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Paul and the Slave Girl

9/15/2016

This is the story of a girl who lived in about A.D. 63 - 70. Most people thought of her as unimportant and insignificant. She was a slave girl—owned by someone else. She was possessed by an evil spirit, so she didn’t even own her own thoughts. The love of God saved her.

The story is recorded in Acts 16:16 - 24.
The apostle Paul and his companions were on their way to a place of prayer, when they were met by a slave girl who was possessed by an evil spirit. She stood in their way and shouted, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." (Acts 16:17 NIV) They walked on by her but she kept following them, shouting those words. The Bible says that she did this for many days. Finally, Paul became disturbed by her behavior and so deeply grieved for her that he turned around and commanded the evil spirit to come out of her. And it did. This got Paul in trouble with the slave owners. As a slave with the ability to predict the future and tell fortunes, the girl had been a good source of income.

The girl was telling the truth. She, or the evil spirit, recognized Paul as an apostle who could show people the way to salvation. Evil spirits told the truth about Jesus too. He also commanded that they leave the people they inhabited. (Matthew 8:29) Why did this truthful proclamation by the demon bother Paul? Wasn't it a good thing?

Paul cared about the gospel.
The demons who proclaimed who Jesus was and who Paul was were controlled by Satan and did not show reverence to God. Just to believe that Jesus is the Son of God is not enough. Faith is more than belief. It involves the acceptance of what Jesus has done and receiving Him as the only one who offers forgiveness of sin. (James 2:9)

The way to salvation was a popular topic in Paul’s time. There were different views of how to achieve it depending on what belief system was followed. The demon was trying to discredit the gospel of Jesus Christ by associating it with the occult.

Paul cared about the girl.
She had lost her individuality as a person. Socially she belonged to her masters and was being exploited because of her fortune telling ability. They were making a lot of money through her.

Psychologically she belonged to the evil spirit which controlled her. She couldn’t control her own thoughts or emotions.

Luke, the author of Acts, tells this story after the conversion story of Lydia (Acts 16:13-15) and before the conversion of the Roman jailer (Acts 16:25-34). This suggests that the slave girl may also have received Christ and been baptized after she was delivered from the control of the evil spirit. I like to think that she did give her life to Christ, who gave it to her. She received the Holy Spirit and streams of life began to bubble up from within her. (John 7: 38- 39) She went from no identity except that which the evil spirit allowed, to gaining her own identity in the family of Christ.

In finding Christ, she was brought into the Christian family relationship with the wealthy business woman, Lydia and the Roman jailer as well as all other Christians. One family, one fellowship, in Christ.

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He Changes Chaos to Order

9/14/2016

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Does your life seem out of control at times? I admit mine does quite often. Sometimes I’d give anything for a little bit of quiet and a short time of peace in the midst of the chaos.

As usual, I find the answer in the Bible--when I take time to look. In this instance, I didn’t have to go further than the first book and the first verse of the Bible. Genesis 1:1 says that God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty. Commentators say that the deeper meaning of the original text describes a state of utter confusion and desolation. God proceeded to take that chaos, and, with His word, put everything in perfect order.

Life will always be chaotic and out of control until we remember that it is God who is in control and it is he who creates order. My life is always put in order when I put it in his hands.

The prophet Isaiah gives another reminder, when he speaks God’s word in Isaiah 43:2, “I will be with you when you pass through the waters and they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the flame, you will not be burned.”

You'll notice God doesn’t say we won’t have to go through trouble. He does say he will be with us and that the trouble won’t overwhelm us.

The formula for letting God take control is in Isaiah 30:15. It says our salvation is in repentance and rest. Our strength is in quietness and trust.
Repentance – returning to God and to His will.
Rest – We calmly rest in God’s assistance. This is the act of not striving in ourselves to solve the problem.
Quietness – We experience a peaceful state of mind
Trust – We have complete confidence in God. We understand he acts in our best interest.
These aren’t the words that I usually link to solving problems and handling difficult life situations, but God says that this is where I will find my salvation and my strength.

There is deception in chaos. It makes us believe that we can’t stop the fight long enough to spend quiet time with God. The true remedy to any chaotic life is stopping the race and turning our full attention on Jesus. When we take control of the situation in that way, the chaos and confusion fade into the supernatural peace that comes only from God.

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Living Water

9/13/2016

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I’ve been thinking about water a lot, lately as I carry my bottled water with me everywhere I go, trying to drink eight glasses a day for optimum health. From the tips of my diet gurus, I’ve found that water even helps with my diet. When tempted to look for happiness in unhealthy things such as candy and junk food, I drink my spring water and, amazingly, I feel satisfied. It occurs to me that God has a reason for this.

Water, in the Bible, is often used to represent the Holy Spirit and spiritual refreshment.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, the Lord says that He will pour water on the one who is thirsty and streams of water on dry ground. He will pour out His Spirit on Israel and His blessing on its descendants. (Isaiah 44:3)

In the New Testament , Jesus surprised a woman at a well in Samaria by telling her that, if she had known who He was, she would have asked Him for a drink and He would have given her Living Water. (John 4:10)

Jesus said that whoever takes a drink of the water He gives, will never be thirsty again. Indeed, the water will become a spring of water bubbling up from within that person, continually for eternal life. (John 4:14)

This water flows from the throne of God. (Revelation 22:1)
He was talking about the Holy Spirit, who comes to live within us when we believe and trust in Him. We thirst for God just as our bodies thirst for water. Without Him we will endlessly search for ‘junk food’ satisfaction in pleasures, pastimes and even work. We will never find it, for without Him we can’t be satisfied. Only Jesus Christ can give us the ultimate satisfaction for every need and desire. He gives us Living Water.

It is told in John 7:37 & 38 that at the feast of Tabernacles, Jesus cried in a loud voice that if anyone was thirsty, he should come to Him and drink. Anyone who believed and trusted in Him would have rivers of Living Water flowing from his innermost being.

In Revelation 22:17, the Holy Spirit and the bride (that’s the church - the true believers) say "Come!" Whoever is thirsty and whoever is in need, let him take the free gift of the Water of Life.

So just as for my diet I reach for my spring water instead of junk food, may I remember that, when tempted to look for happiness in worldly things, the Living Water is always with me and brings the only real satisfaction.

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15 Minutes With Jesus

9/12/2016

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There is a holiday season coming. Let’s prepare. Let’s begin the next holiday season by becoming quiet. Let’s forget the busyness, the shopping and even the joyful gatherings.

We will dedicate the first fifteen minutes of everyday to the Lord Jesus, whose birth we celebrate each year.

Let’s shut out all the noise, not only the chattering, radio and television, but all the noise that goes on in our heads. We won’t list our goals for the day or plan what to have for dinner when Aunt Mildred arrives, and I won’t plan the grandchildren’s Christmas gifts or worry about paying the bills.

We’ll spend fifteen minutes sitting at Jesus’ feet paying full attention to what He has to say. We will imagine ourselves in a home in Bethany, 2000 years ago. Just like Martha’s sister Mary, we will choose the better thing. ( Luke 38-42)

It isn’t easy finding this quiet time. I have to wake up early - before anyone else and before the television is turned on. Sometimes I begin by reading from a devotional or directly from God’s true word to me - the Bible. I often have to start by asking Him to quiet the noise in my mind so that I can hear what He has to say.

Try it. This is the very best time of the day and will fuel the next 23 hours, if necessary.
After developing the habit of daily quiet time, you will receive an unexpected gift. I think you will realize that Jesus is walking with you throughout the entire day.

There is a story in 1 Kings 19.
The prophet Elijah was told to stand on the mountain and that God would pass by. As he stood there, a hurricane force wind ripped through the mountains, but God was not in the wind. Next, an earthquake shook the ground, but God was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but God was not in the fire. And after the fire, there came a gentle, quiet whisper and God spoke to him.

Quiet the hurricane and the wind and the earthquake in your life. Ignore the fire. Tune in to that still small voice—the gentle whisper.

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Who is Satan ?

9/11/2016

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Satan is not imaginary, nor is he a myth, as many--including Satan--would have us believe. Jesus speaks of him as a real being.

The Bible describes Satan as an angelic being, who was once in Heaven. He rebelled against his Creator, God the Father. Satan is a created being, who was once the model of perfection. See Ezekiel 28:12 and Ezekiel 28:15 in the Old Testament. He became prideful. Wickedness was found in him and he was thrown out of heaven.

The name Satan is derived from the Hebrew word meaning "act as an adversary." He is our adversary, trying to keep us from our true home.

The word devil is also used to describe him. It is from the root word meaning accuse. He is known as the accuser. He accuses us of sin. Sometimes-too often-we listen to him, believing that we are not worthy to approach God. But Jesus Christ has paid the price for all we've ever done or will do wrong, so we are pronounced innocent. We confess the sin to the Lord and we are forgiven. With Jesus Christ as our savior, we are sinless before God.

In the book of John - John 8:44 - Jesus describes Satan as a murderer. He says that when Satan lies, it is completely consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

In the book of Revelation - Revelation 9:11- Satan is called Abaddon. He is the personification of death and destruction. In Greek, he is Apollyon.

As described in Luke 4:1-13, at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus went into the desert and fasted for forty days. There, He had a conversation with Satan. Satan tried to tempt Jesus to give up His God-given mission on earth - the mission that would remove us all from Satan's power. Jesus was not deceived by Satan's lies and half-truths. Jesus' allegiance was only to God the Father.

Satan is a fallen angel.
He is our adversary.
He is an accuser.
He is a murderer.
He is a liar and the father or lies.
He is death and destruction.
He is defeated!

Luke 10:18
"Yes,' he told them, 'I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning!

Don't be deceived. Listen only to Jesus. Know what the Bible teaches.

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My Utmost for His Highest book review

9/10/2016

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Oswald Chambers writes in his book My Utmost For His Highest, “Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only--My Utmost for His Highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone.”

In order to build a relationship, we must have regular contact with the person with which we desire the relationship. It is that way with building a relationship with Jesus Christ. In order to change the direction of my life and to keep it focused on Jesus, I require daily contact with Him through His word, found in the Bible and other devotional writings.
John 15:4-5 explains why it’s so important to remain in God’s word and close to Jesus. “ For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.” Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. Only by staying close to him will we produce fruit fit for the Kingdom.

My first daily devotional was from the book My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Mr. Chambers’ writings caused me to reach for the deeper meaning of following Christ and had a great spiritual impact on my life.

Each devotion takes less than ten minutes to read, but contains spiritual secrets worth pondering for a lifetime.

Oswald Chambers
Mr. Chambers was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1874, and wrote this book, which became one of Christianity’s greatest, without knowing it.

A gifted artist early in life, his future was assured by a scholarship to the leading art centers of Europe. But, after giving his life to Christ, the pull was so strong that he declined the scholarship and enrolled in Dunoon Bible Training College. He went on to conduct Bible teaching ministries in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. In World War I, he ministered as a YMCA chaplain to Australian and New Zealand troops preparing for action in the Middle East. There he died in 1917 following surgery for a ruptured appendix and was buried in Cairo under a headstone bearing the words of
Luke 11:13
"If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

His widow, Gertrude Hobbs, compiled his manuscripts, notes, lectures, and sermons into the classic My Utmost for His Highest., The book has been in print since 1935 and is still a well-known and much loved devotional..

Beginning January 1st Chambers echo’s the Apostle Paul’s goal for his life from Philippians 1:20.
To live in eager expectation and hope to refrain from doing anything shameful. But always being bold for Christ and determining to honor Christ with his life.
With each reading, Oswald Chambers leads the reader to an understanding of how scripture relates to daily living, ending December 31st with the security for today and for tomorrow and the expectation of our reward. The text of Isaiah 52:12 assures the reader that God will go ahead to guide the way, and protect them from behind.
If you are looking for daily inspiration, there is no better time to acquire this book and be ready to start the New Year—or begin at any date. for a year's worth of inspiration.

(I purchased this book with my own money and was not paid or asked for a positive review.)

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Paul and the Slave Girl

He Changes Chaos to Order

Living Water

15 Minutes With Jesus

Who is Satan ?

My Utmost for His Highest book review

The mundane becomes inspiration.

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Copyright 2019 by
Lynne Waite Chapman
All rights reserved.

Paul and the Slave Girl

He Changes Chaos to Order﻿

Living Water

15 Minutes With Jesus

Who is Satan﻿ ?

My Utmost for His Highest book review

The mundane becomes inspiration.

Archives

Categories

Copyright 2019 by ​Lynne Waite Chapman All rights reserved.

He Changes Chaos to Order

Who is Satan ?

Copyright 2019 by
Lynne Waite Chapman
All rights reserved.