Devotional Thoughts :: Oswald Chambers~ UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST (march)

Transcription

1 Oswald Chambers~ UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST (march) - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/1 0:46 March 1st - The Piercing Question Do you love Me? John 21:17 When the Lord asks us this question, it is impossible to think and respond properly, because when the Lord speaks direc tly to us, the pain is too intense. It causes such a tremendous hurt that any part of our life which may be out of line with His will cn feel the pain. The moment that pain is felt is the very moment at which God reveals His truth to us. Re: Oswald Chambers~ UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST (march) - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/2 19:44 March 2nd - Have You Felt The Pain Inflicted By The Lord He said to him the third time, "...do you love Me?" John 21:17 Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/2 23:53 March 3rd - His Commision To Us Feed My sheep. John 21:17 The Lord's point is- "Pour yourself out. Don't testify about how much you love Me and don't talk about the wonderful reve lation you have had, just "Feed my sheep." Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/3 23:33 March 4th - Is This True Of Me? None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself... Acts 20:24 If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God an d my own ideas service as dear. Never consider whether or not you are of use-but always consider that "you are not you r own," you are His (1 Corinthins 6:19). Page 1/7

2 Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/4 22:25 March 5th - Is He Really My Lord?...so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I recieved from the Lord Jesus... Acts 20:24 We all have to find our niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we recieve our ministry from the Lord. To do this we m ust have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Saviour. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/6 11:21 March 6th - Taking The Next Step...in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses. 2 Corinthians 6:4 The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God in the long run is stready perseverance, even when the w ork cannot be seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking unto God. Ask God to keep th e eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to discourage you. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/6 22:29 March 7th - The Source Of Abundations In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37 Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Le t's apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against- tribulation, suffering, and persecutio n- are the very things that produce abudant joy in us. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/8 1:17 March 8th - The Surrendered Life I have been crucified with Christ... Galatians 2:20 Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ? Make a determination to go on through the crisis surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/10 0:56 March 9th - Turning Back Or Walking With Jesus? Do you also want to go away? John 6:67 All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependance on Jesus Christ. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainities that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus. Page 2/7

3 Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/10 21:08 March 10th - Being An Example Of His Message Preach the word! 2 Timothy 4:2 As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. It takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God's purpose before a person's life becomes a holy exa mple of God's message. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/11 8:30 March 11th - Obedience To The Heavenly Vision I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Acts 26:19 Waiting for a vision that "tarries" is the true test of our faithfulness to God. It is at the risk of our own soul's welfare that w e get caught up in practica;l busy-wor only to miss the fulfillment of the vision. It is essential that we live and walk in the li ght of God's vision for us. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/12 2:18 March 12th - Total Surrender Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left all and followed you." Mark 10:28 We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. True surren der will always go beyond natural devotion. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/13 1:19 March 13th - God's Total Surrender To Us For God so loved the world that He gave... John 3:16 In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us- totally, unconditionally, and wi thout reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, be cause our life will be totally consumed with Him. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/14 0:30 March 14th - Yielding...you are that one's slaves whom you obey... Romans 6:16 When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humili ation to the only one who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. Yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person's life. Page 3/7

4 Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/14 23:30 March 15th - The Discipline of Dismay As they followed they were afraid. Mark 10:32 There is an aspect of Jesus that chills even a disciple's heart to its depth and makes his entire spiritual life gasp for air. When the darkness of dismay comes, endure until its over, because out of it will come the ability to truly follow Jesus, w hich brings inexpressibly wonderful joy. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/16 10:47 March 16th - The Master Will Judge We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ... 2 Corinthians 5:10 If you will learn here and now to live under the scruntiny of Christ's pure light, your final judgement will bring you only deli ght in seeing the work God has done in you. Live constantly reminding yourself of the judgement seat of Christ, and walk in the knowledge of the holiness He has given you. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/17 20:17 March 17th - The Servant's Primary Goal We make it our aim... to be well pleasing to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life. Is my primary goal in life to please Him and t o be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how lofty it may sound? At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/18 1:56 March 18th - Will I Bring Myself Up To This Level?...perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Christ always maintained an inner vigilance to continually submit His spirit to His Father. I also have the responsibility of keeping my spirit in agreement with His Spirit. And when I do, Jesus gradually lifts me up to the level where He lived-a le vel of perfect submission to His Father's will, where I pay no attention to anything else. Page 4/7

5 Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/19 0:34 March 19th - Abraham's Life Of Faith He went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason-a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/20 11:53 March 20th - Friendship With God Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing...? Genesis 18:17 True friendship with God means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will. You are God's will. And all of your seemingly commonsense decisions are actually His will for you, unless you s ense a check in your spirit. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/21 17:36 March 21th - Identified Or Simply Intrested? I have been crucified with Christ... Galatians 2:20 Once I reach this monumental decision and act upon it, all that Christ accomplished for me on the Cross is accomplishe d in me. My unrestrained commitment of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to grant to me the holiness o f Jesus Christ. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/22 23:53 March 22nd - The Burning Heart Did not our heart burn within us...? Like 24:32 We must learn to maintain the secret of the burning heart-a heart that can go through anything. It is the simple, dreary d ay, with its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart-unles we have learned the secret of abidin g in Jesus. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/24 0:08 March 23rd - Am I Carnally Minded? Where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal...? 1 Corinthians 3:3 If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He doesn't ask you to make it right; He only asks you to accept the light of truth, and then He will make it right. A child of the light will confess sin instantly and stand completely open be fore God. Page 5/7

6 Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/24 10:30 March 24th - Decreasing For His Purpose He must increase, but I must decrease John 3:30 When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ. And when you begin to see that person in th e middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don't try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times strong er, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/25 12:26 March 25th - Maintaining the Proper Relationship...the friend of the bridegroom... John 3:29 To maintain friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom, we have to be more careful to have the moral and vital relatio nship to Him above everything else, including obedience. Most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedien t, but in maintaining this relationship- being the 'friend of the bridegroom.' Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/25 22:47 March 26th - Spiritual Vision Through Personal Purity Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 Remember that spiritual vision depends on our character- it is 'the pure in heart' who 'see God.' If we want to maintain a personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things th at are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/26 23:33 March 27th - Spiritual Vision Through Personal Character Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place... Revelation 4:1 God has called you to a higher level. Never allow God to show you a truth which you do not instantly begin to live up to, applying it to your life. Always work through it, staying in its light. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/28 3:12 March 28th - Isn't There Some Misunderstanding? "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to Him, "...are you going there again?" John 11:7,8 Faith is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitement to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can't see the way ahead. Are you debating whether you should take a step of faith in Jesus, or whether you should wait until y ou can clearly see how to do what He has asked? Simply obey Him with glad, unretrained joy. Page 6/7

7 Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/29 1:59 March 29th - Our Lord's Surprise Visits You also be ready... Luke 12:40 If you are avoiding the call of the religious thinking of today's world, and instead are "looking unti Jesus," you will be con sidered a daydreamer and impractical. But when He suddenly appears in the work of the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. You should trust no one, and even ignore the finest saint on earth if he blocks your sight of Jesus Christ. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/30 10:57 March 30th - Holiness Or Hardness Towards God? He... wondered that there was no intercessor... Isaiah 59:16 Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Are we worshipping God in a way that w ill raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2004/3/31 0:37 March 31th - Heedfulness Or Hypocrisy In Ourselves If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin... he will ask, and HE will give him live... 1 John 5:16 God cannot convey His mind to us regarding the person for whom we intercede unless we are so closly identified with Hi m that we are awakened to His viewpoint concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeh eartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors. Page 7/7