Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

Friday, November 15

A Day of Giving Thanks

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Recommended Reading
Ephesians 5:18-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%205:18-20&version=NKJV )

As an experiment, consider giving God thanks "in everything" for a solid day. Give thanks, not repeating "Thank you, Lord" with every breath all day long, but in every event or occurrence. Every time something new happens -- phone call, flat tire, unexpected bill to pay, compliment, criticism, injury -- ask this question: "What is there in this situation or event that provides a reason to give thanks to God?"

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

Many people have misread 1 Thessalonians 5:18. It doesn't say "For everything give thanks," it says "In everything give thanks." There are many challenging things that happen in life for which we don't naturally, even supernaturally, feel thankful. But when we consider that God is our Father, that He knows the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7), and that the days of our life are planned by Him ahead of time (Psalm 139:16) -- it stands to reason that there are no accidents with God. We know that God is able to use even the difficult things in life for our good (Romans 8:28), to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

If you have a hard time seeing a reason to thank Him for something that happens, do the next best thing: Ask Him to show you.

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.
Ambrose

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 10-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2010-11&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, November 16 & 17

Blessing Bundles: Health, Care, and Comfort

He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45b

Recommended Reading
Matthew 5:43-48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:43-48&version=NKJV )

French novelist Alphonse Karr wrote, "Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses." None of us have perfect circumstances in life. That's a state reserved for heaven. But we all have the blessings of common grace, and God's children have the blessings that come from being in Christ.

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

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us that God is gracious to all humanity. Even the most despicable person on earth can enjoy a new sunrise every morning and a fresh rain shower in season. We all have air to breathe and a beautiful creation to enjoy. Christians additionally have all the benefits of grace. The Bible says: "Blessed  be  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly  places  in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).

Try offering this old prayer: "Lord, Thank You that I'm as well off as I am." God has given you a degree of health, care, and comfort. Focus on your blessings, and learn to thank God for the roses.

Do all things without grumbling. Why? You have a sovereign God who is on your side, who works everything together for your good.
John Piper

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 12-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2012-15&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Monday, November 18

Heaven on Earth

Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 7:12

Recommended Reading
Revelation 21:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021:1-6&version=NKJV )

A woman in New Zealand recently called the emergency number, and her groans and moans led operators to think she was a captive. Police rushed to her house to find that she wasn't bound and gagged at all; she had accidently put superglue on her lips, thinking it was her medicated lip ointment, and her lips were sealed shut.

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

Sometimes we Christians moan and groan as if our lips were sealed shut, but we ought to be so filled with the Spirit we're singing and worshipping God with enthusiasm. That's the way worship is rendered in heaven. Perhaps you've noticed how frequently hymns occur in the Book of Revelation. Songs of praise are constantly interjected in the action in that apocalyptic book.

The idea that we'll one day be in the presence of God for all eternity is beyond our finite understanding; but when we spend time in worship now, we begin to see a glimpse of what heaven will be like. When we worship, we experience a momentary hint of heaven on earth.

Surely if we ask God to bless us, the least we can do is to bless Him.
A.W. Pink, in The Lord's Prayer

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016-17&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, November 19

Defining God

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17

Recommended Reading
John 14:7-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:7-11&version=NKJV )

What would you tell someone who asked for a definition of God? One person aptly replied: "God is the One who exists beyond all definition."

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

Another person, the well-known theologian Charles Hodge, suggested the best definition of God that was ever penned is in the Westminster Shorter Catechism: "God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth."

Another way of defining God is by looking at Christ, for Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Jesus is God personified, the Word made flesh who dwelled among us. When we hear Christ's wisdom, we're listening to God. When we see His power, we're witnessing omnipotence. When we feel His love, we know the love God lavishes on us. Christ is worthy of our praise because of who He is, and we should praise Him all day long. As British hymnist Henry Lyte wrote: "Praise my soul, the King of heaven; to His feet thy tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore His praises sing."

Jesus is God! O! Could I now but compass earth and sea, to teach and tell the single truth, how happy should I be!
Frederick W. Faber

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 18-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018-19&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, November 20

What Manner of Man!

He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
Mark 2:10-12

Recommended Reading
Mark 2:1-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202:1-12&version=NKJV )

When your mind turns to Christ, rejoice first in who He is -- His person, His divine and human natures, for He is both God and man. Then think of what He has done -- His work. Visualize as best you can the scene when He created the heavens and earth. See Him entering the world as a baby, becoming a miracle worker, wielding His power over wind and weather, over sickness and sorrow, over death and demons. Remember how He died for us, rose again, ascended to heaven, and will soon return in glory. Think, too, of what He does for us each day -- the blessings He pours into our lives, the way He is interceding now for us as our Great High Priest.

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

Sometimes we're too busy to consider Him as we ought. Take time today to ponder anew the person and work of Christ. If we really think on these things, we'll be like the people in Mark 2 who "were amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We never saw  anything  like this!'"

Most men are notable for one conspicuous virtue or grace -- Moses for meekness, Job for patience, John for love. But in Jesus you find everything.
J. Oswald Sanders

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 20-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020-21&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, November 21

Spiritual War, Spiritual Battlefield

Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir ... and they were defeated.
2 Chronicles 20:22

Recommended Reading
Ephesians 6:10-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206:10-20&version=NKJV )

When enemies of Judah came against her, King Jehoshaphat called the people to fast and pray. And he led the prayers, beginning with praise: "O Lord God of our fathers, ... do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations ... ?" (2 Chronicles 20:5-6) He went on with further praise before making a simple request: "O our God, will You not judge them?" (verse 12a) And he concluded: "Nor do we know what to do, but our eyes  are  upon You" (verse 12b).

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

There is only one being who would motivate a massive attack on the people of God: Satan (1 John 5:19). Regardless of what Jehoshaphat knew about spiritual warfare, he did the right thing. Instead of looking at the enemy, he put his eyes on God: "Our eyes are upon You." The majority of his prayer was spent in praise to God, a minority in requests (Matthew 6:. When Paul concluded his instructions on spiritual warfare, he said to pray "with all prayer and supplication" (Ephesians 6:18).

Spiritual warfare is won in the spiritual realm -- and begins with prayers of physical praise.

Let earth and heaven combine, angels and men agree, to praise in songs divine the incarnate Deity.
Charles Wesley

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 22-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2022-23&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Friday, November 22

How to Confuse the Enemy

So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets.... And the people shouted with a great shout, [ and ] the wall [ of Jericho ] fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Joshua 6:20

Recommended Reading
Judges 7:15-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%207:15-23&version=NKJV )

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Paul says the people of God do not "war according to the flesh." Our weapons are "mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." A classic example of fighting differently was when the "stronghold" of Jericho was taken by the Israelites (Joshua 6).

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

The world is not used to seeing God's people act unexpectedly. So when the armies of Israel marched around Jericho for six days, and on the seventh day blew their celebratory trumpets and gave a shout of victory, they likely didn't know what to think. Israel rushed over the collapsed walls and took the city. The same thing happened when Gideon used torches, pitchers, and trumpets to completely confuse his enemies (Judges 7). The armies were thrown into confusion and fled the scene.

Satan is the author of fear. When God's people are courageous instead of fearful, their enemies -- spiritual or human -- are confused. Trumpets and shouts of praise are signs of victory by faith!

We should be always wearing the garment of praise, not just waving a palm branch now and then.
Andrew Bonar

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 24-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2024-26&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

 
Weekend, November 23 & 24

Blessing Bundles: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14

Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%201:1-2&version=NKJV )

The Trinity is the most unique aspect of Christian truth. Christians believe there is one God who eternally exists in Three Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a doctrine that is easy to state, yet impossible to understand. After all, if God were small enough to be understood, He wouldn't be big enough to be worshipped.

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

Perhaps the simplest explanation for the Trinity comes from Charles Colson, who described the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as: God Above, God Beside, God Within. We have a Father --  God above us. We have a Savior -- God beside us. We have a Spirit -- God within us. That's a humble explanation for the Trinity, but it's not inaccurate.

God's grace is conveyed to us through the Trinity. We are triply blessed in every way, as reflected in the Apostolic Benediction of 2 Corinthians 13. Anytime we see a passage in the Bible mentioning all three members of the Trinity, it is invariably a passage of blessing and grace (see Revelation 1:4-6). We are healthier people when we understand and enjoy God above us, God beside us, and God within us.

The Trinity ... answers the deepest needs of the human heart, offering a depth of spirituality unknown in any other religion.
Charles Colson, in  The Faith

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 27-28, Romans 1-3  ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027-28,%20Romans%201-3%20&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Monday, November 25

Look Up!

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.
Psalm 5:3

Recommended Reading
Psalm 5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%205&version=NKJV )

The phrase "look up" occurs four times in the Bible (NKJV), and it conveys four different truths. In Psalm 40:12, the writer was so discouraged by looking around him that he found it difficult to look up: "Innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up." But Mark 8:25 says Jesus helps us look up, even when we can't see straight. Referring to the blind man of Bethsaida, Jesus put His hands on the man's eyes "and made him look up." Our Lord offers the same encouragement to us, especially in these Last Days, for in Luke 21:28, Jesus said, "When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

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

So we can say with the psalmist: "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up." Whatever is happening in your life today, look up. When we turn our eyes heavenward and celebrate what we see, our hearts will overflow with joy.

"Behold the Lamb of God," and always behold Him. Look to Him; look up to Him, and follow where He leads the way.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 4-7  ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%204-7%20&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, November 26

Worshipping Toward God

I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth.
Psalm 138:2

Recommended Reading
2 Chronicles 6:36-39 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%206:36-39&version=NKJV )

In Babylon, David prayed three times daily (Psalm 55:17) "toward Jerusalem" (Daniel 6:10). Solomon made reference to praying toward Jerusalem in his prayer of dedication for the temple. If God's people were taken captive to another land and they prayed toward Jerusalem in repentance, he asked God to hear their prayers (2 Chronicles 6:38-39). Solomon may have learned about praying toward Jerusalem from his father, David. In Psalm 138:2, David wrote, "I will worship toward Your holy temple." Though the temple had not been built when David wrote this psalm, he was probably referring to the tent he constructed to house the ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:17).

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

The idea is this: Wherever God is, that is where we turn our face in worship. So David worshipped toward the ark of the covenant, where God dwelt. Besides worshipping obediently, David worshipped gratefully: He worshipped God because of His "lovingkindness" and "truth" (Psalm 138:2).

We should worship the same way today -- directing our worship and praise toward the God whose loyal and unconditional love draws us to Himself.

The heart of prayer is gratitude. The voice of prayer is obedience.
William A. Ward

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