield of Roman soldiers. You see, before Roman soldiers went out to battle, they purposely soaked their shields in water until they were completely water-saturated. The soldiers did this because they knew the enemy would be shooting fire-bearing arrows in their direction. If a shield was dry, it was possible for it to be set on fire when struck. But if this vital piece of armor was water-soaked, the flames would be extinguished even if an arrow penetrated its heavily saturated surface.

How does this apply to us as believers? Well, Romans 10:17 says that our faith is increased by hearing the Word of God. In Ephesians 5:26, the Word of God is likened to water. So as we regularly submit ourselves to the Word of God, we soak our faith with the Word just as a Roman soldier soaked his shield with water. And when our faith becomes Word-saturated or Word-soaked, it becomes just like the soldier’s water-saturated shield. In other words, it will be so heavily inundated with the water of God’s Word that even if a fiery dart pierces our shield, the huge amount of Word in us will extinguish the flames and put out a potentially damaging situation!

The words “fiery darts” are from the Greek word belos. It referred to an arrow with its tip wrapped with fabric soaked in flammable fluids so it would burn with hot and angry flames. The famous Greek writer Thycidides used this Greek word belos to depict specially-made, long, slender arrows that outwardly looked harmless; however, the hollow interior of the arrow was filled with flammable fluids that, upon impact, exploded into a raging fire. This last arrow is most likely the picture that Paul had in his mind when he wrote about the “…fiery darts of the wicked.”

Often when the devil strikes, his attack looks inconsequential at first, like harmless little arrows that can do little damage. But when those arrows strike into the heart or emotions, they often explode and set human passions aflame, causing a minor issue to develop into a fierce, flaming situation. The damage done in such a moment is very serious — and all of it could have been avoided if the shield of faith had been held high and regularly doused in the water of the Word!

There is no doubt that the devil will try to shoot his arrows in your direction. But having a shield of faith that is soaked in the Word of God gives you double protection against these attacks. It guarantees that the enemy’s fiery darts will have little or no effect, even if they get close enough to strike your heart, mind, or emotions in the midst of the situations you find yourself facing today.

So I urge you today to take the time to soak your faith in the Word of God. Let the water of the Word so saturate your faith that if the enemy tries to launch a surprise attack on you — your health, your finances, your marriage, your children, your family, your church, your business, or your job — he will find that his fiery darts have no impact on your Word-soaked faith shield!

Refuse to let yourself become the devil’s victim! Hold your Word-doused shield of faith high in front of you so it completely covers your life. Then rest assured that no fiery dart of the enemy will make any serious impact on you. That faith shield will protect you from anything the enemy throws at you through the dynamic, explosive power of God!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, thank You for giving me the shield of faith. Help me to be brave and bold and to hold my shield high in front of me to stop every attack of the enemy. After reading today’s Sparkling Gem, I understand that I have a responsibility to soak my faith in Your Word so it can extinguish each and every flaming arrow the devil tries to shoot into my life. I ask You to help me be sincerely committed to making Your Word the top priority in my life — soaking my faith with that Word until it becomes an impenetrable wall of defense against the enemy’s attacks!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that my faith is saturated with the Word of God! The devil may try to attack me, but my faith is held out high in front of me, covering my life completely and extinguishing every flaming arrow the devil attempts to shoot in my direction. My faith is supernaturally energized, and I am empowered to stand against every assault the devil tries to make on my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Are you spending enough time in the Word to see that your shield of faith is soaked and saturated with the water of God’s Word? Or is your faith so parched from a lack of the Word that your shield isn’t working anymore?

2. Can you remember a time when a fiery dart struck that would have normally set everything ablaze with negative emotions and destruction — but because your faith was Word-soaked and in place, that attack had very little impact in your life? What was that situation?

3. Have you ever seen a fiery dart from the enemy that released a blaze of destruction when it struck? When you saw it happen, did you realize that the success of the devil’s attack was due to a lack of time in God’s Word?