September 15

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren….
— 2 Corinthians 11:26

The difficulty of travel when we first moved to the Soviet Union cannot be exaggerated. For example, because the whole USSR was gripped with deficits multiple decades ago, people never knew if they’d be able to find gasoline for their car. In the town where Denise and I lived, there was rarely gasoline at the gas station. The only reason we could drive our car was that we found a man who filled the Russian Army tanks with fuel. He siphoned gas on the side and sold it to drivers for $20 for five gallons.

But starting out with a tank of gas was no guarantee that you’d make it to your destination. You could be en route to some destination with a full tank of gas at the onset. But along the way when you needed to refill, you would drive into gas station after gas station that had big signs on the pumps that read, “CLOSED: NO FUEL!” It was a definite challenge to travel by car!

Then there were the trains! Russian trains today are beautiful and a delightful experience, but back in those early days after the fall of the Soviet Union, passenger trains were filthy. A person nearly needed waders to go into the restroom because the urine was so deep on the floor of the toilet stalls. Drunks drank vodka like water; drunken people physically fought each other; gypsies roamed the train cars and robbed travelers; and cockroaches scrambled across the floors.

In addition, the trains rarely ran on schedule, which meant there was a strong chance you would show up late for whatever kind of meeting you were trying to get to. It only cost about 25 cents to take a train back in those early days, but you more than paid for the inexpensive ride by having to put up with the inconveniences — the filth, the thieves, and the drunken fights. Add to that the frequent delays, and it took hours upon hours in the most unpleasant conditions to reach your destination by this mode of travel.

Finally, there was traveling by airplane. Today Russia has some fine, world-class airlines, but in the early ’90s, getting on a Russian airplane was a real adventure! I actually experienced times when I was seated next to someone who had a dog or goat on the plane with him! And the food — if you could call it food — was nearly thrown at you by flight attendants, who didn’t know anything about serving customers. I was once on a plane when the engines caught on fire. And on another flight, the flight attendants actually warned us that there would likely be a drop in cabin pressure because one of the doors had a broken seal!

Furthermore, ticket agents took bribes in those days and oversold seats on planes. One time I was on a plane that was so overloaded, a nursing mother was seated in the cockpit and the kitchens had people seated on the cabinet countertops and on the kitchen floors! My seat — which had been reserved and purchased in advance — was occupied by someone else when I arrived on board. So the flight attendant seated me in the coat closet on top of a crate of Pepsi bottles, which was crammed next to a rose bush that someone was taking to his home in the next city. And try to imagine it — before the flight took off, the flight attendant shut the curtain to the coat closet, so I sat in darkness the whole flight! By the end of that flight, my bottom felt sore from being poked by pop bottles, and my arms were scratched all over by the thorns on that rose bush.

As I remember those experiences that happened so many years ago, they remind me of what the apostle Paul wrote of his own travels in Second Corinthians 11:26, where he stated that he had been “…in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren….”

In this verse, Paul repeats the word “perils” seven times as he tells about what he faced as he traveled in his apostolic ministry. The word “perils” is from the Greek word kindunos, which simply means danger — telling us that traveling to preach the Gospel in the First Century AD was often a dangerous affair.

First, Paul says that he faced “perils of waters.” The word “waters” is potamos, which is the Greek word for rivers. Hence, we know that there were moments in his travels when Paul and his team had to cross dangerous rivers that could have jeopardized their lives. Dry riverbeds in that region of the world quickly swell to overflowing during flash floods — a constant danger to those who were traveling by foot.

Second, Paul says that he faced “perils of robbers.” The word for “robbers” is listes, and it depicted bandits that lay alongside the roads and robbed those who were traveling alone or in small groups. According to Paul’s testimony in this verse, he faced bandits at some point during his apostolic journeys.

Third, Paul says that he faced “perils of my own countrymen.” The word “countrymen” is the Greek word genos, which is where we get the word genes. Paul was saying that he had been in danger at the hands of people who were from his own ancestry. We know by reading the book of Acts that the Jewish community continually assaulted Paul and his team and put them in great danger.

Fourth, Paul says that he faced “perils by the heathen.” The word “heathen” is ethnos, and it referred to pagans. The pagan world was fiercely opposed to the message Paul and his companions preached, and as we read in the book of Acts, they were often confronted with dangerous situations at the hands of pagans.

Fifth, he says “perils in the wilderness.” The word “wilderness” in Greek is heremia, and it denotes an isolated, desert place. Such places were often confronted when one traveled by foot, and they could often prove to be dangerous because there was little water and no sustenance.

Sixth, Paul says that he faced “perils in the sea.” Acts 27 records one concrete dangerous event that Paul faced while he was at sea. However, Second Corinthians 11:25 says that he suffered shipwreck three times. That means there are two shipwreck events that are not even recorded in the Book of Acts!

Seventh, Paul says that he faced “perils among false brethren.” The key to this phrase is the word “false” — the word pseudos, which implies the idea of pretend brothers. They feigned to be in Christ, but in fact they were not. Perhaps they were spies or other enemies sent into the Church to try to obtain information about Paul and his team. The text does not make it clear who these particular false brothers were, but it makes it clear that they were a “peril” to Paul’s ministry.

In all seven instances we’ve seen, the word “peril” is the word kindunos, the Greek word for danger. This tells us that traveling as a Gospel preacher in Paul’s time was not always grand and glorious. There were constant threats, which had to be held off with faith and a determination to proceed regardless of the risks involved. Much of what Paul faced in his travels is not even recorded in the Book of Acts!

As I faced my own struggles in the earlier years of ministering in the former USSR, I took courage from Paul’s testimony in Second Corinthians 11:25. I am certain that ministers of the Gospel over the past 2,000 years have read these words and have similarly taken heart that their own particular struggles were not unique — and that if Paul could face such threats and go on to minister in God’s power and anointing, they could do it too.

Today I want to assure you — you can do whatever God has told you to do. The devil may try to thwart God’s plan for your life or hinder you along the way, but if you’ll stay in faith and keep pressing forward, these obstacles will move aside, and you will do exactly what God has told you to do!

I would encourage you to read the rest of Second Corinthians 11 to see what else the apostle Paul encountered as he traveled to do the work of apostolic ministry. The devil tried to oppose him, hinder him, and thwart him from making progress in every way possible. But Paul pushed through each attack and every moment of opposition, and he did precisely what God called him to do. Let that be your testimony too!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for the power of God that sustains me when I am in rough places. The devil has tried to hinder me, oppose me, and thwart Your plan for my life. But I’ve kept my eyes focused on the goal that You have given me — and as a result, You have empowered me to keep going forward regardless of the opposition that I have encountered. Today I ask You to empower me by the Holy Spirit to tackle and overcome every hindrance that I am facing. I thank You for this divine power that always helps to make a way!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world! The devil and the world itself may try to limit and hinder me from fulfilling God’s plan for my life, but I declare that I will not be defeated, nor will I allow the devil to have delight in mastering my life. With the name of Jesus, the power of God, and the endurance of the Holy Spirit, I will press forward by faith until I have gone where I am supposed to go and have done what I am supposed to do!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. What have you faced as you stepped forward to follow Jesus Christ and accomplish what He has called you to do? If Paul faced dangers, it shouldn’t surprise us if we face them too!
  2. How have you experienced the delivering and saving power of God as you’ve stepped out to obey God with your life? Can you think of times when you shouldn’t have made it, but His quickening power reached out and rescued you, empowering you to keep forging ahead?
  3. Have you read the rest of Second Corinthians, in which Paul relates the whole account of what he endured as he traveled in his apostolic journeys? As you do, realize that if Paul could overcome these things, you can overcome what you are facing too!

September 14

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
— 2 Corinthians 9:6

In recent years, many people have been forced into positions of financial hardship as they struggle to keep up with an unpredictable, ever-changing global economy. People from almost every walk of life have been affected by the rising cost of living. Families scramble to keep up with house payments, car payments, insurance costs, school costs for the kids, credit-card payments, and a myriad of other monthly expenses.

This economic instability has also adversely affected churches, ministries, and mission organizations. When things get tough in the economy, many believers simply cut back on their giving to God, choosing not to set aside their tithes or give special offerings to ministries or charitable organizations. This decline in giving has had catastrophic consequences in the Kingdom of God because preaching the Gospel and establishing churches require money. Regardless of what is happening in the economy, there is a lost world that desperately needs to hear the message of Jesus Christ — and when people cease to give to the work of God, it hinders the outreach to lost souls.

The Bible makes it clear that tithes and offerings are not optional for us as believers. In fact, we have an even greater responsibility to be consistent and faithful in difficult times. God is watching — and His law of giving and receiving always works!

Right now believers all over the world are faced with these questions:

Allow me to share an example from my own life. My parents’ response to these challenging economic times stands out to me as a wonderful example of being consistent regardless of what is happening in the economy. Perhaps no one understands the challenge of making ends meet on a limited budget more than retirees. My father is now in Heaven, so today I will give you the vibrant example of my mother. Although she lives on a fixed income and makes many difficult financial decisions, she has never stopped giving to the work of the Lord.

My mother has always been careful with money, but now that she lives on a fixed retiree’s income, she thinks twice before she gets in the car to drive to the grocery store or pharmacy. Instead of casually driving down the street to run a single errand, she combines errands to avoid driving when it isn’t absolutely necessary in order to save on gasoline expenses. She is extremely careful with her expenditures.

Nevertheless, she has always resolved that regardless of what happens in the economy, she will not cut back in her giving to the ministry. She knows that if she and others don’t stay on track with their giving, it ultimately affects souls that need to hear the Gospel and be saved. My mother has never considered her giving into the work of the ministry as something that could be “opted out of ” in order to cut expenses.

I want to encourage you to take the same stance of faith as my mother. Be unmoved in your commitment to support the work of God, regardless of what is happening in the economy. Every time you write a check for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom, He is watching. He sees each time you cut back on something else but refuse to skimp on your tithes and offerings. God sees it all, and He takes note of your love, devotion, and unwavering commitment to support His work. As a result, God will provide for you in ways that your natural resources could never provide. God will multiply your seed back to you in ways you could never expect or anticipate.

In Second Corinthians 9:6, the Holy Spirit said through Paul, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” Paul wrote in terms of seed when he spoke about giving to the work of God. Since this is the metaphor the Holy Spirit gives us, we need to consider what it means. What does a farmer — a sower of seed — do to guarantee that he will have a harvest in the fall of the year?

If a farmer puts seed into the ground, he is guaranteed to have a harvest. But what if he says, “It’s too hard to plant right now, so I’m going to hold on to my seed and not plant it this year”? Or what if he decides, “I’m going to eat my seed because I have so little of it”? These faulty decisions will guarantee that the farmer is going to experience a crisis at harvest time — because if no seed is planted in the ground, there simply will be no harvest.

The future of a farmer is completely dependent on getting his seed into the ground, and any farmer who fails to do this is guaranteeing his own crop failure. Therefore, regardless of how hot the weather or how difficult the task, a farmer must plant seed if he wants to reap a harvest. This is God’s law of sowing and reaping.

The law of sowing and reaping applies to every sphere of life, including finances. It supersedes natural laws and natural economic crises. Even if the world around you suffers financially, sowing seed into the Kingdom of God will bring you protection and blessing. This is God’s promise to you.

One of the best examples of God’s people being blessed in times of crisis is the account of the children of Israel when God delivered them out of Egypt. God’s people were blessed and protected while the world around them suffered. Although plagues ravaged the Egyptians, those plagues never touched the children of Israel because they hearkened to the voice of the Lord and did exactly what He instructed them to do.

The world around the Israelites was falling apart, but their obedience to God’s Word created an invisible wall that protected them from the destruction that crippled and laid waste to Egypt. If Israel had not obeyed God’s commands, that invisible wall would never have been erected and they would have experienced the same plagues the people of Egypt did. It was their obedience that set them apart and saved them while the godless world around them suffered terribly.

If you and I stay on track financially and give to God’s work, regardless of how difficult it seems to be to do so, we will be divinely protected, supernaturally provided for, and guaranteed a blessing multiplied back to us. Like natural seed, it may take awhile for the crop to grow, but God promises in Second Corinthians 9:6 that if we put seed into the ground, we will reap. If we sow sparingly, that is how we will reap. But if we sow bountifully, God promises that we will reap bountifully. The level we reap will be completely determined by the level we sow.

If you and I are sure of where God wants us to sow and how much we’re supposed to sow, we must stay steadfast in our obedience to give! We must first make sure we’re putting our seed in ground that will produce good fruit. Then we are to determine not to refrain from giving, regardless of the current economic climate or forecast.

Just keep your eyes faithfully fixed on Jesus in this matter of giving. Carefully obey His command to tithe, to give offerings, and to sow seed. As you do, He will cause harvests of blessing to come to you, despite anything that is happening in the world around you. This is God’s promise to you!

I’m very aware that many are worrying about the economy and wondering what’s going to happen in the future. But don’t let that happen to you! A spirit of fear will cause you to back off and retreat from doing what God commands — and that will put you in a negative cycle that brings a curse instead of a blessing. If you want to stay in a cycle of blessing, you must take authority over fear in the name of Jesus and then trust God as you obey His command to give, for that is His method of bringing you a harvest. Don’t shrink back; keep pressing forward; keep your eyes on Jesus; and believe for a good harvest to come from the seed you have sown into good soil.

If you do what is right and obey God’s command to give, you needn’t worry about the future because the law of sowing and reaping works. This universal law assures a harvest of provision for you, for your family, and for your business, regardless of what happens in the world around you. And that, my friend, is good news!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Heavenly Father, I thank You that the law of sowing and reaping works regardless of what is happening in the current world economy. Your Word commands me to give tithes and offerings, and I obey what Your Word tells me to do. You said that if I love You, I will keep Your commands. By giving, I am demonstrating my love to You. It is a part of my worship. I thank You for keeping Your promise that if I give, it will be given to me again. It is part of Your personal promise to me, and I thank You for being faithful to perform Your promise in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I am consistent and faithful when it comes to giving tithes and offerings to the work of the ministry. People need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ — and I commit to using my money to preach the Gospel and to mature new believers in their faith. When it comes to my contributions, I declare that God can count on me. If there is any area that needs to be cut back in my expenses, it will not be in the area of my tithes and offerings. I will be faithful, and God will multiply my seed back to me. My time of harvest will come, and it will never be late. God is well aware of my situation, and He will keep His promise of sowing and reaping to me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. During times when the world economic situation is challenging to you, do you remain faithful to give your tithes and offerings, or do you see this as an optional choice to stop or to reduce your giving? Do you see yourself giving to God for His purposes or merely to men?
  2. Have you considered what happens to churches and ministries — the work of the Kingdom — when people stop giving? The needs of the ministry continue regardless of what is happening in the economy. So if everyone cut back, how would it affect the ability of the ministry to carry out the work of Jesus in these times?
  3. Can you think of a time when you were tempted to cut back on your giving, but you decided to remain steadfast, and in the end, you saw God multiply your seed back to you in some way that you could have never anticipated?

September 13

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea.
— Acts 11:29

I have no doubt in my mind that we are facing the most serious time in the history of mankind. Jesus warned of impending floods, earthquakes, and wars as we approach the end of the age. These calamities will become more and more frequent in the days ahead — but how we deal with them is up to us. We can respond in fear, or we can be prepared and rise up in faith to seize the hour for the spreading of the eternal Gospel.

There are numerous instances in Scripture where believers prepared themselves for difficult times after being forewarned. In Matthew 24:1-8, Jesus Himself warned the Early Church that trying circumstances lay ahead in their future, and instead of succumbing to worry and panic, these believers continued to believe and work and prosper. Another example is found in Acts 11:27-30, which tells of believers in Antioch who were warned by the Spirit of an impending famine and then began to set aside food and prepare for the coming crisis.

Notice that when these believers heard this warning from the Spirit, they were “determined” to take action. The Greek word for “determined” is horidzo, which means to be bound or to be obligated. In other words, these believers didn’t hoard their prosperity in times of need. Bound by a sense of covenant obligation as fellow believers, they determined to act. Working together in unity, the believers in Antioch prepared a relief offering to send to the church in Jerusalem so the money could be distributed to believers in need. The action of the Antioch congregation before a time of crisis made them God’s agents of provision and deliverance for others when the crisis actually occurred.

Today the Church’s response to crises is often fractured, disorganized, and negatively influenced by poor doctrine. In the face of an impending catastrophe, one camp’s strategy is to run and hide, whereas another will deny that the crisis even exists at all. Both of these strategies ultimately produce the same result: They prevent the Church from demonstrating God’s manifold wisdom to the world.

There’s no way to avoid the end-time prophecies outlined in the Bible — troubles will increase on the earth in the days ahead. However, these troubles are prime opportunities for those of us who know God and are called according to His purposes. By God’s power, we can walk in faith through every fiery trial and become sources of supernatural provision to meet the needs of those who are suffering, demonstrating His love, grace, and wisdom to those who don’t yet know His saving power in their lives.

Even if days of darkness lie in the future, these are not days to fear. Rather, they are opportunities for you to rise up as a man or woman of faith and do great things for the Kingdom of God. These are days for you to demonstrate that you are a member of the Church of Almighty God and that you will meet the needs of the lost and hurting. Just as God used the church of Antioch to meet the severe needs of believers in Jerusalem — this is your moment to shine! But in order to be God’s hand of deliverance and provision, you must plan and prepare. Are you praying about how to prepare so God can use you mightily in these last times?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, there is no doubt in my mind that we are living in the last of the last days. The challenges in our future are unlike any faced by the previous generations. Jesus warned of impending calamities as we approach the end of the age. He did not warn us of these difficulties to scare us but to prepare us. Holy Spirit, I trust You for the wisdom I need in order to plan and be prepared in every area of my life for what lies ahead. I ask You to make me Your hand of deliverance and provision for others as You equip and enable me to meet the severe needs of those who are suffering in these difficult times.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Therefore, I am well organized and prepared for any dark days that lie ahead. I rise up in faith and boldly seize the hour for the spreading of the eternal Gospel. I remain sensitive to and in touch with the Spirit of God, and He teaches me how to prepare as He leads me according to truth and shows me things to come. God has blessed me so I can be a blessing to others. I have resolved to be an expression of God’s hope and blessing; therefore, He will bless me with resources and provisions that I can share with those who are in need.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever considered how God wants to use you to help people in times of distress? In what ways are you prepared to help people in times of distress? What steps could you take to get better prepared?
  2. Think of how God used the church at Antioch to help suffering believers in Jerusalem. Because God spoke to them — and they listened — they were prepared to help those who were in need. Are you listening to what the Holy Spirit is telling you about the days to come?
  3. Joseph is a great example of a believer who prepared for difficult times. Because He listened to God’s voice and prepared, Joseph was a blessing in hard times. In fact, God used him to provide for an entire nation! Can you think of ways to emulate Joseph and prepare to help the people God has placed in your life?

September 12

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him.
— Luke 14:28,29

I have it on my heart today to share a vital principle from the Word of God that will help ensure your next endeavor in God has a successful outcome. Over the years, I’ve seen how so many believers like to blame the devil for just about everything that goes wrong in their lives. But although the devil certainly does try to wreak his share of havoc and destruction in Christians’ lives, everything bad that happens cannot be blamed on demonic attacks. I have discovered that a believer’s defeat can often be attributed to a lack of planning and preparation.

Jesus spoke of this crucial principle in Luke 14:28,29, saying, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him.”

Jesus began this verse by underscoring the importance of sitting down and counting the cost before beginning a project. The phrase “sitteth down” comes from the Greek word kathidzo, which depicts someone who sits down and takes a long time to seriously contemplate the project he is about to initiate. Part of that contemplation process is counting the cost of the endeavor. The phrase “counteth the cost” is the Greek word psiphidzo, which means to count or to calculate the real cost of the project before it is commenced. This process includes the careful consideration of not only the monetary cost involved in fully accomplishing the assigned task, but also of all that will be necessary in order to complete the task — time spent, physical effort expended, relationships impacted, etc.

Furthermore, the word “finish” is apartismos, which means to bring a project to completion. According to Jesus, it is very important to have the foresight before you get started on a project to ensure that you have the wherewithal to finish it. Getting started on a task is easy, but if you don’t have a solid financial and logistical plan in place, you will see very little progress.

Jesus continued in Luke 14:29 by saying, “Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him.” This word “mock” is the Greek word empaidzo, which means to ridicule, to mock, or to taunt someone. According to Jesus, if you give up on your project before it is complete, bystanders will ridicule and taunt you. And even if bystanders don’t mock you, the devil will most certainly accuse you of being a stupid failure who can’t finish what you start. Therefore, the wise course of action is to avoid this cast of accusing voices altogether by developing a meticulous plan well in advance. By sitting down and seriously contemplating the logistics of your project — what it will cost, where the money will come from, how much help you’ll need, and so on — you will know exactly what you need to see your endeavor through to completion.

Allow me to share an example from my own life. My wife Denise and I have lived in the former Soviet Union since the early 1990s. During this time abroad on the mission field, we’ve seen many missionary families come and go. In fact, of all the families who moved to the former USSR in the early 1990s to share the Gospel, we are the only family that remains as far as we can tell.

Certainly it’s true that some missionaries left because God called them to take the next step in their ministries and move to a new location. However, time and time again, Denise and I watched people leave prematurely because of unresolved personal issues that they didn’t take care of before they moved their families across the world. They would quit their jobs and move their entire families to Russia without counting the cost. And as a result, they would become so distracted by unresolved problems back home that they couldn’t focus on their work on the mission field. There is no doubt that these people were called to the mission field. But because they didn’t take care of their personal responsibilities, they couldn’t complete what God had called them to do.

There are a multitude of reasons why these well-meaning people were forced to leave the mission field early. Each reason is an example of failure to count the cost and to do things right from the start. The following list represents a few of the issues we’ve seen derail the ministries of missionaries overseas:

For those who did things wrong and failed to count the cost before leaving on their faith journey, these people lost a lot of time and money and suffered a great deal of unnecessary emotional wear and tear. Only a few times have we seen any of these missionary families return. Most became so sidetracked that they never made it back to the mission field where God called them.

Through observation and personal experience, Denise and I have learned that it may take a little longer to do things right the first time around, but nothing is as difficult as abandoning your divine call because you didn’t count the cost and do what you should have done in the beginning. Doing things right the first time is the smartest, cheapest, and best way to live!

I am so thankful that we have been able to continue our ministry in the former Soviet Union because we took the time to sit down and count the cost. We know that if we do things wrong, we’ll only have to backtrack and fix the problem, so we do our best to get it right from the very start of every assignment. We haven’t been successful 100 percent of the time, but with the help of God’s Spirit and sound counsel, we’ve been successful most of the time. For this, we give glory to God! We have peace in our hearts that our family members are secure, and we strive to keep our relationships with our partners alive so they feel connected to our ministry.

As a result, Denise and I have been free to focus on the task before us without unnecessary distractions that might pull us away from the call God has placed on our lives. Remaining in this place of freedom requires a great deal of effort. Often it has meant spending less money or moving slower than planned with certain projects. But in the long term, our efforts have empowered us to keep pressing forward into new and uncharted territory.

So today I strongly encourage you to do what Jesus said: Sit down and contemplate the total cost of the task or assignment that lies ahead of you before you begin. Count the cost from every angle to make sure you will truly be able to finish with excellence what you started out of obedience. You can do whatever God has called you to do — as long as you take heed to His words and do it His way!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for the common-sense approach that I’ve read today. I know that You have called me to do significant things with my life, so I accept the challenge to sit down and calculate the costs before I get started. The last thing I want is to start something I can’t finish and give others a reason to mock me or to deride Your holy assignment. I do not want to create an opportunity to hear the accusing voice of the devil or the mocking voices of doubters or non-believers. So help me use my mind, seek wise counsel, and take each step of faith carefully and methodically. I receive Your supernatural assistance to do every natural thing You’ve called me to do.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that I start every project by first sitting down to seriously contemplate the cost and the effort it will take to complete it. I ask You to help me think through every step that is required to finish this project. I will start this assignment with the full assurance that this is correct. I am confident and persuaded that I will finish what I have started because I fasten my attention and take my direction from Jesus, who is both the Author and the Finisher of my faith!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you personally know anyone who started a project that he was unable to complete? How did people respond to that event? When that person announced his next project, did people believe or doubt him?
  2. When you hear the phrase “count the cost,” what does that mean to you personally for the future plans you are currently praying about? It would be good for you to count the total cost — financial, physical, emotional — needed to complete the project you are planning to start.
  3. It is the strong spirit of a man that sustains him and enables him to endure. What steps have you taken to build new habits into your walk with God that will increase your spiritual stamina and consistency and ensure that you will be able to finish with even greater strength than when you began your assignment?

September 11

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
— 2 Timothy 4:8

At the time that the apostle Paul wrote Second Timothy, he was imprisoned in Rome, awaiting the moment of his own execution, which would be death by decapitation. However, when we read his final words in Second Timothy 4:8, we discover that Paul wasn’t focused on his own death, which would indeed be gruesome. He looked beyond that event to that glorious moment when Jesus would personally step forward to give him a “crown of righteousness” as a reward for his faithful service.

Today I want us to look at this word “crown.” The New Testament mentions five different types of crowns that will be given to Christians as rewards for the various ways they ran their race of faith. But before we look at all five different types of crowns, first let’s look at the word “crown” to see exactly what kind of crown the New Testament is talking about. In each instance where it is mentioned, it is the same Greek word. The Greek word for a “crown” in these verses is not the word for a royal diadem, as a king would wear. Rather, it is the Greek word stephanos, which describes the crown given to athletes — most notably, runners — after they had run their race or finished their contest victoriously. It was generally referred to as a victor’s crown.

At the conclusion of a contest or race, a winner was declared, and a “crown” was placed on the champion’s brow that was made of pine or olive branches and leaves. Although the crown wasn’t made of expensive material, it was highly valued as a public recognition of the skill, commitment, discipline, endurance, self-control, self-mastery, and training that had enabled the athlete to win the competition. Being awarded the victor’s crown brought a person great acclaim, honor, and respect in the eyes of an adoring public. Therefore, it was every athlete’s chief aim to obtain this crown.

For Christians who ran their race of faith, wholly giving themselves to pursuing God’s plan for their lives, there could be no greater reward than Jesus Christ Himself personally placing this victor’s crown on their brow. This is in fact the promise that Christ makes to Christians who have endured to the end and victoriously finished their race of faith. A day is coming when Jesus will step forward, dressed in the regal splendor of the exalted King of kings, and He will place a victor’s crown upon the heads of those who had steadfastly run their race to the very end. The Savior Himself will personally place this priceless reward upon the brows of the faithful.

As noted previously, there are five different types of crowns mentioned in the New Testament. Each of these crowns is a specific and distinct reward for Christians who have faithfully fulfilled God’s call on their lives.

  1. First Corinthians 9:25 refers to a crown of incorruption. Paul described this as a special crown given to believers who practiced physical self-governance and therefore ran a successful race in life. Those who practiced self-discipline and refused to let the flesh hinder their race of faith can look forward to receiving this precious reward.
  2. First Thessalonians 2:19 refers to the crown of rejoicing. Theologians often refer to this as the soul-winner’s crown, as it is a crown given to those who brought others to Jesus. Oh, think of the joy those who have brought others to Christ will experience when they receive a crown of rejoicing or a soul-winner’s crown.
  3. Second Timothy 4:8 refers to the crown of righteousness. This crown is specially designated for those who longed for Jesus’ appearing and lived holy lives in anticipation of His return. This is the crown that Paul referred to when he wrote about his own death and the crown that Jesus would give to him.
  4. First Peter 5:4 refers to the crown of glory. This is often called the pastor’s crown because it is a special reward that will be given to shepherds who faithfully pastored and taught God’s people. You would do well to read First Peter 5:4 and to personally see this special crown that will be given to faithful pastors.
  5. James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10 refer to the crown of life. This crown is often referred to as the martyr’s crown because it is given to those who suffered for their faith, those who died for Christ, or those who were committed to finishing their race of faith regardless of the difficulties they encountered in this life.

Athletes who prepared, trained, and won their competitions were highly regarded. Likewise, Christ will give special honor to those who victoriously ran their race of faith to its conclusion. On that day in our future, Jesus Christ will stand, step forward to us as we bow before Him, and place one of these respective crowns on our brows if He has found us faithful to the task that was assigned to us.

There are believers who are still in that fight right now, and their struggle has been great. Paul was still in his race when he wrote Second Timothy 4:8. But rather than focus on his imminent execution by decapitation, Paul chose instead to focus on the crown of righteousness that the Lord would soon be placing upon his brow.

Similarly, if you are running in a fierce race of faith that is requiring every ounce of your spiritual, mental, and physical strength, I encourage you to lift your eyes to Heaven and see Jesus with your crown in His hands. One day your race will be finished, and if you made it all the way to the end, He’ll place that crown on your head — a victor’s crown for one who finished his race of faith!

To be honest, sometimes I am tempted to yield to weariness or to wonder if the fight has been worth it. Other times I know I’m looking at difficult times on the road directly before me. In these vulnerable moments, I often lift the eyes of my faith and focus on the moment when the King of kings will place a victor’s crown on my own head because He found me faithful. Thinking of that makes me want to stay in the race and finish it all the way to the end! How about you?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, Your Word clearly teaches that when we see Jesus in Heaven, He will have a special “reward” in His hand — a victor’s crown — to place upon our heads. But more important to me than receiving a crown is that I please You. To receive a crown from You will be a blessing, as it is Your recognition of what I have done, and it will be a treasure that I can lay at Jesus’ feet on that day. But the greatest reward for me will be knowing I have run a race that brought You pleasure!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that I will run my race of faith all the way to its final conclusion. There will be no dropping out of the race halfway along the God-ordained course of my life. I’m in this to finish it and to bring glory to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am thankful that because I will be faithful to the end, on the day I see Jesus, He will give me a victor’s crown. But most of all, I want to see the satisfaction in His eyes that I’ve run a race of faith that has brought glory to His name. His glory is my highest goal and the reason I am running in this race of faith!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you envision running your race of faith in a way that will take you all the way to the finish line? Are you giving it all the spiritual, physical, and mental strength you can muster to run that race like a champion?
  2. By looking at the five different types of crowns that Christ will give to faithful champions, which crown do you think you will receive when you see Jesus face to face? Which crown would you like to receive? What decisions are you making to ensure that you do receive it?
  3. When you think of seeing Jesus face to face, what thoughts immediately come to your mind? Is this an event that brings joy to your heart and mind, or does it cause you to be fearful? What reasons are behind your reaction to this very important question?

September 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


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

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


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

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

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

September 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


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

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


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

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

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

September 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


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

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


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

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

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

September 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


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

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


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

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

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

September 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


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

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

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

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

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