Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #25 (Grace). July 13, 2013

Hello my dear friends,

Today's Psalms of Discipleship gives comfort to the person who feels surrounded by his or her enemies. Some disciples of Jesus default to fear when the battle is near. Other disciples follow the example of the Psalmist and trust in the Lord.

Learning with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #25

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

Key Scripture: 16 Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness? 17 If the LORD had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. 18 If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up. 19 When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Psalm 94:16-19

Core Value: Grace

Have you ever felt you were surrounded by someone or something that was opposing you at every turn? Have you ever experienced the feeling of being outnumbered by your foes? Have you ever considered throwing up the white flag of surrender during the heat of battle and just giving up? One of the great struggles the disciple of Jesus faces is the struggle of confrontation. Sometimes it can be demonic. Sometimes, the battle lies within. And there are other times where the opposition comes in the form of other people, perhaps even from other Christians.

It is important to note the strategy the Psalmist took. First, he posed the logical question: “Who will stand up for me?” Second, he offers the best solution to his circumstances: He assigns the credit (the glory) to the One who has a history of delivering him and comforting him.

What lesson can we learn from his example? It is okay to raise the question of “who will stand up for me?” Perhaps the enemy is Satan, or the thoughts within, or even in the appearance of another person. It is also okay to confess that Jesus is our defense.

Principle #25 & Personal Application: Quality disciples look to the Lord for help when enemies seek to overwhelm and destroy.

• We can take comfort in the fact that the Lord will stand up for us against evildoers

• We can take comfort in the fact that the Lord is our help

• We can take comfort in the fact that the Lord’s lovingkindness (mercy) will hold us up

• We can take comfort in the fact that the Lord will console us and comfort our soul.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

How does the grace of God help me not be overcome by worry and anxiety?

Because the Lord has given me grace, what comfort does He offer me when my “foot has slipped?”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am grateful that You will stand up for me against evildoers who do evil things to me. I am thankful for Your presence in my life. Without Your presence I would be lost and forsaken forever. And when I do stumble and fall, You are there to pick me up and pour out Your mercy upon me. And just when I cling the edge of despair, You are there to comfort me and delight my soul.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…

Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.

You can learn how to live as a Quality Disciple and a DiscipleMaker4Jesus by visiting my website at www.dennybates.com and my teaching blog at http://www.dennybates.com/#!blog/c1a4e

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #6 (Prayer) February 15, 2013

Hello dear friends! Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a reminder that no matter how we feel on given day, God's Word is true, and God's character is unchanging, and God' love and care for us is perfect.

Learning with you, by the grace of God,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #6

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

Key Scripture: O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. Psalm 83:1

*Background note: From the Psalmist's view, it appears that God is either unaware or unconcerned that His enemies are threatening His people. Out of desperation, He cries out to God, "Please get involved . . . now."

Core Value: Prayer

Do I really matter? Do I have value? Does anyone care . . . even God? These types of questions are familiar to many disciples who follow Jesus. Sure, we know the “right” answers to our questions but sometimes it “feels” like we don’t matter, we don’t have value (especially when we compare ourselves to others), and sometimes we “believe” that no one really cares about us, including God.

So, what is a disciple of Jesus to do with all of these matters of the heart? We can believe the lie or we can respond just like the Psalmist did: He got real with God. He wasn’t going to be passive any longer and become the victim without a spiritual fight. He was going to engage his God with a brand new intensity. Do not remain quiet. Do not be silent, and do not be still. Or in other words, “Please get involved . . . now.”

Principle #6 & Personal Application: Quality disciples cry out to the Lord in the face of intimidating enemies.

• When we are faced with adversity we look to a God who has the desire to intervene on our behalf

• When we are faced with adversity we look to a God who has the power to help deliver us from our enemies

• When we are faced with adversity we look to a God who has the whole world in His hands

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I feel unsafe what assurances can I find from my Bible that will grant me peace of mind?

How do I know, really know, that God will protect me from the enemies of my soul?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may I always trust You, even when I cannot sense Your presence, even when it seems I feel surrounded and outnumbered by my foes.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…

Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.

You can learn how to live as a Quality Disciple and a DiscipleMaker4Jesus by visiting my website at www.dennybates.com and my teaching blog at http://www.dennybates.com/#!blog/c1a4e

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #23 (Prayer) June 23, 2012

Hello my dear friends! It's great to connect with you again. This week's Psalms of Discipleship points us to one of the great truths of the Bible: Prayer is the tool provided for us to connect with the only One who can help us.

Praying for you. Thanks for praying for me.

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #23

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

Key Scripture: 1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; Preserve my life from dread of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers, From the tumult of those who do iniquity, 3 Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword. They aimed bitter speech as their arrow, Psalm 64:1-3

Core Value: Prayer

Most everyone I know has a cell phone. You see people walking, talking, listening, texting, and viewing their screens almost all the time. Cell phone users are a unique tribe of people: blue tooth, long in the tooth, the cell phone phenomenon has changed our culture when it comes to communication. It seems we are always communicating . . . until the coverage drops or the battery dies and the communication comes to an abrupt end.

Fortunately for the disciple of Jesus, we are on an unlimited data plan that has been fully funded by His sacrifice on the cross. We have been given access to the Father through the Son so that we may communicate to Him the concerns of our heart. When the enemies of our soul surround us, He is only a call away. As an old song stated, “Information. Give me Jesus on the line.” #911

Principle #23 & Personal Application: Quality disciples place their trust in the Lord when words of slander are used against them.

Note that David did not ask the Lord to change His circumstances but asked for God’s help in the midst of them. What did David do? He prayed. He asked the Lord to . . .

• Hear his voice

• Preserve his life

• Hide him from his vicious enemies

When our enemy attacks, he usually does so with vengeance: Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB95)

When our enemy attacks, we must be aware of his schemes: so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NASB95)

When our enemy attacks, he will accuse us and want us to forget our place, our position in Christ: Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10 (NASB95)

When our enemy attacks, sometimes he will use the words of others to bring harm to us: "Their tongue is a deadly arrow; It speaks deceit; With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor, But inwardly he sets an ambush for him. Jeremiah 9:8 (NASB95)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I feel I am under spiritual attack, what does this Psalm teach me to do?

I know what it feels like when hurtful words are used against me. What can I do to control my tongue from hurting others?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when I am under attack, keep me ever mindful of my need to place my fears and concerns upon You. Keep me alert to pray. Keep me close to You. Keep me safe. Keep me.

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/


Postscript:

I am genuinely excited for the opportunity of doing things that I have only dreamed about previously. By God’s grace I hope to build a leadership coaching and speaking business and impact the market place for Jesus. My business is a RELATIONSHIP business, so as you pray for me ask the Lord for KEY contacts that will lead me to KEY people in KEY organizations. In your own circle of influence, do you know anyone who desires to grow in leadership? I’d love to meet them.

In order to gain a better understanding of what I am offering, you can check out my website at

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/dennybates

Rooted and Grounded in Love (Ephesians 3:17)

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #13 (Prayer). April 7, 2012

Hello my dear friends! As we celebrate Resurrection weekend, its a good time to remind ourselves that Jesus defeated our greatest enemy, death, when He went to the cross, died, and rose again on the third day. Today's Psalms of Discipleship gives a unique perspective on how to handle the other enemies that harass us.

He is Risen. He is Risen, Indeed!

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #13

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

Key Scripture: Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me. Psalm 59:1

Core Value: Prayer

One of the great challenges that disciples of Jesus face is how deal with an enemy, in the right way. No matter how spiritual a person might be, there will always be enemies who will harass and oppose us. Now, here is the hard thing to swallow: sometimes it appears that even another member of the Body of Christ acts like an enemy to us. Instead of calling down fire from heaven upon them, what are we supposed to do?

Here is what Jesus suggests is the proper response (Luke 6:27-28): We are to . . .

• Love our enemies

• Do good to those who hate us

• Bless those who curse us

• Pray for those who mistreat us

Impossible? Yes. But with God’s help, it’s entirely possible. Resting in grace and being fueled by prayer is the only way to overcome the power of our enemies.

Principle #13 & Personal Application: Quality disciples look to the Lord during times of spiritual danger.

During times of spiritual danger, the believer . . .

• Can pray and ask God for deliverance: Deliver me from my enemies, O my God

• Can pray for a place of protection: Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me

• Can pray and look to the Lord with faith knowing that the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep.

9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. John 10:9-11 (NLT)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

The disciple of Jesus has many enemies. What kinds of enemies are stalking me that require the Lord’s deliverance?

When do I feel the safest, the most secure from my enemies? What kind of actions can I take that will remind me of God’s protection over my life?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your promise to protect me from my enemies. All praise to You for setting me securely on high away from those who rise up against me. My heart can rest in knowing that You are the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep.

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 interested in going deeper in your walk with Jesus? Check out my website for a list of resources that will help you become "A Quality Disciple."

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

Psalms of Discipleship (Prayer) Principle #6. February 18, 2012

Now available in Ebook format!

Hello my dear friends! Multiplied grace and peace to you this day. Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a prayer of desperation offered up by the psalmist. He was in trouble. He was under attack from his enemies. They wanted to devour him and he was becoming weary of the fight. Instead of surrendering to them, he surrendered to the Lord. Its a great example of how we are to respond when we are facing our enemies: we need to pray.

Praying for you. Thanks for praying for me.

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #6

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

Key Scripture: 1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2 Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted, 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me And in anger they bear a grudge against me. 4 My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. Psalm 55:1-5

Core Value: Prayer

What are we to do when we are being attacked by our enemies? In a perfect world, everyone would get along with each other, be kind to each other, and would love each other too. It is easy to assume that those who have yet to become disciples of Jesus would be the greatest source of our troubles. After all, they don’t “know” the Lord like we do. However, far more often than not, our greatest challenges can come from within the body of Christ, from those who claim to “know” the Lord. Instead of edifying us, encouraging us, loving and accepting us, they hurt us instead. We begin to experience what I call “Cannibal Christianity” where believers are devoured just as Paul reminded the Galatian churches when he wrote, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another (Gal. 5:14b-15).

Here is the biggest challenge disciples of Jesus face when they are attacked by other believers: to retaliate and bite back or to pray and yield to the power of the Spirit which allows us to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). When we walk by the Spirit, we will do spiritual things . . . like pray.

Principle #6 & Personal Application: Quality disciples, when faced with circumstances that cause overwhelming fear, turn to the Lord in prayer.

The Psalmist David was in serious trouble. His enemies sought to harm him and were sparing no energy in attempting to do so. Like us, he was human. Like us, he was in desperate need of His Lord. A disciple of Jesus who faces the terror of life. . .

• Seeks out God in prayer (vs. 1-2)

• Shares the reality of the obstacles with the Lord (vs. 3)

• Speaks honestly with God in describing one’s feelings (vs. 4-5)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

In what ways does the Lord comfort me when I feel overwhelmed by fear?

Do I feel I can be honest with God with my inner feelings? In what ways can I be more honest with God?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when I am in trouble and feel threatened by my enemies, help me to remember to seek You out in prayer; to share with You the obstacles I am facing; and to speak honestly about what I am feeling.

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/

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

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

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.

What Is Psalms of Discipleship?

Psalms of Discipleship is:

•Word-Centered
•Explained Simply
•Practical for Life Situations
•Reflective and Thought-Provoking
•Devotional in Format

This unique devotional consists of not only fifty two lessons designed for small group or individual study, but also includes a topical index for a deeper study as well as a topical bibliography for the quality disciple’s reading list.

It is our hope that Psalms of Discipleship will become a useful tool for you, the reader, to learn how to better live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. The format is simple, by design. The commitment to apply the Psalms to your life is up to you. May we all begin to experience a fresh approach to spiritual growth by living the discipled life with the help of grace, worship, Bible study, prayer, community, service, and evangelism.

http://www.dennybates.com/

www.dennybates.com