United In Love and Faith (Page 2)

II Peter 1:3 (NIV)   His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.  “We are capable of change in all that Jesus said and taught.  We can learn.  We are capable of walking in all the things that Jesus said we are to do and be because it is His divine power that is at work within us.  In this moment…

Colossians 3:2 (NIV)   Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  What does this mean?  “Spirit formation is a process of transforming the mind.  It is not about behavior modification but rather about transformation of the mind, the heart, the soul, the body, even the social world.  When these areas are transformed, we live in the joy of Jesus.  But we must find the…

Colossians 3:1 (NIV)   Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  (KJV – seek those things which are above;  NLT – set your sights on the realities of Heaven).  Our new life in Christ requires a new way of thinking and a new Christ-centered focus of attention.  When we make the choice to follow Jesus, we discover an emergent and increasing desire to…

I Corinthians 12:31 (NIV)  But eagerly desire the greater gifts.  And now I will show you the most excellent way.  What are the “best gifts” (KJV)?  The gifts of the Spirit (I Cor. 12:7-10)  “are not toys but tools to meet an existing need.  Needs vary at different times calling for a different tool.  It follows that the best gifts are those for which there is the greatest need.”  Today, the need may be for discernment.  Tomorrow, the need may…

Acts 1:8 – (NIV)  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…  There is one primary reason for Holy Spirit empowerment; and that is to enable us to be effective witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The early believers were baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues (Acts 2:1-6).  The same happens today, as so many of us have experienced.  Something fundamentally engages…

Acts 3:16 (NIV)  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.  It is Jesus’  name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.  There is such a thing as divine faith—a faith that is  “by Him” (KJV), a gift of faith for a specific situation that brings specific results.  It is not a general kind of faith, but an…

Luke 9:1-2 (NIV)  When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  There is a difference between power and authority.  Power is the dynamic producing the effect, whereas authority is the right to use that power, a vested right or power to act on behalf of another with  “power of attorney.” …

Mark 3:15 (KJV)  And He ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils…  Do we even recognize evil’s influence in our world?  Spiritual pollution exists all around us and it is the enemy’s goal to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).  We stand on the other side with Christ who said, “I have come that they may have life,…

Luke 24:49 (The Message)  What comes next is very important:  I am sending what my Father promised to you so stay here in the city until He arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.   From fireworks in the sky, to powerful stage performances, to powerful people in the business arena, humanity is fascinated with power.  But the kind of power that Jesus directed His disciples toward was something altogether different.  They were not to begin preaching, teaching,…

Zechariah 4:6b (NIV)  “…Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.   What is the means which God uses in the building of His temple, the Body of Christ?  NOT BY MIGHT: sheer numbers of corporate effort (Judges 7:2-7).  NOT BY POWER: the application of sheer human energy.  BUT BY MY SPIRIT: only through the supernatural dynamic of the Holy Spirit.  How much effort do we put into human strategies when a divine strategy…

I Peter 2:5 – (NLT)  You are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple.  The Lord is currently building a spiritual house (the Church, which is His Body, Col. 1:24) based upon the foundation of the work of Christ.  The  “stones”  represent individual believers.  He does not choose those high on the social register, but often choses those whose standing is  “low”, or who have  “no standing”  at all (“Is not this the carpenter’s son, whose father…

I Corinthians 1:18-25 (NIV) (focus verse 25)  For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. Paul teaches us that Christ followers and non-Christ followers are SO DIFFERENT in their thinking concerning spiritual matters.  “What is wisdom to one is foolishness to others because the mind of the person who does not follow Christ has not undergone the transformation by regeneration that the Christ follower has experienced” (I Cor.…

I Samuel 17:37 (NIV)  (David to King Saul) “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (Goliath).”  We should learn from the Old Testament stories and not merely be entertained by them.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable (II Tim. 3:16).  “This military crisis took on spiritual connotations because of Goliath’s defiance of the living God.  By…

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  There is a real difference between the ways and the thoughts of God and those of man.  His are higher—superior in every way.  The Old Testament narratives point this out: marches around walled cities, a slingshot that felled a…

Mark 3:14-15 (NLT)  Then He (Jesus) appointed twelve of them and called them His apostles.  They were to accompany Him, and He would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons.   What does it mean to be equipped by the Lord?  Clearly, of primary importance, it involves  “accompanying”  Him or  “being with Him” (NIV & Message).  It also means being provided with the necessary means to carry out a God-assigned task.  We can go to…

II Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)  …Christ in you, the hope of glory…  What is more real to you: the power within you or Christ’s power in you?  We must yield to an exchange of power—a difficult process when all your life you have depended primarily on your own abilities to make life work well.  Like the Children of Israel, we move slowly toward our  “promised land”  and must learn dependence upon God’s supply.  Jesus is sufficient (see II Corinthians 9:8).

Matthew 11:29 (NLT)  (Jesus said) Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   (The Message) Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  The  “rest for your soul”  that Christ offers to us is the release from self-effort, the need to respond to every…

Philippians 3:8 (NIV)  “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ…”  There comes a point in life (hopefully) that each of us must face—the reality that knowing Christ is everything.  In our younger years we discover our natural talents and spiritual gifts, we engage life with energy, and we run the race…

Revelation 1:8 (NIV)  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”  says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” When you come to the end of yourself, the end of all your best self-efforts, THAT is the place where you can find Jesus.  He is the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and end of all things.  He was there all the time waiting patiently in line for your attention, your ear, your heart.  It…

Colossians 1:19 (NIV)  For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him (Christ)…  Everything you could ever want to know about God can be found in the person of Jesus Christ.  He is the vision we see when heaven opens to us: In Him all fullness dwells (KJV).  How long does it take for us to realize that  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who…

John 1:48 (NIV)  “How do you know me?”  Nathanael asked.  Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”   We can only speculate what Nathanael was doing under that fig tree.  Was he praying and reaching out to God?  Was he meditating on scripture?  Was he lifting needs to God through prayer, or complaining to God about the Romans?  Jesus’  comment stunned Nathanael creating a highway directly into his heart.  Nathanael…

Acts 27:23 (NIV)  Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me…  God deploys 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 Paul during his ship’s perilous journey to Rome and gave him a message of hope,…

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 (Eph. 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…

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 wonder…

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 providing…

Luke 4:31 (NIV)  Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people.  I have visited the ruins of that synagogue where Jesus taught.  Teaching was an important aspect of His everyday life.  He unpacked the scriptures, told parables full of practical applications.  He taught his disciples as they walked from one town to another and as they rode the boat across the Galilee.  Those conversations were full of life applications…

John 21:17b (NIV)   Peter said, “Lord, you know everything.  You know that I love you.”  Love holds us steady when we don’t understand.  Believing in God’s sovereignty brings us peace.  When the paradigm changes and former things, familiar things, reliable people and processes are gone, love holds us steady while life reorients around us.  It is not easy.  We must be flexible.  He DOES know everything.  He knows when we tremble and cry, long for the  “good old days” …

John 21:18 (NIV)   “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  Jesus’  words to Peter described a reality that found fulfillment in Peter’s death (upside down on a cross, according to church historians).  But it also describes something more.  It describes a life…

Matthew 4:19 (NIV)   “Come, follow me,” Jesus said…   The disciples dropped their nets, sold their boats, and went  “all in.”  Noemi Chavez tells us:  “The disciples never said: I will follow for a season to see if it works, or I will follow for a while and then we will talk—but no promises.  Likes and dislikes are not important in God’s Kingdom.  Those disciples were on a mission—till death!  Life has an assignment.  Don’t count on a safe,…

John 21:12 (NIV)   Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast”…  Think of it: Jesus made breakfast for His disciples!  “Some of the greatest lessons are not in the miracle moments, but in the journey” (Noemi Chavez).  Breakfast together.  Laughing about life.  Sharing stories.  Oh, how He loved them.  How He loves you!  Slow down, and learn to be present in each moment.  Notice the little joys tucked into life.  Enjoy the hugs from your children.  Hold hands with…

John 21:15 (NIV)   When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  “It is one thing to have expectations of Jesus; but its another thing to understand that He has expectations of us” (Noemi Chavez).  When do we transition into adulthood in the Kingdom of God?  When did you start caring…

John 21:3 (NIV)   “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.”  So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  Jesus had told the disciples that after His resurrection they were to go to Galilee, and He would meet them there (Matt. 26:32; Mark 14:28 NLT).  They went.  They waited.  Nothing.  So, they fished.  It’s what they knew best, but it was a futile endeavor. …

Isaiah 6:8  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”  That moment of awe in God’s presence changed Isaiah.  It enabled Him to perceive God clearly, recognize human frailty, discern God’s call, and receive atonement with humility.  When we allow God to transform us through AWE-filled experiences, we are humbled and enabled to move forward in the right attitude, to minister to hurting people all around us.  It is…

Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)  “Woe to me!”  I cried.  “I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”   Isaiah saw the reality of his human condition and it left no room for pride—only repentance.  No matter how long or how fervent our relationship has been with the Lord, any fresh revelation brings an awareness of our human frailties; but…

Isaiah 6:4 (NIV)  At the sound of their voices (the angel-seraphs) the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.   Isaiah’s vision continued and he felt the shaking of doorposts and thresholds.  Doorposts and thresholds represent a transition from one room into another.  Isaiah felt the shaking.  This experience was moving him from one kind of relationship with God into another.  He would not only warn the people about the consequences of evil, but also deliver…

Isaiah 6:2-3 (The Message)  Angel-seraphs hovered above Him…and they called back and forth one to the other, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is God…”   Have you experienced a moment of AWE?  You looked into the face of your newborn baby, or you sat at the bedside of a dying saint as they slipped into eternity.  Isaiah had a revelation of God that inspired such a depth of awe that it changed the trajectory of his life.  When we have a strong…

Isaiah 6:1 (NIV)  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted…   King Uzziah had died and the country was in transition.  When life changes (and it always does) people feel anxious and start to ask questions and wonder about the future.  Something has  “died”  and our hearts are plowed open.  There is a timeless truth we need to discover in times of transition: GOD REIGNS, even if earthly thrones…

Isaiah 1:16 (NIV)  …wash and make yourselves clean.  Take your evil deeds out of my sight!  Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.   Both the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) had fallen into serious moral and spiritual decline.  The first 39 chapters of Isaiah reveal Israel’s need to repent and return to their covenant with God (Deut. 11:8-32).  What…

Isaiah 50:4  The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.  The Lord wants to use you and me to speak words to weary souls that will sustain them.  He will give you those words early in the morning as He  “wakens my ear to listen like one being taught” (4b).  Have you experienced the still small voice of the Holy Spirit in the dawn’s early light as you sit before God…