Downs United Methodist Church

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 134, 135 
Did you know that the Lord has an amazing trade-in deal in store for you? That's right; you are going to trade in your existing body, with its aches and pains, for the newest model.

Of course, that is not a perfect analogy, because there will be a link between your old body and your new one.

Here are some thoughts about the new body God has for you when you get to heaven.

The blueprints for our glorified bodies are in the bodies we now possess—but in heaven they will be perfected. When we pass over to the other side, our minds and our memories will be clearer than ever before.

As the apostle Paul writes: "Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power. They are natural human bodies now, but when they are raised, they will be spiritual bodies" (1 Corinthians 15:43–44 NLT).

Our new bodies will be the same as our old bodies in some ways, and different in other ways, but without question radically improved!

No more physical disabilities. No signs of age and no sinful tendencies.

Joni Erickson Tada is a quadriplegic who has glorified God despite her disability, which was the result of a diving accident in her youth. In her book Heaven: Your Real Home, she writes about our new bodies God has for us:

"No more bulging middles or balding tops. No varicose veins or crow's feet. No more cellulite or support hose. Forget the 'thunder thighs' and 'highway hips.'

Just a quick leapfrog over the tombstone, and it's the body you've always dreamed of. Fit and trim, smooth and sleek."


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 133 
  Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes."     —Luke 19:41-42  
As Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the crowds were celebrating. They were laughing. They were cheering. They were having a great time. And what was Jesus doing? He saw the city, and He wept over it. Here was the crowd, whipped into a frenzy, and Jesus was weeping. The crowd was rejoicing, and Christ was sobbing.

Why did Jesus weep when He saw Jerusalem? Being God and having omniscience, Jesus knew these fickle people who were crying out, "Hosanna!" would soon be shouting, "Crucify Him!" He knew that one of His handpicked disciples, Judas, would betray Him. He knew that another disciple, Peter, would deny Him. He knew that Caiaphas, the high priest, would conspire with Pilate, the Roman governor, to bring about His death. And, He knew the future of Jerusalem. Looking ahead 40 years, He saw the destruction that would come upon the city at the hands of the Emperor Titus and his Roman legions.

Jesus also wept because His ministry was almost over. Time was short. He had healed their sick. He had raised their dead. He had cleansed their lepers. He had fed their hungry. He had forgiven their sins. Yet for the most part, He had been rejected. John 1:11 says, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." And so He wept. This broke His heart, and it still does.

Unbelief and rejection breaks God's heart, because He knows the consequences. But when the door of the human heart is shut, He refuses to enter forcibly. He will only knock, wanting to gain admittance. He has given us the ability to choose. But when we choose the wrong thing, He knows the repercussions that will follow—in this life and the one to come. And His heart is broken.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 132 
  Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, "Why have you made me like this?"     —Romans 9:20  
There was a sense that something big was about to happen on the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds thought "the Kingdom of God would begin right away" (Luke 19:11). Scripture does teach the Messiah will come and establish His kingdom on earth. That is still in our future. But Scripture also teaches, in places like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, that the Messiah first would come and suffer and die for the sins of the world. Yet that concept was largely lost on the people of this day.

They wanted Jesus as their king—as long as it was on their terms. They wanted a deliverer and a Messiah that would conform to their plan—instead of theirs to His. They wanted Jesus to destroy Rome—not their cherished sins or their hypocritical, superficial religion.

There are people like this today. They will sing the praises of a Jesus who will give them wealth, success, and personal happiness. But they recoil from the idea of a God who would ask for obedience, commitment, and sacrifice. They like God as long as He fits into their plans. But the moment He does something they don't like, they get mad at Him. It is okay to say we don't understand God. It is okay to ask God, "Why?" But we have no right to be angry with Him. And it is ridiculous for us to say that we are. Who are we to argue with God?

As Chuck Swindoll says, "God is able to do what He pleases with whomever He chooses whenever He wishes." This is called the sovereignty of God. We don't always like it, because it is not what we want. But God can do what He wants when He wants to do it.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 131 
  Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "     —Luke 19:45-46  
We all have things that irritate us, and we display our anger in different ways. Yet research has proven that it is not good to be angry. One study found that bad-tempered people are three times more likely to have heart attacks. And a 2006 Harvard study revealed that 10 million men in the U.S. are so angry, they are sick. In fact, their disease has a name: Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED).

Having said all that, not all anger is bad. The Bible records a time when Jesus Christ, God incarnate, was angry. Very angry. After making His triumphal entry into Jerusalem with crowds cheering and palm branches waving, Jesus "went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, 'It is written, "My house is a house of prayer," but you have made it a "den of thieves" ' " (Luke 19:45–46).

Was Jesus having a temper tantrum? Hardly. It was righteous indignation. He went into the temple. He took stock of the situation. And He overturned tables. Why such a display of anger? Because the people engaged in temple commerce were keeping others from God. They had a little racket going in which they found fault with the sacrificial animals the people brought in and then sold them an "approved" animal at an inflated price. And this made Jesus angry.

God is angry when people stand in the way of sinners coming to know Him. God doesn't like it when we get in the way, and it happens all too often in the church. But the church is not supposed to be a museum for saints; it is supposed to be a hospital for sinners—a place for people to know God.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 130 
  For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.     —Romans 3:20  
The Bible tells the story of a woman who was caught in the act of adultery, brought before Jesus, and thrown at His feet. The teachers of the law and Pharisees who brought her there said, "The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?" (John 8:5).

Of course, a question arises: what happened to the man? It seems as though he would have been around somewhere. We don't know. But we do know they were attempting to trap Jesus. John tells us, "They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him" (John 8:6). This wasn't at all about dealing justly with a sin. This was about putting Jesus on the horns of a dilemma. It was about setting a trap. So Jesus assessed the situation. Then He stooped down and wrote on the ground. These religious leaders were challenging Him, and Jesus appeared to be doodling in the dust. He stood up and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" (verse 7). Then He went back to writing again. We don't know what Jesus wrote, but He wrote something, because the Bible said they left one by one, starting with the oldest among them.

Then Jesus turned His attention to the woman. She was so ashamed; she didn't know what to do. So He asked, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" (verse 10).

"No, Lord," she said.

Jesus told her, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more" (verse 11).

The law brings us to Jesus. He is our only hope. Every one of us breaks God's commandments. Every one of us needs His forgiveness. And if we will turn from our sin, He will forgive us.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 129 
  "You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor."     —Exodus 20:17  
While the first nine of the Ten Commandments deal with outward actions, the last commandment deals with an action of the heart: coveting. In fact, it is something we may not even realize that we are doing. Yet God clearly specifies it as one of the top ten things He wants us to know.

What does it mean to covet? It doesn't mean that it is wrong to see something you like and wish you had it. That is not necessarily coveting. God said, "You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17, emphasis mine). Notice the context is something that belongs to someone else.

The New Testament translates the Hebrew word for "covet" as the word "lust." So how does coveting work? The eyes look at an object. The mind admires it. The will goes over to it. And the body moves toward possessing it.

Let's say that your friend has just bought a new car. You say, "Wow, that is a cool car!" Then you go out the next day and buy the same car in the same color. That is not coveting; that is copying. But let's say that you take your friend's new car for a spin around the block and never return. That is coveting that has given way to stealing. Coveting is wanting something that belongs to someone else and determining that you will get it, no matter what.

Coveting can infiltrate so many areas of our lives—and it can destroy them. Marriages are destroyed. Careers are destroyed. Families are destroyed. It happens all the time. Coveting is a very real sin—and we will pay a very real price for it.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 127, 128 
We don't always know what to pray in every given situation. That is when the Holy Spirit will help you, even interceding for you (For more on this, see last weekend's devotional.)

Romans 8:26–27 tells us, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will" (NLT).

What is God's will?

We as humans are always in interested in the here and now—what will benefit us temporarily.

God, however, sees things a bit differently. He is also interested in the "bye and bye" and the eternal.

In other words, God has a bigger plan than my personal happiness in the given moment. He desires my holiness as I am conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

First things first

It is interesting that following Romans 8:27 is Romans 8:28, which says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

I often say, "People don't read what follows Romans 8:28."

Romans 8:29 tells us, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

We need to read Romans 8:26–29 to get the whole picture!

Let's put this all together, because this is showing the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Allow me a very loose paraphrase/interpretation: There are times when we are overwhelmed with the way life is going. We are so distressed that we don't even know how to pray, so we just sigh or groan. But the Holy Spirit takes these groans and sighs and turns them to prayers to the Father.

No matter what is happening, God is going to take your present circumstances and bring good out of bad. But His ultimate goal is take all that happens, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, and make us more like Jesus. Because that is the objective and endgame for every believer. One other thing: I have found that happiness does not come from seeking it, but from seeking God. If you dedicate your life to being happy, it's doubtful you ever will be.

But if you focus instead on being holy—on being the person God has called you to be—you will find personal happiness as a byproduct of having your priorities in order.

When we get to heaven one day, all of this will make sense!

Randy Alcorn, in his book Heaven, writes, "Seeing God will be like seeing everything else for the first time. Why? Because not only will we see God, He will be the lens through which we see everything else–people, ourselves, and the events of this life."


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 126 
  These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.     —Proverbs 6:16-19  
God hates lying. In fact, God thinks so much of truth that He uses the very word to describe His character. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). And we are told in Scripture that it is impossible for God to lie (see Hebrews 6:18). Lying is not in God's nature; He cares a lot about truth.

When we lie, we are behaving more like a child of the devil than a child of God, because the Bible describes Satan as "the father of lies" (John 8:44). And we all may lie a little more than we think. A study was done in which people were asked why they lie. Ninety-eight percent of respondents said they lied to keep from offending someone else. I can understand that to a certain degree, because telling the truth isn't always easy—especially when you are asked a difficult question like, "How did you like dinner?" or "Do you like my new outfit?" Even so, lying is still a sin.

There are subtle ways in which we tell lies, such as through flattery and exaggeration. We also lie when we say things like, "Oh, I forgot" (when we didn't), or "It's good to see you" (when it isn't), or "I was just getting ready to call you" (when we weren't). We also lie through gossiping and backbiting. Proverbs 20:19 NLT says, "A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don't hang around with chatterers." We love to dispense gossip, and unfortunately, we love to hear it far too often.

Have you ever had someone gossip about you? Lie about you? Lie to you? Then you know how destructive it is. God hates lying—and we should too.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 125 
  Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.     —Ephesians 4:28  
Stealing is so widespread in our culture today that I don't know if we are even aware of how bad it has become. We habitually lock everything. We have grown accustomed to seeing gas station attendants behind bulletproof glass. We have car alarms, even though no one seems to be concerned anymore when a car alarm goes off. We post signs on our front lawns stating that we have a security system, even if we may not have one.

A Newsweek article entitled "The Thrill of Theft" pointed out that $13 billion in merchandise is stolen every year. In fact, one retail manager in a Los Angeles-area mall said she uses shoplifting as a guide, saying, "We know what's hot among teens by seeing what they steal."

And according to a University of Florida study, retail stores lose more to employee theft than to shoplifting. Most employee theft goes unreported, but employee screening company Guardsmark estimates it to be $120 billion per year. Stealing is rampant.

A poll taken among youth who were asked why they do not steal revealed that the number-one reason was the fear of getting caught. The second most frequently cited reason was fear the theft victim might seek revenge. The third reason given was the item may not be needed. How about not stealing because it is wrong? How about not stealing because it is a sin?

Here is what God says about stealing: "Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need" (Ephesians 4:28). Stealing is wrong before God, and He thought enough about it to include it in His Top Ten list, the Ten Commandments: "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15).


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 124 
  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.     —Philippians 4:8  
In our culture today, it is pretty hard not to see some things that you wish you had not seen. You don't have to even go out looking for it. You can just be standing in line at the supermarket, and there it is on the cover of the magazine. Or you are driving down the street, and there it is on the billboard. There it is flashing on the video screen. There it is, emblazoned on someone's T-shirt.

Wickedness is just a mouse click away. Click, click, click, and you open up a Pandora's Box of perversion. According to an Internet filter review that analyzes and rates Web content filters, revenues of pornography exceed those of all professional football, baseball, and basketball franchises combined. There are 4.2 million porn sites, representing 12 percent of all Web sites in the world. Pornographic search engine requests total 68 million a day.

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27–28). The word that Jesus used for "look" in the original language does not refer to a casual glance, but to the continuous act of looking. In this usage the idea is not that it is incidental or involuntary, but it is an intentional and repeated gazing. Granted, it is worse to commit adultery than to look lustfully at someone. But at the same time, looking lustfully is a violation of this commandment as well.

This is why we need to guard our minds. This is why we need to put safeguards in place. We want to be careful of what we see and what we expose ourselves to.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 123 
  Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.     —1 Corinthians 6:18-20  
The argument has been made that illicit sex doesn't hurt anyone. I disagree. I think it hurts a lot of people. It damages a person spiritually, and according to one study, it can even cause depression. Researchers at the University of Tennessee found that in young women, there seems to be a direct correlation between illicit sexual behavior and serious emotional problems.

Then there is the issue of teenage pregnancy. Every year, one million teens become pregnant. Many of these pregnancies never make it to term because one in every five abortions is performed on a woman under the age of 20. And 400,000 of the 1.6 million abortions occurring annually are done on teenage mothers. Does illicit sex hurt anyone? What about the baby who is never given the privilege of living out his or her life? What about the mother who carries the lifelong shame of aborting her baby? Who knows what some of these children could have done in our world today—the difference they could have made?

There is no such thing as a "one-night stand." Sex is not some casual toy; it is a gift from God to be saved for marriage. When you engage in sexual contact with another person, you become one. The Bible says, "Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! And don't you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, 'The two are united into one' " (1 Corinthians 6:15–16).

So does illicit sex hurt anyone? It does hurt. And it does bring spiritual devastation. That is why the Bible warns against this sin.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 122 
  Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.     —Proverbs 5:15  
Imagine how different our world would be today if we kept the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). Imagine how many divorces would have been avoided if adultery was never committed. Imagine how many families would still be together. Imagine how many parents would still be at home to raise their children.

Remember, this commandment made God's Top Ten. There are a lot of things He could have identified as big issues to Him, but these are ten things that God wants us to know, things that matter to Him. And if we ignore these commands, it will be spiritually harmful and destructive in our lives.

So God spoke out on the subject of sexual purity and said, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). Committing adultery is having sex with someone besides your spouse. It is speaking of immorality in general, not merely unfaithfulness on the part of a marital partner. And God says it is sin.

I believe our secular culture has taken the topic of sex, poured their own meaning into what it is and what it isn't, and have redefined how we view it. And as a result, the church has lost control of the subject. So let's take it back again and, without embarrassment, acknowledge that sex is not sinful or evil in and of itself.

God created sex, and there needs to be no shame or embarrassment surrounding it, if it is done God's way. And what is God's way? In a marriage relationship. Within the safety and protection of a marriage, God can bless sex. Did you know that is possible? He can bless it. But it must be within the confines of marriage between a man and a woman—and no other variation of that.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 120, 121 
One of the things the Holy Spirit does in our lives is to help us with our prayers.

Why? Because there are times when we don't really know what or how to pray. Maybe you are overwhelmed by a burden. You find yourself discouraged, depressed, and overwhelmed. It is at that point that the Holy Spirit will help you.

Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as a "comforter." In John 14:16, He said, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever" (NKJV).

We have lost the meaning of the word "comforter." It comes from the Greek word paracletos, which means "called alongside to help," a helper, aide, or assistant.

Some versions translate paracletos as the word "advocate," which is applied to Jesus in 1 John 2:1: "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous" (NKJV).

The purpose of an advocate is to plead the cause of another—to be an intercessor. This is part of the work that the Holy Spirit has come to do in your life.

Here's the good news: sometimes just a sigh or groan will do. Why? Because we don't always have to put words to our prayers. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Trust me; I have done this many times. I don't know what to say, or how to say it. I just know that I am in pain; so I sigh, I groan, and sometimes I cry.

That's where the Holy Spirit comes in.

Romans 8:26–27 tells us, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will" (NLT).


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 119 
  "You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell."     —Matthew 5:21-22  
Have you ever hated anyone? Have you ever hated anyone so much that you wished they were dead? If you are thinking, Oh, no—not me, then allow me to rephrase the question: Have you ever driven on a freeway? If we were honest, we all would probably admit to having a strong dislike for certain people at one time or another in our lives—people who, if they were to walk into the room, would make our blood begin to boil.

But the Bible tells us, "Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them" (1 John 3:15). We know that murder is a sin before God. But God says that if we hate another person, then we are committing a sin as well.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was referring to the Ten Commandments when He said, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment . . . " (Matthew 5:21–22).

We can feel good about not murdering, but have we ever hated anyone? The Bible tells us, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior" (Ephesians 4:31). The Bible teaches that we are to love, not hate, our enemies (see Matthew 5:44).

We are all sinners. We have all broken God's commandments in some way, shape, or form. We all need God's forgiveness. And God offers it graciously and lovingly—if we will come to Him.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 118 
  Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.     —Colossians 3:20  
It is interesting to note that before a word is spoken in the Ten Commandments about how to treat others, God starts with the family. I don't think anything can bring greater pleasure than our families, and few things can give us as much pain. Kids have problems with parents. Parents have problems with kids. Sometimes people will say, "Well, I came from a dysfunctional family." Welcome to humanity. Who doesn't come from a dysfunctional family?

Yet our very existence as a society depends on the success of the family. It has been said that a family can survive without a nation, but a nation cannot survive without the family. Yet there is such an attack on the family today. In fact, the Bible tells us that one of the signs of the last days will be a breakdown in the family and a disrespect for parents in particular: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy . . . " (2 Timothy 3:1–2).

So here is God's word for a culture. Here is God's word for a society. Here is God's word for us: "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). The Hebrew word for "honor" means to be heavy or to give weight. In other words, it is a weighty thing to be a parent. There is a lot of responsibility that goes along with being a father or a mother.

So whether our parents are Christians our not, the Bible tells us that we are to honor them. We are to give them the recognition they deserve for their God-given authority. We are to respect and esteem and value and prize them as gifts from God.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 117 
  For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News?     —1 Peter 4:17  
Do you know what the nonbeliever's favorite verse is? It is Matthew 7:1: "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged." This verse is usually quoted after we say something like, "Well you know what? I don't think that is right."

This verse, however, is not telling us that we should not make judgments, because in other passages we read that as believers, we are indeed to make evaluations, to be discerning, and yes— to even make judgments. In fact, the Bible asks, "Don't you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide even these little things among yourselves?" (1 Corinthians 6:2). We are also told in Scripture that "judgment must begin with God's household" (1 Peter 4:17).

We are to judge, but we are not to condemn. In fact, a better translation of Matthew 7:1 would be: "Do not condemn others, and you will not be condemned." I am in no position to condemn a person. But I am in a position to make judgments about things, situations, viewpoints, and even about people to some degree.

"Don't judge!" is said by people who don't like it when we dare to have a Christian worldview. In fact, I have found that the most narrow-minded people are those who claim to be the most broad-minded. Those who claim to be the most accepting are often the least accepting. Because when a Christian has an opinion, a nonbeliever will say, "How dare you say that! Who are you to judge?"

There is a living God, and He has revealed himself in the pages of Scripture. Therefore, as believers, we accept the fact that we have absolute truth from God. And we develop our worldview from what the Bible teaches.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 116 
  Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord's name is to be praised.     —Psalm 113:2-3  
There is power in God's name, and we are to honor it. Moses said, "For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God" (Deuteronomy 32:3).

Elijah knew the power of the name of the Lord as he faced off with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. He told the people, "Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God" (1 Kings 18:24).

Not only does God want us to honor His name, but He wants us to invoke His holy name in our hour of need. Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

Job knew the power of that name when tragedy hit. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).

Have you ever noticed that when someone speaks your name, you hear it? You know your name. In the same way, God pays attention when we speak His name. But we use God's name in vain—that is, use it in an empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous way—more often than we may realize. We use God's name in vain with little phrases such as, "Oh, my gosh!" We take God's name in vain when we use it for personal gain or to sell things. We use God's name in vain when we say, "Praise the Lord!" or "God bless you" when we don't really mean it.

God knows His name. He hears when we speak it. So let's not take it in vain; let's honor it instead.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 115 
  "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."     —Exodus 20:7  
Commandment number three of the Ten Commandments tells us not to take God's name in vain. The words "in vain" mean empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. So to take God's name in vain means to say it in a way that is empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. And one of the most obvious ways this is done is through the use of profanity.

We all have heard people use the name of Jesus to punctuate a point. I have even said to people who do this, "Be careful. He might answer you some time." Interestingly, I never hear the names of various religious leaders or so-called gurus being used when someone is angry or upset.

So why do people, including avowed atheists, use the name Jesus Christ in this way? I believe that in their hearts, they know there is power in that holy name. Sure, they are taking it in vain. They are violating the third commandment. But in a way, they are acknowledging the existence of God. Otherwise, why invoke the name of a God you don't believe in? Why say the name of a person you don't think ever existed? Why say His name? Because there is power in that name. And when you say it, people pay attention.

Philippians 2:9–11 reminds us, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The name of Jesus has power. God wants us as His followers to never take His name in vain, but to honor it instead.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 113, 114 
I think it is really important for us to better understand the person of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people think of the Holy Spirit as more of an "It" than a "Him." But according to Scripture, the Holy Spirit is not only God, but He has a will, a personality, and can even be offended!

There are six specific sins that can be committed against the Holy Spirit. Today, allow me to focus on one that can be committed by believers—grieving the Holy Spirit.

One of the places in Scripture where we read about grieving the Holy Spirit is in Ephesians 4:29–32. The apostle Paul writes:

"Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not grieve God's Holy Spirit by the way you live . . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

To "grieve" means to make sad or sorrowful. It means to cause sorrow, pain, or distress.

But what makes the Holy Spirit sad or sorrowful?

1. Foul and abusive language makes the Holy Spirit sad.

Verse 29 says, "Don't use foul or abusive language." The word used here speaks of something that has gone "rotten." This includes obscene language, profanity, dirty stories, vulgarity, double entendres, etc.

When did it become "cool" for preachers to speak this way from a pulpit? Some people would say this is being "real" or "authentic."

Guess what? You are not to speak this way—privately or publicly.

How about being authentically godly instead?

2. Bitterness makes the Holy Spirit sad and sorrowful.

The definition of bitterness is "an embittered and resentful spirit that refuses to be reconciled."

Some people just like to be mad. They live for conflict, arguing, and fighting. This, as with all sin, only gets worse if left unchecked and unrepented of.

The sad thing is that bitter people rarely want to keep it to themselves. Instead, they spread it around. The Bible speaks of "a root of bitterness defiling many" (see Hebrews 12:15).

I have a better idea: forgive!

3. Fits of rage and uncontrolled anger make the Holy Spirit sad and sorrowful.

"Rage" speaks of the person who is easily angered and who raises his voice—shouting and screaming. "Slander" is speaking evil of others behind their backs. "Malicious behavior" speaks of ill will and plotting evil against someone.

Look, all of us have been hurt in life, but we have a choice as to how we react. We can be like the moneylender Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, demanding our "pound of flesh." We can say, "They did this to me; therefore I will have my vengeance!"

Or we can believe God when He says "Vengeance is mine, I will repay."

It is said that Augustine had a sign on his living room wall that read, "He who speaks evil of an absent man or woman is not welcome at this table."

Try the acronym T.H.I.N.K. the next time you are not sure whether or not you should say something.

• T – Is it Truthful?
• H – Is it Helpful?
• I – Is it Inspiring?
• N – Is it Necessary?
• K – Is it Kind?

Instead of speaking evil of someone, we are to "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another."

"But they don't deserve that!"

True, but neither do you or I—yet God still forgave us.

Paul concludes Ephesians 4:32 by saying, ". . . just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

Forgiven people should be forgiving people. Otherwise, we are grieving the Spirit.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Listen to today's radio program!  Read the Word: Today--Psalm 112 
  They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.     —Psalm 115:6-7  
We tend to equate jealousy with pettiness and selfishness. We see it as a vice, not a virtue. But when God was giving Moses the Ten Commandments and said He was a jealous God, this is not the type of jealousy He was speaking of. If we were to substitute the term "zealous" for "jealous," it would help in our understanding of it.

God is zealous in His love for you, and He wants you to be zealous in your love for Him. God loves you and wants an exclusive relationship with you. For example, doesn't a wife want her husband to be faithful to her? Doesn't a husband want his wife to be loyal to him? Doesn't a parent look out for his or her children and care about their welfare? Of course.

This is essentially what God was saying when He told Moses, "I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods" (Exodus 20:5). In other words, "I want your complete love. I don't want you to bow down before other gods."

When the Israelites worshipped the golden calf while Moses was on Mt. Sinai, they rationalized their behavior by saying it was "a festival to the Lord" (Exodus 32:5). Call it what you like, but it was blatant idolatry. And a person who really knows God, who has experienced a new birth, and is living in fellowship with Him should not need an image or representation to be able to pray. Something is not right when believers feel they need that.

This is a problem because it gives us a false concept of what God is really like. And if the image is false, then the thought of God is false—and ultimately it will produce a character that is false.


Have Pastor Greg's devotionals blessed you? Write to let him know at Greg@harvest.org!

©2010 Harvest Ministries; All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.