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Devotionals by Bruce Wells
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About Bruce Wells:
Manna for Living is the Bible teaching ministry of Bruce Wells. A Bible teacher, and writer, Bruce lives in Virginia with his wife and family. He is currently accepting speaking engagements for the fall and would welcome an invitation to preach at your church, revival or conference. Email Bruce at mannaforliving@gmail.com
Press On
Bruce Wells
Jan 5, 2009
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
--- Philippians 3:14
You remember how God fed the Israelites with manna. Every morning they would wake up, step out of their tents, and there would be the manna just waiting for them. But the manna would not keep overnight. God did not want them to live off the manna from yesterday. The Lord wanted them to be dependent on Him on a regular basis and gather it fresh each day.
In the same way you can't live off the experiences of last year or 20 years ago. God wants to do something fresh and new in your life today and tomorrow. You can't live off experiences, but you can learn from them.
Saul of Tarsus went out of his way, to hunt down Christians. But he came to realize that he was not serving God but the devil. Then he was transformed, and went on to become the apostle Paul. He could say, "Now I press on, now I reach forward" (Philippians 3:14). I wish this would be true in the lives of more Christians. What a difference it would make in this world around us if we had that kind of ambition, that kind of drive to serve God as we used to serve ourselves.
In this new year, let's recommit ourselves to the study of the Word of God.
Let's recommit ourselves to prayer.
And let's commit ourselves to win at least one person to Christ in this coming year.
As Christians, we have unprecedented opportunities for our lives to make a difference this year. There is so much to do. So much growth that needs to take place in our lives. And so much more to accomplish. It's time to step into the future. To step into what God is doing today.
In His strong love,
Bruce
Matthew 22:37
Bruce Wells
Dec 30, 2008
As I write this devotional there is just a tad over 36 hours left in 2008. The new year looms just ahead. I want to remind you my friends that this is an opportunity for new beginnings . . . a fresh new start.
Many of us may make a list of resolutions for the New Year. We often try to realign our priorities and refocus our attention on the things that matter. In order to help us in making this year more successful than the last I want to share the following with you:
H - Hold fast to your faith (Hebrews 4:14)
A - Assemble with the saints (Hebrews 10:25)
P - Pray earnestly every day (I Thessalonians 5:17-18)
P - Pray for great blessings (Malachi 3:10)
Y - Yield not to temptation (I Thessalonians 5:22)
N - Neglect not your talents and opportunities (Galatians 6:10)
E - Examine yourself daily (II Corinthians 13:5)
W - Work diligently for the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58)
Y - Yield your members to righteousness, not sin (Romans 6:11,16)
E - Exercise yourself in godliness (I Timothy 4:7 )
A - Aim at sinless perfection (Hebrews 6:1)
R - Redeem the time (Ephesians 5:15-16)
I believe that wherever you are in the world, God has some big plans for your church family in 2009. Please be praying for your church, it's work, it's ministries, it's leaders, and it's members.
Let’s all try to be spirit-filled people that have the mind of Christ. Let’s all keep falling in love with our Lord and with one another. God is good, all the time! Have a blessed NEW YEAR!!!
In His strong love,
Bruce
Goodbye 2008
The Gift Given on a Tree
Dec 23, 2008
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:7
As we look at our world, today we realize that part of the promise of Isaiah (see Isaiah 9:6) has not yet been fulfilled. The Son has been given. The Child has been born. But He has not yet taken the government upon His shoulders. We do not have peace with judgment and justice yet. But the good news is that there is coming a day when Christ will return. He will establish His kingdom on this earth. It will be a righteous rule from God Himself.
Before Jesus could take the government upon His shoulder, He had to take up the cross on His shoulder. Before He could wear the crown of glory as King of Kings, He had to wear a shameful crown of thorns and give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
The first time a star marked His arrival. But the next time He comes, the heavens will roll back like a scroll and all of the stars will fall from the sky and He Himself will light it with His glory.
Christ came to this earth. God came near to you so you can come near to Him. To give your life purpose and meaning. To forgive you of your sins and to give you the hope of heaven beyond the grave. Christmas is not about tinsel or shopping or presents. Christmas is not the gifts under the tree. Christmas is the gift that was given on the tree when Christ died there for our sin and gave us the gift of eternal life. That is the gift He extends. That is what Christmas is all about.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas,
Bruce
Matthew 22:37
Deep and Wide
Dec 14, 2008
One of the first songs youngsters learn in Sunday school is, "Deep and wide / Deep and wide / There's a fountain flowing deep and wide." The song is easy to learn, hard to forget, and profound in truth. The fountain that flows deep and wide is the gift of eternal life (see John 4:14; Revelation 21:6). We find this fountain, not bubbling up from some spring as Ponce de Leon thought, but through the living Word of God. The living water came to earth in the form of the God/Man, Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
I've discovered the secret to exhibiting a life that is both deep and wide can be found by diving into the living waters of God's Word. Show me a strong Christian committed to spending time in the Bible, and I'll show you a Christian who has spiritual depth and width. Dr. Jerry Vines said, "If you need a soul-building program: stretch spiritual muscles by daily reading the Word. If you have to miss anything in the morning, miss your breakfast, but not your Bible!"
And the result of this time with God? We become a threat to the kingdom of darkness. As we expand God's kingdom, the devil loses ground. That's one reason the devil wants you to become a spiritual weakling. It's also the reason he attacks the Word of God so often. Roy Aldrich said, "Satan does not waste his ammunition. Professors, who are being paid to teach philosophy, English, biology, math, oft take time from their class period to undermine the Bible and Christianity. Why are they not doing the same with the sacred books of other religions? The answer is that Satan, the original liar, is sympathetic with the books that lie. His real enmity is directed against the book of truth because it contains the dynamite for his defeat."
This week, take a spiritual measurement: How deep and wide is your knowledge of God's Word? And remember, it's one thing to know the Word of God. It's an even better thing to know the God of the Word. Won't you purpose in your heart to become both deep and wide in your journey of faith? When you do, the fountain of God's love will flow through you to everyone you meet!
Peace be with you.
In His strong love,
Bruce
More! More! More!
Dec 7, 2008
Well, it's begun. The holiday shopping frenzy! I've seen the glazed looks and can almost hear the thoughts of the people as they walk the malls, Should I buy just one more present for my husband? The children whine, "We need more toys!" The commercials blare (at least subliminally), "The more you buy, the happier everyone will be." Folks, let's take a step back and remember what we really need more of this holiday season.
You remember Moses. He was the one who encountered God in the form of a burning bush. Who talked to God as he would a friend. Who saw so many signs and wonders it would boggle the ordinary mind. Moses was the man who wrote the first five books of the Bible. But he wasn't satisfied. He wanted more! Moses had one more request: "Please let me see your glorious presence" (Exodus 33:18 NLT). Moses wanted to see more glory, and he wanted more of the joy that comes from being in God's presence.
On one hand, we can understand. On the other hand, we wonder about Moses. What more does he need? He'd already heard God's audible voice. He'd already seen God's mighty hand in sending plagues on Egypt, opening the Red Sea, and sending water from rocks! He'd experienced more than any of us ever will in a lifetime. So why did Moses ask for more? It wasn't because Moses was unsatisfied with what he already had. It was because Moses had tasted something so good that he wanted to be a repeat customer.
When you go to a fine restaurant and have an exceptional meal, I'm sure you don't leave saying, "I'll never be back to this place again. The food was so great; I'm forever satisfied!" No way! You'll be a return customer because you want more of what you've already tasted. Maybe the next meal will even top the previous one!
In the same way, Moses so enjoyed what he'd experienced with God that he wanted to visibly experience God's full and unfolded glory. But God told him that was impossible for the time being. The full brunt of God's unshielded glory was too grand and powerful for Moses to handle in his human condition. Moses longed for an experience that only heaven will one day afford. Yet God hid Moses in the cleft of a rock and proclaimed the wonders of who He is. After this small glimpse, Moses was transformed.
No matter how spiritually well-informed or biblically mature we are, at our deepest core, we all have a longing for God Himself. Every sweet time of intimate devotion with God, every powerful episode of corporate worship, every palpable experience of divine fellowship only intensifies our longing for God on a deeper level. God designed us that way. He wants us to long for heaven, where we will see His glorious presence. Until then, we cry out for as much as we can get right now!
This Christmas season, won't you long for more of the Holy One? Ask God to show you more of Himself. You'll be transformed.
Peace be with you.
In His strong love,
Bruce
Top Ten List
Dec 1, 2008
At this time of year, we're all busy making lists: Christmas card lists, gift lists, places to go and people to see lists. Lists help us prioritize what we need to do and when we need to do it. Even Christmas songs warn children that the character of Santa Claus is known for "makin' a list and checkin' it twice; he's gonna find out who's naughty or nice."
Since 1993, David Letterman has sported his "Top Ten" list on his nightly TV show. Normally wacky and sometimes crude, the list can range from the "Top Ten Signs You're Not Getting a Year End Bonus" to "Top Ten Promotional Slogans." What if you were to compose a list of the "Top Ten Important Things in Life"? What things would you list? What are your top values, lessons, or rules?
God gave His own Top Ten List (Exodus 20:2-17) when He spoke His commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai. These commandments cover the gamut of life's essentials. Highly relevant, the Ten Commandments have both a vertical focus (God-ward) and a horizontal focus (man-ward). The first four commands help us know how to relate to God; the last six instruct us on how to treat our fellow man. Much of our modern system of jurisprudence has been based upon these foundational principles.
Look over this list. Memorize these Top Ten (only 40% of Americans can even name four of them!). And then use them. Let them be a compass to help you plot your direction in life. Use them also as a thermometer to gauge your personal love for God. You can also use them as a mirror: You'll read them and see your own flaws and failure to keep them.
But be careful. Don't try to use this mirror that shows flaws as soap to wash yourself clean. Paul said, "For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it" (Romans 3:20 NLT). Instead, let God's law be a road sign to point you to Jesus for cleansing and change. Paul reminds us, "The law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came" (Galatians 3:24 NLT). Whatever dirt these commandments point out to you, run to the shower of the cleansing blood of Christ. He will do for you what the Law could never do.
During this busy season of making lists and checking them twice, remember to keep Christ at the top of your list. When you make Him your first priority, all other things will fall into place.
In His strong love,
Bruce
Matthew 22:37
Give Thanks to the Lord!
Bruce Wells
Nov 22, 2008
Can you believe that it's almost Thanksgiving? What a glorious time to gather with family and friends to celebrate God's goodness. A time to remember that we live in a country where we can openly worship the living God. A time to feast and fellowship. A time to reflect on the past, examine the present, and look forward to what God has in store for the future. The psalmist's refrain is oh so true, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His love endures forever" (Psalm 106:1)
One all-encompassing word comes to my mind at this time of year—GRACE! That's what I am most thankful for this year. Looking back, I realize that through God's grace I was scooped up from life's junk pile. It was by grace that He bejeweled my life with my beautiful wife, Valerie: a woman who has helped me grow in virtually every area of my life. It was by grace that He blessed me with a son, Cody, who is preparing to serve the Lord in ministry and a beautiful daughter, Sarah. Again, it was by grace that God allowed me to become Papa to a pair, of precious grandsons, Dravyn and Desmond, who bring indescribable joy to my life.
And guess what? God's grace still abounds in the present. Quite frankly, I'm amazed that God uses me for His glory. I take great delight in the truth that God "has chosen the foolish things of the world" (1 Corinthians 1:27). That verse has sustained me throughout my Christian walk. I am so thankful God has chosen to use me for His kingdom work.
I'm also thankful for those we have the privilege of ministering to: people like you! I'm so grateful for those of you who read the Manna for Living devotionals on the Internet, and those who correspond with me by email. Your enthusiasm for God's Word and God's work is contagious. It encourages me to stay on task.
As for the future, I believe that with God's help, the best is yet to come! As the words from the wonderful old hymn Amazing Grace declare, "Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home."
This Thanksgiving, won't you allow God's grace to stimulate a thankful heart in you? May you be filled with confidence because of what God has already done in your life. And may you live in hopeful and grateful anticipation of what God will do!
In His strong love,
Bruce
Matthew 22:37
Our Rightful Place
Bruce Wells
Nov 17, 2008
Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. --- Psalm 104:1-9
Mountains are the perfect place for personal, powerful encounters with God. I will never forget the first time I saw the Rockies. I was 28 years old, face pressed to the window, riding in the passenger seat of a friend's car in Denver Colorado. The mountains were immense and immovable; their snowy peaks hung in the clouds, towering over us like we were ants beneath their ageless gaze.
I could not have described it then, but I remember the ominous mood. It was the feeling of God. I could sense the greatness of the One who could call the mountains forth with the breath of His mouth and as Habakkuk 3:6 says, who "looked . . . then the eternal mountains were scattered, the everlasting hills sank low."
Thinking back on that day almost 20 years ago, my assessment of the situation was exactly correct. God is God and I am not. God is great and I am tiny. God is all-powerful and I am an ant.
That forced humility runs contrary to our self-promoting tendencies. Be cause of our ancestry in the Garden of Eden, we were born with the desire to gain the position that belongs to God and God alone. We want to take ourselves higher and bring God down lower. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve listened to the lie that they could be like God because they craved what belongs to God alone. In Genesis 11, man again sets out on a foolish plan to make a name for himself by building a tower "with its top in the heavens." In Romans 1 we learn of the human heart's propensity to exchange God's truth for a lie and to worship the creature rather than the Creator. Yes, in all of us is a self-centered bent to get me up and get God down.
But getting a proper view of God and myself reverses that sinful inclination. When I see God as being above me, beyond me, highly exalted, over me, and totally separate from me, I am putting myself in a very good place—under His awesome hand.
When I embrace God for who He is, then I properly understand who I am.
When I know God's place, I can know my place.
That's what seeing God as He really is—holy, sovereign, separate—does for us. It puts everything and everyone in its rightful place.
I began to truly learn that lesson as a young man visiting the Rockies. I've since spent some wonderful times in the Appalachians, and the impact is always the same. God is so great—I am so small and that's the way it's supposed to be. There's infinite relief in knowing where I really fit and who is completely in charge. It's God, "who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!" (Psalm 104:32). That fact alone compels me to echo the psalmist, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" (Psalm 95:6).
In His strong love,
Bruce
Matthew 22:37
Barack Obama the Anti-Christ?
Bruce Wells
Nov 10, 2008
“Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
There have been a lot of mean spirited postings on the internet concerning president-elect Barack Obama since his election last Tuesday.
The most outrageous ones I've seen are those questioning if Mr. Obama is the antichrist. That goes beyond mean spirited. I personally did not vote for Mr. Obama, but I feel something has to be said about this nonsense.
First, in the United States, and surely other nations, many seek to demonize those with whom they disagree politically. Calling a man the antichrist is essentially declaring him to be Satan incarnate. Some on the far right were convinced that President Bill Clinton was the antichrist. Some who hold to far left political views were convinced that President George W. Bush was the antichrist.
Now, those who disagree with the political views of Barack Obama are throwing the antichrist label at him as well. This political demonization is ridiculous, as the biblical indicators of who is the antichrist have nothing to do with conservative or progressive politics.
There is rampant misinformation being spread around that makes unbiblical statements about the antichrist, attempting to create links with Barack Obama. One of the most common states that the antichrist will be a man of Muslim/Arab descent, in his 40s, and will rule for 42 months (close to the length of a U.S. presidency). The Bible nowhere says anything about the ethnicity, religion, or age of the antichrist. The “42 months” concept is taken from Revelation 13:5-8, but there is absolutely nothing to connect the 42 months with the 4-year(48 months)tenure of a U.S. President.
Intentional misinformation like this is deceptive and counterproductive.
Christians in the United States tend to forget that the end times revolve around the nation of Israel, not the United States. The Bible nowhere explicitly prophesies the existence of the United States. While the United States may have a role in the end times and/or with the antichrist, it is just as possible that the United States will not even exist in the end times.
Rather than speculating and demonizing, our responsibility as Christians is to be wise and discerning, based on what the Bible says about the antichrist or anything else for that matter.
One final thought; We have a commandment in the Bible to pray for all of those who are in authority, so we certainly should commit to pray for president-elect Obama and for his family and to pray that God would give him guidance and direction.
In His strong love,
Bruce
Jesus is Still King
Bruce Wells
Nov 5, 2008
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
-- 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Yesterday was a pretty tough day. Our insides are churning and filled with many emotions. I know people are looking for answers and I'm seeking them myself. But this morning, in the midst of my lamentations, wailing and gnashing of teeth about the election, I had a sudden encouraging thought. Christ is still on the throne!
Now I want you to pause and repeat that, "Christ is still on the throne!" Let that sink into your heart. It has been a huge encouragement to me today.
Still, I must admit that many conflicting thoughts have been spinning through my mind today. I'm not sure if we are going to see major judgment soon, or if God will visit us and our President Elect with revival. Some tears have been shed and we must now prepare to move on and fight for the Kingdom. Please pray for Barak Obama and his choices for leadership in our new government. He will be our president for the next four years and we must honor him because God's Word directs us to.
It's clear that the majority of the people cast their vote for Mr. Obama. Sometimes God allows us to have what we want so that we can find out why it's not good for us, so we will stop wanting what we want and start wanting what God wants. Amen?
In my own life, I've learned from disappointments in the past that God's ways are higher than our ways and He accomplishes His will in ways that we don't understand because we only see in part and He sees the whole picture. So, through the years I have learned to trust Him even if things don't make sense to me in my finite thinking. I know it is more important to Him that people get saved and spend eternity in Heaven than be comfortable in their earthly life. And that is more important to me too. So, if suffering has to come to get people saved, than so be it.
SOME OBSERVATIONS
1. I strongly believe Senator Obama was elected, in large part, because the church in America has failed to address sin in its own ranks and also in society. We must pray for and return to a biblical model of holiness and righteousness. Many churches are afraid of offending people, and don't challenge members to live out their faith in the public square.
2. Pro-family Christians must be prepared to make solid arguments as we look to the future. We need to stay consistent with our message of family values and the sanctity of human life. We need to point out the mistakes that [President-elect Barack] Obama and possible radical members of congress make when it comes to overreaching their power.
3. Believers in America, should prepare for persecution. We are going to see, I think, unprecedented attacks against our faith through measures like the hate crimes [legislation] to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. We're going to see attacks on innocent human life through the Freedom of Choice Act, trying to erase all the gains that have been made in the pro-life movement. And I think even our freedoms are going to come under attack.
We're going to have to stand together, and stand in defense of these truths, and be bold about that stance.
4. My deepest thanks to all of you who did what you could to make a difference in this election. Many passionate Christians did everything they could, but sadly, much of the church is still asleep. About one third of "evangelical Christians" said they voted for death over life. Life as "the most important issue" did not even show up in the five top issues. Money issues were far more important to America than anything else.
5. We should all be proud that our country is finally ready to embrace the reality of a Black American becoming our president, but at the same time we can see by the voting pattern that it's obvious that Black Americans are still hurting and feel left out. Only a tiny percentage of the black church community voted for life because they so longed for a president who could identify with them and their pain. We in the white church have set a poor example in loving our black brothers & sisters and accepting them as equals. May this election be a catalyst for prayer, repentance and changed hearts.
6. We must gear up and seek God to know how to fight the battles that are coming. Our voices can still be heard and there will be opportunities to stand up and vote again for many issues. We cannot just sit back and accept all restrictions being removed from abortion and other evils that threaten to become legal like we did when prayer and Bible reading were outlawed in our schools.
7. We are seeing the fruit of the takeover of our education institutions by humanists and atheists decades ago. They had a clear and well-stated agenda to bring a revolution through education. It's time for the Kingdom of Heaven to stand up and take back this mountain.
8. I believe God still has plans for America to experience revival and if God does special miracles and gives His leaders a major platform to speak to the nation and the world, we can have a revival in the land.
9. We have been given a wake-up call as the church of America. It's time to assess our priorities and put the Kingdom of God before our own well-being and personal advantage.
We need to stay close to God and hear Him and stay in step with His leading. I pray all of us who already know Him will get even closer to Him and will completely surrender to Him so we can be used most effectively to do the works that He has already prepared for us to do. The other night I had a word about why we are dissatisfied and restless. It is because we are not fulfilling our call that He has created us to do. We will be the most satisfied and joyful when we know we are in the middle of God's will doing what He has created us to do. I know God has invested in all of us many gifts and talents to be used for His Glory. May we all come up to our full potential in Christ and let Him use us to the maximum for His purposes in these days.
Well, in writing to you, I have encouraged myself. God bless you all and may God bless America.
In His strong love,
Bruce
One Week From Today
Bruce Wells
Oct 28, 2008
Dear Fellow Christian,
The upcoming election is the most critical election in the history of our nation. The very future of our nation's foundation is at stake. Every person will be affected.
If the liberals win, then our foundation will no longer be based on the traditional Judeo-Christian morality. It will gradually but assuredly be based on an ever shifting, ever moving foundation. If the liberals win, America will forever be changed. The morals of our nation will continue to decline. Our children and grandchildren will pay the price.
I cannot overstate the damage a liberal victory will do to our country. The upcoming election is the most important in the history of our nation. Yes, if the liberals win you will lose some of your religious freedoms and free speech rights. Churches and pastors will not be exempt. You will not be allowed to say certain things from the pulpit. Every item of the homosexual agenda will be approved. All the laws protecting the unborn will be wiped away.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of the Nov. 4 election. That is why I urge you to vote and encourage your family members, friends, Sunday School class and church members to vote.
This is a crucial election and too much is at stake for God’s people to sit on the sidelines. Be sure to make your vote count by going to the polls this coming Election Day!
Also, please be in prayer for our nation, as we continually need God’s hand of mercy and protection.
Thank you for the stand you are taking as a Christian citizen and may God bless America!
In His strong love,
Bruce
Just Do It
Bruce Wells
Oct 27, 2008
Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
— Luke 10:2
Sometimes believers will say, "I want to be a missionary. I will cross the sea for Christ." That is good, but let's also cross the street to talk to our neighbors. Wherever we go, we can be representatives of the Lord. Jesus reminded His disciples that the harvest field is all around them: "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35). Look for those opportunities.
God is looking for someone to labor in His field. Jesus told His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:37). The observers are many. The spectators are many. The complainers are many. But the laborers are few.
Billy Graham said, "The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men, women, and nations is always being decided. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one. But we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities."
You have your field. I have mine. Let's get to work. You have a testimony. You know Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. Get out there and start telling people. Go out into the harvest field and just do it.
In His strong love,
Bruce
Moving Targets
Bruce Wells
Oct 20, 2008
Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22-23
A sign at the end of an airport runway reads, "Keep moving. If you stop, you are in danger and a danger to those who are flying."
I would say the same to every believer today. We must keep moving, because if we stop, we are in danger.
Anyone who has ever gone hunting knows it is a lot more difficult to hit a moving target than it is to pick off a sitting duck. And it is a lot more difficult for the devil to hit a moving Christian than it is to hit an idle one . . . one who is stagnating . . . one who is in cruise control . . . one who is no longer progressing as he or she ought to.
But the believer who is seeking to gain ground, the believer who is seeking to become more like Christ, the believer who is not satisfied with what God has done in the past , but wants more of the Lord each and every day, that believer is a much more difficult target for the devil to hit. So we must continue on in this race of life.
Let's not be satisfied to live on what God has already done or to merely focus on what has happened in the past. Remember that Jesus said we are to take up the cross daily and follow Him (see Luke 9:23). The Bible tells us that His mercies are new every morning (see Lamentations 3:22–23). And Psalm 1 tells us that the wise man continues in the Word of God day and night. We must be constantly moving forward.
In His strong love,
Bruce
Healer
Bruce Wells
Sep 19, 2008
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." Luke 4:18
Only a couple times in Scripture do we learn what Jesus is like from Jesus Himself. One day early in His ministry, Luke 4:18 tells us that Jesus passed through Nazareth, His hometown, "and as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read." On the Scripture schedule that day was Isaiah 61:1-3. After He read it, He sat down saying, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." In other words, Did you recognize Me? Isaiah is talking about My ministry!
In one sentence the Lord describes His mission as "to help those who hurt." He has set His heart on three kinds of people:
"To bring good news to the afflicted ; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners."
The first people Jesus helps are the afflicted. He brings good news to those who are poor in spirit, those who are willing to admit that they’re broken. You cannot have what Christ offers unless you admit your need—not just for salvation, but for sustaining grace and abiding faith. Just because we’ve been to the cross doesn’t mean we don’t need to lean hard on the Lord. When we do, we receive20grace in even greater measure.
The next group Jesus tells us He runs to heal are the brokenhearted. That word describes people who have been hammered by a devastating blow. Perhaps a difficult circumstance has deeply wounded you. Is there a profound sadness over your life because of a tragedy in your past? Christ came to bind up your heart like a doctor tends a broken leg. He brings comfort to a place beyond your ability to soothe.
Finally, Jesus sets the captives free. Do you know firsthand the frustration and defeat of slavery to sin? Despite your best effort, do you wonder if a certain sin will ever be gone from your life? What you need is the freedom Jesus brings when He breaks that sin cycle. That is what He came into this world to do.
When Jesus described His ministry, He called Himself "the Healer." Have you experienced this tender ministry from God’s hand? Has Christ healed hurts from your past? Have you seen Him take a formerly consuming pain and melt it away? I know thousands of people who have experienced physical, emotional, and spiritual restoration in places they thought never could heal. That’s something only God could do. I’ve experienced that; have you?
Is your heart open to the Lord’s healing? Have you exhausted your own resources? If you’re ready for the Great Physician’s healing hand, you only need to ask. Then look over your shoulder and see Him running your way. His mission is to help those=2 0who hurt.
In His strong love,
Bruce
The Cross at Ground Zero
Bruce Wells
Sep 16, 2008
As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14 (NLT)
Last Thursday marked the seventh anniversary of 9/11. Over the weekend as I watched a program about that terrible day on the History Channel, my mind was flooded with memories of the horrendous events that changed the texture of our country.
I'm sure you can remember where you were when terrorists hijacked civilian airliners and used them as weapons to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We all remember the eerie sight of the burnt field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania where United Flight 93 went down. These memories help us to honor those who died so tragically and pray for the family members and friends who still grieve their loss. They also help us remember to stay vigilant, knowing there are many plotting against us.
Let me share one of my most vivid memories of the rescue workers who were interviewed during those dark days.
The air was thick from the pulverized cement of the fallen towers of the World Trade Center as the fireman pointed to a cross. It hadn't been placed there by any person. It was formed by massive metal support beams violently ripped apart 9 4 a product of destruction. Yet there it stood, a stark reminder of another death. The huge fireman who showed it to the reporter was adamant. "It was a sign! I was pulling corpses out of this debris. No signs of life! No hope! Then I looked up, and there it was!"
In this solemn place of mass murder and senseless death stood a reminder of the One who came to bring eternal life. Such a moment couldn't be more poignant. What's more, this same fireman who first noticed the cross was determined to remove and preserve it as a memorial. Can you imagine? That brave man was intent on preserving that cross and and making sure the One who gave His life on it two thousand years ago would not be forgotten — even there at "ground zero"!
"Ground zero" can come in many ways — not just the sudden crash of fuel-laden aircraft that turn buildings into rubble. It can be the sudden intrusion of an aggressive and fatal disease. For some it may come when a husband walks out, leaving a single mother to raise her children alone.
It can strike when we least expect it — a fall from a ladder that renders its victim a quadriplegic. These experiences can reduce a life to ashes. It is at such times we need to see the cross. Why? Because the cross reminds us of a basic truth about suffering — the very worst thing can yield some of the very best things. God proved that Himself!
The greatest tragedy of human history was the death of God on a cross. Nothing could be more heinous. Yet it became the very best thing — now heaven's doors could be freely opened to the humans God created. Out of His death came our life.
No wonder Paul made such a big deal about the Cross; he boasted in it. You should too — especially when you find your life reduced to the rubble of "ground zero." It could be the very place you find God more vividly than ever before.
In His strong love,
Bruce
After The Storm
Bruce Wells
Aug 29, 2008
It’s hard to believe, but it has already been three years since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Tragically, many of the areas devastated by Katrina remain uninhabitable. New Orleans had a pre-Katrina population of 500,000 people. Today, less than half that number have returned to the city. Life in the Big Easy has in many ways remained difficult.
Jesus knew that life on earth would be hard, so He offered a building plan that could never be swayed by the winds of life. According to Jesus’ building code, we first discover that a wise builder wants to build his or her life on the right foundation. Jesus said, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). We all know that a house built on a shaky foundation is easily blown away in a storm. Today, in Jerusalem th ey have uncovered homes built on bedrock that have lasted 2,000 years. No wonder the psalmist calls God “the Lord my Rock” (Psalm 28:1). A life built on the rock-solid foundation of God and His spiritual truths will last into eternity.
The second quality of a wise builder is that he or she is able to weather the storm. Whether we like it or not, hurricanes happen. Persecutions arise. Disease descends. Temptation teases. Tragedy transcends. The storms blow in and threaten to sweep us away. For the foolish builder, the winds can break you. For the wise builder, the storm can make you more faithful. Put another way, the storm can either root you or ruin you.
Friend, I don’t know what storm you are facing. But you can stand strong if you have placed your trust in the Rock of Ages. If a hurricane is headed your way, you can sing the beloved hymn, “Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.” Jesus will be your strength and your shelter.
In His strong love,
Bruce
The Lamb of God
Bruce Wells
Mar 17 2008
Most people can't stand the sight of blood.
But there was one night when God Himself was looking for blood. Why? Because during this night, the night of the tenth plague in Egypt, the blood of a lamb represented life being granted to anyone who wanted it. The tenth plague was the climactic plague: the death of the firstborn. This plague would strike the hardest blow aimed at the dynasty of Pharaoh himself—his own firstborn son, his successor, would be killed. This became the basis for the first Passover.
That night the Israelites were instructed to smear lamb's blood on each side of their doors so that the death angel would "pass over" their house. Only the blood of a lamb could save them. Even if an Egyptian were visiting a Jewish home on that night, he too would receive the benefit of life. This event was pivotal; it would rearrange the entire Jewish calendar so that Passover month would begin their year. Families would gather annually to celebrate this great deliverance that God had brought their forefathers.
John the Baptist introduced Jesus saying, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). John's reference to Jesus as the Passover Lamb shows that Passover was not just commemorative; it was predictive. Passover pictured in advance the ultimate sacrifice that would include the whole world. It vividly portrayed our deliverance from the slavery of sin by the shedding of blood.
Jesus Christ's sacrifice as the Lamb of God is pivotal for all believers. Every year we gather to celebrate this event that has come to be known as Easter. But it could be better named Resurrection Day. By shedding His blood, Jesus conquered sin and death once for all. There is every reason in the world to celebrate the central event of our faith—the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord.
In 1835 Charlotte Elliot penned these famous words still sung by those who love God's salvation by blood: "Just as I am without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee, Oh Lamb of God, I come, I come. / Just as I am, and waiting not, To rid my soul of one dark blot, To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come."
If you have not been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, this Easter season would be the perfect time to come to the cross and to Christ. If you are certain of your salvation, remember to celebrate this season wholeheartedly. The Savior died so that you might live!
In His strong love,
Bruce
About Bruce Wells: A writer, Bible teacher, and speaker, Bruce Wells lives in Virginia with his wife and family. He is currently scheduling speaking engagements through the remainder of the year and would welcome the opportunity to preach at your church, revival or conference. Email Bruce at secondlife4all@yahoo.com Matthew 22:37
Our Rightful Place
Bruce Wells
Nov 10, 2008
Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. --- Psalm 104:1-9
Mountains are the perfect place for personal, powerful encounters with God. I will never forget the first time I saw the Rockies. I was 28 years old, face pressed to the window, riding in the passenger seat of a friend's car in Denver Colorado. The mountains were immense and immovable; their snowy peaks hung in the clouds, towering over us like we were ants beneath their ageless gaze.
I could not have described it then, but I remember the ominous mood. It was the feeling of God. I could sense the greatness of the One who could call the mountains forth with the breath of His mouth and as Habakkuk 3:6 says, who "looked . . . then the eternal mountains were scattered, the everlasting hills sank low."
Thinking back on that day almost 20 years ago, my assessment of the situation was exactly correct. God is God and I am not. God is great and I am tiny. God is all-powerful and I am an ant.
That forced humility runs contrary to our self-promoting tendencies. Be cause of our ancestry in the Garden of Eden, we were born with the desire to gain the position that belongs to God and God alone. We want to take ourselves higher and bring God down lower. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve listened to the lie that they could be like God because they craved what belongs to God alone. In Genesis 11, man again sets out on a foolish plan to make a name for himself by building a tower "with its top in the heavens." In Romans 1 we learn of the human heart's propensity to exchange God's truth for a lie and to worship the creature rather than the Creator. Yes, in all of us is a self-centered bent to get me up and get God down.
But getting a proper view of God and myself reverses that sinful inclination. When I see God as being above me, beyond me, highly exalted, over me, and totally separate from me, I am putting myself in a very good place—under His awesome hand.
When I embrace God for who He is, then I properly understand who I am.
When I know God's place, I can know my place.
That's what seeing God as He really is—holy, sovereign, separate—does for us. It puts everything and everyone in its rightful place.
I began to truly learn that lesson as a young man visiting the Rockies. I've since spent some wonderful times in the Appalachians, and the impact is always the same. God is so great—I am so small and that's the way it's supposed to be. There's infinite relief in knowing where I really fit and who is completely in charge. It's God, "who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!" (Psalm 104:32). That fact alone compels me to echo the psalmist, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" (Psalm 95:6).
In His strong love,
Bruce
Matthew 22:37
Barack Obama the antichrist? That's Ridiculous!
Our Rightful Place
Bruce Wells
Nov 17, 2008
Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. --- Psalm 104:1-9
Mountains are the perfect place for personal, powerful encounters with God. I will never forget the first time I saw the Rockies. I was 28 years old, face pressed to the window, riding in the passenger seat of a friend's car in Denver Colorado. The mountains were immense and immovable; their snowy peaks hung in the clouds, towering over us like we were ants beneath their ageless gaze.
I could not have described it then, but I remember the ominous mood. It was the feeling of God. I could sense the greatness of the One who could call the mountains forth with the breath of His mouth and as Habakkuk 3:6 says, who "looked . . . then the eternal mountains were scattered, the everlasting hills sank low."
Thinking back on that day almost 20 years ago, my assessment of the situation was exactly correct. God is God and I am not. God is great and I am tiny. God is all-powerful and I am an ant.
That forced humility runs contrary to our self-promoting tendencies. Be cause of our ancestry in the Garden of Eden, we were born with the desire to gain the position that belongs to God and God alone. We want to take ourselves higher and bring God down lower. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve listened to the lie that they could be like God because they craved what belongs to God alone. In Genesis 11, man again sets out on a foolish plan to make a name for himself by building a tower "with its top in the heavens." In Romans 1 we learn of the human heart's propensity to exchange God's truth for a lie and to worship the creature rather than the Creator. Yes, in all of us is a self-centered bent to get me up and get God down.
But getting a proper view of God and myself reverses that sinful inclination. When I see God as being above me, beyond me, highly exalted, over me, and totally separate from me, I am putting myself in a very good place—under His awesome hand.
When I embrace God for who He is, then I properly understand who I am.
When I know God's place, I can know my place.
That's what seeing God as He really is—holy, sovereign, separate—does for us. It puts everything and everyone in its rightful place.
I began to truly learn that lesson as a young man visiting the Rockies. I've since spent some wonderful times in the Appalachians, and the impact is always the same. God is so great—I am so small and that's the way it's supposed to be. There's infinite relief in knowing where I really fit and who is completely in charge. It's God, "who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!" (Psalm 104:32). That fact alone compels me to echo the psalmist, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" (Psalm 95:6).
In His strong love,
Bruce
Matthew 22:37
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