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August 6

Scripture for today: Ezra 3:1-4:23; 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4; Psalm 28:1-9; Proverbs 20:24-25

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“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV).

From: August 6, 2020

ONLY THE GOSPEL CAN BRING SPIRITUAL LIFE

The “natural” person is one who has not been spiritually born again. They are still dead in their sins. That is to say, they are spiritually dead. And so, they are dead to the things of the Spirit. Their spiritual deadness accounts for their spiritual deafness and spiritual blindness. Just as the dead cannot see nor hear in the natural world, so the spiritually dead cannot see nor hear in the spiritual.

One must be raised to new life, born again, in order to have have ears and eyes opened. No amount of argument or persuasion can wake the dead. Only the saving power of God’s gospel of grace received through faith will bring them to life.

The natural man can neither understand nor receive the things of the Spirit. But the gospel of Jesus Christ has the dynamic power to open spiritually dead ears and eyes, so that they might receive new hearts.

As the apostle Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are determined to always give out the good news about Jesus. For it is the gospel that holds the power of God for salvation to those who believe. Stretch forth Your hand to call people to Yourself and strengthen us to declare Your gospel with boldness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us” (1 Corinthians 2:12 NLT).

From: August 6, 2019

WHAT WE CAN KNOW

Have you ever been asked how you can know that God has saved you? The question may come from someone who lacks assurance of salvation themselves, so they want to understand from where you get your confidence. Or the question may come from an agnostic who wishes to challenge the basis for your faith. Yet, our knowledge of God’s existence and His salvation for us is not merely based on a feeling or even an experience. It is based on the reality that we have received God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our proof. He is the inner witness that gives us this confident “knowing” that we are now children of God.

The apostle John’s first epistle was written so that we could absolutely know that we belong to Christ. He wrote, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). So we can declare with John and with Paul, who said, “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Tim. 1:12). We can know.

PRAYER: Father, thank You that you have given us Your Son and through Him, You have freely given us Your Spirit, so that we can know that we are Your children. Now, empower us this day to tell others the wonderful Good News that they may know You too. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16 NLT).

From: August 6, 2018

WHY BELIEVERS DON’T NEED TO ASK WWJD

In 1896, Charles Sheldon published a novel called In “His Steps,” in which a fictional town was radically improved when its residents began to ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?” before every action. In the 1990s, someone got the idea of writing this question in the acronym form, “WWJD,” and putting it on everything from bracelets to ball caps. The WWJD logo was soon seen everywhere.

Did asking this question help people live better? Perhaps. Thinking before acting is always a good idea. But there is an error at the heart of this. According to the apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, the “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” (1 Cor. 2:14). In other words, those without Christ have no idea what Jesus would do, neither do they have the desire nor the willpower to do it.

The truth is, only those who have believed and received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior can know the “mind of Christ” on things. For only those who have been born again have the Spirit of Christ living within, instructing and empowering them to live for Him. The believer doesn’t need to ask what Jesus would do, for they already possess the “mind of Christ” on things. They only need to obey and rely on His Spirit, for the challenge is not so much in knowing God’s will, but in doing it.

But you don’t have to throw your WWJD bracelet away! Who knows? It might cause someone to ask a question about Jesus that will give you the opportunity to share the gospel. Surely, that’s what Jesus would do. 🙂

“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1 ESV)

From: August 6, 2016

After contrasting the difference between the “natural man” and the “spiritual man” in chapter two, Paul addresses a troubling third spiritual category, the “carnal man” (“fleshly”). This person has received Christ as Savior (note Paul’s use of “brothers”), yet doesn’t yield to Him as Lord. Their behavior is not unlike that of the unbeliever. They do not desire to dig into the Word of God to be fed with meat, but want someone to bottle feed them with milk. They are divisive, jealous and hypocritical. Paul warns them of the coming Day which will expose their works. This is a miserable place to be spiritually, knowing the Lord, yet not fully surrendered to Him. They must stop being spiritual babies and grow up to maturity in the Lord.

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)

From: August 6, 2015

The “natural” person is one who has not been born again spiritually. They are unregenerate and already dead in their sins. That is to say, they are spiritually dead. And so, they are dead to the things of the Spirit. Their spiritual deadness accounts for their spiritual deafness and blindness. Only being raised to new life will open their ears and eyes to understand spiritual things. No amount of argument or persuasion will wake the dead. Only the saving power of God’s gospel of grace received through faith will bring them to life.

“The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel” (Ezra 4:1 NLT)

From: August 6, 2014

When the enemies of God hear there is a new work being planted, they often volunteer to help. One of the most dangerous ploys of the evil one is disguised as an offer of assistance. It’s tempting to accept because a new ministry is nearly always lacking in both people and financial resources. This sense of desperation can lead to accepting an infiltration that hinders the new ministry from within. The returning exiles to Jerusalem wisely refused to fall for this trap. Of course, their refusal merely unmasked the enemy’s true motivations. The enemies of God then began an external attack. We shouldn’t be surprised that enemies come against us in ministry. But we can wisely avoid being unequally yoked with those who would destroy from within.

“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Proverbs 20:24)

From: August 6, 2012

We waste time asking God “Why?” questions. Some things we understand after years of perspective, others may escape comprehension until Christ’s return. In the meantime, we can trust God and ask better questions, like: “What’s my next step, Lord?”

“Many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid” (Ezra 3:12)

From: August 6, 2011

Be careful not to cry for the former things when God does a work through the next generation. Instead, support them. Don’t be the resistant, against change, old person. Be a spiritual mentor.