Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #16 (Evangelism) April 28, 2013

Hello dear friends. Have you ever been homesick? Today's Psalms of Discipleship reminds us that we need to keep heaven on our mind and invite as many people as we can to join us.

On the journey with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #16

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

Key Scripture: 1 His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah. 4 "I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me; Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia: 'This one was born there.' " 5 But of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; And the Most High Himself will establish her. 6 The LORD will count when He registers the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah. 7 Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes shall say, "All my springs of joy are in you." Psalm 87:1-11

Some Background: This Psalm has a two-fold meaning. One, it is a prophecy of the future Kingdom where Jerusalem will be the center of the world. Two, it is a picture of heaven where every disciple of Jesus has his or her heavenly citizenship.

Core Value: Evangelism

As believers we are just passing through. Or are we? There are some of who have fallen in love with this world and all of its entrapments. We need to be reminded that the goal of our salvation is not to have the best that this world can offer, but to keep our eye on the prize and the place: eternity with the Lover of our soul. This prize is named Jesus and the place is called heaven.

My friend Pat Terry has captured this thought in a beautiful way when he writes,

They say that heaven's pretty And living here is too But if they said that I would have to choose between the two I'd go home, going home, where I belong

And sometimes when I'm dreaming It comes as no surprise That if you look and see The homesick feeling in my eyes I'm going home, going home, where I belong [Home Where I Belong by Pat Terry]

Why do we share the Gospel? We share it so those who are spiritually homeless will finally be able to go home too . . . where we all belong.

Principle #16 & Personal Application: Quality disciples are compelled to share the Gospel so that all may believe and inhabit Zion (the City of God).

• We need to share with the lost of a place that is built by God and the only way to enter is through having a relationship with His Son (vs. 1-3)

• We need to share with the lost of a place where only disciples of Jesus live forever (vs. 4-6)

• We need to share with the lost of a place where everyone who lives there enjoys the Lord’s abundant and eternal blessings (vs. 7)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

How do I explain the reality of heaven in such a way where a person who does not know the Lord will want to do whatever it takes to go there?

When I think about going to heaven one day, what kinds of thoughts cross my mind?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for a place where I will go when this life on earth is over. May I have your burden for the lost and bring some of them with me too.

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 #15 (Grace) April 21, 2013

Hello my dear friends! Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a reminder of how powerful the grace of God is for the disciple of Jesus. It not only saves us but it also empowers us to experience the abundant life of Jesus.

Living in Amazing Grace,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #15

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

Key Scripture: 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. 12 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever. 13 For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. Psalm 86:11-13

Core Value: Grace

Every disciple needs a frequent reality check: without the grace of Jesus we have no destination other than hell, eternal separation from the love of God (John 14:6). This is true: when God takes the initiative, we are able to respond by taking positive steps. Because of His grace we are able to walk in His truth. When we are walking in truth there is an even deeper awareness of how great He is. A heart that has been infused with grace responds in thanksgiving and worship. Grace not only keeps us out of hell, it empowers us to experience an abundant life in Him.

Principle #15 & Personal Application: Quality disciples have both a teachable and thankful heart.

• By His grace we are able to learn His way and walk in His truth

• By His grace we are able to fear His name and give thanks to Him with an entire heart

• By His grace we are able to embrace His lovingkindness (mercy) and avoid having to spend eternity without Him

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

From my perspective, how is my life impacted when I walk in the Lord’s truth?

In what ways can I cultivate and enhance a thankful heart?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am asking You to teach me Your way as I make a fresh commitment to walk in Your truth. May I always have a great respect for the greatness of Your name. By grace, help me to offer thanks to You with a humble and thankful heart. Thank You for pouring out Your love and mercy upon me and delivering my soul from a Christ-less eternity.

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 #14 (Worship). April 14, 2013

Hello my dear friends! Everyone has problems, sometimes, even GREAT ones. The blessing for the disciple of Jesus is that in spite of our great problems, we have an even GREATER God. In today's Psalms of Discipleship, the Psalmist is filled with a heart of worship as he praises His great God.

He is greatly to be praised!

Learning to worship Him, better,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #14

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

Key Scripture: 8 There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. 9 All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name. 10 For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God. Psalm 86:8-10

Core Value: Worship

Allow me to pose this personal question to you: are your problems greater than your God? Before you respond with the “right” answer, give full pause before answering the question honestly. There are some believers who focus more upon the greatness of their problem instead of setting their heart upon the impeccable character and the incredible ways of our Great God.

Here is what I have come to realize: no matter how great is my problem; He can be greatly trusted to help me through it. The key to experiencing the greatness of God while undergoing a great problem is to worship Him greatly. A great God is worthy of great worship!

Principle #14 & Personal Application: Quality disciples are diverse members of a worldwide body of believers who worship Jesus and glorify His Name.

• Who is like the Lord? No one

• Who has works like His? No one

• Who will come and worship and glorify Him? Everyone

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What can I do today that will help me set my heart upon the Lord and worship Him?

What kinds of “great and wondrous deeds” has the Lord done in my life recently?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there is no one like You among the gods. O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours. One day from every nation, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. What a glorious time that will be where You will receive the worship due to Your great Name and to Your wondrous deeds. You and You alone are God.

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 #13 (Prayer). Apirl 6, 2013

Hello my dear friends! On occasion, we can find ourselves facing impossible circumstances. These impossible events can either become stepping stones to an even greater faith or the stones that cause even deeper wounds. By God's grace I am learning to cast my cares upon Him, especially the ones that are impossible.

Growing with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #13

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

Key Scripture: 1 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy. 2 Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man; O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You. 3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, For to You I cry all day long. 4 Make glad the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. 6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And give heed to the voice of my supplications! 7 In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, For You will answer me. Psalm 86:1-7

Core Value: Prayer

"This one is going to take a miracle!” Have you ever allowed these words to enter your heart and come out of your mouth? Perhaps you were facing a financial crisis or were emotionally reeling from a severely wounded relationship that had crashed and burned right in front of you. Maybe you had lost your way and had no clue on how to get to where you needed to go. All that you knew was your hope for a good outcome was running on fumes and at any time you were ready to give in and give up in your “day of trouble.” When we are in trouble, there is no better time to offer up our impossible circumstances with impossible prayers to the God who makes all things possible.

Principle #13 & Personal Application: Quality disciples present their impossible needs to the only One who can answer impossible prayers.

• We pray impossible prayers when we are afflicted and needy

• We pray impossible prayers to a God we cannot see but by faith we know He is listening

• We pray impossible prayers when our circumstances are far greater than our ability to fix them

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What impossible prayer am I asking from the Lord?

Has it been my habit to pray prayers that I can answer or have I been praying prayers that will take a miracle?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that when I pray, You hear my heart: the words that are spoken as well as the secret cries stored away in the depths of my soul. No matter my circumstance, You have promised to answer me.

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