United In Love and Faith (Page 17)

James 5:16 (NIV) –Therefore,  confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  Dr. Henry Cloud says that many Christians do the vertical confession of I John 1:9,  where they confess to God,  but not to others.  We are made to experience both,  and it is one of the reasons that Jesus commands us to love one another.  When we establish deep, …

Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)  Ah,  Sovereign Lord,  you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you.  When we look into the scriptures,  we find a God who is unlimited in power (omnipotent),  all knowing (omniscient) and everywhere present (omnipresent).  He alone has these qualities.  The Holy Spirit wraps around the world and monitors every heartbeat,  sees every tear,  knows every heart cry.  Christ leads the church to minister to…

I John 4:7 (NIV)  Dear friends,  let us love one another,  for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. God’s number one priority is reconciliation.  He sent Jesus into this world at an awful cost in order to establish a pathway of reconciliation to God.  Of equal importance is our relationships with one another.  The world will know we are disciples of Jesus by the love we have for one another.  There…

James 3:16 (NIV)  “For where you have envy and selfish ambition,  there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;  then peace-loving,  considerate,  submissive,  full of mercy and good fruit,  impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.  What a contrast between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness!  Do you know that two spiritual forces seek to find expression through your…

Galatians 5:25 (MSG)  Since this is the kind of life we have chosen,  the life of the Spirit,  let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts,  but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. Satan continues to rebel against God,  even today.  He opposes God’s people and God’s purposes.  But if we live alert,  Spirit-filled believers need never fear the enemy’s power…

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind,  be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (MSG) …prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.  Pray hard and long… keep your eyes open… We live in a world filled with spiritual conflict.  A battle rages.  From the opening chapters of the Bible to its final pages,  we see an ancient enemy in such hostility…

Luke 23:34 (NIV)  Jesus said,  “Father,  forgive them,  for they do not know what they are doing.  Forgiveness is a healing art.  The Bible is replete will illustrations of the power of forgiveness to reconcile and reunite severed relationships.  Do we really think forgiveness is easy when wounds are deep and festering.  But the Holy Spirit can help us interpret our circumstances with a redemptive view.  He can help us edit the memories and release us from debilitating memories that…

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)  For the word of God is living and active… it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,  joints and marrow;  it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Life is never what it is!  It is always what it SEEMS to be to you!  Life presents us with certain information and experiences;  and we put all of that together to tell a story based on what is going on inside of US.  Others may see the…

II Corinthians 7:10 (NLT)  For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation.  There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow.  But worldly sorrow,  which lacks repentance,  results in spiritual death.  The person who has sinned must confess their sin and feel true sorrow for his or her failure.  True repentance = changed behavior.  Jesus told the woman caught in the sin of adultery,  Go and sin no more.  Without…

II Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)  the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles,  so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  There is a need for tenderheartedness in every follower of Jesus Christ.  We must not think we are above sin.  When we know our own weaknesses,  we will have a lot more grace toward others.  We have our own brand of temptations.  We are only able…

I Corinthians 13:8 (NLT)  Love never fails.  No failure in a relationship has to permanently destroy that relationship if forgiveness is part of your life.  No failure is greater than grace.  No hurt exists that love cannot heal.  How?  We must enter into a dialogue.  We must be willing to talk.  Are we willing to offer repentance and invite forgiveness,  or must we stand for our own rights in spite of the consequences?  Healing brokenness requires an attitude of compassion…

Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NLT)  Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. Face the reality—even the person you love the most is imperfect.  He or she will eventually fail you or hurt you in some way.  It might be a not-so-serious way  (like forgetting your birthday)  or a more serious way  (like engaging an addiction).  Even the best people can make mistakes.  What then?  Usually the relationship is harmed.  Sin always alienates us from one another.  We…

Job 42:8 (NIV)  …My servant Job will pray for you,  and I will accept his prayer…   Those who have no scars are often quick to judge,  quick to speak,  less compassionate,  lacking in humility,  legalistic with God’s Word and accusatory toward people.  Those who graduate from the crucible of suffering have learned the lessons of humility (Job 42:3-4) and gained new levels of spiritual authority.  How has suffering changed your spirituality?   

Psalm 138:8 (KJV)  The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.  (MSG:  Finish what you started in me,  God.  Your love is eternal…)  Have you had a life-altering experience that caused you to rethink a core belief and,  as a result,  you came to a more balanced,  Biblical view of life?  We will experience paradigm shifts that break the illusion that we are in control.  They will change our questions from  “How do I get rid of this inconvenience  (illness, …

Colossians 3:5 (NIV)  Put to death,  therefore,  whatever belongs to your earthly nature:  sexual immorality,  impurity,  lust,  evil desires and greed,  which is idolatry.   “You can’t flip a switch and want God more than anything else.  We can’t master all the impulses.  We have to go to the parts of the self and identify what defeats us.  For example:  we may have an inordinant need for people to like us—ask the Holy Spirit to look at that.  A major…

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.   “Confession is an important way to discover your soul.  When you confess,  you give up splitting the self.  Sin always splits the self (soul) in some degree.  We become fractured people.  James 5:16 tells us to confess to one another.  Revival only comes with confession.  There is a charade of righteousness in ordinary living and that…

Colossians 3:14 (NLT)  And over all these virtues put on love,  which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Those virtues are listed in verse 12:  compassion,  kindness,  humility,  gentleness,  and patience.  “We need to understand the nature of goodness.  It is not DOING the right thing,  but rather BECOMING the kind of person who naturally does the right thing because they want to do it.  These are two completely different things.  Rather than obsessing over behaviors,  we must arrange…

Colossians 3:12 (NIV)  Therefore,  as God’s chosen people,  holy and dearly loved,  clothe yourselves with compassion,  kindness,  humility,  gentleness,  and patience.  How well are you doing this?  Colossians 3:1-17 is fundamental to the Christian life—being transformed by Jesus.  “It is a Spirit formation—a process of transforming the mind.  It’s not about behavior modification but rather about the sources of behavior:  the mind,  the heart,  the soul and body.  Look at the roots of behavior,  where it comes from  (the spirit, …

Nehemiah 1:6 (NIV)  …I confess the sins we Israelites,  including myself and my father’s house,  have committed against you…  The nation of Israel was in exile because they had not obeyed the covenant commands.  Now Jerusalem,  “the city where I have chosen to put my Name” (I Kings 11:36),  was in shambles.  Nehemiah’s prayers included repentance—personal and national.  How are we praying for our nation?  “Forgive us,  Lord.”  “Forgive me,  Lord.”  

Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NIV)  …The wall of Jerusalem is broken down,  and its gates have been burned with fire.  When I heard these things,  I sat down and wept.  For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven.  Nehemiah models for us the correct response to devastating national news.  He sat for days in mourning and fasting and praying to God.  What compassion!  Compassion is often the springboard of obedience to God’s will.  Sitting in God’s…

John 16:12 (NIV)  “When He,  the Spirit of Truth,  comes,  He will guide you into all truth.”  Jesus is leading us on a path to complete wholeness.  He intends to heal every heartache from your past—all in due time.  There is so much to learn about ourselves,  about Him,  and about others.  The world is filled with hurting people,  those who have been caught in the wake of someone else’s bad choices,  and those who are manipulated by evil to…

Psalm 27:1 (NIV)  The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?  You don’t have to fully understand each thing that happens in order to trust God.  You don’t have to try and figure it out,  control it,  or even like it,  for that matter.  In the midst of uncertainties,  you just have to stand and say,  “I trust you Lord.”  Though your path is…

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT)  For God has said,  “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.”  So we can say with confidence,  “The LORD is my helper,  so I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?”  Lysa TerKeurst says,  “The peace of our souls does not rise and fall with unpredictable people or situations.  Our feelings will shift,  of course.  People do affect us.  But the peace of our souls is tethered to all that…

Psalm 9:9 (NIV)  The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,  a stronghold in times of trouble.  There is an oppressive,  condemning voice,  an accusing voice that finds its way into the minds and hearts of every human being (…for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night”  Rev. 12:10).  You’ve heard it.  I’ve heard it.  It embeds a sense of rejection and insecurity into…

Acts 27:23 (NIV)  Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me…  God deploys holy angels on our behalf.  There are 108 references to spiritual hosts in the Old Testament and 165 references to them in the New Testament.  They have a definite effect on the activities and affairs of people.  In this case,  an angel appeared to the Apostle Paul during his ship’s perilous journey to Rome and gave him a…

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,  but against the rulers,  against the authorities,  against the powers of this dark world,  and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  The battle believers wage is spiritual.  So beware of the subtle thoughts that come your way and  “every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” (Ephesians 10:3-5).  Live aware of the many ways your thoughts are being influenced.  We need…

II Kings 6:16 (NIV)  “Don’t be afraid,”  the prophet answered.  “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  The enemy had surrounded the city and the prophet Elisha’s servant was terrified.  But Elisha calmly reassured him.  He prayed the simple prayer,  “O Lord,  open his eyes so he may see” (vs. 17).  Suddenly,  Elisha’s servant saw a multitude of heavenly hosts.  The enemy was neutralized,  and Israel gained a great victory without even fighting a…

Revelation 5:11-12 (NLT) … I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne…and they sang in a mighty chorus:  “Worthy is the Lamb…”  Heaven’s angels number in the millions.  John saw a glimpse of what you and I who follow Jesus will see one glorious day.  We will join the song:  “every creature in heaven and on earth…they sang:  “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the One sitting on the throne and to…

I Peter 1:12b (NIV)  Even angels long to look into these things.  Angels are well-informed about many aspects of God’s universal kingdom.  They are very intelligent but they labor under certain limitations.  Peter tells us that they long to explore the wonders of God’s grace that are revealed in God’s redemptive plan.  They look at us and wonder and marvel at God’s amazing grace and the lengths to which He went to engage His redemption plan.  I think they also…

Psalm 103:20 (NIV)  Praise the Lord,  you his angels,  you mighty ones who do His bidding,  who obey His word.  The word translated angel means messenger.  Angels were created to carry out specific spiritual functions on behalf of God and His people.  Throughout the Bible you will read about them worshipping God,  carrying out assignments for Him,  serving as agents of His judgment,  providing strength and protection for God’s people,  delivering God’s people in times of peril,  and sometimes even…

Joshua 1:6  (NIV)  ”Be strong and courageous,  because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.”  Each one of us has an arena of influence,  a people group,  which we can lead to inherit their  “Promised Lands.”  We do that as we point people to salvation through Jesus Christ,  and then lead them in discipleship.  We lead them to  “inherit”  their  “land”  as we teach them from God’s Word,  and as…

Joshua 5:13-15  (NIV)  …Joshua… looked up and saw right in front of him a man standing,  holding his drawn sword.  Joshua stepped up to him and said,  “Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies?”  He said,  “Neither,  I’m commander of God’s army.  I’ve just arrived.”  Joshua fell,  face to the ground,  and worshiped.  “What orders does my Master have for his servant.”  Scholars consider this  “commander of God’s army”  to be a  “theophany”— a physical manifestation of Yahweh.  Notice…

Joshua 1:5  (NIV)  No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.  As I was with Moses,  so I will be with you.  I will never leave you nor forsake you.   God’s primary promise to Joshua was His unfailing faithfulness.  Joshua had been Moses’  assistant.  Whenever Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to talk to God,  Joshua lingered just outside the doorway.  He hungered for God and had been a good…

Acts 27:23  (MSG)  “Last night God’s angel stood at my side, an angel of this God I serve,  saying to me,  ‘Don’t give up,  Paul.  You’re going to stand before Caesar yet—and everyone sailing with you is also going to make it.’”  Paul did not stand in the storm and rebuke the winds and the waves like Jesus did on the Galilee with his despairing disciples.  The Holy Spirit led Paul to a different action—to stand before the sailors in…

Acts 27:33-34 (MSG)  With dawn about to break,  Paul called everyone together and proposed breakfast…”I urge you to eat something now.  You’ll need strength for the rescue ahead.  You’re going to come out of this without even a scratch!”  Full of faith and confidence,  Paul declared that rescue was ahead and that they’d survive—but they needed to eat and get strength for the next hit from the storm.  He broke the bread, gave thanks to God, and passed it around…

Acts 27:25 (MSG—read the whole chapter)  So,  dear friends,  take heart.  I believe God will do exactly what He told me.  Paul was under arrest and being escorted by Roman soldiers via ship to Rome.  He was not in control of his life.  He was subject to the will and direction of the centurion.  Paul’s warning had been overruled and disregarded.  Soon the ship was caught in an unrelenting storm that blocked the sun and stars for many days and…

Isaiah 44:8 (NIV) – …You are my witnesses, is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.  One of the figurative names for God is Tsur,  a Hebrew word for  “rock.”  You will find this word used most frequently in the poetic books;  and Moses uses it as a name for God five times in his song (Deut. 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31).  It describes His quality of reliability and unchangeableness,  stability and…

Daniel 4:34 (NIV) – …Then I praised the Most High… One of the names of God is Elyon,  and it refers to  “the Exalted One”  and literally means  “the most high God.”   He is high above all other beings and things.  King Nebuchadnezzar recognized God’s exalted state when he finally declared  (Daniel 4)  that the God of Daniel was the eternal,  sovereign God who rules in justice and sovereignty over the affairs of people.  No matter what problem fills…

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV) – But because of His great love for us,  God,  who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  God is rich in mercy and grace toward us.  Mercy is God’s response of compassion and forbearance toward those who are in misery or distress.  Grace is His kindness toward those who are ill-deserving—it is unmerited favor.  When have God’s expressions of grace…

I John 4:8 (NLT) – But anyone who does not love does not know God for God is love. God’s love goes so far beyond human love,  and the Bible describes it this way:  This is love;  not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (I John 4:9-10).  While we were still sinners,  Christ died for us.  So much human love is rooted in what we get…