Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

 
Wednesday, May 22

Armstrong or Strong Arm

You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
Psalm 89:13 (NASB)

Recommended Reading
Matthew 24:36-42 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:36-42&version=NKJV )

When cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted to doping and lying,  USA Today  ran an article on how he could get back into good graces, saying: "He just has to repent -- or appear to," in four stages: Confession ("I did it"); Contrition ("I'm sorry I did it"); Conversion ("I will not do it again"); and Atonement ("I will do this because I did that").1

Listen to Today's Radio Message  (  http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

Those terms have a biblical ring to them; but when celebrities go on television with their scandals it often seems more like damage control and media manipulation than genuine repentance.

How refreshing in an age of flawed heroes to turn to the most honest person in history. Everything Jesus said is true, spoken earnestly for our good. His words about the future are as truthful as His other teachings. Jesus predicted all that is to come from now until His return, and both His promises and His person are perfectly reliable.

In days like these, we can lean on His strong arm.

Every other refuge in which you may seek safety and rest will, sooner or later, turn out to be a refuge of lies; but the refuge to be found in Jesus will never disappoint your hopes: it will abide forever.
Anonymous quote in a nineteenth-century tract

1Rick Hampson "Can You Forgive Lance Armstrong?", USA Today, January 18, 2013, 1A.

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 4-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%204-7&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, May 23

Tragic Ending

But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse.
2 Timothy 3:13

Recommended Reading
2 Timothy 3:10-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203:10-17&version=NKJV )

A tragic but bizarre story appeared in Florida newspapers earlier this year. A sixty-eight-year-old man in the Panhandle had just driven into the driveway of his home and stepped out of the car to open the gate. He left the car door open, and his excited dog jumped into the vehicle, somehow hit the accelerator, ran over the man, and killed him.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

The point of the story is that some days we feel like strange forces are accelerating history. The human race is careening into the Last Days with an alarming speed. The Bible teaches that evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

As Christians, we needn't worry about what lies ahead. We know whose hand is guiding history.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake. To guide the future, as He has the past.
Katharina A. von Schlegel, hymnist

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 8-10  ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%208-10&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Friday, May 24   "Blessed Is Your Advice"

The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings.
1 Samuel 25:3

Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 25:23-33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2025:23-33&version=NKJV )

Question: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? Answer: A woman has to intervene.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

In 1 Samuel 25, David, running for his life accompanied by a group of malcontents, sought help from a surly and stingy man named Nabal. Conflict and bloodshed seemed inevitable until Nabal's wife, Abigail, saddled her donkey and sought out David to appeal for peace. Her measured and reasonable words prompted David to reply, "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice" (verses 32-33).

One day Jesus will bring peace to the world, but until then we can take His message of peace to others and be peacemakers at home, work, and school. We can give such wise counsel that others will say, "Blessed is your advice." Do you know an angry soul? Can you say a word to bring calmness to his or her heart and pour oil on troubled waters? "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

Lord, help me be a person who speaks words that build up and not tear down.
Stormie Omartian in A Book of Prayer

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 11-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%2011-13&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, May 25 & 26

May Flowers: Victory Bouquet

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

Recommended Reading
1 John 5:3-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%205:3-5&version=NKJV )

Floral students at several British colleges were given a daunting assignment in the summer of 2012: help put together 4,800 victory bouquets to be presented to the medal recipients in the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Designed by a British floral icon, the late Jane Packer, each bouquet contained four groups of English roses (yellow, orange, green, pink), 10 sprigs each of rosemary, apple mint, and wheat, and 60 sprigs of lavender -- all English-grown.

Watch This Week's TV Broadcast   ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )

To win an Olympic medal is perhaps one of history's most coveted kinds of victory -- whether gold, silver, or bronze. But the apostles made more than one reference to victory crowns in their day, especially athletic crowns, that will ultimately fade away -- contrasting them with the "imperishable ... crown of glory that does not fade away..." (1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Peter 5:4). The victory over death won by Jesus Christ is the victory in which we share as His followers.

Few of us will breathe the rarified air atop an Olympic victory stand. But all it takes is faith in Jesus to participate in eternity's greatest victory celebration.

Let's keep our chins up and our knees down -- we're on the victory side!
Alan Redpath

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Esther 1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%201-10&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Monday, May 27

Earthly Distractions

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Mark 13:8a

Recommended Reading
Daniel 10:1-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%2010:1-21&version=NKJV )

Wars and conflicts are a part of life in a fallen world. But behind those conflicts are spiritual realities and dynamics that demand our attention and our involvement. That's the reason Jesus taught His disciples to pray for God's kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Only when the spiritual dynamics on earth are changed will the physical dynamics between nations and people change as well.

Listen to Today's Radio Message   ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

Job 1-2 and Daniel 10 give glimpses into how spiritual realities affect life on earth. Satan likes nothing better than to stir up conflict and foment rebellion on earth. For when man is fighting against man, then man's attention is taken away from God. When man is occupied with physical realities alone -- peace between nations and individuals -- then spiritual realities escape his attention. Creation's groaning is heard in part in the cries of humans in conflict with one another (Romans 8:18-22).

It is the Christian's duty to stay focused on heavenly citizenship and realities, to pray for the kingdom of God to be consummated on earth. Pray today for God's kingdom to come  on earth as it is in heaven.

We must never settle for harmony at the expense of holiness, nor for peace at the expense of principle.
John Bradford

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201-4&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, May 28

Grant Me Wisdom

Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:22

Recommended Reading
1 John 2:18-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202:18-23&version=NKJV )

Throughout the Bible, the sacred writers warned of a coming man of lawlessness who would be history's ultimate dictator and antichrist. The Book of Daniel says he will be a king "having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.... He shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes" (Daniel 8:23-25).

Listen to Today's Radio Message  ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

But the apostle John makes another point: "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18).

We need to be sensitive to the fact that when someone claims to have all the answers, perhaps they're simply exalting themselves and misrepresenting their true motives, as the Antichrist will do when he comes. Let's be as wise as serpents, asking God for wisdom to weigh the words of others. Don't believe everything you hear, and don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1).

Thy Word alone true wisdom can impart; thou only canst instruct the mind. and purify the heart.
George W. Doane, hymnist

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 5-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%205-8&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, May 29

Fooled by Peace

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
Daniel 9:27

Recommended Reading
Daniel 9:25-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%209:25-27&version=NKJV )

Bible scholars have speculated for centuries about the identity of the Antichrist. Some years ago, speculation swirled around Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. During apostolic times, Nero was a prime suspect. Trying to identify the Antichrist is not a totally futile exercise, for we should be on our guard at all times. The names mentioned above and others are likely precursors to the future and ultimate Antichrist, as were Antiochus and Alexander the Great.

Listen to Today's Radio Message   ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

We don't know who the Antichrist is, but one thing we do know. When he comes, he will try to imitate Jesus Christ, even to the point of appearing as a peacemaker. He will establish a peace covenant with Israel, and then break it. The human race is so desperately seeking peace that we're vulnerable to being fooled. But there's only one real Prince of Peace. Jesus alone can bring peace to the human heart and to the human race. Accept no substitutes. Be fooled by no imitations.

[The Antichrist] is both a false Christ and against Christ. He masquerades as an angel of light only to plunge the world into spiritual darkness.
Tim LaHaye

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 9-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%209-12&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, May 30

Few Agonizers

Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary.
Daniel 9:17

Recommended Reading
Daniel 9:17-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%209:17-19&version=NKJV )

In his book, Why Revival Tarries, the late preacher Leonard Ravenhill wrote of the prayerlessness of many churches. "We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere."

Listen to Today's Radio Message   ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

If you want to see a man of God in prayer, look at the ninth chapter of Daniel. He set his face toward the Lord to make requests by prayer and supplication in great humility and prolonged earnestness. He confessed his sins and those of his people. He pleaded for mercy, begging for God's "face to shine" on His sanctuary.

How could you improve your life of prayer? Could you take a little more time, be a little more specific, pray a little more frequently? What about devoting an entire hour to prayer, or a morning, or a day?

Lord, teach us to pray!

No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying.
Leonard Ravenhill

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 13-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2013-16&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Friday, May 31

Prayer, Not Despair

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Colossians 4:12

Recommended Reading
Colossians 4:12-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%204:12-18&version=NKJV )

Epaphras is our model when it comes to praying for our children, grandchildren, or other loved ones who need a strengthening touch from the Lord. One translation renders this verse: "He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" (NIV). Notice how he prayed -- laboring fervently and wrestling. Notice what he prayed -- that his friends would stand firm and complete, fully assured in the will of God.

Listen to Today's Radio Message   ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

If you want to see a man of God in prayer, look at the ninth chapter of Daniel. He set his face toward the Lord to make requests by prayer and supplication in great humility and prolonged earnestness. He confessed his sins and those of his people. He pleaded for mercy, begging for God's "face to shine" on His sanctuary.

Why not adopt an Epaphras attitude toward someone on your heart. Perhaps your child or brother or friend has a problem you can't solve. No words or actions of yours can make things better. No, but you can pray. You can wrestle in prayer. You can plead fervently, knowing the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much (James 5:16). Remember what Samuel told Israel:  Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you  (1 Samuel 12:23).

Try prayer, not despair.

Like a perspiring wrestler straining every muscle, summoning every last ounce of strength.... Epaphras prayed to the point of exhaustion.
J. Oswald Sanders

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 17-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2017-20&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, June 1 & 2

Impact

Benjamin Franklin remains a household name more than two hundred years after his death. To be remembered after your death, Franklin said, you must either write things worth reading or do things worth writing about -- and he seems to have done both.

Watch This Week's TV Broadcast   ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )

Being remembered is a worthy goal, but not for reasons of fame. Instead, the legacy we leave behind for our children and others is definitely worth considering. It's not important that people write books about us. But it is important that they be encouraged to live a good and godly life because of being touched by the life we lived.

Make a positive impact on the road to new life.

Discover God's ways to impact lives for eternity . . . on Route 66.

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 21-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2021-30&version=NKJV )