Good News Brief For Men

Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.   (NKJV) I remember back in the 1960s & 1970s when oftentimes people would remark, “I’m trying to find myself.”   I don’t ever remember saying that about myself but I heard from many others who used that term quite often.   Looking back, I see what they were looking for.   Satan is the author of confusion and his great joy is to confound the masses of unbelievers and even believers into thinking that there was a “self” missing that needed in fact to be found. Every time you were about to find yourself, Satan or his demons would slip another confusing piece of the puzzle in front of you changing you from almost finding yourself, to, where in the world did myself go.   I thought I almost had it.   From the Word of God, Jesus never said, “I need to find myself.”   His anchor was the Father.   Our anchor should be the same.   We should conform to the image of Christ so m...

Luke 4: 1-14 Then Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit…… (NKJV) I remember several years ago I heard Dr. E.V. Hill speak at a Promise Keepers Conference.   He spoke on the verses in Luke 4: 1-14.   This is the satanic temptation of Christ.   Here we find Christ in a physically, emotionally, and spiritually weakened state brought on by forty days of fasting, prayer and meditation.   He was so tuned in on the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch), which He practiced as a young boy, that He knew, even in His weakened state, the verses He needed to combat this satanic temptation.   All the verses He used came from the book of Deuteronomy.   This is very significant in today’s life of any man.   Being significant in God’s eyes alone we seek the support in the only way God provides, His holy Word.   This is found in 1 Corinthians 10: 14, No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, w...

John 11: 25-27 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.   He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.   And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.   Do you believe this?   She said to Him, “Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is come into the World.”   (NKJV) We are significant to God by the nature of His death burial and resurrection.   God desires for us to be in His presence for eternity. God’s greatest sacrifice was the giving of His only Son that we may spend eternity with Him.   What Christ did on the Cross should not make us arrogant but it should certainly make us grateful.   It should cause us to fall on our faces before God and thank Him for all that He has done. The woman in today’s verse is already in heaven.   We have her response: She said to Him, “Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is come into the World.”    ...

Matthew 7: 7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.   For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (NKJV) We are significant to God by the nature of His creating us for fellowship with Him.   Today’s verse illustrates this.   He wants to lavish us with His presence in powerful ways, but we need to ask, seek, and knock in order to receive all that He desires for us. Our significance to God should never be seen in the form of pride.   We are significant to God because He chooses to bless those who seek Him, and honor those who lift Him up.   This is His creation in action.   If we look back in the book of Genesis alone we see evidence of men who walked with God.   Genesis 5: 22, 24 (Enoch), Genesis 6: 9 (Noah), Genesis 48: 15 (Abraham & Isaac).   We are significant to God as the recipient of His wonderful blessings on our live...

1 John 4: 12 No one has seen God at any time.   If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.   (NKJV) Our resources in Christ go much deeper than even our imaginings can ever carry us.   As believers we have Christ in us according to today’s verse.   As believers we have love for one another, something we didn’t know until we met the Savior and asked Him into our lives. Reaching to another point of significance we see in the latter part of this verse that God’s love is “perfected” in us.   There is nothing inferior in our love through Christ.   His love is perfect and complete.   The struggle comes when we try to love others in our own capacity.   It never works that way and our efforts leave us frustrated.   This is a major reason why men are frustrated with the intimacy needed for us to communicate effectively with our wives and families.   We try to love and communicate in our own ability,...

1 John 4: 19 We love, because He first loved us.   (NASB) Understanding ourselves in the light of God’s purpose for us can be an ongoing challenge throughout our life.   Of course every day is different and we should expect it to be that way.   But when we seek God’s purpose for our lives, each day becomes real and new and fresh with each passing moment.     In Psalms 63: 1 we see King David rising early in the morning to be refreshed in the presence of God.   In Psalm 90: 14 we see the reflection of God’s love for us as we call out to Him seeking His mercy resulting in the joy He provides in knowing Him and experiencing His presence every day of our lives (all the day long).   By the guidance and command of God, sometimes men would march all night to reach their destination for battle arriving refreshed by the holiness of the situation in which God has called them, as they did in Joshua’s time (Joshua 10: 9). The freshness of each new day be...

1 Thessalonians 5: 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.   (NKJV) When bad things happen to good people it leaves us scratching our heads, and asking what did they do to deserve that.   I must, at this time take you to John 9: 1-3; Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.   And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”   Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” We simply don’t have the answers to many of the things which God orchestrates through our lives, but we do know Romans 8: 28. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. So men, in everything…….give thanks, God is at work in you today and forever.   Begin giving thanks in the first five minutes of your day and wa...

1 Thessalonians 5: 17 pray without ceasing,   (NKJV) I remember when I first ran into this verse many years ago, it appeared to be an impossibility.   With some research I came to the conclusion that ceaseless prayer can only be accomplished by maintaining an attitude of open communication between myself and God, leaving my heart always “on call” to the times God speaks to me.   It took some work on my part, but this too began in the first five minutes of every day.   It’s similar to having the phone in your ear throughout the day waiting for communication with God to occur, except it’s not the phone in your ear, it’s the Holy Spirit in your heart.   This also benefited me in the times He was always open to hear my hearts desire and concerns throughout the day.   I didn’t have to stop and bow my head to pray.   I just spoke to God in my heart.   Sometimes it was verbal, and sometimes it was silent.   The fact is, God is ALWAYS listeni...

Philippians 5: 16 Rejoice always,   (NKJV) Several years ago I was listening to a Pastor as he delivered a message on how our lives should reflect what Jesus was doing in our hearts.   He suggested keeping a log or journal on our daily activities just to see where some changes might need to be made.   This particular part of the message stayed with me and I began to carefully watch how my day went and I began a spiritual and mental log of my activities throughout each day for about a week.   From the time I got up to the time I went to bed I kept a log of what I did and how I felt.   I was surprised at how my life seemed to leave a consistent and boringly dull trail.   I really didn’t like what I saw.   I began to make changes.   I began jotting down scriptures supporting the areas of change I sensed needed to occur.   My first change came in the morning.   It seemed sort of silly at the time but I woke up, sat on the side of t...

Acts 6: 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.   (NKJV) Hey men, what if we decided to follow Christ and act upon His calling on our hearts on a daily basis as Stephen did.   What do you think would be the result?   The numbers are staggering in those reached through your testimony.   How do I know this?   The story of Stephen is still touching and changing lives today. Obedience in Christ can be a fearful thing if we refuse to follow it.   When we remain inside the envelope we become limited in our experience and ways to reach others in Christ.   When we follow Christ as He calls us to reach that lost and dying world, then we step out into His calling and we experience results only God can produce through us as believers.   The results can be staggering in those we reach out to in the name of Jesus. So how can we do this?   Personally go to someone and ask how they are doing.  ...

Jeremiah 32: 17 Ah, Lord God!   You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.   There is nothing too hard for You.   (NKJV) The prophet Jeremiah recognized the Lord God almighty for what He has done and His capabilities to do even more. When we face insurmountable odds, we sometimes bow in disgust and say, “not again Lord” or “I thought these trials were over”.   We often forget that we are on the front edge of eternity and God is training us for far greater which lies ahead (even as soon as the next day or next hour).   It may be in this world and in this time and it may be in the hereafter when we step into eternity to meet Him, face to face.   We don’t understand His plans for our lives but we must acknowledge as Jeremiah did that nothing is to hard for our heavenly Father.   As believers our lives and those we touch are in His hands.   Sometimes the journey isn’t a pleasant one and it is then that ...

1 Timothy 6: 6 Now Godliness with contentment is great gain.   (NKJV) The struggle to become Godly has been ongoing since God created man.   Adam was fine in his relationship with God.   They walked together in the cool of the day.   Years later we see that Enoch honored God in his daily walk, so much so, that when it came the time for Enoch to die, God simply translated him to heaven.   His body never suffered death.   But Satan’s influence can be consuming and distracting, causing us to look away from God. Godliness is our journey through this life as believers.   Being at peace with God has incredible rewards.   He guides us in our daily lives, and He draws us near to Himself as we face trials and tribulations.   Besides, we see in John 16: 33 that Jesus said:   “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.   In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”...

Colossians 2: 6-7 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.   (NKJV) What a reminder this is, that we should live a well-grounded life rooted in Christ Jesus our Lord.   We often times forget all that Jesus did on the cross.   He paid the price not only for our salvation but also for the lives we live after we accept Christ as our Savior.   Let’s face it guys, it’s a privilege living for Him.   I’m not beating a dead horse here, but have you ever read the Bible through in a year?   I challenged my congregation last year and the year before to do this.   The first year I asked them to not only read the Bible through, but to take notes on areas that they wanted to come back to later and further their study in areas they wanted more understanding on.   Then the second year they would begin their...

2 Corinthians 12: 9 And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.   (NKJV) We know that Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to remove this thorn in the flesh.   The Lord’s direct response is clear.   We must trust in Him to see us through any and all trials and tribulations that lie ahead. With some of us we are truly experiencing difficulties with some physical, emotional, or other ailment that seems to hinder our progress in our testimony as we try to reach others in Christ.   The reminder is that God is continually forming us into His servant as we submit to His purposes in our lives.   No, we don’t understand what God is doing through the problems we experience, but we do more clearly understand the principle of Romans 8: 28 each and every trial we encounter.   We are reminded to look to God for the grace needed and that He so over-abundantly supplies when the need arises. We need to re-a...

Psalm 37: 13   But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.   (NIV) Good Day Men! The end result of the unrepentant man is clear.   Their last act of defiance will be facing hell and all of its fury.   This is the promise of God for those who reject His Son Jesus Christ.   Just as the promise for the believer to inherit his place in heaven with the Father and the Son.   As sad as it is for anyone to go to hell it is clearly an outcome that they have brought on themselves.   This should identify our purpose in winning the lost for the cause of Christ.   However there are many who make horrible remarks and use God’s name in vain and slander our Savior.   These are some of those whom God will laugh at.   Their remarks and actions are fruitless and gain them nothing except for accountability when they stand in judgment before our holy God.   There will be no laughing at that time.   There will be onl...

Psalm 37: 12   The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them.   (NIV) Good Day Men! You can take this verse and apply it directly to today.   The wicked do plot against the righteous and they do gnash their teeth at us.   They don’t like being made to feel uncomfortable in the world they live in.   So they lash out and we are their targets.   It was said of a radio host one time not long ago that he would be glad to see the rapture so the world will finally be rid of those Christian believers.   The world will finally be rid of those pests.   Little does that person realize the tribulation and hell awaits those who do not believe.   How sad.   We need to pray that God will reveal to us ways we can still be a testimony to even that kind of person.   The way he acts is natural for him.   He is an unrepentant sinner. Oh God, help us find a way to reach the unreachable in Your name and for Your sake...

Psalm 37: 11   But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.   (NIV) Good Day Men! Here we have reassurance that peace will finally come and the meek (those who are found in Christ) will indeed inherit the land.   Peace is what all believers seek.   There is peace in knowing Jesus as Lord.   There is peace in knowing our future is secure in Him for eternity.   This can actually allow us to become more courageous in presenting the gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world.   We go farther to explain the truth and spend more time in clarifying what Christ did on the Cross.   As believers, we can be as bold as the unsaved and the wicked in presenting the gospel but never cross the line into the arena of argument or even heated discussion.   This is where Satan resides.   He doesn’t want you to be in control of any conversation with any unbeliever or a fallen believer (one who has wavered in his faith).   Satan want...

Psalm 37: 10   A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.   (NIV) Good Day Men! What joy it will be to no longer be confronted and even abused and persecuted by those who are wicked, unsaved and hate us as believers.   That sounds rather harsh, doesn’t it?   But the loss will be their own should they never accept Christ as their personal Savior.   That is a choice they have made.   But the echoes in our hearts will be, “what more could I have done to win them to Christ?”   This should give us greater desire to intensify our efforts to reach the lost for the cause of Christ in this present age.   Do we hate the wicked the same way the wicked hate us?   I hope not.   For Christ does not hate the sinner, He hates the sin.   He died for us all, but only those who have chosen to follow Him will be saved. In this present age we still face persecution and the devil is having...

Romans 12: 9   Love must be sincere.   Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.   (NIV) Good Day Men! We are to hate evil as God hates evil.   As believers, there is no room in our lives and hearts for evil to reside, much less visit.   Our love for others in Christ must be sincere.   It must be genuine, just as Christ’s love for us is genuine.   We end with “cling to what is good”.   That is Christ himself, the absolute in all good. God’s Word has so much instruction for us to follow.   However, God would not ask us to follow His instructions if we were not capable of doing so through His Son Jesus Christ. Prayer:   Dear Lord, Help me to seek you in following your instructions for our lives.   Only through You can I have that fruit bearing life that experiences abundant living that only You can provide.   In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN! May God richly bless us as we continue to seek His will and His way, through Hi...

Psalm 141: 10   Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.   (NIV) Good Day Men! Here in David’s Psalm we see the end result of the wicked.   Wicked is referred to as the unsaved, and those whose practice is evil, which are unsaved as well.   Generally the wicked will fall into their own traps, devised by the evil one himself, Satan.   Satan’s great joy is entrapment of unbelievers, many of whom think that Hell is just a place to party with their other unsaved friends.   Many believers fall in Satan’s traps as well.   This is usually caused by lack of maturity in Christ.   When you tell someone the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31) they tell you that it’s just a story from the Bible.   Jesus told the parable and it is in fact true.   The unsaved don’t like facing the truth.   Satan’s great lie is more fun. How sad to leave some of those we love and care for only to leave them to...

Psalm 25: 8   Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.   (NIV) Good Day Men! Here, the Lord is described as good and upright .   Is there any sinner who is good and upright?   Only those sinners saved by grace and are justified through Jesus Christ and the Cross.   These are called Believers and are no longer sinners since they have followed the instruction of the Lord and have Accepted Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.   Many refer to Believers as “sinners saved by grace”.   How true this statement is.   How sad, there are many sinners who hear the instruction of the Lord and still they turn Him away. It was told me by a great Pastor some time ago that if we, as believers, really understood the torment of hell, we would work harder at winning the lost to Christ. Our focus is not to scare someone from hell, as much as it is to win someone to Christ through the Cross.   Fear is a great motivator, how...

Matthew 10: 5   These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions:   Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans……… (NIV) Good Day Men! The entire Chapter 10 consumed Jesus’ instructions to the twelve.   His instructions were intended to focus on God’s eternal purpose for the lives that these men were to reach in the name of Jesus Christ.   If you notice the Gentiles were excluded in His instructions.   Our inclusion would come later.   But now, Jesus displayed great intention in his Father’s mission and purpose for these new disciples in Christ.   They were to follow their new leader, Jesus himself.   They were to display confidence in all He instructed them to do.   We hear of this mission’s success in Chapter 11.   They in fact did follow the instructions of the Savior, as we should do too. God knows the future and guides us with His mighty hand His end purposes to fulfill.   We must conti...

Habakkuk 3: 2   …….I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord…….. (NIV) Good Day Men! Recognition of who God is in our lives is not only very important to Him, but it is also very important to us as believers understanding that all blessings come from Him.   We cannot fabricate blessings for ourselves nor can we have others bless us as God could.   Our relationship in Him deepens when we understand the uniqueness of our holy and mighty God.   We may never fully understand Him, but we can fully appreciate Him in recognizing Him as Habakkuk the Prophet did.   This is only a partial verse but it can guide us into a deeper relationship in Christ when we recognize who God truly is and the potential we have through Him as believers in His Son Jesus Christ. We need to continually seek to know Him better as He guides us into a closer relationship in Him. Prayer:   Dear Lord, may I more clearly understand your great love for me as I draw nearer to you each...