Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #39 (Grace). October 20, 2012

Hello my dear friends! One of the greatest challenges for the disciple of Jesus is to admit need . . . to oneself, to others, and sometimes even to God. Contrary to popular belief, being in need is not a sign of weakness but a fact of life. Jesus not only meets our every need, He is our greatest need.

I need Him every hour. You do too.

Denny



Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #39

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

Key Scripture: 12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy he will save. 14 He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, And their blood will be precious in his sight; Psalm 72:12-14

Core Value: Grace

How needy are you today? We live in a culture where being in need is seen as a weakness. It takes courage to admit need. It takes a measure of humility to come to the place where it feels safe to be real enough to accept help. Spiritual pride says, “no thanks. I’ve got it.” Spiritual humility says, “thanks for offering. I’ll take it.”

What do you need to do with your needs? Give them, all of them, to Jesus.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

Principle #39 & Personal Application: Quality disciples need rescuing by the only One who can save.

Note: This is a Messianic prophecy that points to Jesus Christ, the Righteous King.

Application:

The quality disciple needs rescuing by the only One who can save.

• There is no one like Jesus: Only Jesus can rescue the needy and afflicted when they cry for help (vs. 12).

• There is no one like Jesus: Only Jesus can offer the kind of compassion for the poor and needy that will transform their lives (vs. 13).

• There is no one like Jesus: Only Jesus can grant His peace to those who are in places of oppression and violent conflict (vs. 14).

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I am going through a difficult circumstance, how does the grace of God help me cope?

What can I learn from Jesus’ example on how He relates to the needy, afflicted, and the poor?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, May I have Your heart, Your passion, for those who are in desperate need of rescue by You. May I have Your ears so I can be in tune with the cries of those who are hurting. May I have Your hands so I can touch the needy with Your love. And may I have Your feet that will lead me down the path of service done in Your name.

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

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Psalms of Discipleship (Evangelism) Principle #38. October 13, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Are you a good story teller? Before you answer too quickly, remember that every disciple of Jesus has the opportunity to tell the greatest story ever told. Yes, God the Father did send His Son into the world and die on the cross for our sins and was resurrected on the third day. And yes, He did send His Holy Spirit to empower us. And yes, we are a part of the greatest story ever told. Its our redemptive story too. In today's Psalms of Discipleship, the Psalmist gives his perspective of why his story is so powerful. It's because of our Great God.

Sharing the Greatest Story ever told with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #38

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

Key Scripture: 14 But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. 15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them. 16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone. 17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. 18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. Psalm 71:14-18

Core Value: Evangelism

Everyone who is a disciple of Jesus has a story, a unique personal account, of how the love of Jesus invaded their heart and made all things new. Every redemptive story has two parts: part 1 is where we were and part 2 is where we are now. Before Jesus showed His love to us, we were lost. After His love overwhelmed us and embraced us, we were saved (for example, John 3:16). It’s that simple. And because our story is that simple we can share a simple Gospel with those who are still experiencing stories that are stuck in part one.

Who needs to hear your story, your redemptive story, today?

Principle #38 & Personal Application: Quality disciples tell others about God’s great love and His glorious salvation.

• We tell of a God who gives us hope and a desire for endless praise

• We tell of a God who is righteous

• We tell of a God who saves

• We tell of a God does great deeds

• We tell of a God who will never forsake us

• We tell of a God who gives us the power to declare His strength and power to those who have yet to hear the gospel

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Does the need to share my faith depend upon how I feel about me or how I feel about the Lord?

A great God offers a great salvation to a people in great need. When I share my faith, what kind of words do I typically use to describe the gospel?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, because of Your grace You have given me hope that causes me to have endless praise for You. I praise You for Your righteousness and for Your great salvation. I praise You for Your great deeds and thank You for Your faithfulness to never forsake me. May I be faithful in sharing the Gospel with those who are apart from Your family.

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.

Are you in need of a personal life coach and a leadership specialist? Make certain you get a Quality one. For more information check out my website at

www.dennybates.com

http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #37 (Grace) October 6, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Today's Psalms of Discipleship addresses one of our greatest needs: hope. Hope is what fuels us to keep on pressing on. Hope is what gets us out of bed on a rainy Monday morning. And hope is what helps us keep the right perspective when life's circumstances are not going our way. May we learn the secret to life: to fix our hope on the Lord.

Resting in Jesus,

Denny Bates


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #37

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

Key Scripture: 5 For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth. 6 By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother's womb; My praise is continually of You. 7 I have become a marvel to many, For You are my strong refuge. Psalm 71:5-7

Core Value: Grace

Has there ever been a time in your life when you were without hope? Perhaps you were experiencing a severe famine of a depleted bank account or maybe you were in the middle of a perfect storm of crushing circumstances that left you weary and hopeless?

Here is an important life principle that disciples of Jesus must not only know about, but practice it too. We must quit hoping in others, we must quit hoping that our problems will go away. We even must quit hoping in ourselves. We must place our hope in the Lord.

Principle #37 & Personal Application: Quality disciples have a hope that is fixed upon the Lord.

When we hope in the Lord . . .

• We place our confidence in Him: “You are my confidence from my youth”

• We give our unending praise to Him: “My praise is continually of You”

• We become an encouragement to others: “I have become a marvel to many”

• We find our strong refuge in Him: “For You are my strong refuge”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What has been going on in my life where I have been able to place my hope in the Lord?

Can I think of a circumstance where others were encouraged by my faith in the Lord?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are my hope, O Lord, my God. You are my confidence. By Your grace You have sustained me from my birth. My praise shall be continually of You. Because of Your grace at work in my life, I have become a marvel to many as I have found safety in You, my strong refuge.

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.

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

Looking for a way to jump start your devotional life? Try Psalms of Discipleship: A One Year Journey with the Shepherd. Click on this link for how you can order your copy today (Print or pdf ebook).

http://www.dennybates.com/#!a-one-year-journey-with-the-shepherd/c6pu