Daily Encouragement

March 23, 2008 RESURRECTION DAY

Charles Stanley is one of the most experienced pastor and Bible teacher in U.S. He is also one of the most popular one in the conservative circle. He has a weekly TV program called "IN TOUCH". Allow me to share with you his meditation from time to time. The following is a very encouraging commentary from I Corinthians 15:42-58. Please read the Scriptures first.

The Resurrection: A Preview -- 1 Corinthians 15:42-58

Many fanciful ideas have passed down through church tradition about what we'll look like in heaven. For instance, people often picture the saints reclining on clouds and playing harps. The apostle Paul was far more accurate and practical in describing our resurrected bodies.

The Scriptures assure us that departed believers are already with Jesus in spirit-- according to 2 Corinthians 5:8, as soon as a Christian is absent from the body, he is present with the Lord. When Christ returns, a trumpet will sound, and all who died believing in Him will be raised so that their bodies can join their spirits (Revelation 21). Shortly after, living believers will be transformed. In that way, all followers of God will be prepared to be part of His new heaven and earth.

Our resurrected bodies will be perfect. First of all, we will be imperishable (v. 52). In other words, we can't be damaged or worn out--our form will be healthy and strong for all eternity. Second, we'll be raised in glory (v. 43), which means we will be so like God that we are reflections of His radiance. Third, our new bodies will be powerful and capable of doing everything the Lord requires. In the kingdom, we will not be idle. Fourth, rebellion will no longer be part of us. Since we won't have to deal with the residual effects of our "flesh" nature any longer, we'll be able to serve the Lord in an unhindered manner.

Our eternal bodies will be perfectly equipped to continue what we have begun on earth--serving the Lord with our whole heart, mind, and strength.

MARCH 24, 2008 BUILDING ON THE MOMENTUM

Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (NASB)

Someone told me yesterday that our Baptism Service was different from others. "Why?", I asked. " It is so exciting." this person responded. Indeed it was such a joyful worship on Resurrection Day!

Our Good Friday Service was moving too. The Holy Spirit has enabled our young people to give such wonderful testimonies. One person was saved after Micah's inspiring message. Then God has moved our brothers and sisters to invite many of their relatives and dear ones to join our Sunday Service. The ushers had to add a lot of chairs in the sanctuary. During the invitation, many have been touched by the Holy Spirit to lift up their hands to indicate their decision to share the Good News of Christ's salvation.

May the Spirit continue to move all of us to invite our friends to celebrate what the Lord has done for us during the Purpose Driven Life Spiritual Campaign this Lord's Day.

The video presentation from your testimonies will be the center of our message. I believe Christ's Spirit will give us even more.

MARCH 25, 2008 MEDITATION

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and great success in the sight of God and man." -Proverbs 3:1-4

As will learn from the word of God through the PDL teaching, we also find the key to long lives and peace as well as God's idea of success. Now let us display these principles of God in our lives and memorize them in our minds and hearts. Review them day after day until we can share with others. We will reap the the benefits in this life time and in eternity.

Can we tell our friends what on earth are we here for?

Why is it significant to know our purposes in life?

The first five chapters of PDL will help you get the answers.

MARCH 26, 2008 Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly

John Piper is a scholar, famous author and courageous pastor who has led his church to be the pillar of truth. His writings are usually insightful and practical that are rarely displayed. Please read what he has to say concerning many popular preaching today.

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Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly
by John Piper

When I read about prosperity-preaching churches, my response is: "If I were not on the inside of Christianity, I wouldn't want in." In other words, if this is the message of Jesus, no thank you.

Luring people to Christ to get rich is both deceitful and deadly. It's deceitful because when Jesus himself called us, he said things like: "Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). And it's deadly because the desire to be rich plunges "people into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:9). So here is my plea to preachers of the gospel.

1. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that makes it harder for people to get into heaven.

Jesus said, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" His disciples were astonished, as many in the "prosperity" movement should be. So Jesus went on to raise their astonishment even higher by saying, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." They respond in disbelief: "Then who can be saved?" Jesus says, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:23-27).

My question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry focus that makes it harder for people to enter heaven?

2. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that kindles suicidal desires in people.

Paul said, "There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." But then he warned against the desire to be rich. And by implication, he warned against preachers who stir up the desire to be rich instead of helping people get rid of it. He warned, "Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

So my question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry that encourages people to pierce themselves with many pangs and plunge themselves into ruin and destruction?

3. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that encourages vulnerability to moth and rust.

Jesus warns against the effort to lay up treasures on earth. That is, he tells us to be givers, not keepers. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19).

Yes, we all keep something. But given the built-in tendency toward greed in all of us, why would we take the focus off Jesus and turn it upside down?

4. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that makes hard work a means of amassing wealth.

Paul said we should not steal. The alternative was hard work with our own hands. But the main purpose was not merely to hoard or even to have. The purpose was "to have to give." "Let him labor, working with his hands, that he may have to give to him who is in need" (Ephesians 4:28). This is not a justification for being rich in order to give more. It is a call to make more and keep less so you can give more. There is no reason why a person who makes $200,000 should live any differently from the way a person who makes $80,000 lives. Find a wartime lifestyle; cap your expenditures; then give the rest away.

Why would you want to encourage people to think that they should possess wealth in order to be a lavish giver? Why not encourage them to keep their lives more simple and be an even more lavish giver? Would that not add to their generosity a strong testimony that Christ, and not possessions, is their treasure?

5. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that promotes less faith in the promises of God to be for us what money can't be.

The reason the writer to the Hebrews tells us to be content with what we have is that the opposite implies less faith in the promises of God. He says, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6).

If the Bible tells us that being content with what we have honors the promise of God never to forsake us, why would we want to teach people to want to be rich?

6. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that contributes to your people being choked to death.

Jesus warns that the word of God, which is meant to give us life, can be choked off from any effectiveness by riches. He says it is like a seed that grows up among thorns that choke it to death: "They are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the . . . riches . . . of life, and their fruit does not mature" (Luke 8:14).

Why would we want to encourage people to pursue the very thing that Jesus warns will choke us to death?

7. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that takes the seasoning out of the salt and puts the light under a basket.

What is it about Christians that makes them the salt of the earth and the light of the world? It is not wealth. The desire for wealth and the pursuit of wealth tastes and looks just like the world. It does not offer the world anything different from what it already believes in. The great tragedy of prosperity-preaching is that a person does not have to be spiritually awakened in order to embrace it; one needs only to be greedy. Getting rich in the name of Jesus is not the salt of the earth or the light of the world. In this, the world simply sees a reflection of itself. And if it works, they will buy it.

The context of Jesus' saying shows us what the salt and light are. They are the joyful willingness to suffering for Christ. Here is what Jesus said, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth. . . . You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:11-14).

What will make the world taste (the salt) and see (the light) of Christ in us is not that we love wealth the same way they do. Rather, it will be the willingness and the ability of Christians to love others through suffering, all the while rejoicing because their reward is in heaven with Jesus. This is inexplicable on human terms. This is supernatural. But to attract people with promises of prosperity is simply natural. It is not the message of Jesus. It is not what he died to achieve.

Pastor John

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March 27, 2008 -- Eternal Life or Death -- John 3:35-36

The idea of living forever has great appeal, especially if there is a guarantee of joy, health, and security. Revelation 21:4 presents such a picture of the believer's condition after death. Because everyone's spirit will exist in one of two places after this present life, where we spend eternity is an important consideration.

Heaven, God's dwelling place, is open to everyone whose sins have been forgiven through the atoning work of Jesus. At salvation, God credits Christ's righteousness to our "account" and adopts us into His family. His home becomes ours. Jesus Himself said He was going to prepare a place in heaven for all who believe in Him (John 14:2).

However, if we refuse God's invitation to have a relationship with Him through His Son, we remain in our sinful state and will be separated from Him forever. Holy God won't allow sinful man into His presence or His heavenly home. Instead, those who reject Christ will go to a place of suffering and torment, permanently isolated from God and His goodness. This state is called eternal death.

Many people are ignoring this crucial subject. Young people as well as men and women in their middle or later years often dislike the topic of dying and prefer not to think about eternity. However, to be with God in heaven requires faith in Jesus.

A non-decision is really a decision--and an unwise one at that. By doing nothing, people face everlasting separation from God. Let these truths about eternal life and death fuel your prayers and actions.

The above devotion is by Dr. Charles Stanley.

I think this article from Dr. Stanley encourages us to live a purpose driven life.

March 28, 2008 -- PLEASING GOD -- Hebrews 13:15-16

"Through Jesus therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

Our purpose in life is aimed to please God. In the above passage, it tells us clearly how to please Him:

1. Worship Him continuously not only in private and also in public worship in church. For it is in the assembly that we praise Him and confess his name to others. Coming to church then is to please God.

2. Sharing good things with others. I know some of our sisters who often share good food or other nice things with others in the church. That is not a show off or making us feel like we have to repay them something. I learn from this Scriptures that they are doing it from love of God and thinking about brothers and sister while they are shopping and cooking. It is well pleasing to God.

Just doing these two simple activities, you are fulfilling God's primary purpose for your life. Isn't it great?

March 29, 2008 -- Every Knee Shall Bow

Max Lucado is a best seller author who is a prolific author. The following is a part of his meditation on John 3:16

Every Knee Shall Bow
by Max Lucado

". . . whoever believes in him shall not perish . . ."

How could a loving God send sinners to hell? He doesn't. They volunteer.

Once there, they don't want to leave. The hearts of damned fools never soften; their minds never change. "Men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory" (Rev. 16:9 NKJV). Contrary to the idea that hell prompts remorse, it doesn't. It intensifies blasphemy.

Remember the rich man in torment? He could see heaven but didn't request a transfer. He wanted Lazarus to descend to him. Why not ask if he could join Lazarus? The rich man complained of thirst, not of injustice. He wanted water for the body, not water for the soul. Even the longing for God is a gift from God, and where there is no more of God's goodness, there is no longing for him. Though every knee shall bow before God and every tongue confess his preeminence (Rom. 14:11), the hard-hearted will do so stubbornly and without worship. There will be no atheists in hell (Phil. 2:10--11), but there will be no God-seekers either.

But still we wonder, is the punishment fair? Such a penalty seems inconsistent with a God of love--overkill. A sinner's rebellion doesn't warrant an eternity of suffering, does it? Isn't God overreacting?

Who are we to challenge God? Only he knows the full story, the number of invitations the stubborn-hearted have refused and the slander they've spewed.

Accuse God of unfairness? He has wrapped caution tape on hell's porch and posted a million and one red flags outside the entrance. To descend its stairs, you'd have to cover your ears, blindfold your eyes, and, most of all, ignore the epic sacrifice of history: Christ, in God's hell on humanity's cross, crying out to the blackened sky, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46). The supreme surprise of hell is this: Christ went there so you won't have to.

Source:

3:16, The Numbers of Hope
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, Inc, 2007) Max Lucado