Saturday, January 28, 2012

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #3--Prayer--January 28, 2012

Hello my dear friends! In a world where it seems the white noise of a busy life can drown out the concerns of our heart, there is One who can hear us. And because of grace, we can hear Him too.

Learning to pray,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #3

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your power. 2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. Psalm 54:1-2

Core Value: Prayer

Is anyone listening to me? Jesus is. Prayer is an intimate exchange between the needy and the One who meets our every need. Prayer is the process of making petition to the One who invites us to share the deep concerns of our heart. Prayer is the way, the only way, to have direct access to a loving and holy God who joys in hearing our heart.

Principle #3 & Personal Application: Quality disciples have full confidence to pray in God’s Name, knowing that He will save, vindicate, and hear the cry of the disciple’s heart.

• The prayer of faith cries out to God for His great salvation.

• The prayer of faith cries out to God for the power of His great vindication.

• The prayer of faith cries out to God knowing that He listens to the disciple.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I make my prayers to the Lord are they filled with faith in my ability (faith in my faith) or faith in His powerful name?

How can I know for sure that God is listening to me?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You have saved me by Your name. You have vindicated me by Your power. I am so grateful that You hear my prayer and give ear to the words of my mouth. May my prayers always be grounded in the faith that rests upon Your great name and timeless character.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

Have you got your copy of A One Year Journey With The Shepherd?

What others are saying about A One Year Journey With The Shepherd:

“Denny hit a home run in Psalms of Discipleship, his sincerity in writing brings you into an atmosphere of worship and learning.” Jeff Hoffart. Upper Level Manager, Business Consultant

“I am consumed with excitement and a fresh love for the Lord after reading A One Year Journey With The Shepherd!!! . . . The personal application sections are thought provoking, and attainable. I believe they are challenging in a way that creates a desire, instead of being out of reach for the growing believer.” Ericka Miller, MA Clinical Counseling

Now available in print and eBook formats. See http://www.dennybates.com/Home/OneYearJourney.html for how you can purchase your copy today!

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #2--Grace--January 21, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Blessings, the Lord's blessings upon you today. The longer we walk with the Lord and experience His amazing grace, we come to realize that everything that is good comes from Him. In a world where so many are living empty lives, He has touched us and caused us to grow. This is what the Psalmist is testifying about in this week's Psalms of Discipleship: It is personal, it is praiseworthy, it is powerful. It is grace.

Learning with you,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #2

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. 9 I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones. Psalm 52:8-9

Core Value: Grace

As believers, we do contribute to our spiritual growth through our faithful obedience to practice “the spiritual disciplines” like worship, Bible study, prayer, being in community, serving others with our gifts, and sharing our faith. But at the end of the day, if God is not intimately involved in all of these, we are only busying ourselves with religious activities. It is God who always gives the growth.

and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NASB95)

• The disciple who is experiencing spiritual growth is “like a green olive tree in the house of God.”

• The disciple who is experiencing spiritual growth places his “trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.”

• The disciple who is experiencing spiritual growth gives “thanks forever [to the Lord], because You have done it.”

• The disciple who is experiencing spiritual growth is patient with God: “And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

How do I know for sure whether or not I am growing as a disciple of Jesus?

What are some of the spiritual disciplines that I need work on in order to grow in my faith?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, because of You and Your grace that is at work in my life, I am able to experience spiritual growth. May I always trust in Your lovingkindness forever. May I always give You thanks forever because You are the One who is bringing spiritual maturity into my life. You are very patient with me. Please help me to be patient with You.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

What others are saying about A One Year Journey With The Shepherd:

“Denny hit a home run in Psalms of Discipleship, his sincerity in writing brings you into an atmosphere of worship and learning.” Jeff Hoffart. Upper Level Manager, Business Consultant

“I am consumed with excitement and a fresh love for the Lord after reading A One Year Journey With The Shepherd!!! . . . The personal application sections are thought provoking, and attainable. I believe they are challenging in a way that creates a desire, instead of being out of reach for the growing believer.” Ericka Miller, MA Clinical Counseling

Now available in print and eBook formats. See http://www.dennybates.com/Home/OneYearJourney.html for how you can purchase your copy today!

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #1--Grace--January 14, 2012

Hello dear friends! My prayer for you and for me this year is for the God of grace to convince us more than ever before that...

His grace frees us to love Him more,

His grace helps us to serve Him better,

His grace gives us permission not to be perfect,

His grace prompts us to love and accept others who are in desperate need of His grace too.

This week's Psalms of Discipleship underscores our addiction to grace.


From one grace junkie to another,

Denny



Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #1

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17

Core Value: Grace

Forgiven? Really? Just like that? Yes. Really. Just like that. It is grace that causes the broken to be blessed. It causes the rejected to be redeemed. Grace causes the humble to be helped. It is grace that causes the sinner to be saved. No one is perfect. No one ever gets it right all of the time. Fortunately for the disciple of Jesus, the grace of Jesus is perfect. His grace does set us free all of the time.

The words of this old hymn illustrate the great truth of grace, perfectly.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss; grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can avail to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide, brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see his face, will you this moment his grace receive?

Refrain: Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!

Principle #1 & Personal Application: Quality disciples know that, because of grace, God desires a heart that has been broken because of sin. Grace frees us from the need to perform a futile religious act that has no power to appease a Holy God.

• The sacrifices that God wants from His children are not those religious sacrifices that come from our flesh, from our own vain imaginations. Instead, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.”

• The Lord wastes no experience in the life of the disciple—even when we have failed the Lord and sinned against Him. Because of grace, we can experience “a broken and contrite heart.”

• The person who is “in grace” is broken-hearted by sin. A person who is exposed to God’s grace will be quick to confess one’s sin. Why? Because of the personal relationship that exists between the disciple and one’s God.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I sin, when I miss the mark, how quick am I to keep short accounts with God and confess my sins to Him?

Have I ever tried to cover my sin with a religious exercise that never changed my heart?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, how truly grateful I am that in spite of my shortcomings, Your love for me remains steadfast and true. By the power of Your Holy Spirit and through Your grace, may I resist the temptation to cover my sin with religious exercises that have no power to change my heart. Instead, may I always remember that what pleases You the most is a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. You will never despise these.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

Why A One Year Journey With The Shepherd May Be A Great Resource For You!

You are invited to spend some time reading and reflecting upon “Psalms of Discipleship: A One Year Journey With The Shepherd,” a simple, easy to use, devotional experience. By spending five minutes or fifty-five minutes on the weekly devotion and Bible study, you will be afforded the opportunity to enhance your spiritual growth. This unique devotional consists of fifty-two practical lessons designed for small group or individual study.

Now available in print and eBook formats. See http://www.dennybates.com/Home/OneYearJourney.html for how you can purchase your copy today!

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #52--Evangelism--January 7, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Happy New Year to you! For many of us, the New Year is always a convenient time to make "new resolutions," to "turn over a new leaf," to change our bad habits into good ones, etc.

Today's Psalms of Discipleship reminds us that as we live out our lives as Christian disciples, we will have an impact upon the lost. May we, more than ever before, be the kind of representatives of Jesus that cause the lost to crave to know Him too.

Touched by grace,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #52

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Psalm 51:12-13

Core Value: Evangelism

If we model IT (the Christian life) in the right way IT (the Christian life) will be attractive to those who need to have a saving relationship with Jesus. We are not talking about more rules, more meaningless rituals, or more religion. We are talking about possessing an authentic relationship with Jesus that is contagious, infecting others with His passionate love. Unless we are walking IT (the Christian life) out in meaningful ways, then our talk becomes nothing more than white noise that drowns out the truth. And IT is too important to give the lost the wrong message.

The Gospel, evidenced in our own lives, gives much grace to those who have blown IT. This is the kind of message that resonates in the hearts of those who have been beaten down with guilt and shame: salvation comes to those who need it and then seek IT. Will we allow IT to be seen through us?

Let IT be Lord, let IT be.

Principle #52 & Personal Application: The quality disciple lives an authentic life that is attractive to sinners who need to have a saving relationship with Jesus.

• Even when we stumble and fall, God does restore to us the joy of His salvation.

• Even when we stumble and fall, God sustains us with a willing spirit.

• Even when we stumble and fall, God can use us to teach unbelievers the ways of the Lord.

• Even when we stumble and fall, God can use us to lead sinners towards a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

How can God use my testimony of personal failure to be a tool that would cause others to consider Jesus?

What would I say to the person who does not have a relationship with Jesus?

Do I know how to share the Gospel in a way that is clear and convincing?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You are the One who restores. You are the One who gives me such great joy in Your salvation. May I always be prepared to share my life experiences of faith to those who still need to bend their knee to You.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

Why A One Year Journey With The Shepherd May Be A Great Resource For You!

You are invited to spend some time reading and reflecting upon “Psalms of Discipleship: A One Year Journey With The Shepherd,” a simple, easy to use, devotional experience. By spending five minutes or fifty-five minutes on the weekly devotion and Bible study, you will be afforded the opportunity to enhance your spiritual growth. This unique devotional consists of fifty-two practical lessons designed for small group or individual study.

Now available in print and eBook formats. See http://www.dennybates.com/Home/OneYearJourney.html for how you can purchase your copy today!

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/