Friday, June 29, 2012

Spiritual Temperature

SPIRITUAL TEMPERATURE

Proverbs 14:34

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

“You’re lying!” 14 year-old Michael yelled to his 10 year-old brother Jeremy.

“Am not!”

“No way that the gym is closing!”

Severe conflict and division rage throughout our nation—and throughout the world. Who isn’t arguing? It seems that everyone’s spiritual temperature is ice cold when it comes to loving others the way that Jesus commanded in John 13:34.

Here is something that might give you bright hope: “Based on our present spiritual temperature, we may forget that America has been the force behind world missions. Incredible [that is seems] that a country with 5 percent of the world’s population has launched 75 percent of the missionaries of the last century and has provided approximately the same amount of money and material aid.”1   WOW!

God’s Word is interlinked with every nation’s future because the Bible’s message is international. But it is also individual and personal. Salvation is offered only through faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ. This hope comes just in time for a spiritual awakening inside every person in the world.

The previous devotion, Not Guilty, shows Jesus as our advocate, our defense attorney. When Satan argues our guilt, Lord Jesus declares us innocent. He should know; His death on the cross bought believers’ forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43). Everyone who embraces Jesus as Lord and Savior is declared innocent of every sin that Satan charges.

Colossians 1:19-20 confirms our victory: “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.”

So while the world rages, praise God that believers in Jesus are at peace! All believers in Christ are Spiritual beings according to Romans 8:9: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Verse 14 adds, “...because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

WOW! Is your Spiritual temperature growing hot for Christ?

Take Home Nugget

Jeremy pointed out to Michael the sign in front of the gym: GYM CLOSED JULY AND AUGEST FOR RENOVATIONS. “Uh, I didn’t know that. Sorry, Bro” Michael said to Jeremy.

The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth that God governs in the affairs of men.

Benjamin Franklin

1 John E. Walvoord, “America and the Cause of World Missions,” America in History and Bible Prophecy, Thomas McCall, ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1976), 21.

J.D. Griffith




A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Not Guilty

NOT GUILTY

Romans 4:25

“He [Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification.”

Justification (jus-tif-i-KA-shon means confirmation) that something is true. Believers in Jesus were led to Christ so “that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24). That means that whoever is saved is deemed righteous and innocent (of sin) in the Father’s eyes.

This is a big deal. The previous seven devotions (No Sugarcoating, Life Goal—Salvation, Daily Maintenance, Holy Spirit Divine Interruptions, It was For This, Baptism Debut, and Born Again) were designed to lead readers on the path to salvation. Everyone will be judged, but believers and nonbelievers will be judged differently.

Pastor John MacArthur calls Revelation 20:11-15 “the most serious, sobering, and tragic passage in the entire Bible...It is the last courtroom scene that will ever take place...There will be a prosecutor, but no defender; an accuser, but no advocate.”1

Jesus is believer’s advocate (AD-vo-kit means backer, supporter—someone who defends). Those who believe in Jesus as Savior, and embrace Him as Lord—are declared “not guilty” before the Father. Jesus spreads His arms wide, showing the nail marks from the cross in His hands, and says, “This person is not guilty.”

Satan, the accuser, cannot win any case where Jesus is the advocate.

Apostle Paul tells in 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 about believer’s judgment: “For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.”

Romans 3:25-26 says, “God presented Him [Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood, He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

Take Home Nugget

Revelation 20:11-12 shows the scary judgment: “Then I [John] saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”

Let us rejoice in Jesus’ declaration of “not guilty!



1John MacArthur, Because the Time is Near (Chicago: Moody, 2007), 305, 311.

J.D. Griffith


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Friday, June 22, 2012

Born Again

BORN AGAIN

#7 of 7 devotions in Salvation series

John 3:3

“In reply [to Nicodemus] Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again’”

Nicodemus had just admitted that Jesus came from God (John 3:2). He wondered what “born again” means. Jesus explained in verses 5-8: “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at My saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So is it with everyone born of the Spirit.”

            In Jewish terms, born again was a "baptism" ... and so it was as Jesus was talking about being born of the water and of the spirit.  Spiritual birth means “born from above, and is consistent with Jesus’ redeeming work.”1   This includes that a person must believe, confess and repent sin, and be baptized.  The symbolism about baptism is: A person under the water is buried sinful, then rises out of the water with new life (see Baptism Debut devotion, 3rd paragraph).  He or she is a new creature, after professing faith in Lord Jesus as Savior. 

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:15,17:  “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again....Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old one has gone, the new one has come!” 

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:21-23: “Through Him [Jesus] you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.  Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart.  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but on imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”


Compare this to Buddy’s life now (see Life Goal—Salvation devotion). As soon as Miguel chose Buddy (from a liter of puppies) to be his pet, Buddy’s life was forever changed. No longer did he greet people wagging his tail furiously in hopes that someone would adopt him. He has a master now in Miguel. He has a family, a home, and is forever secure. Just like believers in Christ!

Take Home Nugget

Jesus’ death paid for believers’ salvation. Those who accept that gift, and live obediently, will never face God’s wrath. For Romans 5:9 says, “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!”

“‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is the word of faith we are proclaiming: that is, you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:8b-9).

1NIV/The Message Parallel Study Bible, (Michigan: Zondervan, 2008), John 3:3, notes on p. 2088.

J.D. Griffith


A personal, private lesson experience with our staff



            “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God,” (1John 5:1a). 
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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Holy Spirit Divine Interruptions

HOLY SPIRIT DIVINE INTERRUPTIONS

#6 of 7 devotions in Salvation series

Acts 2:38

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’”

Ten year-old Jeremy interrupted his friend, Brad, at the swimming pool, “Hey did you get invited to Trevor’s Birthday Party?”

“No. We had a fight at the end of school.”

“Too bad. It’s going to be held at the “Paint Ball Zone” next week.”

While Brad may miss this fun birthday celebration, he’ll get over it. But Peter was speaking to the Jews in Israel, who missed Jesus’ message. They had him crucified. They didn’t hear that God raised Jesus back to life. They missed His 40 days of resurrected-body ministry. They just learned that He ascended to the Father in heaven, where He reigns as Lord.

They “were cut to the heart” about this and asked Peter what they could do (Acts 2:37).

The opening Scripture was Peter’s reply to them. He added in verse 40, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Acts 2:41 says that people did repent and get baptized! “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their numbers that day.”

We learned about this water baptism, but in Acts 1:4, Jesus promises His disciples another gift. “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized you with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Believers in Christ expect divine interruptions in their lives—nudges from the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 says that Jesus also told us: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” He nudges us to confess sin, to pray for a friend who’s in trouble, or urge us to share the Good News about Jesus with someone.

Take Home Nugget

The indwelling Holy Spirit makes our bodies His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). He comforts and guides us. Are you familiar with His interruptions? When the Holy Spirit nudges a believer, it’s best to do what He’s urging right away. We can trust Him to faithfully interrupt us BEFORE we make a mistake. Romans 8:16 confirms, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

Holy Spirit, help us hear

Your still small voice.

Interruptions soft and clear

Guide us to make the proper choice.

J.D. Griffith


A personal, private lesson experience with our staff








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Friday, June 15, 2012

Baptism Debut

BAPTISM DEBUT

#5 of 7 devotions in Salvation series

John 3:28-29

“You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of Him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for Him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.”

He’s Coming devotion compared Jesus’ second coming to a wedding. Jesus is the “bridegroom.” Christians—His church—is Jesus’ “bride.” John also compared Jesus to a bridegroom in the opening Scripture. As the bridegroom’s friend, John attended to Jesus when he baptized Jesus in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:6).

It Was For This devotion began with Jesus’ baptism. Coming out of the water, Jesus’ baptism showed both the Father’s words and the Holy Spirit’s delight (Matthew 3:16-17). Jesus baptism was His debut (da-BUE means entrance, introduction, presentation, first appearing). Baptism was Jesus’ first action as an adult. This introduction to the world as God’s Son began Jesus’ ministry.

Baptism for sinners also introduces new believers to the world. A person admits being a sinner, accepts Jesus Christ—as God’s Son—as their Savior and Lord. He or she is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, then immersed in the water. Now dead to sin that's buried under the water, the person comes out with new life. This public debut of faith announces to the world who that person serves.

Unlike confessing and repenting, baptism needs to happen only once.

Jesus says in Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

What if a person believes in Jesus, but has not been baptized? The thief who was crucified next to Jesus got saved right before his death. The thief asked Jesus, “remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” JESUS CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS! God tests the sincerity of one’s confession and repentance. He sees inside out hearts. Jesus answered Him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43).


This is the only Biblical exception to someone being saved without first being baptized. Are you willing to offer yourself up as another exception?


Take Home Nugget

Matthew 3 also shows something interesting. In verses 7-8, John yells to the Pharisees and Sadducees—Jewish teachers of the law and politicians—hovering nearby. “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit with keeping to your repentance.” John did not baptize unrepentant sinners.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offense in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24).

J.D. Griffith


A personal, private lesson experience with our staff


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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

It Was For This

IT WAS FOR THIS

#4 of 7 devotions in Salvation series

Matthew 4:17

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near.”

It was for Jesus that John the Baptist came. Matthew 3:3 says: “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert. ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” John preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” nonstop to people, baptizing them in the Desert of Judea (Matthew 3:2).

Jesus probably heard John preach this when He also went to him to be baptized. “At that moment [Jesus came out of the water] heaven was opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:16b-17). The Father confirmed to the world that Jesus is His Son.

Jesus’ first words uttered as a preacher were about repentance. We saw in Life Goal—Salvation devotion that believing in God’s Son Jesus (1), and in Daily Maintenance devotion that confessing sin (2) are both necessary for salvation. God expects both belief in Jesus and confessing sin from His kids, as daily maintenance. Confessing sin and repentance is not the same thing. Repentance is harder than simply admitting one’s sin.

But we do see that “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” are the same thing. “It is the reign of God that He brings about through Jesus Christ and is both a present reality and a future hope. The idea of God’s kingdom is central to Jesus’ teaching.”1 It was for God’s kingdom that Jesus came. Jesus came so that His death on the cross could pave the way for sinners to enter God’s kingdom.

“Buddy, you chewed my sneaker!” Miguel shouted at his beagle puppy.

Buddy tried licking Miguel’s hand, his tail drooped. Both indicated his sorrow for Miguel’s anger. Buddy didn’t even have to confess; the shredded sneaker ‘fessed up’ without Buddy admitting who did that. Buddy probably would chew up another of Miguel’s sneakers if he gets the chance. Buddy doesn’t understand repentance.

Take Home Nugget

But we know that repentance is making a radical change to one’s behavior—agreeing that the sin was wrong. Repentance promises to abandon that sin, and never to repeat it. Repentance promises that the person returns to God. If a person must repent the same sin again, he lied to God the first time.

We must face our sins and repent of them before God puts them behind us.

1 NIV/The Message Parallel Study Bible (Michigan: Zondervan, 2008), Matthew 3, notes on p. 1892.

J.D. Griffith


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Friday, June 8, 2012

Daily Maintenance

DAILY MAINTENANCE

#3 of 7 devotions in Salvation series

1John 1:8-9

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Maintenance (MANE-ten-ans means preserving, caring for, repairing). This is how people guard what’s important to them. Ten-year-old Jeremy was maintaining his ten-speed bicycle outside his house.


“What’re you doing?” classmate and friend Brad asked when he rode up to Jeremy’s house.

Stooping down, Jeremy squirted a couple drops of oil onto the gear chain. “Just giving her a drink, Brad” Jeremy said. “The chain began squeaking. And you know that they say, ‘A squeaky wheel gets the oil.’”

That’s an old saying. It often refers to loud noises that need attending in order for something to run smoothly. Some things require daily maintenance in order to stay in good working order. Every believer in Jesus has daily maintenance duties, too. Jesus gave His disciples what we call “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:9-13. Prayer is daily maintenance God looks for from His children: daily communication.

The first phrases address God. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We name Him ‘Father.’ We agree to honor His sacred holy name. We eagerly await His kingdom to come. We also recognize the universe runs according to His will; not our own.

The next part is about us. “Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Adam and Eve introduced sin when they disobeyed God. Ever since, sin is a fact of human life. Our daily maintenance is to confess that sin—and—forgive other’s sins against us.

Jesus’ death paid the price for our sins. Believers in Him can look forward to an eternity in His presence—life—instead of getting the punishment we deserve for our sins—death. That’s God’s grace.

Yet, we must deal with the result of our sins. The Lord wants us to admit our sins every day. So we confess them, asking for forgiveness. This maintenance is important.  Grace is not license to continue sinning—nor should we pray without thinking.  The Lord’s Prayer is a blueprint for us to pray praise, requests, and adoration to our heavenly Father.                  


Take Home Nugget

“For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever, Amen.” The last phrase is worship, adapted from 1 Chronicles 29:11, since people didn’t like ending the prayer with reference to the devil.



God knows everything we’ve done—

From Him you cannot hide;

Confession yields forgiveness we’ve won

Through Christ the crucified.

J.D. Griffith


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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Life Goal--Salvation

LIFE GOAL—SALVATION

#2 of 7 devotions in Salvation series

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and not from yourselves, it is a gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

No Sugarcoating devotion urges us to get busy at salvation. The Father enables His kids to come to Jesus (John 6:66). His gift of faith allows us to believe in Jesus—which is required first step of salvation. Salvation—or rescue from eternal death—should be everyone’s life goal.

Belief in Jesus is the beginning of the adventure. For example, spiritual growth is a process. Faith matures, or grows up during a person’s lifetime. Apostle Paul teaches in Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (NKJV).  

This does not mean that people earn salvation by being good. Good works spring from one’s gratitude and joy, resulting from the gift of salvation. Eager believers advance spiritual growth by actively cooperating with God, shown by this example: Nine year old Miguel got a puppy, and named him Buddy. While Buddy isn’t a pure-bred beagle, Miguel loves him anyway. While we aren’t perfect, God loves us anyway. Let’s contrast Buddy’s and Miguel’s roles in their relationship.

Miguel feeds Buddy and gives him fresh water every day. He walks Buddy on a leash so that he doesn’t run away. Buddy stays safe, warm, and dry in his house that’s protected by a fenced yard. Miguel brushes Buddy’s coat until it shines. Buddy loves to please Miguel, and obeys simple commands. Miguel taught Buddy to fetch a ball, to sit down and shake Miguel’s hand, and to roll over. Miguel cleans up Buddy’s bathroom deposits in the yard. They have fun every day. Their relationship grew into a great friendship, each living out his own role.

While people aren’t dogs, Miguel’s relationship with Buddy mirrors our relationship with God. God is our master, just like Miguel is Buddy’s. God takes care of all our needs—even cleaning up our messes. Buddy works with Miguel instead of resisting, or defying Miguel’s authority. God wants to build a great relationship with each one of His kids, too. He grooms us to shine as His ambassadors, or representatives, to the world.

Take Home Nugget

Salvation is a gift not immediately understood. The wrapping is peeled away when the believer is actively involved. The rest of this Salvation series will peel away layers of wrapping from this awesome gift. Lesson links provide further insight to each devotion.

The Bible says the way to heaven is only one,

And that’s believing in Jesus, God’s Son.

J.D. Griffith


A personal, private lesson experience with our staff



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Friday, June 1, 2012

No Sugarcoating

NO SUGARCOATING

#1 of 7 devotions in Salvation series

Revelation 20:12

“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.”

These past few devotions, The Rapture, Where Are We? And He’s Coming, may have rattled readers. If a child or young person were to read things while alone, who would answer troubling questions? The reader could be shocked, and dismayed. The future could very well be totally different from the past. We often take the past for granted because it’s safe. It’s behind us. It’s history.

But today is different than yesterday. We’re one day closer to extraordinary events that the Bible predicts will happen. An upfront warning: these devotions are designed to reveal these events, but not to cause anyone distress. Extraordinary events may be troubling to some. But even said as gently as possible, I will not sugarcoat the Gospel of Christ.

Rather, things are explained in ways to uplift and encourage readers. Believers’ security is ultimately being children of God. John 10:28 assures us that our safety is in Jesus Christ. To all who believe in Him: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.”

And yet, Pastor John MacArthur calls Revelation 20:11-15 “the most serious, sobering, and tragic passage in the entire Bible...It is the last courtroom scene that will ever take place...There will be a prosecutor, but no defender; an accuser, but no advocate.”1

Jesus is the believer’s defender, but there are billions of people who will be defenseless, like Pastor John says. Not everyone believes in God. Not everyone believes in Jesus Christ. When Jesus willingly died on the cross, His sacrifice included the Father’s wrath for our sins. “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” Jesus cried out on the cross. This means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

The Father couldn’t even look upon His Son with our sins piled on Him! For the first time—EVER—Their relationship was broken. Even though Jesus knew this had to happen, because the Father’s holiness cannot abide sin, Jesus was shocked at His aloneness! This is exactly how unsaved people feel when they’re eternally separated from God--true hell.


Are you ready to claim the Kingdom of God with no fear? Let’s get started! 1Timothy 1:15b shares Jesus’ purpose: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” That’s me. That’s you.

Take Home Nugget

If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Savior, why not embrace Him today? Upcoming devotions will guide you on the path of salvation. The future’s extraordinary events require courage.

Heaven is achieved only through One:

Believing in God’s only begotten Son.



1John MacArthur, Because the Time is Near (Chicago: Moody, 2007), 305, 311.

J.D. Griffith




A personal, private lesson experience with our staff



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