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  • Believing the Promiser

    Romans 4:20 “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,”

    As the Apostle Paul is teaching the Romans about the faith of Abraham, he tells them how Abraham responded when he was told by God that he and his wife Sarah, even though passed the age of childbearing, were going to have a son and that they would be naming him Isaac. Upon hearing this Abraham believed the unbelievable was going to happen because he believed the promiser of the Promise! 

    If you are like me, you need a moment to process what you just read. Read it again. Abraham believed the unbelievable was going to happen because he believed the promiser of the Promise!  

    As the Apostle Paul recounts this great story of Abraham’s faith he says that Abraham “did not waver.”  This means that he did not hesitate to believe.  It means he did not have a divided mind.  No dispute arose in his head that sought to deny what God had said. While he will ask how this could be he is not questioning God’s ability to perform what He had promised.  Abraham knew that his God was a promise-keeping God who could not lie!  

    The apostle adds that in analyzing this moment in the life of Abraham, Abraham’s faith grew in strength.   Hearing what humanly seemed so unbelievable Abraham does not stagger in faith but becomes stronger in faith.  

    Paul writes that in displaying the belief in God’s promise He brought glory to God. God is so glorified when we believe Him and trust Him.  He is pleased when we take steps of faith!  (Recall Hebrews 11)

    How are you doing in believing God in the present moment?  As God is guiding you are you believing He will be providing for you?  Do you stagger at His promises, or do you stand firmly on His promises knowing – knowing – that He keeps His promises? 

    May I remind you that a promise is only as good as the one making the promise?  Abraham’s faith was in God as God was the One making the promise.  If you are experiencing some weakness in your faith I appeal to you to get into His Word and learn more about the promiser!  Remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God!  

    Abraham believed the unbelievable was going to happen because he believed the promiser of the Promise!  

    Continue Strong standing firm on the Promises of God
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4 each day of April.  For April 20 we challenge you to read Romans 4.

  • Oh, How He Loves You And Me Leads To Oh How I Love Jesus!

    1 John 4:19  “We love Him because He first loved us.”

    Now and then it is good to pause to consider just how much God loves you! The Apostle Paul prayed that we would comprehend the love of God (Eph. 3:18-19).  Allow me to place some verses before you to help you consider and comprehend His love for you.

    John 3:16  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

    Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

    John 15:12-13  “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

    Galatians 2:20  “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

    Ephesians 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

    1 John 4:10  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

    Revelation 1:5  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,  6  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

    Ephesians 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

    1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 

    Kurt Kaiser wrote the chorus: Oh, how He loves you and me, Oh how He loves you and me. He gave his life, what more could he give? Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me; Oh, how He loves you and me.

    As we consider how much God loves us, we should now be asking how much do we love Him.  

    Frederick Whitfield wrote:

    There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth; it sounds like music in mine ear, the sweetest name on earth.
    Oh, how I love Jesus.  Oh, how I love Jesus.  Oh, how I love Jesus.  Because He first loved me!
    It tells me of a Savior’s love who died to set me free;  It tells me of His precious blood, the sinner’s perfect plea
    Oh, how I love Jesus.  Oh, how I love Jesus.  Oh, how I love Jesus.  Because He first loved me!
    How are you showing your love to God?  Again a few verses to bring to your remembrance of what loving God looks like: 

    Matthew 22:37  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38  “This is the first and great commandment.

    John 14:15  “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

    1 John 5:3 HCSB For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden,

    1 John 4:11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

    1 John 3:16  By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

    Our love for God shines out as we LOVE HIM WITH ALL WE ARE AND HAVE, KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND LOVE THE LOST!

    As we DATE our verse for April 19 and consider His love for us and our love for Him I trust you have not lost your first love. (Revelation 2:4) May our love for God grow deeper and stronger and may it then increase in our love for one another and deeper and stronger for those who do not know Him (2 Cor. 5:14).

    Continue Strong loving Him who Loved You More
    And remember to DATE The Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4 each day of April.  For April 19 we challenge you to read Galatians 4.

  • I Can See Clearly Now

    Proverbs 4:18  “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”

    If you read Proverbs 4 you find Solomon speaking to his son about the various paths he can take and that he wants him to choose to take the path of righteousness and avoid the paths of wickedness.  I like to call the middle part of Proverbs 4 God’s Highway Advisory. Notice Proverbs 4:10-16. “Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. 11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. (Now God’s Highway Advisory) 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15  Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.”

    As we move to our verse, Solomon wants to illustrate how the righteous walk is so much better than the unrighteous walk.  Having already said “Your steps will not be hindered, and you will not stumble” he continues that thought in verse 18. Those choosing the path of righteousness are going to be able to see clearly just as one would see clearer as the sun rises during the morning hours to high noon.  

    The Christian Standard Bible says, “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. 

    The NIV says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” 

    As we live out our Christian life, we are going to face temptations and we have an adversary seeking to devour us.  Being able to see the “obstacles” as quickly as possible will help keep us from stumbling.  When you are on the path of righteousness you will see past the allure of temptation, seeing the horrible consequences that could come if you yield to the temptation.  You can see the coming attack of the devil and hold up the shield of faith to quench his fiery darts.  

    Pausing to connect this verse to real life: Has there been a time you were walking and did not see an obstacle in your path, and it caused you to trip and fall?  It could have happened in your house as it did to me one night.  Not wanting to turn on a light that might wake others up I walked blindly toward the kitchen and tripped over a box sitting in the hallway.  One of my first thoughts was I should have turned on the light.  

    Solomon speaks of life being a path, and the one living righteously is going to find that the path is clearer, thus allowing the righteous to avoid the obstacles and enjoy a better life!  The path of the wicked, on the other hand, is dark and leads to lots of stumbling and falling.   Proverbs 4:19 says, “The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.” I would hope the comparison should help all of us to choose the paths of righteousness!

    Choose today the path of righteousness for a brighter day and a better life! 

    Continue Strong on the path of righteousness and off the highway of wickedness,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4 each day of April.  For April 18 we challenge you to read Luke 4.

  • A Worthy Walk Is No Longer A Worldly Walk

    Ephesians 4:17  “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,”

    From the start of the practical section of the Book of Ephesians the Apostle Paul calls on the believer to walk worthy of the calling with which they were called. (Eph. 4:1) To walk worthy means there must be a change in how one walks/lives as the past walk was a life of sin. If someone knows Christ there is an expectation of a story of change.  If there is no change, then I am not sure how one can say they know Christ.  A believer goes from living a sinful life to a sanctified life.  The believer goes from doing things that displease God to doing the things that please Him!

    To convey how one will live differently Paul writes the believer no longer walks (a word for living) as the Gentiles walk.  The idea of “the Gentiles” is those who do not know God and have a worldly, self-centered, selfish mindset as opposed to one who knows God and has a God-centered, heavenly mindset.  

    You may recall that Jesus told His disciples they were not to be like the Gentiles as they have a different value system.  The Gentiles lord over people and use their authority for their own benefit. (Matt. 20:25)  The Gentiles do not live a life of faith but are constantly concerned about present needs.  (Matt. 6:32)

    As you consider your present walk with Christ what is your story of how you have changed?  How has becoming a Christian changed you?  How different is the present walk (life) from your past walk (life)?  

    As the verse wraps up the Apostle writes for the believer to no longer live like the Gentiles in the futility of their mind.  How is your thinking different now that you are a Christian? 

    Maybe a couple of verses will help you answer the question.   The mind of a believer is having a mind that is set on the things above.  Colossians 3:1 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

    When we have our minds set on things above, we are looking for what God wants for us.  We have an eternal mindset as opposed to a temporal mindset.

    Philippians 2:5 calls for us to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Having a Christ-like mindset is to have a servant mindset.  It puts others above yourself.   Christ’s mindset was to do for others what they could never do for themselves.  

    As believers, we think and live differently than how we lived when we were lost.
    What are you no longer doing?

    Continue Strong Living A Different Life!
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4 each day of April.  For April 17 we challenge you to read Ephesians 4.

  • Giving An Uncommon Answer to the Common Question “How Are You Doing?”

    2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

    In a Bible Study where we were studying 2 Corinthians, we came to 2 Corinthians 4:16 and read one of the most authentic statements about the Apostle Paul’s life and ministry. As he defended his apostleship, he told about the incredible difficulties he was facing as he shared the gospel.  However, over and over he tells of how he just would never give up,   You might recall in 2 Corinthians 4:8 -10 that he wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — 10  always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”  There just was no quit in Paul.

    As we come to our verse, he reaffirms that he is not quitting.  He started out chapter 4 “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.”  Now he states again, “Therefore we do not lose heart.” Regardless of the suffering, the persecution, or the disappointment he was upbeat and determined to get the gospel to the lost and equip saints to live for Jesus. 

    One might wonder how the Apostle Paul could keep this mindset.  Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he reveals one of the great principles for staying in the ministry even though it is very tough! 

    He starts by defining a reality that our outward man is perishing.  And boy did he get that right. While we do start as babies growing and getting bigger and stronger, the truth of the matter is the moment we are born, we start perishing, and the longer we do live, the more evident it is.  The outward man, our bodies, the flesh wears down.  If you don’t want to know your future do not read Ecclesiastes 12:1-7.  Just saying.  Don’t read it because it tells that “Difficult days” are coming regarding the decline (the perishing) of the outward man.  

    Yet.  Don’t miss yet.  Paul says that while the outward man is perishing yet he needs to tell you something opposite. Paul writes, “Yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” In comparison to the outward, physical parts declining, the inward, spiritual man is getting stronger day by day.  For Paul, the work of God in transforming him and enabling him with grace and mercy was bringing about an inward growth that was refreshing.  To be renewed has the idea of being rejuvenated, to be re-energized.  No wonder he was not losing heart!

    Paul’s relationship with the Lord was one of abiding in the Lord.  The grace and the mercy were flowing in renewing his spirit.  Outwardly he was perishing but inwardly he was renewed!  Our relationship with the Lord has Him working in, on, and for us and renewing our spirit.  As we abide in Christ the inward man will get stronger even though the outward man declines. 

    So, consider the common question you are usually asked by another person of how are you doing? How do you answer that question?  The teacher of the Bible study gave us a great challenge by saying, “Why don’t we tell people what Paul said.”  When asked, “How are you doing?” answer by saying, “Well, my outward man is perishing, but my inward man is getting stronger!”  

    Now that would be an uncommon answer to a common question, and it just might open a door for a spiritual conversation! 

    So, how are you doing?  If you ask me, I will tell you that my outward man is perishing but my inward man is growing and getting stronger every day! 

    Continue Strong being renewed day by day,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4 each day of April.  For April 16 we challenge you to read 2 Corinthians 4.

  • He Not Only Knows You – He Understands!

    Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.”

    Our Savior and Lord is also our high priest and He knows first-hand about the struggles of life because He came to this earth and lived life as a human. He faced the very struggles and temptations we face. Because He knows our weaknesses, He sympathizes with us.  Let that sink in deep.  He sympathizes with you!   

    It is important to know that His sympathy is far more than feeling sorry for us.  Being sympathetic means He is ready to take action to help us handle what we are facing.  We have an open invitation to come boldly to the throne of grace to get help anytime you need it!  Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

    The church I grew up in would sing a Hymn titled Does Jesus Care?  The chorus would give a resounding yes.  

    One of the stanzas goes:

    Does Jesus care When I’ve tried and failed
    To resist some temptation strong?
    When for my deep grief there’s no relief
    Though the tears flow all the day long.
    Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares His heart is touched with my grief
    When the days are weary the long night dreary I know my Savior cares!

    We have High Priest.  Does He care? Oh yes! He cares!

    Continue Strong knowing He Cares about you!
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4 each day of April.  For April 15 we challenge you to read Hebrews 4.

  • For  Such a Time as This

    Esther 4:14  “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

    Our verse tells of a pivotal moment in the story and in the life of Esther.  Her uncle, Mordecai, has called on Esther to use her influence with the King to put a stop to the evil plan of Haman to annihilate the Jews.   You find this appeal in Esther 4:6-8.  Esther, however, is hesitant as she knows the rules of the house that say you cannot just show up in the presence of the king. To show up uninvited could very well mean the king could have you put to death.  She is greatly concerned as he has not asked to see her for 30 days. 

    As Mordecai hears of her hesitation to step up and step into this moment, he sends words that will define reality for her.  He also appeals to her about this incredible opportunity.  In defining reality, he tells her not to forget she is a Jew, and her failure to act will bring about her death as well as her family.   From Mordecai’s viewpoint, this is Esther’s moment, but he is clear that if she does not step up and step into this role, God will get someone else as He is going to take care of His people, but Esther and her family will perish.  Reality is defined!  

    But then Mordecai appeals to her to consider the enormity of the moment.  He wants her to define the reality of all that God had done that was totally so unexpected.  He tells her to consider if, just maybe, all the doors that opened for her to be queen and enjoy life in the palace, married to the great king, were for a greater purpose.  Maybe, just maybe, she was in this place in this position for this very purpose to rescue/protect God’s people.

    Most likely you know what does happen as Esther does step up and step into her God-given assignment.  It is inspiring to read how she decided that the lives of others were more important than her own. In the end, she is able to convince her husband, the king, to allow God’s people to protect themselves from those who would kill them.   (Read the book of Esther)

    I would like you to consider the place and the position you find yourself in these days.   What is God’s present purpose for you?  

    It could be that you find yourself like Nehemiah.  Nehemiah was in the palace as a cupbearer to the king but he realized he needed to be in Jerusalem building a wall. Nehemiah had to move so he could be where God wanted him.  Worth noting that when things got really tough in getting that wall rebuilt Nehemiah pointed God’s people to God.  Nehemiah 4:14 says, “I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”  By moving, he was in the right place in the right position, fulfilling the right purpose.

    Deborah told Barak that he was at the right place in the right position with the right purpose, so he needed to rise up and get into the battle.  Judges 4:14 says, “Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.”  

    It is crucial that you are seeking to be God’s vessel for carrying out His purpose.   Whether you are Esther or Nehemiah or Barak God has a plan and purpose for you.  There are going to come moments throughout your life that will be moments in which are just for you to be God’s man or God’s woman to step into the gap! At those moments let your light shine!  At those moments be an example of what is right.  At those moments, speak up!  You don’t have to be a pastor or a preacher to do make a difference.  You can do so as a doctor or a lawyer or as business person or as a teacher or as a coach or as soldier/sailor, etc.  Look at your place and position as a platform to make Jesus known! Step out by faith and step into His assignment as it is your time!

    Continue Strong fulfilling His purpose for your life,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending what we are calling a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4. For April 914we challenge you to read Esther 4.

  • You Are Never To Be Too Old To Learn Or Be Corrected

    Ecclesiastes 4:13 “Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.”

    There is an old statement that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.  It is used to speak of a person who has become resistant to change.  The “old stubborn dog” usually follows that statement with “I am too old to change.”   While one might understand how, as we get older, it is harder to change, we must be careful not to become resistant to correction.  

    As you have gotten older have you become more resistant to being corrected?

    A reality check is that each of us will continually face temptations no matter our age. Unfortunately, we will still commit sins. When that happens, we are going to be admonished by the Holy Spirit, and at times, the Holy Spirit will use another person to say a word of rebuke or reproof, a word of warning to correct us.  Will you, regardless of age, be willing to be admonished?  Will you receive the rebuke?  

    Our verse is a verse of comparative wisdom.  A comparative is when you have better and than in the verse.  Here Solomon writes that a poor youth with wisdom is better than an old king who is foolish and cannot be corrected.  The poor youth may not be viewed with much value, but he has more going for him than the powerful king. The poor youth is wise, which means he can be corrected, whereas the powerful king is foolish and will not be corrected.  

    As a reminder about who the wise are notice some verses from Proverbs:

    Proverbs 13:1 A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
    Proverbs 15:31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. 32  He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
    Proverbs 9:8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

    How do you respond to admonishment (someone speaking the truth into your mind)? 

    How do you respond to someone loving you enough to point out a character flaw?  

    Do you have a mindset, no matter your age, that you would want a righteous person to admonish you?  Do you still pray Psalm 141:5?  It says, “Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it.”

    The poor youth is wiser and better off than the old king because the youth is coachable and teachable and most importantly can be corrected and will change.  When you can be corrected you can get back on the right path.  When you resist and reject the admonishment to return to the right path you continue down a path to destruction.  

    Let us not become an old stubborn, foolish “dog” that cannot be corrected!  Stay humble and be humble.  Keep listening and keep learning.  Receive rebukes.  Make adjustments as you receive admonishment!  

    Maybe in reading this today, you need to repent of not being receptive to the call to repent.  

    Continue Strong being receptive to the rebukes of life,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending what we are calling a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4. For April 13  we encourage you to read Acts 4.

  • How You Live Speaks Louder Than The Lesson You Teach

    1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

    Norman Vincent Peale said, “Nothing is more confusing than people who give good advice but set bad examples.” Whether a parent, pastor, professor, teacher, coach, boss, etc. we teach more with our life than with our lips!!

    Your lifestyle speaks louder than the lessons you teach.

    1 Timothy 4:12 conveys that an example is one of our best tools for evangelism and discipleship. Being an example gives evidence that one has been changed.  Being an example can help equip another believer.

    I like that before Paul told Timothy to be an example, he himself had determined he must be an example.  For instance, Paul said to the Philippians in Philippians 4:9 to do what he taught as well as what they saw in him!  To the Corinthians, he wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 

    Paul was an example of being an example.   Paul practiced what he preached!

    Please take time to review the 7 essential actions that Paul challenged Timothy to put on display to others.  

    He starts with watch your words.    

    Be consistent with your conduct, living Christ-like! Live your life like the Lord lived His.  (One of the worst things I think that could be said about me (or you) is believed, not lived.)

    Love to love for love makes all the difference.  Love never fails.  

    Have a great attitude.  Remember that attitude determines altitude!
    (Remember, your attitude overshadows your abilities.) 

    Walk by faith, not sight (2 Cor. 5:7) Feed your faith to starve your doubts. 

    Pursue and practice purity!!  You can wreck a great testimony with impurity!! 

    Ask yourself if your words/conversations, your behavior/conduct, your love, your attitude, your faith, and your purity show another person the way to Christ and the way a Christian should live their life.  Or if in these various areas, do they see a hypocrite? 

    I have been challenged many times by the words of The sermons we see by Edgar Guest.  I trust these words will inspire you to be an example!

    I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day;  I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear, Fine counsel is confusing, but examples are always clear;  And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds, For to see good put into action is what everybody needs. I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let me see it done; I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.  And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true, But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do; For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,  But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live. And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way. Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,  I’d rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.

    Continue Strong being an Example To Others
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4 each day of April.  For April 12 we challenge you to read 1 Timothy 4.

  • Created to Worship

    Revelations 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

    Revelation 4 reveals the most glorious scene of worship ever penned as John writes what he sees after being called to “come up here.” There is a throne and there is One who sits upon the throne. The room is so beautiful.  No human has ever designed anywhere or at any time such a place. Around the throne are 24 thrones with 24 elders who are dressed (shall we say) fit to be in the presence of God!

    Not only does John see the glorious sight he hears glorious things. There are living creatures, and they are saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” This prompts more worship with the 24 elders falling down – (face down) and casting any crowns they may have received back to the feet of Jesus and singing a doxology of praise saying You are worthy!!!

    Why are they singing, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power?” Because He is their Creator. He is worthy of praise because He is the almighty creator of everything. Without Him, we do not exist. Make no mistake He created us to worship Him! You exist to worship!

    As one considers Jesus Christ and all that He did for all of humanity there should be but one response and that is a response of humble adoration and praise expressed with the acknowledgment that He is worthy – worthy to receive praise – here expressed with the words “glory and honor and power.”  He is worthy of worship.

    The Book of Revelation is filled with doxologies. For instance, Revelation 1:6 “to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Or Revelation 5:12 “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”  Revelation 4:11 gives praise to God for Him being our CREATOR. As already stated, we were created to worship the Creator. However, we are only able to worship the Creator because He became our Redeemer! Ponder the overwhelming thought of the Creator being our Redeemer! Your pondering should bring you to worthy is the Lamb.

    He truly is worthy of worship!

    Continue Strong worshipping your Creator and Redeemer,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus: In the 4th month of the year, April, we are extending what we are calling a 4 x 4 challenge and encouraging you to read a chapter 4 each day of April.  For April 11 we challenge you to read Revelation 4.