Every Day with Jesus (18 page)

It’s with the heart that a person believes. Faith is not a head issue; faith is a heart issue. If we get sidetracked from speaking to a person’s heart, we lose the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. That doesn’t mean that faith doesn’t make sense! Faith in God is the ultimate wisdom. However, faith will always be a heart issue.

God called you to be a witness, not a judge or a jury. Today, just tell people what Jesus has done for you, and let the Holy Spirit do His job. He will draw them to Jesus by working in their hearts just like He did you.

June 9: The Power of an Experience

John 9:1-28

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

John 9:25

In Vietnam I held a Bible study with about seven or eight men. Everything was going well until a man who claimed to be an atheist showed up. He was a Princeton intellectual who tore me to shreds. He made me look like a fool for believing in God. The whole group left with him as they laughed at me.

Thirty minutes later I was still sitting there wondering what I could have done differently when this same atheist walked back into the chapel and sat down. I prayed and asked the Lord to give me another chance. To my amazement, he came over and gave me the shock of my life. He told me he wanted what I had. I couldn’t believe it!

I said, “You out-argued me. You made me look like a fool, yet you want what I have?” He explained that his whole life was based on an argument. If someone would have out-argued him the way he did me, he would have killed himself. He saw that I had something stronger than an argument. I had faith that came from a personal experience with God. He wanted that.

That day I learned firsthand that a man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument. The blind man whom Jesus healed didn’t have any theological training, yet his experience with Jesus gave him a better understanding of God than the Pharisees had. He didn’t know everything, but he couldn’t be talked out of what he did know, and his assurance convicted all the theologians who were present.

If you have experienced the love of God, you are an expert. Regardless of what arguments others may offer, your relationship with Jesus is a stronger witness. Be bold today and show others the way.

June 10: Alive Unto God

Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:28-36

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Matthew 17:2

It is interesting to compare Jesus’ transfiguration with that of Moses’. Jesus’ face shone as the sun, and His garment was as white as the light. This certainly exceeded what Moses experienced, yet Jesus’ face did not continue to shine when He came down from the mountain as Moses’ face did.

Moses’ face reflected the glory of God, but Jesus was the glory of God. (John 1:14; Heb. 1:3.) Moses put a veil over his face to conceal the glory of God (Ex. 34:29-35) so that the people would not be afraid to come near him. Jesus’ body was His veil that concealed His true glory within. During His transfiguration, He pulled back the veil of His flesh, and the disciples caught a glimpse of His glory that He had with the Father before the world was. (John 17:5.) At Jesus’ death, the veil of His body was “rent in two” giving us direct access to the glory of God. (Heb. 10:19,20.)

We need to be conformed to the death and resurrection of Christ. We can’t just focus on our death to sin, and either omit or make secondary being alive unto God. It is assumed that if we will just die to sin, then life in Christ will come automatically. That’s no more true than physical death automatically producing physical resurrection. We must be alive unto God in order to die to sin.

God wants you to be alive in Him today. He needs you to know who you are in Christ and walk in the victory that the risen Christ is actually living through you. There are over a hundred scriptural references to the indwelling presence of the Lord in you. Look into the Word, and see what God has to say about you!

June 11: Fasting Casts Out Unbelief

Mark 9:28-29

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Mark 9:29

Prayer and fasting do not drive demons out. If the name of Jesus and faith in His name won’t do the job, then fasting and praying won’t either. Jesus is saying that fasting and praying are the only ways of casting out this type of unbelief.

Unbelief that is due to ignorance can be done away with by receiving the truth of God’s Word. (Rom. 10:17; 2 Peter 1:4.) However, the unbelief that hindered the disciples in this case was a natural type of unbelief. They had been taught all of their lives to believe what their five senses told them. They were simply dominated by this natural input more than by God’s Word. The only way to overcome the unbelief that comes through our senses is to deny our senses through prayer and fasting.

Fasting accomplishes many things. One of the greatest benefits of fasting is that through denying the lusts of the flesh, the spirit man gains ascendancy. Fasting was always used as a means of seeking God to the exclusion of all else. It does not cast out demons, but rather it casts out unbelief. Fasting is beneficial in every aspect of the Christian life—not only in casting out devils.

The real virtue of a fast is in humbling yourself through self-denial (Ps. 35:13; 69:10), and that can be accomplished through ways other than total abstinence. Partial fasts can be beneficial, as well as, fasts of your time or pleasures. However, because appetite for food is one of your strongest drives, fasting from food seems to get the job done the quickest.

If you have never fasted, pray about doing one. Ask the Lord to show you what you should fast, how long you should fast, and for what reason. Fasting should be an important part of seeking God in your life.

June 12: One Hundred Times Zero

Matthew 17:24-27

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Matthew 17:27

The disciples were concerned that they needed money to pay their taxes, so Jesus gave them the above instructions. This was quite a miracle. Not only was the money supplied for their taxes, but also it was the exact amount needed; and it was from the first fish that was caught.

Although this sets the precedent that God can supply our needs in a miraculous way, it is important to remember that God doesn’t counterfeit money. He didn’t create money in the fish, but rather he had the fish miraculously find and swallow the exact Roman coin the disciples needed. It is a mistake to pray and wait on God to rain the money down from heaven. As Luke 6:38 says, God uses people to give finances to us. He can do it in a very unexpected, supernatural way, but it will involve people and existing currency. We need to believe that the Lord hears and answers our prayers, and then pray for the people He’s going to use to deliver the answer. This could be our employer, the person who buys our goods, or any number of people.

The Lord also blesses what you set your hands to do. When in need, seek His direction for something to set your hands to, and trust Him to bless it and multiply the results of your work. One hundred times zero is zero. Don’t miss your miracle because you never took the first step of faith and used what you have! God can give you a creative idea today that will bless you enough to meet all of your needs—and give you the opportunity to be a blessing to others.

June 13: Humble Like a Child

Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 9:30-37; Luke 9:46-48

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:4

It is interesting that Jesus used a little child to illustrate humility. Although it is true that little children have a purity and are teachable, unlike most adults they certainly are not selfless. Babies come into the world totally self-centered, wanting what they want when they want it. Parents are to train children out of this self-centeredness.

Jesus chose these children as an example of humility because humility’s dominant characteristic is God-dependency instead of self-sufficiency, and children are completely dependent upon their parents for everything. They look to them for love, wisdom, provision, protection, and all the blessings of life. The humility of being completely in the hands of God was what Jesus was talking about here.

The path of humility could not possibly work if there was no God. We would simply be trampled underfoot by those who would take advantage of us. But humility is a step of faith—faith that God is the Judge and that promotion comes from Him. (Ps. 75:6,7.) He resists the proud and gives grace unto the humble.
(1 Pet. 5:5.) When we trust Him and step out in faith, He provides everything we need.

Humility is having faith in God instead of yourself. This is why it is easy to be humble when you have failed and hard to be humble when you have achieved success. Today, as you pursue what God is calling you to do and operate in the gifts He has given you, remember who called you and gave you those gifts. As you walk in humility, completely trusting in Him for everything, He will impart to you all the love, wisdom, and strength you need; and He will provide for you, protect you, and bless you in ways you never dreamed of.

June 14: Angelic Protection

Matthew 18:10-11

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 18:10

We have angels assigned to us. Hebrews 1:14 further reveals that their purpose is to minister to us or on our behalf. In the Old Testament, Psalm 91 teaches on the ministry of angels to God’s people. Some have realized this truth and have taken it even further to say that we are supposed to speak to our angels and they will obey our commands. There is no instruction in Scripture to do this, nor is there any example of it being done. Many of the angels’ protective duties described in Psalm 91 are preventative, and we certainly could not effectively command these activities.

Angels are dispatched exactly as this verse describes—by looking at the Father’s face. God Almighty controls them for us; however, we do have a part to play. In Psalm 91 it is those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High that benefit from angelic activity. (v. 1.) Verse two further instructs us to say that the Lord is our refuge and fortress and that we trust in Him.

It is the combination of our faith in God and His faithfulness to us that releases the angels on our behalf. If it was solely up to God, His provision would be the same for everyone because of His mercy and grace. However, we have to receive God’s grace by faith. (Eph. 2:8.)

Today you can rest in the knowledge that God’s angels were created to minister to you. As you speak words of faith and praise, beholding your Father’s face, He will send His angels on your behalf.

June 15: God Loves You

Matthew 18:12-14

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:14

One of the greatest truths of the Bible, and also one of the hardest to comprehend, is that we are the objects of God’s love. God didn’t just pity us or feel some sense of moral obligation to save us. He saved us because of His infinite love for us. (John 3:16.) He loves people. He even loves those who have gone astray. As Jesus said in a similar parable (Luke 15:7), “I say unto you that, likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

Once we experience the life-changing power of Christ, there is a tendency to become harsh and impatient with others who continue to live their lives without Him. We sometimes forget that it was the love and goodness of God that brought us to repentance (Rom. 2:4), and we become condemning and judgmental toward the lost. This is not the attitude Jesus had, nor is it the attitude He wants us to have.

“Even when we were spiritually dead because of our sins, God’s forbearance was working on our behalf. He was tolerant, patient and kind towards us. God abounded in excessive proportion with good will, compassion, and desire to help us. His disposition was kind, compassionate, and forgiving in His treatment of us. He wanted in abundant supply to alleviate our distress and bring relief from our sins. He did this by giving us life in place of death. It was with Christ that this salvation was secured. By grace, kindness, and favor we are saved. All of this was the result of God’s extremely large degree of love wherewith He loved us, always seeking the welfare and betterment of us. God likes us” (Eph. 5:2, paraphrased).

Whatever happens to you today, remember how much God loves you!

June 16: Discipline Brings Life

Matthew 18:15-19

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 18:18-19

Verses 18 and 19 have many applications, but taken in context they are specifically referring to church discipline. Some might think that church discipline is only symbolic and carries no real weight; however, Jesus is making it clear that in the spiritual realm, discipline that is directed by the Holy Spirit has much power.

The scriptural commands concerning church discipline are designed to help restore the brother or sister who is in sin just as much as they are designed to protect other members of the body from that sin. If the person being disciplined repents, the objective has been achieved, and no further action should be taken. Church discipline is two-fold. It consists of withdrawing both our fellowship and our intercession.