Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, September 25

The Everlasting Arms

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deuteronomy 33:27

Recommended Reading
Psalm 107:28-30 [ http://iz3.me/003u1zwXd1A1 ]

On May 7, 1710, the great Bible scholar Matthew Henry preached a sermon entitled "The Everlasting Arms." It was the final message in a three-and-a-half-year series of sermons on the subject of the Promises of God. To Matthew Henry, God's promises were His everlasting arms. They support us, bear us, carry us, and we can never exhaust them. "They are a foundation of our faith, and we have them as such," said Henry. "On these we are to build all our expectations from God; and in all temptations and trials we have them to rest our souls upon. . . . We have them as the means by which the grace of God works for our holiness and comfort, for by these we are made partakers of a divine nature."

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/103u1zwXd1A1 ]

When trouble comes, we have a refuge that we can run to. The Everlasting Arms, which are represented by the promises of God, will provide the shelter we require, regardless of the circumstances.

If you're in a storm today, find a precious promise, fix your thoughts upon it, and discover afresh that your eternal God is your refuge.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms; I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Elisha Hoffman

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Habakkuk 1-3  [ http://iz3.me/203u1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Friday, September 26

Yesterday's Fights / Today's Faith

Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.
1 Samuel 17:36

Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 17:40-51 [ http://iz3.me/WcCu1zwXd1A1 ]

When the shepherding lad, David, went to check on his brothers in the army, he was alarmed to find them paralyzed with fear because of the threats of a Philistine giant named Goliath. The whole army seemed stupefied, from King Saul down to the lowest ranks. David offered to take on the giant, but his brothers were scornful and Saul was doubtful. "You are a youth," Saul said. But David told him how he had killed the lion and the bear that had threatened his flocks. In verse 37, he said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/XcCu1zwXd1A1 ]

And God did.

Our Lord's past performance of faithfulness is an ever-present comfort during times of distress. One of the reasons God allows trials is to strengthen our faith for the future. Don't waste yesterday's lessons by forgetting the deliverance of God. The same God who delivered you from the lion and the bear will give you victory and grace today and tomorrow.

Never, never forget the things He has done.
David Jeremiah, in  When Your World Falls Apart

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zephaniah 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/acCu1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, September 27 & 28

Back to School: Penmanship

Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.
Jeremiah 30:2

Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 30:1-7 [ http://iz3.me/7tKu1zwXd1A1 ]

As our children head back to school, it's a good time to talk with them about good penmanship -- and to practice it ourselves. Every Christian should be reading one book -- the Bible -- and writing two. The first is a daily journal. Though not everyone finds this helpful, it's hard to object to keeping a small notebook (either literally or electronically) beside our Bibles so we can jot down the daily insights that come from our Bible study.

Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/8tKu1zwXd1A1 ]

The other book is an autobiography. Somewhere and somehow we should begin recording our testimony for those who will come after us. It might be a document you work on whenever you have a chance; or it might be a few handwritten stories you file away in the desk or in your family Bible.

When we're dead and gone, our voices will no longer be heard on earth; but if we leave behind an account of our testimonies, we can minister to the next generation. Why not start your journal and a simple record of your life today? After all, it's back-to-school time!

A journal is an aid to concentration, a mirror for the soul, a place to generate and capture ideas, a safety valve for the emotions, and a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Ron Klug

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Haggai 1-2, Zechariah 1-5 [ http://iz3.me/9tKu1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Monday, September 29

Mindful of You

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?
Psalm 8:3-4a

Recommended Reading
Psalm 111:1-9 [ http://iz3.me/OPNu1zwXd1A1 ]

When the ancients looked up at the heavens, they didn't know what they were seeing. We may know more about the universe than they did, but we still know relatively little. The observable universe is thought to be 92 billion light-years in diameter -- and one light-year is 6 trillion miles. So do the math: 92 billion times 6 trillion equals . . . well, it equals a long way from one side of the observable universe to the other. And what about the  unobservable  part?

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/PPNu1zwXd1A1 ]

Based just on what they saw and understood of the heavens, the ancient biblical writers were overwhelmed with their smallness measured against its immensity. And they were amazed that God invested time and attention in them. When we have problems in life, they seem very large -- and they are. But when we consider that God is powerful enough to have created the universe, we realize He is more than capable of meeting our needs.

God cares about you and your needs. Bring them to Him in a spirit of worship and thanksgiving, knowing that He is mindful of your place in His creation.

The vast majority of mankind never gives a thought of gratitude towards God for all His care and blessings.
Donald Grey Barnhouse

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 6-10  [ http://iz3.me/QPNu1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, September 30

King and Counselor

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Recommended Reading
John 14:16, 26 [ http://iz3.me/VSWu1zwXd1A1 ]

One of the embarrassing facts about King David's affair with Bathsheba was that she was the granddaughter of Ahithophel the Gilonite, one of David's most trusted counselors (2 Samuel 15:12). Seeking counsel from Ahithophel was "as if one had inquired at the oracle of God" (2 Samuel 16:23).

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/XSWu1zwXd1A1 ]

Kings had counselors, even if they didn't always follow their advice. The sage -- the wise man -- was an important part of God's economy in Israel along with prophet, priest, and king. But counselors were fallible; their advice was not perfect, so kings had more than one. But the prophet Isaiah foresaw a day when One would come who was both king and counselor; One who would be a counselor to those He ruled. That person was the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. After giving Israel counsel for three years on earth, He returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to continue His ministry of Counselor to His people (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7, HCSB).

If you need counsel, start with the One who is both Counselor and King -- the One who is the source of both wisdom and power.

God never needs to change His counsels.
Matthew Henry

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 11-14  [ http://iz3.me/aSWu1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, October 1

Sooner Than Expected

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3

Recommended Reading
Revelation 1:1-7 [ http://iz3.me/Hhhu1zwXd1A1 ]

An economist released a book earlier this year predicting the collapse of the global monetary system, but in a recent interview he confessed he got something wrong. "The tempo of events is faster than expected," he said. "Therefore some of these catastrophic outcomes may come sooner than I wrote about."1 That's how Christians feel about world events. Rogue nations are acquiring nuclear weapons. Terrorism is a constant threat. Government surveillance is relentless. Middle East tensions are rising. Missionary work is expanding. And morals are collapsing like dominoes.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Ihhu1zwXd1A1 ]

What a great time to read and study the book of Revelation! When we read the Bible's concluding book, we're motivated by its promise of blessing -- Christ's return. He is coming swiftly. He is coming surely. He is coming suddenly. And He is coming for us.

If you're anxious about the state of the world, that's understandable. But trade your anxiety for the blessing of hearing the words of Scripture, keeping them in faith and obedience, and remembering the time is near.

Jesus is coming back -- it could even be today.
David Jeremiah

1"'Death of Money': Author Rickards predicts collapse of global monetary system," trunews.com/death-money-author-rickards-predicts-collapse-global-monetary-system/ (accessed June 23, 2014).

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Malachi 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/Jhhu1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, October 2

Fear No Evil

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
Psalm 49:5

Recommended Reading
Galatians 1:1-5 [ http://iz3.me/Tlsu1zwXd1A1 ]

Revelation devotes several chapters to the coming days of evil and tribulation. Reading these passages, we sense the time drawing near. We're astounded at the evil of our days and prone to worry about the evils to be unleashed on earth.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/alsu1zwXd1A1 ]

But remember, the times have always been evil. Genesis 6:5 says of mankind in Noah's day, "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart  was  only evil continually." Moses described his people as, "this evil generation"(Deuteronomy 1:35). Isaiah called the people of his day "a brood of evildoers" (Isaiah 1:4). Jesus referred to His generation as evil (Matthew 12:39). Paul told people in his age to redeem the time "because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16).

Perhaps the evil is worse now; we're closer to the end than we've ever been before. But evil has been around since the Garden of Eden, and God's plan for victory was designed before the world began. The Bible tells us to fear no evil. Because Christ triumphed, we will also overcome evil in the end. Trust Christ in this evil age and redeem the time, for the days are evil.

Though walking through death's dismal shade, no evil will I fear; Thy rod, Thy staff shall lend me aid, for Thou art ever near.
John Quincy Adams

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/blsu1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Friday, October 3

Biblical Boldness

.. . . and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14

Recommended Reading
Matthew 24:1-14 [ http://iz3.me/dr5v1zwXd1A1 ]

In The Global War on Christians, John L. Allen Jr. calls persecution against Christians "the most dramatic religion story of the early twenty-first century, yet one that most people in the West have little idea is even happening . . . Christians today indisputably are the most persecuted religious body on the planet."1 Allen goes on to catalogue blood-chilling stories of believers being oppressed, imprisoned, vilified, and slain around the world each day.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/er5v1zwXd1A1 ]

And yet the Church is growing. Reports from Latin America, Asia, and Africa tell of incredible numbers coming to Christ. Even in the West, there are signs of revival and a resurgence of evangelism as Millennials search for an alternative to the emptiness of secularism.

In His sermon on the Signs of the Times, Jesus said, "You will be hated by all nations for My name's sake . . . And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world" (Matthew 24:9, 14). The persecution of Christians has never been worse, but the proclamation of Christ has never been greater -- just as Jesus predicted. It's time for biblical boldness.

The world today may have big problems, but what would it have been like had not hundreds of thousands of Christians given their lives sacrificially... to meet its physical and spiritual needs?
Patrick Johnstone, in The Future of the Global Church

1John L. Allen Jr., The Global War on Christians (New York: Crown, 2013), introduction.

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 5-6 [ http://iz3.me/gr5v1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, October 4 & 5

Seasonal Changes: Priorities

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3

Recommended Reading
Philippians 3:7-11 [ http://iz3.me/dMDv1zwXd1A1 ]

We hear a lot about priorities in life and there are many. Every area of life -- family, work, personal -- has its own set of priorities. But is there one that stands above all others? It could be said that attaining eternal life is more important than any other goal in life. After all, eternal life was the gift of God in the beginning, and it is what was lost due to sin. So reestablishing that status could be seen as Priority One in life.

Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/eMDv1zwXd1A1 ]

"But I have already achieved that priority," you say. "After all, Jesus said that knowing the Father and the Son is eternal life. I know the Father through faith in Christ and have eternal life." Yes, knowing Christ is where eternal life begins; but by its very definition it never ends. All of our earthly, temporal life should be lived in light of the eternity we possess and the presence of God we anticipate. We should be living now the same way we will live in heaven forever.

As the season changes, ask whether your life is changing as well. Is your life taking on more and more of a Christlike quality every day -- becoming less temporal, more eternal?

You must therefore live, in the present, as far as possible like you will live in the future.   N. T. Wright

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 7-11 [ http://iz3.me/fMDv1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Monday, October 6

Whom Do We Fear?

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
1 Peter 4:19

Recommended Reading
1 Peter 2:19-21 [ http://iz3.me/0aFv1zwXd1A1 ]

In September 2013, Meriam Ibrahim, a Sudanese doctor, was imprisoned for having married a Christian Sudanese man who is a U.S. citizen. She was sentenced to 100 lashes for her "adultery" and sentenced to death for not renouncing her Christian faith. Her sentences were delayed until she could give birth to the child she was carrying, a birth that occurred in May 2014, in a squalid prison where she was kept. Sudanese officials have come under worldwide condemnation for their faith-based persecution of Ibrahim. And she has not wavered: "I refuse to change. I am not giving up Christianity just so that I can live.... If they want to execute me then they should go ahead and do it because I'm not going to change my faith."

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/1aFv1zwXd1A1 ]

Persecution of Christians happens every day around the world. But Christians cannot live their lives in fear of persecution. Rather, we must live in fear (in awe) of God. Man can touch the body but only God can touch the soul (Matthew 10:28).

Purpose daily to live a life of trust and commitment, following Christ wherever He may lead.

Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold -- it is one of the marks of a converted man.
J. C. Ryle

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 12-13 [ http://iz3.me/2aFv1zwXd1A1 ]