God Is in Control

Mark 9:17-27 Smart Views In today’s Scripture passage, a father brings his demon-possessed son to the Lord. Nothing is more important to this father than to see his boy healed, and he believes that Jesus has the power to do it. When he finally reaches Jesus, however, the father experiences a slight hesitation in his faith. We can detect it in the way he words his request: “If You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” (Mark 9:22, emphasis added). Jesus, sensing the man’s subtle doubts, replies, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). At once the father realizes the disparity between his words and his actions, and he cries out, “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). What an odd statement! What are we to think—does this man have faith or not? Yet when we look closer, we realize that this father is crying out in complete, unashamed honesty to the Lord. He knows that there is no point in attempting to “puff up” his faith before Jesus. Instead, he humbly admits that while he does in fact believe in Jesus’ saving power, some things—such as parental concern for his son—can still interfere with his faith in God. Scripture says that the Lord is sovereign over all things (Ps. 103:19). Do you believe He has the power to change your life? Do you allow outside influences to affect your trust in Jesus Christ? If so, be honest with God about your fluctuating faith, but always remember that His power does not ebb and flow along with our confidence in Him. Regardless of how we feel, God is always in control. Sharing with you from "In Touch Ministries/Dr. Charles Stanley"

Training to See God

Training to See God

Proverbs 3:24-26
David was confident that the Lord was always right there with him (Ps. 16:8). His psalms reveal that in surveying his life, he saw God’s fingerprints all over it. Like David, we must train our spiritual eyes to notice evidence of the heavenly Father’s presence in our life.
Seeing with spiritual eyes isn’t a now-and-then kind of thing—it’s a lifestyle. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Those who walk before the Lord with a clear conscience will take captive unholy thoughts, habits, attitudes, and words. They will cast out sin and live in righteousness. As a result, such believers have a spiritual clarity that sharpens their awareness of God’s presence and involvement in their life.
I developed a habit years ago that has helped me to focus on Him. When I lie down and talk to the Lord before going to sleep, I try to recall the events of my day. What I’m really doing is looking for evidence of God’s hand at work. How did He guide this decision? Answer this question? Protect me in this situation? Help me in this relationship? Appreciating the Lord’s handiwork a second time (even when the initial experience may have been difficult) etches the reality of His love deeper in my heart.
The evidence of God’s great power is all over your life, if only you will see it. Viewing the world with wide-open spiritual eyes changes one’s perspective. Instead of saying, “I can’t,” say, “I can because the Lord always enables me.” Live confident in the loving, omnipotent God, who dwells within you. Sharing with you from "In Touch Ministries/Dr. Charles Stanley"

I am the vine,

I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)
Apart from the sanctifying power of Christ's blood in our lives, not a single effort of ours can amount to honest good. Recall your position in Christ Jesus. You, as a believer, are bounded up with Him. He is your holiness. He is your resurrection. He is your baptism unto new life. Abide in your faith in Christ Jesus and let your lives of righteousness grow naturally from that abiding faith!

For thou, LORD, l

For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield. (Psalm 5:12)
The children of the Father of all mercy stand fair and strong. They are unchained and free to do well in His sight. Their protection is assured and the Lord will shield their heads forever. Their enemy has fallen by the wayside by the power of their God, Who is a consuming fire. Their lives are won. Their souls are assured. None may stand against these righteous for they are the Lord's. And those for whom the Lord stands cannot be stood against! Hallelujah!

[It is] a faithful saying:

[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. (2 Timothy 2:11-13)
Take heart, O believer, for though you be of weak conscience and unsteady faith, your life is now hidden in Christ Jesus! And where you show weakness, He shows strength! Be comforted in your infirmity and take joy in the awesome power and unyielding faithfulness of the Lord.

When thou passest

When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2)
Sometimes the pressures of life threaten to overwhelm us and sweep us away like a strong river current. During these times God continues to be with us. He does not leave us to suffer alone. He does not promise to take us out of our trials. But He does promise to be with us and guide us every step of the way! Praise be to the Lord, our great constancy!

The Privilege of Knowing God

The Privilege of Knowing God

Philippians 3:7-11
While we meet a tremendous number of people in our lifetime, we sometimes feel particularly privileged to know certain individuals, such as a godly role model, a childhood hero, or someone who was there to help in our time of need. Still, as wonderful as it is to have these distinctive people in our lives, the greatest privilege of all is to know God. Even knowing the most exceptional people can never bring us the joy and contentment for which we yearn. And yet, we frequently chase after worldly acceptance because we forget the treasure of truly knowing the living God.
Oftentimes people get saved and remain satisfied with this first step—knowing a few facts about God is enough for them. If they are asked, “Do you know God?” most will say that they do. But there’s a vast difference between knowing facts about God and personally relating to Him. Believers should continually be growing closer to the Father—always learning more about who He is and what He considers important.
When people go through life depending on themselves, they never really know God—He will reveal Himself to a heart that is honest and transparent, not to one that’s full of pride and arrogance. It is in our brokenness and helplessness that we discover who the Lord is.
Do you have a genuine hunger in your heart to know God? If so, ask Him, “Who are You? What are You like?” Then open yourself to Him, not for His sake—He already knows you perfectly—but for your own sake. By spending time with Him, you’ll discover you are privileged indeed. Sharing with you from "In Touch Ministries /Dr. Charles Stanley

Mystery Babylon - Where the Bible says it is located and the rise of the...

He that overcometh,

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)
Rejoice, O believer, that your life is bound up in Christ! Rejoice that in His holiness, you are likewise holy! Rejoice that in His eternal glorification, you are likewise glorified! Stand true in your faith, and you shall evermore be clothed in the incorruptible and evermore shall you be given the gift of life eternal.

Thy faithfulness

Thy faithfulness [is] unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. (Psalm 119:90)
God is the true measure of faithfulness. Never failing, His goodness endures forever. His salvation is eternal. His nature is unchanging. His glory is to everlasting. Depend upon the Lord Who is worthy!

So that we

So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:6)
Our Lord is mighty beyond imagining. His power and strength are above measure. None may stand against the weight of His arm. And He will protect us, His people, to everlasting. Having been made His children, we who believe live under His defence as long as there exist enemies to His throne. Rejoice in the fact of your salvation, O believer, for your redemption is to life eternal and unshakeable! The darts of the enemy may be of deadly flame, yet they shall never pierce His people! We rest under the banner of the King and sit in the shade of His mighty shield! Take heart in the strength of our Lord and give no fearful recognition to the weak boasting of the world's powers.

For if we have

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: (Romans 6:5)
By the power of the resurrection of Christ, we are freed from the horrible bondage of sin. Incredible! We are united with the Creator of both heaven and earth and transformed into His likeness of righteousness. Our sin was crucified with Christ Jesus and we now hold the remarkable privilege of being called His children. May our loving Father be glorified for His indescribable kindness and faithfulness.

So when this

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
When we get to heaven, we will have an incorruptible and immortal body. Death will be conquered!

My Prayer: O Lord, You sacrificed so much that I might live! Thank you for conquering death and allowing me to live with You forever.

How excellent [is]

How excellent [is] thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. (Psalm 36:7)
In the midst of the most desolate wilderness or most perilous storm, every child of Abraham may rejoice that the Lord offers Himself as the surest of shelters. Circumstance, no matter how treacherous, is of no great concern for the believer for he has an eternal and unshakable refuge, lacking of no good thing. By the blood of Christ, all the believer's sins are washed away and he need tremble no more at the wrath of the Almighty due him for the fall.

I have set

I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (Psalm 16:8)
Strong is our Lord and powerful the force of His mighty arm! You shall never need fear any power of earth or heaven for naught can shake you from His unbreakable grasp. His hands of power and might are hands of safety and protection for His own-and hands of wrath and destruction for His enemies. Rejoice, O believer, that you are His child!

This then is

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
Here lies the believer's assurance that the light of God will permeate even this dark world. Even more, God is that very light! The believer ought hold this truth tightly: despite the most tumultuous circumstance, not all is dark, lost, or evil!

For ye have

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)
We have need of endurance to be sure, but that very need is fulfilled by virtue of the promise itself. We await that long-promised eternal and heavenly rest of Christ, and yet, as all the redeemed are already secured in the heavenly promise, so their perseverance is guaranteed. Even unto the end of the age!

But as it is written,

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
We thank You, our God, that You have been pleased to divinely reveal to us the great truths of the gospel!

"These are such as eye hath not seen nor ear heard. Observe, the great truths of the gospel are things lying out of the sphere of human discovery: But, lying out of the sphere of nature, we cannot discover them but by the light of revelation. And therefore we must take them as they lie in the scriptures."
-Matthew Henry

I love them

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)
Take heart, O blessed body of Christ! The Lord your God has rewarded your diligent search. He has shown Himself to you. You are granted sight of things unseen-you are granted sight of Christ Himself! Christ, the son of the morning! Christ, the eschatological Lamb! Christ, the fulfilment of all the history redemptive! Glory in Him, O congregation of all believers! For in Him consists your new life, your righteous standing, your power to sanctification, and your promise to heavenly rest! In Him consists all things (Colossians 1:17) and it is to Him that you ought be conformed! So give glory evermore: holy, holy, and surely, holy!

According as his

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:3-4)
His beautiful excellence draws us near and grants us many promises that we may be fashioned into His superior character and likeness. As believers of Christ, we have been washed of our transgressions and set apart from the ever-present evil world. Through our knowledge of the everlasting Father, we are granted these most precious promises!