Monthly Archives: December 2013

Priorities

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“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.”1

According to Sir Winston Churchill, “An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.” In other words, we all see pretty much what we want to see—often times what is based on our priorities.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Every great and commanding moment in the annals of the world is the triumph of some enthusiasm.”

A Chinese proverb states, “Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes.” Whether we have wills or wishes is also based much on our priorities or lack thereof. And Toby Montgomery reminds us that “what we give our time, energy and resources to are what we value most. They are our priorities.”

Or as Jesus put it, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

At the close of yet another year may we each examine our priorities and make sure they are in harmony with God’s will for the coming New Year—all year long!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to know what my God-given life purpose is and make that my priority for the New Year. And, with your help, fulfill this purpose for the glory of your name and for the extension of your Kingdom. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV).

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Shooting the Saints

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“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”1

Dr. Leslie Flynn writes about the time when the English and French were at war in colonial Canada. “Admiral Phipps, in charge of the British Fleet, was ordered to anchor outside Quebec, a city on the St. Lawrence River. He was to await the coming of the British infantry and then join the land forces in attack.

“Arriving early, Admiral Phipps, an ardent nonconformist, was annoyed by the statues of the saints that adorned the roof and towers of the Catholic cathedral. So he spent his time shooting at them with the ships’ guns. How many he hit we don’t know, but history recorded that when the infantry arrived and the signal was given for attack, the admiral found himself out of ammunition. He had used it for shooting out the saints.”

I often wonder in the church how much of our efforts are poured into fighting among ourselves over insignificant trivialities instead of uniting our efforts to attack the real enemy, and do everything possible to reach the lost with the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ—the only hope of our sin-sick world.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me not to waste my time and energy and resources on trivialities nor majoring on minors, but always to major on the majors that are important to you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Peter 3:8-9, (NIV)

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The Power of Prayer

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“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever.”1

King David believed in prayer as did every man and woman of God in the Bible. Jesus himself practiced prayer and reminded us of its importance. Paul also emphasized the importance of prayer as does every true follower of Jesus.

God wants us to pray without ceasing. Why? Because he wants us to stay connected to him and, in so doing, have ongoing fellowship with him. He encourages us to seek the wisdom and direction he has promised to those who commit their way to, and put their trust in him.

To get prayer answered we need to pray with right motives, a thankful heart, in faith believing God answers prayer, and with persistence.

We also need to pray with the knowledge of God’s promises—what he will and won’t do. He always wants what is best for us so it is very important to pray in harmony with his will as found in his Word, the Bible.

One of the many promises of God that I particularly appreciate is also from David: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who revere him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him.”2

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, may the manner of my life, the desires of my heart, and my prayers always be in harmony with your will so you will do as you have promised and grant the desires of my heart. Gratefully in Jesus’ name.”

1. 2 Samuel 7:25, (NIV).

2. Psalm 145:18-20.

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A Pesonal Note from Dickand Joy Innes

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Dear Daily Encounter Subscriber,

Joy and I, along with the ACTS board, trust you have had a meaningful Christmas season and wish you God’s richest blessing for the New Year.

We trust that Daily Encounter has been a source of inspiration to you this past year and we sincerely thank all who made it possible for ACTS to reach multiplied thousands worldwide 24-7-365 with God’s message of hope and salvation this past year via Daily and Weekend Encounters and the ACTS web pages. Many of these people would not have been able to experience Christ’s “Joy to the world” at this holy-day season without your help.

2013 has been another very encouraging year—all made possible by the generous support of subscribers allowing us to offer Daily and Weekend Encounters without charge to well over a third-of-a-million people worldwide—many of whom are from countries where it is forbidden to share the message of Jesus Christ. Following are some highlights:

1. Daily Encounter saw very encouraging responses again this year from our 373,000+ worldwide subscribers, from which we receive many e-mails every day—many of whom have needed pastoral counseling which is also provided without charge. The growgh of Daily Encounter is because of our aggressive advertising. As a result in 2013 we sent out 97 million Daily and Weekend Encounter messages—and we only have two staff. This wouldn’t have even been possible a few short years ago.

2. Furthermore, from our websites each month we average 40,000+ visitors from 197 countries and territories—an amazing God-given Christian outreach opportunity.

3. Also 650 churches and/or other organizations are now syndicating articles from the ACTS International website for their websites.

4. Most encouraging of all we received 1,775 salvation and re-commitment to Christ decision responses this year. Every respondent received helpful follow-up articles. This is a great help because respondents in some countries are not able to attend or find any church to receive this kind of help. See these ten excellent articles online at: https://learning.actsweb.org/living/.

These decision responses have come from Afghanistan to Argentina … Bahrain to Brazil … Cambodia to Cuba … Germany to Guatemala … Iran and Iraq to Italy … Jamaica to Jordan … Uruguay to USA … etc., from 78 countries that we know about.

As Jesus said, “You are to go into all the world and preach [communicate] God’s Good News to everyone everywhere” (Mark 16:15). ACTS is totally committed to this task that is desperately needed as the gospel is the only hope of today’s sin-sick troubled world.

While Daily and Weekend Encounters and all ACTS web articles are sent without charge, overhead expenses, updated computer equipment, web server costs, salaries, technical support, translation service for our Spanish Daily Encounters, and aggressive advertising to reach multiplied thousands of non-churched people every day with God’s message all cost money.

In thanksgiving to God for His unspeakable Christmas Gift of His Son, Jesus, and His dying in our place to provide forgiveness and eternal life to the world, will you prayerfully consider giving a sacrificial donation to ensure that ACTS will be able to finish 2013 with all expenses paid, and be able to continue reaching thousands worldwide every day in 2014 with the saving gospel message of Jesus Christ?

Know that your donation—be it large or small—will be a tremendous help and greatly appreciated.

May we please hear from you today? As you stand with us, may God richly bless and reward you in his own abundant way.

Gratefully in Christ,

Richard and Joy Innes

To DONATE Click on https://actscom.com/donate.php via ACTS secure server.

ACTS International is registered in the State of California as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax deductible organization (for U.S. donations).

Or support can be sent via PayPal at: https://actscom.com/paypal.php

Or mailed/posted to:

ACTS International

PO Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119

U.S.A.

The Glory of Christmas Part III

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”6

In telling the story about a man named Angus McGillivray, whose example transformed a hellhole of a World War II Japanese prison camp into a place of caring and concern, we stated that because we have all sinned, we are spiritually dead and, consequently, separated from God who is also a God of holiness in whose presence no sin can ever exist or sinner survive.

That was the bad news.

The good news is that, as there is a higher law than the law of gravity—the law of aerodynamics, there is also a higher law than the law of sin and death (which is the result of breaking the moral law). It is the law of the Spirit of life that God provided through his love by giving his own Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth as a baby born in Bethlehem at Christmas some 2000 years ago and then, as a grown man, to die in our place to pay the consequences of our sin and our breaking God’s moral/spiritual law.

As God’s Word says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”7 Also, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”8

Because Jesus Christ gave his life and died to pay the just penalty for all our sins, God now offers each of us a free pardon for all our sin and, in accepting this pardon, we are freed from the law of sin and death. As the Bible says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets me free from the law of sin and death.”9

And that’s the glory of Christmas. It provides the greatest Christmas gift anyone could ever give or ever receive. All you need to do is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died on the cross in your place to pay the penalty for all your sins … and pray and confess your sinfulness to God, thank him for giving his Son to die in your place, ask for his forgiveness, and invite Jesus Christ to come into your heart and life as personal Lord and Savior. Doing this is your “passport into heaven,” without which you can never enter God’s Heaven of untold beauty, joy, and love. Whatever you do, don’t leave earth without it!

For a prayer to help you, click on “God’s Invitation” at http://tinyurl.com/6k49w.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the glory of Christmas in that you gave your Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth to die on the cross in my place to save me from eternal destruction in hell so that, as long as my trust is in you, I am freely forgiven of all my sins, and given your gift of eternal life so that I can live in Heaven forever with you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 15:13 (NIV).

2. Taken from Holy Sweat by Tim Hansel, Word Publication, 1987, p. 146-147.

3. Romans 5:8 (NIV).

4. John 15:13 (NIV).

5. See Romans 6:23.

6. John 3:16 (NIV).

7. Romans 5:8 (NIV).

8. John 3:16 (NIV).

9. Romans 8:1-2 (NIV).

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The Glory of Christmas Part II

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”3

In yesterday’s Daily Encounter we told the story about a man named Angus McGillivray, whose example transformed a hellhole of a World War II Japanese prison camp into a place of caring and concern. This transformation meant survival for many of the other prisoners and happened because one man, Angus McGillivray, gave his own life to save his mucker (prison buddy/mate).

What a powerful illustration of the fact that one person can make a difference and what can happen when one gives his life for another. As the Bible teaches us, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”4 And what a powerful reminder of the One who laid down his life for you and me—the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God—who stepped out of the ivory palaces of heaven, laid aside his external robes of deity, clothed himself in a garment of human flesh, and became a man to identify himself with us when he came to earth at that first Christmas 2,000 years ago, so he could become our Savior to die for our sins, and as a result save us from the curse of hell and a lost eternity.

Some people argue, if God is a God of love how could he ever send anyone to hell? The reality is that God doesn’t send anyone to hell except Satan and his horde of evil demons for whom hell was created. If we go to hell it is because it is the natural consequences of our sinfulness. We send ourselves there.

Let me illustrate. If I jump from a very high tower the natural consequence will be that I will kill myself. It will be the result of my trying to defy the law of gravity, the law that holds the universe together. I cannot break this law. If I try to, it breaks me—physically.

There is also a moral and spiritual law that governs the universe just as real as the law of gravity. Neither can this law be broken without natural consequences. If I try to break it, it breaks me—spiritually. According to God’s Word, the Bible, the consequences of breaking the moral/spiritual law is death; that is, spiritual death which, following physical death, will be eternal separation from God, the author of all love and life—and that will be hell in hell.5

Because we have all sinned, we are spiritually dead and, consequently, separated from God who is a God of holiness in whose presence no sin can ever exist or sinner survive. However, because God is also a God of love, he has made a way of escape for all who put their trust in him. The answer is in tomorrow’s Daily Encounter.

To be concluded…

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you are God and not a god made with human hands or the figment of man’s imagination. Thank you, too, that you are God of infinite holiness and perfect justice; otherwise you would never be God. And thank you that you are also God of infinite love in that you have made a way of escape from the eternal punishment that your holiness and justice demands. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: See footnotes at end of Part III.

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The Glory of Christmas Part I

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“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”1

In his book, Through the Valley of the Kwai, Ernest Gordon gives a true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp. The story is about a man named Angus McGillivray, whose example transformed a hellhole of a prison camp into a place of caring and concern.

In one camp filled with Americans, Australians, and Britons, men who had helped build the infamous bridge over the River Kwai, McGillivray was a Scottish prisoner. The attitude in this camp had apparently turned into an ugly, selfish, dog-eat-dog situation. Fellow prisoners cheated on each other. Men had their packs stolen right from under their heads while they were sleeping on them. It was every man for himself. Survival was the name of the game. As Gordon put it, “The law of the jungle prevailed.” All this took place until the news of Angus McGillivray’s death was heard throughout the camp.

The men were astounded. McGillivray was a big, strong man and everyone presumed he would be the last one to die. But it wasn’t his death that shocked the prisoners, but the reason for it.

The Scottish soldiers were called Argylls and had a buddy system that they took very seriously. Their buddy or mate was called their “mucker” and each was committed to the other to ensure the other’s survival. Angus’s mucker became very ill and wasn’t expected to live. However, when someone stole his mucker’s blanket, Angus gave him his, saying he had found an extra one. At mealtime Angus would take his rations and force his mucker to eat, again saying that he had found extra. Angus did everything he could to keep his mucker alive.

In time the mucker fully recovered. And then to everyone’s surprise Angus suddenly collapsed and died. The doctors found that he had died from exhaustion and starvation.

The cause of McGillivray’s death is what brought about the transformation of the prison camp. They all knew the reason behind his death. Because of Angus’s example, the men began to be concerned for their mates and became less self-centered and more caring and sharing. They decided to get together and use their talents to help each other. “One was a violin maker, another an orchestra leader, another a cabinet maker, another a professor. Soon the camp had an orchestra full of homemade instruments and a church called the ‘Church Without Walls’ that was so powerful, so compelling, that even the Japanese guards attended. The men began a university, a hospital and a library system.”2

To be continued…

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the power of love in that it can change lives like nothing else ever can, and thank you that love is a gift from you. Please use my life as a channel of your love so that my life and the life of others will be changed. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: See footnotes at end of Part III.

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Heartprints

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“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”1

“Whatever our hands touch… we leave fingerprints. On walls, on furniture, on door knobs, dishes and books. As we touch we leave our identity.

“Oh [God] please wherever I go today… help me leave heartprints—heartprints of compassion, understanding and love. Heartprints of kindness and genuine concern.

“May my heart touch a lonely neighbor, or a runaway daughter, or an anxious mother, or perhaps a dear friend!

“I shall go out today to leave heartprints, and if some one should say, ‘I felt your touch,’ may that sense be your loving touch through me!”2

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me today and every day so that my life will reflect your likeness so that the people I rub shoulders with will see your love shining through me so that I will leave heartprints from you on them. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
2. Author Unknown.

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Resolving Relational Conflict

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“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”1

According to twenty years of research from the University of Colorado, the number one cause of marriage breakdown is the inability to manage conflict creatively.

For example, Jim’s first marriage failed and he is now on his second marriage. Almost immediately after the honeymoon was over, problems began to surface. By the end of the second year Jim and Sharon were in major conflict.

Their problem isn’t their fighting. That’s just a symptom of their unresolved personal issues. Unfortunately, while Sharon knows she has a problem, Jim doesn’t think he has any. In his mind the conflict is all Sharon’s fault.

True, Sharon had an abandoning father and feels very threatened whenever Jim even goes to lunch with a male friend. Her fear of abandonment gets triggered, which causes her to cling to Jim. However, she admits she is overreacting and is going to counseling to help resolve her problem.

On the other hand, Jim had a smother-mother and, whenever he feels Sharon is clinging to him, he overreacts too, gets angry and blames Sharon for his overreaction. The impasse or deadlock is that Jim won’t admit that he, too, has a problem. Consequently, he won’t go for help.

So what hope do they have? Almost none unless both are willing to take ownership of what they are contributing to their conflict.

However, if both are willing to be honest with themselves before God, get down on their knees together and ask God to show them what they are each contributing to the conflict they are in, take full responsibility for their part, and ask God to help them find the help they need, then there is great hope for both personal growth and resolution.

As God’s Word says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Suggested Prayer: “Dear God, whenever I am in a conflict situation, please help me to see my character weaknesses so that I can bring these to you for your healing, and lead me to the help I need to overcome these issues. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 145:18 (NIV).

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The Counterfeit Love of Codependency

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“A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.”1

Codependency comes in many forms. One aspect is doing for others what they should and need to do for themselves. It may make the other person feel good for the moment, and us important, but it keeps them over-dependent on us. This kind of a relationship is extremely unhealthy.

Another aspect of codependency is rescuing people from the logical consequences of their negative behavior. This, too, keeps them immature and over-dependent on us. Furthermore, as long as we’re covering for them, why do they need to take care of themselves, resolve their problems and recover? They don’t. As Solomon indicated, if we keep rescuing someone from their problems, we’ll have to keep doing it.

For every alcoholic (or other addict), who is already over-dependent on his alcohol, they say there are four codependent enablers supporting him and his addiction. As long as they keep doing this, he never sees his need to get better.

If he refuses to acknowledge his problem, get into a recovery program, and resolve his problem, there comes a time when those who are enabling him need to say enough is enough! They need to exercise tough love, quit protecting him or her, get out of the way and let him crash! This is the most loving thing they can do after they have tried every other avenue of tough love and found that none of it has worked.

The bottom line of codependency is that need is mistaken for love. The codependent needs to feel needed in order to feel loved. But it’s not love. It’s need. It may look like love and it may look very Christian, but it’s neither. Furthermore, the codependent person wants to fix others to avoid facing his own issues. He is addicted to the addict and is doing what he is doing for himself. Always! His motive is awry.

Besides, when we allow people to stay over-dependent on us, they never learn to become self-reliant, mature, or dependent on God.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to know what my motives are when I am helping others and not be a people-fixer in order to avoid facing my own unresolved issues, nor to confuse need with love. Help me to accept full responsibility for my issues and quit trying to rescue others who need to face their issues. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 19:19 (NIV).

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