LTW GLOBAL

True Freedom

March 31, 2023
Uncategorized

July 6, 2020

True Freedom

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Satan will entice you to use your freedom to sin. But true freedom means we are free from sin—free to serve Christ and live holy lives.

Read 2 Peter 2:17-22. One of Satan’s cleverest tactics is to entice us into slavery by giving it a new name: freedom. Schooled in the art of seduction, he will keep at it until he overpowers the voice of the Holy Spirit—if we let him.

In verse 19, Peter warns us that false teachers will promote a false, unbiblical ‘freedom’ that actually gives us license to sin. They will twist the Truth, saying we are free to sin because God’s grace will cover it.

If Christian freedom is not properly understood, it can be easy for us to fall into this trap. But here is the Truth: When the Bible speaks about our freedom in Christ, it is referring to freedom from sin—and freedom to serve Christ. Before Christ came into our lives, we were slaves to sin, but since Christ has saved us, we are free from that merciless slave master (see Romans 6:15-23). By the Spirit, we now have power to say no to our lusts and joyfully serve our Lord Jesus.

Friends, let us not be allured by Satan’s arguments of cheap grace. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Train yourself each day to reject unrighteousness and experience true freedom in Christ. It’s never too late to serve Him with your whole heart today.

Prayer: Lord, I rejoice in the freedom You have secured for me in Christ—freedom to live in the peace and joy of holiness. Show me how I can serve You today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for ‘people are slaves to whatever has mastered them’” (2 Peter 2:19).

Everything We Need

March 24, 2023
Uncategorized

Power for Christian living does not lie in hard-to-attain experiences. It comes from realizing God has already given us everything we need.

Read 2 Peter 1:3-4. Have you ever been frustrated trying to chase the next spiritual experience? Or felt that something was missing in your life with God? If so, you are not alone. Many of us have been there. Truthfully, our problem is not that we lack what we need—it is that we have not fully appropriated all that He has already given us.

When we first receive Christ, we receive everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). We are filled with the Holy Spirit and become recipients of every covenantal promise of God—promises like:

“[T]hose who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).
“[W]hoever believes in [Christ] shall not perish” (John 3:16).
“[I]n all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).

Today, before you search for the next mountaintop experience, remember the promises of God. Before you give in to depression and despair, remember the promises of God. And long before you say, “It’s too late for me,” remember the promises of God. As you allow these precious promises to permeate your mind, you will participate in the “divine nature,” living in the abundance of all that Christ has given you (2 Peter 1:4). He has already given you everything you need; don’t let anything hold you back from living fully for Him.

Prayer: Father, I know Your promises are sure and unchanging. Thank You that my experience of Your presence has no bearing on the Truth that You are with me. Thank You for empowering me with Your Spirit so that I can live abundantly with joy, holiness, and hope. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Faithful to God and Others

March 4, 2022
Uncategorized

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with hisSon, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians
1:9).

One of the foes to our faithfulness to God is indifference to His Word. We lose a capacity for faithfulness when we lose our zeal, our ardor, our “first love,” our deep desire to stand up for the Truth and to witness to the lost. Those who are authentically filled with God’s Spirit are excited about the things of God. They rejoice at the salvation of lost souls. They delight in seeing God at work. They are enthusiastically eager to worship God and serve Him.

If you are genuinely faithful, you will find yourself actively pursuing a relationship with God. Are you spending time praising and thanking Him, confessing your sins to Him, and listening to what He speaks to you from His Word? Faithfulness also involves a desire to know God’s Truth. Are you seeking to grow in your understanding of God’s principles, purposes, and promises? Do you read and study the Bible on a daily basis?

Faithfulness not only demands a growing relationship with God but also growing relationships with believers. It means going to church even when you don’t feel like it and developing friendships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Faithfulness produces a deep assurance that we are connected to God with a bond that cannot be broken, that extends into eternity. God’s faithfulness to us leads to our faithfulness to Him and to other people.
Prayer: God, thank You for being faithful to me even when I have been unfaithful. I pray that You would reveal to me specific ways in which I can be more faithful to You and to others. Help me to stay zealous for You and Your Word. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Demonstrate God’s Goodness

March 4, 2022
Uncategorized

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart” (Luke 6:45).

The goodness of God within our lives is often revealed through our actions. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we gain the ability to be good people—but only as we live our lives for Jesus Christ. Apart from Him we can do nothing!

The Lord told His disciples, “There is only One who is good,” and that, of course, is God, the Holy One of Israel (Matthew 19:17). With the fall of man, we were separated from God, unable to be wholly good (see Isaiah 59:2). But in Christ we are made new, and by His Spirit we are able to “clothe [ourselves] with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). This is the goodness that comes from the heart of God. It is planted within us when the Holy Spirit dwells in us and we lay our selfish desires aside.

The Good Samaritan sacrificed financial gain and personal reputation in order to help someone he did not even know. Take a moment to read this story in Luke 10:30-37. This act of goodness can only be born from the heart of God.

Throughout life, we will meet people who are careless with their words and actions. Everything within us will want to fight back, but we must come to a point where we level our eyes at the deepest intent of our hearts and ask, “Am I demonstrating God’s goodness or my self-righteousness?”

The Holy Spirit who lives within us is our guide to godliness, which will be reflected in the love and mercy we extend to even the most unlovely person. The next time you face a difficult situation, take time to pray and ask God to live His life through you.

Prayer: Father, it is not humanly possible for me to be good on my own, but I know that You can show me how to be both kind and good. I submit to You; lead me in Your ways. Mold me so that I can become more like You, reflecting Your character. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Meekness and Courage

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

We often believe that perception is reality, but many times it is not.

The enemy is swift to tempt us to believe something about another person that may not be true. Remember, God created us for fellowship—first with Himself and then with others.

Once we have accepted Christ as our Savior, the enemy knows that he can no longer capture our souls. We are saved by the grace of God.

However, he never backs away from a challenge and sets new goals to disrupt and, if possible, to destroy our fellowship with God and with those we love.

When conflict arises, it is extremely important for us to listen only to the voice of God. While there is benefit to the counsel of godly friends, there is also the danger of missing what God wants us to see and learn on our own.

Therefore, before you react to a situation, ask the Lord to make His Truth apparent to your heart. Wrong perceptions have been the cause of many misunderstandings. Set a goal to set aside pride to understand the true motives of the other person. Then, be meek and forgiving as necessary through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Oftentimes, we view meekness as a weakness. In actuality, a meek person is not weak or timid. In fact, Biblical meekness or gentleness is courage, confidence, and strength under control.

God wants us to enjoy meekness as a fruit of the Spirit. When we learn how to rest in Him and allow Him to work through us, His meekness will rise to the surface of our lives—helping us to walk in fellowship with others as He intends.

Prayer: Lord, help me to reflect on hurtful situations before I react to them. Show me my wrongs so that I may ask for forgiveness. Grant me insight into the hearts of those with whom I have a dispute so that I might have compassion. May I extend forgiveness just as I have been forgiven. Thank You for the fruit of Your meekness and courage. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Empowered for Self Control

March 4, 2022
Uncategorized

“[M]ake every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control” (2 Peter 1:5-6).

A father asked his daughter, who spent too much time watching television, to begin memorizing Scripture. He chose the verses in Galatians concerning the fruit of the Spirit as a place for her to begin.

When she was sure she had reached her goal, she began to list the fruit of the Spirit to her Dad, “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and remote control!”

When it comes to the subject of self-control, many of us would like to dodge the issue. Maybe we would like to think there is a way to put our minds, wills, and emotions under God’s “remote control.” Instead of having to take responsibility for our actions and decisions, we think it would be easier for God simply to control us.

However, God has a more creative plan in mind, and in Christ, He has given us the ability to choose right over wrong and self-control over emotional impulse.

Paul warns:

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. . . . be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, . . . (Ephesians 5:15-20)

Don’t set your heart on having a “remote control” attitude. Dig deep into God’s Word. Learn what it means to be self-controlled. Pray that you will reflect His love and self-control to others whose lives are spinning out of control to encourage and strengthen them in difficult times.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You are a gentle God, not a controlling God. Show me how to live by the Spirit You have so graciously given me. Help me take responsibility for my actions and live in the fullness of Christ so that You may be glorified. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Set Apart

March 4, 2022
Uncategorized

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

Are you feeling that you just don’t belong in our culture or that you’re a foreigner in your own land? As Christians we are set apart from the world. So when you feel as though you’re living in a strange land, rejoice in knowing that you are part of God’s Kingdom, not the kingdom of this world: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. . . . Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:9, 11).

When you feel overwhelmed by the shadow of the world and alone in your stand for the Truth, look toward Daniel’s example. No matter what temptation or pressure was set before him, Daniel always remembered that he was set apart from this world. Knowing that he was part of God’s Kingdom and that God was on his side gave Daniel the strength to face the world.

God calls us to His own set of standards and morals—not those of the people around us. And as we follow what is righteous, we must also stand up for righteousness. When we are ridiculed for our beliefs, we must hold on to our identity in Christ. Challenging the status quo will not be easy, but we must stand firm in our beliefs, or we will be swept up in the current of this world.

Prayer: God, sometimes I feel I just don’t belong in this world. Help me to remember that I belong to Your Kingdom. Help me to follow Daniel’s example and to stand up for what is right. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

A Different Standard

March 4, 2022
Uncategorized

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

How have you stood apart from the world in your life? Are people surprised when they learn that you are a Christian? Do you compromise your beliefs to fit in with your friends or co-workers? Or do you seek to do everything according to God’s plan for your life?

When Daniel and his friends were studying in the Babylonian palace, they were given a decadent diet that contradicted the dietary laws of the Israelites. The Babylonians not only ate what the Jews considered unclean, but what they ate had been offered to the Babylonian idols.

Instead of conforming to a new lifestyle, Daniel remembered that God had called him to a different standard. Daniel knew that God wanted him to change the world, not to allow the world to change him.

So Daniel proposed an experiment that tested the results of his healthy, God-given dietary standards against those of the Babylonians. Daniel didn’t argue with his captors. He didn’t belittle their ways. He simply made a point that his traditional food would serve him better. And in the end, Daniel proved the Truth through his actions.

When we are confronted with ungodly situations, we must remember that we are called to godly behavior, no matter what pressures we face. We don’t need to engage in heated theological debates to make our point, but instead we should live a lifestyle of Christian faith and love. “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12).

Prayer: God, help me to live my life by Your standard and not the world’s. Help me to always demonstrate godly behavior even in difficult situations. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Principles of Powerful Prayer

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16).

James 5:17 tells us that “Elijah was a human being, even as we are,” yet he played a role in some of the most amazing demonstrations of God’s power in Biblical history (see James 5:16-18; 1 Kings 17:17-24, 18:16-46).

What made Elijah so effective in dealing with unbelievers, enemies, and political leaders? What kind of man can God use as He did Elijah? Six principles allowed Elijah to experience tremendous personal power and intimacy with God. Today, we will look at three.

First, Elijah’s response to the Phoenician widow can serve as a study in setting self aside and letting God take over. When the widow verbally assaults him, Elijah does not defend himself or give her a Bible lesson. He simply takes her son in his arms and tries to help her. He knows she is speaking from the pain of her son’s death and the guilt she bears from her pagan beliefs. He does not need to point out her wrong thinking; he allows God to work.

Second, Elijah questioned God only in the privacy of his prayer closet. Elijah walked with God in intimacy. He knew God welcomed him to talk through his disappointments such as the young man’s death; however, Elijah saved his questioning until he was alone with God. He did not further weaken the developing faith of the already struggling widow with his own questions.

Third, Elijah persisted in fervent prayer. Elijah prayed over the son three times. Elijah had no guideline for dealing with this situation, so he just kept pressing in with prayer.

Prayer: God, thank You for the example of Elijah. Help me to apply these prayer principles to my daily prayer life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

God’s Strategies

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

Elijah turned the tide in his nation though he was only one person with limited resources. The widow made a difference by making her last cake for God’s man and not for herself. God puts unique service on the hearts of His people and blesses that obedience as they submit to His sovereign will.

Often, God’s strategies make no sense to us because, unlike Him, we have limited vision. When God took Elijah into the heart of enemy territory, God knew that was the last place King Ahab’s soldiers would look for him. God also knew that going to Zarephath would save Elijah from starvation though common sense said there was famine. More importantly, God showed Elijah that He cared about the Baal-worshiping widow and her family.

God often has multiple objectives as He operates on many fronts simultaneously. If we follow His lead, we will be blessed and may become instruments of blessing for others.

Has God ever prompted you to do something that made no sense at the time but that was His sovereign will? Is God asking you now to move out of your comfort zone with people, your career, or your finances? Is He moving your heart to explore new territory in ministry or in your relationship with Him?

Prayer: God, Your strategies often make me uncomfortable and confused, but I will obey Your calling because I know that You can see what I can’t. I trust that You will bless me and use me to bless others as I obey You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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