Day Twenty Seven 

Memory Verse

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” - I Corinthians 2:9

Recommended Resources

Day 22 | Spiritual Warfare - Victory over Darkness by Neil T Anderson
Day 23 | Prophecy - Basic Bible Prophecy by Ron Rhodes
Day 24 | Eternity - Driven by Eternity by John Bevere
Day 25 | Hell - 23 minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese
Day 26 | Heaven - Imagine Heaven by John Burke

Day Twenty Eight

Reflection

Write down your thoughts from Sundays sermon as well as what stood out to you from this weeks devotional topics covering Spiritual Warfare, Prophecy, Eternity, Hell and Heaven.

Heaven

What is heaven and what will it be like?

Do you remember your first time experiencing something amazing and awe inspiring? Maybe it was the first time you went to a huge aquarium as a child, or you went to an Imax theatre, or you went on a road trip to see the Grand Canyon or Mount Rainier. You were filled with wonder and amazement as you took in what you were seeing and experiencing. Any picture you had seen just couldn’t do the real thing justice. Now hold onto that feeling and we’ll come back to it.  A lot of people hear descriptions of Heaven and they get the impression that Heaven is boring. We walk around in white robes, on clouds, playing a harp and singing, while little, fat baby angels float around us.  But this is not at all the view of Heaven we get from scriptures. So what will Heaven be like? The truth is, we don’t fully know. There are verses that attempt to describe Heaven, but the Bible also says in 1 Corinthians 2:9  that “no eye has seen, or ear heard or the heart imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” We can’t even imagine or comprehend the awesomeness of Heaven! A picture in our minds or a description in a book simply cannot do it justice. Heaven is beyond what we’ve ever seen, felt or experienced by a million. We can be assured that when we stand in the presence of God and see Jesus face to face, that experience will be unmatched by anything we can do here on Earth. Revelation 21:4 describes Heaven like this: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Imagine that, a place where death, pain, mourning, suffering and sadness will not exist. Not only will they not exist, but they will be replaced with the most pure expressions of love, joy, peace, and happiness like we’ve never felt before. Do you remember when you were most happy or most at peace? Now take that experience and increase it by a billion, and you will be no where even close to what Heaven holds for those who choose to spend eternity in the presence of God. Why wouldn’t a person want this? Why wouldn’t we look forward to this and want others to be with us there in the presence of our savior? Let’s be people who look forward to Heaven with hopeful anticipation,  but also use that future reality as a call to evangelism and introducing others to Jesus in this life.

Scriptural Reference

Rev 21:4, John 14:2, 1 Cor 2:9, Rev 22:1-5, Matt 6:19-21, 2 Peter 3:13, Rev 21:21-25

Reflection Question

Based on what you just read, how would you describe heaven in a simple way to someone who had no concept of what heaven was?

Hell

What is Hell and why would a loving God send people there?

Have you ever driven through certain parts of a city where suddenly you feel unsafe? Moments earlier you were in a section of town where there were street lights, vibrant businesses, beautifully landscaped gardens and people walking along the sidewalk smiling. Then, you drove into another section of town, and you see boarded up businesses, broken windows, trash blowing all around, addicts laying on the street, and a general sense of despair and hopelessness. The reason that the nice part of town was full of joy and vibrancy is because of the intentionality of people investing their love, care, money, time, energy and focus into that area to make it what it is. The bad area of town is what we get when that hope, love, care and investment has been pulled out of that area. Now take this example and times it by a billion and you get an idea of the difference between Heaven and Hell. Hell wasn’t made for you and I, in Matthew 25:41 we read that hell was actually prepared for the Devil and his angels. We were never meant to spend eternity there, yet many will because they choose to. I know at first read that sounds difficult to comprehend or accept, but many people prefer Hell. When we choose to separate ourselves from God, we are also choosing to separate ourselves from everything that is God. God is love, God is peace, God is joy, God is hope. So by rejecting God, we are also rejecting love, joy, peace, hope and everything good that comes from Him. What we are left with is hatred, despair, hopelessness, pain, suffering and death. And this is what hell is. It is the essence of what a place looks like when it is completely devoid of God and the things of God. When we reject heaven, what we are left with is hell. We are choosing to move out of the nice area of town and instead choosing to move into the worst possible neighborhood we can. So a question that often gets asked is this. Why can’t everyone go to heaven and why would God send people He said He loves to Hell? The reality is that everyone could go to Heaven if they really wanted to. The Bible tells you over and over how this can be done through Jesus. But most people don’t want to spend eternity in the presence of God. Mankind has the same pride issue that Lucifer had and still has; we attempt to elevate ourselves above the throne of God and become our own gods, determining right and wrong for ourselves. And God, in His infinite love, will not force you into Heaven. Why would a loving God force a person into Heaven to spend eternity with Him if that person has been running away from and rejecting God their entire life? To force someone into Heaven against their will would not be a loving thing to do; rather, it would be the most hateful thing possible. God loves you enough to not override your freewill; He gives each of us the choice of where to spend eternity. He loves us all along the way by revealing Himself to us so as to draw us to Him and, thus, enabling us to make the “life choice” and not the “death choice.” There are only two options: with Him or without Him. The only alternative to Heaven is Hell…and the only alternative to Hell is Heaven. It is your choice, and it is God’s love that wants you to make the right choice (1 Timothy 2:4).

Scriptural Reference

Revelation 21:8, Matthew 25:46, John 14:6, Matt 25:41, Rev 20:15, 2 Thess 1:9, Dan 12:2, Matt 13:50, Rom 3:23; 1 Timothy 2:4

Reflection Question

How would you navigate a conversation with a person who claimed they would ,“rather rule in hell than serve in heaven.”

Eternity

How can a person really know that they will spend eternity in Heaven?

Man was created to exist forever. Even when our physical body dies, our soul and that part of us that is spirit will live on for eternity. The bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that God has set eternity in the human heart. What this means is that no matter how much someone tries to convince themselves that this life is all there is, there is something set in our heart that knows that there is more. Even atheists or nihilists have the concept of eternity in their hearts, no matter how much they try to deny or argue it. Any belief that does not accept eternity as a real thing is forced to move forward with a constant cognitive dissonance and suspended reality. God made us that way from our innermost being, which is why even tribes and people groups who have never heard the gospel or the name of Jesus still have a concept of eternity and devotion to a higher power. We will live on for eternity, so it makes sense that we would spend time and effort learning about where we will be spending eternity. Would you go on an extended vacation for even a month without knowing exactly where you would be staying and planning for that destination? Yet many people put the thought of eternity out of their minds because any realization of our fragility and brevity of life is in opposition to our pursuit of temporal pleasure. There are many different versions of eternity and explanations of what that will look like and how a person can get there. We hear words like nirvana, paradise, Valhalla, and moksha when describing this concept of eternity. Some descriptions of eternity are correct and some are not; this is why we need to look at the source of truth in God’s word if we want an accurate view of what eternity really is. We can be confident and assured that we will spend eternity in Heaven the same way we can be sure of anything; because the Bible tells me so. Why would we trust what Jesus had to say about anything if we cannot trust what He tells us about Eternity? Even while Jesus hung on the cross, he declared to the thief who put his trust in Christ that he would be together with Jesus in Paradise that very day. The same is true for us today as it was 2,000 years ago. Each of us has that same invitation extended to us, to join with Jesus in Heaven and spend eternity living in the paradise that was meant for us from the start. Having said this, it should be noted that “eternity” is not so much related to “time” (in fact, “eternity,” by definition, is timeless) as it is related to “situation.” And so, Jesus defines it when He says, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Eternal life is relationship with God! You can have that to one degree or another in the here and now, and you can have that perfectly (heaven) or not at all (hell) in the yet to come.

Scriptural Reference

Eccl 3:11, John 5:24, John 3:16, John 14:3, 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15;
John 17:3

Reflection Question

 What would be a healthy reason for wanting to study the end times and what do you think would be an unhealthy reason for pursuing this topic?

Prophecy

How should we respond to all the theories and prophecies regarding the end times?

The end of the world was supposed to take place on May 21, 2011 at least that is what radio evangelist and founder of Family Radio Network, Harold Camping, declared over and over live on the air.  When the date came and went without an apocalypse or rapture, Harold said that his calculations has been off and reassured his followers that the new date would come later in the year in October. That, too failed to happen as predicted. Eventually the end will come, but there is one way for sure that we can know that a human being will not have fore-knowledge or be able to predict when that will happen. That is because it is spoken in scripture that Jesus Himself and the angels in heaven do not know the day or the hour when the Lord will return. (Mark 13:32). A lot of people put hours of study into prophecy and predicting the events which will lead up to the end of days. This area of study is as exciting as it is confusing - who wouldn’t like to know more about the Anti-Christ, the Millennium, the Rapture, the Mark of the Beast and what exactly all the trumpets, seals and other revelation symbolism actually mean? While it is interesting and worthwhile to study and be familiar with prophetic scripture, I believe there is a reason why God made it so vague, symbolic and confusing to fully understand. He did so because he wanted us to focus more on what is than what could be. There is a saying which states that a person can be so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. This is also true when it comes to prophecy. A person can become so enamored with the prophetic future that they miss out on the beauty of today as well as the mission we were created to fulfill today. We are called to introduce people to Jesus and disciple them to be fully devoted followers of Christ. That doesn’t change if the end of the world is one year away or if it is one thousand years away. If anything, a study and knowledge of prophecy and the signs of the approaching end times should only lead us to have greater urgency in evangelism, not to have a bunker mentality that is completely defensive and simply waiting for the end to come. When someone utters a prophetic word, that word is to be listened to and weighed. However our lives shouldn’t mold and bend around whatever is spoken. We live our lives based on the truth of God’s word, and the Holy Spirit who is in us. We believe in the gift of prophecy, but we also understand that these words are given for the edification and uplifting of the church, if they cause us to panic or act in a way that is not consistent with scripture, then we would be better off plugging up our ears.  A lot of people have something to say about the future, but we need to be very careful about who we allow to speak to us about events that have not yet come to pass. The best way to learn more about this topic is to take a biblically-based class on the topic of Eschatology. That word simply means the study of the end times. Get yourself educated on the topic from someone who has spent time studying it and can approach it from a sober, measured and biblical perspective. The same way we wouldn’t listen to investment advice from someone standing on a box on a corner and holding a cardboard sign, we should also not listen to their advice about the end of the world.

Scriptural Reference

Mark 13:32, Matthew 24: 42-44; Acts 1:11, 3:11, 3:19-20; Revelation 3:10-11, 22:7-12

Reflection Question

What would be a healthy reason for wanting to study the end times and what do you think would be an unhealthy reason for pursuing this topic?

Spiritual Warfare

What is spiritual warfare and is that something I am involved in?

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. From the beginning of time, throughout the Old Testament, and even now, we are presented with the reality that there exists two realms: a physical realm which we live in and a spiritual realm which we often do not see or are even aware of. The physical realm, earth, has an impact on the spiritual realm, heaven, and the spiritual realm has an impact on the physical. All throughout history there has been evidence of these influences. We may use common terms like miracles, the supernatural, ghosts, spirits, aliens, otherworldly beings…but essentially all of these are ways to attempt to explain or label things we don’t understand or cannot fully grasp. The Bible has declared throughout its pages that there is a spiritual war that has been waging since before the creation of the world. It started as a rebellion in Heaven where Lucifer attempted to elevate himself in pride above the throne of God, but was instead cast out of Heaven along with a third of the angels who followed him. The battle continues in the Garden of Eden with mankind, God’s greatest creation; caught in the center of it. The tactics of this war are not typical. It is not fought with guns and swords, but with spiritual armor and weapons, which are laid out in Ephesians Chapter 6. The tactics of our enemy are lies, deception, cunning and temptation all wrapped in our fleshly desires and selfish pursuits. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy any who are his enemy, and this is mainly those who are called Children of God. You are involved in this spiritual warfare wether you know it or not, or whether you want to be or not. As the famous saying goes, “The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” This is true both in the physical realm as well as the spiritual. The good news is that we already know what happens in the end. Lucifer is defeated once and for all, and God reigns supreme as He always has. But to those who have been deceived and led astray by satan, those who will spend eternity separated from their Heavenly Father, there is no victory. How many will the Devil pull into hell with him? This is a battle not measure by ultimate victory  but over casualties… and we play a direct role in this. This is why there is an urgency when it comes to evangelism and building the local church. Jesus Himself even declared that the local church is the greatest hope for a lost and dying world. We, as followers of Christ, are the greatest defense to pull people off the road to eternal separation from God and introduce them to Jesus.

Scriptural Reference

 1 Tim 1:18, Ephesians 6, James 4:7, 2 Corinth 10:1-5, 1 Pet. 5:8-9, Isaiah 54:17, 2 Thess 3:3, John 10:10, Matt 16:18

Reflection Question

What are two things you can do this week to better engage in the reality of the spiritual warfare which is happening all around you?

Day Twenty

Memory Verse

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  - Acts 1:8

Recommended  Resources

Day 15 | Baptism - What is Baptism? by R.C. Sproul
Day 16 | Holy Spirit - The God I never knew by Robert Morris
Day 17 | Abortion - The Gospel and Abortion by Russel Moore
Day 18 | Social Justice - Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham
Day 19 | Sexuality - Rethinking Sexuality by Dr. Juli Slattery & Gary Thomas

Day Twenty One

Reflection

Write down your thoughts from Sundays sermon as well as what stood out to you from this weeks devotional topics covering Baptism, The Holy Spirit, Abortion, Social Justice and Sexuality.

Sexuality

In what ways is the current debate over gender & sexuality a threat to scripture?

With any cultural debate, we need only to bring it back to the garden to gain clarity and understanding as to what our approach should be to that issue. What do I mean by “bring it back to the garden?” We’ll let me explain. This was touched upon in Day 1 of this devotional when we looked at the nature of Truth. As followers of Christ, we believe that God is the source of all truth and is the standard for what is right and wrong. We do not live by our own opinion, nor do we live our lives based on the opinions of the government, media or current cultural norms. In the beginning, God defined all things; Man, Women, Purpose, Identity, Marriage, Sexuality and even Gender. This means that God, not man, has created the boundaries for what is right and wrong, for what is and what is not, and also what we should do and what we should not do in each of these areas. The Bible is consistent in laying out the boundaries or lines that we are called to live within. These boundaries are for our protection and have been shown over and over throughout history to lead to a more joyful and blessed life. But God has also given us freewill and allows us to choose to live within these boundaries and definitions or not. Essentially, we get to choose if we draw inside the lines, or outside the lines. We are not, however, free from the consequences of what we decide. Any current cultural debate on any of these subjects is always potentially dangerous because people are often encouraged by the forces around them to live their lives outside of the boundaries God has laid out for them. Any time this happens, when people sleep with someone who is not their spouse, or seek out purpose and pleasure in life in things that will not provide fulfillment, there is a danger to that person, physically, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. This is also true when it comes to the current debate over gender and men claiming to be women and whether or not to allow children to make choices in an area they are not mentally capable of making. There is a great danger here because people are being encouraged to live a life that is outside of God’s intended design. This is not only dangerous, it is evil. The devil loves to take the definitions or boundaries of God and twist and pervert them to become something else. He is always questioning or leading people to question God. He did it when he whispered, “Did God really say…?” into the ear of Eve, and he whispers similar things into our ears today: “Why can’t a man become a women if they want to?” or “Why can’t you sleep with whoever you want to?”. There is great danger in living life by how we feel and elevating that above the truth of God. We either choose to live by the truth of God or we choose to live by a man-made lie. When we live a lie, one thing will always eventually happen. That lie will always lead to bondage, suffering, death and greater separation from God….both in this life and for all of eternity. I always like to inject hope into these types of conversations. God is always willing to forgive and help us to get our lives back inside the lines. Ultimately, nothing is truly a threat to God or to His Word. We know that God wins and He is sovereign over all. The threat lies not in the war itself, but in the casualties of that war, who we as Christians are fighting to save we introduce people to the truth and saving grace of Jesus.

Scriptural Reference

Gen 2:24, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinth 7:2, Matt 5:28, 1 These 4:3-8, Col 3:5, Eph 5:3, John 8:31-32, Rom 1:24-28, 1 Corinth 6:9-11, Corinth 6:18, James 5:16-2

Reflection Question

Given what you just read, how would you personally engage in a conversation from a biblical perspective with a parent who was concerned that their child may be living as the wrong gender to what they truly are?

Social Justice

What does the bible say about human equality and social Justice?

These two terms are often heard in our world today: Equality and Justice. We hear about them on the news, in legislation and even in the corporate world. Often the speaker or writer who refers to equality and justice doesn’t realize what these two terms really mean and where they come from. The truth is, there is no equality and no justice if not for God and His Word. Without God, there would be not even be a concept of equality or justice because both of these terms require a standard or benchmark to work from. When it comes to equality, all people are equal only because one God created all people, one God redeems all people and one God gives equal consideration to all people. Our equality as humans comes from God and is only sustained through Him. History has shown that as people or nations turn away from God and His principles, inequality of persons increases within that culture. Some of the greatest atrocities and genocides of our time were committed under secular and even atheist-led communist governments. Human rights were trampled upon because there was no standard for human rights to act as a hedge protecting those God-given rights. Other great atrocities, such as the Crusades, have occurred under governments or monarchies who adopted a twisted and perverted view of God’s word, which led to an imbalanced view of the value and worth of persons. What both of these unfortunate recurring historical situations have in common is that an authority’s incorrect view of God and His nature can and will lead to devastating results. God is no respecter of persons; He is “not one to show partiality” (Acts 10:34). This means that God see’s all people, regardless of skin color, status, gender or background, as holding equal value and worth in His eyes. What an amazing thing! This complete rejection of discrimination, racism and segregation is both theologically derived and logically embraced. On a theological level, it is understood that all people have the same problem; “All have sinned and have fallen short of Gods perfect standard.” (Romans 3:23). It is also understood that all have the same solution; all may gain forgiveness in Christ (John 3:16). Humanity’s common fundamental situation puts everyone in the same boat and beckons us to look at each other, not according to our differences, but according to our similarities. We are all children of God and there is only one problem and one solution (1 Corinthians 10:17), and so logically, that which is in common supersedes that which is different. The absurdity and illogical nature of the practice of any form of discrimination – identifying, assessing, or valuing a person solely on the basis of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or social status is not Godly or biblically endorsed in any way. (1 Corinthians 12:13). Any attempt to use the Bible as a basis for any of these actions or beliefs is a horrible case of mis-reading and mis-misunderstanding scripture. The rejection of discrimination is demanded by God inasmuch as His own refusal to discriminate results in His command to His Church to love and bring the gospel to all people (Acts 10:34-35; Acts 1:8). With this in mind, it’s important to understand that there is no such thing as social justice without spiritual justice. God cares first and foremost about the souls and eternal destination of each and every person, though it is our duty to act in kindness to our fellow man and treat them as Jesus would have. Our station and status on Earth means virtually nothing in light of eternity. A society that seeks social justice without reconciliation to Christ will find neither and continue to crumble. Let’s be people that prioritize the right things; when we do this, we’ll see Gods blessing pour out on our nation instead of cursing.

Scriptural Reference

 Acts 10:34, Rom 3:23, Jn 3:16, 1 Cor 10:17, 12:13, Acts 1:8, 10:34-35, Isa 1:17, Prob 31:9, Zk 7:9-10

Refection Question

How would you personally begin a conversation in which you explain to someone who is not a christian your views on equality and social justice issues?

Abortion

What does the bible say in regards to the issue of abortion?

The issue of abortion has become a hot-button political issue over the past sixty years. But in reality, at its core, the issue of abortion is a human rights issue that has been politicized. As Christians, we need to be aware that the Bible is not silent on this issue but takes a strong stance that we, too, should also hold as a part of our own worldview. Jeremiah 1:5, along with countless other verses in scripture, reveals that God formed us in the womb, God knew us before we were born, and God set us apart to have a divine purpose with our lives. All of this was done before we breathed our first breath. God has given each human life value and worth, and this value and worth has been assigned to all those made in His image before they were born. If God gives value and worth to something, who are we to disregard or take away that value and worth?  Who are we to deem worthless that to which God has given worth and infinite value? All human life is created by God, and therefore all Human life is sacred because He who is sacred creates each life. Once that life is created by God and knit together in the womb, it is not to be taken (Exodus 20:13). God’s commission to man to be fruitful and multiply includes procreation and the protection of that procreation, not its destruction. There is currently in our world a spiritual war that includes the lives of the unborn and a direct assault against the covenant of God to be fruitful and multiply. When Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she visited Elizabeth who was at the time pregnant with the one who would become John the Baptist. Scripture records that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. The baby in the womb recognized the presence of the long awaited Savior and responded to that Presence. That doesn’t sound like the actions of what is described today as a blob of tissues or an unfeeling clump of cells. The act of abortion itself is horrific, inflicting pain on the unborn child as well as emotional and spiritual scarring on the mother, who is often unaware of what is truly happening. This senseless killing of babies is akin to the actions of pagan nations in biblical times, who would murder children by the thousands in appeasement to their pantheon of gods like Molech and Baal. These were demonic actions in false worship to false gods. These horrific actions are why God commanded Joshua to judge and ‘utterly destroy’ the inhabitants of Canaan. The fight to end abortion is a spiritual war, with many spiritual aspects at play behind facades of politics and deceptive cries of women’s rights. Thousands of women and abortion survivors are now standing up alongside Bible: believing Christians in a wave of increasing outcries to end this horrible practice. If you or someone you know had an abortion, we believe there is forgiveness and restoration to a repentant heart. But to those who engage in and advocate for abortion, there will be judgment for your actions in this life or the next.

Scriptural Reference

Exodus 20:13, Jeremiah 1:5, Lk 1:41, Psalm 139:13-16, Exodus 23:7, Psalm 127:3, Levititus 20:1-2, Ezekiel 16:20-21

Reflection Question

 What would be your first biblically based response to someone who supported abortion on the basis of protecting women rights?

Holy Spirit

What is The Holy Spirit and what does it mean to live a spirit filled life?

Everyone has a reaction when the topic of the Holy Spirit comes up in conversation. Generally a person may pull back and change the subject, while another will lean in and engage further. These reactions are usually based on a mixture of our own beliefs, understanding and experiences. Often, people react to the Holy Spirit in two very different, yet equally damaging, ways. They may have had an experience of seeing people abusing the power of the Holy Spirit by fabricating it. They remember people running down aisles waving banners and yelling out gibberish and prophecies that never came to pass. This experience may cause a person to pull away and run in the opposite direction, completely neglecting and ignoring anything having to do with the Holy Spirit. Another person may have grown up never hearing about or knowing anything about the third person of the Trinity, so when they hear about the spiritual power that can be received, they run recklessly into the things of the Spirit and ended up abusing the power of the Holy Spirit by misusing it. Each of these two extreme reactions are sadly common and also exactly where the devil wants us. The Spirit of God is our greatest weapon in spiritual warfare, yes, even more powerful than the Bible and prayer. The Devil would love nothing more than to engage in spiritual warfare with someone who is without their greatest weapon or with someone who abuses their weapon and doesn’t know how to wield it. The truth is that the Bible tells us what we need to know about who the Holy Spirit is and how we can receive Him and live spirit filled and empowered lives. The Bible also tells us how we can properly function in the gifts of the Spirit and use them the way God intended and instructed His church. Being a spirit-filled and spirit-empowered Christian is so important that Jesus Himself told the disciples to wait until the Holy Spirit came before they attempted to begin building the church. That’s incredible! God knew that what he had for them, and for us, could not and would not be possible without the help of the power of the Holy Spirit. The same is true today. We cannot do all that God has called us to without the empowering of His Spirit. Without the Spirit of God falling on a church and being interwoven in its workings, the local church will always be a lesser and weaker version of what it was meant to be. The same is true of each of us in our personal lives…we will also be a lesser, weaker and less effective version of who God calls us to be as long as we are not living a spirit-led and spirit-empowered life. And this is why God gave us this gift; so that we would be empowered not for personal gain or notoriety, but to be effective witnesses who boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus and expand the Kingdom of God here on Earth. The healthiest and strongest churches are those who have a healthy, balanced view on who the Holy Spirit is and what He can do in our midst when we rely on Him. The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every believer from the moment of salvation, but His power will only flow through us when are willing and put ourselves in situations that are beyond our own natural human ability. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.

Scriptural Reference

II Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13; 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:18, Acts 2:1-12 

Reflection Question

How do you think your daily life would look different if you made a decision to fully live a spirit filled and spirit led life?

Baptism

Why do christians get baptized and what does baptism really mean?

Baptism is an important event in any believer’s walk with Jesus Christ. The Bible talks about both water immersion baptism, in which a believer makes a public confession of their faith, and also the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which will be the subject of another devotional. And that is what water Baptism really is, a public confession of a private decision. The Bible says that every person who believes in Christ should be baptized. It’s not an act that is set aside for a select few. It is an act of obedience that is proceeded by repentance and a public testimony.  Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. Even the symbolism of being lowered backward into the water then raised face up out of the water is symbolic of being placed into a coffin then coming up out of that coffin. Jesus provides the example for water baptism when He himself was baptized, an event foreshadowing his own victory over death. Over and over in Scripture, many examples of which are listed below, we read that people first believed, and then they were baptized. Despite this consistency in the early church, over the years, baptism has emerged as a controversial topic among denominations. All Christians are in agreement that Baptism is an important part of the faith journey, but the divisions come with the questions of when, why and how of Baptism. It’s important that we base our beliefs on the entirety of scripture and not just a single handpicked verse. Through the mis-understanding of a few select verses, without taking into context the entirety of new testament scripture on the subject, some denominations have formed a tradition based on a skewed perspective of what baptism is and what it does. These mis-translations have led to infant baptisms, sprinkling of water instead of full immersion, and seeing baptism as synonymous with salvation itself. Let’s take a look at an example in Acts 22:16 which says, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” Now, one may read that verse and mistakenly think that it is the act of baptism which is washing your sins away, but we have to read the entire verse and also read that verse in context with the chapter and entire book of Acts. Even If we continue and read the last line of the verse we see that there is a clear distinction that the person whose sins are being washed away is calling on the name of Jesus. It is not the baptism that is washing away or forgiving sin, it is the calling on His name. This is repentance, calling on the name of Jesus as our savior for the forgiveness of sin. Acts 2:38 says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” The act of repentance is separate from baptism, but baptism is a public display that repentance and acceptance of Jesus have occurred. If you have accepted Jesus as your lord and savior, and have yet to be baptized, then this is your next step! Even if you were baptized as a baby, make a decision to go public with your faith. Don’t let fear or uncertainty prevent you from being obedient to Christ. Who knows? Maybe Inviting unsaved friends and family to witness your decision can also be a great evangelistic opportunity and may be the reason one of them comes to faith in Christ as well!

Scriptural Reference

 Romans 6:4-5, Acts 2:38 - 41; 8:12-13, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Colossians 2:12

Reflection Question

Have you been baptized? Why or why not?

Day Thirteen

Memory Verse

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

Recommended Resources

Day 8 | The Bible - Living by the book by Howard Hendricks
Day 9 |  Sin - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Day 10 | Jesus - Jesus the King by Tim Keller
Day 11 | Salvation - Desiring God by Jon Piper
Day 12 | Church- Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren

Day Fourteen

Reflection

Write down your thoughts from Sundays sermon as well as what stood out to you from this weeks devotional topics covering The Bible,  Sin, Jesus, Salvation, and the Local Church.

Local Church

What is Gods purpose for the Local Church, and how do I fit into that purpose?

Imagine you’re in a conversation with someone and they tell you how much they like you and admire you, but in their next breath they go off and tell you how much they can’t stand your spouse and how horrible they are. How would you react to that? The obvious response would be that you would not be happy with someone who degraded the person you married. This situation seems ridiculous, yet a similar thing happens all the time when it comes to church.  Over and over in scripture, the local church is referred to as “the bride of Christ.” Those who belong to the body of Christ are loved, favored and highly valued by Jesus Christ. Jesus even tells us that he was willing to lay his life down for his bride and one day is returning for his bride. Yet all too often, people look down on or degrade the local church, all while stressing their appreciation and admiration for Jesus. Can you see how ridiculous this is and how it must make God feel? If we truly love Jesus, then we should also love and value that which He has given worth to… and his life for.  The local church has many flaws and has made many mistakes over the centuries, mostly because it is filled up with fallible, imperfect people. But don’t allow that tainted history to prevent you from being connected to and valuing that which Jesus himself said even the gates of hell would not prevail against. You may have had a negative experience at church. Maybe you were hurt or abused in some way. Don’t allow that experience to change the way you feel about the body of Christ. People make mistakes, but Jesus will never let you down. Jesus has called you to never give up on the local church, no matter what happens. The devil loves it when people leave the church. He doesn’t care about the reason; he cares that you are now disconnected from that which makes you the strongest. Now you have become easy prey. To those planted in the house of God, take heart - you are the body of Christ, his hands and feet on this earth. One day he will return for you and you will be with Him for all eternity. The purpose of the local church is the same as it has always been and the same as the purpose for each follower of Christ - To know God and make Him known. But there is a major difference between the church body and the individual Christian. A follower of Christ on their own cannot fully reflect Christ or fulfill the purpose they were created for. It’s impossible. You can’t do it on your own, no matter how hard you try. It is only by coming together, all the different parts of the body,  into a single collective body that we can begin to reflect the different aspects of Christ and begin to fulfill the mission He has laid out for us. We cannot fully disciple someone on our own. We need the variety of skills, talents and spiritual gifts represented within the local church to help people grow to maturity in Christ. You fit into that purpose because God has created you to do something no one else can do. You are unique. You were created with unique skills and a personality that cannot be copied. When we choose to be planted in the local church, we are choosing to be connected to something that cannot be recreated by our own efforts. We are a part of the most powerful and unstoppable force in the universe: the local church!

Scriptural Reference

Matthew 28:1-20, Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 2:19-22, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Genesis 12:1-3, 1 Peter 2:9, Hebrews 10:25, Ephesians 5:25, Eph 4, 1 Corinthians 12

Reflection Question

What do you think of when you hear the word church?

Salvation

Why do I need to “get saved” and what exactly am I being saved from?

A common scenario you’ve most likely seen in a movie or in real life is when someone is in danger but doesn’t realize it. Maybe they are walking towards a cliff unaware or maybe a wild animal is sneaking up behind them. If another person saw the danger that were in, they would try to get their attention and “save” them from the impending danger. The interesting thing is that the person who is in danger will not feel the need for any sort of help or saving until they recognize the danger they are in for themselves. The person might even reject or resist any help or anyone attempting to save him or her. This is also true in a spiritual sense. People who reject or ignore Jesus and christianity in general do so because they either don’t see any danger or feel like they can save themselves from whatever situation they are in. They may recognize the danger but simply do not care, or they may see any outside attempt at saving them as being an assault on their pride. Romans 3:23 tells us that every single one of us has fallen short of the glory of God. Because of sin, we cannot spend eternity in the presence of a Holy God. This is a huge problem. If we remain in this impure state, we can be certain that we will spend eternity apart from God, a place none of us should desire. Scripture tells us that apart from Jesus, we are spiritually dead, blind and lost. Simply stated, we are in a lot of danger and walking towards a horrible end. The wages of our sin and rejection of Jesus is death and separation from God. This is what we deserve, and it is also what we have chosen if we turn our back on Jesus. Our eternal destination is no one else’s fault but our own. Romans 1 tells us that we are “without excuse” for not being in right alignment with God. The amazing thing is that not only did Jesus provide a way for us to be saved, but He actually stepped in and took the penalty that we deserve on Himself. Sin has to be paid for, but we get to choose who pays for it. We can choose for Jesus to pay for our sin, or we can choose to attempt to pay for it ourselves throughout all of eternity something we could never do. The sad thing is, most people throughout history have chosen the latter, they have foolishly attempted to pay for their own sin. Through works and attempting to earn God’s favor. We must remember that there are no perfect people in heaven; there will only be forgiven people - those who humbled themselves and accepted the free gift of salvation offered through Jesus. This humility flies in the face of our arrogance and human pride, which is why Jesus stressed over and over the importance of coming humbly before Him. Everyone who repents of their sin and calls on the name of Jesus for salvation will be saved. It is by grace through faith that we confess that Jesus is Lord and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. The edge of the cliff is crumbling, and you’re about to fall off the edge . Do you reach out and take the hand that has been extended to save you?

Scriptural Reference

Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8 , Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6,  Romans 10:9 1:12, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1

Reflection Question

 How would you personally describe what salvation is to an unsaved person who asked you?

Jesus

Who was Jesus Christ and how do we know that He was not just an enlightened teacher or prophet?

his question of who is Jesus is one of the most important questions you will ever ask and answer in your entire life. It is a question that has been wrestled with for thousands of years, both within the church and outside of its walls.  The Bible and Christianity itself hinge on how we answer this question. Even our own identity, purpose, and eternity rest on the answer to this question. We ultimately have two options: either Jesus was who He said He was or He was not. It’s really that simple. Jesus asked this question of Peter in Matthew 16, and Peter correctly answered that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. Peter knew that Jesus was not just a rabbi or an enlightened prophet. It was this confession that became the foundation of the church. Jesus claimed in John 10:30 that He and the Father were one, and Jesus also said of Himself,  “before Abraham was, I Am.” (John 8:58) This was an obvious nod to when God revealed Himself to Moses and said that He was “I Am.” The Gospel of John also states that in the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and this word was with God and this Word was God. Later, this Word who was there at the creation of the world became flesh and made His dwelling with us. Jesus also fulfilled over 60 prophecies regarding the coming messiah from the Old Testament. The chance of just eight being fulfilled are 1 in 10 to the 17th power. Thats a big number. We are left with the option that we either believe that Jesus truly is God and equal to the Father, or Jesus is a horrible liar or completely insane. The options of Jesus simply being a good man, prophet or a good teacher are not viable options. A good man would not lie and mislead people and claim to be God. A good teacher would not teach false things. A prophet would not prophecy falsehoods. These common labels of Jesus are simply illogical. If we accept that Jesus is who He said He was, then we also have to accept that what He said about Himself was also true, including His resurrection. In John 14:6 we read that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life,” and no other way to the Father can be found except through Jesus Christ. This is a massive revelation if we accept it as truth. It means that all belief systems of the world can be boiled down to those who get to heaven through Jesus and all those who do not and whose beliefs are ultimately are untrue. Acts 4:12 tells us that salvation is found in no one else, not Buddha, Mohammed or even ourselves. Our own gifts, talents and work to earn salvation is insufficient. The only way to be in the presence of God is through Jesus. The only way to defeat sin and death is through Jesus. This is what we as Christians believe about Jesus and believe the Bible supports. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So who is Jesus to you? A Liar, Lunatic…or Lord?

Scriptural Reference

Matthew 16:13-20, Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 8:58 John 1:1-5; 14:10-30, Hebrews 4:14-15, I Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, I Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13

Reflection Question

 How has your personal view of Jesus grown over the years and how has this view changed the way you live and see the world around you?

Sin

Why is Sin such a big deal in the bible and why can’t I fix it myself?

We will never know the destructive effects of sin unless we understand the nature of God. The nature of God is that He is a perfect being who desires to live in a perfect existence in loving relationship with His most cherished creation - mankind. The nature of love is that we have to choose to love, obey and walk in relationship with Him. God does not force us to do these things because that would negate freewill, and without freewill there is no such thing as love. The destructive power of sin is that in our freewill we chose to reject God, and in doing so we rejected everything good that God had for us. Instead of a harmonious natural world, like it was in the Garden, sin caused a breakdown of our system which has led to earthquakes, famine, hurricanes and every other natural disaster. Instead of a perfect harmonious nature of our physical bodies, sin has left us we are left with disease, pain, sickness and ultimately death. But it wasn’t meant to be this way. We chose, and continue to choose, a painful and destructive path which may look glittery and glamorous from the outside, but is filled with regret, suffering and ultimate separation from our Creator. That is ultimately what sin is. It’s missing the mark or falling short of the perfect,  holy standard of God. Sin is choosing to live and function outside of the definitions and designs that God has for us and we can do no better than what God has purposed for us. The horrible things we experience in our world are our fault, not God’s. They are the result of millennia of rejecting God and what He intended for us. We were never intended to experience pain, loss and suffering but we do experience these things everyday in this life and unfortunately it gets worse. The devastating effects of sin do not just extend to our natural, physical world but also to the spiritual as well. We cannot stand in the presence of a holy God if we are stained with sin. God, who is perfect and holy by nature, cannot be connected with a sinful person, and all sin has to be paid for. The good news is that God loved you so much that He provided a way for you to be forgiven for your sin and to be set back into relationship and connection with God….but you have to choose to accept this free gift. Sadly, most people throughout history have chosen not to accept this free gift, but instead, have attempted to pay for their own sin. This is something they will never be able to do, especially after thousands of years living in disconnection from God. The only way for sin to be defeated is through a perfect, sinless and blameless sacrifice taking our punishment on Himself and defeating the power of sin and death once and for all. We still live in a fallen world, and sin is to blame for all the heartache, pain and suffering we live amongst. But for those who are in Christ and have accepted His free gift of salvation, there is the hope of living in eternity with God - a new Heaven, a new Earth and a new Eden. As followers of Christ, we should have a hatred of sin because of what it has caused. We don’t hate the sinner, but we are called to hate sin in the same way Christ does. In our common problem of sin, we have a common solution in Christ. We can’t fix this problem ourselves. We are the problem and the problem cannot fix the problem. But take heart that there is a solution…and that will be our subject for tomorrow’s devotional.

Scriptural Reference

1 John 2:2, 1 John 3:4, Deut 9:7, Joshua 1:18, Genesis 3, Isaiah 14:12-15, Romans 5:12-14, Romans 6:23, Psalms 51:5, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Romans 8:9-1, 1 John 1:9

Reflection Question

In what ways have you fallen short of the perfect and holy standard of God in your own life? 

The Bible

What is The Bible and how do I know what is written in it is True?

The Bible is not a book that arrived in complete form at one point in history. Instead, the Bible was written over a period of some 1,500 years ago by close to 40 authors coming from all backgrounds and walks of life. Although the Bible is viewed as one book, it’s actually a collection of many books and letters. It is called God’s Word even though God did not physically write it. God chose to work through everyday people, inspired by Him, to record the laws, histories and stories He wanted to pass along to mankind. One of the miracles of the Bible is the textual consistency of the 40 authors who lived many hundreds of years ago and miles apart, often with no contact or knowledge of the other person. Despite this distance, the message of the Bible remains unchanged and cohesive. The reason this consistency and clarity is possible is because the divine author is and always has been consistent and unchanging in His very nature. The Old Testament records how God’s mission is worked through His people as it reveals and points to Jesus. The New Testament focuses on the life and ministry of Jesus and the founding and expansion of the early church. The question regarding the bible is namely this: Is the bible the inspired word or God or is it not? I’m not sure which answer would require more faith. Think about this; If the bible is simply a book or collection of books written by human authors with no divine inspiration, how did authors in the old testament, like Isaiah, David, Micah and Zechariah, predict hundreds of prophecies, many very specific, that would come true hundreds and even thousands of years later? Why do archeological finds continue to reinforce that the Bible is the most accurate historical book of all time? How is it that scientific discovery is still playing catch up to God’s word after this many thousands of years and realizing things are true that biblical characters knew already thousands of years ago? In addition to this, we have copies of the original scriptural manuscripts, and throughout history these copies show that the Bible has been translated and copied accurately. Despite common skeptical claims that the Bible has often been changed through the centuries, the physical evidence tells another story. The New Testament records are incredibly accurate. Any of the differences in manuscripts found, called variants, are minor and none of these variants impact or come close to changing key Christian beliefs or claims. We can rest assured knowing that the Bible is a divinely inspired and also divinely protected book because of the numerous failed attempts by evil men to destroy it. The Bible has been banned, blocked, or burned  more than any other book in history, yet it is still the most read and circulated book in existence. The Bible reveals God’s greatest gift to mankind; salvation! God’s word is the ultimate source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. It’s is also a book that is alive and active, able to speak to us in our greatest need and point us in the right direction. Gods word is described as both a lamp for our feet, giving us clarity for our current situation, and a light for our path, giving us hope for our future - both in this life and the next. We would be wise to use the Bible and its principles as a foundation for our lives.

Scriptural References

 2 Timonthy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Tim 1:13, Psalm 119:105,160, Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 30:5, Matthew 24:35

Reflection Question

Throughout your life, What are some of the ways you have viewed the Bible and what is your biggest reason for knowing the Bible is true?

Day Six

Memory Verse

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

Recommended Resources

Day 1 | Truth - The Wisdom of God by A.W. Tozer
Day 2 | God - Knowing God by J.I.Packer
Day 3 | Purpose - Purpose Driven life by Rick Warren
Day 4 | Marriage - The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller
Day 5 | Children - Arrows by Ps. Erich & Joanne Eisenhart

Day Seven

Reflection

Write down your thoughts and what stood out to you from this weeks devotional topics covering truth, God, Purpose, Marriage and Children as well as the Sunday Message.

Children

What does the bible say about having children and family planning?

Over the past 50 years, as with many biblical views, there has been a cultural shift as to how we are told to view children. The common belief currently being promoted is that children are a burden, both to their parents and to society and the planet as a whole. Children are also portrayed as a burden in that they are a distraction and obstacle from other pursuits like your career status and financial goals. While having and raising children comes with its challenges, viewing children as a burden is not a biblically accurate view for how we should view parentage. The Bible goes in a completely different direction to our current society and says this in Psalm 127:3-5:” Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!” There is never a place in God’s word where children are not described as either a blessing, a gift or a reward…despite the difficult circumstances that surrounded many births in the Bible. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how current society and culture differ from God’s viewpoint.  It is almost seen as irresponsible to have many children or to have even your first child before you have a house, an established career, and a comfortable savings account. In many ways, parents who have children and view family as a high priority are somehow seen as a blight to the community and to the environment.  This is directly the opposite to what the Bible says; A strong, healthy, growing family is the foundational building block of a healthy community, not something that hinders it. God told Noah in Genesis 9 to “be fruitful and multiply, spread out and take dominion over the earth.” We are often urged to do the opposite through all form of media; be fruitless, divided, clumped together in cities, with our world around us taking dominion over and controlling us through fear, debt and government overreach. This discussion of family and children gets brought up a lot here at True North Church, especially because we are known for being a church that has many children and growing families. This is not something we are ashamed of or bat an eye at. We are proud to be a church who value children and place them as a high priority in life and in ministry. The only prerequisites to having children that the Bible sets out are that the parents are married and that they are willing to love and care for the children and raise them in the ways of God. The goal of this devotional is not to convince you to have children or not to have children. The goal of this devotional is to encourage you to look to God and hear from Him about planning your family. We need to depend on God for guidance and provision, not the government, medical professionals or cultural influencers. And don’t ask your pastors if you should have more children or not! You’re missing the point if you do this. Pray and seek God as to what He would want for your family and stop making decisions based on the opinions of a broken and sinful culture.  Never let a fear of lack prevent you from stepping into what God has for you, not a fear of lacking money, lacking parenting skills or even lacking confidence. This is where faith kicks in. We serve a God that has never and will never fail you or your children…no matter how many you decide to have!

Scriptural Reference

Psalm 127:3-5, Jere 1:5, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 9, Isaiah 54:13,
Proverbs 17:6, Psalm 139:13-14

Reflection Question

In what ways have you seen biblical values in the area of family
and children devalued?

Marriage

What is marriage and why do christians get so uptight about same sex people getting married?

The issue of marriage has become, especially in recent years, a partisan political issue. This is a sad development because marriage was never meant to be political or connected to government in any way. Marriage is a spiritual act, created by God Himself with a very specific symbolic meaning and function. Marriage had a divinely spiritual purpose from the very beginning of time. One aspect of the nature of God is that He is the Definer. This means that God is the authority and standard who determines what things are and what they are not. Essentially, God created the boundaries through defining everything He created. When something or someone goes outside of the boundaries or definitions God set in place, that person or thing has now crossed outside of God’s blessing and is existing outside of the will of God. The Devil, in his hatred of God, has attempted to re-define everything God created and defined. The devil will attempt to twist, corrupt, manipulate and pervert everything that God has created. One of those creations of God under attack is the institution of marriage. The reason marriage is such a hated target of the Devil is because of how marriage perfectly symbolizes the nature of God and singular plurality of the Trinity. With that in mind, man’s singular plurality nature is the basis for the most foundational relationship that God institutes within humanity: the relationship of marriage: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). This is the nature of a singular plurality, multiples coming together to become one. The institution of marriage is defined by God as that which is the most intimate of human relationships (“one flesh”) which uniquely exists between one man and one woman. These two God-created genders that define humanity – male and female – fit perfectly together since their complementing of each other is consistent with the way in which they were created (Genesis 2:18). Marriage was meant from creation to be the basis for civilization and the foundation of a healthy community. Men and women were told to be fruitful, multiply and increase upon the face of the earth. This would be done through the building block of the family unit; a father, mother and children, each having specific roles for the overall health and increase of the family and community. The idea of gay marriage doesn’t fit within this aspect of God’s plan and is outside of the definition of marriage and therefore outside of God’s perfect will. No matter how a misunderstanding theologian tries to argue the merits of gay marriage, the act simply goes against the nature of what God intended. As Christians, we cannot support something that falls outside of God’s defined boundaries. As followers of Christ, we’ve given up the right to hold an opinion based on feelings and emotions. We have given our lives to Christ, and in doing so, choose to live only by the word and definitions of God, no matter what the political or social landscape currently is. While we as followers of Christ love same-sex attracted people and people of all backgrounds, we cannot both follow and fear God and follow and fear man at the same time. This rejection is not done out of hatred but rather in an understanding of what true love really is. It is a matter of not calling something what it is not. Same sex marriage is not marriage, not because of any political definition or position on the issue (or not even because of any particular church position on the issue), but because marriage is a defined thing and the One who defined it did not define it that way.

Scriptural Reference

Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:24, Genesis 9:7, Hebrews 13:4, Proverbs 18:22,
Ephesians 5:22-33, Mark 10:6-9

Reflection Question

In what way do you think it’s most important for Christians
to stand up for biblical marriage in our current culture? 

Purpose

Why did God create humans and what is our purpose in life?

Two of the most common and most important questions you will ever hear or ever ask are these: who am I and why am I here? These questions point to our identity and our purpose. Every person who has ever been born, whether they realize it or not, has spent their lives searching out the answers to these two all-important questions. It’s what we all do; it’s in our nature to search for these answers because that is how God created us. God created us in His image to be a reflection of Him and to be in relationship with Him. We are the supreme object of God’s Creation. If anything should excite you and fill you with confidence, it’s knowing this! There are many aspects to answering the questions of who I am and why I am here, but a simple response would be that you are a child of God and you were created to be in relationship with your Heavenly Father. Though that isn’t all you were created for, it is a good foundational starting point and everything that God has for you cannot happen unless we live by these two truths first and foremost. Jeremiah 1:5 reveals to us that God has formed us in the womb, He knew us before we were born, and He has a specific plan and purpose for our lives. That purpose, simply put, is to know God and make Him known. Another way of stating this would be we were created to have a relationship with God, and to spend our lives using the gifts, talents and resources  He has given each of us to expand the Kingdom of God here on Earth. This is what a life of worship and devotion looks like; it is a life of increase, one of drawing closer to God and depending on Him more and more with every day. John the Baptist said this about his realtionship with Jesus: “He must become more, and I must become less.” That is a beautiful way of looking at our identity and purpose: Every day of my life I will become more like Christ, so much so that when people look at me, they will see Christ. This is what it means to be In Christ, and it is what Jesus taught  His disciples to do over his 3-year ministry. Every person has two choices in life when it comes to their identity and purpose. You can choose to live out and lean or you can choose to live out the identity and purpose that the world has for you. These two options are described by Paul in Romans chapter 12 as living a life that is conformed to the pattern of the world, or living a life that is transformed by the word of God. Which path you choose, whether a transformed or a conformed life, will determine the fellowship you have with your Creator and your fulfillment in life. The fellowship you were born to have with your Father was severed by sin, and we are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts. The only way to restore that connection and get back to your true purpose and identity is through Jesus…but that’s a topic for another day.

Scriptural Reference

 Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6a, Romans 3:23,
 Colossians 1:21, Isaiah 59:1-2, Jere 1:5, Romans 12:1-2, John 14:6

Reflection Question

How would you articulate your purpose in life in a short and concise way?

God

Who is God and how do we know He even exists?

There is no doubt that atheism is on the rise. New studies show that close to 10% of Americans identify as either Atheist or Agnostic, meaning they believe there either is no God or they believe there is no way we can be sure that God exists. This number has almost doubled in the past decade, mostly among millennials and Gen Z. There is an increase in skepticism around the Bible which has been fueled by secular leaning media and higher education. Not only do atheists believe there is no God, but in order to appear rational, they also have to make the bold claim that there is no such thing as the supernatural as well. Atheists don’t like to talk about this aspect of their beliefs because to deny the supernatural is to discount the eyewitness testimony of tens of thousands of people who have witnessed miracles, angelic or demonic visitations and any other form of supernatural event throughout history. Picture this; It would be like being in a courtroom and having thousands of eyewitnesses making a statement to something they saw, then one person gets on the witness stand and claims everyone who came before him must be lying or insane because what they saw was not possible. In any courtroom, the atheist and their claims would lose every time. The reason atheism is on the rise is because it is a very attractive and convenient belief system to people who want to live without accountability and want to become their own god. The truth is, there is no such thing as atheism. For every person, there will always be a god, that you put your faith in. That God will either be the true God in heaven, or it will be something or someone else which claims your worship. Atheists, in essence, have become their own god, their own authority and definer of what is right and wrong…a mistake similar to that made by Lucifer before he was cast from heaven. He too, put his faith in and worshipped himself. We see the true God in all of creation. We see His handiwork and intelligent design in even the smallest material on Earth. We see his hand at work in the fine tuning of our universe and in the logic that something cannot come into existence out of nothing. Romans 1 tells us that we are “without excuse” when it comes to the general revelation of God. God has also placed a sense of eternity in our hearts that we cannot honestly deny or run from. We believe God created all living things, “after their kind.” His definitions began at creation, and so, His act of creation determined the species, genus, family or order of all living things. Each living thing has always existed according to its kind, now exists according to its kind, and will continue to exist according to its kind because this is how God chose to create and define it “in the beginning.” One option atheists often put forth in opposition to God and intelligent design is evolution, but there has never been or ever will be an example of an animal or human evolving from one genus or species to the other. There is a logic and scientific backing to Creation and all stances put forth from God’s word, something that evolution and any atheistic reasoning does not have. When all is said and done, I  simply do not have enough faith to be an atheist, because to deny God is to deny our very being.

Scriptural Reference

Ecclesiastes 3:11, Romans 1, Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22
Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, I Peter 1:2
2 Corinthians 13:14, Genesis 1:12,24

Reflection Question

How would you navigate a conversation with someone who claimed to be an atheist and asked you why you believed there is a God?

You may have heard some form of today’s question brought up in recent years. Even the Roman governor Pontius Pilate asked this question to Jesus in John 18:38. What is Truth? In our world today, there has been a gradual cultural shift in seeing truth as subjective and moldable based on the perspective and experiences of each individual person. People will talk about the subject of truth and say phrases like “my truth” or “your truth.” This subjective approach to truth is not only wrong but also a dangerous way to look at such an important topic. The nature of truth demands that it is absolute. Views, beliefs and statements have to able to be determined to be true or not true. If, on the other hand, there is no absolute truth, then truth is non-existent and meaningless. But If there is truth, then it is definable. Consequently if truth is definable, then there has to be a Definer who defines and determines truth. I hope you followed along with that line of logical thinking. We believe that The Definer of Truth is God Himself and His expression of the truth He defined is His word - The Bible. His word is where we find what is true and what is false, it is the standard by which we measure what is true and what is false. It’s also the measure by which all people should measure these things as well. However we know that as people reject God, they will also reject any of His standards. As Christians, we do not determine what is true or false based on our own opinion. We have forfeited our own opinions on truth and instead turned to God’s word as the standard or basis of Truth. Another way of saying this is by declaring that we are not our own authority, our own god, or our own “Who Says.” Everyone has a “Who Says.” That who says is the basis or standard for their determining what is true or false. The danger is that so many people have become their own “Who Says,” or they have elevated a celebrity, an admired political leader or the media into that position which should only be held by God and His Word. This deception is not by accident or coincidence. John 8:44 says that Satan is “the father of lies,” and when he speaks lies he is speaking his native tongue. Satan loves to deceive people by stripping away the Truth of God and deceiving people into seeing God’s truth as hateful and somehow bigoted. Be prepared for this narrative to continue to increase over time. The Bible will continue to be seen as a hateful and bigoted book because the truth in God’s word sheds light in dark places; places that Satan wants to stay hidden. This false view of God’s definition is the farthest thing from the Truth, because truth and love walk hand in hand.  There is no such thing as your truth or my truth. There is only the Truth and scripture tells us in John 14:6 that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.” We can only find the truth we are so desperately looking for by seeking and finding Christ. Truth is not subjective or changing based on our emotions and feelings. Truth is something we can anchor our lives on in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. We pray that you would turn to Jesus and fix your life on Him and on the foundation of His unchanging and unfailing word. Instead of asking, “What is Truth?” we should be looking toward He who is Truth.

John 14:6, John 8:44, John 8:32,
John 16:13, John 17:17, Psalm 119:160
James 1:18, Ephesians 4:15

How does the your belief on where the source of truth comes from change the way you determine what is true and what is false?

When we were initially laying out this devotional, our team attempted to come up with a tagline that would act as a header for each section. There were two phrases which came to mind as a way to kick off the unpacking of each daily topic. The first was “What the Bible says about….,” and the other was “What we believe about….”. I was going back and forth as to which wording sounded better when it struck me that these two ideas are really the exact same thing… or at least they should be. Shouldn’t what we believe and what the Bible says about a topic align? The sad reality is that we are living in an age where increasingly, these two things are not seen as compatible. What the Bible says about topics like sex, love, marriage, truth and salvation and what we adopt as our belief and worldview about these topics can be two very different things. We’ve become a people who like to pick and choose what we grab onto, internalize and live out from Gods word. If something aligns to our cultural worldview and existing ideologies, then great; I’ll use that verse or passage as a part of my arsenal to pull out in arguments. But if that verse or passage doesn’t align with my pre-existing beliefs or political views, then I will casually cast it aside and find a passage that does support what I already think. This common practice of picking and choosing what we hold onto from Gods word and what we set aside is not only unhealthy, and unwise, but it is downright evil. We are all children of God who have been created to walk in obedience to all of God’s word, not just the parts that are easy to digest. Even if parts of Gods word are not seen as culturally acceptable, we are called to be people who fear God more than man and society. Each of us was created and called to carry those convictions no matter how society or the world around us disagrees. In this concise 28-day devotional, we hope to shift your thinking on twenty relevant topics presented in the form of a daily question and answer. In addition, the devotional will provide a weekly memory verse and allow one day a week to simply reflect and write down your thoughts. This devotional was written by our staff and backed up by numerous scriptures. You are encouraged to study in more depth on your own. Keep in mind that this devotional is merely meant to scratch the surface and pique your interest to learn more on these topics and what God’s word says about each of them. As a church, we have many great resources offered through True North College that will give you a much more in-depth look at the doctrines presented and how to live life with a biblically accurate worldview.

I hope you enjoy this daily devotional and pray it creates positive movement in your life.

Let’s get started,
Ps. Jesse Eisenhart