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Date Posted: 13:19:10 07/25/22 Mon
Author: c
Subject: additional teaching 7/2022

Today in the Word

August 2022

p 20

Questions & Answers

by Dr. Rosalie de Rosset


Q: In Mark 9, why weren't the disciples able to heal the demon-possessed boy? Why did they still need Jesus' intervention?

A: ....These were men who had walked and talked with Christ on a daily basis. But something was amiss....

"...His chosen men, beaten and baffled, helpless and ineffective." After Jesus delivers the boy from the demon, the disciples ask Him why they couldn't do it. Note Jesus' answer: He says that they could only do it "by prayer" (Mark 9:29).

Christ's Words tell us a great deal. Faith must be maintained by prayer if it is to overcome the enemy. One cannot become careless in his or her walk with God. The disciples simply could not do the work of the Lord unless they were constantly dependent on Him. In effect, Christ was saying to them, "you don't live close enough to God." They had been given power, but they needed prayer to maintain it. Unless we also stay close to God, we lose our vitality and the humility of dependence.

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growingchristians.org

Talks for Growing Christians

Dr. David R. Reid

https://www.growingchristians.org/talks/judges6b/

Judges 6:25 - 32

Gideon passes a test of faith

When Gideon realized the improbability of tearing down the altar of baal in broad daylight, he did it at night. He found a way to obey. Are you finding ways to obey in sharing your faith with others? Are you afraid? Be like Gideon - find a way to obey.

(ex: Give spiritual type gifts (books, CD's) to people, find ways to bring up grace and salvation and hope and blessings in conversations, say blessings over shared meals and then afterward talk about why expressing gratitude to the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is important.)

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Turning Points devotional July 2022

Moving Heaven and Earth: Underestimating the potential of prayer

by David Jeremiah


p 13


Jerry Sittser wrote, "In the end we receive answers, for Jesus Himself promised it would be so. He commanded us to pray, 'Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.' Would He make such a promise, only to refuse to deliver on it? But along the way there are significant setbacks. The ending is triumphant, though it might not always seem certain. The Kingdom comes, God's will is done, though not right away. God does and will answer our prayers, though it may take a while, sometimes a long while."

Prayer changes things, but there's something even greater. Prayer changes us! It is the window that funnels the atmosphere of Heaven into our hearts as we await His glorious coming.

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Turning Points devotional 7/9 - 10/ 22 Weekend

In Gethsemane

We can learn four lessons from this passage: (1) it's all right to long for a certain outcome. Everyone has problems, and we long for the desired outcome with all our hearts. (2) It's all right to pray for a certain outcome. (3) It's all right to pray repeatedly and earnestly for a certain outcome. (4) But it's always best to trust the Lord for His ordained outcome.

That takes faith, but faith is the victory (1 John 5:4). Take your burden to the Lord, let Him know your needs, and then trust Him for what is best.

Turning Point

Trust perfected is prayer perfected

E. M. Bounds

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intouch.org Daily devotion 7/17/22

Who’s the Boss?

When we have compassion on those who have wronged us, God's peace follows.

It seems some people are born knowing what they want to do with their lives. Others jump around, trying one thing after another, never finding a fit. But both groups are in error—no matter how successful they are (or aren’t) in the world’s eyes—if they never asked God to help them discern His will.

Psalm 103:19 tells us, “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.” This means there is nothing left to chance, no detail so small that the Almighty doesn’t care enough to concern Himself with it. Thankfully, we don’t have to work our entire life wondering if we’re headed in the right direction. Instead, our loving Father both ordains our steps and helps us grow into who we’re meant to be. Like David, we can take comfort in the Lord’s perfect provision and sing, “I cry out to God Most High, to God Who fulfills His purpose for me” (Ps. 57:2 ESV).

Think about it

Read Psalm 37:23-24. Are your steps “established by the Lord” or are you calling the shots? Ask your Heavenly Father to help you set things right, and center your life firmly in His will.

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intouch.org Daily devotion 7/10/22

Forever Thankful

While painful, difficult seasons strengthen and mature our faith.

July 10, 2022

To get the most out of this devotion, set aside time to read the scriptures referenced throughout.

Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote, “A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.” It’s a simple but wise saying that reminds us about the importance of hardships in our life. Without challenges, we never learn new skills or gain the spiritual strength needed in order to endure. This is why the apostle Paul teaches us to “celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope” (Rom. 5:3-4).

Everyone faces difficulties. For some, it might involve financial challenges or the loss of good health. Others might know the pain that comes with the breakup of a family or the death of a long-held dream. The question is not if one of these things will happen to us but when. Rather than spend time worrying, we put our faith in God—the One Who tells us, “Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will carry you!” (Isa. 46:4).

Think about it

Write a thank-you note to God, expressing gratitude for the challenges and difficulties you have faced in life. Tell Him all the ways they’ve benefited you over time.

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PowerPoint Pastor Jack Graham 7/14/22

What it really means to love the lost

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

--Colossians 4:5-6

You’ve probably heard of a little animal called a lemming. Lemmings are very peculiar creatures with a very interesting behavior. When their population density becomes too high, lemmings will group together and march off a cliff and into the ocean in search of a new place to live. That’s the end!

Now for most people, that behavior seems strange. But is it any stranger than the behavior of those people who pursue life in something other than Christ only to fall off the spiritual cliff and into a Christless existence?

So what should we do? We see people who die without Christ and the thousands and thousands of others who follow. Do we sit and watch them go? Or do we dedicate our lives to showing others the way to turn from their destruction and find salvation in Jesus Christ?

To me, the choice is easy: We urgently point the lost to Christ. We warn them about the result of their current path. We show them the way to Jesus. And we pray that God would transform their hearts so that they may come to know Him and have eternal life!

LOVE THE LOST BY URGENTLY POINTING THEM TOWARD A SAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST!

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intouch.org Daily devotion 7/14/22

The Value of Confession

We can always enter into prayer with a pure heart because God has promised to forgive our sin.


Psalm 66:16-20

Our prayers reveal what fills our hearts. David understood this. After being confronted by Nathan regarding his sin, David pleaded to be cleansed and to receive a clean heart (Ps. 51:9-10).

When we allow unconfessed sin in our lives, God won’t hear our prayers because it creates a barrier between us and Him. He’s promised to forgive transgression once we admit our action is wrong and turn away from it (1 John 1:9). But if we only give lip service to our confession or refuse to change ungodly ways, we haven’t truly repented.

Since we can’t always discern what’s hiding in our hearts, it’s wise to pray as David did in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”

Prayer is the communication link between us and our loving Heavenly Father. Let’s not allow anything to block our relationship with Him and hinder our prayers. Instead, we must confess and turn from all known sin so we can come to Him with a pure heart.

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PowerPoint Pastor Jack Graham - how to give your faith a boost 7/13/22



Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.”

--Genesis 12:1

A man was at a carnival one day watching the merry-go-round. He stood there looking for a while when finally, the operator asked him, “Are you ever gonna get on?” “Nope,” the man said. “There ain’t no reason for me to get on that thing because you get off right where you started!”

Spiritually speaking, there are quite a few folks these days who are riding the merry-go-round of the Christian life. They do the church thing and the volunteer thing, but they’re really just going round and round and getting off at the exact same place they started. There’s no progression in their faith and no growth in their walk.

So what’s the key to getting off the merry-go-round and really growing in Christ? It’s actually very simple: never get comfortable. Like Abram in today’s passage, allow God to push you to the edge of your comfort zone. Try new things as the Lord leads you and step out of the spiritual rut where so many people get stuck.

Getting uncomfortable for Christ does two very important things: It develops a deeper dependence on God and it diminishes your ability to trust in yourself. That’s really what spiritual growth is all about. So live a life of surrender by getting out of your comfort zone and doing radical things for Christ!

GIVE your FAITH A BOOST BY GETTING OUT OF your COMFORT ZONE AND DOING SOMETHING RADICAL FOR CHRIST!

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intouch.org Daily devotion 7/11/22

Reflecting on God’s Faithfulness

When we remember God's faithfulness in the past, our confidence in His Word grows.

Lamentations 3:21-25

Our Heavenly Father is always faithful to His promises. We can be certain of this because He made them on the basis of His truthful, unchanging character (Heb. 6:17-18). But sometimes when our circumstances are especially difficult, we tend to forget that God is always dependable. That’s why we need to pause periodically to look back over our life and see how He’s provided, guided, and guarded us along the way.

Many times over the years, I have been the beneficiary of God’s faithfulness to His Word. For example, Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.” Despite my lack of Bible knowledge at age 12, I recognized that I was a sinner and called on Him for forgiveness. And He saved me, just as His Word said.

There have been so many times when God provided just what I needed. After feeling called to become a preacher, the Lord orchestrated a series of events that led to my receiving a full scholarship for college.

Think about God’s faithfulness to you. How has He directed your path and supplied your needs? As you trust in Him, He’ll demonstrate just how trustworthy He is.

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Back to the Bible - Put your faith to work

7/8/22


Read James 2:14-18 (ESV)

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled”, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.



Reflect

We know that Scripture is clear that we are saved by grace through faith not by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). But James said that faith isn’t true saving faith without works. Can both be correct?



If someone said they loved you but spent most of their time ignoring or mistreating you, would you believe that their love for you was sincere? If someone said they believe in you, but they never trust you with anything or take your advice, would you think they really trust you? If you are in a position of authority over someone and they said that they submit to your leadership but then they disobey you at every turn, would you think they truly respect your authority? Of course not. In all of these examples, a person’s actions betray their words. They say one thing, but do another! In the same way, as Christians, we can say that we have placed our faith in Christ, but if our lives aren’t transformed by our faith, our faith is useless.



This is the point that James, the half-brother of Jesus, makes in his epistle. James was a leader of the church in Jerusalem. He addressed this letter to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion—Jews living outside of Israel. Most scholars believe that James wrote this letter from Jerusalem in the mid to late 40s A.D.

James’ purpose for writing was to explain the characteristics of a true saving faith in Christ. James’ letter isn’t as focused on theological or doctrinal matters but instead focuses more on the practical application of the faith. His main point is that a genuine faith in Christ transforms the life of a believer. In other words, if a person is truly saved then their actions and their attitudes will be changed. For example, in today’s verses, James challenged someone to demonstrate their faith without their works and he’d show them his faith by his works. Who do you think would be able to make a successful demonstration of their faith?

Because James’ epistle is so focused on practically applying the Christian faith, he covers a wide variety of topics. In chapter 1, he addressed the issue of trials. He wrote: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2). James wanted the early believers to know that trials are tests intended to make our faith grow and mature. Trials make us more dependent on God. In fact, James said that if we lack wisdom in how to handle a trial, we should ask God for it: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him as God, Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). What a promise!


But while trials test our faith and grow our character, James emphasized that God does not tempt us or lure His people into sin. Rather, temptations come from our own fleshly desires and if we do not deal with those temptations immediately, they will lead to sin which leads to death (James 1:13-15).

James also encouraged his readers to “be doers of the Word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22), to show no partiality to rich or poor (James 2:1-9), to tame their tongues (James 3:1-12), and to seek wisdom from above (James 3:13-18). In chapter 4, James warned the people against worldliness. He wrote that “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). He urged the people to humble themselves and draw near to the Lord (James 4:6-10). James called out the rich who were exploiting their workers in chapter 5. He also encouraged believers to patiently and steadfastly wait for the coming of the Lord and compared it to a farmer waiting for the harvest (James 5:7-11).

James began his conclusion with one of the most important things a person who is in Christ can do—pray, no matter what the reason or the occasion (James 5:13-18). He said that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16). Finally, James urged the people to seek out those from among the brethren that have wandered away from the truth.

Friends, James gave us an instruction manual to show us how to live out our faith in Christ. Yes, we are saved by grace through faith, but our faith is dead and useless if we do not allow it to transform our lives! Let’s not be believers who claim to know Jesus but deny Him by our works (Titus 1:16). Let’s practice what we preach and put our faith to work. Because true saving faith works.


Pray

Lord, I know that You have saved me, not by my works or anything righteous that I attempt to do, but solely because of Your grace and mercy. Now, help me to be a “doer of the Word and not a hearer only” so that I can show what I believe to the world around me. Transform my life, change me, make me more like You, and use me to do Your work to glorify You. Amen.

~Pastor Nat Crawford

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Back to the Bible - 7/5/22


Remember What You Were Saved From



July 5

Read Titus 3:3-7 (ESV)

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Reflect

How does remembering what you were like before you knew Christ help you to love others who are still apart from Him?



It’s easy to forget what we’ve been saved from. What I mean is, it’s easy to look around us at all of the people who are living lifestyles that are disobedient to God and think less of them. If we aren’t careful, we can feel a sense of pride because we are more obedient, more godly, more spiritual, etc. than they are. But the apostle Paul had something to say about this in today’s verses which we read in his letter to Titus.

Paul wrote this letter around the same time that he wrote 1 Timothy (around 63 A.D.). There’s good evidence to believe Paul was writing to Titus from Corinth after his first Roman imprisonment. Titus was a young minister that Paul addressed as his “true child in a common faith” (Titus 1:4). Paul thought of himself as a father figure to Titus just as he had to Timothy. Also like Timothy, Titus had been given a tough assignment. His mission was to establish and organize churches on Crete, an island in the Mediterranean. People from Crete were called “Cretans” but unfortunately that title was often not thought of as a compliment. The inhabitants of this island were known for immorality and dishonestly. If someone in the first century called you a “Cretan” or told you that you were acting like one, it wasn’t a term of endearment. It was an insult. They had that bad of a reputation. In Titus 1:10-16, Paul listed out specific sins that were prevalent among the Cretans. He also quoted a Cretan who spoke against his own people: “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12).

But Acts 2:11 mentions Cretans among the people in the crowd in Jerusalem at Pentecost when Peter gave his great sermon. At that time, around three thousand people accepted Christ! So we know that some Cretans likely converted to Christianity at that time. We also know that Paul wintered in Crete (Acts 27:7-13) and must have been in Crete before he left Titus in charge there: “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (Titus 1:5).



Just as he did in his letter to Timothy, Paul listed out qualifications and virtues necessary for church leadership: “For an overseer, as God’s stewards, must be above reproach.” (Titus 1:7). Once again, godly character is elevated in importance over other qualifications for leadership. But he also emphasized that godly conduct isn’t just expected for Christian leaders but for the entire church no matter your age or position. In chapter 2, Paul commanded Titus to “teach what accords with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1) and then he went on to spell out what that should look like for men and women, young and old. Christians should avoid behavior that will harm or destroy their Christian witness. They should behave in such a way that “in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:10).

But in today’s verses, Paul reminded them not to get haughty or think more highly of themselves because they were once exactly like the unsaved Cretans. He reminded them that they didn’t save themselves from this life of slavery to sin, but that Christ saved them based on His goodness and loving kindness. Salvation is not earned by good works, righteousness, or worthiness. Salvation is only found in the mercy and grace that Christ richly poured out on us.



Even our transformation from godless behavior to godly living is a work of Christ in our lives: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12).

Friends, like Titus, we need to be reminded that our lifestyle and our character either confirms or denies the saving work of God in our lives. Our salvation, transformation, and sanctification should never be a source of pride because we did not and cannot accomplish these things on our own! Because of this, we should be gentle and show perfect courtesy toward all people (Titus 3:2). In our interactions with those apart from Christ, may we never forget what we were saved from.



Pray

Lord, I confess that in an immoral world, it can be easy to get angry, judgmental, and prideful. But I know that if not for Your rich mercy and grace, I would still be a slave to my sins, too. Help me to live a life that demonstrates rather than destroys the witness of Your work in my life. Amen.

~ Pastor Nat Crawford

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