For I Know The Plans I Have For You...

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This is a wonderful promise from a wonderful God but as I commented yesterday, it is often taken out of context. So, let's put it in context because when we do we will find it becomes even more powerful!

The first three verses of this chapter set the scene for us. Jerusalem had been invaded by the vaunted Babylonian Empire and God's people became captives of King Nebuchadnezzar. So, they had lost their freedom, their sovereignty and their national identity. Their captivity came as the result of their disobedience and idolatry.

Like their ancient plight, life is often less than simple for us. It often brings heartache and hardship and hard times. Perhaps you find yourself there today. Actions have consequences and poor decisions bring poor results. Whether your captivity is of your own making or you are caught up in the chaos of circumstances beyond your control, your life is far from peaceful. For you life is hard, you don't like it, you don't see a way out and it is sucking the hope out of your spirit.

Here's where the good news begins!

It was into life situations just like yours that this promise was given! And while God didn't promise immediate deliverance He inserts some reasons for hope. God often chooses not to rescue you from self-inflicted misery resulting from disobedience or poor decisions, but He will offer relief. He will remind you there is an expiration date on your suffering.

When you make bad decisions that lead to trouble it may take a long series of good decisions to bring you out. The first good decision is to return to God, begin obeying His Word and start hoping in His promises. Today would be a good day to start!

May 1, 2018

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Isn't this an amazing promise?

Perhaps you have claimed this promise at times.

Some may choose it as a life verse.

In truth, most of those who latch onto this promise do so out of context.

Jeremiah was known as the "weeping prophet" because he was often asked by God to deliver bad news to the people of God. He was also weeping over the tragic condition of his nation which had been invaded and taken captive by the mighty Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar. Their captivity was God's judgment on them for rebelling against Him and worshiping idols. Jeremiah's heart was broken for God's people and he wept for them. No doubt he also wept because God often asked him to bring bad news to the people of God who in turn, resented him and rejected him.

While this verse does accurately describe the nature of God and his desire to bless His people, this promised blessing was still 70 years in the future. These people would have to endure another 70 years under captivity before this wonderful promise would be fulfilled in their life.

So, this is a promise especially addressed to those who find themselves struggling in life because of self-inflicted captivity or due to the poor decisions of others. But it doesn't guarantee immediate deliverance from your problem.

The good news is that God does have a good plan and a godly purpose for your life!

The bad news is you may have to spend many more days in captivity until He delivers on His promise and delivers you from your problem!

April 30, 2018

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:1-2

Of the many amazing aspects of Jesus' earthly ministry was the fact that ministry came to Him. As He lived with authenticity and as He made Himself available people found Him approachable and ministry opportunities flowed to Him.

I believe it is a model we can and should adopt. If we daily demonstrate authentic faith and if we make ourselves available to people in need and if we are approachable, ministry opportunities will come to us on a regular basis.

That being true, as I believe it is, we had better know how to handle it when people DO come seeking ministry.

Let me suggest the strategy I am about to recommend to my people this Sunday. I believe it is what Jesus did and what the Holy Spirit honors.

1) PRAYER

John Wesley said, "Nothing happens but by prayer."

I believe it and Jesus proved it. Prayer was always the first thing Jesus did. Prayer invites God into your day and into ministry opportunities that flow your way that day Prayer activates the power of the Holy Spirit to flow through you.

If Jesus felt the need to begin each with prayer, how much more must we?

2) CARE

Prayer alone is not enough. Prayer must be expressed in acts of caring and compassion. Though Jesus began by praying, that was not the extent of His ministry. He lovingly brought the power of God to bear against the needs that came to Him. He functioned as God's connecting point with people who came seeking divine help.

Care that isn't backed by prayer has a limited impact. Prayer that doesn't lead to caring actions has little effect.

3) SHARE

The third component of effective ministry is sharing Biblical truth.

Sometimes sharing means telling a sinner how to repent and find the grace and forgiveness of God.

Sometimes sharing means reading an uplifting and encouraging portion of Scripture to one who is discouraged.

Sometimes sharing may involve telling a testimony of God's goodness or provision in your life.

This encounter Jesus had with Nicodemus is a great example of this three-fold approach to ministry. Jesus had prayed for God's guidance that day.

Nicodemus had seen the powerful effect of prayer in Jesus' life and ministry. And he had watched how Jesus cared for those in need. He saw people healed and delivered from evil spirits.

Because of the obvious power of His prayer and the passion of His caring, Nicodemus wanted to see Jesus.

There is a Nicodemus in your life that you can reach for Christ. Perhaps you are the only one who can reach him, or at least you are the best one to reach him. Why not learn from Jesus about how He reached Nicodemus?

Will you commit to His daily strategy of:

Prayer

Care

Share

Will you begin today?

April 29, 2018

"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:" Psalm 37:3-5

Temptation happens at the point of your desire. That is abundantly clear in the temptation of Adam and Eve as it is in the temptation of Jesus. Adam and Eve were controlled by their desire and sinned against God. Jesus controlled His desire and remained sinless. So, it seems that you are confronted with an option, "either you control your desires or your desires will control you". Therein lies the battle of temptation. Will you be controlled by your emotions or will you exercise your will to control your emotions?

There are some who believe you cannot control your desires and that you are a slave to them. No thanks to Adam and Eve, it is difficult to gain control over your desires. Once they exercised their will against God it perverted their desires. That is the nature we inherit from them.

So, how do you get control of your desires? How do we keep your desires from controlling you? The Psalmist, who is very open about his struggles to gain control over his desires, shares some insight into how he does it.

"Trust in the Lord". The word for "trust" means to "lean on" or to "rely on" or to "put confidence in" God. The word picture portrayed is the idea of putting your total trust into God. It is like when you sit in a chair. You put your total weight into that chair and completely trust it. When you put the key in your car you totally trust it to start. When you lie down on your bed you totally trust it to support you. You must "trust, rely, lean on" God to help you control your desires. By the power of your will you choose to aim your emotions at God.

"do good". When you place your trust completely on the Lord He will guide you and strengthen you to "do good". Notice it does not say that you should desire to do good, it simply says to "do good". People who are controlled by their emotions and desires will only "do good" when they feel like it. But people who control their desires do good whether they feel like it or not!

Jesus probably didn't feel like dying on the cross. But he "did the good" that His Father desired of Him. Jesus probably felt like turning those stones into bread - partly because He was very hungry and partly because he wanted to show the devil that He really could after the devil challenged His "godhood". How do you feel when someone challenges your manhood? You want to show them, don't you? Imagine being God and having some inferior being challenge your "godhood".

So, here it is. Another day, another battle with temptation. Temptation will be there to meet you at your point of desire and you will either control your desire or be controlled by it. You can trust your own strength to take charge over your emotions or you can rely on God and trust Him to help you do good.

The first "good" thing you can do today is to put Him in charge of your emotions AND your will!

April 28, 2018

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:1-2

Jesus ministered to many people during His earthly ministry. Often they came by the thousands to hear Him teach. We know two occasions where He miraculously feed thousands. But when He did soul-winning it was often one person at a time.

I am thinking of the woman at the well, I am thinking of Zachaeus, and in this case, Nicodemus.

It is not hard to imagine why people would want to seek out Jesus one-on-one. I would! Wouldn't you?

In this devotional I want to focus on three reasons why people were drawn to Jesus that you and I can learn in order to be more successful in reaching people.

First, Jesus was authentic.

Second, Jesus was available.

Third, Jesus was approachable.

Of course Jesus was authentic, He was the Son of God. He was the REAL deal.

While you can't be Jesus you should strive to be the real deal! Or, I should say, let Jesus be real in you! Live out His life and His love in the way you live your daily life.

If you come across as a phony you won't have to worry about any witnessing opportunities because no one will be interested in what you have to offer.

Make a conscious effort each day to be available to the ones you want to reach. By being available I refer to your physical availability but also your emotional availability. Do your best to be tuned into them when you are around them so they pick up on your care and concern for them. Remember, time + attention = caring!

Even a quick glance at the Gospels will reveal that Jesus intentionally made Himself available to people He wanted to reach.

If you give attention to those first two issues, this third one (being approach able) will happen. Intentionally and prayerfully determine to be someone that people want to come to when they have a spiritual need. That is what Jesus was all about and that is how He wants to shape you!

Give attention to becoming like Jesus in these three ways and you will have more opportunities to reach people for Christ!

Recognize A True Seeker

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:1-3

There is a reason why I wrote about how to recognize a true seeker. Nicodemus is an example of a true seeker.

If you desire to lead people to Christ, you will have your greatest success if you witness to seekers. Think about it. When you go to pick apples or tomatoes which ones do you pick? You pick those that are the most ripe don't you? Seekers tend to be the most spiritually ripe because they are taking initiative to find answers on their own.

Nicodemus was a spiritually ripe seeker because he was at a moment in his life where he was intellectually and spiritually open to what Jesus had to share. Jesus saw it, recognized it and seized on the opportunity.

Do you want to know how to double the size of your church this year? Each one reach one during this coming year. In other words, if each member and regular attender chose to focus on one person that they will try to win to Christ and win that person the church would be twice the size! To accomplish this goal it will be important to identify a person who you have influence with and who is the most spiritually "ripe".

Who is that person in your life?

Who is your "Nicodemus"?

Do you know?

Do you want to know?

If you don't, that is a problem.

If there is no one in your life that you have influence over, that is a big problem.

If you have no desire to influence someone for Christ, that is a shame! That probably means you are not spiritually ripe - you may be spiritually rotten!

April 26, 2018

"Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city." Acts 1:11-12

While we were without a children's director for a brief period at a church I served, I began giving a children's sermon every Sunday. It worked much better than I expected and if you ask me, the adults enjoyed it as much as the kids!

On particular Sunday I had talked to the kids about the importance of obedience. As I was wrapping it up and making the powerful application of this profound truth, a little girl named Maddy was persistently raising her hand and calling, "Passer Brad, Passer Brad!"

I finally recognized her, "Yes, Maddy!"

She exclaimed with great emphasis,"Passer Brad, we don't got no 'bedience at our house!"

My glance shot past little Maddy to her parents who were beet read with embarrassment.

Let me ask you, "Do you have 'bedience at your house? How about in your heart?"

If you want to know the one thing that is the key to growing in the Spirit it is obedience.

In these verses from the first chapter of Acts, we see the disciples responding in obedience to the command Jesus had given them prior to His ascension into Heaven. They responded immediately and they responded urgently. Their response is to be admired and imitated because delayed obedience is disobedience.

The day that changed history - the Day of Pentecost - would never have happened without their obedience. Nothing transformational will ever happen in your life without obedience. There will be no blessing or growth without obedience. There will be no spiritual power or growth without obedience. There will be no salvation nor holiness apart from obedience.

One of my favorite singers out of my generation, Don Francisco, connects obedience with holiness in this song:

http://youtu.be/ry5O9SuUfvY

When you hear the Lord do you answer, "Yes", regardless of the question?