As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
— Acts 13:2

When I made my first missions trip to the USSR, it was in the spring of 1991, just months before the Soviet Union finally dissolved. I was shocked by how dilapidated everything seemed to be. From what I observed, the mighty USSR was worn out and falling apart. The streets, sidewalks, cars, shops, people’s clothing — everything I saw — simply looked either broken, exhausted, or worn out.

I checked into my hotel, and when I pulled the curtains back to give me a view of the street below, they were so rotten that they ripped right off the curtain rod into my hands. For the rest of my stay there, I had no curtains. There was a dead mouse in one corner of the room, and the shower looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in decades. I was simply stunned that a global superpower that had kept the rest of the world in fear for so many years was so utterly dilapidated.

The next morning after our arrival, my teammates and I walked to the building where the first aboveground Bible school was being conducted — the first in more than 70 years. Two hundred and twenty students had gathered from every republic of the USSR to attend the school, and I wept when I realized this was a dream come true for them. They lifted their hands to worship, and the Spirit of God moved across the large classroom in a powerful manner. His presence was so strong.

When I stood in front of that room full of young people from all over the Soviet Union to teach them for the first time, I approached the lectern to begin my first teaching session, opened my Bible, took a step back, and looked up at the room full of students eagerly looking back at me. And at that moment, I vividly heard the Holy Spirit speak loudly to my heart and say, “WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME!”

I know the voice of the Holy Spirit, and there was no doubt in my heart or mind that it was the Spirit who had spoken these words to me. Feeling shocked by what I’d just heard, I choked up and stumbled with my words a bit. Then the Holy Spirit spoke it a second time: “WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME!”

With that, I knew God was calling me to relocate my family to the Soviet Union. As I looked at those 220 students and the dilapidated surroundings all around me, I kept thinking, God is calling me to make THIS my home and to embrace these students and the USSR for me and my family’s future.

Later that day in prayer, the Lord continued speaking to my spirit. He explained, “There are many good Bible teachers in the United States, but I need skilled Bible teachers HERE to undergird the massive move of My Spirit that is happening. That is why I am calling you to move here and to do it as quickly as possible.”

This was completely contrary to the plans I had made for my life and ministry. Back in those days, we were receiving 900 invitations a year to come and hold seminars in churches and speak in conferences. The growth of our ministry was literally exploding in the United States — and my books were becoming bestsellers. I had never dreamed of moving away from America and leaving that life behind. But that was exactly what God was calling us to do. That week as I ministered every day to the students, the love of God in me connected me to them, and I could begin to visually see our family living in the USSR.

When I came back to Tulsa after that missions trip, I knew I needed to break the news to Denise. I didn’t know how she would respond, but the Lord had prepared her heart before I ever said a word, and the same grace that was upon me was upon Denise. She said, “I’m not excited yet, but when we step onto that plane to move, I’ll be filled with faith and anticipation.” Our sons were too young to understand what the Soviet Union was, so they just exploded with glee that we were going to be doing something adventurous as we followed the will of God.

Finally, the morning came when Denise and I and our three small sons gathered at the airport with family and friends. We hugged and kissed everyone and told them all farewell; then we stepped onto the plane that would carry us to our new home in the former Soviet Union. As we sat down in those seats on the plane, Denise and I looked at each other with jubilation, because we knew we had passed a major test. We had said yes to the Lord, surrendering to His revealed will for us, and we were on our way to the greatest adventure of our lives.

Saying yes to the Lord requires surrender. I’m talking about that moment when you are willing to lay down all your own plans and yield to what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about God’s will for your life. Some people pass this test, whereas others do not. However, those who surrender, yield, and obey experience the joy, power, and victory of the Spirit. They live an enriched life filled both with opportunities to be seized and obstacles to be overcome in order to attain victory and to complete the assignment.

I want to tell you how I felt that day when the Holy Spirit said, “WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME!” It immediately reminded me of Acts 13:2, which says, “As they [the elders in Antioch] ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

Barnabas and Saul had been serving in the church of Antioch for several years when suddenly during a time of prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” The word “separate” is the Greek word asphortidzo, and it means to mark off, to set boundaries around, or to set apart for a special purpose. The verse continues to say that they were to be set apart “…for the work whereunto I have called them.” Apparently, God had a “work” for these two men that exceeded what they had done in Antioch.

Serving in Antioch was an honor, but it was not the ultimate goal of God’s call on their lives. Way beyond Antioch, Barnabas and Saul [Paul] would be used by God to touch and revolutionize the Gentile world. Had they stayed in Antioch, they would have missed the adventuresome apostolic life that God had designed for them. Accepting and obeying God’s call thrust them forward into a life and ministry of divine purpose that radically affected the development and growth of the Church of Jesus Christ all over the Roman Empire.

Everything Paul and Barnabas had done in ministry until that time had been nothing more than preparation for what lay ahead. Although they had spent several serious years in ministry, it was simply “getting-ready time” for the ultimate call that was before them.

This is precisely how I felt when the Holy Spirit spoke to me about my new home. God has blessed our ministry immensely, but I was suddenly aware that everything that had occurred until that moment was preparation for what was about to follow. And what was about to transpire was so immense that it made everything up to that moment look minuscule. Those previous days were days of proving to learn how to be faithful. God was watching — and now that He was satisfied, He was ready to launch us into the calling He had for our lives, which was far larger than anything that Denise or I had imagined or anticipated.

Barnabas and Saul were immediately sent forth to begin their apostolic ministries, but it took me several months to really embrace what God had said. However, I did come around, and our family entered the greatest phase of our lives as a result. We have never had any regrets about leaving America behind and moving to the former USSR.

Today I want to encourage you to let the Lord reveal to you His plan for your life. It may be different from what you had previously thought. It is possible that everything you have done up until now has merely been preparation for a greater call before you. So open your heart and be careful to pay heed if the Holy Spirit affirms that He’s leading you to take a new direction. It could add more fruitfulness and adventure to your life than you ever dreamed possible!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You for Your predetermined plan for my life — and that You want to launch me into it as soon as I’m ready. I ask You to help me prove myself faithful where I am, so I will be prepared for the call that lies ahead of me. Help me not to be stuck in my thinking — assuming that where I am is the ultimate end of what I am called to do. I ask You to open my eyes to see that great and wonderful things lie ahead of me if I will fully surrender to You!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that God knows the good plans He has for me. He is ordering my steps along His ordained path, and I am following the Holy Spirit’s direction to do all He is leading me to do in preparation for God’s next phase of my life. I recognize now that all I have done thus far has been preparation for the next part of His call on my life. Jesus, You said if a man is faithful in little, You will put him over much. So I declare that I will be faithful in every assignment You’ve given to me now, and I believe that You will promote me to the next phase when You have found me proven and ready.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. What are you doing right now to give yourself fully to the tasks at hand, so God will know that you are proven and ready for the job ahead of you?
2. Has God ever told you something that caught you off-guard and by surprise? If so, when was that, and what did He say? Have you followed through on what He spoke to your heart?
3. Are you doing what God has told you to do right now? Are you being faithful with the call that He’s given you? If God were asked this question, how would He answer about you?

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
— 1 Thessalonians 1:2

So often in this age, people face disappointments in life — and one of the most difficult things to face is disappointment in relationships. Think of how often people get their feelings hurt for real or imagined reasons or feel like their trust has been violated. Think of how many marriages end in divorce. Such hurts occur so frequently and can be so painful that people often end up entirely focusing on their hurts and disappointments and forget about all the wonderful people who have been and remain a blessing to them. Satan uses hurt, pain, and personal letdowns to get people so side-tracked by what one person or a small group of people did that they forget about all the good and kind things that others have done for them.

There are no words to express the emotion and love my wife and I feel for the people who support our ministry with their finances and prayers. As far as we’re concerned, they are the real heroes responsible for the mighty things God has done through our ministry over the years. Yes, God has used Denise and me; we know that very well. But the fact remains that He has equally used our partners who have given and given time and again to assist Denise and me as we obey the call God placed on our lives to reach the people of the former Soviet Union.

It’s never a burden to continually pray and thank God for our partners. I think of how faithfully they have given over the years. I ponder the fact that they often could have used those funds elsewhere to meet needs and desires in their own lives, yet they opted to sacrifice and to give to the work of the Gospel instead of meeting their own needs. As I consider all of this, my heart literally overflows with thanksgiving for our partners and for what they do for the work of the Gospel.

Every morning when I wake up, one of the first things I do is pray for our partners because of this deep gratitude I feel for them. It is no struggle to pray for them! As I begin to call out their names to God, thankfulness flows up from the deepest parts of my being. And as I begin to pray for our partners, I can hardly stop! I pray for them to be blessed in their families, jobs, finances, children, health, and relationships. I cry out in faith for them to grow in their relationship with God. Before I close my time of prayer, I always confidently make my request to God for Him to richly multiply the financial seed they have sown into our work. My heart’s cry is for our partners to be blessed in every way, including financially and materially. We are so spiritually connected to our partners that it is a great joy to pray for them!

When the apostle Paul thought about the believers in Thessalonica, he must have felt the same way about them. They had endured such difficult times of persecution and had faced nearly unbearable pressure, yet they had never given way to fear or relinquished their stance of faith. The experience Paul and his apostolic team had enjoyed with them had been such a pleasure, and they had seized such a big part of his heart that he told them, “We give thanks to God always for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (1 Thessalonians 1:2).

The word “we” in Greek is plural and refers to the heartfelt thanks shared by Paul, Silas, and Timothy. The Thessalonians were a great source of blessing, and it wasn’t just Paul who abounded with a sense of thanksgiving for them. Paul’s entire team was impacted and encouraged by the faith and example of the Thessalonian believers. They were all filled with thankfulness for this church!

The word “thanks” comes from the Greek word eucharistos, a compound of the words eu and charis. The word eu means good or depicts something extremely pleasant or gratifying. The word charis is the Greek word for grace. When these two words are compounded, the new word portrays a person who is so satisfied and full of deep pleasure and gratitude that it pours forth from his heart. Just as God freely and liberally bestows His grace upon us, this deep thankfulness liberally abounds and pours forth to God from our heart with no effort. This depicts a sense of thankfulness so strongly felt that it would be difficult to hold it back or restrain it.

And Paul wasn’t just occasionally thankful for them either! He said, “We give thanks to God always for you.…” The word “always” is the Greek word pantote, which carries the idea of every moment, every opportunity, or every time we get the opportunity. It tells us that every time the believers in Thessalonica came to Paul’s mind, his heart was instantly filled with warm memories and gratitude for them. It was truly effortless for Paul to thank God for the Thessalonians.

The verse continues, “We give thanks to God always for you.…” The word “for” in this verse is derived from the word peri. In this case, the word peri means about. Every time Paul thought about the Thessalonian believers, he was thankful. When considering everything about them, he couldn’t help but stop what he was doing to express to God the deep gratitude he felt for them.

Then Paul continued, “We give thanks to God always for you all.…” The word “all” is the Greek word panton. It is an all-encompassing term that means this heartfelt gratitude was not directed toward just a few of the Thessalonians, but toward all of them. In contrast to all the problems and opposition Paul had encountered in his ministry and all the people who had disappointed him through the years, the believers in Thessalonica were a bright, shining source of joy, and he literally thanked God for every single one of them and for all that pertained to them.

When you put all these words together, First Thessalonians 1:2 could be translated:

“We thank God for you! We are simply so full of gratitude for everything connected to you that we just can’t hold it back! In fact, thanking God for you is one of the easiest and most effortless things we do — it just flows out of our hearts. We find ourselves thanking Him for you all the time. What a joy it is that our attitude of thankfulness is not just for a few of you, but it really is something we feel about every last one of you!”

Whom do you have in your life today that makes your heart overflow with thanksgiving? Can you think of someone, or perhaps a group of people, who are such a blessing to you that when you think about them, your heart immediately begins to fill up with tender thoughts of gratitude?

In this day we live in, we all experience many disappointments with people, and relationships often don’t seem to last very long. People move from place to place; some break commitments; and often people make wrong choices that can wrench your heart. But when you have a friend or a group of people who faithfully follow the Lord and who remain steadfast year after year, it truly is a delight. Such relationships are a special treasure from God that should be cherished and deeply appreciated.

Paul set a good example for you and me that we must follow in our own lives. He wrote and told the Thessalonians how deeply he felt about them. He cherished his relationship with this body of believers, and he wanted them to know how he felt about them.

Likewise, if we have such treasured relationships in our lives, we must take the time to express how deeply grateful we are for what these people mean to us. Don’t assume that they already know how you feel. Take the time to write them a note, call them, or take them to dinner so you can make sure they know how much you appreciate them.

Wouldn’t it bless you if someone did this for you today? Why don’t you take a few minutes right now to make a list of those people who are special, shining sources of joy in your life and begin to thank God for them as Paul did for the Thessalonians? Then do something special for them to demonstrate how much you appreciate them. It takes only a few minutes of your day to do it, yet it will communicate so much to the hearts of those who have been such a blessing to you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I thank You for the people You have placed in my life who are a special blessing to me. In this world today, where disappointments and letdowns are so common, it is rare to find good friends and coworkers in Your Kingdom who are faithful, consistent, and truly genuine in their commitment to me. I am so sorry that I haven’t previously made enough of an effort to let them know how grateful I am for them. Starting right now, I ask You to help me learn how to better communicate to these special people how thankful I am to God for them!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am careful to let people know how grateful I am for them and for all they do. I am not negligent to say thank you, I don’t take people and their kindness for granted. I express my heartfelt thanks to people who mean a lot to my life. I am blessed to have such friends, and the Holy Spirit is teaching me to convey my gratitude for all they do and for the valuable place they hold in my life. Every day I will spend a few minutes thanking God for them, and every day I will go out of my way to let someone know how thankful I am for the blessing he or she is in my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Who can you think of today in your life for whom you are especially thankful? Why are you so grateful to have these individuals in your life? What have they done that has affected you so positively and made your heart overflow with thankfulness to God for them?
2. Have you taken time to let that person or persons know how much they have meant to you? If not, what has stopped you from articulating how you feel about them? Wouldn’t it mean a lot to you if someone expressed such heartfelt thanks for the blessing you are in his or her life?
3. Before you get too busy today, write down the names of some of the main people who have been a special blessing to your life. Once you have written down the names of those special people, take a few minutes to pray for them. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you creative ideas about how to express your appreciation for who they are and what they have meant to you in your life.

You Are Never Alone!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.…
— Hebrews 12:1

At times you may have wondered, Has anyone else ever experienced the kinds of problems I’m experiencing right now, or am I out here all alone?

No, you’re not alone! Hebrews 11 records the remarkable feats of faith accomplished by various people in the Old Testament. These were people who had to fight and struggle as they waited for the object of their faith to manifest. Their walk of faith was a great, great challenge.

Because these Old Testament saints stayed with what God had told them to do and never gave up, they eventually saw His blessings begin to operate in their lives. Nevertheless, nearly all of them endured great, difficult hardships and challenges before their victory came.

To let us know that we’re not alone in our own walk of faith, the writer of Hebrews says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Notice that it says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses….” The phrase “compassed about” is taken from the word peikeimenai, which is a compound of the words peri and keimai. The word peri means around or to be completely encircled by something. The second part of the word keimai means to lie down. When these two words are compounded into one word, they mean to lie around, as if something has been piled high and is lying all around you on every side. This is the portrayal of being completely encircled by something that is stacked high on every side!

Therefore, this verse carries the following idea:

“Wherefore seeing we have lying all around us on every side.…”
“Wherefore seeing these biblical examples are piled up and lying all around us….”

The Bible is piled high with examples of people — people just like you — who stood in faith and endured difficulties in order to do the will of God. You are surrounded on every side with powerful examples of people who were challenged in their faith, yet who held fast to the Word of God. And as a result, these godly people saw God’s promises come to pass in their lives!

You are not alone!

• Look at Noah and the fight he endured.
• Look at Abraham and the fight he endured.
• Look at Sarah and the fight she endured.
• Look at Jacob and the fight he endured.
• Look at Joseph and the fight he endured.
• Look at Moses and the fight he endured.
• Look at Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets and the fight they all endured.

Take some time today to read some of these examples from the Old Testament — and then turn to the New Testament to see the many examples of faithful people who are also listed there. The Bible is packed full of examples of those who heard from God, who took His Word deep into their hearts, and who refused to stop until they saw the fulfillment of what God had promised them. Like you, they faced hardships and challenges. But no matter what obstacles stood in their way, they kept going and never stopped until God’s plan for their lives was accomplished.

According to Hebrews 12:1, there are so many people who fit this description that they are literally lying all around you. And don’t think you can only look to the Bible for these godly examples. If you look closely, you’ll see that there are huge numbers of these “never-give-up” kind of people living on this earth right now as well. You are not alone in your walk of faith!

Don’t let the devil tell you that you’re the only one who has faced this kind of circumstance, because many have gone before you who have faced the same battles and won great victories. If you’ll commit a few minutes of your time to read Hebrews 11, I believe you’ll find that your battle isn’t worse than the battles these saints fought and won. Reading these verses will encourage your heart!

Don’t give up and throw in the towel! Hard times will pass, and you will see the Word of God bring you the victory you desire. When you’re tempted to get discouraged, just remember the many examples piled up all around you of people who endured and later won their prize!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to help me keep my heart free from the things of the world. You have called me to be a committed and focused Christian soldier. I cannot permit anything to ensnare and entrap me, thus distracting me from the good fight of faith You’ve called me to fight and win. You are the revealer of the secrets of men’s hearts, so today I am looking to You to reveal to me any areas in my soul where I have allowed something to entrap me so greatly that it threatens to eliminate me from the fight. 

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I boldly declare that my heart and soul are free to follow Jesus Christ! My worldly possessions are in my hands, but they are not in my heart. I will remain free of materialism, worry, and other worldly concerns, and I will stay focused on the task Jesus Christ has assigned to me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Have you allowed any of your material possessions to ensnare or trap you? Why don’t you make a list of these things?

2. What steps can you take to get untangled in your heart from these possessions?

3. Do you trust God enough to release all your worldly possessions into His hands?

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
— 1 Peter 3:15

Several years ago my heart was stirred to pray for a method to reach the elderly population in the city of Moscow. The majority of them grew up under Communism and therefore lived a life devoid of God. Although the rule of Communism is gone, that ideological system still pervades much of the thinking of the older generation. This makes them one of the most difficult groups to reach with the Gospel.

My heart has been burdened for this older segment of Russian society for several reasons, but the most important reason is that multitudes of these senior citizens will soon leave this world and pass into eternity without Christ unless we first reach them with the Good News of Jesus Christ. As I prayed for these seniors, I wanted to know how to have influence with this group of people so I could make a positive impact on them.

Suddenly one day, an idea dropped into my heart about how to reach the elderly community in the city of Moscow. It was an idea right from the throne of Heaven — an idea so brilliant and different that I could have never come up with it on my own. It was an idea that came from the Spirit of God in answer to my prayers for a method to reach these precious people. Years have passed since that idea first came into my heart — and with God’s help, we have built what may possibly be the single largest outreach to senior citizens in the world. In all of our research, we’ve never been able to find anything to compare to this massive outreach to the elderly.

Awhile back during one of these monthly events, a member of our staff — one of our drivers — was sitting in the back of the auditorium, waiting to watch the program that had been designed specifically for this senior audience. One of the elderly people sitting next to him — an old, hard-hearted, dedicated Communist and atheist — skeptically commented, “I don’t understand why Rick Renner does all these things for us. No one else seems to care about us anymore. So why would he and his team spend all this time and money on us? There must be some hidden agenda. I just don’t get it. Why would they do so much for us? What is the real reason behind all of this?”

The elderly man didn’t realize he was speaking to a member of our team. But God had carefully orchestrated that moment, ensuring that one of our drivers — a very sensitive man who compassionately cares especially for hurting people — would sit next to the elderly man and hear his skeptical comment. In response, the driver reached over to put his arm around that old Communist and answered, “What kind of price tag can be put on a person’s soul? There’s nothing in the world more precious or eternal than your soul, my friend. That is why this kind of love and attention is shown to you every month. It’s all about your soul and your eternal destiny. That’s why this is done for you.”

With that answer, that old Communist’s skepticism melted away and he replied, “Thank you so much for your kindness to help me understand what this demonstration of love and attention is all about.” On that day, God used the influence of a driver from our ministry to soften the hardened heart of that lost soul for whom Jesus died.

People frequently make a wrong assumption that they must have a seminary degree or a Bible school diploma before they can be used by God. But in New Testament times, there were no seminaries or Bible schools to attend because the Church was new and was still being established. But because the Christian faith was still in its infancy and was so different from the pagan religions of the Roman Empire, people were skeptical of Christianity and didn’t understand its message.

In fact, many were even afraid of Christians! Pagans had many questions about what Christians really believed, and false rumors about followers of Christ abounded.

In the midst of this situation, the apostle Peter told the early believers, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear…” (1 Peter 3:15). Remember, when Peter wrote this verse, he was not writing to a classroom filled with theologians; he was writing to believers — many of them new believers — to encourage them to use whatever influence they had to bring people to Jesus Christ.

Peter exhorted believers, “…Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in you.…” The phrase “be ready always” is a translation of the Greek words etoimoi aei. The word etoimoi is a form of the word etoimos, which means to be ready or to be prepared. It is an attitude that is always set to go, eager, prompt, and raring to get started. It is a perpetual mindset of being ready to get started on a project, to take on a challenge, or to take initiative of some sort. To have such a readiness also implies preparation. Inherent in this command to be ready is the idea that one must do everything in his power to equip himself for that moment when he is to be called to action.

In fact, this perpetual mindset to “be ready always” is made abundantly clear in Greek by the use of the word aei, which can be translated always, at all times, constantly, or perpetually. In First Peter 3:15, the apostle Peter was urging his readers (and us as well), “…Be constantly and perpetually ready, set to go and prompt to act.…”

Then Paul went on to write what you must be “ready” to do! He said you must “…Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in you.…”

The word “answer” is the Greek word apologia, a compound of the word apo and logos. In this case, the word apo means back, and the word logia, from logos, is the Greek word for words. But when they are compounded, the new word apologia means to answer back, to reply, to respond, to explain, or to defend. It is the same word that the apostle Paul used in Philippians 1:16 when he wrote that he had been “…set for the defense of the gospel.” In using this word, Paul acknowledged that part of his God-given task was to answer questions put to him by unbelievers about the Gospel.

There is no doubt about it. Because Peter used the word apologia, he unmistakably was telling you that, as a Christian, you must “…Be constantly and perpetually ready, be set to go, and be prompt to answer every man that asks a reason of the hope that is in you….”

Peter says we are be fully prepared to answer “every man” who inquires about what we believe — explaining the nature of the hope that resides in our hearts and why we believe it. The words “every man” in Greek is panti, which is an all-encompassing word that literally means every man, every individual, and every person — with no exceptions! This one statement affirms that the Gospel is for every man on the face of the earth, regardless of race, class, or color. Peter told us not to be surprised if people “ask” about our faith. In fact, we should anticipate that they will ask. This is the reason Peter urged us to be prepared and ready to answer!

When Peter says non-Christians will “ask” about the hope that is in us, the word “ask” is the Greek word aiteo. The word aiteo means to be adamant in requesting and demanding something. In other words, this is not a mere wish, but a demand for an answer to an insatiable longing either to have something or know something. In fact, the word aiteo is the very word used in Mark 15:43, where the Bible tells us that Joseph of Arimathea “craved” the body of Jesus after the crucifixion. The word “craved” is a great translation of the word aiteo, for that night an all-consuming desire drove Joseph of Arimathea to go to Pilate to strongly demand and adamantly insist that Jesus’ body be released to him. (For more on this word, see Sparkling Gems 1, April 10.)

Peter used this same strong word — aiteo — to alert us to the fact that when non-Christians finally work up the nerve to “ask” us questions or to inquire about the faith and hope they see in us, we need to be quick to answer, because they really want to know — or they wouldn’t be asking! It’s just like the old Communist who inquired why we were doing so much for the elderly population of Moscow. Although his question seemed skeptical, the truth was that this elderly man really wanted to know why we were doing what we did. He longed to know the answer; that’s why he asked. Thank God, there was a “regular ol’ believer” sitting next to him who was ready to give him the answer!

• How ready were you to give an answer the last time someone asked you about your faith?
• If you found yourself sitting next to a non-Christian who asked you about what you believe, why you believe it, and how your faith affects your life, how would you answer these questions?
• How prepared are you today to give an answer to those who ask a reason for the hope that is in you?

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you aren’t adequate to answer such questions because you haven’t been to seminary or Bible school. I remind you again that when Peter wrote this verse, there were no seminary or Bible school graduates with diplomas. All that was there at that time were simple, everyday Christians — just like you. They went to work and conducted their normal affairs every day. And in the process of it all, they were constantly rubbing elbows with non-Christians from every walk of life, every class of society, and every ethnic group, who asked: “What is your faith all about?” “Why do you believe what you believe?” “Can you give me the reason for the hope that is in you?”

God uses people, and you may find that He orchestrates a meeting between you and a person who ends up sitting next to you. You don’t have to be a theologian to tell someone why you love Jesus and what He has done in your life. But it would be wise for you to ponder what you would say if someone asked you a reason for the hope that is in you. In doing so, you’re taking heed to Peter’s admonition to the early Christians when he wrote: “…Be constantly and perpetually ready, be set to go, and be prompt to answer every man that asks a reason of the hope that is in you.…”

Today God is calling out to you and me, urging us to be available and always ready to give an answer to those who crave to know more about Jesus and what He has done in our lives. We are spiritually obligated to answer to those who want to know. So let me ask you: Are you available to share your testimony or to use your influence to help someone come to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ? Are you ready to give an answer to every person who asks a reason for the hope that is in you?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I am deeply convicted that I need to be more open about sharing my faith with non-Christians I see and talk to every day. I know they feel empty and are searching for the real reason for life. I remember how lost I felt before You came into my life and gave me a new purpose. I thank You for giving me Your compassion for those who are without Christ. Let me speak words so filled with wisdom and grace that they will minister grace and clearly explain the hope I have in Christ — a hope that they, too, can share. Thank You for causing a burning passion to grow within me to see people saved. I don’t ever want to be so busy in my own affairs that I forget people need to be saved. I don’t want to be hardhearted or uncaring about people’s eternal status. So I stir up a strong desire deep inside me to see people saved and delivered by Your power!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am deeply concerned for unsaved people — especially those that I rub elbows with every day. I accept my God-given responsibility to share Jesus with those who are lost — especially to those who appeal to me for answers regarding the reason for the hope that is in me. When people ask me, I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God that leads to salvation; rather, I am bold, eager to answer, and ready to tell them the Good News about Jesus Christ. He has changed my life! Therefore, I am prepared at any moment to introduce others to the same saving and life-changing message that has revolutionized my life and given me a relationship with God Almighty.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of one person you are acquainted with who needs to know Jesus Christ? Who is that person?
2. Be honest — what steps have you taken to help that one person personally know Jesus Christ? Can you truthfully tell God that you have done your part to share the truth about Jesus and of His power to save him or her?
3. If First Peter 3:15 commands us to be ready to answer every man that asks a question about the hope that is in us, what are you doing to prepare yourself so that you can answer questions about your faith, why you believe what you believe, what your faith does for you, or what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ? What are you doing to get yourself ready to answer the questions any non-Christian may ask?

How to Be A Spiritual Billionaire

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…
— Colossians 3:16

When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house. Grandpa was an immigrant fresh from Germany. Before his life in America, he had always known poverty. Grandma had also known many hardships and had always had to scrape by to survive financially.

Every afternoon, Grandpa and Grandma would go into their living room, turn on the television, and take their seats; then with great pleasure, they would watch the television program called “Let’s Make a Deal!” When the program concluded, they would always spend a few minutes daydreaming about what they’d do if they suddenly struck it rich and inherited a large amount of money.

I loved to listen to my grandparents as they fantasized about paying off all their bills, purchasing a new house, contributing huge sums of money to the church, and bequeathing money to their children and grandchildren. They’d also talk about how they would show extraordinary generosity toward people who were disadvantaged in life. For Grandpa and Grandma, the supreme dream was what life would be like if they suddenly struck it rich!

If you are also among those who dream of striking it rich someday, I want to tell you that you don’t have to fantasize about being rich anymore! If you are a child of God, you’ve already struck it rich! You have been given a treasure that will make boundless wealth accessible to you for the rest of your life. You are already a spiritual billionaire; however, for you to derive benefit from what God has provided, you have to learn how to tap into these vast resources.

In Colossians 3:16, the apostle Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” Today I want us to look at the word “richly” in this verse. It comes from the Greek word plousios, a very old Greek word that describes:

• incredible abundance
• extreme wealth
• enormous affluence
• great prosperity
• immense riches
• magnificent opulence
• extravagant lavishness

Paul uses the word plousios in Colossians 3:16 to let us know that if we will receive the Word of God in the right way — if we give it a warm reception and make it feel at home in our lives — it will enrich us spiritually. Thus, the word plousios means that the Word of God can make us spiritual “billionaires”!

Colossians 3:16 conveys the following idea:

“Let the Word of God dwell in you richly! Throw open the doors, roll out the red carpet, and give it a grand reception! If you’ll let the Word dwell in you in this way, it will produce an amazing amount of spiritual wealth in your life…”

You may ask, “How can the Word make us spiritually rich?” Paul continues to tell us what the Word can produce in us if we allow it to do so. He says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

These words describe people so full of the Word of God that their entire being is affected. Their hearts are full of joy; their minds are flooded with wisdom and understanding; and their mouths are singing songs to the Lord. This describes people who have struck it rich spiritually!

It is a fact that when the Word of God really comes to feel at home in you, dwelling lavishly inside your heart, it enriches you with the wisdom, the gifts, and the power you need for today. You become so filled with the riches of God that you automatically find yourself admonishing and encouraging other people in their faith. When the Word dwells in you richly, there’s always a song of rejoicing in your heart! When you are filled with the Word to this extent, those inward spiritual riches will easily flow out of you to bring life to everyone around you.

By using the word “richly” in this verse, Paul is painting a picture of what the Word of God will produce for you if you allow it to take up residency in you and become a vital part of your life. So if you’re tired of striving with no results — if you’re tired of feeling spiritually weak and worn out with nothing to offer — stop right where you are today. Don’t take another step without making the decision to let God’s Word play a more important role in your life.

As you do, the Word of God will enrich you with spiritual wisdom and insight. It will put victory in your heart and a song in your mouth! It will turn you into a spiritual billionaire! It will enrich your life so much that you’ll always have something spiritually to donate, to bequeath, or to freely share with someone else!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to help me become so full of the Word of God that my entire being is affected by its life-giving truth. As I dwell on Your Word and let it live inside me, my heart will be filled with joy, my mind will be flooded with wisdom and understanding, and my mouth will be filled with songs. Lord, I know that Your Word will take me to the richest spiritual place I’ve ever known in my life. So help me make Your Word feel at home in my heart so I can start living each day like I’ve struck it spiritually rich!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that the Word of God enriches me with spiritual wisdom and insight. It puts victory in my heart and a song in my mouth! As I meditate on the Word, it enriches my life, and I always have something spiritually to donate, to bequeath, or to freely share with others. I am so filled with the riches of God’s Word that I automatically find myself admonishing and encouraging other people in their faith. 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. How can you roll out the red carpet and give God’s Word a grand reception today?

2. Do you want the wisdom, gifts, and power of God to be more active in your life so you can minister more effectively to those around you?

3. What can you do differently in your private times with the Lord to “let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly”?

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
— 1 John 5:15

When our youngest son Joel was first learning how to pray, he always prayed the same exact prayer every time he bowed his head. When we got on our knees alongside his bed at night, he repeated the same prayer. If we asked him to pray over the meal at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, we already knew exactly what he was going to say. If we were taking a trip in the car and wanted to pray for safety, we knew we’d never get to the prayer for safety if Joel prayed because he would pray the same prayer he had prayed the night before when he went to bed. It was always word for word the same prayer.

Regardless of the place, event, or time of the day, Joel prayed: “Heavenly Father, please bless my parents, bless my brothers, bless my grandparents, bless the whole world, and please give us a good day. I pray this in Jesus’ name!” The only variation that ever occurred in his prayers was when he occasionally threw in a request for God to bless our family dog!

When Joel was only five years old, we thought this was cute, and we enjoyed his amusing regularity in prayer. But a time came when it wasn’t cute anymore! He was getting older — and Denise and I knew our youngest son needed to step forward in his relationship with God and in his ability to pray more effectively. I remember the day I looked into his little blue eyes and told him, “Joel, you need to be more specific when you pray. It’s all right to ask for God’s blessing every time you pray, but if you’ll get specific with God when you pray, He will answer your specific prayer requests.”

Just as is true for all of us as we walk with God, there came a time for Joel when he was asked to take a step higher in prayer. He needed to learn to be specific when he prayed and not just ask for a general, sweeping bestowal of blessing on our family and the earth’s population.

Unfortunately, there are many people — even older adults who have known the Lord for many years and are well advanced in terms of age — who still sound like small children when they pray. They’ve never grown in their prayer life, and therefore they still pray only general, childlike prayers that beseech God to bestow His blessings on them and those they love. Of course, it’s good to ask for God’s blessing and to be childlike in our faith, but God pleads with His people to get specific with Him when they pray!

In First John 5:14, the Bible tells us that if we ask anything according to His will, God hears us. Then in the next verse, it continues: “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:15).

First, I want to point out that this verse says we are to “ask” when we pray. This means there is nothing wrong with asking if we are doing it according to the will of God! But wait — before we go any further, let’s stop and look at this word “ask.” In this word, we find a treasure trove that will help us know what kind of attitude we must have when we make our requests known to God.

In First John 5:15, the word “ask” in Greek is the word aiteo. This Greek word eliminates any religious suggestion that we are “lowly worms” who have no right to come into the presence of God to make a request. It also destroys the picture that we must pitifully beg and plead for the things we need from the Lord. The word aiteo means to be adamant in requesting and even demanding assistance in meeting tangible needs, such as food, shelter, money, and so forth.

Of course, we don’t want to be disrespectful when we pray, so for those who are concerned about sounding rude, let me assure you that the Greek word aiteo does not give us license to be arrogant or rude in this approach to God. In fact, in the New Testament and in other secular literature from New Testament times, the word aiteo is often used to portray a person addressing a superior. The person may insist or demand that a need be met, but he approaches and speaks to his superior with respect and a sense of honor. However, the petitioner is so sure that his request is correct that he asks boldly with a firm expectation that he will receive the desired outcome.

This word aiteo describes a person who speaks out and prays boldly and authoritatively. This person knows specifically what he needs and isn’t afraid to boldly come into God’s Presence to ask and expect to receive what he has requested.

As we have stated, the previous verse (see 1 John 5:14) states that you must know you are praying according to the will of God if you want Him to hear and answer you. So since you are praying in line with God’s will, you don’t have to sheepishly mumble your requests. You are praying precisely according to what God wants to do, so you can boldly assert your faith and expect Him to move on your behalf. He wants you to act boldly and courageously in prayer! He wants you to seize His will for your life and demand that it come into manifestation! He’s just waiting for you to ask.

Furthermore, don’t think that you can come to God only for spiritual blessings. As noted earlier, the word aiteo most often has to do with requesting things of a physical and material nature, such as food, clothes, shelter, money, and so forth. So find out what God promises you in His Word regarding such provision, and then boldly ask Him to meet your needs!

John went on to say, “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:15). Let’s look next at the word “petitions,” because the form used in the original text emphatically informs us that God wants us to get very specific when we pray!

The word “petition” is the Greek word aitema, which is a form of the word aiteo that we discussed above, but now it denotes a specific, exact, explicit, precise, detailed request. This request is so in-depth, thorough, and comprehensive that there is no room for misunderstanding exactly what has been asked. This is why the King James translators translated it as the word “petition.” It paints the picture of a prayer so detailed and explicit that it is like a bona fide “petition” that has been prepared and submitted.

With the meanings of these Greek words in mind, First John 5:15 could be interpreted:

“And if we can be confident that God hears us, regardless of what we ask or what physical or tangible need we may want Him to meet for us, we can be sure that we will have a ‘yes’ to the specific, exact, explicit, detailed requests that we desired of Him.”

So let me ask you this: When you pray, do you pray general, sweeping prayers for blessings, or have you learned the secret of getting specific with God when you pray? That kind of vague, general prayer may be cute for a little child, but as you grow in your walk with God, He expects you to get bold, courageous, and very specific about the things you request of Him. We know this very clearly because of the Greek words aiteo and aitema that are used in First John 5:15.

So let me encourage you today to open your Bible and explore its pages until you find specifically what the will of God is for your situation. Once you know it, be assured that you have the right as a child of God to go straight into His presence and, with honor and respect, insist that His will be done in this matter! In fact, God wants you to come to Him boldly like that!

So when you make your requests known to Him, get as specific and detailed as you can. I suggest that you even think it through, write it down on a piece of paper, and then submit it as your “petition” to God.

If you have a specific request, you need to be specific when you ask God to bring about His will in the matter you’re bringing before Him. You’ll only experience discernible answers to prayer if you get specific when you pray. So make this the day you decide you are stepping up higher in your prayer life! It’s time to become very specific when you come boldly before the Father’s throne of grace to receive mercy and grace to help in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16)!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, today I come to You in Jesus’ name, thanking You for the Holy Spirit who leads me and guides me into all truth. Your Word is filled with promises that meet every need in my life. Thank You for directing me to find Your promises that apply to the specific situations in my life right now. Holy Spirit, once You have enabled me to find those promises, I purpose in my heart to come to the Father in confidence and assurance as I submit specific, detailed requests to the concrete needs I am facing in my life. You have commanded me to ask that I might receive and that my joy would be made full. From this point onward, I commit myself to honor You with specific requests when I pray! And I will be faithful to glorify Your Name when the answers are granted!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am finished with praying only general, sweeping prayers for God’s blessings. From this moment forward, I intend to be very specific when I pray. God’s Word holds answers and promises that He wants to bring to pass in my life. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will find those answers, discover those promises, and then be very concrete about the things for which I release my faith to receive from God. This is the confidence that I have in my Heavenly Father: If I ask any- thing according to His will — and His Word is His will — He hears me. And according to First John 5:14, since I know that He hears me, I know that I have the petition I have desired from Him. Therefore, I am now stepping up to the next level of maturity in prayer, where I speak up, speak out, and pray with authority every time I make my requests known to God.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. When you pray, are you specific about what you want God to do, or do you pray mostly general, sweeping prayers that are not detailed or explicit? If someone else asked you to do the exact same thing you’ve been asking God to do, would you understand what that person wanted you to do?
2. What do you want God to do for you? Can you express it in clear and unambiguous terms? Are you so clear on the subject that you could write it on a piece of paper and submit it to God as an official “petition”?
3. Why don’t you take a few minutes today to write down the requests you want to present to God. You may discover that you aren’t clear about what you want God to do for you. This exercise may help you attain a better understanding of exactly what you want God to do for you based on His Word.

A Time to Forcefully Speak the Truth in Love

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire…
— Jude 1:23

What does the Bible say about how we should respond to believers who continue to practice sin? If you are personally aware of individuals like this, what steps or action should you take to rescue him or her?

• What attitude does God expect you to have regarding these people’s sin?
• What kind of action does God expect you to take to see them delivered?
• What approach should you take regarding the sin they are living in?
• What is the proper outlook for you to have concerning their situation?

The answer to these questions is found in Jude 1:23. In this verse, Jude compellingly tells us, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire….”

First of all, Jude tells us to “save [them] with fear.” This word “fear” is the Greek word phobos. It suggests a fear or a strong dose of respect for something that is life-threatening, dangerous, or alarming. Because Jude uses this key Greek word, it tells us what kind of attitude we should have regarding sin. Sin is dangerous, alarming, and even life-threatening to a person’s spiritual life. Therefore, sin must not be tolerated, nor should the effects of sin be watered down. In short, we should have no stomach for sin.

Next, Jude 1:23 tells us what action we must take when we find a fellow believer who is getting caught up in sin. This verse tells us that we must act fast to “pull them out of the fire.” The word “pull” comes from the Greek word harpadzo. This is an extremely strong and aggressive word that presents the picture of snatching someone out of a dangerous situation. In fact, it would be better translated to seize.

The word harpadzo is the very word used in Colossians 1:13 when Paul writes, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son.” That word “delivered” is also from the Greek word harpadzo.

In Colossians 1:13, this word portrays that moment when Jesus Christ broke Satan’s power over our lives and snatched us out of the kingdom of darkness. One Greek expositor says the word harpadzo in Colossians 1:13 carries this idea: “He grabbed us by the back of our necks and snatched us out of danger, just in the nick of time.…”  This Greek word harpadzo contains passion, fervency, urgency, and action.

Because these words are used in Jude 1:23, it could be translated:

“Because of the alarmingly dangerous state that some believers are in, I urge you to take immediate and fast-acting measures to see them delivered and rescued. And if they don’t quickly respond, don’t stop! You need to keep up your sense of urgency until you are convinced that they are rescued and snatched out of the fires of destruction. If you must, go all the way to grab them by the back of their necks and jerk them out of those flames.…”

Jude uses the word harpadzo to tell you that sometimes people are so deceived about what they’re doing, they don’t want to change. Even if you tell them that they are headed for trouble, they may not believe it! In these cases, your sweet words and tender pleading with them may not work. That means you may have to get forceful in the way you tell these people the truth. Your words must reach out and seize their hearts.

Think back for a minute to Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Lot got so caught up in the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah that when the angels told him the two cities were about to be destroyed, he wanted to stay anyway! The angels had to take him by the hand and make him leave! They had to forcibly remove him from that situation; otherwise, he would have been destroyed. The angels literally dragged Lot out of the city against his will (Genesis 19:16).

Likewise, we must do everything within our power to snatch people from spiritually dangerous predicaments. Although they may not feel the heat of the fire at the moment or realize the seriousness of their spiritual condition, we must speak forcefully and truthfully to them in order to seize their hearts and set them free.

We’re not in the business of kidnapping people or taking them out of situations against their will. But we are to pray for fellow believers who are caught in sin and don’t realize the dangerous nature of their situation. We must also go to them and do all we can to “pull them out of the fires” of destruction they’re about to release into their lives.

If you know someone who is drifting away from his relationship with the Lord, pray for a door to open that will allow you to speak the truth in love and pull him out of impending destruction. Just think about it — if you were the one about to make a major spiritual error, wouldn’t you want your true friends to speak the truth in love to you? So believe God for an open door. He’ll show you how and when to speak the truth.

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to give me Your heart for brothers and sisters who are living in sin. Forgive me for the times I have been insensitive to the dangerous nature of sin. Help me to be passionate and fervent in prayer for them and to keep praying for them until their deliverance is complete and they are fully restored. Help me consider the way I would want others to pray for me if I were in the same situation.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I will do everything within my power to snatch people from spiritually dangerous predicaments. Although they may not feel the heat of the fire at the moment or realize the seriousness of their spiritual condition, I will obey the Word of God and speak truthfully to them in order to seize their hearts and set them free. I believe that God will open a door and show me how and when I am to speak the truth.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Is there anyone in your life right now who comes to mind as someone who is in danger of being consumed in the “fire” of sin?

2. Realizing the seriousness of sin and deception, how would you want someone to confront you if you were in that person’s situation?

3. In what ways could God use you to bring the truth in love to this person in order to set him or her free?

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
— Revelation 2:10

Today I want to speak to people who feel that they are facing circumstances that are beyond their control. That may even be you. If you are in the midst of a very difficult situation, hopelessness and fear may have tried to wrap its tentacles around you and drain you of the personal fortitude you need to stay in the battle. But I want to tell you the truth: Every person has faced something fearful at some point in his or her life. If you are feeling this way, I want to encourage you to stay faithful to the very end, because victory lies at the end of the battle you are facing right now.

It’s so important to learn how to respond to a crisis, because the one you’re facing right now is not the last one you’re going to face in life. It’s naïve to think that the devil is just going to lie down and watch you flow from one victory to the next. He does not want you to succeed at fulfilling the will of God for your life. You will always have another opportunity to be tested. That’s why you have to make the decision before it happens that you are never going to quit, throw in the towel, or bend to circumstances. You are required to have a determined mindset that says, It doesn’t matter what happens to me or what the devil says. I am going to do what God called me to do.

To be victorious we must decide that we will not budge in our commitment, regardless of the price that is to be paid. Any other attitude will lead to compromise, and compromise leads to failure, and failure leads to defeat. We must decide that we are committed to the end — even if, as Revelation 2:10 says, “the end” means that we must be “faithful unto death”!

We must not forget that many people in previous generations, as well as many people right now on this earth, are facing crushing circumstances every day that seem to be beyond their control. That was true of the believers in the church at Smyrna, one of the seven churches that Jesus addressed in Revelation 2 and 3. They were under a constant onslaught of persecution, and Christ was aware of the situation they were facing — just as He is aware of what you are facing today.

Jesus knew that the believers in Smyrna refused to throw in the towel and to surrender to the hostile forces that were arrayed against them. Aware of their steadfastness and the possible troubles that still awaited them, Christ urged them, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death….”

Christ did not give them a false hope. He saw what lay before them and warned them honestly that pressures against them were far from over. But in spite of the fact that they were facing more persecution, imprisonment, and possible death, Christ said, “Be thou faithful unto death….” Let’s examine those words today and see what we can extract from them that will encourage us in our own challenging situations.

The words “be thou” are a translation of the Greek word ginou, a form of the word ginomai, which describes a process of becoming. Thus, the phrase “be thou faithful” could literally be interpreted “become faithful” or “keep on becoming faithful.” Thus, the idea conveyed in this verse could read, “…Give it your best effort, putting all your energies into the goal of progressively becoming more and more faithful….”

The word “faithful” is the Greek word pistos, which is the most common New Testament word for faith. It conveys the idea of people who are faithful, reliable, loyal, and steadfast. No matter what assails them or how hot the fires of persecution blaze, these believers were to remain unwavering in their commitment to Jesus Christ. Thus, Jesus was requiring His people to remain devoted, trustworthy, dependable, dedicated, constant, and unwavering, even in the face of the worst circumstances imaginable. Breaking their commitment to Him under the weight of external pressures, no matter how extreme, was not an acceptable option.

The word “unto” is archi, which means unto, up to, or including. In other words, these believers were never to renege on their commitment to Christ. This divine call to commitment — regardless of the price that had to be paid — was so serious that, if necessary, Christ expected them to be faithful unto, up to, or even including death itself.

A faith that remains steadfast only when times are good is unacceptable.

The Savior endured the Cross in order to experience His resurrection and exaltation — and now He calls on you and me to endure to the end. Just as the Holy Spirit enabled Jesus to run His race to the end, the Spirit of God will enable us to endure any affliction, hardship, pressure, problem, trial, or tribulation we encounter as we prove the authenticity and sincerity of our faith. When the battle is finished, like Christ, we will experience resurrection and exaltation!

We are called to pick up our cross and follow Jesus, regardless of the price we are required to pay. That may not be pleasant to consider, but it is a fact nonetheless. Scripture never teaches that we are to draw back from our faith when hardships approach. Rather, Jesus asks for our commitment and faithfulness, even unto the point of death, if that’s what is required as a part of our journey in Him.

Believers who live in parts of the world that are hostile to the Christian faith understand this type of commitment very well. Those who have come to Christ in a non-hostile environment often don’t comprehend the life-and-death type of commitment others have been required to make. Yet throughout the centuries of Church history, Christians have often given their very lives for what they believed. And this isn’t just a past reality. It is a statistical fact that in the past century, more believers died for their faith than in all the previous centuries of accumulated Christian history combined. Believers have suffered “unto death” for Jesus’ sake in the past, and they still are doing so today.

The word “death” in this verse is the Greek word thanatos, which is a word that is used more than 120 times in the New Testament. It describes the physical state of death or extinction of life. But in the New Testament, it also depicts a mortal danger, a dangerous circumstance, or something that is fatal. In the Roman legal system, it described the death penalty.

Jesus had already foretold the church of Smyrna that they would be falsely accused, thrown into prison, and intensely tested by the devil. In addition, He forewarned them in a most straightforward manner that mortal dangers were coming — and that for many who faithfully followed Christ, the danger would prove to be fatal. For these believers, a death penalty would be issued against them and carried out with great cruelty. Yet regardless of what they might have to endure, Christ urged them to “be faithful unto death.”

Very few, if any, of those who ever read this Sparkling Gem will be required to make a commitment that requires their death. But regardless, that is the level of the actual commitment that

Jesus Christ is asking each one of us to make. If we make the commitment to be faithful to the end — regardless of the price that must be paid — being defeated will simply not be an option.

Oh, my friend, I want to remind you that God has great plans for you. So rather than look at your dire situation today and think that there is no way out, ask God to open your eyes to see the opportunity in the midst of the crisis. Every crisis holds opportunity. When the world screams and rails against you, it is temporary. If you push it all aside and endure to the end, you will receive the ultimate reward.

You and I must ask the Lord to help us see each situation as He sees it. When Jesus died, God didn’t accept the thinking of the vast majority who said, “Jesus is dead. It’s over. It’s finished.” Instead, God saw an opportunity for resurrection! Oh, that He would give us His eyes so we can see how He sees!

Your best days are not behind you — they are before you! But for you to reach a glorious conclusion, it requires a rock-solid decision on your part. From this moment on and for the rest of your life, you must choose to be “faithful unto death” to the One you call your Lord and Savior. You must set your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, and determine that you will never look back again. Every moment that you live and breathe is all for Him — to the very end of this life and on into the ages to come!

 |

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

 

Father, You are asking every believer for a higher level of commitment than we’ve ever made before. Today I understand that You are asking me personally for commitment of the highest magnitude — just as Jesus displayed a commitment of the highest magnitude to You, Father, in my behalf. Through that great sacrifice of Himself, I am now more than a conqueror through Him who loved me and washed me from sin in His own blood. Therefore, I do not fear death, but I joyfully commit my life unto You, Lord, knowing that I will not be able to be defeated because resurrection and exaltation await those who are faithful even unto death. So today I ask You to help me rise to a higher place of commitment so I can be faithful to the very end.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

|

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

 

I confess that I am committed to do what God has called me to do. Regardless of the forces that are arrayed against me, I will endure to the end and receive an eternal reward — a crown of life presented to the faithful who stand before the Lord on that day when we give an account of what we’ve done. I will not only be rewarded in Heaven so I can have a crown to lay at Christ’s feet on that day, but also I will taste victory here on earth. My best days are not behind me — they are before me! I declare that I am committed to the very end. Therefore, I reach a glorious conclusion because faith, confidence, and boldness arise in me! I fear no evil because the love of God in me and toward me drives out all fear!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

|

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Are you feeling tempted to fear right now? What are you doing to combat that spirit of fear and to command it to leave you? I encourage you to open your heart to someone who knows how to pray and to ask them to pray with you for courage and
2. What does remaining faithful “until the end” mean to you personally? Can you recall past experiences where you thought you wouldn’t make it, but because you were committed to do what God asked you to do, you ended up seeing great victory in your life? What is the last time you experienced this? How many times have you seen obstacles move out of the way and victory move into place in your life?

…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto the things which are before….
— Philippians 3:13

Well, today one year is closing, and another year is about to begin. Is your year ending the way you prayed it would? Or do you need to make alterations in your heart quickly to get back on track with what God wants to do in your life so you can start the next year right?

Many times as I’ve come close to the end of a calendar year, I’ve wondered if I was going to accomplish everything I sensed the Lord instructing me to do in that year. But if it’s too late to do what you should have done this year, it’s time for you to forget those things that are behind and to reach forth unto the things that are before you (see Philippians 3:13). The word “forget” in this verse is the Greek word epilanthanomai, which depicts something that is done with, accomplished, and no longer an issue before you. The word “behind” is the word opiso, which describes something that no longer has relevance in your life. It is old, antiquated, outdated, and no long applicable.

Rather than focus on things of the past that no longer have relevance in your life, it’s time for you to “reach forth” unto those things that are before you. The words “reach forth” are translated from the Greek word epikteinomai, and it pictures a runner in a race — running with every ounce of strength he can muster to get around that final bend in the stadium one last time and finish as the winner! His whole body and eyes are fastened on that goal as he leans forward and runs with all his might to break through that finish line.

Today is your last day to make wrongs right and to do things that you know you ought to do. This year is closing in a mere matter of minutes or hours. But before you is a glorious new beginning! The Holy Spirit wants to divinely energize you to run your race in the new year with your eyes and your whole being fixed on the goal. It may be challenging, but if you’ll surrender to the Holy Spirit’s control, He’ll take you where you never could have gone by yourself!

When you lay your head on your pillow tonight and say farewell to this year, make sure that you also welcome the new year with faith, confidence, and commitment that in this new year you will accomplish every dream, goal, and desire that God has put in your heart to accomplish over the next 12 months!|

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, this has been an awesome year in which You have taught me so much. My heart is overflowing with thankfulness for every challenge You’ve helped me overcome and for every lesson You’ve taught me that has helped mold me more to the image of Jesus Christ. I am simply filled with gratitude that You have done so much in my heart during this year — and I believe that the next year will be even richer and fuller than the one I am presently completing. As I reach the finish line of this year, I forget what is behind me, and I reach for what is ahead. For all of this, I give You thanks!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

|

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I boldly declare that the year before me will be the best year I’ve ever known in my life thus far. The Holy Spirit is energizing me — and He will help me run my race better than I’ve ever run it before. I say no distractions or obstacles will stop me — and that I will run until I reach the finish line! Jesus has already laid out the race before me — I only need to jump up, give it my best shot with the Spirit’s power, and finish everything God wants me to achieve in this new year!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

|

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Is it too late — have you run out of time to do what you were supposed to do? What could you have done differently to produce a more fruitful outcome? Write down what you should have done and what you could have done better to achieve your goals and dreams. Then repent and forget the guilt of it. The past is over, irrelevant, and no longer an issue before you. Ask the Lord to help you accomplish old responsibilities in a new way by the grace and mercy that are freshly available to you today!
2. Before you is a glorious new beginning! Have you consulted the Holy Spirit to find out what He wants you to know about the race set before you in the new year? If you make the decision now to yield to the Holy Spirit’s direction at every turn, He will take you where you never could have gone by yourself!
3. Have you written down the ways you want to use your faith to be a bigger blessing to the Kingdom of God in the coming year? In what way can you better serve your pastor and your church? What are the steps you need to take to be a stronger spiritual influence for God in the lives of your family and friends? What do you need to do to be a brighter light and better representative of Christ to the lost? When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, say farewell to this year, and welcome the new year with faith, confidence, and a commitment to glorify God as never before.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which
hath begun a good work in you will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ.
— Philippians 1:6

I have no doubt that there are a few things I need to wrap up before the year ends. It has been a good year — very productive and full of good fruits. I am so thankful for this — yet I know there are still some things that the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish in my life before the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins. The new year is just two days away — so it means I must intensely focus on what the Holy Spirit desires to get done before this year ends.

Just as has been true every year, this past year has been a year of both challenges and victory. But I want the year to end in total victory by allowing the Spirit of God to inwardly finish what He has started in me at the first of this year. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

The word “confident” is the Greek word peitho, and it means to be sure, to be certain, and to have absolute conviction. I don’t know about you, but the Holy Spirit has been working fervently in my heart all year, and I have absolute conviction that He is going to finish what He started. Do you have that same conviction concerning your own life?

What does the Holy Spirit want to accomplish in your life in the next two days? You might say, “Two days is too short a period of time!” But nothing is impossible when the Holy Spirit has a willing vessel who is willing to cooperate with Him. If you are willing, the Holy Spirit can accomplish anything in you — even in two days before the year ends. Then you can start the new year fresh and ready for what God wants to do in the next year, with nothing trailing behind you from the year before. Don’t let yourself drag anything negative from this year into next year! The Holy Spirit’s power is available to do a fresh, quick work of grace in your life. He wants to set you free and get you ready for a brand-new start!

In the first seven devotionals in this book (January 1-7) I challenged you with certain goals the Holy Spirit may want you to focus on in the ensuing 12 months. I want to encourage you to skim those seven days and see if you have allowed the Spirit of God to do what He wanted to do in those areas of your life. If not, this is a good time to seek forgiveness and cleansing — and to move into the new year with a fresh sense of faith and courage to allow the Holy Spirit to do the work He desires to do in you in the coming 12 months.

I’ll honestly tell you that one of my goals for this year was to finish and publish the book you hold in your hands. It required a great level of commitment and fortitude to accomplish this goal. But I knew it was the will of God, so I set my heart to accomplish it. And with the Holy Spirit’s help, it has been done according to the plan.

Knowing God’s plan — and operating according to that — is so essential for living effectively for Him. If you don’t know the Lord’s will for the next year of your life, the Holy Spirit wants to help you know it, so ask Him to show you. As I’ve already noted, the Holy Spirit will work fervently in you to finish what He has started. Philippians 1:6 assures us that this is true: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Just stop a moment to consider that promise! God begins the good work in you, and then He performs it. From start to finish, it’s His grace that enables you to accomplish what you need to do before the clock strikes midnight on December 31. So don’t say it’s too late, because it’s never too late to address those issues the Holy Spirit has been talking to you about. If nothing else, get started in this new calendar year — and His power will help you quickly get the victory.

I am praying for you today. God has wonderful things in store for you. He simply needs your cooperation, and His supernatural power will quickly do what otherwise would take a long time to do. So throw open your arms and say, “Holy Spirit, I am ready to cooperate with You! Do quickly in my life what only You can do, and show me what my part is so I can do what You want me to do!”|

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, the race for this year is almost over, but it’s not too late for me to come out a winner by faith in every area of my life. I surrender every obstacle that has hindered me as a result of my own thoughts and actions. I ask You to supernaturally quicken me so I can achieve the goals You desire to perform in me. I am absolutely convinced that You will perform this work in me and that You’ll keep doing it until the day of Jesus Christ!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

|

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that God’s power is working inside me — and He will quickly do those things He has wanted to accomplish in my life this past year. My wrong choices may have hindered them from being done earlier. But right now, I choose to cooperate with the will and the power of God to see His plan for me accelerated and accomplished because of my obedience. According to Philippians 1:6, I am absolutely sure and completely persuaded that God is doing His work in me!

 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

|

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. What internal changes do you need to wrap up before the clock strikes midnight on December 31? The Holy Spirit can quickly do what you could never do on your o Why not write down the changes you desire to make today and release your faith for a quick work to be done?
2. Do you have relationships that need to be mended and healed before the end of this year? If so, you know that restoration is possible through the power of the Holy S Ask Him to help you to know how to approach that person, how to apologize, and how to make amends. He will show you what to do.
3. Do you owe a debt to someone that you should have taken care of this year but failed to do so? Has that unpaid debt grieved you and hurt the person to whom you owe the debt? Why don’t you humble yourself, make a phone call, sincerely apologize, and get on the path toward making things right with that person?