Your Daily Devotional for October 31, 2006

 

October 31, 2006

 

 

Shining Light in a Dark World

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

 

1 Thessalonians 5:22

 

 

As I’m sure you are aware, today is a holiday known as Halloween.  Over the years, it has been a common practice for children to get all dressed up in the evening and walk from door-to-door, asking for candy.  This sounds innocent enough, but “innocent” is far from how this day originated. 

While Halloween may seem to many as a time designed for fun and family bonding, it is actually a day set apart to celebrate evil spirits and to sacrifice to the devil!  Even in today’s culture, Halloween is closely associated to devil worship, witches, and evil, and it is considered a serious and even sacred day to those involved in this kind of lifestyle. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t even want to be near that kind of stuff!

Our text today tells us to “abstain from all appearance of evil.”  This is not a command to stay away from wickedness or evil, though we should; it is a command to avoid association with evil things. One definition of the word appearance is “an impression given by someone or something, although this may be misleading.”  This applies to many areas of our lives, and not just something like “trick-or-treating.”  If you go door-to-door tonight, I am sure you would not be doing so with the intent of celebrating the devil or worshipping evil spirits, but there are times in the Christian life when the Lord asks us to “sacrifice” what may look like simple fun for the sake of our testimonies and so we may shine as brighter lights for Him.

You most likely already practice the truth of this verse in other areas of your life.  Though it would not necessarily be wrong to walk into a bar and order a diet coke, most of us don’t do that.  Why?  We are avoiding the appearance of evil.  We not only honor the Lord when we abstain from such appearances, but we also minimize the chances of being influenced by wrong.  It may not necessarily be harmful to our bodies to get too close to a fire or too close to the edge of a cliff, but we usually don’t because there’s no need to even risk harming ourselves! 

As Christians, let’s choose today to be associated with Christ.  On a dark day such as Halloween, let’s choose to be the shining light God has called us to be!  I am so thankful to be associated with a God who chooses to express Himself as light rather than darkness! “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).  I am so thankful that I serve a God of hope and peace! And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body;
and be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15). 

On the eve of a month dedicated to thankfulness, I hope you’ll take a moment to thank the Lord for His goodness and for calling us out of darkness into His light! 

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Your Daily Devotional for October 30, 2006

 

October 30, 2006

 

 

What’s Next?

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.”

 

 

Luke 1:28-30

 

 

It seems as if there is a lot going wrong in the world today. Every time you turn on the news, it appears that all the news is bad news! There seems to be no end to the constant tragedies in our world, and it can be difficult to fight the fear of what the future may hold for us as Christians. How can we dispel this fear of what will happen next?

 

We see in this passage the story of when Gabriel told Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus. When the angel told her this news, Mary was afraid as we see in verse 29, “And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying.”  I’m sure if we were in her position, we would be troubled as well. She was living a normal life, preparing for a wedding, faithfully serving God, and now an angel tells her that she is pregnant with baby Jesus! What an exciting yet overwhelming thought!

 

Yet, the angel comforted her by saying, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.” He let her know that God was pleased with her, and there was nothing to fear. Christian, when you are living for the Lord and He is pleased with what you are doing, there is no need to fear. Christ will protect us as we remain faithful to Him.

As we remain faithful to Him, He keeps His hand of mercy upon our lives. With all the wickedness in the world today, we need God’s protection at all times! We can’t spare a moment of weakness without Christ! That is why we must seek Him daily to confess our sins and remain in sweet fellowship with the Lord.

Black Bart was a professional thief whose very name struck fear as he terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line. From San Francisco to New York, his name became synonymous with the danger of the frontier. Between 1875 and 1883, he robbed twenty-nine different stagecoach crews. Amazingly, Bart did it all without firing a shot. Because a hood hid his face, no victim ever saw it. He never took a hostage and was never trailed by a sheriff. Black Bart used fear to paralyze his victims. His sinister presence was enough to overwhelm the toughest stagecoach guard.

What do you fear? Are you afraid of what could happen next? There is no need to fear when God is on your side! He is the Creator of the world and He offers His protection in time of trouble! Look to Him today, and let Him take away your fear!

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Your Daily Devotional for October 29, 2006

 

October 29, 2006

 

 

Seek Victory

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.”

 

Joshua 6:1-2

 

 

Have you ever been faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem in your life? Have you ever stood back and thought, “There is no way I will be able to get through this!” We all go through times when we want to throw in the towel because we don’t know how we’re going to get through a situation.

 

We see in our verses the Lord promises Joshua and Israel a victory over the city of Jericho. This seems like no big deal to us but Jericho was a great fortress. It was built upon an oasis with an endless water supply inside the city, and it could hold off a siege for a long time. It also had a huge wall system which was actually an outer wall and inner wall making it impregnable. This was a well-fortified city. Standing outside the wall, I’m sure the Israelites were wondering, “How are we going to conquer this city?” Yet, God tells Joshua in verse 2, “See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.”

 

God promised them victory through His strength. If they were to have victory, they were going to have to obey God. First, the Lord would lead them. God appeared to Joshua one night as he was scouting out the wall of Jericho to plan his attack. God waited to give Joshua His instructions until Joshua recognized Him and worshipped Him. God wants you to recognize Him and to seek Him and His help in your trial.

 

Next, Israel was to follow the Lord’s leading. Yes, God was going to tell them what He wanted, but unless they made the choice to follow God’s guiding they would not have victory. When we seek God’s help in a situation, we must be willing to follow His command. I’m sure the Israelites couldn’t see how walking around a city and banging pots was going to defeat Jericho, but they followed God’s command anyway. They might have thought that they looked silly, but God had proven in times past that He would give them the victory.

 

You may feel that there is no hope in your situation today. You may even be sitting there today, thinking of quitting because you don’t see how it will work out. Friend, don’t quit! It has been said that the greater the burdens are, the greater the blessing will be! Surrender to God and let Him lead in your life. Also, follow His instructions from His Word. Don’t doubt what He tells you to do! As you follow Him and His Word, you will see great victories in your Christian life! Seek Him and His guidance today!

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Your Daily Devotional for October 28, 2006

 

October 28, 2006

 

 

Healing through God’s Grace

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

 

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

 

 

 

I’m sure that if someone were to ask you today if you have ever been hurt, the answer would be yes. We have all been through the heartache and pain of criticism or loss. The Apostle Paul was a perfect example of how we should respond to suffering in the Christian life. He had an infirmity that he prayed three times for the Lord to take away, but the Lord didn’t. Through it all, Paul could say, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

 

Christian, what we must remember as we are going through trials is that God is always in control. Nothing that is happening to you today is by accident. God didn’t make a mistake when He allowed that struggle into your life. When we first accept the fact that God has a divine purpose in our trials, then we can start healing through His grace.

 

God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. God did not choose to heal Paul, but He gave him strengthening grace. You may have had a trial in your life that you prayed and asked God to remove, but He didn’t. Don’t get bitter at God for not granting your request; He has better plans for you! If God chooses to not remove the trial, He will give you His sustaining grace to help you through it! When we realize we can’t make it on our own and He helps us through it, He gets the glory!

 

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” We quote the first part of that verse in teaching someone how to pray, but notice the last part, “that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” God promises to give us mercy and grace in our times of need if we will ask Him for it. He not only promises to help us through our trials, but He promises to help us heal from the trial or broken heart.

 

Barbara Johnson is a Christian author who is known for her encouraging style. Yet, years ago her son was killed in the Vietnam War. Five years after that, her oldest son was killed by a drunk driver. Then at her youngest son’s graduation, her son informed her of a decision he had made to turn from her Christian beliefs to a lifestyle that was displeasing to the Lord. She said, “It was like a knife in my heart,” yet God’s grace has been sufficient.

 

Friend, when the struggles of life surround you and you feel as if you can never make it out, look to Christ. His strength is made perfect in your weakness, and He wants to help you! Is there some pain you are going through today? Maybe some hurt or loss is overwhelming you. Don’t let Satan have the victory in your life! Turn to Christ and rely upon His strength to see you through. Boldly approach Him that He may give you mercy and grace in your time of need today!

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Your Daily Devotional for October 27, 2006

 

October 27, 2006

 

 

Are You Ready?

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

 

 

2 Timothy 4:5-7

 

 

Every four years, the world watches as some of the premier athletes from across the world compete in what is known as the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games originated with the Greeks. One of the races the Greeks had in their Olympic Games was unique in that each competitor was to run a certain distance with a lit torch. The winner was not the runner who finished first but the runner who finished with his torch still lit. It was not simply the man who finished, but the man who finished well.

 

In our verses today, we see the Apostle Paul coming to the end of his life. He was in prison for the second time, suffering persecution for preaching the Gospel of Christ. This was Paul’s last challenge to Timothy, his son in the faith. It was probably given a few days before his execution. If there were ever a man who could teach us about finishing well, it would be the Apostle Paul.

 

How can we learn from Paul’s example and finish in a way that is pleasing to the Lord? Philippians 2:17 says, “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.” Paul was ready to be offered for Christ’s sake for two reasons. First, he was saved. He knew that when he died, he would meet Christ in Heaven. What a wonderful consolation! Just as Paul was unafraid to meet death, we too, as Christians, can find peace in the thought of death.

 

Paul was also ready to be offered because he was committed. In Philippians 1:21 he says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In Philippians 3:14 we see that Paul was committed to his call to live for Christ.  He said, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul pressed forward for Christ, and at the end of his race, he could say that he was ready to die for Christ. Paul’s commitment to the Lord was so great that he was willing to die for Him, because he had first committed to live for Him.

One of the key forerunners of the Reformation was Bohemian John Huss. He devoted himself to Scripture and taught that Christ, not the pope, was head of the Church. In 1414, Huss was called before the Council of Constance to defend his beliefs. He was convicted of heresy and sentenced to be burned at the stake unless he recanted. But Huss stood firm. On the day of his martyrdom he said: “God is my witness that the evidence against me is false. In the truth of the Gospel I have written, taught, and preached, today I will gladly die.” As the flames consumed him, it is said that he joyfully sang a hymn—he was ready to be offered.

Just as John Huss and the Apostle Paul were ready and willing to die for the faith, we can be ready as well! Are you ready? You can be ready through salvation and commitment. Are you committed to Christ? If He wanted you to give your life for Him, would you? Many have been martyred for Christ. Will you live for Him? Only when we live for Christ will we be ready to die for Christ.

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Your Daily Devotional for October 26, 2006

 

October 26, 2006

 

 

Getting Away from It All

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”

 

Mark 6:31

 

 

Have you ever just wanted to get away from it all? Have the pressures of life built up in your life to the point that you needed a time of peace and quiet away from the busyness of the world? Most people have times like these! Even Jesus did! As He was preparing to die, He separated from His twelve disciples and spent time in prayer with His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. If Christ needed time alone with His Father, how much more do we need it!

 

Every year, our church has a Men and Boys’ Campout where we take our men and their sons away to the mountains of northern California. It is a time that we separate from our normal routines for preaching, prayer, dedication, and overall spiritual renewal. A tradition that I have had is to take a rock from the mountain and set it in my office where I can see it. This rock reminds me of the spiritual decisions I made on that mountain, and it helps keep me accountable in those areas.

 

If you have lived in this world for any length of time, you know that we all need times of renewal. As Christians, we need times of spiritual renewal. So, what do you do once you are alone with God? First, meditate on His Word. Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” 

 

Notice verse 2, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” God’s Word describes a person who delights in meditating upon God’s Word. When we step back from the schedules and appointments of this life and reflect and meditate on God’s Word, we learn to delight in God’s Word. We will become closer to Christ and will approach the Scriptures with a different attitude.

 

Next, as we are separated, we should pray. Praying seems so basic to us, yet when was the last time you sat down and spoke to God one-on-one? When was the last time you didn’t have a meeting to rush to or something to do and stepped back and opened your heart to God? God delights in talking to you personally. That’s why He calls us His children.

 

Prayer isn’t just a public show to let others know that you are fulfilling your “Christian requirements.” Prayer is talking to your Heavenly Father because He wants you to and because you want to as well. Don’t fall into the routine of reading a chapter, praying a quick prayer, and rushing off to begin another day. Give God as much time as He wants and submit yourself to His scrutinizing through His Word.

 

It is true that our lives are getting busier with each passing day. I would challenge you to take some time out of your schedule within the next few days and get away. Maybe not physically getting out of town, but stepping back from life and taking a day to reflect upon Him. Drive to a scenic spot and start reading your Bible. If no one is around, pray aloud to God. Reflect upon all that He has done for you and recommit yourself to loving and serving Him with your whole life. Choose now a time when you will separate yourself to draw closer to Him.

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Your Daily Devotional for October 25, 2006

 

October 25, 2006

 

 

Spiritual Recovery

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

 

 

Proverbs 3:5-6

 

 

As a pastor, I often come in contact with people who struggle with addictions to the internet, smoking, drinking, and even television. It is usually when these people have reached a point of overload that they want to turn from their sin. As we help them turn onto the path of spiritual recovery, the devil tries every way possible to get them to turn back.

 

Setbacks are common on the road to recovery, as it is a difficult one to travel. People revert back to drinking or back to gambling or back to addictions of all types because of the enormous attacks from the devil.

 

Along with these backward steps comes the tendency to try to control or even deny the problem. People seldom like to admit that they have a problem and often blame everyone but themselves for their failure. It is then that the regression into their old lifestyle of sin begins.

 

There are three noticeable steps in the pattern of regression. The first step is complacency. Complacency is sometimes evidenced when someone stops attending church or reading God’s Word because they think “they are fine.” They compare themselves with ungodly people around them and convince themselves that they are on the right track.

 

The next step is confusion. They stop seeing their sin for what it is and begin to rationalize. Some try to fix their problems their own way and don’t see the need to seek spiritual counsel or advice. They believe they know enough to get through the situation on their own.

 

The last step is compromise. They go back to the sin that “so easily beset them” before. Soon after, hurt or hatred returns, and feelings of depression follow as they feel they have failed. They feel that the struggle is too great for them, and hence they stop trying to live a victorious Christian life.

 

Do you find yourself on any of these steps to regression? Have you become complacent, confused, or have you compromised? There is victory in this Christian life through the Lord, and the victory is found in not giving up the fight! Seek His face and ask Him to help you stay on the road to spiritual recovery!

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Your Daily Devotional for October 24, 2006

 

October 24, 2006

 

 

Somebody Help Me!

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.”

 

John 5:5-7

 

 

Before us today is a beautiful picture of the grace of God. The pool of Bethesda which means “the house of mercy” was a place where lame and sick people could find healing. Every so often an angel would come down and stir the water of the pool, and the first person to touch the water would be healed.

 

The man in our passage, who had been sick for thirty-eight years, had been trying to get to the water for some time, but was forced to live with his infirmity because he had no one there to help him. He said in verse 7, “I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.”

 

Not only did he have a physical infirmity, but he also had a spiritual infirmity. More than needing physical healing, he needed a healing of his heart. He had placed hope in the pool at Bethesda, but didn’t know of Christ.

 

Have you ever thought of how many people passed by this man each day? How many people saw him struggling to get into the water but did nothing about it? How many Christians passed by him without taking time to let him know of the spiritual healing that Christ offers? Maybe he sat there and begged and called for people to come help him each time the water was troubled. With each failed attempt, a piece of hope died in him. He no longer believed that he could actually be healed.

 

Of course, we think, “How awful! Why didn’t anyone help him? Had I been there, I would have helped him!” But think about this story in today’s world. How many times have you passed an unsaved person at the store without helping them to the “house of mercy”—God’s Word? How many times have you felt the Holy Spirit telling you to invite someone to church but you ignored Him? Whether they show it or not, this world is crying out to us for help. They are begging for answers and for someone to show them where they can get help! We have the answers, but how many times have we selfishly walked passed them, concerned only with ourselves?

 

We would hate to see all the missed opportunities that God has given us to witness to someone. God knows what that person is going through, and He orchestrates our lives so we can tell them of Christ at the right time in their life! When we miss that opportunity to tell them, we miss the great blessings God has in store for us. Friend, I don’t want to miss one single blessing God has for me!

 

Who have you been passing by? Whose voice have you been ignoring? Who is crying out for you to help them today? Ask God to help you be sensitive to His Holy Spirit and to not miss one opportunity in telling others of Him.

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Your Daily Devotional for October 23, 2006

 

October 23, 2006

 

 

Getting Involved

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

 

Hebrews 10:25

 

 

On our church’s annual Men and Boys’ Campout, we go to the mountains of central California and have a fun time camping. We usually build a big bonfire at night to help keep warm. One night, as I was watching that fire, I noticed that as the coals fell away from the center logs, the fire began to grow weaker until it eventually went out.

 

God has established the local church to be a place of participation and ministry for the believers. Just as when the coals fall away from logs the fire goes out, so it is with the local church. When believers stop participating in the various ministries of the church, the church begins to die out. We need to get together and participate collectively to reach the common goal: winning souls for Christ!

 

Not only does God want us to participate collectively but He also wants us to participate with a sense of urgency. Notice the last part of our verse today, “…and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” The Lord is going to return to take us believers home with Him so we need to get involved right now!

 

Hebrews 10:37 says, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

This isn’t the time to slack off, but we should be even busier as we see the Lord’s return getting closer. You may wonder what you can do to help out in your church. You could sing in the choir, help out in nursery, teach a Sunday school class, drive a bus, or even just help clean the church. There is always something to be done and it won’t get done unless the members of the church come together and work as a team to help accomplish it.

 

Have you ever wondered why geese fly in a V-formation? There are a few reasons why this helps them fly better. First, those in front rotate their leadership. When one lead goose gets tired, it changes places with one in the wing of the V-formation and another flies point. Secondly, by flying as they do, the members of the flock create an upward air current for one another. Each flap of the wings literally creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. One author states that by flying in a V-formation, the whole flock gets 71 percent greater flying range than if each goose flew on its own. Next, when one goose gets sick or wounded, two fall out of formation with it and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the struggler until it’s able to fly again. Lastly, the geese in the rear of the formation are the ones who do the honking. I suppose it’s their way of announcing that they’re following and that all is well. For sure, the repeated honks encourage those in front to stay at it.

As I think about all this, one lesson stands out above all others: it is the natural instinct of geese to work together. Whether it’s rotating, flapping, helping, or simply honking, the flock is in it together which enables them to accomplish what they set out to do. Friend, we can’t do everything by ourselves. We need to come together and work as a team. As we are getting closer to the Lord’s return, we all need to get involved in different areas of our church. What can you do to help out your church today?

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Your Daily Devotional for October 21, 2006

 

October 21, 2006

 

 

First Things First

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

 

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

 

Psalm 46:10

 

 

A new stress diet has recently been released.  For breakfast you have half a grapefruit, one piece of whole-wheat toast, and 8 oz. skim milk. At lunch you have 4 oz. lean broiled chicken breast, one cup steamed zucchini, one Oreo cookie, and herbal tea. For a mid-afternoon snack you have the rest of the package of the Oreo cookies, one quart rocky road ice cream, and a jar of hot fudge. For dinner the menu is two loaves of garlic bread, a large mushroom and pepperoni pizza, one large pitcher of root beer, three Milky Ways, and an entire frozen cheesecake eaten directly from the freezer.

 

This diet looks all too familiar for some of us! But as we get caught up in the rush of the day, we seem to lose time for important things—such as spending time with our family or even spending time with God. We can get so wrapped up with the work of this world that we get too worn out to serve Christ. If you find yourself too tired to go soulwinning, or too tired to get up and go to church on Sunday mornings, then it’s time to pace yourself.

 

God says in our verse today, “Be still.” It can be challenging to find time to be still! Yet, God wants us to stop and come to Him with our full attention on Him and His will for us. Have you ever gone throughout your day and thought that there was no way you could squeeze God in? Between meetings to attend, projects to do, shopping to get done, and the numerous other tasks to accomplish, spending time with God seems impossible!

 

The Bible also says in Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” When you feel as if your strength is running thin, God says to wait on Him. He says to seek Him and to simply wait. As you spend time with Him, He will renew your strength to continue on.

Friend, the more you have to do, the more time you need to spend with God! You may think that there is no way you could get everything done and still spend quality time with Him, but the Bible says to be still. God knows all that you have to do, and yet He wants you to come to Him. Don’t you think that if you start off your day by going to Him and spending time with Him, He can take care of everything else you have to do that day?

 

I would challenge you to prove God in this area. Sit down one day, take some time out of your busy schedule, and spend some quality time with God. Forget everything that you have to do that day and focus on Him. Let Him speak to you and simply tell Him that you have much to accomplish and that you need His help to get it all done. He will honor your choice to put Him first, before the cares of this world.

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