YOUR ‘WORK’ IS TO ENTER HIS REST

By Joseph Prince – Posted February 23, 2017

Hebrew 4:10-11

…he who has entered His has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest…

A baby learns to sit first before he starts to stand and walk. The Christian life also begins with sitting. God “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. (Ephesians 2:6) How well we walk after that depends on how well we sit and rest in the finished work of Christ.

The promised land was a land of rest where God promised His people “large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant”. (Deuteronomy 6:10–11)

But for 40 years, God’s people wandered in the wilderness because they refused to believe that God had given them a land where everything had been prepared—the work was finished. They could not believe that God had given them a land full of good things to enjoy, a land which just flowed with His abundant supply.

Today, there are believers who still cannot believe that the work of Jesus is truly complete and finished. They are trying to complete a completed work, finish a finished work and defeat a defeated devil.

There are believers today who are always working and trying to produce their healing, success and victory. God wants us to stop trying and start trusting in His love for us. He wants us to stop working and struggling, and start resting and believing in His grace toward us.

The only “work” left for us to do today is to enter His rest. We are to labor every day to enter His rest. We are to rest inwardly and believe that the work is done because it is a finished work, and trust in God’s undeserved favor toward us. We are to rest in Jesus our true ark, who will carry us through tempestuous waters.

So today, “if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…be diligent to enter that rest”. (Hebrews 4:7, 11) Let’s enter His rest. Let’s enjoy sitting together with Christ in the heavenly places, then we will run and not be weary! (Isaiah 40:31)

Thought For The Day

How well we walk depends on how well we sit and rest in Christ’s finished work.

Be Joyful in Hope

By Joel Osteen – Posted February 23, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
Romans 12:12, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:

God has given you everything you need in order to enjoy your life. Think about that for a minute. What is keeping you from living life to the full? You may not be in the home you want. You may not have the exact job you would like. Maybe you’re single and really want to be married. If you focus on these temporary things, it opens the door to comparison and frustration. 

It’s good to have big dreams. It’s good to want to increase. But if you start comparing yourself to others, it will steal your joy. If you don’t learn to be happy where you are, you’ll never get to where you want to be. But if you’ll choose to be happy, refuse self-pity and refuse to complain, then you are sowing good seeds for God to take you where you want to be in your future. 

Today, realize that God is directing your steps. You have a future and a hope. Take joy in knowing that He is working all things together for your good according to His divine plan. Stay in faith, focus on Him and obey His commands. Soon, you’ll see those new doors open so you can walk boldly into the place of blessing God has in store for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, today I choose to put my hope and trust in You. I know that You are working all things together for my good. I refuse self-pity. I refuse to compare. I choose joy and the divine plan You have prepared for me in Jesus’ name! Amen.

You Can Remove “Spiritual Roadblocks”

by Joyce Meyer - posted February 23, 2017

It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.
— Psalm 73:28 

There are many examples in God’s Word of men and women who went through periods of questioning, doubting, blaming, and even criticizing God. But they realized they were being foolish. They repented and turned back to trusting God instead of being angry with Him. 

This psalmist is one of those people. Here is my paraphrase of his progression from anger to trust in Psalm 73: “God, it sure seems that the wicked prosper and do better than I do. I am trying to live a godly life, but it does not seem to be doing any good. It looks as if it’s all in vain. I am having nothing but trouble, and when I try to understand it, the pain is too much for me. However, I have spent time with You, and I can understand that in the end the wicked come to ruin and destruction. My heart was grieved. I was bitter and in a state of upset. I was stupid, ignorant, and behaving like a beast. Now I see that You are continually with me. You hold my right hand. Who do I have in heaven, God, but You? Who will help me? If You don’t, there is no one on earth who can help me. You are my strength and my portion forever. It is good for me to trust in You, O Lord, and make You my refuge” (see vv. 12-28). 

If you are stuck in a place of bitterness toward God, I encourage you to go through the process of forgiveness. Anger toward God is a “spiritual roadblock”—perhaps stronger than any other. Why? Simply because anger closes the door to the only One Who can help, heal, comfort, or restore our emotions, relationships, and lives. While God doesn’t need our forgiveness, we need to forgive Him and repent in order to be released from bitterness and resentment. If we have been harboring a grudge against God, we must forgive Him so we can experience His power and blessing in our lives and our relationships. 

Trust in Him: It isn’t wrong to feel anger, but you must quickly realize you have no reason to hold on to anger against God, the One Who knows what is best for you. Don’t let a “spiritual roadblock” keep you from trusting Him.

The Color of Our Flag

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted February 23, 2017

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Song of Solomon 2:4

Recommended Reading: Psalm 20

The ominous black flag of ISIS has a long and evil history. According to Islamic tradition, the prophet Muhammad used a black banner; and through the ages, Islamic clerics have heralded the coming apocalyptic caliphate using the symbol of black banners. In the 1990s, Al-Qaeda adopted a black banner, and the global jihadist movement embraced it in the early 2000s.

How different the cause of Christ! In Exodus 17:15, Moses built an altar and called its name “The-Lord-Is-My-Banner.” Isaiah predicted, “In that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him” (Isaiah 11:10).  Psalm 60:4 says, “You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” And Psalm 20:5 says, “We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!”

God’s banner over us is love, and when we go into the world we’re flying the flag of the Cross—God’s symbol of love. People know Who we belong to by the way we love others—our family, friends, and enemies alike. The color of our flag is LOVE.

All virtue that is saving, or distinguishing of true Christians, is summed up in Christian love.
R. C. Sproul

 Read-Thru-the-Bible: Deuteronomy 5 - 8