Daily Encouragement

March 30, 2008 -- God wants you to be successful in your strife to Purpose Driven Life:

God wants you to be successful because you are special to Him.- "But are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." - 1 Peter 2:9

You will be successful in purpose driven life because God answer your prayers.- "I cry out to God most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me." - Psalm 57:2.

Your will be successful because the apostle Paul said, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in the day of Jesus Christ."

March 31, 2008 -- Love Worth Finding

The following is a meditation by Dr. Adrian Rogers, a very respected pastor and former president of Southern Baptist Convention. He is now at home in the glory. But his expository preaching is still influential and a model among young pastors. Hope you will be blessed by this:

"He Died for You. You Died with Him." - Dr. Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

"Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4 KJV

When Jesus Christ died, not only did He die for us, but also we died with Him. You may say, "Well, what difference does it make whether He died for me or I died with Him? It's just a play on words."

Oh no, it's not, my friend. When you're dead, then death has no dominion over you. You can't kill a man who is already dead. Let's suppose a man is put to death for a capital crime he has committed, and yet somehow he is raised back to life. Do you think he can be arrested again for his crime? Absolutely not. That would be double jeopardy. He paid the penalty of his crime.

It is necessary that you understand that when Jesus died, you died, and the law has no more hold on you! Your sin debt has been paid in full because He died for you. You died with Him.

Find someone today and tell them the greatest news that has ever been told. Jesus took on the wrath of God. He died that they may live. Go!

April 1, 2008 -- YOU HAVE VICTORY OVER SATAN THROUGH THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST

The following is a devotion by Jack Graham. Hope you are encouraged by it.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." Roman 8:1-2

Did you know that you have an enemy of your soul?

You may not know it, but as a follower of Christ, you have a very real adversary. His name is Satan. But through the power of God, you can have victory over Satan!

There are two misunderstandings about the devil that a lot of people believe. One is that he's a myth and doesn't matter. The other is that he matters too much and that we have no victory over him.

But the fact is that we have victory in Jesus Christ! And I want to remind you how you can defeat Satan whenever he attacks you.

When Satan tries to dominate you by reminding you of your sinful past, remember what Jesus told us in John 8:32: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." In Christ, you're free from the guilt and shame of sin!

When Satan tries to tempt you, remember what James 4:7 says: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Jesus taught us how to do this when He went into the desert and there with the Word of God in prayer and fasting, He overcame the power of Satan and the temptation of Satan that came at Him again and again!

When Satan tries to accuse you, remember what today's verse says: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."

And finally, when Satan tries to confront you, remember what Jesus told Simon Peter in Luke 22:31: "Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail." The only way you will defeat the confrontation of Satan is to pray Jesus' prayer that your faith will not fail!

Christian, I encourage you to commit each of these verses to memory so that you won't be caught off guard the next time Satan targets you.

And it's my prayer that you will be able to defeat Satan's attacks through the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life!

YOU HAVE VICTORY OVER SATAN THROUGH THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST!

April 2, 2008

"For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,"- Ephesians 3:14-15 (NASB)

The fact that God has revealed Himself as Father shows that God is interested in family from the beginning. The Apostle Paul wrote almost every letters with the greeting, "from God our Father". I think he was reminding us that we are all in God's family.

We have our earthly family and we all should have a spiritual family. The church we belong to is our spiritual home. The people you worship with every Lord's Day are your family members in God's household. We thank God immensely for our spiritual home.

When I first arrived San Francisco from Hong Kong many years ago, I was impressed by the huge highways and bridges and the prosperity in the country. But my mind was also engraved by the loneliness of my neighbor living at the adjacent unit in my apartment complex. This elderly, thin and sad looking man often just pushed his little cart to go shopping by himself. I never saw anyone visiting him.

Family is very important! God's intention is for us to enjoy family relationship on earth and forever. Have you thank God for your spiritual family today?

April 3, 2008 - God's Guide to a Victorious Life - Proverbs 3:5-6

The following guidance from Dr. Charles Stanley's commentary is so good that I like to share it with you.

A compass indicates four points of north, south, east, and west. All are necessary for finding direction in the physical world. For guidance in living the Christian life, Proverbs chapter 3:5-6 also gives four points.

The first point is trust God. James chapter 1:17 states He deserves your complete confidence because He alone does not change.

Second, do not rely on your own understanding. The human mind has limited comprehension. Only God is all-knowing. Hebrews 4:13 shows us that every thought and motive is visible to Him. There is nothing that He doesn't see.

The next point in trusting God is to acknowledge Him in all your ways. As the Maker and Savior of all mankind, God has the right to plan every life. He knits each person together in the womb. He provides redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. God gives spiritual gifts to be used on His behalf.

Just as a child will look to his father for help, believers are to include their heavenly Father in everything. Success may tempt people to feel proud. But, Christians must guard against this thinking because it can lead you in a harmful direction.

God promises to make your paths straight. Spiritually, the direct route is easier to travel and requires less time. But it is not obstacle-free. As you follow the first three directional signs, the Father will work on your behalf to overcome barriers along the way.

Will you follow God's spiritual compass and trust Him wholeheartedly? As you reject self-reliance and acknowledge dependence upon Him, you will stay on the straight path of godliness.

April 4, 2008 - Judges 6:11-40

Gideon was a mighty man of valor (6:12). But he had to hide in a winepress to thresh wheat for the fear of his enemy. He felt that God had forsaken him and his people.(v.13) Even though God called him to save his countrymen, he didn't feel he could do it. He said that his own group of people was the weakest and he himself was the least in his father's house.

Don't we sometimes feel the same way about ourselves? We have failed time and again in our spiritual journey in the past. Our record indicated that we have been ups and downs. We moved forward two steps in our walk with the Lord and gone back three steps immediately. We did not lose faith in God's mighty power but we we lose faith in ourselves. We don't seem to feel we have had any progress as a Christian and in our service to the Lord.

But look at the Scriptures: And the LORD said to him (Gideon), "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."

God showed Gideon later that big number of people is not important but God's presence is most important. Gideon defeated the vast numbers of enemies with only three hundred people.

Do we have the assurance and sign of God's presence today? Jesus said in Matthew 28:20; "....and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Are we making disciples, baptizing and increasing in Sunday School? Yes, He is with us. Praise Him.

April 5, 2008 - Romans 8:26-39

As we walk in the journey of purpose driven life, we do have the assurance that God shall bring us through it successfully. Through the mighty inspiration of the Holy spirit, the Apostle Paul methodically eliminated the excuses and fear that we may fail to conform to the image of Jesus Christ our Lord.

First , the Holy Spirit Himself who knows our weaknesses will intercede for us.(v.26-27)

Then if we do seem to run into a bad situation, God does cause all things to work together for the good of those who love God.(v.28)

Thirdly, God has PRE-destined us to accomplish His purpose that is to be like Jesus.(v.29)

Fourthly, God's program is that "these whom He predestined , He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified , He also glorified."(v.30 NASB)

Fifth, since God is for us , no one can be against us.(v.31)

Sixth, Those who worry that they may not have enough resources materially or spiritually can rest upon the fact that Jesus who was delivered for us will give us all things.(v.32)

Seventh, Jesus who was raised for us is praying for us also.(v.33-34)

The conclusion is this: NOTHING can separate YOU from the love of God.(v.35-39) YOU ARE THE WINNER!