THE GOSPEL THAT CAN’T BE REFUTED

Today’s Bible readings are 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81, Acts 26:1-32, Psalm 6:1-10, & Proverbs 18:20-21

Acts 26:19-23

¹⁹ “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. ²⁰ First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. ²¹ That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. ²² But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— ²³ that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

Have you ever suffered for doing what is right? Have you ever been persecuted for standing up for your faith? In today’s reading we see Paul going through great persecution because of his faith in Christ. It is ironic, that a few short years before this he was the one doing the persecuting but now he is willing ot die for the cause of the cross.

When I sit & think about it in these terms it convinces me all the more in the power of the gospel to transform a person’s life. There is nothing else in the world that could have done such a dramatic transformation in a person’s life than the gospel did in Paul. He was radically saved & radically changed. It only proves that the gospel is real. It is just one more proof that Christ is alive & is KING!!!

Why would someone be willing to die for something that they were so opposed against if it wasn’t real? What could make a person do such a 180* change? Why would there be such of change of heart? The only logical answer is that Jesus is the Christ & He is RISEN!!!

I also want to share another though about today’s reading. If God was able to strengthen Paul through all of these things, then God is MORE THAN ABLE to strengthen each of us in ours! I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for Paul in the natural. Yet, I see that he found strength through the Spirit that caused him to rise above everything that the enemy attacked him with. In the end, it only lead to more people believing.

This is the wonderful opportunity that we have when we find ourselves in trials or every kind. We have an opportunity to shine with the glory & goodness of God. This is a huge catalyst to effect witnessing. People normally don’t see others handle trials the way that we can when we walk in the Spirit. As He empowers us with love, joy, peace, etc… it becomes obvious that there is more to us than just us. There must be a source behind the virtues that are displayed in us. It becomes the draw at their heart that they can’t refuse or deny.

Think about this—Paul was used to show kings the great grace of Christ. Nations were going to be changed because of Paul allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in Paul during a season of persecution.

Next time that you find yourself in a difficult place, let the grace of Christ overtake you. As you do, others will see the difference that knowing Jesus makes. This will speak the clearest gospel presentation they have ever heard. People aren’t used to seeing others respond the way that Jesus will lead you to respond. When they ask what give you the ability to do it then you have access to tell the about God & His Son—JESUS CHRIST!!! This is the way that you preach the gospel that can’t be refuted!

 

Pastor Richard

SURROUNDED BY FAVOR

Today’s Bible readings are 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17, Acts 25:1-27, Psalm 5:1-12, & Proverbs 18:19

Psalm 5:11-12

¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. ¹² Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

I remember the day that God gave these verses as a promise for Him. I was in prison waiting to see the parole board for a potential release date. All the guys that I knew kept telling me that there was no way that I was going to get a release. With the nature of my crime & my history, they told me that I would do at least half of my time.

Even my counselor in prison kept telling me not to get my hopes us. The only problem was that I believed God was teaching me to live with my hopes high so that my faith could have something to work with. There was a great testing that I was going through. On the inside, The Holy Spirit kept telling me to put my hope in God. On the outside, everybody around me was telling me their experiences said to not get my hopes up. I had to choose which voice I was going to agree with. Thank God I chose to listen to the Holy Spirit.

I remember one day as I was reading a letter from Kenneth Copeland, he was teaching about the favor of God, I read those verse from Psalm 5 & God spoke to me immediately. I knew it was God because it gave life to me. Once I saw these words in the Bible it was all that I needed to stand in faith. And let me tell you, that is exactly what I did!

Everybody around me still kept telling me the same old stuff they had been telling me but it didn’t faze me. Each time I heard them speak their doubt & unbelief it made me chuckle inside because I knew that my God was going to show them all. I had a rhema word from Him that could not fail me.

I remember the day that I walked into the parole board meeting. There was a moment where fear tried to grab my heart but I spoke the Word that God gave me & PEACE saturated me. I walked into the meeting, sat across from the parole board, & put everything on God’s shoulders. It was Him who was going to have to work this out. It was Him who was going to have to remain faithful to His Word.

As they reviewed my file they asked me a few questions. I gave very short & direct answers. There was nothing outstanding with anything that I said that day. In less than 5 minutes, they closed my folder & said:  “Mr. Schlotter, we don’t know why we are going to do this, but we are going to grant you an intense parole. Everything in your file leads us to believe that you will be back, but for some reason we are going to give you a chance. Don’t mess it up.”

As soon as I heard those words I knew exactly why they were letting me go—THE FAVOR OF GOD!!! He had told me the day that He spoke to me that His favor would surround me like a shield. It did too! He protected me & favored me from every angle. It seemed to even baffle the parole board into doing what they normally wouldn’t do. That is what the favor of God can do for a person.

I want to encourage you today to be a person who walks in obedience to the Word of God so that you can walk in the favor of God. When you are surrounded by His favor there is nothing that will harm or destroy you. His favor will surround you & His benefits will overtake you.

Pastor Richard Schlotter

 

Peace

Today’s readings are 1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4,  Acts 24:1-27, Psalm 4:1-8,  and Proverbs 18:16-18

Psalm 4:6-8

⁶ Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
    Let your face smile on us, Lord.
⁷ You have given me greater joy
    than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

 People ask God will you bless us and give us abundant food and drink.  This is an outward good like clothing, food, drink and money.  What are all these things worth if we don’t have joy? David had greater joy than outward good. It was an inward good.  It was a joy in knowing that he had God’s loving kindness, he had God’s favor and this was worth more than any outward good.  

To know that you have God’s favor is a peace like nothing else.  This peace can’t be gained by worldly possessions.  It comes from knowing and loving Jesus Christ.

Kelly Schlotter

HOW THE ATTACK WILL END

Today’s Bible readings are 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17, Acts 23:11-35, Psalm 3:1-8, & Proverbs 18:14-15

Psalm 3:1-4

¹ O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. ² So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” ³ But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. ⁴ I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.

Have you have felt like the world was against you? Has there ever been a time in your life when enemies of every kind were raging against you? That is exactly what was happening to David when he penned this psalm.

David was in a very difficult situation. His son had turned against him & run him out of his kingdom. His son was hungry for power & was willing to do anything to get it. Absalom was willing to go to any length to get the power that he had become seduced by.

This wasn’t the only enemy that had come against David. Many of the men who had once been faithful followers of David had now turned to follow Absalom. It was such a depressing time for King David.

This story may sound like your own life. You may be going through a difficult time like this one. Maybe you have had a close ally turn on you. This can weigh so heavy on a person’s heart. Maybe you are being pressed by people all around you who are trying to sabotage you & your ministry. That is what David found to be happening in his life. People even began to say that it was God’s judgment against him. People began to say that God would never rescue him this time.

These may be the things that are being said about you right now. You may be hearing the same type of accusations being hurled your way. The pressure may be so great right now that you are even feeling like God has abandoned you. I want you to know THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH!!!

David soon learned that God was a shield for him that could not be broken. God was a mighty Lifter of David’s head. When David was low & heavy, God lifted him. When David had no glory of his own, the Lord was his glory.

This is the heritage of all God’s people. He is our shield too! He is not easily beaten by any foe. He has conquered all! Just as David cried out for mercy & help & the Lord heard his cry & came to his rescue; God will hear your cry! He will come to your rescue too! Then, all of your enemies will be silenced as David’s was.

I leave you with the close to this great psalm as an encouragement to how this attack will end for you. You will come out on top just like David did because God is going to come through for you just like He did for David.

Psalm 3:7-8

⁷ Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! ⁸ Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people.

Pastor Richard Schlotter

OUR TRUE INDEPENDENCE DAY

Today’s Bible readings are 2 Kings 23:31-25:30, Acts 22:17-23:10, Psalm 2:1-12, & Proverbs 18:13

Psalm 2:1-3

¹ Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? ² The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. ³ “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

                                                                                                                                                    

Today there is a definite agenda to try to destroy Christian values. There is a deliberate attack on the things that made our country great. Many seem to think that in order to get their hidden agendas passed, they must first destroy the Godly values that have been embraced for over 200 years in our country. I want to say with great boldness—They are planning in vain!!!

Throughout history, there have always been attempts to destroy Christ. That is what was happening during the time this Psalm was written. But the scripture makes it very clear that they were wasting their time.

We don’t need to panic as Christians. God is still in control & is more than able to show Himself strong in our day as He did in that day. I want to encourage you today, on our day of Independence celebration, Christ will prevail! Let the nations & the left wing agenda’s rage against Christ BUT THEY RAGE IN VAIN!!!

He is going to build His church & He has declared that the gates of hell will not overpower the Him!!! Find strength in this great promise today. There is no power BUT HIS POWER! Even if they win, they lose in the end because our Savior will come with a mighty trumpet sound & establish a NEW KINGDOM  that will NO END!!! That will be our true INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Pastor Richard Schlotter