SAFE FROM THE EVIL ONE

“I’m not asking you
to take them out of the world,
but to keep them safe
from the evil one.”
John 17:15 NLT
~~~~~~

Later in this prayer for the twelve, Jesus added, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” That means you and I are covered by this prayer.

When we pray for safety, it’s normally about things like – accidents – violent weather – terrorists – diseases – or anything else that threatens us or our property. Our physical well being is a natural concern when we are in danger. I am sure we would be amazed if we knew how often the Lord has protected us against accidents or illness, and all sorts of physical harm. But living in this world, we get sick and bodily harm comes to us like it does to everyone else.

When Jesus prayed that we might be kept safe from the evil one, his main concern was not our physical safety and comfort, but rather our spiritual welfare. His prayer is that we will remain faithful to him, and become more like him. When various misfortunes come crashing into our lives, the evil one whispers thoughts of doubt – fear – self-pity into our ears, telling us “God doesn’t love you. If he loved you, he wouldn’t allow things like this to happen to you.”

The troubles God allows into our lives are always for a good reason as James tells us, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (It takes God’s grace to see “troubles” in that light.) “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

The enemy of our soul is waiting to use every misfortune of life to do us spiritual harm. We are so blessed by Jesus’ prayer for our safety from the evil one, not only does it shield us against Satan’s intended harm, but actually makes misfortune a means by which we can grow in character, and in the likeness of Jesus!!

SHARING THE WAY OF SALVATION

“You will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
And you will be my witnesses,
telling people about me everywhere.”
Acts 1:8 NLT
~~~~

In the early 50’s Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ wrote “The Four Spiritual Laws.”
“1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.
2. Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.
3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life.
4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.” After each “Law” Bright lists supporting scriptures.

In many communities, training sessions were held where people practiced on each other, then went out to share the “Four Laws” with non Christians. I recall being part of a team which was sent out to a small town to share the “Laws” with anyone and everyone who would listen. We knocked on doors – stopped people on the street – I shared the gospel with a utility man while he was hanging in his ‘Safety Harness’ at the top of a pole. He prayed the prayer! Whether he was sincere, only God knows.

We both know there are more conventional and acceptable ways of witnessing than sharing the gospel with someone at the top of a telephone pole. However we go about it, Jesus promises “when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…you will be my witnesses.” Peter instructs us, “if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”

The most natural situation to share our faith is when our friends notice a difference in us, and start asking questions. If we are prepared to explain the way of salvation, and rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us, we are equipped to witness to anyone, a longtime friend or someone whom we have just met. Doing our part, we can leave the results in the hands of God.

GOD’S OPEN DOORS

“I have opened a door for you
that no one can close.”
Revelation 3:8 NLT
~~~~~~

An open door can mean different things depending on the circumstances. Say for instance you come home at night, and find your front door standing open. Fear grips your heart! All sorts of threatening thoughts whirl through your mind. Someone has broken into the house – maybe they are still in there – the entire house is ransacked.” But you push aside your fears, and cautiously reach inside and turn on the light - everything is in order! Suddenly it dawns on you why the door is standing open - your neighbor had said something to you just as you were about to lock up, and you stepped aside to talk with him. You forgot to lock the door!!

There are also doors which are deliberately opened for us by our loving Lord so we can enter into the ministry and blessings he has for us. Paul repeatedly mentions such open doors. Concerning Ephesus he said, “There is a wide-open door for a great work here” and “When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.” “When they had arrived at Antioch and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” God opened doors for Paul to enable him to accomplish the plans he had for him.

God also has plans for us, and he opens doors to make it possible for us to fulfill those plans. I can imagine him saying to us what he said to the church in Philadelphia, “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”

It becomes our responsibility and privilege to recognize the doors God opens – step through them and proceed to carry out his plan for us. We don’t need to be afraid of what’s on the other side of God’s open doors – he will be there with us to protect and enable us!

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORTH?

“What is the price of five sparrows
—two copper coins?
Yet God does not forget a single one of them…
So don’t be afraid;
you are more valuable to God
than a whole flock of sparrows.”
Luke 12:6-7 NLT
~~~~~~

People often base their self-worth on material possessions – physical appearance – abilities – achievements – etc., which leads to arrogance and pride. If those standards determine self-worth then people who don’t measure up, see themselves as failures, and not worth much.

However, in God’s eyes our worth is not determined by what we have done or not done. Our worth is based on what God has done! God created us in his own image! No one else in all of creation can claim that. Talk about worth!! Our value is based on the value he places on us. He considered us so valuable that he sacrified his own son on the cross that we could be forgiven. Giving us his Holy Spirit to live in us is further evidence of the worth he placed on us. Galatians 4:6-7 says “And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”

Take courage my friend, your true self-worth is not governed by the rise and fall of the material or social values of this world. Before the foundations of the world were laid God determined what our worth would be.

How much are you worth?!! It’s measureless!! Just think of all he has done to make it possible for you to spend eternity with him. That’s the value he has placed on you.

PRESS ON TO KNOW HIM

“Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us
as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Hosea 6:3 NLT
~~~~~

Most of us, who trust in the Lord, have precious memories of the joy that filled our hearts, and the spiritual fire which burned in our souls when we first believed. But most likely since then we have also experienced times when the joy of the Lord had faded and the fire had died down to ash covered embers. What happened? What brought about the change?

In science there is a principle that says, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” The same principle is also at work in our spiritual lives. If we draw back from the Lord, by whatever degree, we are drawing closer to the enemy of our soul, and consequently lose joy and fire. This “backsliding” never just happens to us, it is brought about by personal choices we make.

Our key scriptures today from Hosea six is part of a call to God’s people to repent. They had drifted from him, and were about to suffer severe consequences. The prophet identifying himself with them says, “Come, let us return to the Lord… Let us press on to know him.” To know him implies more than just having information about him. It refers to taking deliberate steps to have an intimate relationship with him – a relationship which grows out of obedient submission to him.

If we have never been close to the Lord, or find ourselves not as close as we once were, we don’t need to be afraid to admit it to him. We can press ever closer to him, he won’t scold us or push us away. His arms are wide open to welcome us! Our “pressing on to know him,” has been on his heart all along - that’s what he has been waiting for. “He will respond to us favorably as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”

YOU ARE GIFTED BY GOD

“In his grace,
God has given us different gifts
for doing certain things well.”
Romans 12:6a NLT
~~~~~~

We may have watched someone perform a very complicated task with ease, or listened to an instrumentalist or vocalist performing with exceptional skill, and thought, “I could never do that.” While that may be true, the good news is we are not responsible for other people’s gifts.

God has created us with specific abilities to accomplish the purpose he has for our life. “So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” Romans 12:6b-8

Our gifts are those God-given abilities which we enjoy using to bless others. They may be different from other people’s gifts, but they are in no way superior or inferior in the eyes of the one who gave them. So we must guard against the temptation of comparing gifts. God knows which gifts are best suited for our personality, and will enable us to do well what he wants to accomplish through us.

No one is left empty handed. Everyone is gifted in some way, and all of us have the privilege and responsibility to discover, develop, and use those gifts to serve others. As we faithfully use our gifts, we experience a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, and bring glory to the giver.

BECAUSE HE LIVES

“Don’t be alarmed.
You are looking for Jesus
of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!
Look, this is where they laid his body.”
Mark 16:6 NLT
~~~~~

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. Churches will be crowded. Even people who don’t regularly attend will make a special effort to be there. Why? What is so special about Easter? Some people may make the effort because that’s what they traditionally do on Easter. But we who have a personal relationship with Christ, and attend church regularly celebrate Easter because it marks the anniversary of our Savior’s resurrection.

The reality of the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation on which the Christian Faith is built. Paul says: “if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!..... But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:17-18,20 On that first Easter morning the angel announced to those who visited the tomb: “He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.” Acts 1:3 reports, “During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive.” Because he’s alive we can confidently believe his teachings, and with full assurance claim all his promises.

Because He Lives
by William J. Gaither

God sent His Son – they called Him Jesus,

He came to love, heal and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Chorus:
Because He lives I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory – and I'll know He lives.


Click on this link BECAUSE HE LIVES to hear this beautiful song.