Good News Brief For Men

John 13: 15   For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.   (HCSB) Here we see Jesus being a living example in the lives of His Apostles.   This verse is in reference to the foot-washing episode in the lives of the Apostles.   Jesus is telling them to do the same to one another, to treat each other with God-like brotherly love and compassion.   They are to live with others in displaying God’s great love for them.   You see, the washing of the feet was always done by the house servant and was the lowest and worst job in the home.   But Jesus says we should go there as well.   Jesus truly was the greatest leader of all times because He was the most Godly servant of all times. Prayer:   Dear Lord, give us the attitude that you would have for us.   Help us to have a servant’s heart, yes Lord, even in our own homes.       May God richly bless us as we continue to seek ...

Luke 22: 40   When He reached the place, He told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”   (HCSB) As Jesus entered the garden area he told His disciples what to do.   His instructions are very clear, for today as well as then.   Prayer creates and elevates our relationship in Christ and allows us as believers to share in the thing that meant so much to the Savior: Prayer.   Christ never made any unnecessary request to any one especially His disciples.   He knew their need to draw near to God at this time but even in this time just prior to the crucifixion they didn’t fully understand the intensity of the moment as Christ found them asleep when he returned, not once but twice.   May we be in prayer that we will have strength and courage in the times temptation faces us head on. Prayer:   Dear Father in Heaven.   We love you and desire the fullness of your mighty being to dwell within us through the Holy Spirit so that we m...

Psalm 68: 19   Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. (NIV) David understood what it was like to have his heavenly Father be his burden bearer.   He had fellowship with his Father often.   God comforted him and blessed him with great wisdom and mercy because David understood that only the one who cared for him as God cared, loved Him enough to get involved in David’s daily life experiences. God loves us the same way he loved David and wants to be involved in everything we do.   Involve Him today and you will see a difference in how God moves. Prayer:   Dear Lord. Give me the desire to involve you in every area of my life and help me to wait expectantly on you as build more of yourself into me.   In Jesus’ name, Amen     May God richly bless us as we continue to seek His will, and His way, through His Word. Your servant in Christ, Rev. Ted J. Wilkins Director and Founder of “Good News Brie...

Mark 13: 37 “What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!”   (NIV) The day and the hour of Christ’s coming is known only to the Father.   We are advised by Christ to watch for his return.   We are to expect his return.   We are to wait patiently for his return.   But here in this verse he tells us personally to watch for his return.   We are to be busy doing his will in our lives as if he were to come today.   If Christ returned today, what would he find you doing?   Would you be in the center of his will, or would you be at the center of your will?   If we are watching for His return we are seeking his will.   If we are going about his business we are doing ….. his will. Prayer:   Dear Father in Heaven, help me to be ever mindful of your presence in my life that I may continually seek to do your will for in that alone are blessings beyond compare.       May God richly bless us as we continue to seek ...

Matthew 8: 2-3 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.”   Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, “I am willing,” he said.   “Be clean!”   Immediately he was cured of leprosy.   (NIV) This great story of healing is powerful.   But I would like for us to focus on the phrase stated by Jesus:   “I am willing,” .   These few words are often overlooked as a statement in themselves but they speak volumes of what Jesus desires to do for us .   He is willing.   He doesn’t negotiate terms, He simply loves and guides us daily when in our hearts, we truly want more and more of Him.   He is willing to always give more of Himself to us than we can ever imagine.   Today, let’s start with this request. Prayer:   Give me your peace, in your time, that I may share more of your love with those who don’t know you.   “I am willing,”       ...

Isaiah 50: 7 Because the sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be dismayed.  Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will.  And I know that I will triumph.   (NLT) Isaiah had great confidence and trust in God.  We see here the divine determination of a man incredibly sold out to his holy God.  Isaiah’s trust is in Him is complete, even to the point of being awakened by God in the early morning hours as is noted in verse four of this same chapter.  Isaiah has found God reliable and his companionship is sure.  As believers we can experience this same kind of holy and intimate relationship in our lives as well. I challenge us all to look to God to build this same kind of relationship in our hearts towards him.  In this kind of relationship we can truly experience God to the depths that we have never ventured into before.   Prayer:   Dear Lord, guide me into the depth of your loving kindness that I...

Philippians 2: 14   Do all things without murmuring and disputings.  (KJV) What would it be like to hear a fellow believer who has shown up for a church work day which typically falls on Saturdays, complain and murmur to others about having to be there and wishes someone else would have signed up to help so he could have done something else that day?  Pretty grim, huh?  Yes, but true.  I have heard it every church workday.  It’s always that one person, and to be painfully truthful about it, no one wants to work with him/her either.  How can we be a testimony to this person?  We need to represent Christ to them.  We are there on a mission to serve our Lord.  We can go to Him, in the privacy of our thoughts and prayers and we can complain there.  But as the verse of the day says “Do all things without murmuring and disputings.”   Prayer:   Dear Lord, help me to focus on your concerns for me today.  Help me t...

James 1: 26   If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.  (KJV) When I was young my parents used to tell me to mind my tongue or even watch what you say.  That same saying applies here.  But there is more at stake than a typical conversation.  The words we say and the things we communicate must edify Christ.  Any argument we get into or get drawn into we must be careful to handle it as Jesus would.  He always sought to honor His Father in all things.  We should do the same in all we say and do.  Our religion is truly not in vain if we seek to say that which edifies God and lifts up the cross where it may be seen in a good light, always.   Prayer:   Dear Lord, help me to look for ways to put you first in all I say and do. May God richly bless us as we continue to seek His will, and His way, through His Word. Your servant in Christ...

Psalm 119: 101   I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.   (NIV) Effort on our part alone will often result in sin.  But effort on God’s part will keep us on His path for us.  Temptation may beat us down but don’t give up.  God is there, just as David understood; yet even David gave in to temptation at times as well.  However that was then and this is now and we have the word of God to remind us of God’s love for us.  Depend upon His love.  His guidelines will keep us on His path.  We must follow the map closely.  The course has already been charted and is laid out before us.  Prayer:   Dear Lord, help me to stay on your path for me.  Guide me through those uncharted waters that lie ahead.  You know what the future holds, Guide me O King of Kings.  Pilot my ship. May God richly bless us as we continue to seek His will, and His way, through His Word. Your se...

Isaiah 40: 28   ……He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  (NIV) God never gets tired or weary of us coming to Him.  He welcomes us with open arms and cherishes each moment that we desire to be with Him.  He blesses us completely and encourages us through his word to draw near to him.  We find it hard to comprehend God’s great love for us.  We sense ourselves often as unlovable and unworthy of His attentions.  Yet He pursues us with great intent and desire for us to respond to his love and grace wanting that intimate relationship.  Knowing God is a journey so powerful and wonderful, how can we ever tell Him, no. May God richly bless us as we continue to seek His will, and His way, through His Word. Your servant in Christ, Rev. Ted J. Wilkins Director and Founder of “Good News Brief For Men” Ministries © 2014 Ted J. Wilkins, Good News Brief For Men

Good News Brief Weekend James 1: 20   for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.   (NASB) The anger of man comes from our original sinful nature.   We need to let God control our anger through the Holy Spirit.   A positive sense of Godly control is necessary in order for God to move through us and reach others for Christ in ALL situations, even in times of anger.   The tongue is a powerful tool and can do great damage as well as great things in Christ.   We need to think before we speak and season our responses in anger with “What would Jesus do?” Key Thought:   Think, before you issue a response in any situation including anger. What Would Jesus (really) Do? May God richly bless us as we continue to seek His will, and His way, through His Word. Your servant in Christ, Rev. Ted J. Wilkins Director and Founder of “Good News Brief For Men” Ministries © 2014 Ted J. Wilkins, Good News Brief For Men

Good News Brief Weekend James 1: 19   …..But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;   (NASB) This is one key verse in how to conduct ourselves as a good testimony to others.   We need to listen intently and fully understand what is being said and mentally evaluate the desired outcome of the conversation before we give input.   Jesus, as our example in everything never went off half informed.   He knew what and how to deal with the day-to-day challenges.   Being slow to speak means that we are to simply think things through completely, evaluating all the facts before voicing our thoughts.   Take the necessary time to respond in a Christ-like manner so that our testimony will be true and faithful.   Next we are to be slow to anger.   Listen and evaluate your personal response before you speak and do so in kindness but in all things, speak the truth in a Christ-like manner. Key Thought:   It always pays ...

John 6: 35   Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.   He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never go thirsty.”   (NIV) What a promise we have in Christ.   Jesus promises to take care of us when we belong to Him.   As our love grows in Christ we more fully understand his feeding us and providing for our needs.   Our Savior does love us and will not let us go.   It is us who leave Him when we succumb to temptation.   Seek to serve God and let Christ guide you through the Holy Spirit.   My God is able. Key Thought:   Depend upon Him in all things. God expects us to seek Him where He may be found.   His Word is just the beginning of this great adventure. May God richly bless us as we continue to seek His will, and His way, through His Word. Your servant in Christ, Rev. Ted J. Wilkins Director and Founder of “Good News Brief For Men” Ministries © 2014 Ted J. Wilkins, Good ...

John 14: 13 Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.   (HCSB) This verse is referring to a divine connection and wanting more than anything else to know and enjoy the heart of Christ and His desires for us.   Everything is in His hands to give and in our hearts to receive.   Knowing Him is more valuable than anything else in the world.   Our relationship with Christ is the basis of our requests to Him.   A mature Christian will seek Christ’s desires for their hearts before they ever consider this verse in asking for material things.   King Solomon is our example here.   He asked for nothing more than to judge his nation in Godly wisdom.   In turn God granted Him not only great wisdom but also other things of material value and a life in his kingdom with no wars whatsoever.   Our focus should be on Christ and what He can do through us for others. Key Thought:   Don’t feed the gree...

Psalm 136: 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.   His love endures forever. Have you ever been told, “I don’t love you”, or “I don’t love you anymore”?   At these two phrases alone and others like them, God shakes his head.   The love that He has for us is eternal.   It is not timid or shaky.   It is fully committed to His greatest creation, mankind.   God loves completely and to the fullest.   He doesn’t shut his love off from us when we do wrong.   It is only His kind of love that can draw us back to Him when we leave his side.   He will never leave us nor forsake us.   But here’s a benefit of His great love that astounds me.   We can have His same kind of love for others (regardless of how unlovable they may be) that He has for us.   Simply ask him and watch Him work His great wonderful love right through you.   Yes it takes time but His Love is so great and powerful.   How can I know this?   He sent...

Psalm 90: 12 Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.   (NLT) Time is a precious resource in our lives today.   We need to make sure that we are spending that time in a way that produces the best end results.   I heard the other day about a man who never seemed to have enough time.   At the end of every day there were still more things on his “to do” list than there was time left in the day to accomplish these tasks.   Each day appeared to have its own set of interruptions.   He very rarely got to his daily quiet time and daily devotionals along with his prayer lists.   This left him feeling quite guilty.   Then he heard a Pastor read a verse in the book of Psalms.   David stated that he rose early in the morning hours to spend time alone with God.   So this man made up his mind to try this and see how it would work.   He really wasn’t a morning person but he’d try it anyway.   The next day h...

John 8: 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”   (KJV) Good Day Men, We see here that Jesus says that if we follow Him we will have the light of life.   Why, because He is the light of the world. The behavior of light and dark are very different.   When the light in your room goes out, there is darkness.   But even when a candle is lit, the darkness runs.   Exchange that candle for a 100-watt bulb and the room is illuminated.   Go to the sun and the world is illuminated.   Wherever darkness is residing in your heart, the light of life, Jesus Christ himself alone has the power through his presence to chase the darkness totally away. Key Thought:   Turn on the light of life and let Jesus have dominion over your desires. The Light of Life is greater than any darkness that may try to invade your life.   Give all y...

Good News Brief Weekend Isaiah 38: 19 The living, the living, they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness.   (NIV) Good Day Men, King Hezekiah knew the value of heritage.   Telling others about the faithfulness of our most holy God is great, but don’t forget about the children.   Remind the children around you of the faithfulness of God.   They don’t have to be your children.   They can be nieces and nephews, or grandchildren, or even neighborhood kids.   Believe me, they will listen.   They need to hear. I remember several years ago I was talking to a young man about 14 years old.   I called him Son, since I didn’t know his name.   He quickly responded with, “I’m not your Son!”   I told him he was absolutely right but that I knew he was someone’s Son and I was actually honoring him and his mom and dad (whom I knew personally) by calling him Son.   It showed he had positi...

Good News Brief Weekend Isaiah 38: 17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.   In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.   (NIV) Good Day Men, King Hezekiah’s praise to God is clear.   He poured honor onto God for extending his life another fifteen years.   King Hezekiah thanked God for this great opportunity to do more in his holy name.   It saddened the King greatly to learn earlier that his sickness was unto death.   He was saddened so much so that he turned to the wall in his chambers and shook violently while sobbing uncontrollably.   God granted him fifteen more years and he accomplished great things.   But this great King took time to remember God in praise.   God truly held a place of honor in the heart of King Hezekiah. Key Thought:   Take time to praise Him.   Always thank Him for the blessings He has shown you in your life.   ...

Ephesians 5: 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.   Live as children of light.   (NIV) Good Day Men, As believers were are new creations in Christ Jesus.   We must leave behind our old habits and the ways we did things in our former life.   We must look to God for direction through His holy Word.   We have been changed.   We must live our lives in Christ, as he would have us do.   This will better represent Christ to a lost and dying world.   The great benefit to us is that, as we live a more Christ centered lifestyle; we sense a change from the inside out.   We truly want others to experience this great and wonderful change as well.   Live your new life to the fullest and be bold.   Let others see Jesus in you.   For those of us who have been saved for many years, renew your commitment in Him.   Show Christ your great love through the spreading of the Gospel to others who do not know H...

James 3: 1-2 Who is wise and understanding among you?   Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.   (NIV) Good Day Men, Wisdom is such a part of the life of the believer.   We seek to know God and we look for mentors to spiritually feed us and provide examples for us as true men of God, and find them in short supply.   But with Christ as our mentor and the focus of our life we can move about in the same way that he did.   He grew as the greatest servant of all time.   He had no personal agenda except to present the Father to others and display His great love toward His greatest creation through many acts of kindness.   Wisdom is a powerful tool in the heart of a committed believer.   Looking to God is where we begin.   Living the life Christ intended for us to live is living life to the fullest in Him.   Key Thought:   Seek God and His wisdom.   Wisdom is a powerful tool...

Hebrews 11: 1-2    Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.   This is what the ancients were commended for.   (NIV) Good Day Men, Our faith in Christ is shown here in the understanding of what faith actually is.   We believe in what we hope for through Christ Jesus.   God ALWAYS answered the prayers of his Son.   He was so in tune with the Father that he knew what to pray for as God laid it upon Jesus’ heart.   I hear some say, “But Jesus was the Son of God, and they were connected.”   However, just as it was when Jesus came into this world as a babe, he was born just as we were.   It’s true, He was the sinless Son of God but in the form of a man He experienced the same things we experience here on earth.   Jesus got hungry physically, just as we do.   He also got thirsty and he drank. He experienced human needs and went to His Father for answers.   He experienced great pain an...

Psalm 9: 1    I will praise you O Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.   (NIV) Good Day Men, David is clear in his praise to God.   But notice what follows.   “I will tell of all your wonders.”   Can you count the wonders God has performed in your life?   David appears to be telling others of the wonderful blessings God has done in his life.   We should be doing the same.   We should tell others of how God has blessed us as his children, how He has poured himself out into our lives.   What a wonderful way to share your testimony with others.   God is good, go tell others.   God is good, go tell others.   God is good, go tell others.   Yes, I think I have the point now.   It opens up those opportunities of witnessing to others.   Let’s praise Him today, and tell others. Key Thought:   We look for a way to spread God’s Word and the obvious appears.   Don’t be private wi...

Psalm 46: 7    The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.   (NIV) Good Day Men, God’s people recognize the holiness of their one and only God and that is reflected here in this verse.   The key here is the recognition of the fact that God is WITH us, here, now, and forever.   Praise and adoration are covered too.   Almighty is the key to adoration.   Above all, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.   At the end of this verse we see that He truly is our fortress.   We can hide in Him in times of trouble as well as times of intimate affection shown through the heartfelt study of His Holy Word and of course through Prayer. Key Thought:   Let’s take every opportunity to tell Him that He truly is the Lord Almighty. Praise Him wholly and completely! May God richly bless us as we continue to seek His will, and His way, through His Word. Your servant in Christ, Rev. Ted J. Wilkins Director and F...

Good News Brief Weekend Isaiah 59: 2    But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you; so that he will not hear.   (NIV) Good Day Men, Here again we see the penalty of sin.   Even though we have accepted Christ as our personal Savior, sin remains a big issue in our lives.   We ask forgiveness and when tempted we fall again.   The question is what are we doing to combat this issue of willful sin, and what can we do to end the cycle so we will be in place to receive God’s blessings in our lives.   Christ is willing to receive that which we willfully give to him.   Yes, even sin.   When we lay our burdens at the foot of the cross and give them over to God, by the time we say Amen we have picked those same sins up again and carried them off feeling that it is our personal burden to carry them and that we have no right to burden Christ with our sins.   So WRONG!!!!!!   God expec...

Good News Brief Weekend Isaiah 59: 1    Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.   (NIV) Good Day Men, What is God willing to do in order for us to maintain fellowship with Him?   God gives and we often ignore his gifts.   He shows us His love and we look the other way.   How can all this happen?   We continue to sin, and our lives become galvanized to God’s calling.   We don’t hear Him because we don’t seek Him.   Those who express a joyful life have Jesus at their core.   They are actively pursuing a relationship with Him.   Those who have a daily devotional and seek to spend time alone with God have a rewarding life in Him.   It shows and we see it and we wonder how they do it.   I have an answer for you.   Ask them and you will see it is their active relationship to God that gives them their greatest joy and peace. God is always reaching out to us to draw us ...

Proverbs 5: 22-23    The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.   He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.     (NIV) Good Day Men, There are things in our life that are bad for us.   Many of these things are carried with us from the time before we believed in Christ.   One of the greatest areas where Satan attacks is the undisciplined life.   We must bring our heart, soul, and spirit, as well as our body under the submission of the Holy Spirit.   God can use us when we are not only sold out to Him and His purposes for us, but when our life reflects the countenance of Jesus Christ in all we say and do. Key Thought:   Experience a life of joy and peace, which reflects Christ.   A Christ like disciplined lifestyle will do this.    Live a disciplined lifestyle in Christ and you will experience peace and happiness beyond compare. May God ...

Psalms 9: 1    I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.   (NIV) Good Day Men, David praised God for all the wonders that He had done.   And David didn’t stop there.   He displayed God’s love in many ways throughout his kingdom but the greatest example of David’s display of praise is what we see as the book of Psalms.   We see David’s struggle and his dependence upon his Holy God.   He knew whom he should always go to.   We can build on what David has done here in this wonderful book of the Bible.   Let’s read it with great purpose and seek God as David did, on our knees. Key Thought:   Praise Him often.   Tell of the many wonders He has done in your life.   Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. May God richly bless us as we continue to seek His will, and His way, through His Word. Your servant in Christ, Rev. Ted J. Wilkins Director and Found...

At this time, the beginning of a New Year, let's begin with praise to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!   Psalms 8: 1    O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!   (NKJV) Good Day Men, Throughout the books of the Bible there is a common thread of praise and adoration of who God is.   We need to remember to always lift Him up and glorify His name in ALL things. When we are down we are to praise Him.   When we sense Him lifting us up, we are to praise Him.   Praise to God is not limited to any given time or situation.   But we see in the Lord’s Prayer that we praise Him first and then we seek His will for our lives and the lives of those around us. Key Thought:   Seek time to praise God today for everything.   Sometimes it may be hard to praise Him for the bad times but He is there too and has purpose in everything that comes into our life through Him. ...