Convicting Questions

Questions That You Have Used

Are there any convicting questions you ask yourself on a regular basis? Or, maybe it would be good to think of it this way, “What questions do I not want others to ask of me?” If you could not answer that question positively, then that is an indication that you need to spend time with God and His Word to see what is needed to put your life back in line with His desires.

1.   Am I investing in eternity? Matthew 6:19-21

2.   Why do I believe the way I do about this issue? Exodus 20:3-5

3.   Am I trying to please God or other people? II Corinthians 10:12, 13

4.   Is there anyone I have not forgiven? Ephesians 4:26

5.   If this were my last day on earth, am I spending it in the best way I can? James 4:13-15

6.   Is there an activity that I am involved in right now that is not pleasing to God? Mark 12:30

7.   Did I treat my spouse with love today? Romans 13:8-10

8.   Do I live the same way when I am alone as I do when I know others are watching? Psalm 139:7-12

9.   Do I have to think further back than one month to see God’s presence in my life? Lamentations 3:22, 23

10.         Is my thought life pure? Philippians 4:8

Stewardship in Relationships

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It’s not self-improvement, it’s others-improvement.

Too often our advice to unmarried adults stems from worldly thinking that infects us all. We give advice to improve and equip the unmarried adult to attract better relationships, rather than reminding them they are stewards of whatever relationships they have been given.
While it’s true that there are things every adult can do (married or not) to be more attractive in myriads of ways, there is no guarantee that a trimmer figure, a more confident conversational style, or a better job will be worthy of an eternal reward. However, if we think of each individual who crosses our paths as a beloved sister or brother in the Lord about whose care and treatment we will give an account to Jesus one day—this radically alters everything.
It means dating is no longer a zero sum game that results in a littered landscape of broken relationships and cut-off communication. It’s not whether boy gets girl. It’s whether we can look Jesus in the eye and say, “Thank you for the time you gave me with this person. I did my best to encourage and pray for this individual while I knew him/her. I loved without fear of loss because I wanted to be like you. So by your grace, I did my very best to build up this man/woman and return him/her to you with thanks for the gift of this relationship.” Because even if we get married, that’s also what we have to do for our spouses.

Extracted from an article by Carolyn McCulley  Founder of Citygate Films

What is in your hand?

Then the LORD said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’...” Exodus 4:2

What’s in Your Hand? Do you ever feel inadequate for what you are called to do? You’re not the first one! So often, when we think of Moses, we remember him as the great spiritual giant who led the Israelites out of captivity. But did you know that Moses doubted himself, too? He didn’t feel equipped. In fact, he was even self-conscious because he had a stuttering problem! God simply said to him, “What do you have in your hand?” In the next few moments, God showed Moses that it didn’t matter what equipment he thought he needed. The God of the universe can take what you have and turn it into whatever it needs to be in order for you to accomplish what you’ve been called to.

So what’s in your hand today? It may not seem like much, but God wants to use it. He wants to take you to places you never dreamed. He wants to pour out His blessing and favor so you can live the abundant life He has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today “Father, today I release to You all that I am and everything that I have. I invite You to flood every part of my being and use me for Your glory. Thank You for using what is in my hand in Jesus name. Amen.”

D.O.G Overnight-Jesus the LIFE

ABUNDANT LIFE SECRETS
The Secret Of Living Is Bearing Fruit

INTRODUCTION

1. Suppose I could offer you a life that is guaranteed to give you...
   a. A "joy" that is greater than any other
   b. A "blessedness" that is happiness in its fullest measure
   c. An "assurance" of entering the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
   d. A "peace" that surpasses understanding
   -- Would you be interested?

2. Of course, I myself cannot offer such a life; but Jesus can and does!
   As He stated in  Jn 10:10 ...

   "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it
   more abundantly."

3. Jesus offers this "abundant life" not only by His sacrificial death
   on the cross, but also by His teachings recorded by His apostles;
   notice  Jn 15:11 ...

   "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you,
   and that your joy may be full."

4. Through His teachings, then, we can learn the "Secrets Of The
   Abundant Life"...
   a. Many of which are found in this very chapter (Jn 15)
   b. Where Jesus pictures Himself as the VINE and His disciples as the
      BRANCHES - cf.  Jn 15:1-5

5. As "branches" we are to bear "fruit", and this leads us to the first
   of several "Secrets Of The Abundant Life"...
       
                 "The Secret Of Living Is Bearing Fruit"

[To appreciate how this is true, consider...]

I. DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUIT WE ARE TO BEAR

   A. WINNING SOULS TO CHRIST AND HELPING THEM GROW...
      1. Paul speaks of this kind of "fruit" in  Ro 1:13
      2. One of the characteristics of a branch bearing fruit is that it
         produces a product identical to itself
      3. Therefore, one way a disciple bears fruit is by producing
         another disciple!

   B. SHARING WITH THOSE IN NEED...
      1. Paul speaks of contributing to the poor as a "fruit" in Ro 15:
         25-28
      2. In His own way, Jesus certainly did this - cf.  2Co 8:9
      3. So if the "Vine" did this, we should expect His "branches" to
         do the same - cf.  1Jn 3:16-18

   C. DEVELOPING CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER...
      1. Notice that the "fruit" of the Spirit is the development of
         certain graces -  Ga 5:22-23
      2. One who abounds in such qualities is growing in the "knowledge
         of Jesus Christ" -  2Pe 1:5-8
      3. Indeed, he is being "renewed...according to the image of Him
         who created him" - cf.  Col 3:9-11

   D. PRAISING GOD AND GIVING THANKS...
      1. The author of Hebrews describes such activities as a sort of
         "fruit" -  He 13:15
      2. Again, the "Vine" was known for such behavior - cf.  Lk 10:21 ;
          Jn 11:41
      3. Should His "branches" do any less?

[These are different kinds of "fruits" we can bear as "branches" of the
"Vine."  But how does bearing such fruit make for the "abundant life"
which Jesus promised?

Consider...]

II. THE BENEFITS OF BEARING SUCH FRUIT

   A. THERE IS GREAT "JOY" FOR THOSE WHO WIN SOULS...
      1. John says that there is "no greater joy" -  3Jn 3-4
      2. Paul's converts at Thessalonica were his "pride and joy" - cf.
          1Th 2:19-20
      3. So those involved in the winning and confirming of souls for
         Christ find great joy as they see the fruits of their labors

   B. THERE IS GREAT "HAPPINESS" FOR THOSE WHO SHARE THEIR
      POSSESSIONS...
      1. They learn by experience the truthfulness of Jesus' teachings
      2. Who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" -  Ac
         20:35
      3. The word "blessed" can be translated "O how very happy", so
         there is greater happiness in giving than in receiving

   C. THERE IS GREAT "ASSURANCE" FOR THOSE WHO DEVELOP CHRIST-LIKE
      CHARACTER...
      1. Those in whom "the fruit of the Spirit" is produced are free
         from any condemnation of law - cf.  Ga 5:23b ;  Ro 8:1
      2. Those who abound in the "knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ"
         (i.e., develop the graces described) have the assurance of an
         "abundant entrance" into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
         -  2Pe 1:8-11
      3. For example, those who love in deed and truth have an assurance
         of their salvation -  1Jn 3:18-19

   D. THERE IS GREAT "PEACE" FOR THOSE GIVEN TO THANKSGIVING...
      1. For those with the "attitude of gratitude", there is the "peace
         of God" - cf.  Php 4:6-7
      2. A peace which...
         a. "Surpasses all understanding"!
         b. "Will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"!

CONCLUSION

1. A life filled with...
   a. Joy
   b. Happiness
   c. Assurance
   d. Peace
   ...surely that is the "abundant life"!

2. Thus "The Secret Of Living Is Bearing Fruit", and this "abundant
   life" is available to only those who will "bear fruit" as "branches"
   of the "True Vine" (Jesus Christ)!

3. But is there a secret to bearing fruit?  Indeed there is, and our
   next lesson will seek to discern from Jn 15 what that secret is.

For the time being, if you have not yet become a "branch" of the "True
Vine", have you given serious consideration to becoming one...?

NOTE:  The general idea for this series of lessons was taken from "Five
Secrets Of Living", a small booklet written by Warren W. Wiersbe

Galatians 5:9

Matt 13:33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

Leaven in the Bible, from cover to cover, is a consistent type of sin and false teaching: This parable is speaking of the corruption and false teaching that would increase and reach it's pinnacle in the last days

 

From the first mention of leaven in Exodus 12:15 ‘put away leaven out of your houses’ to its last mention in Gal 5:9 where they were not obeying the truth - ‘A little leaven leavens the whole lump’ - the truth remains the same. Leaven speaks of corruption - sin and false teaching.

 

D.O.G Devotion

What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
Psalm 8:4-5

God has crowned you with dignity and honor, and you are made in His image. For this reason, you should not give in to the temptation of insecurity. God does not see insecurity in anyone; only we do. Signs of insecurity include overreaction and anger towards someone or something. The next time you find yourself angry, dig deep and examine the cause behind your anger. It just may be from feelings of insecurity.