LifeLink Devotional

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Have you ever heard of joy-suckers? They can be people, who constantly suck the joy right out of your life. They can be circumstances that become problems and deplete your delight with life. Maybe at times the to-do list is so overwhelming that the enjoyment of simple things escapes you. Having to face things that aren’t done yet can easily exhaust your energy.

It can be that way in our spiritual lives as well. One of the joy-suckers of our relationship with Christ is worry, and we tend to worry most about what isn’t done yet. The apostle Paul address that in our next lesson on the pursuit of joy. Read his words in Philippians 1:6.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

How many unfinished projects are there around your home or office right now? I know I have quite a few. In fact, I am working on a big project right now at my house. I pray that it will not become a joy-sucker, because if it does, I know what will happen: when it is finished, I will lose all interest in beginning the next one, and things will remain undone.

I am so glad that God’s work on me is not a joy-sucker to Him. In fact, God doesn’t even put me on a “To Do” list, but rather keeps me on His “Being Done” list. He is always actively working on my life.

Grandchildren provide wonderful opportunities to illustrate spiritual principles. I remember the day we sent our daughter Rochelle and her husband Brad off to the hospital to deliver her second child. When they left, Denise and I were given the wonderful task of watching our grandson Caleb until went to the hospital to see the baby.

For the first 90 minutes I devoted my entire attention to Caleb as we ate breakfast together, played with Play Dough, and he showed me his incredible computer skills at playing games. He was only 2 at the time and had better hand-eye coordination on the mouse than I did.

When I was done, Denise gave him her attention, and she followed him from one thing to the next as he showed her all the things he knows and enjoys. But every now and then there would be a cry for help.  He would admit he needed our assistance to complete a task, correct a problem, or ease a pain. There were also teachable moments where we would talk to him and show him something new. He would listen and learn intently. That was not a joy-sucking experience, but rather the exact opposite, as we were filled with the joy of relationship.

Our relationship with God is to be like that as well. Every moment of every day God devotes his complete attention to us. We spend most of our day moving from one thing to the next, showing God all the things we love about our life and the things we enjoy doing. But then come those moments when we admit that we need His help, or when He wants to show us something that He knows we need to learn. Because we know that He loves us and wants what’s best for us, we listen to Him and humbly accept his help and teaching. God is at work to perfect us just as a parent or grandparent is at work to perfect a child as they grow.

Jesus Christ not only began the work of salvation in our lives, but He authored it before He began it. As the Divine Writer of the plan of humanity’s salvation, every word is absolutely trustworthy. When we were regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God based on faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross, Jesus began the good work of perfecting His truth in our lives. Nothing can stop that work. There is no reason to be weary and lose heart. There is only reason for rejoicing, because Jesus Christ is with us every moment of every day and is perfecting His life in ours. Someday, when Jesus returns to earth to take us into His presence forever, we will experience perfect joy. With that guarantee from God, we can endure whatever the journey brings us today, and we can do so with joy. Nothing will go unfinished in God’s plan, and that includes the perfection of our lives. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, all joy-suckers can be eliminated.

Hebrews 12:2 – 3 (NIV) ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Monday, March 5, 2018

Philippians 1:5 …because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

I know it’s the middle of winter, but I’m starting to get the urge to go golfing again, especially when friends from warm climates post their daily golf adventures on Facebook.

Bear with me, as I tie that urge to today’s principle of finding joy in life. Great joy is to be found in partnership with other people who are serving Jesus.

When I think about partnership, my mind immediately goes to the golf course and the wonderful experiences I’ve had on four-man teams playing in best-shot tournaments. They are called scrambles, and there is a good reason for that. On every hole, every man on the team hits a first shot, and then the team decides who hit the best one. The other three players scramble around the hole picking up their balls and bringing them to the spot of the best shot. From that place, all four golfers hit again, and the process continues until the ball is in the hole. The final total score of the round of golf is far superior to the score any one individual could have made. Bad shots are immediately forgiven and forgotten, because one of the partners has stepped up and hit a good shot. Every partner is essential. Each partner’s strengths are identifiable, yet they never demand individual recognition. The total focus is on the team and the glory of the outcome is shared equally.

What a beautiful picture of our partnership with one another in the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit has given us all individual gifts and strengths, but in humility no one partner demands individual recognition. When one of the partners hits a good shot toward the target of fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, the other partners join him at that spot. The partner who did the good work for God doesn’t stand and gloat, but rather immediately melts back into the team, and together they continue the process.

It’s just like Henry Blackaby says in his book Experiencing God, “See where God is working and then join Him there.” That’s what partners do – come together to accomplish God’s purpose.

Partners also recognize that the final outcome of the team is far greater than what any one individual could have accomplished on their own. Not one of the partners is capable of perfection, and when one of them hits a bad shot, the rest of the partners are there to quickly encourage and help bear the burden. The next partner picks up a club and takes a swing at the problem, not the person. Partners immediately forgive the erroneous shot because they know the heart of the partner, and that he did not intentionally hit poorly. They encourage and build up the person who messed up, and get personally involved in correcting the problem. That’s what partners do – they forgive and forge ahead.

Partners also share equally in the final reward for the team’s efforts. When one of the ministry teams in your church accomplishes a task that glorifies Jesus Christ, no one team member is honored above the others and no team member is excluded from the celebration. In fact, according to 1 Corinthians 12:24 – 26, “God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” That’s what partners do – they share the sorrows and the joys equally.

Paul was filled with joy because the Philippian church understood partnership. I am filled with joy because you do too. You will be filled with joy when you become such a partner in your church.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Friday, March 2, 2018

Philippians 1:3-4   I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

Today’s joy principle from Philippians 1:3-4 is this – Be thankful!

I am deeply concerned about the minimized emphasis we place on thanksgiving in our lives, and the comfort we seem to find in complaining. What is it that makes us believe that we are better off by talking about what’s wrong with life rather than what’s right with it? Why do we believe that it feels good to focus our attention on the bad? What strange kinds of rules are dictating our behavior when we think we can lift our spirits by looking down on our situation? It could be jealousy over someone else’s success, or it could be pride trying to inflate itself at the expense of others. Maybe it’s an expression of insecurity that somehow gives us a sense of temporary control. But whatever we use as our justification for complaining, God doesn’t recognize it. We are commanded to rejoice and be thankful.

On our journey to joy, we must make a stop at the twin cities of prayer and thanksgiving. When I was a boy, I was commanded to say thank-you to people for anything I received. But simple obedience to a command does not create a thankful heart. Without the intentional intervention of grace into our hearts, saying thanks for things becomes nothing more than a polite response, or a tool we use to gain more benefit for ourselves. But when God’s grace overwhelms us with salvation and the gift of eternal life, the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of joy in our hearts, which causes us to rejoice in the Lord always.

I will admit that there are things about life that warrant complaining, but none that warrant the loss of joy. I am not so concerned about the immediate and spontaneous negative reactions to tragedy and loss. I am more concerned about the overall attitude of gratitude that seems to be lacking in many of us.

I remember the day years ago when my car was struck on the side by another vehicle. My initial reactions were, “What was that guy thinking?” and “Oh great, I can’t afford a new car.” But within a few seconds I was saying thank-you to God that I was not hurt and that the other driver was not hurt.

Upon further reflection, I later realized that I still did not understand true thanksgiving. My thanksgiving was simply a response to a positive outcome in a negative circumstance. I could have been rejoicing in the faithfulness of my Father regardless of the outcome of the circumstances.

If we are going to truly become people of joy, we must learn to rejoice in the Lord, not simply in the positive outcomes of our daily life experiences. We need to learn to be thankful that we are in an unbreakable relationship with Jesus, even when relationships with people are being broken. We can be thankful that we have every need supplied by our God who deeply cares for us, even when it appears that the world is taking everything from us. We can be thankful that nothing can separate us from God’s love, even when the world alienates us because of our love for God. We can be thankful that our hope has been firmly planted in the promises of God that cannot fail, even though the earthly promises of people do fail.

So, when you pray, be thankful. When you tell God your needs, be thankful for His love that expresses itself in the meeting of those needs. When you complain to God about things that are wrong, be thankful for His justice that makes all things right. When you ask Him to fix a problem, be thankful that He has the power to accomplish all things according to His purpose. When you are so distraught that you don’t know what to ask for, be thankful that the Holy Spirit knows your heart and intercedes on your behalf to the Father.

And when you pray about anything, be thankful that through Jesus Christ we are the children of God with unconditional access to the throne of grace.

Pastor John

Philippians 4:4 – 7 ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

LifeLink Devotional

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Philippians 1: 2   Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our next stop on the journey to joy that we started yesterday is in Philippians 1:2, where we discover the incredible truth that God accepts us.

Do you remember, as I do, the pressure we felt as young children and teenagers to fit in? Maybe you still feel it. There is a huge longing in our souls to be accepted. As a child we need constant affirmation and attention from our parents. We cry for the security of a hug. As we grow we seek the approval of others by imitating their behavior. We quickly succumb to the lie that acceptance is earned.

As we grow, we begin performing up to what we perceive are other people’s expectations of us, simply to earn their approval. We begin speaking and acting like those we believe to be popular, so that we can potentially earn some of that approval for ourselves. We end up choosing our careers and our friends based on a single criteria – acceptance. Then we wonder why we are so unfulfilled and have no joy.

There is an answer to this dilemma of performance-based joylessness. It is stated in Philippians 1:2. We will experience the fullness of joy when we are at complete rest in the grace and peace of God. God’s grace is the basis for His acceptance, and it alone satisfies the longing of our soul.

Joy is the product of grace. In fact, the words “grace” and “joy” come from the same root word in the Greek language. What a wonderful truth – the grace of God that saves us is the essence of the joy we experience once we are saved.

Consider this – through Jesus Christ we have been chosen by God according to His divine purpose so that our lives might bring praise and honor to Him. Even though we were outsiders because of our sin, we have been included in Christ because we heard and accepted the truth of the Gospel. Our acceptance into God’s eternal family is so complete that we have been sealed by God with the Holy Spirit, declaring us to be His possession forever.  O the joy that abounds in the heart of the person who understands this level of acceptance. (See Ephesians 1:11-14 at the end of this devotional)

But we must also understand that our acceptance is not self-imposed, self-acquired, or self-deserved. We have done nothing to earn the acceptance of God, but He has done it all for us. My favorite verse of acceptance is found in Colossians 1, where Paul writes, ^“giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (emphasis mine).

Isn’t that incredible? God has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in His kingdom! I’m accepted! WOW! AMEN! Praise the Lord!

Your journey to joy will not be complete until you come to a full comprehension of this truth. No longer will you have to imitate people to be accepted by people. Now you will be an imitator of Christ because He has already accepted you. (Romans 15:7) No more pressure to perform, because we are at peace in the grace of God. Spend a moment reflecting on that marvelous grace as you read the words to this great song:

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor You
In all I do, to honor You

(CCLI #545997)

Be filled with joy and rejoice – you’re accepted by the grace of God!

Pastor John

Ephesians 1:11 – 14 (NIV) ¹¹In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹²in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Romans 15:7 (NIV) ⁷Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 

LifeLink Devotional

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Today we begin our verse-by-verse study of the book of Philippians, as we journey toward a life of true joy. Let’s read the first six verses.

Philippians 1:1-6 ¹  Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: ²  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴  always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

As Paul introduces his letter to the church at Philippi he mentions seven things that I think are foundational to the experience of joy. Here they are:

1. Be a servant – vs. 1
2. Know you’re a saint – vs. 1
3. Know you’re accepted – vs. 2
4. Be thankful – vs. 3
5. Spend time in prayer – vs. 4
6. Be partners with others in the cause of Christ – vs. 5
7. Be confident of God’s work in your life – vs. 6

I like to take joyrides. Not the type of joyride that produces momentary thrill and excitement because of a temporary freedom from the rules, but the type of joyride that produces lasting satisfaction with life. I like to go to places of beauty and historical significance, and I am especially drawn to places that have an emotional connection to my childhood. Each of these destinations touches a different part of my heart and gives me a deepened sense of significance and worth.

That’s the way it should be in our relationship to God. Let’s consider that we are on a joyride, with the specific purpose of stopping at each of the seven scenic sights listed above. At each stop, we will take in the joy God intended, thus deepening our understanding of our significance and worth to God. So, let’s get in the car and head out on our adventure.

Our first stop is Servant City. Paul begins his letter by calling himself and Timothy servants of Jesus Christ. Paul certainly had the right to call himself an apostle – he had done it before when writing to churches with issues that needed to be addressed with authority. But even in those situations, he spoke in a gracious way, as a servant of Jesus Christ.

(For further study see 2 Corinthians 10:1-18 and 2 Corinthians 13:1-10)

Paul makes it clear in these passages that the authority he invoked to correct error and sin in the church was done to build the church and honor God, and he did it as a servant of Jesus Christ. There is, in Paul’s life, a consistent humility that seeks the glory of God and not personal advancement. Humility is the cornerstone of building a life of joy.

But don’t let a wrong understanding of humility cause you to live beneath your privilege in Christ. The servant Paul addresses the people in Philippi as saints. It is only in a balanced understanding of a servant’s heart and a saint’s position that we can experience true joy.

If one or the other of those positions is over-emphasized, there will be problems. If humility is the primary focus, it becomes a false humility that forces external behaviors of pride. When such a person wants to feel humble they debase themselves in some way, believing that others will recognize the sacrifice and self-destructive behavior as humility. But the fact that they seek the recognition of others is really pride.

Or, if being a saint is the primary focus, then a superiority complex quickly develops as the “saint” begins to believe that their behaviors and choices make them more spiritual than others. Both these positions are dangerous.

True humility is only experienced through an understanding of our position as saints in Jesus Christ. When we truly understand the incredible grace of God that made it possible for us to be transformed from a sinner to a saint, and when we totally accept the reality that we were totally undeserving of such a miraculous transformation, then and only then can we be truly humble.

We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ of all things for all eternity, and not one of us deserves it based on our own merits or accomplishments. But in Christ we are called saints, and because it is totally His doing and not ours, we honor Him by serving Him. We are servant saints, and we are living beneath our privilege if we don’t live in the fullness of both.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

We are currently preparing to look at the subject of Joy in the book of Philippians by reviewing the founding of the church in Philippi in the sixteenth chapter of the book of Acts. Our understanding of joy will take on its fullness when we study it in light of the suffering that was experienced by Paul and the Philippian people. True joy is not the product of positive circumstances in our life, but rather it is the gift of God as a result of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and our trust in His unfailing love.

The example set by Paul and Silas had an obvious and lasting effect on the people of Philippi. Read about it in Acts 16:35-40.

³⁵  But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” ³⁶  And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” ³⁷  But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” ³⁸  The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. ³⁹  So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. ⁴⁰  So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Paul and Silas had humbly withstood false accusations, an underserved beating, and unjustified imprisonment, during which they sang praises to God while in chains. When it finally came time for them to be released, Paul mentioned to the newly saved jailer that he and Silas were Roman citizens. The Philippian Christians got to see God’s justice delivered in God’s time, and their new faith was strengthened. They had seen a living example of a person who trusts God for the final outcome even though the present circumstances are painful.

I am reminded of the words of David in Psalm 35 –

²⁶May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. ²⁷May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” ²⁸My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.

If I had to guess, I would choose to believe that when Paul and Silas arrived at Lydia’s house after their release from prison, there was a time of shouting for joy because God had vindicated them. Paul was able to teach the Philippian Christians, by experience, that they could trust God for the strength to endure suffering and remain joyful until the day God’s justice is displayed. We know that the Christians in Philippi learned this lesson because of what we read about them in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church.

¹And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches (Philippi being one of them). ²Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. ⁵And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

The church at Philippi is a great example to us of joy and faith in the midst of severe trials. They not only endured the trouble, but also served the Lord in the midst of it. It was their overflowing joy that turned extreme poverty into rich generosity. The joy of knowing Jesus and being in the hand of God overcomes any trial we experience in this life, because the love of God is permanent and the trials are only temporary.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, REJOICE! 

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Monday, February 26, 2018

The historical record of the founding of the church in Philippi is found in Acts 16. We will soon begin our study of Paul’s letter to this church and discover the principles of joy the Holy Spirit has for us, but there are some important foundational truths to discover in studying the beginning days of this church.

Acts 16:29-34  ²⁹  And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰  Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹  And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³²  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. ³⁴  Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Paul and Silas get arrested by the Roman magistrates. The two men who had been using the demon-possessed slave girl for personal profit are very angry that she no longer has the ability to produce income for them. Paul had delivered her, as we read yesterday. They bring Paul and Silas before the Roman magistrates for justice.

It is heartbreaking to think that people can become so self-centered in their pursuit of wealth and fame that they refuse to consider the oppression of others. Why weren’t these men rejoicing?  A young woman has just been given the chance to experience life to its fullest as it was intended to be lived, and these men could only see the detrimental effect the deliverance was having on their status quo.

When the magistrates heard that these Jews were causing an uproar in their city, they had a choice – take action according to Roman law or take action that would please the people. They chose to please the people, and had Paul and Silas beaten with rods. These civil leaders showed a severe lack of leadership when they caved in to the demands of an outraged group of people who were threatened by the message of Jesus Christ. They responded in much the same way as the Roman magistrate named Pilate did when the angry mob asked for Jesus to be crucified. It seems not much has changed today in society’s response to Christ.

I am convinced in my heart that Paul saw the connection between what was happening to him and what had happened to his Savior. I am also convinced that he considered it a privilege to enter into that suffering knowing that in the end God would accomplish a glorious purpose.

After the beating, Paul and Silas are thrown in prison and the jailer is commanded to watch them carefully. They are placed in maximum security and bound in chains behind locked doors. But their joy in the Lord is not affected by their circumstances, and they begin singing and praising God in the middle of the night. As a result, God brings an earthquake that shakes the foundations of the prison and opens the locked doors. In addition, all the chains that were keeping the prisoners in place were unshackled. In the darkness of the night, the guard can only see that the doors are open and he assumes that the prisoners have escaped. He knows that he will be punished by death under Roman law and draws his sword to commit suicide. Paul shouts that they are all still there, and the jailer asks the most important question any of us could ever ask – “What must I do to be saved?”

There are two points we need to understand today from this story:

1. Circumstances don’t determine freedom. Paul was free while in chains: the jailer was in chains while free. Don’t let the events and status of your life dictate your happiness. The joy of knowing Jesus overcomes any human suffering. Do you see what the jailer did after he got saved? He put himself at risk to care of Paul and Silas. The fear of death that would have been imposed upon him for allowing the prisoners to escape was no longer a fear. The grace of God so captured his heart and overwhelmed him with joy that he escorted the prisoners out of the jail. The belief in God that results in salvation is more satisfying than any possible suffering from earthly circumstances.
2. Circumstances don’t dictate decisions. When the prison doors opened and the chains fell off, Paul and Silas could have walked out to freedom, but they didn’t. Most of us would jump at every opportunity to escape physical and emotional pain, but Paul was being guided by a more fulfilling principle than personal safety and security. He surrendered his personal goals to those of God, and waited for God to accomplish His purpose.

When we get into our study of Philippians we will discover how important this last point is. If the jailer had not seen the willingness of Christ’s disciples to suffer for the sake of the Gospel, then the church at Philippi would have never grown to be commended for their joy in serving others while in the midst of severe trials.

Maybe the reason Christians around us today don’t endure suffering for the cause of Christ is because they have not seen in us a good role model. Maybe today we need to start praying correctly. Rather than asking God to deliver us, we need to simply praise Him and stay in the circumstance until God’s work is done.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Friday, February 23, 2018

Paul’s ministry in Philippi began with a prayer meeting of women beside the river outside of town. Here’s how it happened:

Acts 16:11-15 ¹¹  So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, ¹²  and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. ¹³  And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. ¹⁴  One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. ¹⁵  And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

With the salvation of a woman named Lydia, the first church in Europe was born. God’s grace made it possible for Lydia to understand the Gospel as it was preached by Paul. As a result of her salvation, her whole household was saved and baptized, and Paul was invited to take up residence at her home and use it as his base camp for further ministry. Daily, Paul was going to the place of prayer by the river and by now it had become a well-known meeting place for those interested in spiritual things.

Whenever God’s work is growing, Satan is going to attack. As Paul and the Christian people were on their way to church one day a girl who was possessed by an evil spirit followed them. (You can read the story in Acts 16, starting in verse 16.) She was shouting, under the influence of a demon, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”

At first glance this doesn’t appear to be a bad thing. In fact, it seems to be a confirmation of Paul’s ministry. But that is the deceptive nature of Satan’s influence. He wants us to base our opinion of God on other people’s opinion of God. Paul recognized that if the new converts to Christianity used the statements of the girl as the basis for their faith, then Satan could easily sway their faith with false statements later. Satan wants us to look to human authority as our basis for belief rather than to God alone.

Paul handles the problem with the authority of Jesus Christ and expels the demon from the girl. In doing so, Paul made it very clear that it was not his human power that accomplished this, but the Name of Jesus Christ. Jesus is to be the foundation of all our faith and activity.

This truth is vital in this present age, when people’s opinions and experiences are exalted to the place of truth and given equal authority with the Word of God. Our society has become a collection of people who need the support and approval of others to take a stand on what they believe. They are deceived into believing that truth is relative, and they justify their position by seeking out people who support their beliefs. In their hearts they know their position is weak because they seek out the strength of numbers. They dare not take a stand alone for fear that their position will be proven untenable.

To the majority of people, the Word of God no longer stands as the final authority of absolute truth. It has been replaced by human opinion and experience, all motivated by people’s desired personal benefits. The day has come when those who stand for Christ, like Paul, must turn to the people of the world and proclaim the authority of the Name of Jesus.

We who stand on the authority of God’s Word can stand alone if necessary, because we know we are never alone. Our position is secure because our hope is not in the world’s response to our position but in Christ alone. We have no fear of the temporary suffering brought against us by an unbelieving world, because we are filled with the expectation of overwhelming joy in the presence of Jesus Christ. We can stand against all the attacks of a satanically controlled world because we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). We do not fear the appearance of defeat because we know we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37), and our faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).

There is one more thing to notice about this story. It happened while they were on their way to the place of prayer. The eternal principle is this – without prayer there is no power. The church in Philippi was able to withstand tremendous persecution and remain joyful because they were people of prayer.

That truth has not changed. Prayer is the fertile soil into which the joy of the Lord is planted and brings forth a bountiful harvest. Prayer is the greenhouse in which the fruit of joy is produced regardless of the storms outside. Prayer is absolutely essential to the discernment of evil and the stand for truth.

Make prayer a planned part of your day, and joy will be the product all day.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

The people of our western civilization are consumed by the passionate pursuit of happiness. The bookstores are filled with people checking out the latest self-help books to find the newest formula for success in conquering their dissatisfaction with life. Motivational speakers and advice columnists claim to offer the key to happiness, but for many people the door remains locked.

Many of us experience an occasional moment of emotional ecstasy, but the stress of the daily grind puts too great a distance between those moments. We do not have an overall enjoyment of life. We awaken each day hoping that some circumstance or event will have a positive outcome, so that we can experience a positive emotional response. We have accepted as truth that we can only be happy if things turn out right according to our preferences and expectations.

If this seems to describe your life right now, and you believe there is something missing, you are probably right! What’s missing is joy. It’s a common malady. Far too common. But not incurable!

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a church in Philippi that reveals the principles of joy that can be our continuous experience despite the circumstances of life. I invite you into an in-depth study of the biblical book of Philippians. Our intent is to find a way to be able to “rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!”

Before we begin the verse-by-verse study of Philippians, it is important to define our basic terms. What is the difference between happiness and joy?

Happiness is a fleeting feeling of exhilaration. Happiness is an emotional response mechanism of human nature. Happiness is defined as an attitude of satisfaction or delight based on positive circumstances. Happiness is an emotional response to an outcome that meets our expectations and preferences.

Happiness cannot be planned or programmed, much less guaranteed. It is experienced only if and when circumstances are favorable. Since we know that to be true, we seek to predetermine what outcomes will be considered favorable, and we then attempt to manipulate the process to achieve the desired outcome. We want to be happy, and we assume we have the power to make it happen.

In stark contrast to the pursuit of happiness is the presence of joy. Joy is the settled conviction that God sovereignly controls the events of life for His glory and the believers’ good. It is the deep and abiding confidence that, regardless of one’s circumstances in life, all is well between the believer and the Lord. No matter what difficulty, pain, disappointment, failure, rejection, or other challenge one is facing, genuine joy remains, because of the Divine influence of God’s grace. Regardless of the pain of unrealized expectations, when joy is experienced, we can always say, “It is well with my soul!”

Joy is not dependent upon the outcome of circumstances, but rather on the character of the One who controls all circumstances. True joy is not found in the removal of trials and troubles or the positive outcome of those circumstances. True joy is found in a personal and trusting relationship with Almighty God who controls all circumstances for the purpose of His own glory. True joy is discovered when we understand that God’s glory produces ultimate good for us who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

So the issue today is this – are you living your life in the pursuit of happiness based on circumstantial evidence or in the presence of joy based on the character of God? Your response to that question will determine your response to life itself.

Join me in this great study of Paul’s Principles of Joy.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

1 Corinthians 10:31  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Today we come to the final letter in our acrostic of the word NAME. The E stands for exaltation, and is a reminder to us that every thought we think, every word we speak, and every action we choose is to bring glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today is my wedding anniversary. 42 years on the date of this publication. Every day for the rest of my life it is my desire to magnify my wife, and to exalt her ahead of and in front of others. Every thought I think, every word I speak, and every activity I choose must exist only in the realm of honoring her as my wife, my friend, and the love of my life.

Our relationship with Christ is no different, albeit more intimate. I want to share with you today some passages of Scripture that emphasize this aspect of living life as a response to God’s love. Read them carefully and let the Holy Spirit apply the truth to your life.

The Apostle Paul begins in Romans 15: 17-18 by sharing his personal testimony of commitment to exalting Christ.  Therefore, I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me.

Paul again speaks to the church at Corinth about how each one of us is in process of being transformed into the glory of the Lord. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The author of Hebrews encourages us with the truth that God has equipped us to live lives totally pleasing and honoring to Him according to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Once again Paul writes to us through the church at Philippi that as we grow in love and knowledge the end result is to be the glory and praise of God. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)

The Apostle Peter confirms Paul’s teaching that everything we need for life and godliness comes from the power of God, and that we need not seek anything from the world to make our lives more valuable or prove our worth. In fact, when we live our lives for the glory of God, we escape the corruption of the world and all its evil desires. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Peter again shows us that everything we do is to be an expression of the work of God in our lives and is to be done for the glory of Jesus. The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:7-11)

And finally, the words of Jesus Himself tell us the one specific thing that brings the Father the most glory – This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8)

Join me in this prayer. Father, I resolve that whatever I do in word or deed will be done in the NAME of Jesus, according to His nature, His attributes, His mission, and His exaltation, so that my life is lived as a thanksgiving offering to you, who in your great and gracious love for me saved me from my sin by the blood of yours precious Son Jesus, who is my Lord. May my life bring glory to the Father by bearing much fruit for Him. AMEN.

Pastor John