"And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom."
Genesis 13:10-12
In the 1929 Rose Bowl, the California Golden Bears squared off against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and provided one of the most famous plays in college football history. In the second quarter, California player Roy Riegels recovered a fumble, but instead of advancing it, he got confused and began running toward his own end zone. A teammate finally stopped him at the goal line, but the two points Georgia Tech scored following "Wrong Way" Riegels' mistake proved the winning margin in the game.
Many times believers make the mistake of thinking they can face the world and even move toward it without adverse consequences. They think that since they are not yet too close, they are fine. But in truth, the direction in which we are pointed tells the story of where we will end up.
Lot made the same tragic mistake. When Abraham offered him a choice of land for his flocks, Lot chose based on short-term rather than long-term benefit. Then when he reached the well-watered grasslands, he set up camp so that he was facing Sodom. It wasn’t long before he ended up in that wicked city, which eventually led to the destruction of his family.
If you fall into the trap of thinking your direction doesn’t matter, you are headed for trouble. It is far better to turn your back on the things of the world and fix your eyes on Jesus.
Today's Principle:
Are you facing toward the Lord or toward the world? The direction you face determines the destination you will reach.
by Dr. Paul Chappell
Apr 27, 2012
Apr 20, 2012
Don’t Waste Your Trials
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
1 Peter 4:12–13
Dr. Lee Roberson, a great pastor for many years in Chattanooga, Tennessee, experienced great tragedy in his life. His baby daughter Joy died not long after she was born. He was serving the Lord, leading a church, and faithfully preaching the Word. Yet that did not mean he was exempt from suffering trials. Through this tragedy, Dr. Roberson led his church to establish a camp in memory of his daughter. At this camp, thousands of underprivileged children attended free of charge each year. They heard the Gospel and learned that they were loved and important to God, and thousands were saved.
If Dr. Roberson had become bitter against God because of the loss of his daughter, he would have missed his opportunity to be a blessing to so many people. It is not easy to go through a time of trials. The temptation is to feel that we are being treated unfairly in some way when things don’t go as we think they should. But God’s plans are far higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9). When we respond to pain with faith in Him, He uses even trials and tragedies to provide us great opportunities for service to others.
Trials are a test of whether or not we truly trust God. We may say that we believe He knows all things and has all power when things are going well, but when things go wrong do we still believe? Job said it this way: "shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10). God always brings us what we need and what He knows is best. Trust Him in all circumstances.
Today's Rooted Principle:
God can transform your trials into great blessings.
by Paul Chappell
Apr 12, 2012
Victory in Jesus
"For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 7:22–25
Eugene Bartlett was a prolific hymn writer. Of the several hundred hymns he composed, the last is the best known. Late in his life he suffered a stroke, which left him mostly paralyzed and unable to speak. Though his health was broken, his spirit was not. He laboriously scribbled out a few words at a time until he had completed the words and music for the final song of his long career. We still sing this song of triumph today—"Victory in Jesus."
Temptation comes to every Christian, but Jesus proved that we can know victory over temptation. Jesus was faced with temptation during His life. The Bible tells us in Matthew 4:1 that the Spirit of God led Him into the wilderness to be tempted. This was an intentional part of God’s plan, both to demonstrate the power of His Son over Satan as well as to provide us with a pattern for overcoming temptation. Jesus responded to each temptation with the Scriptures. This is our pattern—to use the Word of God to overcome the evil one.
As children of God, we go through difficulties and struggles. We face temptation, and we sometimes give in to it and sin. Yet, Scripture promises us that we are victors through Christ. We can rest in complete confidence in the power of God that has triumphed over the enemy. Like Jesus did, we can memorize and meditate on the Bible to have the strength to overcome any temptation.
Today's Rooted Principle:
God has already given us the victory over sin and the world through His Son.
Eugene Bartlett was a prolific hymn writer. Of the several hundred hymns he composed, the last is the best known. Late in his life he suffered a stroke, which left him mostly paralyzed and unable to speak. Though his health was broken, his spirit was not. He laboriously scribbled out a few words at a time until he had completed the words and music for the final song of his long career. We still sing this song of triumph today—"Victory in Jesus."
Temptation comes to every Christian, but Jesus proved that we can know victory over temptation. Jesus was faced with temptation during His life. The Bible tells us in Matthew 4:1 that the Spirit of God led Him into the wilderness to be tempted. This was an intentional part of God’s plan, both to demonstrate the power of His Son over Satan as well as to provide us with a pattern for overcoming temptation. Jesus responded to each temptation with the Scriptures. This is our pattern—to use the Word of God to overcome the evil one.
As children of God, we go through difficulties and struggles. We face temptation, and we sometimes give in to it and sin. Yet, Scripture promises us that we are victors through Christ. We can rest in complete confidence in the power of God that has triumphed over the enemy. Like Jesus did, we can memorize and meditate on the Bible to have the strength to overcome any temptation.
Today's Rooted Principle:
God has already given us the victory over sin and the world through His Son.
Apr 8, 2012
Especially Peter
"And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."
Mark 16:5–7
The last thing Peter did before Jesus died was to deny Christ. Though Peter vehemently protested when Jesus told him it would happen, when the pressure was on, Peter folded. He caved in to his fears and repeatedly lied, even cursing to add emphasis to his denial of Christ. I think if most people knew only that part of the story they would think Peter’s case was hopeless—there was no chance someone who had failed like that could ever do anything for God.
Yet after the resurrection, when the angel brought the good news that Jesus was alive, he had a very special message. "Tell his disciples and Peter," the angel instructed Mary and the other women who had come to the tomb. What a wonderful blessing and encouragement those words must have been to the distressed disciple. He had wept bitterly over his denial, and now Peter heard that he was still included in Jesus’ plans. Jesus especially mentioned his name.
It would be nice if we were perfect and always did what we should, but we don’t. That means that each of us needs to experience the forgiveness and mercy of God—and He makes it available to us freely. Isaiah 55:7 says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Today's Rooted Principle:
Rest in God’s forgiveness and His love today. He knows your name and will never forsake you.
[by, Paul Chappell]
Mark 16:5–7
The last thing Peter did before Jesus died was to deny Christ. Though Peter vehemently protested when Jesus told him it would happen, when the pressure was on, Peter folded. He caved in to his fears and repeatedly lied, even cursing to add emphasis to his denial of Christ. I think if most people knew only that part of the story they would think Peter’s case was hopeless—there was no chance someone who had failed like that could ever do anything for God.
Yet after the resurrection, when the angel brought the good news that Jesus was alive, he had a very special message. "Tell his disciples and Peter," the angel instructed Mary and the other women who had come to the tomb. What a wonderful blessing and encouragement those words must have been to the distressed disciple. He had wept bitterly over his denial, and now Peter heard that he was still included in Jesus’ plans. Jesus especially mentioned his name.
It would be nice if we were perfect and always did what we should, but we don’t. That means that each of us needs to experience the forgiveness and mercy of God—and He makes it available to us freely. Isaiah 55:7 says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Today's Rooted Principle:
Rest in God’s forgiveness and His love today. He knows your name and will never forsake you.
[by, Paul Chappell]
Apr 7, 2012
If Thou Knewest the Gift of God
John 4:10
by F. B. Meyer
There are wonderful contrasts here! He who gives rest sits weary on the well-head; He who was the Jews' Messiah utters His deepest lessons to a woman of Samaria; He that gives living water asks for water from the dark, cool depths that lay beneath them.
God's best things are gifts. - Light, air, natural beauty, elasticity of the spirits, the sense of vigorous health, human love, and, above all, His only begotten and beloved Son. Among all other gifts is there one to be compared to this? The living spring of eternal life, which Jesus opens up in our hearts, and which so greatly differs from the pit of outward ordinance, is an altogether unspeakable bestowment. Nothing can purchase it. If a man would give all the substance of his house for it, it would be utterly contemned. It must be received as a gift, or not at all.
God's gifts must be asked for. - "Thou wouldest have asked, and He would have given." This is the law of heaven. Prayer is a necessary link between the Divine hand that gives and the human heart that receives. We have not, because we ask not. There is nothing in our Lord's words of the dreamy and languid pietism which refuses to ask because it will not dictate to the perfect wisdom of God.
If we had fuller knowledge we should pray more. - "If thou knewest ... thou wouldest ask." If thou knewest who He is that stands beside thee, in thy hours of private prayer - if thou knewest all the possibilities of the life of prayer-if thou knewest what gains would accrue to thee on thy knees, thou wouldest give thyself to prayer, as though it were the main object of thy life.
by F. B. Meyer
There are wonderful contrasts here! He who gives rest sits weary on the well-head; He who was the Jews' Messiah utters His deepest lessons to a woman of Samaria; He that gives living water asks for water from the dark, cool depths that lay beneath them.
God's best things are gifts. - Light, air, natural beauty, elasticity of the spirits, the sense of vigorous health, human love, and, above all, His only begotten and beloved Son. Among all other gifts is there one to be compared to this? The living spring of eternal life, which Jesus opens up in our hearts, and which so greatly differs from the pit of outward ordinance, is an altogether unspeakable bestowment. Nothing can purchase it. If a man would give all the substance of his house for it, it would be utterly contemned. It must be received as a gift, or not at all.
God's gifts must be asked for. - "Thou wouldest have asked, and He would have given." This is the law of heaven. Prayer is a necessary link between the Divine hand that gives and the human heart that receives. We have not, because we ask not. There is nothing in our Lord's words of the dreamy and languid pietism which refuses to ask because it will not dictate to the perfect wisdom of God.
If we had fuller knowledge we should pray more. - "If thou knewest ... thou wouldest ask." If thou knewest who He is that stands beside thee, in thy hours of private prayer - if thou knewest all the possibilities of the life of prayer-if thou knewest what gains would accrue to thee on thy knees, thou wouldest give thyself to prayer, as though it were the main object of thy life.
Apr 5, 2012
Mind Your Magistrates
by Pastor Ricky Kurth
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates…” (Titus 3:1).
Who are these “principalities and powers” to whom we must be subject? Well, we know there are different kinds of principalities and powers, since in Ephesians 6:12 we are told to “wrestle” them, while here we are told to “be subject” to them! Ephesians, of course, speaks of the unseen demonic host, “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” who wrestle with us as we proclaim God’s Word. But Titus 3:1 speaks of the human rulers of this world, the “magistrates” in government to whom God says we must be subject (Rom. 13:1-7).
You wouldn’t think Christians would need to be told this, but once we learn we are already citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20), it is easy to think that this somehow negates the responsibilities of our earthly citizenship. But remember, while there is “neither bond nor free” in Christ (Gal. 3:28), Paul still tells servants to “be obedient unto their own masters” (Titus 2:9). While there is also “neither male nor female” in Christ (Gal. 3:28), Paul still tells wives to “submit yourselves unto your own husbands” (Eph. 5:22). And while in Christ we are already citizens of heaven, we must still be subject to magistrates.
Solomon warned, “fear thou the Lord and the king; and meddle not with them that are given to change” (Prov. 24:21). This refers not to voting men out of office, but rather to getting involved in subversive anti-government activities. God has said that the meek in Israel will inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5), and so He plans to fix all of earth’s governments for them prior to the establishment of His kingdom (Rev. 11:15). But this world is not our inheritance, we’re “just a-passing through” it, and so fixing her governments is not our fight.
An example from Israel’s past might serve to illustrate this. As Israel was passing through the wilderness on her way to the Promised Land, Edom refused to let her pass through their land (Num. 20:14-22). Why didn’t Israel fight, as they later fought those who resisted them in Canaan? Because God had instructed them to “meddle not with them,” since Edom was not their inheritance (Deut. 2:1-5)—they were just a-passin’ through! Just so, this world is not our inheritance, and so we should “meddle not with them that are given to change” its governments. We are called to “fight the good fight of faith” (I Tim. 6:12), and “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (II Tim. 2:4).
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates…” (Titus 3:1).
Who are these “principalities and powers” to whom we must be subject? Well, we know there are different kinds of principalities and powers, since in Ephesians 6:12 we are told to “wrestle” them, while here we are told to “be subject” to them! Ephesians, of course, speaks of the unseen demonic host, “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” who wrestle with us as we proclaim God’s Word. But Titus 3:1 speaks of the human rulers of this world, the “magistrates” in government to whom God says we must be subject (Rom. 13:1-7).
You wouldn’t think Christians would need to be told this, but once we learn we are already citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20), it is easy to think that this somehow negates the responsibilities of our earthly citizenship. But remember, while there is “neither bond nor free” in Christ (Gal. 3:28), Paul still tells servants to “be obedient unto their own masters” (Titus 2:9). While there is also “neither male nor female” in Christ (Gal. 3:28), Paul still tells wives to “submit yourselves unto your own husbands” (Eph. 5:22). And while in Christ we are already citizens of heaven, we must still be subject to magistrates.
Solomon warned, “fear thou the Lord and the king; and meddle not with them that are given to change” (Prov. 24:21). This refers not to voting men out of office, but rather to getting involved in subversive anti-government activities. God has said that the meek in Israel will inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5), and so He plans to fix all of earth’s governments for them prior to the establishment of His kingdom (Rev. 11:15). But this world is not our inheritance, we’re “just a-passing through” it, and so fixing her governments is not our fight.
An example from Israel’s past might serve to illustrate this. As Israel was passing through the wilderness on her way to the Promised Land, Edom refused to let her pass through their land (Num. 20:14-22). Why didn’t Israel fight, as they later fought those who resisted them in Canaan? Because God had instructed them to “meddle not with them,” since Edom was not their inheritance (Deut. 2:1-5)—they were just a-passin’ through! Just so, this world is not our inheritance, and so we should “meddle not with them that are given to change” its governments. We are called to “fight the good fight of faith” (I Tim. 6:12), and “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (II Tim. 2:4).
No Man Can Say That Jesus is the Lord, But By the Holy Ghost
1 Corinthians 12:3
by F. B. Meyer
Jesus is Saviour, but is He Lord? Hast thou yielded to Him the Lordship? Nothing short of this will give thee true peace and power. Thou must be brought to say with the psalmist, "Other lords beside Thee have had dominion over me; but by Thee only will I make mention of Thy name."
Jesus must be Lord of thy heart; every affection must be brought under His most wise and loving control. He must be Lord of thy home, so that no conversation may be indulged, no recreation set afoot, no society entertained, which is inconsistent with His character and claims. He must be Lord of thy business and its returns, so that thou shalt live in perpetual communication with Him, along the lines of the Heavenly Telephone; and in the use of all its proceeds He must have the supreme voice. He must be Lord of thy plans. It is for Him to say Go, or Come, or Do this. That was a true message which Ahasuerus sent through the good Ezra to the Jewish people: "Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven." I liked that word exactly.
But this perpetual recognition of the Lordship of Jesus is only possible to those who have yielded their entire nature to the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, who loves to glorify Christ. Dost thou seek the attitude of consecration which thus honors thy Lord? Then let the Holy Spirit work it for thee! Wouldst thou have it maintained? Let Him maintain it! And if thou askest thyself, whether thou hast received the Pentecostal endowment, be sure that thou hast, if with all thine heart thou sayest that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This is the certain test.
by F. B. Meyer
Jesus is Saviour, but is He Lord? Hast thou yielded to Him the Lordship? Nothing short of this will give thee true peace and power. Thou must be brought to say with the psalmist, "Other lords beside Thee have had dominion over me; but by Thee only will I make mention of Thy name."
Jesus must be Lord of thy heart; every affection must be brought under His most wise and loving control. He must be Lord of thy home, so that no conversation may be indulged, no recreation set afoot, no society entertained, which is inconsistent with His character and claims. He must be Lord of thy business and its returns, so that thou shalt live in perpetual communication with Him, along the lines of the Heavenly Telephone; and in the use of all its proceeds He must have the supreme voice. He must be Lord of thy plans. It is for Him to say Go, or Come, or Do this. That was a true message which Ahasuerus sent through the good Ezra to the Jewish people: "Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven." I liked that word exactly.
But this perpetual recognition of the Lordship of Jesus is only possible to those who have yielded their entire nature to the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, who loves to glorify Christ. Dost thou seek the attitude of consecration which thus honors thy Lord? Then let the Holy Spirit work it for thee! Wouldst thou have it maintained? Let Him maintain it! And if thou askest thyself, whether thou hast received the Pentecostal endowment, be sure that thou hast, if with all thine heart thou sayest that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This is the certain test.
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