Being Led by the Holy Spirit

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.  And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.  And their eyes were opened….
— Matthew 9:27-30

It may be hard for you to believe, but most of what we have done in life has been initiated by us, not by the Spirit of God. After the ball is rolling and we’ve already started “doing our thing,” that’s usually when we pray and ask God to bless what we have initiated. We just assume that it is His will because it seems like such a good idea. No wonder we have such poor results!

We must learn to put on the brakes, stop ourselves for a while, and learn to wait until the Holy Spirit speaks clearly to our hearts. It may seem as if this way of doing things takes longer; but when He does speak, the results will be more rewarding and longer lasting. Furthermore, we can avoid pitfalls that would have cost us a lot of time and effort in the long run.

Believers must learn to let the Holy Spirit lead them. Take healing as an example. How many ministers have thought, I’m going to empty all those wheelchairs by praying for those sick people! But after they finished praying, most of the people were still in their wheelchairs and those ministers left feeling embarrassed, defeated, and powerless. Didn’t God want to heal those people? Of course He did, but the anointing may not have been present at that exact moment to heal in that particular way.

Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is important if we want to see successful results in any sphere of life, including healing, family, business, and leading a church congregation. Only the Holy Spirit sees and knows everything that should be done; that’s why it is so imperative to learn how to follow His leadership if we want to be successful in life.

I think a classic example of being led by the Spirit can be seen in the account of the two blind beggars in Matthew 9:27-31. These two blind beggars heard that Jesus was walking by, so they waited for Him to heal them. However, Jesus walked right past, never stopping to heal them. The two blind beggars were so upset that Matthew 9:27 tells us, “And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.”

The word “followed” is the Greek word akoloutheo, which means to follow after someone or something in a very determined and purposeful manner. Even though these two men were blind and couldn’t see where they were going, they were determined to follow Jesus until they got His attention! The verse continues to tell us that they were “crying” out. The word “crying” is the Greek word kradzo, and it means to scream, yell, exclaim, or cry out at the top of one’s voice. In other words, they were screaming as loudly as possible to get Jesus’ attention! What a dramatic picture! Think about it — here were two blind men, desperately wanting to be healed, who were screaming, shouting, and yelling, trying to get Jesus to notice them. But He just continued walking on as though they weren’t even there. Pursuing Jesus relentlessly, they groped along in their darkness, still screaming, yelling, and crying out for Him to heal them.

Jesus couldn’t have missed these two blind beggars because they were yelling so loudly; yet still He didn’t stop. So they just kept screaming at the top of their lungs, over and over again, “Have mercy on us! Have mercy on us! Have mercy on us! Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on us!”

For years this section of Scripture perplexed me because I couldn’t imagine why Jesus wouldn’t acknowledge the two blind men. I wanted to know why He didn’t immediately turn around and heal them. They were so determined to get His attention that they followed Him all the way to the house where He was staying, crying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Finally, Jesus came to the two blind beggars and asked, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They answered, “Yea, Lord.” Matthew 9:29 says, “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.” But why didn’t Jesus stop and heal the blind men when He first saw them? Why didn’t He immediately turn to heal them when He recognized their blind condition? And why did He answer them, “…According to your faith be it unto you”?

Jesus evidently did not sense the anointing to heal at that moment; otherwise, He would have stopped to lay His hands on those men. However, this didn’t stop the two blind men from receiving. It was as though Jesus said, “I don’t sense the anointing to heal right now, so you’re going to have to receive this on your own! Be it unto you according to your faith!”

So the only explanation for the fact that Jesus didn’t stop to heal the two blind beggars is that the Holy Spirit wasn’t leading Him to heal at that exact moment. The good news is that the two blind men could use their own faith to be healed anyway — and they were healed!

As for those whom the Holy Spirit led Jesus to heal, He healed them with a perfect, 100-percent success rate. The Bible describes His healing ministry this way: “And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all” (Luke 6:19).

You see, when that healing virtue was flowing, everyone got healed. But when it wasn’t flowing, Jesus didn’t attempt to heal. There are other instances like Luke 5:17 where Jesus was busy teaching the Word of God. Suddenly He sensed that “…the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”

When Jesus sensed the anointing to heal, He put aside His teaching and followed the leading of the Spirit. As a result, multitudes were healed that day, including the paralytic whom a group of friends lowered down into the room through an opening in the roof of the house.

I love this example in Luke 5:17, for it shows Jesus’ pliability in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Although He was busy teaching at the moment, suddenly He felt the anointing shift. The power of God was suddenly present to heal the sick, and Jesus knew it was time to set aside the preplanned program and go with the flow of the Holy Spirit. He faithfully followed wherever the Holy Spirit led, and He did what the Holy Spirit told Him to do. If the Spirit told Him nothing, then nothing was the right thing for Him to do.

In John 5:30, Jesus told of His complete dependency upon the Holy Spirit. He told the disciples, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just….” Notice that Jesus said, “…As I hear, I judge….” You see, Jesus was constantly listening to the voice of the Spirit, waiting for that divine signal to act, to heal, to deliver, or to cleanse someone who was sick.

Then Jesus said what He did as soon as He was confident of the Spirit’s direction to act: “…I judge: and my judgment is just….” The word “judge” and “judgment” are both from the Greek word krino, a legal term meaning to make a decision on the basis of information, like a jury who has heard all the evidence in a trial and now possesses all the information needed to take action.

This word is used in John 5:30 to let us know that Jesus never acted until He had all the direction He needed from the Spirit. Once that direction was given and Jesus had all the information He needed, He acted. Because He acted on directions given by the Spirit of God, He was able to say that His actions were always right. In other words, Jesus had a 100-percent success rate because He followed the Spirit’s leading!

Jesus didn’t go with a preplanned program or act mechanically every time He was confronted with a need. Therefore, we need to learn from His example and depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit just as He did. If we will listen to the Spirit and do what He tells us to do — if we will learn to wait until we hear Him speak — we will have powerful results just like Jesus had in His earthly ministry.

So what about you, friend? Are you ready to let the Holy Spirit become the Leader in your life today?

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I want to learn how to follow You more closely! I want to learn the sound of Your voice, to sense when You are speaking to me and trying to lead me, and to become so sensitive to You that I know when to act and when to wait. I am sorry for all the times I’ve acted before praying — and then assumed that You would bless what I was doing. I don’t want to function this way anymore. I only want to initiate what I know You are leading me to do. So please help me become more sensitive. Give me the boldness to do what You say to do and to wait when I hear You tell me to wait.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus was constantly listening to the voice of the Spirit, waiting for that divine signal to act, to heal, to deliver, or to cleanse someone who was sick, I am also sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice and wait for Him to speak to my heart. When He speaks, I hear; then I do exactly what He instructs me to do. Because I follow His voice, I make few mistakes and I see great results!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Has there ever been a time when you suddenly sensed the Holy Spirit leading you to stop what you were doing so He could use you to do something different than you had previously planned?
2. Did you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, or did you stick with the preplanned program because you didn’t want to interrupt your schedule?
3. Is there a reason you resist when you sense that the Holy Spirit is trying to redirect your steps? What are those reasons?

For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
— 1 Thessalonians 2:3,4 NIV

In First Thessalonians 2, Paul gives a detailed account of his personal motives in ministry. Although he wrote from the perspective of an apostle, his message pertains to all believers regardless of the specific calling on their lives. I believe that it would be good for every one of us if we stopped from time to time to take account of our own motives for why we do what we do in fulfilling the call of God on our lives. Filled with wonderful nuggets of truth, First Thessalonians 2 is a vast treasury of wisdom because it not only reflects on what Paul’s motives were, but also on what they were not. So for the next few days, I want us to examine what Paul wrote about right and wrong motives for being in the ministry.

Although Paul and his ministry team remained in Thessalonica for only a short time, Paul’s ministry greatly impacted the Thessalonian church. During this short, intense visit, a deep bond was forged between Paul and the church members in that city. In First Thessalonians 1:5 and 6, Paul wrote about that time with the Thessalonian believers: “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.”

Notice in the above passage, Paul ministered the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit and with much boldness. His ministry had such an impact on these people that they literally became “followers” of Paul and his ministry team. In the Greek, the word for “followers” is mimetes, which means imitators. Because Paul had made such a strong impact upon this church with both his message and personal life, the Thessalonians began to imitate Paul and became examples of his ministry to the believers in the surrounding areas.

But it was more than just words that Paul imparted — he imparted his very life to these people by building a relationship with them. Paul’s ministry to the Thessalonian church was powerful because of the relationship he had developed with them during the short time he was with this body of believers.

We see this truth illustrated in First Thessalonians 2:1, where Paul wrote, “For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain.” The word “entrance” in this verse is from the Greek work eisodon, which is a compound of two words, eis, which means into, and odon, from the word odos, which refers to a road. When Paul put these two words together, he was describing his entrance into the Thessalonian church in terms of relationship. In essence, he was saying that he had journeyed on a road that took him straight into their hearts.

By using this particular word “entrance,” Paul was describing the happy and successful ministry he enjoyed there in the church. In turn, the people in that church opened their hearts to Paul, and Paul experienced powerful ministry in that city.

After describing his “entrance” into the Thessalonian church, Paul goes on to define his personal motives for ministry. The first motive he mentioned was his desire, first and foremost, to please God. Paul’s first responsibility as a believer and as a minister was to live a life pleasing to the Lord. And this is no less true for us as believers and ministers today.

In First Thessalonians 2:4, Paul wrote, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” Notice the word “pleasing” in this verse. It’s the Greek word aresko. In early Greek history, this word was found very frequently on grave markers of civil servants. In his career, a civil servant’s mind was on serving others. When the word aresko was used on the grave marker of one of these servants, it meant the deceased person was a wonderful, pleasing civil servant.

This word aresko carries the connotation of virtue, joy, and delight. Basically, it portrays the idea of being a virtuous person who is exceedingly pleasing. Again, it was originally used to describe civil servants or individuals who loved serving people and who gave their entire lives to the service of others.

Paul used this word aresko to describe himself. In essence, he was saying, “I’m called to serve people.” Although Paul had a desire to be pleasing to those he served and ministered to, his first and chiefest priority was to please God.

There’s a great lesson in that for us as ministers and as believers today. We’re called to serve people, but not necessarily to please them.

There can be a very thin line between pleasing man and pleasing God. As servants of the Church, we naturally want to be pleasing to the Church. We want to serve the Church, and we want to make the Gospel palatable so people can receive it. Yet on the other hand, we can’t water down the Gospel to please some people — because, first and foremost, we’re to please God.

By using the word aresko, Paul was defining his primary motive in ministry. Although he was called to be a servant of the Church and to be pleasing to the Body of Christ, his chief responsibility was and always would be to be pleasing to God first. Paul had to be virtuous and delightful to Him before he could be truly pleasing to anyone else. So while Paul was called to serve the Church, his eyes continually remained on the Lord.

This principle not only applies to anyone in the ministry, but also to every one of us as believers in every walk of life. We must make sure our first goal is to please God, even when it means that what we’re doing with our lives might not please everyone around us. Our highest aim should be to fulfill His purposes for our lives and to make as many inroads as possible into people’s hearts with the truth of the Gospel and the love of God as we go through each day. We are to give them not only the Word of God but also our own personal example of abundant life in Jesus, lived before them in a way that would make them want to imitate us. Oh, how I pray that God uses you and me in such a powerful way, each and every day!

As we continue this study over the next few days, take a little time to look at your own heart and examine the motives of why you do what you do. Although you want to be satisfactory to everyone you serve, your highest ambition should be to please the Lord.

Love the people and please the Lord — that has to be our goal!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, as I serve You and Your Church, help me to always keep the balanced perspective that I am to love the people — but I am to please the Lord! As a servant of the Church, I always want to serve in a high-level, satisfactory manner, but my highest aim must be to please You above all else. Help me to find inroads into people’s hearts, to give them Your Word, and to be a personal example that’s so godly that they would want to imitate it.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess by faith that I deeply love people, but I live to please the Lord. Satisfying Jesus with my love for His people and my service to others is my highest aim. I want to be a vessel that God works through to touch others and take them higher. As a result, God gives me inroads to people’s hearts and minds to pour the Word of God into them and live a godly example before them that they will want to imitate!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Who was the person who affected you immensely when you first came to Christ? What qualities in that person found an “inroad” to your heart and mind?
2. Who are you influencing right now? Have you been too busy to be involved in the development of another Christian? If so, what do you think the Holy Spirit would have you do about that?
3. Are you living the kind of Christian life that someone else would want to imitate?

…Speaking the truth in love….
— Ephesians 4:15

Being truthful with others is one of the most important qualities the Lord has taught me over the years. Ephesians 4:15 tells us we are to “speak the truth in love.”

As the leader of our ministry, I expect my team to be honest with me and to speak truthfully. Even if I don’t always like what they say, their honesty guarantees a clear and truthful relationship between us.

However, if someone on my staff were to tell me one thing and then tell a fellow employee something entirely different, it would create distrust between that staff member and me. If that happened, I wouldn’t know whether I could really count on that team member to be honest with me.

This is precisely what the Bible is talking about when it says that those chosen to be deacons cannot be “double tongued” (see 1 Timothy 3:8). The Greek word for “double-tongued” is dilogos, and it means, two-worded. It presents the picture of someone who says one thing to one person about a situation, but then says something altogether different about it to someone else. This “double tongued” individual is either inconsistent in what he tells people, or he is just simply dishonest.

Sometimes this characteristic of being “double tongued,” or two-worded, indicates that a person is a people pleaser. He wants everyone to like him, so he agrees with whomever he is with at the moment. This person may be concerned that if he takes an opinion contrary to his immediate audience, he will lose favor or influence with them. So instead of speaking his true convictions in an attitude of love, he finds himself violating his conscience. Beyond just remaining silent if he doesn’t agree with something that others say, he actually verbalizes agreement with those in his presence, knowing that what he says is not really what he believes.

This trait of being double tongued is a serious character flaw. And the Bible is very strong in telling us that a person who possesses this trait should not be used in leadership. A leader who tells the pastor, “I believe you’re right” and then tells the church members, “I believe the pastor is missing it this time” is not being a blessing to the pastor. In the end, he creates confusion and suspicion.

It’s a blessing to always know where I stand with a person and to never wonder if that individual really means what he or she says. When I can always count on a person to tell me exactly what he or she thinks, a foundation of trust can be established that is very important if we’re going to build a long-term relationship in the ministry.

My team is very honest with me. Because they are honest with me, I trust them incredibly. I know I can depend on their straightforward, truthful responses. Denise and I are visionaries — we are “idea people”! But we need the perspective of others to help us see all the details that must accompany a vision in order to bring it to pass. We need their honest input in our lives. That’s why God sent us our team.

Please remember on this subject of truthfulness that we are called to speak the truth in love — not to “bludgeon” each other in the way we communicate what’s on our minds! We must ask God to teach us how to present the truth in a manner that makes it easier to receive.

One reason that truth is rejected is the inappropriate way it is sometimes packaged. When truth comes bundled with harsh tones of judgment, criticism, and condemnation, it can cause the recipient to put up a wall of defense as a safeguard against the attack. But when truth comes wrapped in patience, tenderness, and love, it is much easier to receive.

This does not mean honesty is always easy. Taking the path of truthfulness can be very difficult. However, it is always the clearest and most noble path to take.

Sometimes the biggest challenge we face in this area isn’t speaking the truth; it is speaking the truth in love, as Ephesians 4:15 commands. So let’s look in greater detail at the manner in which we are to speak truthfully with each other.

In my own experience, I’ve learned that the truth in itself isn’t as hard to hear as the wrong way in which it is sometimes spoken. I think you know that cold water thrown in your face would not be a very enjoyable experience. In fact, it may be such a chilling encounter that you become tempted to respond in kind and throw water right back!

When you are required to confront someone and speak the truth, remember the principle of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you (see Matthew 7:12). In other words, be mindful to speak the truth in love to that other person as you would want to have truth spoken in love to you. Ask yourself this question: How would I want the truth spoken to me?

• Brutally?
• Harshly?
• Impatiently?
• Kindly?
• Gently?
• Humbly?

If you’re in a situation in which you must confront someone with the truth, imagine how you would respond to that same truth if it were being presented to you. Then try to picture what would help you receive it in the easiest way that would bring growth to your life and be a blessing. As you ponder these ideas, what you discover will create a path for you to follow to speak the truth in love into someone else’s life. As you follow that path, you will most likely end up treating that other person correctly — with dignity and respect — as you tell him or her what you perceive to be the truth.

If you are the one in charge in your family, ministry, or organization, you must set the example by being truthful with the people who live, serve, and work under you. When you are truthful, people will know you are being straight with them. Even if they don’t like everything you say, they will know they can always depend on you to tell the truth when they need to hear it and not “fudge” about it. If you are truthful, you will set the standard for integrity, truthfulness, and trust among all the members of your team.

Certainly, my own teams in Russia and the United States have many areas in which we can grow more. I’m not claiming that we carry out speaking the truth in love perfectly, but we sincerely attempt to walk honestly and openly with one another. I need what my team members have to impart to me — and they need what I have to impart to them! I personally count these people very valuable in my life and ministry. I want to do everything I can do to obey God in my attitude and conduct toward them — and that includes speaking the truth in love.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I find speaking the truth in love to be difficult. I don’t always know how to do that effectively, and at times I’m concerned that I might hurt someone’s feelings or that I may be rejected. To do what I’ve read today will require a higher level of spiritual maturity in my life. Holy Spirit, I am asking You to help me know when to speak, when to be silent, and how to speak the truth in a way that is truthful, loving, and a blessing to those who listen to me. And help me to be open and receptive when people express the truth in love to me too!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am honest with people about the things I express to them. I do not lie. I do not shade the truth, but I kindly and lovingly answer them in truth. Because they know I am truthful, they trust me and know that they can always depend on me to be truthful with them. Likewise, I confess that I am grateful when people speak the truth to me. God gives me the grace to listen, and He gives me the wisdom to discern what is true and what is just their opinion. I need truthfulness and honesty. Therefore, I choose to accept other people’s candid relationship with me as a blessing to my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Are you honest in your relationships or do you conceal what you really feel about things? Maybe you’re afraid to be honest. What is the root of that fear?
2. How do you feel when someone lovingly tells you the truth about something? Do you appreciate it or do you resent it?
3. When was the last time you really expressed truthfully what you felt about something, and what was the response to your truthfulness? Did you tell it in love or did you bludgeon the listener(s) with your words?

Be Sure To Go To Sword Practice!

And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
— Ephesians 6:17

Have you ever been confronted with a situation where you felt you needed a word from the Lord, but you didn’t know which word you needed? Did you run to your Bible and start flipping through the pages, searching for that perfect word you needed — but it seemed like you just couldn’t quite find the right word to fit your situation?

Well, today I want to talk to you about the sword of the Spirit. You will find that when the Holy Spirit drops a word into your heart for your exact situation, that rhema word will have incredible power to drive back the enemy from his attack!

Let me begin by telling you a little bit about how Roman soldiers went to sword practice, because it will help you understand the difference between a rhema, or a quickened, specific word from the Spirit, and the logos, which is the written Word of God.

Because the Roman army was so committed to warfare, its soldiers practiced the arts of warfare continually. One of the primary exercises was daily sword practice. The soldiers exercised themselves in this skill morning and afternoon. The ancients gave their recruits bucklers that were woven with willow branches and were two times heavier than the ones used in actual battle.

In addition to these heavy bucklers, the swords that Roman soldiers used in practice were made of heavy wood and were twice the weight of the real swords used in battle. Every soldier practiced combat with a wooden post about six feet high, which was firmly fixed in the ground. This six-foot post became his “enemy” during practice. Just as with a real enemy, he would advance upon his target, strike hard with his sword, and then retreat.

The soldier’s job in practice was to learn how to take advantage of his enemy; how to hit him at his weakest point; and how to strike him so he could not respond. The aim of the man wielding the sword was nearly always pointed toward the head or face, toward the thighs or legs, or occasionally toward the sides of the target.

Flavius Vegetius Renatus, who lived around 380 AD and who documented the affairs of the Roman military, wrote: “They [the military recruits] were likewise taught not to cut, but to thrust their swords. For the Romans not only made jest of those who fought with the edge of that weapon, but always found them an easy conquest. A stroke with the edges, though made with ever so much force, seldom kills, as the vital parts of the body are defended by both the bones and armor. On the contrary, a stab, although it penetrates but two inches, is generally fatal.”

It was from this background that Paul said, “And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Notice particularly that Paul says, “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The word translated “word” is not the Greek word logos, which would refer to the written Word. Instead, Paul employs the use of the Greek word rhema. This is so powerful — and I want to tell you why!

Had Paul used the word logos in this verse, he would have implied a “sweeping stroke” against the enemy, and this would never do. You see, the logos — although broad, heavy, wonderful, and full of general direction for our lives — is not sufficient to deal the enemy a fatal blow. We need to stab the enemy! This will require a rhema — a specific, quickened word from the Scriptures, placed into our hearts and hands by the Holy Spirit. With a rhema from God placed in our hearts and hands, we have real sword power to use against the enemy!

A genuine rhema doesn’t have to be six pages long to be effective against the work of the devil. As Vegetius recorded in his history of the Roman army, all that was needed to kill an enemy was a mere two-inch penetration. Likewise, one very small rhema from the Lord has the power to do the adversary in!

The best example of this sword power of the Spirit is found in Luke 4:3-13. In this passage, Satan is the aggressor who is found attacking Jesus on repeated occasions. But Jesus doesn’t simply say, “Satan, get out of here.” Instead, Jesus stabs the devil repeatedly with direct blows! Jesus had a specific, quickened rhema from the Holy Spirit!

After the devil tempted Jesus with food, Jesus drew the sword that the Holy Spirit put in His hand (a rhema) and said, “…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (v. 4). To this stabbing sword of the Spirit, the enemy had no response.

After offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship, Satan was wounded deeply by one rhema from the Master’s mouth. Jesus told him, “…It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (v. 8). To this sword of the Spirit, Satan had no answer.

Then Satan tried to tempt Jesus to prove His deity. But Jesus answered His adversary with a sword, saying, “…It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (v. 12). With one final stab, Jesus penetrated Satan’s armor and delivered an almost fatal wound — and at that point, Satan fled from the scene!

Like the Lord Jesus, you are equipped with all the armor of God, and this includes the sword of the Spirit. As long as you have this spiritual equipment, no battle is a real threat to you! Today if you will open your heart and listen, the Holy Spirit will place in your heart and hands the exact rhema you need to put the devil on the run!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, thank You for giving me the sword of the Spirit as part of my spiritual weaponry. When the devil attempts to attack me, please help me be sensitive to hear the exact rhema that the Holy Spirit desires to drop into my heart with which I can then deal the enemy a fatal blow. Starting right now, I open my heart and soul to listen so I can hear any scripture or word the Holy Spirit wishes to give me to use against the works of the devil in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I have the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and that this spiritual weapon is working in my life! I have the exact word I need for every situation — a specific, quickened word from the Scriptures, placed in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Because this rhema from God is in my heart, I have real sword power to use against the enemy! 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Can you think of a time when you were facing a difficult situation — and suddenly it was as if God dropped a verse into your heart that had the very answer you needed? Did it equip you to deal with the challenge you were facing and cause the situation to turn around?

2. Why don’t you think of three times in your life when you emphatically knew that God gave you a rhema for the particular situation you were facing? What were those times, and how did that rhema make a difference?

3. Are there any areas in your life right now where you could use a rhema from the Holy Spirit to help you know how to overcome a problem or a challenge?

Lay Hands Suddenly on No Man!

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
— 1 Timothy 5:22

No car manufacturer would release a new model car to the public without first testing the weaknesses and strengths of that automobile. To test the new model, the manufacturer will order it to be driven as fast as it can be driven. It will be crashed into a wall. It will be driven on nails to test the strength of the tires. It will be driven over every conceivable kind of pavement and in all kinds of temperatures. Only after the car passes the final inspection will it be deemed “fit” for public usage.

To release a car without these kinds of tests would be considered irresponsible. If the manufacturer doesn’t test a new model, how can he know whether or not it will perform well? How can he know whether or not it has fatal mistakes in its structure? How can he know for sure that it won’t kill someone? The manufacturer is well aware that if he releases the car to the public and it falls apart or kills someone, he is the one who will be held responsible for that failure.

New automobiles are tested to protect people from being physically hurt in automobile accidents. But what about testing potential leaders before giving them highly visible places of power and authority in a church, business, or organization?

People are precious to God, and they should be precious to us as well. But before we give people great power and authority in a church or an organization, they first need to be tested and proven. It is essential that those of us who are in leadership positions know who these individuals really are and how they will perform in various situations.

The apostle Paul referred to this testing process when he wrote, “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22). The word “suddenly” is the Greek word tachus, and in this verse it carries the idea of doing something quickly or hastily. The words “lay hands” are from the Greek word epitithimi, which means to place hands upon. In both Old Testament and New Testament times, a “laying on of hands” ceremony was the equivalent of stamping that individual with one’s personal seal of approval. When those in leadership positions laid hands on a person, they were signifying that they believed in him, supported him, and desired to empower him to perform some task or duty. Hence, the laying on of hands was an act that was carried out very cautiously, since it gave the recipient such a high status in the eyes of the beholders.

Paul tells us, “Lay hands suddenly on no man….” A better translation would be, “Don’t give your seal of approval to people too hastily….” You see, it’s very possible to lay hands on people too quickly — to give them the seal of our approval before we really know them and to impart authority to them before they are ready. This is a foolish mistake that produces painful consequences.

If you feel God has chosen you, don’t get frustrated if you are held back for a while by those who are in authority over you. It is wise and right for them to know you, to test you, and to be sure you are the right candidate for the job. If God has really chosen you, it won’t hurt you or the call He has placed on your life to wait just a little longer. If anything, your divine call will be confirmed and reconfirmed again and again as you patiently wait for God’s timing to be manifested.

When I was a young man, I had desire; I had ambition; and I had the necessary “get up and go” to do what God had placed in my heart. But there were characteristics in me that needed to be corrected before God could use me. If I’d gotten started before God uprooted those undesirable traits, they would have later overgrown my ministry and destroyed any fruitfulness God wanted to produce through me. This is why it is an aspect of immaturity to want to do everything right now.

If you are the one who chooses the leadership for your church, ministry, or organization, don’t move hastily! Nothing is more important in your organization than the people you choose for its leadership. If you choose people who share your heart and are submitted to you and your vision, they will be a blessing. But if you choose people who have a different vision and are not in agreement with what God has put in your heart, you have invited a spiritual hurricane into your midst that has the power to destroy everything you have built. So take the time to be sure you’re making the right decision!

We all have glitches and flaws in our character. Not one of us is perfect. Fortunately, small flaws are correctable as long we have receptive and teachable hearts. But if a person refuses to see his need for change and is closed-hearted to suggestions made by those who love him, this is evidence of the most serious character flaw. From the outside, this person may look like he’s just what we’re looking for, but we must not forget to consider the deeper issues of the heart.

Pastors and leaders of ministries and organizations can attest to the dreadful mistake of “laying hands on” people before they were ready. Most leaders could tell you about people they promoted into leadership too quickly — before they really knew them. These are the people who often betrayed their leaders, split their churches, divided their organizations, and wounded those leaders’ spirits so deeply that it took a long time for them to recuperate and return to a state of normalcy again in their lives and ministries.

Often the hurt a person causes in such a case is unintentional. He or she was simply not ready for that much power and authority. And to think that the whole mess could have been avoided if more time had been taken before the person was elevated to a leadership position!

Many dreadful mistakes have been made through two thousand years of Church history simply because people were placed into leadership positions too quickly. Had time been taken and had those people really been tested, it would have been clear that they were not spiritually prepared to lead. But as a result of hasty decisions and quick actions, multitudes of people have been mishandled and hurt by immature leadership.

Don’t make that same mistake! Before someone is invited to be a permanent part of any leadership team, it is right to make sure that there is nothing in his character, attitude, or actions that could spiritually hurt others or the organization along the way. Remember, you are putting this potential leader over people, and nothing in the world is more valuable or precious than the people of God. You don’t want to make a hasty decision that reaps terrible consequences for your church, ministry, or organization.

Paul told Timothy that by not laying hands on people too quickly, he could avoid being a “…partaker of other men’s sins….” The word “partaker” is the Greek word koinonia, which conveys the ideas of fellowship, interaction, or mutual participation.

You see, when those in leadership discover that a person has a serious character flaw after they have put that person into a high position too quickly, they are now involved in a mess, whether they like it or not! They have someone on their team who isn’t a right “fit” for them, who has a different standard of excellence, or who has some problem. But because they moved too quickly and publicly promoted that person, they are stuck with having to make a difficult decision. They have become locked in a mess that they could have avoided simply by moving a little slower!

So if you are in a leadership position, take the time to know someone before you give that person new power and authority. And if you are wanting to be chosen for a higher position yourself, be patient with those who are waiting and watching you. They have a God-given responsibility to know you and to feel confident about you before they lay their hands on you!

Finally, pray for your pastor or employer to make right decisions about people they promote into leadership positions in their church, business, or organization. They need your prayer support, so get behind them with your prayers today!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, You know me better than anyone in the world, so I trust You to know exactly when I am ready for the next big promotion that You have designed for my life. Help me to quit being frustrated with my superiors for not promoting me more quickly, and help me instead to take a look at the deeper issues of my life that hold me back from being elevated. Holy Spirit, help me use this time in my life to clean up my act and to get my heart ready for the next upward step that Jesus has waiting for me!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that my character, attitude, and actions are being refined by the fire of God in my life. The Holy Spirit is helping me discover any serious character flaws that would negatively affect my future. God is changing me, teaching me, and preparing me for greater responsibility. I am serious about my walk with God and about being greatly used by Him in this life. Therefore, I want Him to identify every part of my life that is out of order or that needs to be fixed. So today I yield to the Holy Spirit so He can delve deep into my soul and extract those traits that would keep me from the blessings and positions God would love to give me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Can you think of someone who was promoted too hastily into a position of leadership and, as a result, caused damage to a church, business, or organization?

2. Have there been times when your desire to be promoted was delayed? In retrospect, can you now see that you wouldn’t have been ready for the job if you had been promoted at that exact time? Does it make you thankful that you were put “on hold” just a little bit longer?

3. What do you need to be dealing with in your personal character right now to better prepare you for the next promotion that God has designed for your life?

…He fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
— Luke 5:8

As you live your life, it’s likely that you will come face to face with people at all kinds of different spiritual levels. You may find that you end up spending time with:

• People who are actively pursuing a closer relationship with Jesus.
• People who have recently recommitted their lives to Christ and are excited about living for Jesus.
• People who are nonchalant or noncommittal about their relationship with God.
• People who have gone astray from the walk they once had with Jesus.
• People who are religious or churchgoers but are still unsaved.
• People who are lost and don’t know the message of Christ.

I was really surprised by the number of times Simon Peter had to encounter Jesus before his life was changed. And if we include his encounter with Christ when he fell to his knees and recognized Jesus’ lordship, that means he had four different encounters with Christ before he was changed. I had never chronologically put it together until recently, so it struck me when I realized how many encounters it took to bring Simon Peter to a place of conversion, where he turned from his own ways and completely submitted his life to the Lord. We will look at each of those four encounters in this Sparkling Gem.

This tells me that sometimes people come to know the Lord one step at a time. Of course, we know that the act of receiving eternal salvation is a one-time event. When I talk about steps and stages, I’m referring to the various encounters people might have with God before they finally surrender their lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Let me show you that progression in Simon Peter’s life — how he moved from the moment he first heard about Jesus to an eventual encounter that totally changed his life. As you read this Sparkling Gem, think of people you know — especially those who may be in one of these various stages in their own encounter with Jesus Christ.

 1.  Simon Peter’s first encounter with Jesus.

The day after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus was walking nearby, and John exclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (see John 1:36). Verses 37-40 relate that two men heard John and that one of them was Andrew, whose brother was Simon (later referred to as Simon Peter or Peter).

This passage goes on to say that Andrew and the other unnamed man followed Jesus to see where He was staying. Jesus could see them following, so He told them, “Come and see.” Verse 39 goes on to tell us that the two men spent the entire day with Jesus. Afterward, Andrew went to fetch his brother Simon in order to bring him to Jesus (v. 41).

Thus, Simon’s first encounter with Christ was this secondhand information that he heard from his brother Andrew. At this point, Simon had never personally met Jesus. All he knew of Him was what his brother had told him: “We have found the Messiah!” At long last the Savior had come, but Simon had only secondhand knowledge about Him.

This describes the spiritual state of many people in the world. These individuals may have heard about Christ from family and friends. They know of Jesus, and they know about Him; however, they’ve never personally met Him. That kind of secondhand knowledge is not enough to bring a person into the Kingdom of God.

That’s where our responsibility begins. Just like Andrew, you and I must take the initiative to make sure our friends and family members have more than secondhand knowledge about Jesus. A person must have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ in order to go to Heaven — not just “head knowledge” about Him or the ability to say, “I know who Jesus was historically.”

As Andrew did for Simon, so must we do everything we can to bring our friends and family to Jesus — which leads us to the next point.

2.  Simon Peter’s second encounter with Christ.

In John 1:42, we read about Simon Peter’s second encounter with Christ. Simon came to the place where Jesus could be found, and it seems that he lingered and listened to Him. We know that Jesus and Simon had a conversation; however, there is no record that a life-transforming conversion occurred in Simon’s life at that time.

Although Simon’s heartfelt conversion occurred some days later, as is recorded in Luke 5 (which we’ll discuss later), this second encounter was his first personal introduction to Jesus. During this encounter, Jesus even told Simon that his name would be changed to Peter, indicating that soon he would have a change of character. However, this change didn’t occur at that moment. This second encounter was merely Simon’s introduction to the Savior and His message. Again, we see that Simon was close to the Kingdom of God but not yet actually inside the Kingdom of God.

I urge you to do for your family and friends what Andrew did for his brother. Invite them to a place where they can hear the message and learn more about the Savior. They may have already heard the message from you, but now is the time to take them to church or to a smaller gathering where Christians celebrate Jesus. Taking someone to a place where the Gospel message is presented may seem like only a small step, but this step may be needed to bring about the change of heart that will make a difference for eternity.

Just as Jesus introduced the idea of a character change to Simon Peter in that first personal encounter, this may be a way to introduce your lost friends to the truth that Jesus can totally change their lives. Even if they don’t get saved during this first introduction to Jesus, remember, Simon’s real inward change also didn’t happen the first time he personally met Jesus.

I feel impressed by the Holy Spirit to say that there are many who take this particular step and get stuck there. In other words, they go to church or to a meeting searching for truth — and they come very close to the truth. In fact, they are in the very vicinity where a life change can occur. But because no one ever tells them about the need to repent of their sins and surrender their lives to Jesus Christ, they end up religious but unsaved. Unfortunately, churches are filled with people who have come close to the Kingdom of God but have never entered it.

These people go to church, know the words to the hymns and songs, and often even pay their tithes. But because they’ve never recognized their sinful state and repented of their sins, they live on the edge of God’s Kingdom without ever entering it. As a result, their character has never changed. They are simply religious, unsaved people.

You may discover people in your circle of family and friends who fit in this category. Ask God to give you an opportunity to bring them all the way to repentance and to a true saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

3.  Simon Peter’s third encounter with Jesus Christ.

Luke 4:38 tells us that after several days, Jesus went to Simon Peter’s house. This was a third step for Simon as he drew closer and closer to truly knowing Jesus Christ.

Simon Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. But when Jesus arrived, verse 39 says that He “…stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her….” Instantly, this woman was healed. In fact, the verse goes on to say that “…immediately she arose and ministered unto them.” The phrase “ministered unto them” most likely means that after Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law, she felt so well, she immediately got up and cooked dinner for them!

That same night, word spread through the city that Jesus was spending the night at Simon Peter’s house, and people got excited. Luke 4:40 tells us what happened next: “Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.”

Right in Simon Peter’s own home, he experienced God’s power. This was no longer secondhand information. Simon had not only witnessed the miraculous healing of his mother-in-law, but he’d also seen multitudes of sick people healed by Jesus’ touch that same night. This was the next step leading toward the transformation that would occur soon afterward in Simon’s life. God’s power was all around Simon, but the change he needed at his core had not yet occurred in him.

This makes me think of people I’ve seen through the years who have attended meetings where God has demonstrated His power right in front of them. These people have experienced answers to prayer and have tasted of God’s power — but they’ve never been changed at their core. I wonder how many people have grown up in church, where they saw and heard so much about God’s love and power, yet never allowed the truth they heard to sink into their hearts and bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus that changed their nature. People who fit that description are thus unsaved. In life, it’s reasonable to assume that you’ll come into contact with many people who are in this category of “churched but not really saved.”

Keep your heart sensitive to the Holy Spirit about this issue. He may use you to lead someone who fits this description into a saving knowledge of Christ. One thing is for sure: A change at the core is essential to enter the Kingdom of God. If no real change of character has occurred at a person’s core, it’s likely he or she has never been born again.

Luke 4:44 tells us that after this evening of miracles, Jesus left Simon Peter’s house and began to travel and preach in the synagogues of Galilee. It isn’t known how much time elapsed between the miracles that occurred at Simon’s house and his next experience with Jesus. However, Luke 5:1 tells us that some days later, Simon encountered Christ a fourth time.

4.  Simon Peter’s fourth life-transforming encounter with Christ.

First, Simon Peter obtained “secondhand” knowledge of Jesus. Second, he went to a specific place where he was introduced to Jesus. Third, he personally experienced the power of God. Then in Luke 5:1-11, we read the story of Simon’s fourth encounter with Christ — the encounter that reached so deep into his core that it transformed his life. The result of this fourth encounter was that Simon Peter totally committed his life to the cause of Christ.

The moment came when Jesus stepped into Simon Peter’s boat and used it as a pulpit to preach to a large crowd. Simon’s surrendering of his boat to Jesus was the first time he had ever given something to Jesus — and that’s when Jesus stepped deeper than ever into his life. When Simon surrendered the use of his boat to Jesus, he had no idea where that would take him. But after preaching to the multitude from Simon’s boat, Jesus told him: “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught” (Luke 5:4).

Simon Peter was a professional fisherman and had just fished all night with no results. But he chose to obey Jesus, saying, “…at thy word I will let down the net” (v. 5). Verse 6 relates, “And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” In fact, the catch was so enormous that it “…filled both the ships, so that they began to sink” (v. 7).

Such an enormous catch couldn’t be attributed to coincidence or a freak accident. Simon Peter had been fishing all his life, but he had never seen anything like this — and neither had anyone else. This encounter with Christ pushed Simon into a rock-solid faith as “…he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). Peter recognized his sinfulness and called Jesus “Lord.” This is the Greek word kurios. Peter’s use of this word lets us know that at this moment, he finally recognized Jesus as having supreme spiritual authority and surrendered his life to Christ.

It was this final experience that caused Simon Peter to see Christ’s holiness and his own sinfulness. When Peter saw this miraculous catch of fish, he really knew that God Himself was in the boat with him. In that moment of revelation, he called Jesus “Lord.” This fourth encounter totally changed Peter and reset his goals for life. However, this life-transforming experience happened:

• After Simon Peter had learned that Jesus was the Messiah.
• After Jesus had spent time in Peter’s home.
• After Peter had seen Jesus miraculously heal his mother-in-law.
• And after he had witnessed Jesus healing multitudes outside his own home.

One might think that these previous encounters would have been sufficient to bring Peter to the point of conversion. However, it took this final experience to cause him to drop to his knees and fully acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As a fisherman, Peter knew that the amazing size of this catch of fish was an unquestionable miracle. Consequently, this fourth encounter was so life-altering that he never returned to a life of fishing again. From that moment on, Peter followed Jesus.

As you come in contact with so many different people, it is likely that you will spend time with people who are like Simon Peter before that fourth encounter: They just need one final touch to bring them to a rock-solid faith in Christ.

Like Peter, these people may mentally know who Jesus is and may have seen demonstrations of His power; however, they have never actually recognized their need to repent of their sins and submit to the Lordship of Christ. Are you the person the Holy Spirit wants to use to reach out to the people in your life who need this encounter so you can bring them into the family of God?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I see now that some people — including notable people like Simon Peter — come to know You one step at a time. Help me to recognize how I can be used to bring people closer to You. Show me what to do, what to say, and what steps to take to introduce people to a knowledge of Jesus Christ that will change them at their core. Give me wisdom to lead my friends and acquaintances to a knowledge of Jesus that will transform them from the inside out.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I acknowledge that many people come to the Lord one step at a time. While only one experience is needed to bring a person to true conversion, it often takes many experiences to bring a person to that one experience that changes them forever. I confess that I am an instrument that God uses to share Christ, to bring people to a knowledge of sin, and to bring them to a place of repentance that changes them at the very core of their being.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. As you read about Simon Peter and how he came to the Lord one step at a time, did you think about anyone you know who is coming closer and closer to the Lord, but still lacks that final experience of repentance that changes him at his core? Who is that person? What can you do to help bring that individual to that final place of genuine conversion?
2. What was your own experience of coming to the Lord? Did you instantly come the first time you heard about the need to repent, or did it take time and multiple experiences for you to come to a place of repentance and faith in Christ?
3. Is there any person whom you are actively introducing to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Who is that person? How close is he or she to making that final commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
— Revelation 2:16

I have such a heart for spiritual leaders in the Body of Christ. As one who is called to stand in a leadership position myself, I have a burning desire to see men and women raised up who are leaders of integrity and who are taking a steadfast stance of faith on God’s Word. These are qualities that God requires in His leaders, and the world desperately needs leaders of a pure heart and strong faith. That’s why Jesus takes it very seriously when a spiritual leader falls into error and leads others into that same error.

In Revelation 2:16, Christ was speaking to erring leaders in the Early Church about the toxic influence they were having on those under their spiritual care. A group of spiritual leaders in a local body were leading others astray, teaching them that a little compromise with the world — worldliness — would not be detrimental to the spiritual life of the congregation. These leaders propagated among the people a belief that a lifestyle that could “bend” with the times might help them obtain a measure of peace with their pagan neighbors. In essence, this false teaching advocated that separation from the world was not required for the Christian community.

Jesus was firmly against what these errant leaders were teaching; His warning to them is clearly recorded in Revelation 2:16. And for nearly 2,000 years, Christ’s words have sounded a clear alarm for all spiritual leaders who, whether intentionally or unintentionally, lead the flock of God into a position of accommodating the world.

In today’s Sparkling Gem, we’ll look at the warning that Christ spoke to erring leaders nearly 2,000 years ago, and we’ll see that He is still issuing this same alarm to spiritual leaders who deviate from sound doctrine today.

In Revelation 2:16, Christ told these erring leaders, “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

Knowing the tender graciousness of Jesus, I’m confident that before issuing such a stern admonition, He had spoken to these leaders previously about their wrong behavior. Surely He had warned them of the grave error of their ways and had given them many opportunities to change. But after they had ignored the pleadings of the Holy Spirit, Christ’s words became very serious as time began running out for these leaders to respond appropriately and repent.

As we see in Revelation 2:16, a time eventually came when Jesus’ tone of voice changed, and He called on that group of leaders to repent “or else.”

The word “repent” is the Greek word metanoeo, which is a compound of the words meta and nous. The word meta means to turn, and the word nous is the word for mind, intellect, will, frame of thinking, opinion, or one’s general view of life. When meta and nous are compounded, the new word depicts a decision to completely change the way one thinks, lives, or behaves. Thus, when Jesus used this word in Revelation 2:16, He was adamantly and forthrightly calling on those who were in error to change. He was commanding them to stop accommodating the unbelieving world and assimilating that mindset into their midst.

Today the voice of Jesus is still crying out for the Church to repent of worldliness and carnality. As is true in each generation, we have a choice today to harden our hearts and turn a deaf ear to the Holy Spirit — or to allow Him to deal deeply with us and produce true repentance in our hearts and souls. Although Christ is always ready to transform His Church, no true transformation can occur unless we are willing to hear what His Spirit is saying to us. And once we do hear that divine message, we must be willing to respond with humble obedience.

The vast majority of the early believers had repeatedly proven themselves faithful to Christ, even when faced with intense opposition from the pagan government and the unbelieving local community. Yet, in their midst were errant spiritual leaders who had become a polluting and adulterating influence on the entire congregation. In Revelation 2:16, Christ issued a stern warning to this latter group, declaring, “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly….”

The phrase “I will come” in verse 16 signaled that Christ’s patience with those in error was rapidly reaching an end. This was His final warning — a final opportunity to repent — before He would begin moving in their direction, wielding “the sword of His mouth” — His sharp sword with two edges (see Revelation 1:16; 2:12,16). If those church leaders accepted Jesus’ call to repent and turn from their erroneous position, they would be spared. But if they refused to heed His call to repent, Jesus emphatically warned them: “I will come to you.”

The words “to you” come from the Greek word soi, which conveys a sense of strong exclamation. That phrase literally means, “I will come to YOU!”

There was no misunderstanding Christ’s warning to those erring leaders: If they refused to heed His words and abandon their doctrine of compromise, He would make a direct path to them and personally deal with their sin. The time for repeated warnings was coming to an end.

Jesus’ words were a solemn proclamation to those leaders that they should not misinterpret His past delays in judgment as His tolerance of their sin. For Christ to speak in such strong words reveals that He had already warned them and given them opportunities to respond. But because they had repeatedly ignored His pleas, the opportunity to avoid judgment was swiftly coming to a close. By lifting His voice loud and clear, Christ was providing one last chance to repent and thus avoid the repercussions of His discipline. This was an act of love — a merciful plea to those who were leading others astray to repent and change — before He would take a more severe course of action.

The word “quickly” in the phrase “I will come unto thee quickly” is from the Greek word tachus, which describes a swift, high-speed movement. This word emphatically denotes that the clock was ticking and time was running out. When the sword of justice would finally fall, Christ would not leisurely enact judgment; rather, Christ would come to them with sudden, unhesitating swiftness.

Christ continued his warning by saying, “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them….”

The word “fight” comes from the Greek word polemos, which was a well-known word used throughout Greek literature to describe an organized and often prolonged military conflict designed to defeat an opponent. In other words, polemos was no mere skirmish — it was an all-out war! By using this word, Jesus let these believers know that the situation in their church had grown so grievous that He was armed and ready to engage those individuals in battle.

The time for negotiating had come and gone. Just as a powerful nation sends a prewar declaration to its weaker enemies, calling for their surrender before they are crushed in battle, Christ was calling for the unconditional surrender of those errant leaders. If they chose to defy Him, they would suffer the consequences of a divine assault and experience the sword of His mouth. If these erring leaders finally refused to hear what the Holy Spirit was saying and repent, Jesus declared He would “fight against them.”

The word “against” is the Greek word kata, which describes something that is dominating or subjugating. In this instance, it depicts a full force that comes to completely subdue and conquer. Based on Jesus’ prior experience with these leaders — and the fact that they had not yet repented — we can conclude that Christ didn’t expect them to respond in obedience to His command. Thus, He warned them that He was going to exert His authority and retake the Church for Himself, one way or another. They could repent and surrender or they could be crushed. Either way, Christ was going to have His way in His Church.

Revelation 1:16 and 2:12 both portray Christ as having a sharp sword with two edges. However, in Revelation 2:16, Jesus says, “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

The word “sword” in all three of these verses is the Greek word rhomphaia, which is a very unusual word to be used in the context of the Roman world since the rhomphaia was not a Roman weapon. Rather, this sword originated in Thrace, a region near Asia Minor, and it was so horrible that it was feared above all others, even by Roman soldiers. This weapon was essentially a very sharp, often double-edged, sickle-shaped blade affixed to a long pole. The ruthless effectiveness of the rhomphaia against Roman armies was the result of the sword’s capability to cut through thick armor and its long reach. This allowed the soldier who wielded it — often in a back-and-forth, hacking motion similar to a farmer using a sickle — to penetrate even the tightly compacted formation of the Roman infantry.

Therefore, when Jesus used the word rhomphaia to describe His spiritual weaponry against those erring leaders, He was referring to one of the most feared weapons of the ancient world. This was no accident; rather, it was a clear declaration — and a serious warning — that if those in error chose not to repent, Christ would extend His mighty sword into their midst and remove them.

In light of the truths found in these verses, my thoughts go directly to Eli, Israel’s high priest, and the fact that God removed him and his two sons from the ministry in a single day because they wouldn’t repent of their evil ways (see 1 Samuel 2:12-4:18). They had been given ample opportunity to repent — but, ultimately, a time came when toleration was no longer acceptable. Although God’s mercy gave them a great amount of time to repent and change, they rejected each offer afforded them. Then time ran out. As a result, God’s sword of judgment swung into action, and they were each removed from their positions of spiritual authority.

This is a sobering account from Scripture with a very serious message. We must pray for our spiritual leaders — that they will hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and respond to His leading and correction when it is needed. We are living in a day and hour when the Church is sadly compromising on many levels. This is a time — perhaps above all other times — when God’s spiritual leadership needs to stand up on the side of His unchanging truths. If there are spiritual leaders who will not respond to the repeated call and correction of God, Christ Himself will deal with them with the sword of His mouth to bring whatever level of correction is necessary.

So let’s commit to praying diligently for those who are in authority within the Church. Never has it been so crucial that our leaders hear clearly and heed the Holy Spirit as they lead God’s flock in the way that Jesus would have them lead.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I pray for the spiritual leaders over my life. I pray that they will be quick to hear and prompt to obey Your Voice. I ask You to strengthen them with might in their inner man, that they will remain unbending in their commitment to the unchanging truths of Your Word, even if it means they must take a stand that is different from the spirit of the age around us. In this day when morals and beliefs seem to be changing on every side, give my pastor and spiritual leaders the fortitude and courage to stand firm in their commitment to the unchangeable truths of Your Word.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that those who are spiritual leaders over my life walk in divine wisdom, counsel, and might. They are marked by integrity and free from compromise, standing with unwavering commitment to God’s unchanging truths as revealed in the teaching of the Bible. Regardless of what society says, what the courts declare, or what the spirit of the age dictates, my leaders are led by the truth of the Bible and the Spirit of the Living God. I declare that they are sensitive to God’s voice; they are quick to be corrected when it is required, and they will stand the test of time. They are anointed to minister in these last, very critical days of this age!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of other examples from the Bible when God took action against erring spiritual leaders? Who are those examples?
2. In your life, have you seen a spiritual leader whom the Lord disciplined or removed because he was leading the flock into spiritual error and refused to repent?
3. If you see someone in leadership who is leading others in error, how do you think you should pray for him or her? How would you want someone to pray for you if you were in his or her place?

What Lies in Your Future If You Choose To Give Up and Quit?

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition….
— Hebrews 10:38,39

One day as I was ministering in a certain church, the pastor of the church asked me if I would take the time to have lunch with a minister who had previously been associated with many great men and women of faith. The pastor told me that this minister had worked at one time on the staff of a very large and successful ministry. However, after deciding that his assignment there was finished, the man had left to start his own ministry.

Several years had passed since this particular minister had taken the step of faith to start his own organization. But because his new organization hadn’t grown as quickly as he had wished, he had become very discouraged and depressed. As a result of these disappointments, he had begun to question everything he believed about walking by faith. He had even become very bitter and sour toward anyone who claimed to walk in faith. Unfortunately, this minister made the mistake of starting to measure what he believed by what he was experiencing.

That day when I went to lunch with this man, I was shocked that anyone who had known such a high level of faith could slip into such a miserable state. He wasn’t just negative; he was extremely critical and cynical of anything that had to do with faith. As I tried to encourage this man, he said, “Yeah, I know all about you faith guys! Name it and claim it; that’s who you guys are! But you’re all so shallow. You guys don’t know anything about hardships or suffering. You just live in a fairy-tale world that doesn’t touch anyone’s real existence.”

As this man alleged that I and my other faith friends didn’t know anything about hardships, I thought of all the personal challenges I had been through — the many assaults the devil had made against my life and my ministry. I also thought about how the very ministries he was specifically accusing of being shallow had stood so steadfastly against problems of which he was obviously unaware.

I felt a need to speak up and tell the man about some of these challenges and how I and my fellow ministers had won the victory by standing steadfastly in faith. But when I tried to speak to him, it was like talking to a concrete wall. He had already made up his mind that God had no plan of victory for his life — and that anyone who believed it was God’s will for people to be victorious was a charlatan!

After two hours of this man’s verbal abuse, I told the pastor who brought me to the lunch, “Excuse me, but I am not going to sit here and be verbally abused by this man anymore. I don’t even know him, yet he is viciously attacking me and my friends. I’m sorry he wouldn’t listen to me today, because I believe I could have helped him.”

With that, I pushed away from the table, stood up, put on my jacket, and left the restaurant. There was no reason for me to stay there any longer, because the bitterness in this man had defiled him so completely that he wasn’t willing to hear anything from me or from my friends who also believe in the walk of faith. In the end, I discovered the only reason he wanted to meet me for lunch was to have the opportunity to berate me for what I believed.

That experience made me think of Hebrews 10:38 and 39, which says, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition….” This verse tells us explicitly what happens to people who walk away from the life of faith. According to this verse, the ramifications of this departure from faith are grim and ghastly. The man who berated me that day at lunch was a perfect example of what this verse communicates to you and me.

The words “draw back” are from the Greek word hupostello, which is a compound of the words hupo and stello. The word hupo in this case means back, and the word stello means to send. But when these two words become the word hupostello, it depicts someone who is shrinking back, withdrawing, retreating, regressing, receding, backing away, backsliding, or someone who is recoiling from something. This is a person who started on a journey but then abruptly reversed his direction. He is now moving backward instead of forward. For some reason, this person is backing out of a position or belief that he once strongly held.

The word “perdition” is the Greek word apoleia, which describes something so ruined and rotten that it is decomposing, such as rotten potatoes that have sat too long and are now spoiled and ruined. Frequently this word was used to describe the stench of a decaying animal or a dead human body — a loathsome, putrid, vulgar, disgusting, nauseating scent. One whiff leaves you with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. The smell is so repulsive that you feel like running to the bathroom to vomit. This is exactly the image that Hebrews 10:39 gives us of what happens when a person turns and walks away from the call of God or a life of faith. It results in a sickening, stinking situation.

Don’t be like the man given in this example above. If God has spoken to you, stand fast and refuse to budge until you receive the manifestation of the promise God made to you!

I am amazed at the short-lived nature of some people’s faith. For example, if their prayers for healing aren’t answered as quickly as they wish, they permit their flesh to lead them to the conclusion that it must be God’s will for them to be sick! Or if they sow their finances believing for a financial harvest but don’t see that harvest after a few months, they conclude that what they were taught about prosperity must be wrong.

But you have to give faith time to work! Faith and patience are partners. That is why Hebrews 10:36 says, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” The word “patience” comes from the word hupomene, a compound of the words hupo and meno. The word meno is the primary root of the word, and it means to stay, to remain, to continue, or to permanently abide in one place. It is the very word that Jesus used in John 15:7, when He said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” A literal translation of John 15:7 could be, “If you steadfastly and continuously abide in Me, and if My words steadfastly and continuously abide in you, you may ask what you will, and it shall be done for you.” The word meno gives the idea of something that is rooted, unmoving, and stable.

But when you add the prefix hupo to the front of meno, thus forming hupomene, the picture changes radically! In this situation, the word hupo means under, as to be underneath something that is very heavy. But when it is connected to the word meno — becoming the word hupomene — it pictures a person who is under a very heavy load but who has resolved that he isn’t moving; he is going to stay in that one spot. Regardless of how heavy the load or how long it takes, he refuses to move from his position because he knows that it is where he is supposed to be!

The word hupomene pictures a person who is completely committed to maintaining his position. He will stay under that heavy load as long as it is necessary for him to achieve his victory. He is intent on standing by his commitment, regardless of the cost he must pay. Nothing can sway or move him to change his mind. He is not going to relinquish his territory! One scholar says hupomene would be better translated “endurance” because it portrays an attitude that never gives up. It is a faith that manifests as a tough, resistant, persistent, obstinate, stubborn, tenacious spirit that refuses to let go of what it wants or believes. I personally translate the word hupomene as hang-in-there-power!

You must have hupomene if you intend to beat the devil at his game and successfully do what God has called you to do. If hupomene is working in your life, it’s just a matter of time until your victory comes to you. It’s not a question of if your victory will come — it’s only a question of when it will come. But for you to reach that glorious and long-awaited place of victory, it is essential that you have hupomene in your life!

So don’t let loose of your faith! The day your vision dies is the day your joy will disappear, your life will be depressing, and you will turn bitter. You’ll end up in “perdition” if you let go of the word of truth God gave you. You’ll start putting out the putrid stench of a faith turned sour — just like that minister who backed away from his once-strong position of faith and became bitter and cynical about anyone who walked in faith. Instead of resisting the lies the devil was speaking to him and maintaining his rock-solid stance on the Word of God, he relinquished his position of faith and gave place to doubt and unbelief.

Seated before me that day was a man who had turned around and backed out of the life of faith he had once embraced. His whole mind was doused in defeat. He had even rationalized his defeat by immersing himself in a doctrinal system designed to support his depressing existence. The entire conversation with him just made me feel ill. It was sickening to see someone who once walked in victory now walking in such a terrible low-level existence.

That’s why Hebrews 10:38 says, “…if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” It isn’t a pleasurable experience to see someone who once made such advances later take a turn for the worse. In fact, it’s heartbreaking.

Perhaps you know people who once intensely longed to do the will of God and who firmly believed in what God had called them to do. But when it didn’t turn out the way they expected or when they hit a few unexpected bumps along the way, they said, “Forget this faith thing! It doesn’t work!” Did those same people then turn around and back away from what God had called them to do or from what He had revealed to them? Isn’t it sad to see what happens to people like this — people who had so much potential and who could have achieved so much if they had just held on a little longer?

Perhaps you are the one who once tried to do God’s will but then allowed yourself to become discouraged and defeated. Did you throw in the towel and let the devil have his way in ruining your dream? Did you give up, turn back, and withdraw from doing what you were called to be or to do? If the answer is yes, you’re probably disgusted with yourself and you feel unhappy and unfulfilled. Right?

Well, there’s no reason for you to remain in this miserable condition for the rest of your life. The table is prepared, and the meal is cooked. God is waiting for you to pull up your chair to the table, pick up your knife and fork, and begin again to dig into the awesome plan He has for your life. Don’t let discouragement keep you from being who God wants you to be. Just hold fast, hold tight, and determine that you’re not going to stop until you see your dream come to pass!

Aches and pains will soon be forgotten when the powers of hell move out of the way and your dream becomes a reality. When that happens, you’ll be so glad you didn’t take the low road and join the club of quitters!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I am asking You to help me stay focused and to remain determined to stay in my race of faith until I reach the finish line and receive my long-awaited prize! When the devil tries to dissuade me from holding on to my faith, help me to rebuke him, to command him to be silent, and to order him to leave! With Your Spirit empowering me, I know I will be able to keep believing and walking by faith until I finally see the manifestation of my dreams!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that regardless of how heavy the load or how long it takes, I am going to refuse to move from my faith position until I achieve the victory Jesus promises to me. I will remain steadfast in my commitment, and nothing can sway or move me to change my mind. I refuse to relinquish any of my God-promised territory! My faith is tough, resistant, persistent, obstinate, and stubborn. My spirit is so tenacious that it refuses to let go! It isn’t a question of IF my victory will come — it’s only a question of WHEN it will come!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Have you ever known people who once walked in faith but then let discouragement turn them sour? Are those individuals now bitter, hardhearted, and cynical toward anyone or anything that symbolizes the faith they once possessed?

2. How would you describe the current status in life of these individuals after having left behind their faith and their dreams? Have their lives become better, or have they deteriorated into a sad shadow of the faith-filled lives they once lived?

3. If you have been feeling tempted to get discouraged and to give up on the dream God has given you, what steps can you take to begin to renew your hope and strengthen your resolve to hold on to the end?

Have You Ever Wondered What Songs They Sang in New Testament Times?

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
— Timothy 2:11-13

Have you ever wondered what kind of worship services took place in the first-century Church? What did the early believers do during their praise and worship? How did they take their offerings? How did they pray for the sick? How loud did they pray in the Spirit? Or how did they flow in the anointing and gifts of the Holy Spirit? Imagine the kind of vitality that must have filled their church services!

In Second Timothy 2:11-13, Paul gives us a glimpse into one of those Early Church meetings. As he writes to Timothy, Paul actually quotes a literal song or hymn that the early believers sang when they met together to worship. “Hymnic literature” is what scholars call Second Timothy 2:11-13. In other words, these verses are an actual quote of a real New Testament hymn. This song was so well known that Paul included its lyrics in this epistle. It was most likely sung by Paul, Timothy, the apostle John, as well as thousands of others.

In addition to this hymn in Second Timothy 2:11-13, a second hymn is found in Colossians 1:15-19 that proclaims the Lordship of Jesus Christ and His dominion over all the universe. In both of these instances in the New Testament when “hymnic literature” is used, the quote is from a “hymn” that was well known throughout the Church. These hymns were intended to be more than mere music; they were tools of instruction that chronicled the true thinking of the Early Church.

But when Paul was writing Second Timothy, he was trying to encourage Timothy to bravely face the challenges that were before him. By using this hymn, it is almost as if Paul is saying, “Timothy, I know how to get you to understand the point I am trying to make to you! Do you remember that powerful song your congregation sings every week? You surely know the one I’m talking about. You know, the one that goes like this….”  Then Paul quotes the familiar hymn from Second Timothy 2:11-13, which says:

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he will also deny us:
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Look at the first line of the song, “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him….” Can you imagine getting together in church to sing about martyrdom? This was not an allegorical speech; this was reality for these early believers! Persecution and death were so imminent that Christians actually included these subjects in their worship services!

One great historian said, “Let me write the songs for a nation, and I can determine the history of that nation.” In like manner, the leaders of the Early Church understood that to prepare themselves and the people to live bravely for the Lord, they had to use every available tool to instill bravery in the ranks.

One tool these early believers used was hymns. Just as we leave church each week with a song in our hearts and minds, these early believers left their church services with songs of bravery echoing in their souls — and they would sing those songs all week long to encourage themselves!

The first line of the song in verse 11 says, “…If we be dead with him….” This phrase comes from the Greek word sunapothnesko, which refers to a literal partnership in death with someone else. This means the first line of this hymn could be rendered, “…If we join Him as a full-fledged partner in death….” Imagine trying to put that to music! Even more, imagine trying to teach your congregation to sing those words with conviction!

The song goes on, “…we shall also live with him.” This phrase is based on the Greek word sudzao, which conveys again the idea of partnership. However, this time it means to join someone else in life, not in death. This line of the song could be taken as a kind of faith declaration that proclaims, “…We will join Him in the same kind of life that He now lives.” Singing this kind of song over and over again worked bravery into the fiber of the Early Church.

Today we still need songs that produce brave warriors. Oh, that the Church today was committed enough to sing this type of song and mean it! Instead, most people would be offended by such lyrics and would refuse to even participate in singing them. Others would claim that these lyrics were filled with doubt and unbelief. But these lines represent powerful faith, not unbelief! They basically declare, “Come hell or high water, we’re in this to stay! If they kill us, that’s all right, because we will soon join Jesus in His glorious, new, resurrected life!”

The next line of the song says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him…” (v. 12). The phrase “if we suffer” once again conveys the idea of partnership. Literally translated, it means, “If we join Him in His suffering and suffer the same way He did….”

Notice that this line has no note of sorrow or pain about these Christians’ suffering. They knew that feeling sorry for themselves wouldn’t help the situation, so they faced it bravely in the power of the Spirit. Although they didn’t seek to suffer, they weren’t afraid to suffer if it was forced upon them because of their faith.

These were the lyrics of a fearless people. They were determined to win the victory, regardless of the price they had to pay. Therefore, the song continues, “…we shall also reign with him….” The phrase “reign with him” is the Greek word sumbasileuo, which can be translated “…we will reign and rule like nobility with Him….” These believers had their sights fixed on ruling with Jesus! To reach that goal, they were willing to face and fight any foe!

Now comes the hard part of the song — the part that carries consequences. It says, “…If we deny him, he also will deny us.” Can you imagine looking someone straight in the eyes to sing to him, “If you deny the Lord, the Lord will deny you too”?

These early believers saw no room for the excuses of defectors in the army of the Lord. Either a person was with Jesus, or he was against Him. Furthermore, when a brother in the Lord defected, the early believers didn’t sweep it under the carpet. Neither did they simply pat the errant brother on the back and say, “Well, now, come back and visit us again some time.” They saw themselves as a mighty army, and those who deserted the ranks were not worthy of honor or privileges.

This militant lack of tolerance couldn’t be any plainer than in this line of the hymn they sang. It was a reflection of who they were and how they thought. They had no tolerance for defectors!

From the content of this hymn, it is quite clear that these early saints were extremely serious about what they believed and about the Kingdom of God. Their Christian walk wasn’t just “another thing” for them to do in life. Christianity was their “all in all,” for they had given their lives — lock, stock, and barrel — over to this cause.

Please understand that this hymn was not a theological statement; rather, it was a reflection of the hour in which these believers lived and the attitude that they possessed. Church songs are always indicative of the specific period in which they were written. The hymn writer, whoever he or she was, chronicled the messages preached to the congregation and put them to music so the saints could sing them at home, at work, in their leisure time, or at church gatherings.

I can almost hear the first-century saints singing the lines of this hymn now! Can you can hear them raising their voices and bravely singing?

If we are killed like He was killed,
Then we shall live again as He now lives;
If suffering is forced upon us,
Then we’ll reign with Him like nobility;
If we deny or forsake Him,
He will deny us of our rewards;
If we believe not or grow faint-hearted,
Still He abideth faithful.
He cannot, cannot, cannot deny — Himself!

As time moves on and the coming of the Lord draws nearer, God expects you to step forward and take your place in His modern-day army. It is very possible that in the days and decades to come, there will be clashes between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God. Are you ready for this? Are you ready to follow the voice of our Commander-in-Chief? Are you committed to getting in the fight and staying in it until the victory is won? Are you a true soldier in the army of the Lord?

Take advantage of the time you have right now to strengthen yourself spiritually, to become dressed in the whole armor of God, and to develop a winning attitude. It is a fact that attitude is 99 percent of every fight; therefore, being mentally equipped is very important for your survival and victory.

The believers in the Early Church maintained the attitude to never give in, give up, or surrender to defeat. As a result, they conquered the world in which they lived.

Do you have the same kind of attitude that will assure your victory in life? If not, you need to start developing that attitude in your life immediately! There is too much at stake for you to allow yourself to be defeated because you didn’t possess a right attitude!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me have an attitude that is determined to win every struggle and fight that I face in life! You have given me spiritual power, spiritual weapons, and the wonderful Word of God. It is a fact that You have equipped me with everything I need to win. Now the victory depends on me and my attitude. Help me maintain the attitude that never gives in, never gives up, and never surrenders to defeat. As I make up my mind to take hold of Your power, Your spiritual weapons, and Your Word, it is guaranteed that I will push the devil clear out of my life. So please help me to make this decision and to do it quickly!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am following the voice of my Commander-in-Chief. I will go where Jesus says to go, and I will do exactly what He tells me to do. I am committed to get in the fight and stay in it until the victory is won! I have an attitude that never gives in, never gives up, and never surrenders to defeat. God has given me spiritual power, spiritual weapons, and the promises of His Word on which I can stand. He has equipped me with everything I need to win — and now the victory depends on me! 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. What do you think about this song that the believers sang in the First Century? What do the lyrics of this song tell you about the early believers and their attitude about life and about living in victory?

2. Do you have the necessary attitude for winning the victory in your life and circumstances? Can you say with confidence that you are committed to staying in the fight until the victory is yours and the long-awaited prize is finally in your hands?

3. Is your Christian walk just “another thing” for you to do in life, or is it your “all in all,” as it was in the lives of these early believers? Are you giving your life — lock, stock, and barrel — to the pursuit of your walk with God?

Redeeming the time….
— Ephesians 5:16

It has been eight months since families and friends around the world gathered to celebrate the New Year. Millions of people at that time were thinking about changes they needed to make in their lives as they began a brand-new calendar year. I think we all know that although this was a time when many people made commitments or resolutions to change, many of those commitments haven’t yet been acted on, even eight months later.

Maybe you’ve done better than others at keeping the commitments you made at the beginning of the year. But I’m sure you’d agree that you still have progress to make in order to fully walk out those commitments you made to move forward in various areas of your life.

Instead of living in regret about those commitments that remain completely or partially neglected, this is a good time to follow through on what you uttered before the Lord at the beginning of the year. Making excuses or throwing a pity party won’t help you. In fact, it will make things even worse, pulling you into a state of discouragement and self-condemnation. It’s so much better to just lift your hands and rejoice that you still have four more months in this year to keep your commitments with the strength and grace that God provides!

But to effectively make those changes, you’re going to have to get serious about doing what you said you’d do before the Lord. Four months is a significant amount of time, but it’s not a vast amount of time for you to make forward progress in those areas. Don’t let the devil lie to you and tell you that it’s too late. It’s not too late. You can do it!

To be forthright, I’ve got my own list of commitments I made to the Lord at the beginning of this year that I have yet to fulfill. I’ve made progress on some, and no progress on others. But I’ve determined that I’m going to follow my own good counsel! I have my eyes fixed on these four remaining months, and I intend to step up my focus on fulfilling the things I committed to do. It’s a good time to reset my commitment and get serious about doing what God has put on my heart to do!

The next four months represent time for a brand-new start — a new opportunity to attain new victories. This is a golden moment for you to begin reaching forth to the wonderful possibilities before you!

Let me encourage you with one of my favorite verses of Scripture. Ephesians 5:16 commands us to get in the habit of “redeeming the time.” Time can be lost or wasted, depending on what we did with it. But if we have wasted or lost time along the way, the end is not over! Ephesians 5:16 clearly says we can “redeem” time.

The word “redeeming” in this verse is the Greek word exagoridzo. The word agoridzo is the Greek word for a marketplace that’s cluttered with products and vast opportunities to spend more time and money shopping there than one ought to use. It was the same then as it is today. If a person isn’t careful, he can become lost roaming through the shops of the market, wasting precious time. But that word ex means “out” and is where we get the word exit. When ex is added to the word agoridzo to form exagoridzo, it paints the picture of finding what you need, purchasing it, and getting out of the marketplace quickly. In other words, do what you need to do, and then make an exit!

In this phrase “redeeming the time,” the word “time” is kairos. In this context, it refers to the brevity of time that we have available and our need to be time-conscious in the way we conduct our lives. It depicts someone who is learning to make full use of time because he is conscious that time is limited and he must use it wisely. Paul was saying that by implementing diligence and commitment, we can buy back time that we have frivolously lost along the way.

The good news is this: If we’ve became sidetracked in the fulfillment of promises that we made to ourselves or to the Lord — if our lives have become so cluttered that we have become lost in the maze of our objectives — we can still reverse this condition. Through our recommitment to ourselves and to the Lord, we can buy back time that has been lost, wasted, or forfeited this year thus far. And with the Holy Spirit’s supernatural help, we can accomplish in a short time what we did not accomplish in the first eight months of the year. We can redeem that time and get back on course!

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you win new victories in the remaining four months of this year! Reach forward to achieve those dreams and longings you’ve put off again and again. Throw open your arms and your heart, and welcome the wonderful future Jesus has waiting for you! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, He will help you shrug off wasted or lost time, redeem it — buy it back — and fulfill the commitments you made eight months ago. With God, all things are possible, so release your faith in the wonderworking power of God. Press forward toward the victories that are awaiting you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I thank You for this needed encouragement in my life today. I was nearly discouraged because I hadn’t accomplished the things I promised myself at the first of the year that I would do. But I still have four months of this year left to attain some significant progress in various areas of my life. So I’m going to shake off all regret, yield to the workings of the Holy Spirit in my life, and go forward in Jesus’ name. With His help, I am determined to make progress in those areas in which I know the Lord wants me to experience growth and change!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I make a fresh commitment again to advance and make progress in my life and to achieve significant victories before the calendar hits December 31. The victories I long for are victories that the Lord desires for my life. He is with me. He is for me. He gives me overcoming power to accomplish these goals and dreams. I embrace His grace, and I repent for not making progress as I should have made. Today I turn my energies and my attention to the future. I plan to end this year with achievement and success!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you taken the time to make a list of the things you’d like to accomplish in the next four months? If not, I encourage you to set aside some time to pray and seek the Lord regarding what He wants you to achieve before the end of the year.
2. If you failed to accomplish important tasks or goals due to a lack of commitment so far this year, have you taken time to repent before the Lord? It’s important to do this so you can “clear the slate” and start the rest of the year with a right heart before God. Not only will He forgive you, but He will also give you the grace and strength to move forward and attain in Him what you never thought you could achieve on your own.
3. Are there any changes you need to make (e.g., in your environment or in your relationships) so you can start implementing these resolutions to finish this year right? Perhaps you need to clear an area of your home just for praying and studying God’s Word. Or maybe you need to gently withdraw yourself from friendships that are toxic and emotionally and spiritually unhealthy. Ask God, and the Holy Spirit will guide you and show you what to do.