I Am the Living Water

I Am the Living Water

My child, I am the well of living water and I live right inside of you. Even as a drink of water refreshes your entire being on a hot summer's day, so is my living water there for you at any time as you face life.
So my child, stop running around out there, trying to find a drink of water here there and everywhere. I am the living water, and I am inside of you. All you need to do, is come to me and take a drink.
All you need to do is run to me and allow me to refresh you. I love you and you mean so much to me. Stop the running for a moment and take a sip of my presence. As you do, you will have the strength to press forward. As you do, you will have the vision you need to take the next step, says the Lord.
I love you and I desire to refresh you. So come! Run into my embrace and bask in my presence. AMEN.

He Himself Gave

He Himself Gave

“He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers… for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come… to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” EPHESIANS 4:11-13 Does the Body of Christ still need to be edified and encouraged? Have we all attained to the unity of the faith? Have we all obtained the full-knowledge of the Son of God? Have we all come to spiritual maturity? If the answer to all these questions is no, then these foundational ministries – ALL of them – are still needed today. And if they are still needed, then God has not withdrawn them. Source: “The Church in the Wilderness" by Chip Brogden http://www.chipbrogden.com/books/the-church-in-the-wilderness Like this? Share your comments: http://www.chipbrogden.com/june20 I am your brother,

Chip Brogden

"Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?"

"Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?"

Answer: This question is similar to its opposite: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" Both questions refer to what seems to be the perplexing injustice we witness every day. The 73rd Psalm is our answer to the very same questions that also tormented the psalmist. Finding himself in terrible distress and agony of soul he writes, “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:2-3).

The writer of this Psalm was a man named Asaph, a leader of one of the temple choirs. Obviously, he was not a wealthy man, but rather one who had dedicated his life to serving God (see 1 Chronicles 25). But, like us, he had experienced some difficulties and questioned the injustice of it all. He watched the evil people around him living by their own rules, enjoying all the wealth and pleasures of the world and collecting riches. He complains, "They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills" (Psalm 73:4-5).

Asaph was looking at these people who didn't have problems. They could pay their bills. They had plenty to eat and plenty of luxuries. But poor Asaph was stuck with directing the choir and trying to live godly. And to make things worse, his choice to serve God didn't seem to be helping him. He began to envy these people and even to question God as to why He would allow such a thing to happen!

How often do we find ourselves relating to Asaph? We dedicate our lives to serving God. Then we witness the wicked, ungodly people around us get new possessions, luxurious homes, promotions, and beautiful clothes, while we struggle financially. The answer lies in the rest of the psalm. Asaph envied these evil people until he realized one very important thing. When he entered the sanctuary of God, he fully understood their final destiny: “When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies” (Psalm 73:16-20). Those who have temporary riches on earth are in reality spiritual beggars because they do not have true riches—eternal life.

There are many times when we do not understand what is happening to us, nor do we understand how providence works. When Asaph entered the sanctuary of God, he began to see that there was no need for him to be envious of the prosperity of the wicked because their prosperity is an illusion. He began to comprehend that the ancient deceiver, Satan, had used lies to distract him from the reality of God. Upon entering the sanctuary, Asaph realized that prosperity is a fleeting fulfillment, like a pleasant dream that pleases us only for a little while but, when we awaken, we realize it was not real. Asaph rebukes himself for his own stupidity. He admits to being “senseless and ignorant” to envy the wicked or to be jealous of the perishing. His thoughts then returned to his own happiness in God when he realized how much more joy, fulfillment, and true spiritual prosperity he had in the Creator.

We may not have everything we want here on earth, but we will one day prosper for all eternity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Whenever we are tempted to try the other road, we should remember that the other road is a dead end (Matthew 7:13). But the narrow road before us through Jesus is the only road that leads to eternal life. That should be our joy and our comfort. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge . . .” (Psalm 73:25, 27-28)

We need not concern ourselves when good things seem to happen to bad people. We only need to keep our focus on our Creator and enter into His presence every day through the portal of His holy Word. There we will find truth, contentment, spiritual riches, and eternal joy.

Recommended Resources: Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges and Logos Bible Software.

SOURCE: GOTQUESTIONS.ORG

Self Esteem vs. Christ-Esteem

Self Esteem vs. Christ-Esteem

“I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.” ROMANS 12:3 We do not need Self-Esteem, we need Christ-Esteem. The more we see of Jesus the less we will trust in ourselves. That is why, once Paul learned his lesson, he wrote, “We have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). He then goes on to list quite a number of things that seem important in terms of religion, status, social order, education, and good works – all the things that tend to make one self-confident and self-righteous. With one grand stroke, Paul says, “Yet, I count them all as dung, that I may win Christ.” He simply discards what some people spend a lifetime trying to achieve. Here is a man who knows the sufficiency of God as well as the insufficiency of himself. Source: “Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden http://www.chipbrogden.com/books/embrace-the-cross Like this? Share your comments: http://www.chipbrogden.com/june18 I am your brother,

Chip Brogden

I Am Your Resting Place

I Am Your Resting Place

When you are weary and dry, my child, know that you can always find rest in my arms. I do not require you to come clean, come perfect, or come accomplished. Come to me in your weakness and failure, and know that you can drop every burden you carry at the door. My arms are open to draw you close to my heart, and give you the rest that you desire.
For it is in my presence that you will know that every problem will have a solution, every mountain climb will look possible, and you will know that every obstacle can be overcome. For in my presence, I do not require anything of you except your heart. Come and let me fill it to overflowing with my love, my strength, and power.
Then, you can again face the world, and know that you have an abundance of my love to pour out, and to share with the thirsty and dying people around you!

Hold onto the Promise

Hold onto the Promise

When a child hears his father give him a promise, he does not hesitate on whether or not he will receive it. He knows that his father will give him what he promised him. So, it is should be with you and me, my child.
Perhaps you have not seen these promises come to pass in your life and you are struggling to either hold onto the promise or just choose to let it go. I want you to know that if I promised you something, then I will keep my promise.
It is for you to trust in me and follow my instructions. Know that I will lead you to the promise, just like I did for the children of Israel. Don’t lose hope. I do not lie, but I indeed keep every promise, says the Lord. .

Deep Suffering, Deep Revelation

Deep Suffering, Deep Revelation

“When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” DANIEL 6:10 I have found through personal experience that the lion’s den usually comes about the same time as the revelation. The burden to pray comes with the edict forbidding prayer; Daniel labors for God’s purpose while Daniel’s enemies labor for his death; the answer comes along with a death sentence. This is not unusual, but quite common. Apostolic revelation and apostolic persecution go hand-in-hand. Revelation does not come to us apart from our circumstance, our environment, our struggle, our wrestling. Many want the revelation but they do not want the lion’s den. They want the angels but not the enemies. Yet the depth of the revelation is measured by the depth of the suffering, and if our sufferings are light, then our revelation is shallow. Source: “The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden http://www.chipbrogden.com/books/the-irresistible-kingdom Like this? Share your comments: http://www.chipbrogden.com/june17 I am your brother,

Chip Brogden