Elijah, whom Roger Ellsworth calls 'the man without a resume appears and disappears in dramatic fashion on the stage of human history. Called to serve God in an age of widespread moral and spiritual deterioration and confusion, he reached great heights of boldness and faith, but also sounded the depths of discouragement and depression. The life of Elijah is a call to find our strength in the God who takes the weak things of this world to confound the things that are mighty.
A refreshingly honest and often humorous look at some believers' outlandish behaviors helps bridge the communication gap between Christians and non-Christians, helping Christians share their beliefs more freely without judgmental attitudes, hypocrisy, and condemnation. Original.
Many of us are passive in our daily stance against the enemy, leaving us vulnerable and unprepared when times of struggle hit. That is why Pastor Allen Jackson wrote this new one-year daily devotional, Standing Firm: Finding Courage in the Word of God - to help you find the strength you need every day in the Bible.Each day's entry encourages you to focus on a strategic Bible verse and meditate on it's meaning so you can practically apply it's truth to your life. Use it alongside your Bible-reading time or look up the daily Scripture in your Bible to find the full story. This devotional will help you be more intentional about knowing God through His Word so that He can be your firm foundation in every season. Be ready to handle the storms of life by anchoring yourself in the immovable truths of God by incorporating this new tool that gives you a moment each day with Scripture and prayer.
Standing firm in the face of adversity is an opportunity that we all get to endure. I think the willingness to stand is not something that we learn to do but rather that we are inspired to do. When we stand, we give the Lord something to work with. We give him someone to anoint for a purpose, someone to use for his cause. The willingness to stand arises from having seen others do so or having been inspired through his word. Standing firm in the face of adversity is also a matter of character. Pastors, people, and churches often find themselves with the choice of standing firm or fleeing. Those who stand are guaranteed a fight. Those who flee are guaranteed a failure. Since this is the case, standing, looking for God's victory, seems to be the proper course.
One of the primary reasons God elected and kept you alive today is for you to stand for Him in a times of affliction, war, famine, in the time of plenty and in a time lack when people refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. God wants you to stand for Him in FAITH, BELIEF, TRUST, OBEDIENCE, AND WORSHIP. There has never been a time in the history of the church that God needed His elect to stand in obedience to all His commandments such as it is now. There’s a sudden, mysterious wave of evil occurrences chiefly trying to undermine the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus which the church represents. Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:11, said, “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to STAND against the wiles of the devil.” This book, “Standing for God,” is one of the desired Christian classics which reminds the church to stand solidly in obedience to God’s commandments as we pass through sets of turbulent periods in our lives. Beloved, let us take the word of Moses to the Jews for our comfort: ”Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today, for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall see again no more.” Exodus 14:13 As you go through this book, may the Holy Spirit help in your wilderness experience to stand and proclaim the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rev. Dr. Chris Okeke March 15, 2023
"This is a practical manual of everything our church did," says author Molly Phinney Baskette, "to reverse our death spiral and become the healthy, stable, spirited and robust community it is today—evident in the large percentage of children and young adults in our church, and a sixfold increase in pledged giving in the last decade." "Real Good Church" is a testament to Baskette's and First Church Somerville UCC's success, and a gift of hope for all churches that find themselves struggling to keep their doors open. What makes "Real Good Church" unique in the field of church growth books? It's practical. It actually tells churches what they can do—and how to do it. It offers beginning and intermediary steps for growth and renewal. Churches, no matter what situation they're in, will be able to jump in and get to work. It has a sense of humor. Baskette's easygoing, often self-deprecating writing style and approachable strategies will empower the reader and their church to revitalize itself. (If her church could do it, we can, too!)
With Contributions by John Piper, John MacArthur, Jerry Bridges, Randy Alcorn, and Helen Roseveare These powerful calls to godly perseverance from four admired Christians elevate the value and necessity of lifelong faithfulness in the lives of God's people. Many people seek to better their lives by leaving, changing, swapping, or modifying their commitments. But God's Word holds up a beautiful value that, while difficult, leads to deep satisfaction and great reward: endurance. Such long, steady, hold-the-course perseverance is especially needed within our vacillating generation. This thoughtful book thus not only elevates the virtue of godly endurance but bears witness to its power in the Christian life through the exhortations of John Piper-who provides the context and overview for the entire book-John MacArthur, Jerry Bridges, Randy Alcorn, and Helen Roseveare. Each contributor represents a different kind of endurance: from MacArthur's longtime, faithful shepherding of a church to Alcorn's radical obedience in the culture wars, from Bridges' unswerving patience through suffering to Roseveare's courageous constancy on the war-torn mission field. Stand will awaken and solidify rugged, Christ-exalting endurance in people who are weary in their faith journey or who simply long to remain firm to the end. And for everyone who dreams of a Christian culture-shift from brief trial runs to lifelong commitments, John Piper and Justin Taylor's latest offering is a watershed that will serve to seal that vision in people's minds and hearts.
How do you feel when you approach God with a request? Timid? Awkward? Apologetic? Cautious? Now, picture yourself walking into the throne room boldly, as clean and confident as Jesus Christ, Himself. Did you know you can? In fact, you will the moment you discover Your Right-Standing With God.
Many times Christians excitedly receive a promise or vision from God. From that moment forward, they want to tell the whole world what God is going to do in and through them. It’s so exciting to have a promise from God. The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). But when God gives us a promise or vision, it takes time to see it fulfilled. Rarely is the vision for tomorrow or even the next year. It’s for a certain time set by God. He shows it to you early, but He still wants to prepare you for the journey ahead. Many Christians get discouraged during this process and walk away from God. But so many people in the Bible—like Abraham, Joseph, and David—had to go through years of preparation before they saw their visions fulfilled. They waited a long time, probably longer than most of us. Be encouraged and don’t let a thing called time destroy you before you even start. God is for you, and what He’s promised He will bring to pass.
