WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SLIPPERY SLOPE - 06/27/18 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"This society in which we live is radically changing. What previous generations saw as evil is now embraced as being good. It is a dangerous and slippery slope upon which we stand when we reject what Solomon called the beginning of wisdom 

- the fear of God."

- Ray Comfort

Ray Comfort is an Evangelist from New Zealand. You may recognize him from his "Way of the Master" evangelism teachings with former "Growing Pains" TV star Kirk Cameron. They are known for the method of making people aware of their sinful state in order to see that they have need of salvation that only comes through a relationship
with Jesus Christ. They lead a person down a series of questions about external activities, inward motives and secret lusts: "Have you ever stolen anything?" "Have you ever lied?" "Have you ever looked upon a woman to lust after her?" After just a few minutes of questioning, the interviewee realizes that sin pays the wages of death (Rom. 6:23), that everyone has sinned (Rom. 3:23), and that the smallest deviation from God's standard of holiness is a slippery slope down which you begin to fall, and from which without His grace and mercy through identifying with Christ as your Savior, you will not recover. A SLIPPERY SLOPE is an idea or course of action which will lead to something unacceptable, wrong or disastrous.    

In Psalm 73, Asaph the psalmist reveals that his envy of wicked people who seem to be untouchable has almost caused his downfall. "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked." (vs. 2-3) He 'gets
into his feelings' and rattles off a series of perceptions on how much better the lives of the unrighteous are: they're not in trouble or plagued like other men, pride is their necklace and violence covers them like a garment, their eyes bulge with abundance, they have more than the heart could wish, they speak wickedly concerning oppression, they set their mouth against the Heavens and their tongue walks through the earth. (vs. 4-9, paraphrase) He says the LORD's people ask, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" (vs. 11) Asaph is struggling. He wonders if he's been living righteously in vain. His life is not like these evil people's...he's under God's chastening all the time and can't get away with anything. This causes him great pain, vexation and distress. (vs 13-16) "Until I went into the sanctuary of God. Then I understood their end." (vs. 17) 

   

"Surely, You have set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, So, LORD, when You awake, You shall despise their image."  (vs. 18-20) In God's presence the psalmist realizes that the road the wicked have chosen is a slippery slope that will ultimately lead to disastrous consequences. God will see to it. Asaph is grieved and repentant for his short-sightedness and re-affirms his allegiance to God and His Divine guidance. (vs. 21-24) He closes with these faith-filled and focused thoughts on God's wisdom and Sovereignty: 

25 Whom have I in heaven but You? 

And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 

26 My flesh and my heart fail; 

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God,
That I may declare all Your works.

 

Be encouraged! no matter what it looks like, God's ultimately in control!  

Join us SUNDAYS 9:30AM Class 11:00 AM Worship Service 225 Wyoming Ave. Cincinnati OH 45215 mynewlifetoday.com

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - GUIDANCE - 06/13/18 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

 

"I don't have the strength or wisdom to get through a single day without guidance and grace from God."- Coach Tony Dungy

 

Guide me, Oh, Thou Great Jehovah! Pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but Thou art mighty. Hold me with Thy powerful hand. What great lyrics from hymn writer William Williams. It is difficult to foray into the unknown. We'd love to have a map for our lives that gives us step by step direction to our destination.  But God does it more like GPS, turn by turn with relocating when there's an accident or issue.  Sometimes the guidance of God takes us on a longer, more time consuming route because the wreck ahead is dangerous.  Sometimes God alerts us to a shorter way that avoids the trouble, if we'll choose to take it. GUIDANCE is advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, especially as given by someone in authority; or the directing of the motion or position of something. In these times, we ALL could use the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

 

Much discussion is happening over the recent political summit. It is interesting that missiles are one of the things noted on the definition of guidance. Even more thought-provoking is what the Bible says about guidance with reference to nations waging war. "Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance." (Proverbs 20:18)  "For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers." (Proverbs 11:14) "So don't go to war without wise guidance: victory depends on having many advisers." (Proverbs 24:6) War has the potential for so many casualties...it is important to obtain counsel before engaging in conflict. This is as true for individuals as it is for nations.    

 

Deciding WHERE or TO WHOM to go to receive guidance is crucial. Though he had the prophet Samuel at his right hand, the Bible says that king Saul chose another means other than God to obtain advice, "Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse." (1 Chronicles 10:14) It is unfortunate that so many 'Christians' refuse to pray first, and rely on the world's wisdom, horoscopes, ouija boards, etc. to guide them versus the Word of God, the Holy Spirit or prophetic gifts like Word of Wisdom or Word of Knowledge. We put our trust more in men than in God.   

   

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance." (Proverbs 1:5) It is comforting to know that when we arrive at a crossroads and don't know what to do, God is there to give us guidance. In fact, the LORD specifically promises that guidance is an area He will take care of personally, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." (Psalm 32:8) Comforting words that are really needed right about now.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD -GENEROUS - 06/06/18 - Sadell Bradley

 

"Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

 Proverbs 11:24-25   

 

The pastor who eulogized my mother asked for one word to describe her... without hesitation I said GENEROUS. Mommy was notorious for giving to individuals and organizations. She came through in the clutch when people were celebrating special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, proms, or going on vacation. She wouldn't let you out the door without giving you food or money. She sent gifts in the mail, made cakes, sewed dresses and took people into her home. GENEROUS means showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or time than is strictly necessary or expected; showing kindness toward others.  

 

Psalm 112:4-6 says, "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever."  Because we live in a time when most people are self-interested, selfish and greedy; when we come across those whose grace-gift is giving, it's an oddity. Being generous does not  mean you're wealthy, and generosity expands beyond just giving to the poor.  In 2 Corinthians 8:2-4, Paul said this about the Macedonian Church, "They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem."  Generous people have learned to trust God to meet their needs. They believe if they water others, they will be watered again. 

 

Paul told Timothy to command those that are wealthy in this present world, "...to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life"  (1 Timothy 6:18-19) In this season, I've learned you can't take it with you. The shrewd manager in Luke 16 was generous with the bills of the clients he wanted to retain after he'd lost his job, Jesus gave us this instruction, "Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home." (vs.9)

 

1 Timothy 5:8 says that we are to be generous in providing for our relatives when they are in need. To not do so indicates that we've denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever.  This does not mean that we have to support able-bodied people who are not willing to work. However, we are sometimes so concerned with being taken advantage of, or not being a doormat, that we will shut our hearts off to those who are truly require help in our families.

 

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 is my favorite passage about being generous.God the Father loved the world so much. In His generosity, He gave us His greatest gift, His only Son Jesus, so we would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16) This passage on giving is an encouragement to become generous if you've not yet been so, and to increase your generosity if that is your propensity:

 

6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: "They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever."    

 

10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 

 

12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

 

How can you be more generous today? 

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