Preparing for Easter ~ Guarded By Grace

4th Sunday of Lent 

Humanity is in the grip of an evil power, and we are helpless to free ourselves from bondage to that power by our own strength. The only one who can deliver us from it is Jesus Christ.
Ray Stedman from Spiritual Warfare (pg.41)

The power of evil is stronger than we are but not stronger than God. In fact, Scripture reminds us that God is greater than any power in the world. Unfortunately, all too often, we try to overcome evil by our own strength. We will always fail.

Read 1 John 5:21

Little children, guard yourselves from idols. NASB

Anything that takes God's place in our hearts is an idol. We comfort ourselves by saying that our "idols" are not really like the golden calf of the Old Testament. We don’t really worship them, right? We need money and social status, job security and houses, designer clothes and the acceptable car. Yet, the truth is ANYTHING that we allow to mean more to us than God is our idol. ANYTHING!

Consider this!

• What idols do I worship?
• How do I plan to "guard" my heart from these idols?
• Am I willing to place Jesus Christ at the center of my life?

Lord ~ I go along without thought to idols, thinking my gestures of love and service in Your name are enough. When I place time in the Living Word last in the day, when I place my desires ahead of another's needs, when I spend Your offering on tokens that will not bring me joy, when I take credit for the goodness and success that comes my way ~ I place my idols BEFORE You. Forgive my shallow, selfish ways. Guard my heart from the evil one. Guard me from myself. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                                                                                                              

Preparing for Easter ~ Children of God

. . . it is not in daily sinning that the secret of humility is found, but rather in the position of dependence upon the grace of God.
Andrew Murray from Humility (pg. 71)

 The commentary in the Life Application Bible reminds: There is no middle ground; people either belong to God and obey Him, or they live under Satan's control. As children of God, we choose to obey the Father; as disobedient children, we follow the evil one. Our sinful nature threatens the desire for obedience. Grace redeems us.
Read 1 John 5:16-20

We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19 NLT

 These verses compare our sinful nature, our inability to be sin-free, with the freedom of choice to deny Christ or apostasy. The Believer's confession of sins and desire to serve God brings forgiveness; however, the world denies Christ as Redeemer and follows Satan. Despite what the world would have us believe, evil is alive and active and is seeking those who would choose darkness and disobedience over Light and Grace.

Consider this!

• Contrast "darkness" and "disobedience" with "light" and "obedience"
• Using a dictionary, define "apostasy"
• Whose child are you?

Father of Light ~ When my doubts try to conquer, send the Light! When darkness seems easier, send the Light! When disorder becomes routine, send the Light! When the Destroyer struggles to claim me, send the Light! Light and Grace, shine on me! Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                         

Preparing for Easter ~ Certainty in Christ

As fruit is the great proof of the true relation to Christ, so prayer is the proof of our relation to the Father. A fruitful abiding in the Son and prevailing prayer to the Father are the two great factors in the true Christian life.

Andrew Murray from The True Vine (pg. 143) 

God's Promise of Eternal Life through Jesus is certain, not just a hope but a truth. On this promise we can stand; we can know our future. And how will we demonstrate our certainty?

Read 1 John 5:13-15

And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:15 ESV

Murray suggests that prayer is the proof of our certainty. Because we know Christ, we come to Him in prayer; we know that He hears our prayers. God knows our hearts before we even speak, but He desires that we come to Him in worship and praise, with our needs and concerns. As we listen for His guidance in our lives, seek His wisdom for our actions, spend time with Him growing a more intimate relationship, we can be certain that He will respond to us.

Consider this!

• Where is the certainty of life?
• Do you KNOW Christ?
• If "fruitful abiding" and "prevailing prayer" mark the Christian life, what proof are you offering of your certainty?

Spirit of Truth ~ Take the noise of the world away. In the moments of quiet, speak the truth of God to me. My prayers rise to the Love Most High ~ Your whispers return to me full of the certainty that Christ gives. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                

Preparing for Easter ~ Life, A Choice

Either God is right or the world is right. It cannot be both. . . Christianity is not merely a change in outward actions of a bit higher moral or ethical level. Christianity is a revolutionary change of government that results in a radical change in behavior.

Ray Stedman from The Power of His Presence

God presents the truth, then gives us a choice ~ Him or the world. Our choice of Christ goes beyond a verbal confession. After our words, our behavior defines us. As we seek a deeper relationship with God, our lives will evidence our testimony that we choose life!

Read 1 John 5:11-12

This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in His Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life. The Message

Consider this!

• When I survey my behavior, does it more often reflect the world or Christ?
• Describe worldly behavior.
• What is my testimony?

God ~ Goodness and Grace are offered to me! Every day I am surrounded by the world but embraced by You. I choose Christ! I choose Life! As You draw near to me, I find a peace the world will never give. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                    

Preparing for Easter ~ God's Testimony

God is love. His whole nature and perfection is love . . . Christ is the Son of God's love, the bearer, the  revealer, the communicator of that love. . . The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love. . . Full salvation is perfect love. 

Andrew Murray from The True Vine (pg. 115)

In this world we rely on the testimony of witnesses when seeking to discover the truth. Courts and judges listen intently to these accounts. The Bible also provides us with a record of holy testimony regarding Jesus.

Read 1 John 5:6-10

And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God's presence at Jesus' baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. A triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And all three are in perfect agreement.
1 John 5:6-8 The Message

Christ is declared the Beloved Son of God, confirmed by the Spirit. God's testimony is further evidenced by Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. This is Perfect Love offered as full salvation ~ for each of us.

Consider this!

• Read Galatians 4:3-7.
• What does "slaves to the spiritual powers" mean?
• What defines us as "His child"?
• What does my testimony say about Christ?

Father, Son and Holy Spirit ~ Guard my heart from the powers of the world that pursue me. Forgive me when my actions do not bear witness to the holiness of Christ. Thank You for full salvation. Amen. ~ dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                                                                                                              

Preparing for Easter ~ Victory Through Jesus

Though the devil would have us believe he is invincible, his cause has already been doomed by the cross.

Ray Stedman from Spiritual Warfare (pg.50)

There are those who do not believe in "evil" or "the devil" or "Satan" even though the Bible speaks of it many times. There are those who do not believe that Jesus came to earth ~ fully human and fully God. There are those who do not believe Jesus is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures. Does what we believe about Jesus really matter?

Read 1 John 5:4-5

And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5 NLT

Christ died on the cross for every one's sins ~ all our acts of disobedience nailed Him there. Christ redeems all who believe ~through His resurrection from the dead three days after the crucifixion; Grace embraces us. Satan and his spirit-followers would have you discount this, even though it is recorded in the Holy Scriptures. Only Perfect Love can offer Grace to us. The specifics about Jesus do matter. They carry an eternal significance!

Consider this!

• Using any translation of the Bible, find at least 3 references to evil
• Find at least 3 passages in the Scriptures that reference "trust"
• Is Jesus Christ ~ the Messiah ~ the Son of God ~ the Living Word?

Lord ~ I see evil in the world around me and experience the drama of evil in my life. Satan only offers disorder and chaos and destruction. Jesus, You give my soul peace that I cannot explain. You offer what the world cannot ~ eternal life. I am trusting You to lead me through the darkness into the light along this earthly journey. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                                                                                                              

Preparing for Easter ~ Disobedience

The obedience that keeps His commandments becomes the outward expression of our love for God.

 Andrew Murray from A Life of Obedience

Disobedience started all our problems. In the Garden, God created everything that any of us could ever need. All He asked was that we obey one thing ~ not to eat from the Tree of Life. One person's disobedience ended the completeness of Eden.

Read 1 John 5:1-3

Loving God means keeping His commandments . . . 1 John 5:3 NLT

"Christ overcame disobedience and gives us the power to replace ours with His obedience." (Murray, Life of Obedience pg.25) Believers are to strive for a life of true obedience to God, but because of Adam's disobedience human kind struggles with sin. Christ's obedience to the Father's will, His obedience to the Cross, becomes our path to righteousness. This is the way God loves.

Consider this!

• Who is Jesus Christ?
• What is the root of sin?
• Can you show love to others without obedience to Christ?

Father ~ I know that without You sin rules. Obedience is a choice that I can make because Christ was obedient to the cross. I desire to be obedient to Your will for me. Amen. ~ dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                                                           

                                                   

Preparing for Easter ~ Fruitful Living

3rd Sunday in Lent

The fruit of righteousness is that fruit that is exercised in us by the Holy Spirit.
R.C. Sproul from The Holiness of God

Without God, we do not have faith; we cannot love. God IS love, and because He loves us, we can know love. Christians are to demonstrate the fruit of His love to others. When we call ourselves His children but do not love, we deceive each other. 

Read 1 John 4:19-21

We love because He first loved us . . . Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:19,21 NIV

The commentary in the Student Bible says John "uses the word love 35 times" in this letter. His themes are "simple themes - light, truth, life, love" and "[i]n every case, he shows God as the source of power in the Christian life." When we justify our broken relationships ~ our selfishness, our self-reliance, our self-righteousness ~ we are attempting to be our own source of power. Every time, we will fail. Our lives can only be fruitful because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. This is the evidence of righteousness. This is holiness. This is the Living Word evidenced through us. This is the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). 

Consider this!

• Can the law make us love?
• What fruits of the Spirit are missing from my life?

Love Most High ~ Such generous Love and Mercy flows from You. You are the Source of goodness and grace, love and power, life and death. In You I can find all things good. You are Holy and Righteous. Teach me how to grow my life more like yours. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt