WORDDEVO: "The Weekly Word with Greg Laurie" [12-2 thru 12-8] DEVOTIONALS

 

Seven Days of Devotion

The Weekly Word is a Collection of Devotionals to be read on the Day Listed and presented freely as a service to and for the Body of Christ and Believers throughout the World that We may Hear God Speak to us as the Spirit of God gives us ears to hear and eyes to see what God would have for us daily in relationship to Him.

 

Your Heart, a Battlefield

Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
— Ephesians 6:11


I am sure the greatest day in your life was the day you put your faith in Jesus Christ. And as we grow in our faith and knowledge of what God actually did for us, we become more aware of how significant that day really was. That was the day when we literally had our eternal address changed from a place called hell to a place called heaven. That was the day when we turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. That was the day when, according to Jesus, there was a party in heaven given in our honor—a victory shout, if you will, from the angels and from those who have gone before us.

But it was also the day when a very real spiritual battle began. In fact, it has been said that conversion has made our hearts a battlefield. Just as surely as there is a God who loves you, there is also a devil who hates you—a devil who wants to stop the work God is doing in your life.

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus talked about the seed that fell on the roadside and was eaten by the birds. He said, "Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts" (Matthew 13:19). It is called an attack, and you had better get ready for it.

If you want to be a spiritual pacifist, then you are going down. You will have to toughen up and put on the armor of God, because in this spiritual battle, you are either advancing or retreating. You are either winning or losing. So you must fight to win. And it is a battle that can be won—if you march with Christ.

 

MONDAY

 

HOW TO PRAY, PART 1

 

Matthew 6

 

Most Christians understand that prayer is an important part of their relationship with God. And

most believers make an effort to pray as part of their daily routine. But not everyone understands

why we need to pray.

 

For one, Jesus told us many times in Scripture to pray (Luke 18:1). Second, prayer is God’s

appointed way of asking for things (James 4:2). Third, prayer is the way through which God

alleviates our worry and anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7). And lastly, prayer helps us prepare for the

return of Christ (Luke 21:34-36).

 

Today, let’s look at some key principles regarding prayer.

 

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES

 

1. The objective of prayer. When we pray, we are not trying to change God’s mind so that He will

give us what we want. We are trying to conform our will to God’s. If we want to see more of our

prayers answered, we need to lock in on God’s will through studying Scripture, and then align

our will with His.

 

2. Contemplating His glory and awesomeness. It’s noteworthy that the first three requests in the

Lord’s Prayer are about God’s glory, not our wants. Before making any requests to God, we need

to acknowledge His greatness and glory. Of course, it’s okay to just call out for help in an

emergency!

 

3. What stops prayer in its tracks. Your prayers are a reflection of your life as a believer. You can’t

live a life of disobedience to God, or a life of selfishness, and expect to have an effective prayer

life. He wants you to put Him first in all things. If you are in unrepentant sin, your prayers will

go nowhere.

 

RELEVANT REMINDERS

 

It’s not always easy to remember the proper format for prayer, but here’s an easy-to-remember

acronym:

 

• Adoration: Worship and praise Him.

• Confession: Confess any known sin in your life that might hinder His work.

• Thanksgiving: Give Him thanks for whatever His response may be.

• Supplication: Make your requests known to God.

 

TUESDAY

HOW TO PRAY, PART 2

Matthew 6:5-13

 

Most Christians understand that prayer is an important part of their relationship with God. And

most believers make an effort to pray as part of their daily routine. But not everyone understands

why we need to pray.

 

For one, Jesus told us many times in Scripture to pray (Luke 18:1). Second, prayer is God’s

appointed way of asking for things (James 4:2). Third, prayer is the way through which God

alleviates our worry and anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7). And lastly, prayer helps us prepare for the

return of Christ (Luke 21:34-36).

 

Today, let’s look at the template that Jesus gave for prayer—the Lord’s Prayer.

 

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES

 

1. Our Father who art in heaven. This is a reminder that we aren’t just coming before the Lord God

Almighty, but we are also approaching our heavenly Father. Even though God is the Creator of

the universe, He also desires a close, intimate relationship with you.

 

2. Your Kingdom come. This is a three-pronged request: global, personal, and evangelistic. It’s a

request for Christ’s soon return (global), a request for Christ to rule in our lives (personal), and

for Him to bring new people into His kingdom (evangelistic).

 

3. Give us this day our daily bread. God wants to bless you and provide for your every need. This

verse is not only a request for God to fill our needs, but also an acknowledgement that everything

we have comes from Him. We are told many times in Scripture that God will provide for all of

our needs.

 

4. Forgive us our sins. This is just an affirmation that we are people who sin on a regular basis, and

need forgiveness on a regular basis. The more that you are in God’s presence, the more that you

will realize that you are a sinner in constant need of forgiveness.

 

5. I should also forgive others. If you know anything about the forgiveness of God, then you must

learn to forgive those who have sinned against you. It’s human nature that we will offend one

another and hurt others. In a society where vengeance is cherished over forgiveness, it takes more

strength and will to forgive someone than it does to get back at them.

 

6. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. This is a petition where we are

asking God to guide us so that we will not get out of His will and unnecessarily place ourselves

in the way of temptation. We are essentially saying, “Lord, don’t give me more than I

can handle.”

 

WEDNESDAY

A Wall of Protection

And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. 
—Matthew 6:13

God is omniscient, which means that He is all-knowing. God is omnipotent, which means that He is all-powerful. And God is omnipresent, which means the He is present everywhere.

In sharp and direct contrast to this, the devil does not reflect God's divine attributes. He is not omnipotent. Although he has great power, his power is clearly limited, and he is nowhere near to being God's equal. Nor is the devil omniscient. He knows many things, but he doesn't know all things. And, he is not omnipresent. He can only be in one place at one time.

What the devil doesn't want you to know is that he can do nothing in the life of a Christian without God's permission. The devil complained that God had put a wall of protection around Job (see Job 1:10). So we see from this that even though Satan has a wicked agenda, he has to ask permission to touch the child of God. There is an impenetrable wall that God has placed around you that Satan cannot breach. That doesn't mean you can't be tempted. It doesn't mean you can't be harassed. It doesn't mean you can't be attacked. But God never will give you more than you can handle. So when the devil comes knocking at your door, I would suggest that you say, "Jesus, would You mind getting that?" I am so glad He is there, because I am no match for the devil. And neither are you.

Temptation will come into your life. Jesus even taught us to pray, "And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). So the next time you are facing temptation, remember that God never will give you too much. He will provide a way out. 

 

THURSDAY 

The Way Out

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but is God faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 
—1 Corinthians 10:13

As believers, we have God's promise that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle. But here is the problem: sometimes we unnecessarily put ourselves in the way of temptation. As one person put it, "Lead me not into temptation. I can find it myself." Instead of hearing what God is saying and taking practical steps to stay away from the things that could drag us down, we unnecessarily put ourselves in the path of temptation.

We live in the real world, and all around us are things that can distract us, things that could ultimately entice us. But it is another thing to put ourselves in places where we know we are weak.

The person who has a problem with drinking shouldn't be spending time in a bar. The single guy who is struggling with sexual temptation shouldn't be spending time alone with his girlfriend late at night, in the dark. That is putting oneself unnecessarily in the way of temptation.

We know that God "will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). And sometimes the way of escape is the door.

Case in point: Joseph. Day in and day out, Potiphar's wife was trying to seduce him. Eventually, she cast all subtlety aside and just pulled him down on the bed. So what did Joseph do? He did what any clear-thinking young man would do under the circumstances: he ran like crazy.

God will never give us more than we can handle. There is always a way out. But sometimes we just need to take practical steps to resist temptation. What steps are you taking today? 

 

 

FRIDAY

Out of His Control

We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.
— 1 John 5:18


When Jesus Christ comes into your life, he becomes the sole occupant. Yet some people have suggested that Christians can be demon-possessed. However, Jesus is not in a timeshare program with your heart. The Bible says, "What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God" (2 Corinthians 6:15–16).

Yet the devil would love you to think that you are powerless against his attacks, that you have no recourse, that you are no match. He would love you to believe that you will always be a victim, an addict, a puppet for him to control. And I want to tell you that is 100 percent wrong. Though it is true that a believer can be hassled or tempted or oppressed by the devil and his minions, he cannot control us.

If we yield to his power, he will have his sway in our lives. But if we resist him, we can be free from it. And here is what you need to remember: God is greater than Satan. As the Bible says, "But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world" (1 John 4:4).

You cannot cast out temptation. You cannot cast out things that attack you. Instead, you need to deny and resist them. You need to put your spiritual armor on. The Bible says, "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). The key is to stay as close to God as you possibly can.

 

 

SATURDAY

Strength in Weakness

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
— 2 Corinthians 12:9–10


Why does God allow hardship? Why does God allow illness? Why does God allow tragedy? We can go on and on asking why, but we can't always answer these questions. Yet listen to what the apostle Paul said as he explains why it was allowed in his life in particular:

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. (2 Corinthians 12:7–8)

We don't know what Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was. Most commentators believe it was some kind of physical disability that he probably acquired after one of his multiple beatings or stonings. Whatever it was, the devil wanted to use it to get Paul down. And it worked. Paul got down on his knees and called on God. The devil wanted to drive Paul away from God, but instead the apostle clung to Him that much tighter.

When we go through suffering and hardship, it can be so difficult at times. I have never had a more difficult time in my life than the past 19 months. Yet the fellowship I have had with God has never been sweeter. I have never been more dependent on Him. There are times I don't think I can handle it, and then God gives me the strength that I need. And I have learned things that I would not have learned anywhere else. I don't know the "why" of it all, but I trust God, cling to God, and rely on God.

Are you facing hardship and suffering today? Pour out your heart to God. He is trustworthy.

THE WEEKLY WORD WITH GREG LAURIE

Can be found here:

 http://theweeklywordgreglaurie.blogspot.com/

 

WORDDEVO: "The Weekly Word with Greg Laurie" [11-25 thru 12-2] DEVOTIONALS

 

Seven Days of Devotion

The Weekly Word is a Collection of Devotionals to be read on the Day Listed and presented freely as a service to and for the Body of Christ and Believers throughout the World that We may Hear God Speak to us as the Spirit of God gives us ears to hear and eyes to see what God would have for us daily in relationship to Him.

God's Ministering Spirits

And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people." 
—Acts 12:11

The Old and New Testament contain at least 300 references to angels. Everywhere in Scripture, we see examples of angels at work. Story after story tells us about the work of angels.

When Peter was arrested for preaching the gospel, the first-century church prayed. And in answer to their prayers, God dispatched an angel to deliver Peter, who was in such deep sleep, the Bible tells us, that the angel had to strike him to wake him up. The chains fell off his wrists, the prison door opened automatically, and Peter walked out.

Often when we pray, it might be an angel who is actually dispatched to help bring about the answer to our prayers. Angels straddle both heaven and earth, and it would appear that although they are created beings, they never die. Jesus said of people who have gone on to heaven, "Nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection" (Luke 20:36).

And as Hebrews 1:14 tells us, angels have a special work they do in the lives of believers: "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" Generally we don't know what angels are doing and when they are doing it. They are sort of like an elite fighting force: they are dispatched on a mission, they go in, they take care of business, and we are never aware of it.

As Billy Graham put it, angels are God's secret agents. They are His ministering servants, protecting, delivering, and sometimes guiding. You don't know it is them. You don't need to engage them. You don't need to try and communicate with them. They are simply doing the work that God has called them to do. 

 

 

MONDAY

 

Stay Alert!

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 
—1 Peter 5:8

You have probably seen it on television at one time or another: some lions are hanging out, soaking in the rays, when along come the antelope. You can almost read the lions' thoughts as they size them up: Let's see, which one are we going to eat today? There is usually that lone antelope lagging behind all the rest by about 20 feet or so. That one looks like lion lunch. So the next thing you see is a lion covering an amazing amount of ground in a matter of seconds. And once the big cat sinks his claws into his prey and drags it down, you know it is all over for that antelope.

If you have ever watched a scene like this one, then you have an idea of how the devil operates. The Bible describes him as a "roaring lion, looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). This hungry beast of prey is looking for his next meal, and he is ready to pounce.

In Job, we read how the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan was among them. God directed His remarks to the devil himself and asked, "Where have you come from?" (Job 1:6). And Satan answered, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on" (verse 7).

He is checking everything out. He is watching. He is looking for vulnerability, weakness. He is looking for his next prey to bring down. That is his basic agenda. And the devil never takes a vacation. He doesn't take a month off, a week off, a day off, or even an hour off. He never takes a moment off. He is always busy with his well-organized network of demon powers that is helping him accomplish his purposes.

 

 

TUESDAY

The End Game

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 
—John 10:10

Have you ever wondered why things are as spiritually and morally dark as they are? It is because there is a mastermind behind it all that goes deeper than one's politics or worldview. I am talking about a spirit power that infiltrates culture, that infiltrates government, and that infiltrates lives. It is the prince of the power of the air—that is who Satan is. And he leads a lot of people down his path through the basest of temptations.

 

He has gotten a lot of mileage out of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I am amazed how generation after generation goes after this one hook, line, and sinker. Young kids today are out there doing the same stupid things that we did when we were kids. The sad thing is that when they get older, their kids probably will follow in their footsteps, as though they are the only generation that has ever discovered these things.

 

I gave my life to Jesus Christ at the age of 17 and went a different direction. But I know of friends that I went to high school with who have stayed in the same lifestyle they had back then. And when I have reconnected with some of them, it is obvious to me how the world has chewed them up and spit them out. Some are into their third and fourth marriages. Some have substance abuse problems.

 

I have felt like saying, "Well, was it worth it? Was it a good ride?"

 

The end game of the devil is to steal, kill, and destroy. He may come with an enticing temptation. He may come with something dazzling that might even have an element of enjoyment in it at the beginning. But his end game, his ultimate goal, is to steal, kill, and destroy.

 

 

WEDNESDAY

The Good in Guilt

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."
—Hebrews 12:5-6

Did you know that guilt can be good? Guilt means that your conscience is working. The time to be concerned is when you don't feel guilt, when you can sin against God again and again and feel no remorse or sense of wrongdoing. Hebrews 12:6 says, "The Lord discipline those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." If you are a believer—one of His sons or daughters—and you go astray, the Holy Spirit will convict you of your sin. He will call you on it, because He loves you. He will reprove you, just like a father reproves his child.

God disciplines His own children. So if you can do things that you know are wrong and don't feel remorse about it, then I have to wonder whether you are a child of God. But if you feel busted and come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit the moment you cross the line, then that is good. The Holy Spirit is working.

But we also need to know the difference between the Holy Spirit's conviction and the devil's accusations. The devil always will try to keep you from the cross, while the Holy Spirit always will bring you to it. When you know you have sinned, the devil says, "Run! Don't go to God!" He will try to drive you away into despair.

But the Holy Spirit says, "Repent—now." So that is what you need to do. Ask for God's forgiveness. And once you have, don't keep going over and over it again. You should not choose to remember what God has chosen to forget. God has a big eraser. And if He has used it your life, then be thankful that your sin is not only forgiven, but it is forgotten.

 

 

THURSDAY 

You may have seen the article in the Christian Post on my message from last Sunday at Harvest. This touches on some of the things I addressed, but there is a lot more as well.

I look forward to seeing you tonight.

In case you missed it, here is the article:

Calif. Pastor Weighs in on Abortion, Homosexuality, Woods’ Buddhism

Southern California pastor Greg Laurie took on some “hot button” issues from the pulpit on Sunday, covering everything from capital punishment and homosexuality to Tiger Woods’ apology.

Commenting on the professed faith of pro golfer Woods, he stated, “Here’s the problem with Buddhism: they don’t believe in a personal God that is there to forgive a person.”

He cited Stephen Prothero, a Boston University professor on Buddhism, who said that in the Buddhist tradition “no matter what Woods says or does, he is going to have to pay for whatever wrongs he’s done.”

“There’s no accountant in the sky wiping sins off your balance sheet, like there is in Christianity.”

Woods on Friday confessed to serial infidelity and said he’ll return to the Buddhist teachings that he drifted away from as he tries to regain his balance on life.

Buddhism, however, does not offer forgiveness, Laurie pointed out. But “Christianity says there is a personal God there to forgive you who sent His son to die on the cross and pay the price for your sins so you can indeed be forgiven.”

The brief comment on the famous public apology served as Laurie’s introduction to his sermon on Christian worldview.

The well-known evangelist believes Christians are often labeled as “bigoted” for expressing their faith or taking a stand on certain issues. One example he cited was when Fox anchor Brit Hume was blasted for suggesting that what Woods really needed was a relationship with Jesus Christ to be forgiven. Amid such persecution, Laurie sought to convey to his congregation the importance of thinking and living biblically and basing their beliefs on what the Bible teaches regardless of what “we feel is right.”

Hitting some of the most controversial and widely debated issues, Laurie asked the congregation not to respond to the hot topics “emotionally” or “logically” but biblically.

Having a biblical worldview means believing that there is a living God and that He has revealed Himself in Scripture, the Harvest pastor explained.

“We accept that we have absolute truth from God,” he said. “The objective is not to conform the Bible to the changing culture but to conform the changing culture to what the Bible teaches.”

On the topic of capital punishment, Laurie pointed to one of the Ten Commandments – thou shalt not kill. The Bible, he said, doesn’t condemn all killing. Self-defense, sometimes war, and capital punishment are justifiable, he said.

“I believe in capital punishment,” Laurie stated, though he acknowledged there are “good people” on both sides of this debate. “And I believe the Bible teaches it.”

Regarding abortion, he stressed that the Bible does not give an unclear word on when life begins.

“Life begins at conception, not at birth,” he stated. “This is absolute. Each child is created by God and should be given a chance to live.”

Indicating a “no exceptions” stand against abortion even if the life of the mother may be in danger, Laurie said just as a mother would instinctively lay her life down if she sees her child about to get hit by a car, she should do the same when it comes to having the baby.

Homosexuality is another clear-cut issue, the evangelist stressed. The Bible is very clear: homosexuality is not in God’s order, he said.

“God is not anti-gay. God is anti-sin no matter how it is expressed,” he stated, adding that people are not born gay.

“I will acknowledge that as a person who is born with a sinful nature you might be attracted to members of the same-sex,” he noted. “I would also acknowledge as a person who is born a sinner you might be more prone to issues of addiction. But having said that, all of these can be overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“You were born a sinner in need of a savior who can change you and help you live the life He has called you to live. That’s the answer.”

“We’re all sinners,” Laurie reminded the congregation. “I’m not standing here today as some pompous preacher looking down on everyone. We’ve all broken God’s commandments in some way shape or form. We all need forgiveness. He offers it graciously and lovingly if we come to Him.”

The “Christian Worldview” sermon series at Harvest kicked off on Feb. 7.

 

 

FRIDAY

Never Say Never

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 
—Proverbs 16:18

Don't ever say, "I will never fall in this one area. No matter what, I will never. . . ." Watch out. If you think you are invincible, that is probably the very area in which you will end up falling. You don't know what you are capable of.

If you look at a certain sin and think, It is just a small compromise. I can do this little thing one time. It will never lead to anything else. I can handle this one thing . . . be careful. An unguarded strength is a double weakness. The Bible says, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

Satan is smart. Don't underestimate him. Watch your thoughts, because most temptations will start there. The devil will come and say, "Wouldn't it be fun to . . . ?" And then you have a choice.

It is not a sin to be tempted. The sin is not in the bait; it is in the bite. Just because bait was dangled before you doesn't mean that you have done anything wrong. The very fact that you are moving forward spiritually means you will get tempted, because the devil wants to bring you down. So if you have faced temptation and attack, that probably means you are doing something right.

The devil will come to you with things that are enticing, so keep up your guard at all times. It is the little deals we make with the devil, so to speak, it is the little compromises, the small things that we lower our guard on that lead to bigger things later. Most people, when they fall into sin, do not fall for a big sin straightaway. It is a series of smaller things that lead to the big thing.

 

 

SATURDAY

LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

Luke 11

One thing that stands out clearly in the pages of Scripture is that prayer can change situations. And

there is no greater example than Jesus, who would often pray all night long. Because Jesus was such

a man of prayer, His disciples came to Him in Luke 11 and said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” His

response was what we call The Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer is more than a beautiful prayer to pray, though it is that. It is a blueprint for

prayer, a template for how to pray effectively.

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLEs

 

1. Our Father who art in heaven. Note that Jesus didn’t say, “Our Creator” or “Our Maker.” He

specifically says, “Father,” speaking of a warm, family relationship. And no matter how your

earthly father is, your heavenly Father is interested in you, always has time for you, and wants a

close, intimate relationship with you.

 

2. Hallowed be Your name. The word hallowed is defined as “to be set apart,” and that is an apt

description of God. He is to be set apart, given a special place, in every aspect of our lives.

3. Your Kingdom come. This is a three-pronged request: global, personal, and evangelistic. You can

read more about this in Relevant Reminders below.

 

4. Your will be done. Many times, we are afraid to ask for God’s will, thinking it will be less than

what we’re asking for. In reality, He might want to give us more than we’re asking for. Don’t be

afraid to ask for His will to be done.

 

5. Give us this day our daily bread. We are told many times in Scripture that God will provide for

all of our needs. As a result, this is an acknowledgement that everything we have comes from

God, and we are dependent on Him for further provision.

 

6. Forgive us our sins. If we are really in God’s presence, contemplating His glory and honor, we are

going to see that we have sinned. When you confess your sin, it keeps the communication lines

open to God.

 

7. I should also forgive others. Knowing that we have been forgiven should inspire us to forgive

others. It is the proof that we have been forgiven. A forgiven person should be a forgiving person.

 

8. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. It is a petition where we are asking

God to guide us so we won’t get out of His will and unnecessarily place ourselves in the way of

temptation. We are being taught to pray, “Lord, don’t give me more than I can handle.”

harvest.org

RELEVANT REMINDERS

As we said earlier, “Thy kingdom come” is request that works on three different levels, each very

important.

 

• Global: It is a request for Christ to return to Earth. The use of the word kingdom here doesn’t

refer to a geographical territory, but to sovereignty and dominion. In other words, this is a

prayer for Christ to take His rightful place as ruler of the planet.

 

• Personal: Second, it is a request for Christ to rule in our lives. That means giving up the

steering wheel of our lives, and handing it over to Him.

 

• Evangelistic: One way that God’s kingdom is brought to this earth is when a new soul is

introduced to Jesus Christ. So we are also praying for the rule and reign of Jesus in the lives

of others.

APPLICABLE ACTIONS

Is there something hindering your prayers from being answered? Is their unconfessed sin in your life

today? Perhaps you can think of something that is not right before God. It needs to be dealt with.

Confess it to God today. Receive God’s forgiveness.

Maybe there is someone you need to forgive. You need to stop harboring a grudge or bitterness

toward. Let it go.

Let’s ask God to help us to apply these principles from The Lord’s Prayer in our own lives.

 

 

THE WEEKLY WORD WITH GREG LAURIE

Can be found here:

 http://theweeklywordgreglaurie.blogspot.com/

 

WORDDEVO: "The Weekly Word with Greg Laurie" [11-18 thru 11-24] DEVOTIONALS

 

Seven Days of Devotion

The Weekly Word is a Collection of Devotionals to be read on the Day Listed and presented freely as a service to and for the Body of Christ and Believers throughout the World that We may Hear God Speak to us as the Spirit of God gives us ears to hear and eyes to see what God would have for us daily in relationship to Him.

iFaith?

 America has never been more spiritual, yet so immoral at the same time.

A 2009 poll found that Americans are more interested in “faith and spirituality” than they are in Christianity. One expert said, “Americans increasingly want to shape their own faith experience,” what he calls “concoct[ing] a uniquely personal brand of faith.”

“What they’ve done is they have put together a whole series of beliefs and a series of religious practices and a series of relationships and connections—all of that that makes sense to them and helps them to feel good about themselves,” he said.

iFaith

Why not? In the age of the iPod, iPhone, iMac, and now the iPad, we have “iFaith” and “iGod.”

With iFaith and iGod, you control the home screen. You can write your own programs or apps. You can customize it to your own liking.

You can leave the parts you like, such as love, forgiveness, and heaven. You can take out the parts you don’t like, such as hell, judgment, and righteousness—just highlight them, and hit the “delete” key.

Moral Relativism

We, as a nation, no longer accept certain truths that our Founding Fathers held. Instead, what we have instead is moral relativism.

What is moral relativism? It is the belief that there are no absolutes. In other words, there is no right or wrong.

Now, to some, this may sound fine in theory, but if you play it out, it is madness!

If you were to go out in the middle of the night and remove all the traffic lights, all the lane markers, and all the signs, you would have chaos.

And for many, that is what their life is: chaos. They have no moral compass to guide them. There is no set of absolutes, just their opinions.

If there is a God in moral relativism, it is a God of our own making. What you really have is people “making God into their own image.”

As it’s been said, “God made us in His own image and we returned the favor.” Instead of us becoming like God, we want God to become like us.

It’s time to get back the other way around again.

 

 

MONDAY

A Crown for You

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 
—James 1:12

With two granddaughters, I am just discovering that little girls like to dress up as princesses. Having raised two boys, I had never dealt with this. But now I know that little girls like to be princesses. This was further confirmed when I was at Disneyland awhile ago and saw little Cinderellas and Sleeping Beauties walking around, complete with full gowns, crowns, and scepters.

There is something about us that wants to be royalty. The good news is that for believers, a crown of life is specifically promised for the man or woman who has resisted temptation and persevered under trial: "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12).

It doesn't seem fair sometimes when we see people suffer, when we see someone who has to go through life with a disability or difficulty. But God says, "I have a special crown for those who have endured this. I have a special crown for those who are hurting. I have a special crown for those have resisted temptation."

Maybe while many of your friends caved in and said, "You are missing out on all of the fun," you said, "I am going to be faithful to God. I am not going to do what you are doing." One day, you will have a crown to show for it.

Not only that, but there is also the crown of righteousness, which will be given to those who have served God and have a heart for heaven (see 2 Timothy 4:8). Do you long for the return of Jesus Christ? Then there is a crown that awaits you. So complete the work God has given you to do. Make your life count. 

 

 

TUESDAY

The Reality of Hell

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 
—2 Peter 3:9

When I was being interviewed on a Christian television show, I was asked why I spoke so much about eternity. I had never really noticed that before. I thought about it for a moment and said, "You know, I guess the answer is that when you get down to it, it is the most important thing there is."

Most people believe in heaven, and most people believe they are going there. But Jesus said, "Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it" (Matthew 7:13). If we believe the Bible, then we have to accept this simple fact: Most people are actually headed to hell. We are very uncomfortable with that. But the truth is that hell is a real place.

Jesus Christ spoke more about hell than all of the other preachers of the Bible put together. It has been estimated that of the 40 parables that Jesus told, more than half of them dealt with God's eternal judgment and hell. Most of the teaching we have on the topic of hell was given to us by Christ himself. For the very reason that He is the personification of love and grace and mercy, He doesn't want any man or woman uniquely made in His image to spend eternity in hell.

As a pastor, I want to teach the Word of God. I want to help people grow in their faith as followers of Jesus. But when it is all said and done, the greatest thing I want to see happen is that people who were on their way to hell will be on their way to heaven instead. I want people to change their eternal address. That is why I do what I do.

 

WEDNESDAY

Don't Stop Praying

And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

— Luke 23:43

When Jesus was on the cross, one of the men being crucified next to Him came to his senses and said, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42).

So Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (verse 43). You might describe what happened to this man as a deathbed conversion. And this gives a measure of hope to those who maybe have given up on certain people who have no need for God—or at least think they have no need for God. Don't stop praying for them. Because I have heard glorious stories of people coming to Christ right before their deaths. My own mother did not really come to Christ until about a month before she went to heaven, and I had prayed for her throughout my life as a Christian. Maybe you feel right now that someone you know never will come around. But they may.

Or sometimes we fear that certain people who have died are in hell right now. But we are not in a position to say who is in hell. I do think I can authoritatively say who is in heaven, because if a person has put his or her faith in Christ, the Bible assures us that this person is in heaven. But unless you were with someone when they passed into eternity, you don't know what happened. It is possible that someone you shared the gospel with, someone you told about Jesus, perhaps put their faith in Christ in the last few moments of their life. And you might be surprised to see them in glory some day.

I think there will be some surprises when we get to heaven. So don't give up on the people you are praying for. 

THURSDAY 

A Freely Chosen Path

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. 
—Deuteronomy 30:19

Hell was not made for people; hell was created for the devil and his angels (see Matthew 25:41). It was never God's intention to send a person to hell. He does everything He can to keep us out of it. But God has given us a free will. We have the ability to choose, and God will not violate that. If you want to go to heaven, then you will—if you put your faith in Christ. If you want to go to hell, then you will. It is your choice.

People will protest on that final day and say, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" (Matthew 7:22). And Jesus will sadly but firmly say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (verse 23).

Some people might say, "Wait! I went to church on Sunday!" And, "Wait! I received communion!" And, "Wait! I was baptized." But Jesus will say, in effect, "But I never knew you. It was just a thing you did. We never had a relationship. You broke My commandments left and right. It's your own choice that you are facing."

It is not enough to say you believe in God. It is not enough to acknowledge that God exists. You need to turn from your sin and put your faith in Jesus Christ, and Him alone, as Savior and Lord.

As Timothy Keller said, "Hell is simply one's freely chosen path going on forever." If that is what you want, then that is what you will get. God wants you to go to heaven, but He will not force you. He gives you a choice, and it is up to you what you do with that choice. 

 

FRIDAY

God's Mirror

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 
—Romans 3:19

Some people say, "Well, I don't need Jesus Christ because I live by the Ten Commandments."

My response to someone who said that would be, "Let's start by asking if you can name the Ten Commandments."

"Uh, thou shalt recycle?"

"No. . . . Have you broken any of them?"

"Well, I don't know."

Those who want to live by the law are in trouble, because the Bible says, "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws" (James 2:10). God's law was never given to make a person righteous; it is a moral mirror that shows us our true state before God, to drive us into the open arms of Jesus. The law says, "You are not good enough. You need God's help."

The Bible compares God's law to a mirror. Mirrors are helpful, because they reveal truth to us. If you go out to lunch with your friends and don't know why they seem to be laughing as you are talking, then they probably haven't told you something that you need to know. When you go into the restroom, you realize that when you put your lipstick on in the dark that morning, you missed your lips. Your friends didn't tell you the truth about yourself, but the mirror did. So God's law was not given to make you righteous, but to show you that you have fallen short of it.

Romans 3:19 says, "Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God." Everyone who has been exposed to the truth of God's law will be held responsible. 

 

SATURDAY

American Idols?

 

American Idol is back with a new panelist and an endless list of hopefuls, wanting to be America’s next pop star. Each one competes before the judges, who will decide the winner of the top prize.

I suggest the same is true for us as Christians too. We decide who our God or idol will be.

Make no mistake about it, idols are alive and well in our culture today. We may not call them Dagon, Ashtoreth, Baal, Zeus, or Thor, as people of ancient times did. They may have different names, but we still bow before them.

Everybody has a god

Paul tells us then when we believe in Jesus, we turn away from idols to serve God. The apostle John wrote, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols“ (1 John 5:21).

So, what exactly would an idol be today? An idol is anything or anyone that takes the place of God in our lives.

And know this: everybody has a God. Even atheists have a god. It is not the true God, but nonetheless they have a god that they worship and serve.

Believe it or not, idolatry comes naturally to us all. Why? Because we must worship,and we will worship.

Even as nature abhors a vacuum, so does the human soul.  The human soul will find an object of worship, either on the shelf, on the altar, in the mirror, or in heaven.

Why? Because we are born idolators.

Why would we trade the living God for some fake one? Because it gives us control!

Albert Mohler, in his book Hearing the Voice of God in the Ten Commandments, wrote this:

We can pick an idol up and we can put an idol down. We can move an idol to this place, and then we can remove it to another place. The idol is at our disposal. We can hide it from our sight, or we can put it in the center of the room. We will devise our own worship because we have devised our own God.

To that, I might add to that we feel we can then live our own way.

So, my question to you is, who or what is your God?

What gets you excited? What gets you out of bed in the morning? What do you think about, dream about, plan for, or perhaps scheme for.

What are you really passionate about? Because that is your God.

I hope your answer is the Lord God and not a false one. Because the Lord can save you, but false gods can’t.

 

THE WEEKLY WORD WITH GREG LAURIE

Can be found here:

 http://theweeklywordgreglaurie.blogspot.com/