Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who acknowledge that God’s Spirit dwells within them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
In Acts 2, Luke told what happened when believers assembled on Pentecost.
The Holy Spirit changed everything.
Apostle Paul is writing to the faithful in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV) when he says, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
Be mindful of the Spirit within. Are there personal habits or behaviors that need to change to preserve God’s temple? If so, take action now.
Dear Lord, I pray for those who, like Apostle Paul, build on the foundation of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Some believers regularly share the Gospel. Others come alongside new believers and disciple them. Know anyone doing these things?
Apostle Paul considered himself like a skilled master builder when he laid what he called the foundation.
He writes in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (ESV): “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Take care how you speak into others’ lives. Be bold. Share. Establish foundations. Build with care on others’ foundations in Christ.
Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who choose to rely on God’s wisdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Obtaining wisdom without God has become an end in and of itself.
Secular books, courses, and retreats all claim to teach the way to do it.
Do not be deceived by false teachers who rely on worldly wisdom!
In 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (NLT), Paul denies the worldly wisdom when he says, “And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit.It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.”
Walk in Spiritual wisdom and discernment. Beware of false teachers. Stop relying on the world’s wisdom.
United States Marine Corps Major Tom Foster, Retired (May 29, 1933-October 30, 2018)
I met Tom when I was invited to join a small group of men meeting every Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast, fellowship, and prayer. We would meet at the original Coco’s Restaurant on Main Street in Barstow, California.
I met Tom when I was invited to join a small group of men meeting every Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast, fellowship, and prayer. We would meet at the original Coco’s Restaurant on Main Street in Barstow, California.
Tom and I eventually found ourselves as the last members of the group. We kept meeting on Wednesdays at the International House of Pancakes until June 2017 when I moved out of the area.
Our favorite table was booth number 50 in the back room next to the window. If given another chance to sit down with Tom at IHOP, I would take time to reflect on what a positive influence he had been on the lives of so many people. Here is what I would say…
Tom, you laughed when you told me about being a young child. An older relative saw you weren’t working very hard, and he said, “Boy, you ain’t gonna amount to nothin’.”
You proved him wrong because you rose through the ranks to become a Major in the United States Marines.
There was a time I visited you in the hospital. You told me you needed to get well, so you would be able to give God all the glory, and tell more people about Jesus.
Tom, you were a prayer warrior. You shared many prayer requests for friends during our time together. Also, as was our custom, we would pray for the people and leaders of Barstow, the state of California, the nation, world leaders, and the troops stationed within the United States and around the world.
If someone, including our waitress, was in distress or had a concern in their lives, you would take the lead and ask if we could pray for them.
If they said yes, you would pray out loud.
Tom, you loved people. When we were at breakfast, it sometimes seemed like you knew everyone in Barstow. One morning, during our meal, several people came by to say hello including members of the community, friends from church, and people in politics. You made each person feel comfortable.
Tom, you were also generous. I watched you pick up the check for friends and a pastor and his wife more than once.
You also were an example of a godly husband. Every time we met, you expressed your deep love for Betty Lou. Together, we praised God for giving us, Godly wives.
You loved your family. Tom, you often told stories about your children, their families, your grandchildren, and other loved ones.
You loved the Gideon ministry. You served as Camp president and in other leadership positions. You brought DVDs from the International Convention for viewing at the monthly Gideon meetings.
You spoke to local churches about what was happening in the Gideon ministry around the world.
You helped distribute Bibles at local schools and during the holiday season at the Barstow Community College Festival of Lights and Learning.
You worked so hard as the California State-wide Membership Chairman that while meeting with a pastor in Arcadia you had a heart attack. It was life-changing.
You shared with me about your many travels and related how you and Betty Lou distributed Gideon New Testaments along the way.
For a time, you even served as the person in charge of finances for Desert Manna.
Tom, I could keep going.
Let me say thanks for sharing your life and for all the wonderful years of fellowship. Your example as a man of God and a person who loved people will live on in my memory.
Thanks for praying for me, and thanks for being my friend.
Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who rely too much on themselves. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Apostle Paul was well educated. Even so, he refused to rely solely on his own ability when he shared the truth of the Gospel. Nor did he want to rely on the wisdom of the world. Rather, when he was sharing about God’s truth, it was all Jesus.
He declares in 1 Corinthians 2:2 (ESV): “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Some cultures emphasize self-reliance. And that can sometimes be a good thing. But it may be time to stop relying on ourselves and worldly wisdom when it comes to sharing Jesus. Do like Paul the next time an opportunity arises to discuss eternal matters: focus on Jesus and him crucified.
Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who want to be bold and to speak the word without fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Many cower when it comes to speaking in public.
Yet, many have a powerful interpersonal witness.
Whatever the circumstances, God uses his followers. For example, Apostle Paul shared the Gospel even though he was in chains. He became well known, and God used his notoriety to spread the Gospel.
Paul, writing in Philippians 1:12-14 (ESV) tells us, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
You have heard about Paul. Now be emboldened like those brothers who heard about him. Speak the word without fear!
