Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

Monday, September 19

Fervent in Spirit... Serving...

...fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11b

Recommended Reading
Romans 12:6-11


Revivals are launching pads for each new generation of Christian workers. A limited revival touched parts of our world after World War II, and many Christian organizations, missionary agencies, and parachurch groups trace their origins to the late 1940s. There was a stirring of revival on college campuses in the early 1970s. Time magazine called it the "Jesus Movement." Today many pastors and workers trace their conversion or call to ministry to that era.

When revival comes, it immediately revives God's work in the midst of the years. Revival is like water falling on a wilted plant. It perks us up and produces in us fruitfulness for God's glory. When we experience renewal, we don't have to beg for workers at church. We don't have to pressure people to serve against their will. We don't have to struggle to support our missionaries. The incoming tide lifts all the boats.

We don't have to wait for national or global revival to live in revival ourselves. Get excited about the Lord, and let His excitement fuel your passion.

The result of every great awakening, every great time of renewal, has been an overflow of ministry in the work of God.
David Jeremiah

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 12:15-14:12

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, September 20

Armed and Dangerous

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
Ephesians 2:14

Recommended Reading
Ephesians 2:13-19


Peter Cartwright, frontier evangelist, once preached in the backwoods. Two young men--armed and dangerous enemies--attended without the one knowing the other was there. When Cartwright gave the invitation, one of the men responded and knelt at one end of the altar. The other knelt at the opposite side. Cartwright went to the first, prayed with him, and asked for his pistol. Then he prayed with the other and took his sidearm as well.

Rising from the altar, the young men suddenly saw each other and instantly started toward one another. For a second the audience held its breath. But the men embraced, and from that day they were brothers in Christ.

Most of our problems with others would be resolved if we'd get our own hearts right with the Lord. Revival ushers in love. We're proud and stubborn by nature, but at the foot of the cross we find the love of Jesus and the capacity to love our neighbor as ourselves, and thus to fulfill all the law of God.

We should practice thinking of ourselves as members of the blessed family of God and should strive in prayer to love and appreciate everyone who is born of the Father.
A. W. Tozer

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 14:13-16:28

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, September 21

Walking by Faith

...being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Romans 4:21

Recommended Reading
John 4:46-54


Faith is keeping our spirits up when circumstances are down. It's basing our attitudes on what is promised in God's Word, not on what is unfolding in our world. Faith is being fully persuaded God has the power to do what He has said.

Once when Jesus was visiting Cana in Galilee, an official came from Capernaum with an urgent request. The man's son was dying, and the man begged Jesus to come heal him. Instead Jesus told the man to return home, for his son would recover. John 4:50-51 (NIV) says, "...the man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living." This man had literally turned and walked away by faith, and Jesus was as good as His word.

Are you anxious today?

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise" (Hebrews 10:23, NLT).

Faith does not wait to understand. We have His word, and if it were not so, He would have told us.
Vance Havner

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 17:1-19:30

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, September 22

Bible-Based Revival

And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 30:22a

Recommended Reading
2 Chron. 30:21-22


The book of 2 Chronicles is the Bible's handbook on revival, describing the periodic waves of revival that swept over Judah. One of the greatest revivals occurred during the reign of King Hezekiah, who had the sense to encourage those who were teaching the "good knowledge of the Lord." By maintaining sound Bible teaching for his nation, Hezekiah fanned the flames of revival so it wouldn't die down.

Genuine revival is rooted in solid biblical teaching. A revival that doesn't rest on the Word of God will either fade out or will turn into an ostentatious display of emotionalism and sensationalism. The effect will be momentary. Nothing except a return to Scripture can arouse a nation, a church, or an individual back to God from a backslidden condition. We must have the power and authority of God's truth.

For personal revival, open your Bible. Encourage those who teach and preach God's Word, and respond to the implanted Word with humility and obedience.

God has promised to respond with revival fire for any person who will hear, love, trust, and obey Him.
Bill Bright

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 20:1-22:14

[Judy Harder]

Friday, September 23

Spiritually Sanitized

...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct...
1 Peter 1:15

Recommended Reading
2 Chron. 29: 4-19


As children, our mothers always reminded us to wash our hands. But sales of hand sanitizer have skyrocketed since being introduced to the public in the late 90s. A recent study showed hand sanitizers containing ethanol more effective at removing rhinovirus (a cold virus) than washing with soap and water! And sanitizers with both ethanol and organic acids significantly reduce recovery of the virus from hands up to four hours after application.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a spiritual sanitizer that could remove our ability to sin for several hours at a time? The theological term, sanctification, describes the process of becoming more holy--clean. Sanctification is a continual process, living each day in awe and remembrance of Jesus' blood sacrifice on the Cross. King Hezekiah led the nation of Israel to repentance and a return to sanctification (2 Chronicles 29). He cleansed Israel's place of worship, the temple, and the nation was spiritually renewed.

Today we don't have a designated temple for worship. Worship is represented by our personal holiness before God. And when God brings revival, He starts cleaning the rubbish out. So get busy cleaning--spiritually sanitizing, that is.

Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.
Jerry Bridges

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 22:15-24:31

[Judy Harder]

 


Culture Threat #3: The Attack on Our Alliance With Israel


After President Obama presented his Middle East policy before the UN General Assembly this week, cries of confusion continued amidst unstable world conditions and threats of war.

Israel continues to be abandoned by her allies.

God's Word is clear in Genesis 12:3: Bless Israel and be blessed; curse Israel and be cursed. America has been Israel's best friend in the world. However, over the last few years, our commitment to Israel has weakened. It is more than coincidental that as our commitment has wavered, America's prosperity, posture, and place in the world has begun to decline.

No other race or nation has ever had the phrase "chosen people of God" attached to them as the Bible attaches it to the Jews. It is their very existence that supports their claim to a supernatural beginning and continuance.

We must not think that the promises of God can be compromised or renegotiated at the bargaining table. God has spoken about Israel, and His words never fail to accomplish the purpose for which they were sent.

Let us seek God's favor on our nation by preserving, protecting, and defending the nation of Israel. Our future depends on it.

What you can do:

Prepare:

Read Genesis 12:1-3 and Deuteronomy 7:6-8.
Educate yourself on world news that impacts Israel.
Read Chapter Nine of I Never Thought I'd See the Day! that examines the history of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.
Pray:

Pray for our leaders in public office to support Israel.
Pray for "the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6).
Pray for the spiritual salvation of the Jewish people - the chosen people of God.
Participate:

Use whatever means are available to influence those who establish national policies in Washington to support Israel - vote, write letters, call your senators and representatives.
Do what you can to preserve, protect, and defend the nation of Israel.
Listen and watch I Never Thought I'd See the Day! on Turning Point Television and Radio.
I want to help you know what God's Word says about the cultural and spiritual changes impacting America and the Church today and also how to live faithfully in the midst of them.

Pre-order I Never Thought I'd See the Day! now, and discover the extraordinary opportunity to help reverse these destructive trends and call America back to faith in God, back to the solid foundation of His Word.

And when you order today, you will have access to more than 100 Bible online resources at no cost to you!

God bless you,



David Jeremiah
 

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, September 24 & 25


Revive Us Again: The Revival of 1906

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Recommended Reading
2 Chron. 7:12-15
About a hundred years ago, a college student in Wales named Evan Roberts felt a passion for revival. Returning to his village of Loughor, he preached to seventeen people, and his sermon had four points: (1) Confess any known sin to God and put away any wrong done to others; (2) put away any doubtful habit; (3) obey the Holy Spirit promptly; and (4) confess faith in Christ openly.

By week's end, sixty people had been converted. Within three months 100,000 converts were added to the churches in Wales. The revival spread around the globe, and the years between 1904 and 1911 are remembered as the last years in which our world has experienced a truly global revival. A perusal of almost any ministerial or missionary biography during this era will document some level of revival in diverse parts of the earth.

Our globe needs another hundred-year revival! Let's follow the counsel of 2 Chronicles 7:14, praying that God will send a revival to heal our land.

The spiritual disciplines of 2 Chronicles 7:14 are not just conditions for true revival; they are the revival itself!
Lewis Drummond

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 24:32-26:29
Matthew 26:30-27:31

[Judy Harder]

Monday, September 26


The Revival We Need

I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land... but I found no one.
Ezekiel 22:30

Recommended Reading
Ezekiel 22:24-30
In his book, The Revival We Need, Oswald J. Smith said, "As far back as I can remember my heart has burned within me whenever I have heard or read accounts of the mighty work of God in great Revivals of past years.... From my boyhood it has been my delight to read more or less of God's work along these lines, but lately I have been led to lay all else aside and to literally devour everything I could lay hands on regarding Revival work."

He continued, "As I studied the lives of those whom God has signally used all down the centuries... I was compelled to admit that I could see nothing like it today either in my own ministry or in the ministry of others."

Moved by his study of revival, Smith devoted the rest of his life to praying and working for spiritual awakening. Any renewal begins with one spiritual person. God always has a person through whom He works to change things around. Let's be students of past revivals--and instruments for one in our own day.

Nothing less than a genuine Revival in the Body of Christ, resulting in a true Awakening among the unsaved, will ever satisfy the heart of God.
Oswald J. Smith


Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 27:32-Mark 1:45

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, September 27
The Rescuing Prince

Whatever is not from faith is sin.
Romans 14:23

Recommended Reading
Romans 14:21-24

Nick Barnett, 70, was hiking in the beautiful Snowdonia Mountains of northern Wales when he collapsed with chest pains. His companions called for help on a cell phone, and presently a helicopter appeared in the sky. It was a British Sea King Chopper, and it whisked the hiker to a nearby hospital where he was treated. What made headlines was who was at the controls. Prince William was on duty that day in the RAF as a search-and-rescue pilot, and he's the one who rescued the hiker.

Sin is spiritual heart blockage. It's moral plaque that cuts off the flow of the Spirit to our hearts. It leads to a diseased life and to ultimate death. No earthly prince can help us, for sin is an inherited and terminal disease. But we have a rescuing Savior--the Prince of Peace--who forgives our sins, restores our wellbeing, and gives us life both abundant and eternal.

Is there any buildup of spiritual plaque in your heart? Whatever is not of faith is sin, and only by earnestly confessing it can the Holy Spirit revamp the affected area of your life.

When we honestly confess our sins, He forgives us, cleans us up, and even gives us grace to walk in obedience.
Woodrow Kroll


Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 2:1-4:25

[Judy Harder]

Maybe at some point you have been worried. Perhaps you have asked God to help you understand the circumstances you are facing ...

Or, perhaps at some point, you have found yourself doubting God, maybe even praying, Lord, how can I be sure You are real? ...

Perhaps you're stuck in the middle of a tough day -- or week, or month, or year -- and you wonder, Where can I find encouragement?

Sometimes it's hard to know who or what to believe when you need honest answers to the real-life questions, dilemmas, and crises you face. But I've got good news for you:

You can find God's answers -- His promises -- and practical application to help you through the challenges of life.  Click here to find out how ...

• Jesus, I want to believe in You. How can I be sure You are real?
• It's been a tough day, Lord. Do You have any words of encouragement?
• I'm lonely, Lord. What is the secret to good relationships?
• I want to be a better parent, God. Can You help me with the challenges I'm facing?

Click here to learn more about how I am committed to helping you find God's answers to these questions ... and more ... straight from the Word of God -- the best source to comfort, help, encourage, and teach you.

God bless you,



David Jeremiah