Category: Strength for Today

Acts 16:35
“And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.”

The magistrates made a mistake with Paul and Silas by imprisoning them on hearsay. They mistakenly followed the accusations of the mob, and sent soldiers to have them openly arrested. The problem was that the next morning they realized their mistake and wanted to privately release Paul and Silas. Paul’s response was, “They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.” Paul wanted the same people who arrested them openly to release them in open view so the city understood the mistake.

There are times when someone makes a mistake about a person and later they realized their mistake, but the damage has already been done. Whether you said something that was not true about someone or openly prejudged someone, it can damage someone’s reputation for life if you don’t properly handle your mistake. The incident with Paul and Silas teaches us what to do when we realize our mistake.

First, don’t deny your mistake. Don’t try to coverup your mistake for the sake of saving your reputation. When coverups are revealed, it can be worse than the admission of the mistake. People will forgive you if you show them that you made an honest mistake and truly plan on never doing that again. When a mistake has been made, admit it even if you are the leader and it may temporarily hurt your credibility. You will save the confidence of those who follow you when they see that you are willing to admit and correct your mistakes.

Second, be as open about your apology as you were about your mistake. Paul made it clear that because he was arrested publicly that he should be released publicly. Don’t try to do a back page apology when you are wrong. You need to be as public about your apology as you were about your mistake to help rebuild the credibility of those whose reputation you hurt.

Third, don’t punish the offended to save your reputation. Sadly, the magistrates wanted Paul and Silas to quietly leave town so their reputation wouldn’t be damaged. The person whose reputation you hurt has already been punished enough by your actions, don’t add to it by asking them to move on to save your reputation. If you are honest about correcting your mistake, then both of you will be able to dwell together.

Let me caution you to be careful with accusation. Once you accuse someone of something, you will never be able to stop the chain of conversations that hurt that person. Just like you can’t gather all the feathers of a feather pillow that’s been opened, you will never be able to completely reverse the damage you made to someone whom you attacked. Your attack against a person will always leave questions to others minds about that person.

Learn to withhold accusations just because you dislike someone or you suspect someone. The best way to treat others with accusations or suspicion is to treat them the same way you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes. Someday, you will be in their shoes, so do the right thing with others and you will have fewer regrets later in life.

Acts 9:10
“And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.”

Every soul-winning Christian can probably tell you of one or two great soul-winning conversions where God used them to  miraculously lead someone to Christ. As I look back throughout my lifetime, I can remember several people whom God used me to lead to Him. There was a man who had just been released from prison who thought he couldn’t get saved because he had murdered someone whom God allowed me to lead to Christ. There was a man whom I led to Christ five hours before he faced his eternity. There was a young man claiming to be an atheist who commonly practiced tearing up Bibles whom God allowed me to be used to lead to Christ. The stories could go on and on. When you read the Scriptures, you find there are three keys to seeing great conversions.

The first key is saying, “I am here, Lord.” That is what Ananias said when the LORD told him to go and witness to Saul. Saul was headhunting Christians. His job was to find them and have them executed. Yet, the LORD knew that his heart was ready to get saved and that Ananias would be the one to whom Saul would listen.

If you are going to see great conversions, then you are going to have to be willing to witness anywhere. You are going to have to witness in the ghetto and in the affluent side of town. You are going to have to witness going door-to-door and witness in the restaurant or as you go down the street. Great soul-winning experiences happen because someone is willing to witness wherever they are. If you don’t learn to witness everywhere you are, then you will not have great soul-winning experiences.

The second key is found with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The Scriptures say about Philip in Acts 8:27, “And he arose…” Great conversions happen when there is nothing you will not leave. Philip was in the middle of a great revival, but he was willing to leave it because God had someone ready for him to lead to Christ. There can be no situation you are not willing to leave to witness to someone. In other words, in every situation you find yourself in, you must still be aware of people around you who are lost. If you are not willing to arise and leave a situation you are in to witness to others, then you will pass up many people whom God wants you to lead to Him.

The third key is found when Jesus was on the cross. Jesus was surrounded by two thieves and one said to Him in Luke 23:42, “…Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Great conversions will happen when there is no person to whom you will not witness. Jesus was on the cross unjustly and the thieves were criminals, but He was still willing to witness to them. Friend, you cannot try to qualify people yourself, but you must witness to everyone you see. Whether they look like CEO’s of large corporations, or rough men part of a motorcycle gang or someone who is down and out on life, you must be willing to witness to them all. Every person has an eternity, and that is how you must look at people.

If we all knew who would be the next great conversion, then we would rush to them and witness to them; however, around you every day are people who need to get saved. Always remember that every person who gets saved is a great conversion. Stop looking for the great conversions and witness to everyone. Certainly, there are some soul-winning conversions that touch the heart more than others, but whenever anyone gets saved that is a great conversion.

Acts 2:14
“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:”

There was something very different about the Apostle Peter in the verse above. Something changed in the life of Peter from this verse compared to previous verses. You find that Peter was previously dressed indecently while fishing. You can hear Peter cursing as he sat at the heathen’s fire. You can see him sleeping when he should have been praying at the Garden of Gethsemane. You can hear Jesus rebuking Peter and telling Satan to get behind Him in a previous conversation. You can see Jesus rebuking Peter and the rest of the disciples for squabbling about who was the greatest.

So what changed? What was it that caused Peter to boldly stand up and preach to the crowd when he previously denied Christ? The change in Peter’s life was so evident that even the multitudes who had seen him before noticed the change. Whatever caused this change caused people to get saved. Whatever caused this change caused the multitudes to stop and listen. Whatever caused this change brought boldness where fear once abode. According to the Scriptures, there were two things that caused the change.

First, a different power working through them caused the change. Verse 17 shows us the difference when it says, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:” That different power that was working through them was the power of the Holy Spirit. They were no longer working through their power, but they were working through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit power that turned an ordinary man into a bold preacher. It was the Holy Spirit power that turned a powerless sermon into a life changing sermon.

The second thing that caused the change was that he had spent time with Jesus. Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Spending time with Jesus turned a worldly man into a spiritual man. Spending time with Jesus turned a cursing tongue into a Gospel proclaiming tongue. Spending time with Jesus caused a man who feared what people thought about him into a man who was bold and not afraid of the repercussions. Spending time with Jesus caused him to act like Jesus.

If we are going to change ourselves and our society, then we are going to have to spend time with Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. I’m afraid too many Christians are spending their time on things that will not make a difference on people or their society. You will never change who you are until you start spending time with Jesus in the Word and prayer. One of the reasons churches are so worldly is because most Christians never spend time with Jesus on a regular basis.

Moreover, you will never have the boldness and power you need to change your surroundings until you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Friend, you can try to do God’s work in the flesh, but you will fail. The greatest difference in the life of Peter was the Holy Spirit power working through him.

Are you changed? Can people look at you and ask, “What has changed?” Until you spend much time with Jesus in His Word and prayer, and until you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will not be changed. Let this devotional kindle a fire in your heart to spend more time with Jesus and do what you must do to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The closer we get to the LORD’s coming, the more troublesome times will become. There is no doubt that we live in troubled days. Wars are breaking out everywhere to the point that one wonders about their own safety in their own country. Countries all over the world are crumbling, and then you look at your own country and wonder about its stability. There is no doubt that one could be troubled about the times in which they live.

Moreover, when you add your personal troubles to the world’s troubles, one can wonder if they will ever again experience peace. We know that God promises a peace “which passeth all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7) Yet, how do you get this peace? God shows us in this chapter how one can have peace in troubled times.

First, you must believe God. Jesus reminds us to believe God in verse 1. Peace comes from God, and you must always remember that only He can give peace. Don’t look to the vices this world offers; instead, believe God. The vices and things of this world will never give you peace. They may give you a temporary peace, but God can give you a peace which passeth all understanding. Believe God when He tells you how to live and you can find the peace in life during troubled times.

Second, remember Heaven. One thing for which I’m thankful is that God gives us the promise of Heaven. He says in verse 2, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The thought of Heaven can certainly give one hope that troubled times are only temporary. In times of death, remember Heaven. In times of turmoil, remember Heaven. If you are saved, you have the hope that in Heaven you will no longer face the troubles this life brings.

Third, look ahead. Friend, stop dwelling on the troubles you are facing and look ahead to the fact that Jesus is coming. Jesus reminds us in verse 28 that He will come again. It could be today! If you dwell on the present and what you are going through, you will not have the peace God wants you to have. The only way you can have the peace God promises is that by looking ahead. Always remember that as troubles increase, the return of Christ gets closer.

Fourth, keep your eyes on Jesus. Jesus reminded Thomas in verse 6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus said this to remind Thomas that Jesus is the only way and that he must keep his eyes focused upon Christ. Christian, don’t take your eyes off Christ. When one stays focused upon Christ, it is easy to have the peace of God. When you focus upon man, you will experience disappointment and frustration at the troubles man causes. As easy at it is to take your eyes off Christ, you must purposely stay focused on Christ to find peace in troubled times.

Certainly, everyone goes through troubled times. It is in these times when we must be reminded of these four things, for with them you can find the peace that the world will never understand. Don’t let the troubles of this world and your life cause you distress. Peace in troubled times is achievable if you will follow these four reminders.

John 7:15
“And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”

We live in days when education seems to be a greatest emphasis. The world system pushes the importance of getting a good education. Political opponents run on the ticket of wanting to improve education. Pastors from all different backgrounds argue of the importance of education. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with getting an education.

The enemies of Jesus Christ seemed to wonder about how He learned what He taught. They knew that He had no college education. They knew that He did not sit under a tutor to be educated in the Scriptures. In fact they said, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” These men who were criticizing him knew very well that He never went to an institution of higher learning because they all attended those institutions or were on the boards of those places and Jesus’ name was not in any of the transcripts. Yet, somehow Jesus confounded these men of higher learning with His knowledge of the Scriptures.

According to the Scriptures, you don’t have to have a college education to achieve a higher education. This devotional is in no way taking away the importance of getting a good education, but Jesus made it very clear how to get a higher education. You may not have a college degree to talk about, but if you will follow Jesus’ advice you can achieve a higher education. Let me show you three things how Jesus says to achieve higher education.

First, learn doctrine. The first thing Jesus talked about in verse 16 is doctrine. He says, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.” It is important that Christians learn the doctrines of the Scriptures. Just doing something because your preacher says to do it is not good enough. Doing something because your parents taught you to do it or because that is how you have always done it is not good enough. You need to study the Scriptures to learn It’s doctrines.

Second, to achieve a higher eduction, you must do the will of God. Verse 17 says, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine…” You cannot know the doctrines of God’s Word and their application without doing His will. In other words, having a head knowledge of doctrine is not enough, but you must take the head knowledge and apply it by serving the LORD. A soul winner is going to know how doctrine applies better than one who never goes soul winning. This can be said about anything you are commanded to do. Doing God’s will opens your understanding of doctrine.

Third, doctrine is the greatest truth detector one can use to sift out false doctrine. You hear of people taking a lie detector test to see if they are lying, but God says that doctrine is the greatest truth detector test. He says in verse 17, “…he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” When you learn doctrine and then apply it through serving God, then you will more easily be able to detect those things which will pull you away from God’s Word.

Friend, one can never over emphasize the importance of learning the doctrines of God’s Word. You don’t have to have a Bible college degree to have a higher education, you just need to learn doctrine, apply it and let the learned doctrine which you understand be the truth detector of everything taught. Stop relying on what man says and rely on what God says by learning His doctrine. This will keep you in the faith and will keep you from compromise.

Luke 22:55
“And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.”

Throughout my lifetime, I have watched many strong men who once stood firm for the old paths waver in their later years. These men were men who once preached on national platforms of conferences that promoted the old paths. Yet, I have watched them change throughout the years to the degree that you would never know that they once stood strongly for the old paths.

Years ago I preached for a good man whom God was using mightily to reach his city. I was sitting at the table with him and he relayed something to me that was very troubling at the time. He scheduled an appointment with a preacher who had greatly compromised to find out his secret to growth. He said that he wasn’t interested in following the man, but that he simply wanted to find out what caused him to grow and reach more people in his community. Today that man has left the old paths and wants nothing to do with them.

What is the common denominator that causes good people to change? The answer can be found in the verse above when it says, “Peter sat down among them.” Peter did not intend to change who he was. In fact, he was adamant just a few hours earlier that he was willing to die for the Saviour’s sake. Yet, just a few verses later he was denying the LORD, denying his faith and denying the church. It all started when he innocently sat down among the enemies.

Friend, as you read the story of Peter denying the LORD, I’m sure you have quietly said in your heart that you would never do that. Let me remind you that many people have said they would never do that, but the first mistake they make is sitting down with the enemy. When Peter sat down he never thought it would influence him that much, but it did. You may think you are strong enough to handle sitting with the enemy, but you are not.

If you are going to avoid compromising change then you must never sit with the enemy. Don’t sit with the enemy in their conferences. You may simply be going to watch what they are doing, but that is exactly what Peter did. Peter simply sat down among the enemy to see what was going to happen to Jesus. If you never go to the conferences of those who have compromised the faith, then you will never hear their advice that could influence you to change.

Moreover, don’t sit with the enemy as they criticize. Peter was sitting with the very crowd who criticized his LORD, and it affected him. You must be very careful about being around those who criticize people who firmly stand for the old paths. Why is it that those who firmly stand for the old paths are criticized and those who have watered down the faith are seen as good people? When you see people criticize those who strongly stand for the old paths, avoid them so that you don’t gain a disdain for the ways of the old paths.

Furthermore, don’t sit with the enemy who wants to destroy the old paths. Peter was sitting with a crowd who wanted Jesus killed. He had no business being in that crowd. Friend, don’t read the books or listen to the sermons of those who want the old paths destroyed. They may seem to be the popular crowd, but Jesus never promised that His ways would be popular. There are going to be times when you must stand alone, but if standing alone keeps you from changing that is good.

Anyone is capable of changing. Peter was one of the stronger disciples, but when he sat with the enemies he changed. If you don’t want to change, then let me encourage you to separate from those who will influence you to change. Sitting with the enemy has destroyed many people, and it will destroy you if you don’t stop sitting with them.

Luke 12:31
“But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Jesus tells the story of a farmer who was rich. One year his harvest was much better than normal. Because of the great harvest, this man decided to build more barns and lay up his harvest to the point that he thought he would have no more cares in his life. This farmer was foolish in the fact that he had no power over the harvest. He became so confident that the harvest was because of what he did that he thought he could do it again. As I look at this parable and Jesus’ response throughout the rest of the chapter, I find several lessons that will help to keep us from entering into the foolishness of this farmer.

First, always remember that it takes God. The first mistake of this farmer was not that he built greater barns, but his first mistake was that he thought his own hands were what sent the harvest. Many Christians have fallen into this foolish trap because of God’s blessings. This farmer was not blessed because of himself, but it was God Who blessed him. Likewise, every blessing you get from God is not because of what you did, but your blessings in life are because of God. Preachers must be careful that they don’t become so self-confident in their own abilities that they think they can do it again. No, if a preacher’s ministry is going to be blessed, it is going to be blessed because of God. You may be able to manufacture your own results, but the eternal results will only come because of God. People from all walks of life must always remember that it always takes God.

Second, it always takes prayer. In verses 22-28, Jesus was showing the importance of praying. One of the foolish mistakes this farmer made was that he stopped his prayer life. Friend, the capacity of God’s blessings upon your life will be dependent upon your prayer life. It is not time to stop praying when you are being blessed. You must continually find yourself on your face before God begging for His help even in the midst of blessings. When you stop praying, you shut off the faucet of God’s blessings.

Third, it takes faith. Part of Jesus’ rebuke was that they had “little faith.” You will never please God without faith. When is the last time you stepped out on faith? This farmer was going to live the rest of his life on his present day successes and forgot that God requires us to live by faith for the remainder of our lives. One day of blessing doesn’t excuse you from living a life of faith. God requires us to daily live by faith. When you experience the blessings of God, that does not mean you will never need to step out and do more, it simply means that God is trying to broaden your faith by causing you to step out and do more. Use today’s blessings as a stepping stool to launch out and do more.

Fourth, it takes our proper focus. Jesus reminded us that in the midst of blessings we are to stay focused on seeking His kingdom. Don’t allow God’s blessings to cause you to lose focus. Many Christians have turned their eyes upon God’s blessings during the time of blessing and have forgotten God. Don’t ever let the blessings of God become your curse. Always keep doing right. When you are being blessed of God, keep reading the Scriptures, praying, soul winning, being faithful to church and ministering to others. This is what brought God’s blessings upon you, and this is what will keep them upon you.

It is so easy in the time of blessing to lose focus on these four things. Don’t let the foolishness of this rich fool become a part of your life. In the midst of blessings, stay humble. In the midst of blessings, just keep doing what you have always done and God will continue to bless you in your life.

Luke 4:20
“And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.”

Throughout history there have been many books that have been authored. Some books go down through history and still have an influence today in the lives of people. In my own library I have books that were written centuries ago, and certainly these books have information that can help an individual.

Yet, there is one Book that has been around since the beginning of this world. There is one Book that has no beginning and no end. There is one Book that is a life-changing Book, and that Book is God’s Word. The world’s judicial system is founded upon God’s Word. The world’s history is dependent upon God’s Word. No book in history has changed lives more than God’s Word.

When Jesus established His ministry, He established in by using the Book. The very first acts of Jesus’ ministry are the quoting of the Word of God. In Luke 4, you find Jesus using His Word four times to show us how one should establish anything they are starting. In these actions, you find that God’s Word does four things.

First, God’s Word is captivating. In the verse above, you see that after Jesus read His Word that the people were “fastened upon him.” All He did was read His Word, and yet the people couldn’t take their eyes off Him. I have found that one of the most astonishing books you will read is the Word of God. Nothing will catch one’s attention like God’s Word. A young preacher only needs one thing to capture the attention of those listening and that is God’s Word. Stop trying to use personality and charisma and let God’s Word captivate those listening.

Second, God’s Word is convicting. In verse 23, you will find that those who listened to the Word of God were convicted by It’s words. Nothing will show people what they are doing wrong like the Word of God. You don’t need to play the Holy Spirit in the lives of individuals, just teach and preach the Word of God and It will do the convicting for you. God’s Word is like a light that shines upon the heart of the sinner. It will reveal what one is doing wrong.

Third, God’s Word is powerful. In verse 32, the people acknowledged the power of God’s Word. Friend, God’s Word is powerful enough to change the most hardened person. Instead of reasoning with people and using man’s psychology, use God’s Word for It is the only thing that is powerful enough to change one’s life.

Fourth, God’s Word is authoritative. Verse 36 shows us that God’s Word is our authority. What gives the Christian the confidence to be authoritative about their beliefs? God’s Word is what gives us that authority. When you know the Word of God and use It, you will find that you will speak with authority. God’s Word gives the confidence that every Christian needs to speak with authority.

Let this friendly reminder about God’s Word motivate you to use It more often. Throughout your day, let God’s Word be the basis for every action and word spoken. You will find when you use God’s Word that It will captivate, convict, change and give confidence. God’s Word is the Book that will change anyone’s life if you will simply use It.