Blogs & Devotionals

By: Stephen Marshall

How do we define winning? In this world, some people are labeled as winners while their personal lives are a ruin of moral and emotional failure. This is not God’s idea of success. 3 John 2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” God’s plan for your success is an intricate design that correlates with every aspect of your life for total advancement.

God paid the full price for you, making you a winner in Him. That makes it pretty basic from His point of view. You were born to win, and all the losing you’ve piled up in the backyard of your life can’t change that truth. You are Born 2 Win! Genesis 1:26 says, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.”

God is a winner and you are made in His image. He designed you to have authority and dominion. God designed you to win, and that’s why something inside you hates to lose. You weren’t made for it.

Look at Adam, the first man. When he sinned in Genesis chapter 3, he rebelled against God and brought spiritual death on himself, but it still took 930 years for him to die (Genesis 5:5). The curse, sin, and sickness are constantly acting like spiritual gravity pulling you to a losing stop.

That sinful nature you inherited from your ultra-great grand daddy Adam is working against your original design to be a winner.

Jesus said in John 3:3, “Unless a person is born again he cannot see or experience the Kingdom of God.” The Kingdom of God is basically God’s way of doing things and being right. Winning! But, back in chapter 1:12 it says, “To as many as received Jesus, to them He gave the power to be the children of God.” Ha!

Just when the devil thought he broke Adam’s perfect design for all of eternity, God sent the second Adam, Jesus, and He bought us back our birthright. In Jesus, we have that winning spiritual DNA. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you have received a spiritual blood transfusion. Galatians 2:20 says, “It’s no longer I that lives but Christ that lives in me.”

Saying that you’ve put your trust in God needs to be said with more than just a nonchalant attitude on your part. Proverbs 16:3 tells us to, “ Roll your works upon the Lord, commit and trust them wholly to Him: He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Our trust in God should be so aggressive that, like a pilot light ignites a supply of gas, the power of God’s Spirit in us detonates with our agreement of His Word and …voila’…success. That is the word for God’s will for your life—“success.”

Humanity has had thousands of years to be deceived into accepting life under the curse as the norm. It is not the norm. Sin, sickness, failure, defeat, and death have nothing to do with what you were designed for. John 3:6 says, “What is born of the flesh is flesh: and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” God is that Spirit, and so we know that if you’re born of Him, it’s Him in you. That is pure winning spiritual DNA.

PRAY THE WORD

Lord, right now I commit to You all my projects, plans, and dreams. Everything that I’m working at, I bring under Your Lordship. I want to have Your thoughts and directions on all these matters. Your will be done in my life as Your will is done in Heaven. Let all my works be directed by You, established by You, and let them succeed, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

– And, what it takes to be a courageous Christian

By: Chilly Chilton

A 17-year-old teenager stood on the running board of a beat-up VW Bug on the edge of a dusty soccer field in the heart of Mexico City. Pinned against the car door by a pressing crowd of over 500 people he nervously said to the interpreter, let’s tell them about Jesus. The group had been drawn to them by a simple game of hacky sack being played by a group of laughing teenagers. Now, with the small bean bag in hand, the young man began to ask how many had felt kicked around by an enemy who laughs at them.

The crowd became quiet as they heard of a man who the world kicked and crushed, and how they could overcome by putting their trust in Him.

As hundreds accepted Christ in the middle of the world’s largest city, the young man stood amazed as he thought of the coward he was only a few months earlier. At first, fearful to tell anyone about Christ… then he received the power of the Holy Spirit and heard God’s calling for his life. Christ had transformed him from a poser and wanna-be into a bold believer!

That young man was me. I experienced the difference between being a “spiritual talking” kid and “spiritual walking” disciple of Christ. The Holy Spirit was the difference.

I now cared. And, I now knew I had to do something about it.

Let’s jump right into a real life account (in the Bible’s book of Acts) to understand where courage comes from.

“After waiting and praying with the other believers, the Holy Spirit is poured out just as Jesus promised. Mighty wind, tongues of fire, incredible power and new language!”—Act 2:1-2

This verse is amazing! These things were not to give goosebumps or external phenomena —they were outside signs of an inside transformation! COURAGE had—literally—arrived!

In order to be courageous, we need to look at Peter who was part of the FIRST courageous church.

“Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this…” —Acts 2:14

So Peter preaches an amazing sermon and concludes with a bold challenge:

“Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God. Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” —Acts 2:14, 38-41 (NLT)

I believe from this moment forward God’s design for us, His children, began to come into view. The plan was set in motion. A plan that would require radical faith and whole-hearted obedience. This kind of courage is born when we pray, fast, and abandon our excuses, failures and indifference.

It is easy to look at the latest books and conferences for our inspiration but often fail to remember that our greatest resource is God’s Holy Spirit. We must be totally devoted! Declare, loudly, “I’m in!” That’s right, it doesn’t matter if it’s good, bad, ugly or epic; I’M IN!

“All the believers devoted themselves…”—Acts 2:42

Courage requires commitment to God’s Word, Cover-to-Cover!

God’s Word does a body good! The early church leaders shared the truth with new believers and some of their Holy Spirit anointed teachings would literally become part of the Bible.

Love the word of God! Don’t just read it, NEED IT! Study it. Memorize it. Apply it. Live it!

“…to the apostles’ teaching” —Acts 2:42a

Commitment to Authentic Relationships!

An alive relationship with God creates a desire in us to have relationships with His people. We should pursue open, honest, encouraging circles of accountability that are unified in love and purpose.

“…to fellowship”—Acts 2:42b

Commitment to Humble Thankfulness!

The early Christians referred to this meal as ‘the Agape’ (Love feast). Basically, as a follower of Christ, you couldn’t have any meal without thinking about the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist).

Thankfulness was an ever-present reality. What a perfect picture: None are hungry and all are thankful!

“…to sharing in meals and to the Lord’s Supper” —Acts 2:42c

Commitment to Non-Stop Prayer!

We desire to experience a lifestyle change that incorporates a “pray first” discipline to everything: decisions, appointments, illnesses, meals, gatherings. This is not a simple faithless, routine, or ten second kind of thing.

Courageous living comes from intimacy—really connecting —with God. “Pray without ceasing” literally means “pray as you go!” Don’t say “amen” in the morning, instead keep dialoging with Christ all through the day!

“…to prayer.” Acts 2:42d

Commitment to Adventurous Faith

The world will truly take notice of the church of Christ and His people when signs and wonders begin to abound in their lives and community! Salvations, healings, transformations, deliverances, fulfilled visions, and supernatural protection cause us to come alive with zeal, joy, and compassion! Cities and nations are transformed through courage like this.

Sure, it makes us a little uncomfortable and seems a bit edgy…but that’s where faith really becomes real to us.

I believe, if you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.

“…A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.” —Acts 2:43a

– The Miracle Story of Dave Roever

At the height of the Vietnam War, Dave Roever received his draft notice. Having no desire to serve in the infantry, he joined the Navy and served as a river boat gunner in the elite Brown Water Black Beret in Vietnam.

Eight months into his tour of duty in Vietnam, Roever was burned beyond recognition when a phosphorous grenade he was poised to throw exploded in his hand. The ordeal left him hospitalized for fourteen months, where he underwent numerous major surgeries. His survival and life are miraculous.

Today, with his humorous style, Roever is enthusiastically received both nationally and internationally as a public speaker. He is a gifted communicator and speaks in a variety of settings including public schools; military installations; business, men’s and youth conventions; and churches. Roever is a frequent guest on national television talk shows. He established compassionate, ongoing missions work in Vietnam and is involved in other nations.

In every setting, Roever’s message is one of hope. Using his life as an example, he addresses issues relevant to his audience and presents concrete solutions to life’s problems. Often drawing upon his war experiences of loneliness, peer pressure, disfigurement and pain, as well as life’s triumphs, Roever weaves a message of courage, commitment and survival that touches and transforms those who hear him. The foundation of his hope is his faith, supported by the wholesome relationships with his parents, wife, children and grandchildren.

Thirty-four years after his injuries, the U. S. Department of the Navy corrected its oversight by awarding Roever his Purple Heart, along with several other service medals. Because of his war-time experience of service, injury and recovery, he is uniquely qualified to speak to the needs of military personnel. He is called upon regularly to address troops on domestic military bases as well as those deployed around the globe. Roever is no stranger to the war on terror. He has done 6 tours in the Middle East, supporting troops in Afghanistan, Iraq (5 tours), Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Roever is founder, chairman, and president of two non-profit corporations: Roever Evangelistic Association and Roever Foundation based in Fort Worth, Texas. Roever and his wife Brenda are co-founders of Eagles Summit Ranch in Colorado, as well as Eagles Summit Ranch in Texas. At these facilities and others, Roever and team help to restore hope and train wounded warriors, others from the U.S. military, and promising young leaders in areas of specific focus such as public speaking, and emotional recovery after devastating injury, helping them to fulfill their destinies, through Operation Warrior RECONnect.