1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Happy Resurrection! He Lives!
As we celebrate Christ resurrection, let us never forget that HE LIVES IN US. Matt. 28: 5-7 states that the angels
who announced the good news of the resurrection to the women gave them four messages:
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Do not be afraid. The reality of the resurrection brings joy, not fear.
He is not here. Jesus is not dead and is not to be looked for among the dead He is alive, with his people
Come and see. The tomb was empty and is empty today
Go quickly and tell. We too are to spread the great news about Jesus resurrection. He Lives!
I’m reminded of a song which reminds us that Jesus is not dead, but ALIVE!
I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near.
Refrain:
He lives, He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives,
Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
Hallelujah Amen! When Jesus was resurrected, he returned to live with his father. But, he did not leave us alone.
His spirit lives in and trough us. The resurrection is the basis for the church’s witness to the world. Let us continue
to be a witness to the world of a living savior who lives in us.
Pastor Jerry and Gita
Easter Means We're Acceptable to God
Weds. April 1st
“God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and He raised Him to life, so that we would be made
acceptable to God” (Romans 4:25 CEV).
Jesus’ death and resurrection make us acceptable to God.
Would you be surprised to know that most people do not accept themselves? I’ve been a
pastor now for over 30 years and I’ve talked to tens of thousands of people, and I’ve found
that most people really don’t like themselves inside. They wish they were different. They
wish they looked different. They wish they acted different.
We don’t accept ourselves and so we spend our lives trying to find acceptance among
other people; but even more important than being accepted by other people is being
accepted by God. That’s a problem. Why? Because God is perfect and you’re not. And
neither am I.
God lives in a perfect place called heaven, so God has a problem. How does He get
imperfect people into a perfect place where He is perfect? (Because, obviously, if He
allowed imperfect people in a perfect place it wouldn’t be perfect anymore.) God has to
come up with a plan for imperfect people to be able to live in a perfect place.
God’s plan is what I call “The Great Exchange.”
The Bible says, “God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our sins. Then, in
exchange, He poured God's goodness into us!” (2 Corinthians 5:21 LB)
I don’t know how to make it any clearer than to say it like this: You’re never going to be
good enough to get into heaven because it’s perfect and you stopped being perfect a long
time ago. It is Christ’s goodness in you that makes you acceptable. You’re not perfect, but
He is. So God says, “We’ll do a little switcheroo here. Jesus will take your sins and you
get My goodness in your life.” That’s quite a deal!
A lot of people feel trapped by their past. They say, “If you knew what I’ve done, you’d
know I’d never be acceptable to God.” I don’t know what you’ve done, but God does and
He still accepts you: “God says He will accept us and acquit us—declare us ‘not guilty’—if
we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by
coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like” (Romans 3:22 LB).
No matter who we are or what we’ve been like! We can all be saved. He makes us
acceptable to God.
Easter Means We're Released From Judgment
Thurs. April 2nd
“Those who…believe in Him…will not be judged” (John 5:24 GNT).
Jesus’ death and resurrection releases us from judgment.
You may imagine a day of judgment where you’re standing outside the gates of heaven in
a really, really long line, and you’re slowly moving forward, one step at a time. As you get
closer, you start to sweat and wonder, “Am I going to get in? Am I going to make it? Is
God going to use a giant TV screen to show every dumb or evil thing I’ve ever done? Will
my every sin is be exposed?”
I have good news for you; it’s a promise of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that those who
believe in Jesus—His death and resurrection—will not be judged (John 3:18).
So, here’s the real picture: You’re standing in line waiting for the judgment. Jesus sees
you and He says, “I know you. We’ve been friends for years. You put your trust in Me back
at Easter 2009. Come with Me. You come get in the express lane. You get the fast track.
You get to bypass the judgment.” Is that good news? Oh, yeah!
I’ve got a friend named Buddy who says, when he was a little kid, his Sunday school
teacher taught him that God was sitting in heaven writing down every bad thing that Buddy
ever did. Writing it down! She actually made the class sing a song every week that went:
“My Lord is writing all the time. Writing, writing, writing all the time.” Buddy says, “It scared
me. I just thought, ‘I’m never going to make it to heaven. My list is getting longer and
longer.’”
Is that the way God treats us when we come and put our faith in Christ? No! In fact, God is
erasing, erasing, erasing all the time. Forgiving, forgiving, forgiving all the time. He’s sitting
in heaven hitting the delete button.
Why? Because the Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8); and “Love…keeps no record of
wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV). If you put your trust in the love of Jesus Christ it’s wiped
out, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ” (Romans 8:1 NLT).
Easter Offers Us a Fresh Start
Fri. April 3rd
“Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life, and have
everything to live for, including a future in heaven” (1 Peter 1:3-4 MSG).
Evidently, a lot of people would like to have a fresh start in life. Yesterday I typed the
phrase “fresh start” into Google on the Internet. It brought up 485,000 links! A lot of people
would like a fresh start. They think, “I’ve blown it, I’ve messed up, I’ve really made a mess
of things in my life. I’d like a fresh start.”
Jesus is in the business of giving people a fresh start. The apostle Peter says, “Because
Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life, and have everything
to live for, including a future in heaven” (1 Peter 1:3-4 MSG).
Several things happen once you give your life to Christ:
1. You open up your life to God and get to know Him.
2. You’re given a brand-new life, which gives you everything to live for.
3. You get a future in heaven.
The way I say it is this: You get your past forgiven, you get a purpose for livin’, and you
get a home in heaven. What a deal! Your past, present, and future are taken care of as
you put your trust in Jesus. A fresh start!
“Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—
comes from God by way of Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG).
Easter Shows Us God's Amazing Love
Sat. April 4th
“God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still
sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT).
Everything that Jesus did for you He did out of love. The Bible says that God made you to
love you. The only reason you’re alive is because you were made to be loved by God.
If God didn’t want you alive, your heart would stop instantly; you wouldn’t even be
breathing right now. God made you and wants you alive so He can love you and so you
can love Him back.
God didn’t just say He loved you, He showed it. The Bible says, “God showed His great
love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT). It
says while we were still sinners. Before I even knew God, before I even knew I needed
God in my life, Jesus died for me.
There’s a myth that says I’ve got to clean up my act before I can come to God. “I’ve got to
get it all together. There are a few things I’ve got to get right in my life first, and then I’ll
come to God.” No! You come to God with your problems—the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Why do we do this? It’s like when we brush our teeth before we go to the dentist to have a
teeth cleaning; or when we wash the dishes before we put them in the dishwasher; or
when we pick up the house before the maid gets there! Why do we do this?
God says, “No, no! You don’t have to clean up your act. Just bring it all to Me. Bring Me all
your problems. I have the answer. I have all the answers.” You don’t wait. Jesus says,
“Come as you are.”
The Bible says, “He will send down help from heaven to save me because of His love”
(Psalm 57:3 LB). That’s what Jesus did on Easter. He sent down Himself from heaven to
save us because of His love. So you bring your problems to God because He has the
answer.
If you don’t act on this news then the death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection is wasted
for you personally. It makes no difference in your life. You may recognize the gift, but you
still have to receive it.
The Bible says, “You will be saved, if you honestly say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe
with all your heart that God raised Him from death. God will accept you and save you, if
you truly believe this and tell it to others” (Romans 10:9-10 CEV).
God is not asking you to make a promise you cannot keep. God is asking you to believe a
promise that only He can keep.
Easter: Jesus' Trial
Sun. April 5th
“But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked Him, “Are
You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” (Mark 14:61 NIV)
What’s so important about Easter? It’s important because it proved that Jesus was who
He claimed to be. He was God in the flesh, and He came to earth to save us.
Three events occurred in dramatic succession on that Easter weekend: the trial of Jesus,
then the death of Jesus, and finally the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus actually went through six trials. In that one night, He was brought before Annas (the
father-in-law of Caiaphas), Caiaphas (the high priest), the Sanhedrin (the religious
Supreme Court), Pilate (the governor of Jerusalem), Herod (the governor of Galilee), and
then back to Pilate.
At the end of those six trials, what did they find to accuse Him of? Nothing. He had done
nothing wrong. They brought in people to make up phony charges, but those didn’t stick.
Finally they convicted Him on one count: claiming to be the Son of God. That’s the sole
reason Jesus went to the cross.
Everyone who has ever been presented with Jesus has already made some kind of
decision about who He is. You either believe He’s a liar, or you believe He’s a lunatic, or
you believe He’s the Lord. It can’t just be, “I believe He was a good teacher.” He couldn’t
be just a good teacher, because a good teacher would not say, “I’m God, and I’m the only
way to heaven.” A good person would not say that unless it was the truth.
Jesus claimed to be the Savior of the world. In John 12:47, He is recorded as saying: “I
did not come to judge the world, but to save it” (NIV). He allowed Himself to be put on trial
so there would be no doubt about who He was. He could have stopped the trial at any
moment; He knew He would be proven guilty and put on the cross—but He allowed it to
happen. It was all part of the plan.
Easter: Jesus' Death
Mon. April 6th
“That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One
for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—
to bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18 MSG).
Easter celebrates an event that proved Jesus was who He claimed to be. He was God in
the flesh, and He came to earth to save us. And that meant He had to die for us.
After a night of beatings and mocking, after being crowned with painful thorns, Jesus was
crucified. Crucifixion is probably the most brutal and torturous death penalty ever devised
by men. His hands were stretched out wide against the cross and nailed through the two
bones in each wrist. As the nails went through this part of the flesh, they would strike the
nerve that travels up the arm and cause excruciating pain.
If you hang this way for any period of time, the muscles around your chest cavity become
paralyzed. You can breathe in but you can’t breathe out. Death on a cross is really a
simple matter of suffocation, except the Romans didn’t want to make it that easy. They’d
take a person’s knees and bend them a little bit and nail the feet to the cross.
So a man would hang there in absolute agony until the pain in his chest was about to
explode, and then he would lift himself up on his nailed feet to grab a breath. When the
pain in his feet grew unbearable, he’d let himself back down again until the pain in his
lungs became unbearable. It was an incredibly torturous event.
Eventually, the soldiers would break the legs of the criminal to hasten death by
suffocation.
In the case of Jesus, they didn’t have to break His legs, because He had already died. But
just to make sure, they stuck a spear in His side. Water and blood came out of the chest
cavity, which, doctors say, only happens if the heart rips. You can call it what you want,
but Jesus died of a broken heart.
Why did Jesus have to die? Because He alone was able to pay for your sins. You
deserved punishment, but Jesus paid the penalty for you: “For Christ died for sins once for
all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18 NIV).
Easter: Jesus’ Resurrection
Tues. April 7th
“The Good News is about His Son. In His earthly life He was born into King David’s family
line, and He was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the
power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:3-4 NLT).
Although we study the passion of Jesus, His death on the cross, Easter is a celebration of
His resurrection: God brought Jesus back from the dead, proving He’d broken the power
of sin and death.
After Jesus died, they took His body down and put Him in the tomb, and a giant millstone
was set in front of the cave. The religious leaders, worried that Jesus’ body might be
stolen, asked for Roman guards to be posted in front of the tomb. They didn’t want Him
coming out!
But of course, He did.
You know the story. But it’s important to remember that Easter is not some memorial to a
nice, good religious teacher who lived 2,000 years ago. It’s a celebration of the fact that
He is alive today!
I’m living proof—and so are the approximately 1 billion Christians who celebrate Easter.
Jesus “was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the power
of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:4 NLT).
baby, born into King David’s royal family line. Four historical records say that after His
resurrection He showed Himself to 500 people at one gathering.
Can you imagine witnessing His death and then seeing Him walking around Jerusalem
three days later? What an amazing thing!
When Jesus was hanging on the cross, the skeptics and critics mocked Him and said, “If
You’re the Son of God, why don’t You just pull yourself down from that cross? Why don’t
You just come down and show that You’re really God?”
Jesus had something more spectacular planned. He said, “I’m going to let you bury Me for
three days, then I’ll come back to life to prove that I am who I say I am.”
Easter: The Verdict
Weds. April 8th
“‘What shall I do, then, with the One you call the King of the Jews?’ Pilate asked them”
(Mark 15:12 NIV).
Two thousand years ago, in the Middle East, an event occurred that permanently changed
the world. Because of that event, history was split. Every time you write a date, you’re
using the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the focal point.
What does this mean to us today? In one sense, Jesus Christ is still on trial. He’s on trial
in the heart and mind of every person who has not yet acknowledged Him as the Son of
God, the Savior of the world.
Was Jesus a liar, a lunatic, or Lord?
Jesus claimed to be the Savior of the world. In John 12:47, He is recorded as saying: “I
didn’t come to judge the world. I came to save it.” Some people say, “I believe Jesus was
a good teacher.” But, He couldn’t be just a good teacher because a good teacher would
not say, “I’m God, and I’m the only way to heaven.” A good person would not say that
unless it was the truth.
What’s your verdict?
- Is Jesus who He says He is? Is He God? Or is He a lunatic or a liar?
- If He is who He says He is, when will you start following what He says to do with your
life?
Today, you sit in judgment of Jesus Christ. Just as Pilate asked, “What shall I do then with
Jesus who is called the Christ?” you also must decide whether He was who He said He
was or not.
Easter Means Jesus Paid for Our Sins
Thurs. April 9th
“Through the blood of His Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures
because of His overflowing kindness” (Ephesians 1:7 GWT).
Jesus’ death and resurrection paid for our sins.
There have been a lot of great religious teachers throughout history. They’ve all had good
things to say, but what makes Jesus different from every other religious teacher
throughout history is the fact that He died and rose again.
That’s of critical importance because it’s not the life of Jesus that saves you; it’s not the
teachings of Jesus that save you; it’s His death and resurrection that open the door for
your salvation.
Jesus died for your sins. The Bible says we’ve all blown it. We’ve all made mistakes. None
of us is perfect. That’s pretty obvious; I don’t measure up to my own standards, much less
God’s. We have all sinned.
The Bible says that justice demands punishment. If you do the crime, you pay the time. If
you break the law, you pay the fine. If you get caught speeding, you get a ticket. If you
break God’s laws, you pay God’s penalty and, according to the Bible, “the wages [for our]
sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans
6:23 NLT).
In other words, somebody has to pay for all the things you’ve done wrong in life: either you
pay or somebody else pays for you. And this is where God says, “I’ll do it!” He steps up to
the plate. Jesus Christ is sent to earth—God in human form—and He says, in effect, “I will
pay for your sins.”
Here’s the good news: Everything you’ve ever done wrong, everything you’re ever going
to do wrong, things you haven’t even thought of yet, all those sins have already been paid
for by Jesus Christ as He died on the cross: “Through the blood of His Son, we are set
free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of His overflowing kindness”
(Ephesians 1:7 GWT).
When Jesus died on the cross for you, it showed two things:
1. It showed how much your forgiveness cost. The highest price you can pay for anything
is to give your life for it. And that’s what Jesus did. He gave His blood. He gave His life. It
was extremely expensive. Grace is free but it is not cheap. It cost Jesus His life, but He
paid for your sins.
2. It shows how much God values you. It shows how much you matter to God. Jesus died
for you on the cross. It shows the highest price possibly to be paid was giving a life.
How much are you worth? Jesus says, with His arms stretched out on the cross, “This
much I’m willing to die for you.” You may think that you’re worthless because of things
you’ve done wrong. But Jesus says, “No. You’re priceless. And I’m willing to give My life in
order to pay for your sins.”
It Is Finished
Fri. April 10th
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head
and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30 NIV)
When Jesus died on the cross, his work of redemption was complete. Matthew, Mark, and Luke say
he gave out a loud cry as he died, but John adds the detail of what Jesus said in that moment: “It is
finished.”
Jesus, a carpenter most likely familiar with buying and selling, used a business term that could be
rendered “paid in full.”
It is finished. It is paid in full.
Jesus completed the work required to bring us back into communion with God. No other work is
required. We cannot do anything to further the work of Jesus, and, even if we somehow could, there
is no need to do so.
The picture is this: Jesus, having completed his mission, gives a victory shout. It’s a shout emerging
from his joy — not an “I’m glad this is over” but more like a good and faithful son hearing his father
say, “It’s done. Well done!”
Jesus responds with this glorious shout, “It is finished!” The victory is won; the captives are free to
come home.
Then to signify that this singular path to peace with God was now open, the “curtain of the temple was
torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38 NIV; see also Matthew 27 and Luke 23).
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all
things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the
cross” (Colossians 1:19–20).
Talk About It •
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Does your perspective on Jesus’ death change when you picture him saying “It is
finished” with joy?
Are you living with the joy that comes from knowing you have been reconciled to
God?
What Is the Good News?
Sat. April 11th
“The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself — that it begins and ends
with faith.” Romans 1:17a (NCV)
The Good News is that when we trust God’s grace to save us through the work of Jesus, our
sins are forgiven, we get a purpose for living, and we’re promised a future home in Heaven.
God has never made a person he didn’t love. Everybody matters to him. When Jesus stretched
out his arms wide on the cross, he was saying, “I love you this much!”
The Bible says, “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all
...” (2 Corinthians 5:14a NIV)
We must care about unbelievers because God does. Love leaves no choice. The Bible says,
“There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear.” (1 John 4:18 TEV)
A parent will run into a burning building to save a child because his love for that child is greater
than his fear. If you’ve been afraid to share the Good News with those around you, ask God to
fill your heart with his love for them.
The Bible says, “[God] does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their
hearts and lives.” (2 Peter 3:9b NCV)
What are you willing to do so that the people you know will go to Heaven?
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Invite them to church?
Share your story?
Take them a meal?
Pray for them every day until they are saved?
Don’t miss the opportunities God is giving you. The Bible says, “Make the most of your
chances to tell others the Good News. Be wise in all your contacts with them.” (Colossians 4:5
LB)
Three Benefits of the Good News
Sun. April 12th
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus
our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NLT).
The good news is you’re able to enter into a relationship with God through an attitude of
trust in Jesus Christ; not through religion, rules, regulations, or rituals.
When we trust our lives to Jesus Christ we’re given three incredible, fabulous, wonderful
benefits. So, when we tell others about the good news, we can let them know: God
forgives your past; he gives you purpose in the present; and, he offers you a future.
God forgives your past. None of us are perfect. Everybody has made mistakes.
Everyone has skeletons in the closet—things he or she wishes had never happened. God
comes along and says, “When you trust Jesus Christ with your life, I take everything
you’ve ever done and wipe the slate clean. You get to start over with a brand-new life.”
Now, is that good news?
God gives you purpose in the present. You are not an accident. God created you for a
purpose. But you’re never going to know God’s purpose for your life until you first get to
know God. When you get to know God, you’re going to know who you are. When you
figure out God, you’re going to figure out yourself.
I meet people all the time who say, “I’m just trying to find myself.” You know what—you
probably aren’t going to like yourself once you find yourself!
These people say, “There’s something missing in my life.” God’s missing! You weren’t
made to live and go through life just on your own power.
God offers you a future. God gives you a future, a home in heaven. Most people hope
they’re going to heaven, but they’re not sure. Most people think if you do more good in
your life than bad, then maybe God will grade on a curve and say, “Okay, you can come
in.”
Wrong! It doesn’t work that way. You won’t get into heaven on your own power because
you’re just not good enough.
There’s only one way we can get into heaven—on somebody else’s ticket. Since none of
us are perfect, God came to earth in human form as Jesus. Jesus lived a life of perfection.
He died on the cross, paid for our sin, and then went back to heaven. Now you get into
heaven on His ticket, if you trust Him.
Romans 6:23 (NCV) says, “God gives us a free gift—life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
It’s a gift. That means you can’t earn it, you can’t work for it, and you can’t own it in any
way.
God says, “If you trust My Son with your life, you get forgiveness for your past, a purpose
for living in your present, and a home in heaven in the future.”
Is that good news?
Do you think anybody you know would be interested in that?
The world is hungry for good news.
How to Share Your Life Message
Mon. April 13th
“Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word. . . . The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t
even have to say anything anymore — you’re the message!” 1 Thessalonians 1:8 (MSG)
God has put a life message within you.
When you became a believer, you also became God’s messenger. God wants to speak to the
world through you. Paul said, “... we speak the truth before God, as messengers of God.”
You may feel you don’t have anything to share, but that’s the Devil trying to keep you silent.
You have a storehouse of experiences that God wants to use to bring others into his family.
The Bible says, “Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them.” (1
John 5:10a GW)
One thing that will help you prepare to share: Write down the major life lessons you’ve learned.
We should be grateful Solomon did this because it gave us the books of Proverbs and
Ecclesiastes, which are filled with practical lessons on living. Imagine how much needless
frustration could be avoided if we learn from each other’s life lessons.
Here are a few questions to jog your memory and get you started:
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What has God taught me from failure? (Psalm 51)
What has God taught me from a lack of money? (Phil. 4:11-13)
What has God taught me from pain or sorrow or depression? (2 Cor. 1:4-10)
What has God taught me through waiting? (Psalm 40)
What has God taught me through illness? (Psalm 119:71)
What has God taught me from disappointment? (Gen. 50:20)
What have I learned from my family, my church, my relationships, my small group, and
my critics?
Our Witness from Within
Tues. April 14th
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the
Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15–16 (NIV)
Consider this:
You are sitting in a restaurant and the atmosphere is quiet until an older man gets a bit
cantankerous and his loud conversation lets negativity creep into the dining room.
But just then, Mrs. Jones and some of her friends are seated. They’re in a festive mood,
laughing and hugging and even cheerfully greeting diners around their table.
It’s a party, and everyone’s invited! Their joy spills and splashes across the room, and even the
cantankerous old man is now smiling and laughing.
Their energy has just changed the entire atmosphere, and it leaves you longing to be part of
their group.
Mrs. Jones is a snapshot of us when we let the perfect love of God drive the fear from our lives
(1 John 4:18). We live in love, which means we live in God, and God’s love is complete
because he lives in us (1 John 4:16).
God’s Spirit in us testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Romans 8:15–16). And
the joy of Jesus working within us bubbles out as an unforced testimony of God’s life in us.
Our objective-in-Jesus is to embrace God’s grace until the love and joy we experience is
infectious, spreading to those around us, creating a longing within them to join our family —
the family of God.
God Teaches Through You
Weds. April 15th
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another
with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with
gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
God wants you to teach someone who can then teach someone else.
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He wants you to teach others about the spiritual insights he’s deposited in you.
He wants you to teach others about the practical steps you’ve taken to become more and
more like Jesus.
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He wants you to teach others about the ways he’s stretched your faith.
•
He wants you to teach others how they can discover life in Christ.
•
He wants you to teach them the skills necessary to go on mission.
God’s plan calls for us to tell others about Jesus and then to disciple them so they can disciple
others.
You may be wondering if you’re capable of doing this, but the apostle Paul says you can make
a choice to “let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom . . .” (Colossians 3:16 NIV) It is God who teaches through you, giving
you a supernatural wisdom and confidence to tell others about Jesus.
Frankly, you have more knowledge, training, and resources at your disposal than believers did
in the first century Church, and yet they were able to be a witness to the world (2 Timothy 2:4).
More importantly, God is with us in the same way that he was with them.
Trust the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to flow from you and give you the words and the
wisdom you need to tell others about Jesus.
Be confident in God’s Word
Thurs. April 16th
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you
may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (NASB)
The things written in God's Word are written so that you may know
"Thank God you
absolutely, for sure, for certain and with confidence that when you die
don't have to work
you are going to heaven.
your way to
heaven; if that were
That doesn't mean you won't make mistakes. That doesn't mean you
the case, none of
won't go through trials. That doesn't mean you won't disappoint people
us would make it."
and they won't disappoint you. That doesn't mean you won't sin.
The point is - you don't have to be perfect to get to heaven, but you DO have to put your faith in
Christ. Thank God you don't have to work your way to heaven; if that were the case, none of us
would make it.
Jesus said, "I am the way ... . No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6, NIV)
Put your faith in him, not in your efforts, and you can know for sure that heaven is your
destination.
Every Person: Thinking "Others" Instead of "Self"
Fri. April 17th
“Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be
adults” (1 Corinthians 14:20 NIV).
The Bible says, “My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people…” (1
Corinthians 14:20 CEV). Children only think of themselves; grown-ups think of others.
God commands, “Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too”
(Philippians 2:4 NLT).
Of course, this is a difficult mental shift because we’re naturally self-absorbed; almost all
advertising encourages us to think of ourselves. The only way we can make this mental
switch is through a moment-by-moment dependence on God.
Fortunately He doesn’t leave us to struggle on our own: “God has given us His Spirit.
That’s why we don’t think the same way that the people of this world think” (1 Corinthians
2:12 CEV).
Begin asking the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual needs of unbelievers
whenever you talk to them. With practice, you can develop the habit of praying silent
“breath prayers” for those you encounter. Say “Father, help me to understand what is
keeping this person from knowing You.”
Your goal is to figure out where they are in their spiritual journey and to do whatever will
bring them a step closer to knowing Christ. You can learn how to do this by adopting the
mindset of Paul who said, “I don’t think about what would be good for me but about what
would be good for many people so that they might be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:33 GWT).
Every Person: Developing Great Commission Eyes
Sat. April 18th
“Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own
day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it” (Habakkuk 1:5
NLT).
These are exciting days to be alive. There are more Christians on earth right now than
ever before. Paul was right: “This same Good News that came to you is going out all over
the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives…”
(Colossians 1:6 NLT).
One way to develop global thinking is to read and watch the news with “Great Commission
Eyes.” Wherever there is change or conflict, you can be sure that God will use it to bring
people to Him. People are most receptive to God when they are under tension or in
transition. Because the rate of change is increasing in our world, more people are open to
hearing the good news now than ever before.
As God told Habakkuk, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing
something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you
about it” (Habakkuk 1:5 NLT).
The best way to develop Great Commission Eyes is to just get up and go on a short-term
mission project to another country! There’s simply no substitute for hands-on, real life
experience in another culture. Quit studying and discussing your mission and just do it! I
dare you to dive into the deep end.
I urge you to set a goal and save and do whatever it takes to participate in a short-term
mission trip overseas as soon as possible. Nearly every mission agency can help you do
this. It will enlarge your heart, expand your vision, stretch your faith, deepen your
compassion, and fill you with a kind of joy you’ve never experienced. It could be the
turning point in your life.
Every Person: Shift From "Me-First" to "God-First"
Sun. April 19th
“Jesus said to His followers, ‘Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to
everyone’” (Mark 16:15 NCV).
People with “me-first” faith ask, “How can God make my life more comfortable?” They
want to use God for their purposes instead of being used for His purposes.
“God-first” believers know they’ve been saved to serve and made for mission. They’re
eager to receive a personal assignment and excited about the privilege of being used by
God.
Their joy, confidence, and enthusiasm are contagious because they know they’re making
a difference. They wake up each morning expecting God to work through them in fresh
ways.
Which type of believer do you want to be?
God invites you to participate in the greatest, largest, most diverse, and most significant
cause in history—building His kingdom. History is His story; He’s building His family for
eternity. Nothing matters more and nothing will last as long.
From the book of Revelation we know God’s global mission will be accomplished, that
someday the Great Commission will be the great completion. In heaven, an enormous
crowd of people “from every race, tribe, nation, and language” will one day stand before
Jesus Christ to worship Him (Revelation 7:9 CEV).
Becoming a “God-first” believer will allow you to experience in advance a little of what
heaven will be like.
Every Person: Turn Excuses Into Creative Thinking
Mon. April 20th
“The Lord replied, ‘Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and
say whatever I tell you’” (Jeremiah 1:7 NLT).
Here are some common excuses for not fulfilling your commission:
- “I only speak English.” This is actually an advantage in many countries where millions of
people want to learn English and are eager to practice it.
- “I don’t have anything to offer.” Yes, you do! Every ability and experience in your SHAPE
can be used somewhere.
- “I’m too old or too young.” Most mission agencies have age-appropriate short-term
projects.
Whether it was Sarah claiming she was too old to be used by God or Jeremiah claiming
he was too young, God rejected their excuses. “Don’t say that,” the Lord replied, “for you
must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the
people, for I will be with you and will protect you” (Jeremiah 1:7-8 NLT).
Maybe you’ve believed that you needed a special “call” from God, and you’ve been
waiting for some supernatural feeling or experience, but God has already stated His call
repeatedly. God doesn’t want to use just some of His people; He wants to use all of His
people. We’re all called to be on-mission for God. He wants His whole church to take the
whole gospel to the whole world.
If you want to be like Jesus, you must care about what He cares about most; you must
have a heart for the whole world! You can’t be satisfied with just your family and friends
coming to Christ. There are over six billion people on earth, and Jesus wants all his lost
children found.
The Great Commission is your commission, and doing your part is the secret to living a life
of significance. Jesus said, “Only those who throw away their lives for My sake and for the
sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (Mark 8:35 LB).
Every Person: Don’t Trade Your Life for Temporary Things
Tues. April 21st
“There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone
tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18 MSG).
So much of what we waste our energy on will not matter even a year from now, much less
for eternity. Don’t trade your life for temporary things. Jesus said, “Anyone who lets
himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke
9:62 LB). Paul warned, “Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on
you. This world as you see it is on its way out” (1 Corinthians 7:31 MSG).
What are you allowing to stand in the way of your mission? Whatever it is, let it go. “Let us
strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back…” (Hebrews 12:1 LB).
How can we do this? In one of His most misunderstood statements, Jesus said, “I tell you,
use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be
welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9 NIV).
Jesus did not mean for you to “buy” friends with money. What He meant was that you
should use the money God gives you to bring people to Christ. They will then be friends
for eternity who will welcome you when you get to heaven! It’s the best financial
investment you’ll ever make.
You’ve probably heard the expression “You can’t take it with you,” but the Bible says you
can send it on ahead, by investing it in people who are going there! The Bible says, “By
doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe
investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well” (1
Timothy 6:19 LB).
Every Person: Pray for Specific Countries
Weds. April 22nd
“If you ask Me, I will give you the nations; all the people on earth will be yours” (Psalm 2:8
NCV).
A good way to begin thinking globally is to begin praying for specific countries. Get a globe
or map and pray for nations by name. The Bible says, “If you ask Me, I will give you the
nations; all the people on earth will be yours” (Psalm 2:8 NCV).
Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world. People may refuse our
love, or reject our message, but they are defenseless against our prayers. Like a rocket,
you can aim a prayer at a person’s heart whether you’re ten feet or 10,000 miles away.
What should you pray for? The Bible tells us to pray for opportunities to witness, for
courage to speak up, for those who will believe, for the rapid spread of the message, and
for more workers. Prayer helps us do what God calls us to do, and it makes you a partner
with others around the world.
You should also pray for missionaries and everyone else involved in the global harvest.
Paul told his prayer partners, “You are also joining to help us when you pray for us” (2
Corinthians 1:11 GWT).
Make Your Prayers Other-Centered
Thurs. April 23rd
"He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene
..." (Isaiah 59:16 NIV)
Most of our prayers are of the low order, or maybe more like the fast-food order.
We pull up to the drive-thru and yell out our requests to God and then expect him to have
our order ready by the time we pull up to the window.
Yet, God’s view of prayer seems far above the utilitarian. He calls us to a violent form of
intercession, where we take on the spiritual forces of darkness on behalf of our race, once
invaded, now occupied by the prince of darkness.
Paul teaches us to put on the whole armor of God. If you follow the sequence of his
instruction, we’re suiting up for battle so we can stand firm in prayer (Ephesians 6).
We pray for others like Jesus would pray for them, thinking about them the way he would
think, covering them with prayer, protecting them through prayer, and advocating for them
in the same way Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and advocates for us.
It is other-centered prayer on the extreme end of “other.”
Isaiah describes God as “appalled” that no one was interceding for his people. We have
the ability — more appropriately, the duty — to intercede on behalf of our brothers and
sisters (Isaiah 59:16 NIV).
And we do not do this alone, for the Lord is already interceding, and we are simply joining
him. Like the armor Paul describes for us, the Lord is suited for battle. Isaiah says: “He put
on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on
the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak” (Isaiah 59:17 NIV).
Talk About It
• Ephesians 6 says to pray "on all occasions." At which occasions have you been
more likely to pray?
•
How does it change your confidence and your prayer life to know that God is
interceding on behalf of his people?
Jesus Accepted You; Now You Accept Others
Fri. April 24th
So reach out and welcome one another to God's glory. Jesus did it; now you do
it! Romans 15:7 (MSG)
God wants you to accept others in the same way that Jesus
accepted you.
In faith, we accepted God’s acceptance of us – through Christ –
when we were unacceptable, and so we love God by freely
offering the same gift – His acceptance – to others.
"We set aside our
judgments in order to 'see
what eyes have not seen
and ears cannot hear' so
we can help those in
need."
To love God and to be to others what He is to us …
We must be willing to be for others -- God’s life is a life for others. He always is and
does what is best for others. He has a non-selective love for all others. To love God is to
have -- in faith -- a non-selective readiness to be for others … all others … any specific
other God sends your way.
We must see others as God sees them -- True love, God’s love, is not blind. It sees
what those living for themselves do not see. We set aside our judgments in order to “see
what eyes have not seen and ears cannot hear” (I Cor. 2:9) so we can help those in need.
We Are Only Fully Alive when We’re Helping Others
Sat. April 25th
“Each of us will have to give a personal account to God” (Romans 14:12 NLT).
At the end of your life on earth you will stand before God, and he is going to evaluate how
well you served others with your life. The Bible says, “Each of us will have to give a
personal account to God” (Romans 14:12 NLT).
Think about the implications of that. One day God will compare how much time and
energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others.
At that point, all our excuses for self-centeredness will sound hollow: “I was too busy” or “I
had my own goals” or “I was preoccupied with working, having fun, or preparing for
retirement.” To all excuses God will respond, “Sorry, wrong answer. I created, saved, and
called you and commanded you to live a life of service. What part did you not
understand?”
The Bible warns unbelievers, “He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for
themselves,” but for Christians it will mean a loss of eternal rewards (Romans 2:8 NLT).
We are only fully alive when we’re helping others. Jesus said, “If you insist on saving your
life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of
the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (Mark 8:35 LB; see also
Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Luke 9:24; 17:33).
This truth is so important that it is repeated five times in the Gospels. If you aren’t serving,
you’re just existing, because life is meant for ministry. God wants you to learn to love and
serve others unselfishly.
Want to Get Along? Humble Yourself.
Sun. April 26th
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10 NIV)
If you want to stop the conflicts in your life, if you want to get along with other people, then
you have to learn to ask forgiveness from God and from those you hurt. James 4:8 says,
“Wash your hands ... and purify your hearts” (NIV). Our hands represent our conduct, and
our hearts represent our attitude.
Paul is basically saying: Clean up your act. Be sorry for your self-centeredness. It is a big
deal when your spouse’s feelings are hurt. Take it seriously. If someone says you hurt
him, then you did! It may not be a big deal to you, but it was to him. You must be willing to
ask forgiveness.
Think of the person who causes the most conflict in your life. Would you like to begin to
resolve the conflict with that person? Are you willing to apologize for your part? Maybe he
or she is 95 percent at fault, but your responsibility is to take care of your 5 percent and let
God handle the rest.
How humbling would it be for you to say, “I know we’ve had our differences, and I know I
haven’t always been thoughtful. A lot of times I’ve thought more about myself than your
needs.” It wouldn’t just be humbling; it would be impossible without God’s grace. The only
way you’re going to change is to be humble, and the only way to be humble is to ask
forgiveness.
The first step is the hardest, but it’s also the most important. It’s humbling, sure, but God
gives grace to the humble. Maybe this week you need to write a letter or make a call. Take
the first step.
God doesn’t want to keep you down on the ground. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves
before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” The way to honor is humility. I used to think the
way to be honored by my wife and my kids was to never admit that I was wrong. I figured
if my kids thought I was wrong, they wouldn’t respect me any more. It wasn’t a surprise
when I found out they already knew I wasn’t perfect. I found that the way I gained honor
before my kids and my wife was to admit I was wrong. If you want to be honored by your
husband or wife and the Lord, you must humble yourself.
To stop the fighting, you have to give in to God, get wise to Satan, grow closer to God,
and be willing to ask forgiveness.
Talk About It
• Think of the last time you were the recipient of someone’s humble apology. What
impact did it have on your relationship with that person and with the Lord?
•
•
Is there someone you need to forgive today? Is there someone you need to go to
and ask forgiveness?
Do you believe that God can restore a relationship that you have given up on? What
do you think he wants you to do to help make that happen?
Draw Near to God to Avoid Arguments
Mon. April 27th
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
(Isaiah 26:3 NLT)
I have made an amazing discovery: The more time I spend alone with God, the better I get
along with other people. I can count on it!
When the argument level rises in your marriage, it means somebody is not spending time
with the Lord. It’s that simple. You must grow closer to God if you want to avoid
arguments.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts
are fixed on you!” When you spend time with the Lord, you turn your thoughts to him.
Then, you get along better with others, because he keeps perfect peace in your heart, and
you’re not as irritable.
Have you noticed some people only draw close to God when they’re in trouble? They only
pray when they have a need. You need to spend time with God. Bible study, Sunday
morning, daily quiet time — make time for these things. Think you’re too busy? Then
maybe you are. Maybe you need to cut some things out of your schedule to make more
time to spend with the Lord. Get up 15 minutes earlier each morning. Read and pray, and
then notice the difference in your attitude and relationships the rest of the day.
The more you spend time with God, the more you will enjoy the rest of your time. It will be
more productive and more beneficial. You’ll get along better with others and have fewer
arguments because you’re drawing closer to God.
The conflict in your life is in direct proportion to the time you’re spending with God.
There is a great promise in James 4:8: “Come near to God and he will come near to you”
(NIV). He doesn’t back off. He draws close to you. When you move toward him, God
moves toward you.
To avoid arguments, you have to give in to God, get wise to Satan, and draw close to
God.
Talk About It
• Would you characterize your prayer life as an ongoing conversation with God or as
sporadic cries for help?
•
You will make time for the things that are important to you. What does your current
schedule say to others is most important to you?
Four Ways to Pray for Friends and Family
Tues. April 28th
… Stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the
faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27 (NIV)
Here are four ways your can pray for your friends and
family:
1. Pray for an opportunity to talk about
Jesus (Colossians 4:3). Ask God to give you an
opportunity to tell others about Christ, and to invite them
to your small group. God will take you seriously and
answer your prayer!
“Pray that the words of Jesus “will
simply take off and race through the
country to a groundswell of
response” (2 Thessalonians 3:1 MSG),
just as they did among the early
Christians.”
Jon Walker
2. Pray for God to prepare hearts. Pastor Rick sometimes asks, “Do you know how God
softens hearts? He sends the rain!” Anytime you see someone going through a storm in
life, you can know God is softening a heart.
3. Pray for God to tenderize your heart. Ask God to give you a burden, which is just an
old-fashioned word that means your heart is tender toward a specific person or group of
people.
4. Pray that the words of Jesus will simply take off. Pray that the words of Jesus “will
simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response” (2
Thessalonians 3:1 MSG), just as they did among the early Christians.
The Freedom of the Cross
Weds. April 29th
“We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves
would have no power over us.” (Romans 6:6 NCV)
Romans 6:6 says, “We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful
selves would have no power over us” (NCV). What does “our sinful selves would have no
power over us” mean? It means our natural inclination is to do the wrong thing.
My natural inclination when you hurt me is to hurt you back. My natural inclination when you
say something bad against me is say something bad against you and hold on to it and never
forgive you. All of the things that I’m naturally inclined to do actually make it worse.
But we can break that bondage to bitterness, that bondage to guilt, that bondage to resentment,
that bondage to worry. We can keep from becoming slaves to the past and hurtful memories.
We can choose to forgive.
Let me ask you a very important question: How badly do you want to be healed of that hurt?
How badly do you want to let it go? Do you want to just keep holding on to it and become a
bitter, old, crusty person?
How badly do you want to be released from this pain? Are you tired of going on? “I’ve gone
over that a thousand times in my mind. Every time I think of it again, it still hurts. What my dad
did. What my brother did. What my mom did. What my husband did. Every time I think about
it, it still hurts.”
The cross has the power to free you from grudges and grief and resentment. There is no other
way to let go of these emotions that are weighing you down than the cross. Jesus on the cross
broke the power of sin and death and bondage in your life.
I want you to think of the person you need to forgive, the person whose offense planted a seed
of bitterness in you, and I want you to pray this prayer right now:
“Father, only you understand how much I’ve been hurt by these people. I don’t want to
carry the pain for another second. I don’t want to be a bitter person. But I need your grace
and the power of the cross to release my hurt and to forgive those who’ve hurt me. This is
the turning point. First, I need to experience your forgiveness. You know all the ways I’ve
hurt others, and I’m so sorry for my sins. Jesus, thank you for dying for me. I accept your
grace and forgiveness, and I need it daily. Today I’m turning to you, and I’m choosing to
forgive the way you have forgiven me. Every time the memory comes back, I’ll forgive
them again until the pain is gone. Heal my heart with your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Take Time to Pray Today
Thurs. April 30th
Today I will pray for:
•
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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My Self
Spouse
Friends
Neighbors
Enemies
Parents
Children
Co- Workers
Church Family
Pastors
Relatives
Political figures
Etc……