Immanuel Baptist Church

Who we really are on the inside will at some point be revealed outwardly by our words. According to Scripture, all of us make mistakes in what we say—it would take a “perfect” person to always bridle the tongue and thereby control the body as well (James 3:2-3). In fact, no one but Jesus is completely successful in this way. But to the degree that we walk closely with the Lord, the more our speech will be evidence that we follow Him.

In today’s passage, Jesus expresses this idea by means of a metaphor about good trees and bad trees. Making a distinction between the people who believe in Him and those who don’t, He classifies Christians as good trees, through whom the indwelling Holy Spirit is working to produce His good fruit. But men and women without Christ cannot generate any good fruit on their own. That’s because even mankind’s most virtuous deeds originate from the flesh and therefore are unclean to God (Isa. 64:6).

However, just because we are “good trees” doesn’t mean that good words will automatically come forth from our mouth. We need the Holy Spirit to help us use language that is edifying, gracious, wholesome, and true (Eph. 4:29-30). Let’s make it our ambition to abide in Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to steer our tongues and bring honor to Jesus Christ.

source: Charles Stanley

• Study God’s Word.
  • Titus 1:1  Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness.
• Run from sin.
  • I Timothy 6:11  But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
• Make it a priority.
  • 2 Peter 1:5-7  …make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 
• Pray.
  • John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.
• Walk in obedience.
  • Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appear to all men. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
• Practice spiritual disciplines.
  • 1 Timothy 4:7-8 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 

As we’re walking through the lessons learned by evaluating the life of Joseph, let me ask you this question: What does it mean to make – and keep – Jesus the center of our lives? The word center is defined as “a person (or thing) that is the chief object of attention, interest, activity or emotion; that which everything else revolves around.” Is Jesus the center of your life? Of my life? We can be certain Jesus was the center of Joseph’s life.

Salvation comes when we choose to invite Jesus to be the center of our lives. But what about keeping Him there? Purposefully keeping Jesus at the center of our lives is called sanctification, and it means actively living a life aimed at growing in godliness. So what does it mean to be godly? Godliness means we have centered our lives in Christ, and, in my mind, it has two separate but equal parts:

• We purpose to LIVE like Christ.
  • LIVING like Christ involves our:
    • Heart: We LOVE like Jesus
    • Hands: We ACT like Jesus
    • Head: We THINK like Jesus
  • LIVING like Christ means filtering out impurities in our lives.
    • What are we listening to, watching, reading, etc.?
    • We purposefully focus on growing in virtue:
      • The 10 Commandments | Exodus 20
      • The Beatitudes | Matthew 5
      • The Love Chapter | I Corinthians 13
      • The Fruit of Spirit | Galatians 5:22,23
  • LIVING like Christ involves growing in spiritual disciplines.
    • We practice spiritual disciplines to build spiritual muscle and to produce spiritual fruit.
• We live to LOVE like Christ.
  • LIVING like Christ involves three things:
    • Fear: We revere Jesus.
      • Exodus 14:31 The people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses His servant.
      • Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
    • Love: We love Jesus.
      • I John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 
      • I John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
    • Desire: We desire to have an intimate, close relationship with Jesus.
      • Psalm 42:1-2  As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
      • Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

After Paul’s conversion, he disappeared for three years, during which the Holy Spirit instructed him in the ways of God. This was a critical time for his growth as a believer. 

The Lord speaks so we can comprehend and communicate the truth. What happened during Paul’s desert years was only the beginning. God renewed the apostle’s mind and worked on conforming him to the image of Christ. For Paul, that change meant applying his knowledge as a Pharisee to the revelation that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. 

Here was a man who knew Scripture thoroughly, but the truth that Jesus was the promised Messiah made him reconsider the foundation he’d been trusting. Everything Paul knew about God had to be reevaluated in light of this new information. The apostle’s spirit was being shaped according to the Father’s will. And long after Paul began his ministry, the Lord kept working on him. Every person who reads his letters is a witness to this process. 

Like Paul, you are the Holy Spirit’s student, and the knowledge you reap from Scripture can change your life. If you let yourself be transformed by the Word of God, you will share it with others and make disciples.

Galatians 1:11-17

source: InTouch

KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 14:22-36

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES:Deuteronomy 31:6 | Deuteronomy 31:8 | Joshua 1:5 | Isaiah 54:17 | Hebrews 13:5

We are in the midst of an incredible tempest—one that has turned so many aspects of our lives upside down and seems to grow worse as the days pass.

Yet now is the moment for us to examine how we have spent this season in the storm. Many of us are in lockdown, with the opportunity to devote more time to seeking the living God. But have we been wise with the days and hours we have been given? Have we invested our energy and attention in worrying and complaining, on entertainment that will not satisfy, or on other pursuits that undermine our wellbeing? Or have we used this occasion to strengthen ourselves and build our relationships with the Savior through prayer and Bible meditation?

We can learn a great deal from what happened to the disciples when Jesus commanded them to set sail on the Sea of Galilee, and a terrible storm arose. Certainly, as the winds and waves assailed them, they were frightened about the conditions that were so far outside their control. So they called out to almighty God to save them. It was then they saw who Jesus really is and how powerfully He can work through any circumstances.

That was a life-changing experience for the disciples, and it can be for you as well. Therefore, when you experience the storms of life, if you will fix your eyes on Christ, you can find victory in the midst of your troubles. You do so by:

1. Reading Scripture. Start in either the Book of Psalms or Proverbs and meditate on what the Lord has spoken. Ask Him to reveal the sins you need to confess, give you understanding in your circumstances, make Himself known to you, and guide you. The Father will often work through times of adversity and turmoil to change your life, develop your character, teach you to walk with Him, and bring you closer to Himself. He will speak to you as you engage with Him through His Word—so go before Him with an open heart to listen to Him.

2. Remembering God’s work in the past. The disciples had seen Jesus perform many miracles, and the truth is—so have you. You have observed the Lord’s mighty work on your behalf as He’s guided you through times of adversity, provided for you supernaturally, and even brought healing to different areas of your life. There is no reason to think God will fail you now. Recall what He has done in the past so you can be confident He will intervene powerfully in your present circumstances in ways beyond what you can imagine.

3. Holding on to the fact that Christ meets you in the storm. When the disciples were in trouble and fearful, Jesus walked out on the water to them. But at first, they believed Him to be a phantom. This is instructive. Sometimes when you’re in a whirlwind of trouble, you will not automatically recognize Christ’s presence with you either. But realize that whatever your circumstances, Jesus is right there with you in them, ready to help, guide, and sustain you. Therefore, do not listen to the negative voices, turn to the world, or give up on God. Call on Jesus and invite Him into your situation. He is right beside you, offering you hope.

4. Focusing on Jesus rather than your circumstances. We know what happened to Peter when he bravely called to Jesus, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matt. 14:28), and then stepped out of the boat. It only took a moment for Peter to be overcome by the tempest and begin to sink—forgetting who he was trusting to save him. The same is true for us. It is far too easy to lose focus when the conditions surrounding us are beyond our control. So when we are crying out to God, we cannot allow our attention to drift from almighty God, the sovereign Lord of the universe, who loves us powerfully and eternally. He is the One who helps us, and He is greater than any challenge we will ever face. We must fix our eyes on Him, repeat His promises, and cling to His Word. Certainly, the wind, the waves, and all creation submit to His command, and He will see us through the storm.

RESPONSE

It hurts to face the hurricane. It is natural to be fearful and even grow discouraged when so much is battering against us, and it feels like everything is falling apart. But the Lord God has promised, “I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (Josh. 1:5). He will answer your prayers, come to your rescue, and help you in ways you cannot begin to imagine. So do not give up.

Instead, search your heart:

• How have I been focusing on earthly forms of comfort, worth, and security? Is God shaking what I have been trusting so I will get my eyes back on Him?
• When was the last time I had a quiet time when I really listened to the Lord and held on to what He told me? Am I truly meditating on God’s Word in a manner that deepens my relationship with Him, or do I need to change some things?
• Do I sense Jesus in the storm? Or do I respond to everything that happens in a negative manner, as if He is completely absent? What is stopping me from maintaining an abiding sense of His presence?
• Spend time in prayer, asking Jesus to reveal Himself to you, and accepting all He wants to teach you.

I realize you may be tempted to read right over these questions—but don’t. That would be a disaster. What you’re facing in this storm is not just about making sure you believe the right doctrines, but about having a dynamic relationship with the living God. It’s about the renewal of your faith, the revival of believers, and the spiritual awakening of the lost.

You need more than good morals or more preaching for that—you need Jesus. Only the One who conquered death has the wisdom, power, and love to do what needs to be accomplished in the tumult you’re facing. This is a fight that only He can engage in for you.

So get on your knees, open the Word, and pray. Present yourself to Him and be willing to do whatever He asks. Because when you do, you’ll see that your Savior is truly able to do above and beyond what you imagine—even in and through the storms.

source: Charles Stanley, Intouch