Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #20--Prayer--May 28, 2011

Hello my dear friends,

This week we are going to take a closer look at prayer and the value it can add to our lives . . . if we pray. I hope and "pray" that the Lord will speak to us in a fresh way and remind us pray to Him.

Still learning how to pray after all of these years,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #20

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

Key Scripture: 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19

Core Value: Prayer

Any disciple worth his or her salt knows that prayer is an essential practice for one’s spiritual growth. We know that prayer is the communication connector between God and us. And we know that when we do pray, it is a good thing to do. And yet, for many of us, we often pray as a last resort, or even worse, not at all. Why is this so? Perhaps . . .

• We trust more in our ability than in God’s.

• We are too prideful to humble ourselves and ask for God’s help.

• We have allowed our heart to wander away from a sweet communion with the Lord and have forgotten that we can “do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Phil. 4:13).

• We have accepted a way of life that is separated from the life of Christ, forgetting that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:4-5).

• We have become so focused upon competing in “the rat race” that we have neglected to tap into His resources of grace, mercy, and peace so that we may “Sabbath” or rest in Him.

Prayer is not a new thing. It has been around . . . for a long, long time. May we come to a new realization of how an old spiritual discipline can help us grow closer to Jesus and experience His presence, His deliverance, and His comfort. Let’s pray.

Principle #20 & Personal Application: The quality disciple understands the great value of being positioned “in Christ” and praying in His name.

• When we offer our prayers in Jesus’ name, we know that the Lord hears us: The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

• When we offer our prayers in Jesus’ name, we experience His loving care: The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

• When we offer our prayers in Jesus’ name, we are able to place our trust in His mighty power to save: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?

How confident have I become in the effectiveness of my prayers? What kinds of steps can I take that will enhance my prayer life?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank You for giving me Your ear. As I pray in Your name, I know You will hear my cry and will deliver me out of all of my troubles. You, O Lord, are near to the brokenhearted and You save those who are crushed in spirit. Though my afflictions may be many, Your promise to me is that You will deliver me out of them all.

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

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.


http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

www.dennybates.com

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #19--Community--May 21, 2011

Hello dear friends! I hope that each one of you are connected to healthy groups of other believers. It is possible, but very difficult, to live out the Christian life without the help of others. All of us were made for relationship, and in relationship we learn how to do the "one anothers" of the Bible (e.g., love one another, pray for one another, encourage one another, forgive one another etc.).

Today's Psalms of Discipleship teaches the principle of guarding our words and deeds. If we do as the Scriptures instruct us, we will experience, not only for ourselves great personal blessings, but we will be a blessing to our community of believers as well.

This is a prayer we can each call our own:

May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Ps. 19:14)

Denny

P.S. Let me share a little bit of housekeeping matters with you. Perhaps you are aware that facebook is changing the way "Groups" are managed. After this submission, I am going to upgrade the group. As far as I know, this change should not have any significant impact upon your ability to stay connected with Psalms of Discipleship. As far as I know, your email inbox (if your settings are such where you receive notifications, you receive an email of the newest post) should still give you access to Psalms of Discipleship.

If, for whatever reason, you get cut off, you can still locate Psalms of Discipleship via my teaching blog. It can be found by clicking on the link at the bottom of this message.

I am grateful to hear the feedback of how this devotional ministry of discipleship has been a blessing and personal encouragement to you. Thanks for praying for me. This past week I completed the written portion of my doctoral dissertation. Lord willing, sometime this summer I will defend it and then graduate. To God be the glory!


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #19

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

Key Scripture: 12 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:12-14

Core Value: Community

Connecting in community is not an option if one wishes to grow in faith and in relationship. The answer for a meaningful relationship and spiritual growth is not isolation or even into a program steeped in religious rituals. What really matters in Christian spiritual formation is the relationship with other believers. “Ironically, one problem we often see in the Christian community is that people get more into religion and less into the connectedness the Bible prescribes, with the result that they get sicker” (From “How People Grow” by Cloud & Townsend 2001, 123). It was the great writer and thinker John Donne who stated these timeless words: “No man is an island unto himself.” This simply means that it is crucial for a believer who wishes to grow spiritually to have frequent times of fellowship with other like-minded believers. In addition to times of corporate worship, time must be spent in a smaller group setting in order to build lasting, meaningful relationships.

Trust in relationships must be established for any community to be considered as “safe.” The goal of any community of Christians should be “an environment of grace.” Author Bill Hull suggests that, “Trust is only present when the faith community experiences relationships of trust in an environment of grace.” Being a participating member in a healthy community of other believers, one experiences more than just having “fellowship.” In a community where grace is celebrated and trust is a part of the culture, one can be changed; even one’s character can be impacted by those who surround them. Again, Hull says, “Character is shaped in community.” Hull also suggests the value of being a member of a group of other disciples of Jesus Christ enhances the spiritual growth of each individual. In many cultures, there is the great temptation to go it alone. The success of the spiritual journey is never about how fast one can go. The underlying challenge and measure of success is to make the journey with others too. “As the African proverb tells us, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’” (Bill Hull).

Principle #19 & Personal Application: The quality disciple desires to build a community that is committed to having a healthy and safe place for spiritual, relational and emotional growth.

• A healthy community of believers will guard their tongue from evil and deceit.

• A healthy community of believers will depart from evil and do good.

• A healthy community of believers will seek peace and pursue it.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Do I have a place, a group, where I can receive spiritual and emotional support on a regular basis?

What positive contributions can I bring to the Body of Christ that will help others feel safe with me?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I do desire a quality life, a good long life that I may be a witness of what is good. Grant me the power to keep my tongue from evil. Keep my lips from speaking deceit. Help me to depart from evil and empower me with the inspiration to seek and pursue peace.

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

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

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

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #18--Evangelism--May 14, 2011

Hello my dear friends! I pray that each one of you are experiencing the abundant life promised to those who are in Jesus Christ. I pray that your soul is full of God's goodness, poured out upon you, and that you are overflowing in His grace and love; and that you are impacting the lives you touch on a frequent basis with His love.

This week's Psalms of Discipleship is about how "tasty" our experience is with the Lord and how, because of what we have tasted, we are compelled to encourage others who have yet to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Mmmmm good, is the Lord. Taste and see for yourself.

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #18

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

Key Scripture: O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

Core Value: Evangelism

“Have I got some great news for you!” Really? For many believers, news about how well their 401K is doing is something to shout about (perhaps, at least, that may be true for some of us). Other believers get really excited when talking about the success of their favorite sports team. Still others love to share of their personal exploits, scoring points of pride from their adoring fans.

May I offer some balance here? There is nothing wrong with sharing good news. It is a blessing to share one’s joyous experiences with others. Life’s joys are meant to be celebrated! But there is an even greater joy, greater news we can share that has eternal ramifications. It is the good news of the Gospel. God loves us and He demonstrated that love by sending His Son, His only begotten Son, to a world of people who were desperately lost, without hope. This is great news for people who have discovered what it means to be loved by God and have received the life-changing, soul-saving, gift of His Son. It’s also great news for those who have yet to experience the Lord’s salvation and great joy. The prophet Isaiah foresaw this great news when he wrote,

2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Isaiah 12:2-4 (KJV)

Now, that’s some great news we need to pass on!

Principle #18 & Personal Application: The quality disciple desires to share the greatest invitation ever to the seeking unbeliever: taste and see that the Lord is good!

• The quality disciple’s relationship with the Lord is personal: On our own, we are to taste and see that the Lord is good.

• The quality disciple’s relationship with the Lord is passionate: Because we have experienced the goodness of the Lord, we need to invite the seeker to join us in having a relationship with Him.

• The quality disciple’s relationship with the Lord has purpose: Our lives are not our own but are given to invite the seeker to experience the Lord and to find their refuge (salvation) in Him.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Who invited me to taste and see that the Lord is good?

Who are the seekers on my prayer list that I can extend a personal invitation and introduce them to the Lord?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that someone invited me to taste and see for myself that You are good. Thank You for the refuge I have been given in You; a place of comfort and safety. May I be filled with boldness when I am given the opportunity to invite the seeker to also taste and see that You are good.

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

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

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

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #17--Prayer--May 7, 2011

Hi there dear friends! Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a reminder of how prayer can be the very tool we need to help us not worry ourselves to death. Many of us know the Lord and have walked with Him for years, and yet, we are often prone to worry about things over which we have no control.

In addition to this week's Psalms of Discipleship devotion, I'm offering you a free podcast of a lesson I taught in April at my local church. I think you will find it to be a good companion study with this topic. You can hear the lesson posted on my website by clicking on this link:

http://bit.ly/iLyNts

Learning not to worry as much,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #17

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

Key Scripture: 4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:4-6

Core Value: Prayer

Worry much? For many of us, worry seems to be the first order of business when we are facing a situation where we are “worried” about the outcome. Worry has been compared to a rocking chair where a whole lot of energy is spent while we are going nowhere. We know not to worry, and yet, we do. We worry about our health, our wealth (or lack of it), our relationships, our possessions, and our world. We worry about things we cannot control. Is there a way, a sure way, we can leverage our energies from worry into peace? Here are some good words from the apostle Paul:

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

It is that simple. The antidote to worry is to pray about everything. What kinds of things do you need to share with the Lord today?

Principle #17 & Personal Application: The quality disciple not only seeks the Lord in prayer, but experiences His saving power too.

• When we seek the Lord in prayer, He will answer us.

• When we seek the Lord in prayer, He will deliver us from all our fears.

• When we seek the Lord in prayer, He will grace our countenance.

• When we seek the Lord in prayer, He will save us out of all of our troubles.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I get into trouble, is my first thought to cry out to God for help?

Can I recall any recent experience where my prayer was answered?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, how often I forget to come to You with my needs in prayer. Forgive me when I seek to solve my life’s dilemmas using my own strength. May I always seek You because You will answer me and deliver me from all of my fears. May I experience a transformation upon my countenance because of your grace at work in my heart. May I confess my poverty (I am poor in spirit and spiritually bankrupt without You) and cry out to You; beseeching You to save me from all of my troubles.

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

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

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

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #16--Community--April 30, 2011

Hello my dear friends! I pray that all of you are doing well. Some of you live in parts of the American South where there has been tragic loss of life and property in the past week. My thoughts and prayers have been with you.

This week's Psalms of Discipleship is about community and how we live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We live in a world where there are very few "absolutes" any more. Well, one thing we need to be sure of is that we "absolutely" understand the Gospel.

Learning with you,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #16

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

Key Scripture: O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:3

Core Value: Community

What does it mean to live out the gospel? What does it mean for the disciple of Jesus to have the gospel at the core of one’s being? The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most powerful, the greatest news the world has ever heard. And yet, the “good news” has been modified into a sometimes sterile, non-impacting, way of life. In fact, for many, the meaning of the gospel has been seized and turned into something that is a counterfeit. In his book, “Counterfeit Gospels: Rediscovering the Good News in a World of False Hope,” Trevin Wax suggests,

“What if the biggest danger to the church of Jesus Christ is not blatant heresy, the moral failures of church leaders, persecution, the rise of Islam or the loss of our rights? What if the biggest threat is counterfeit gospels within the church, ways of thinking and speaking about the good news that lead to a gradual drift from the truth of Scripture?”

This begs the question: what is the gospel? The gospel is the story of good news of how God had a plan, as evidenced in the Scriptures. The message of the Bible tells the story of four great themes: Creation, the Fall, Redemption, and Restoration.

The focal point of the story is Jesus Christ and the proclamation of His sinless and perfect life. In His life, He was the Lamb of God who willingly sacrificed His life for the sin of mankind. As the Lamb who died, He also rose from the grave as the Victor, the resurrected Savior. He now sits at the right hand of His Father, triumphant and glorious. And He is coming again! But the gospel does not end here.

The gospel is lived out in a community called the Church. It is the body that God has birthed to be the visible image of the Kingdom of God and His gospel. It is through community that God’s story is told to a needy world. It is through community that the focal point of God’s story, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not only communicated verbally, but also communicated by the evidence of transformed lives. It is through community where discipleship takes place and spiritual growth occurs.

The gospel is alive and well. Are we living it out well?

Principle #16 & Personal Application: The quality disciple desires to experience spiritual growth with other members of the Body of Christ.

• A group of Christian believers will experience spiritual growth when there is a desire for magnifying the Lord, instead of magnifying another person or program.

• A group of Christian believers will experience spiritual growth when there is a desire for unity of worship, when Jesus Christ is exalted and His name is made great among the people.

• A group of Christian believers will experience spiritual growth when their group is known for their love for the Lord and for their love of people.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Am I a member of a group where Jesus is magnified and exalted?

What does it feel like to be a part of a group where Jesus is magnified and exalted?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may I find in the fellowship of other like-minded believers a passionate desire to magnify and glorify You in everything that we say and do. May I grow closer to You as I grow closer to those who love and follow You.

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

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

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

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 15--April 23, 2011--Worship

Hello my dear friends!

got life? Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life."

I write to you this Easter weekend with a full heart of gratitude for a Savior who gave His all for us. It is a time to worship Him, to praise Him, to live for Him. For this much is true: because He died and rose again, we are able to worship, praise and live for Him. Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a reminder to each of us that our worship is not just limited to Christian holidays like Easter and Christmas. The psalmist said, "I will bless the Lord at all times."

May each one of use this Easter weekend as a time to recommit our love and worship to the One who gave His life for us.

Because He lives,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #15

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

Key Scripture: 1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. Psalm 34:1-2

Core Value: Worship

Good Friday. Do we really understand the significance of this day in history? Friday, for many, has been tagged with the letters, TGIF, “Thank God It’s Friday.” Well, for the believer, we say yes and amen to that proclamation! However, we amend it ever so slightly and say TGFGF: “Thank God For Good Friday.”

Why is Good Friday so good? It is good because Jesus surrendered His will to the will of His Father. It is good because Jesus paid a debt that we could never pay. It is good because eternal death is no longer the only destiny for sinners. It is good because Jesus said that He is the resurrection and the life. It is good because He is the way, the truth, and the life. Good Friday is good because it takes what is so ugly and hideous (the torture, the shame and death of an innocent man) and makes possible the way of eternal life with our Risen Savior.

The classic hymn written by Robert Lowry gives us a wonderful reminder of why we worship Jesus Christ this holy weekend:

1. Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus my Lord!

Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2. Vainly they watch His bed,
Jesus my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus my Lord!

3. Death cannot keep its Prey,
Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away,
Jesus my Lord!

He is risen. He is risen, indeed!

Principle #15 & Personal Application: The quality disciple desires an authentic worship of God that is not skin-deep but all consuming.

• The disciple who desires an authentic worship of God wants to bless the Lord at all times.

• The disciple who desires an authentic worship of God will have a continuous stream of praise for the Lord in one’s mouth.

• The disciple who desires an authentic worship of God will brag on God, pointing out to others who will listen (the humble), of the Lord’s greatness and goodness, resulting in a spirit of rejoicing.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Is my praise and worship of the Lord a consistent habit or is it an occasional task?

What can I do today that will enhance my life that will cause me to experience a deep and authentic worship of God?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I do not want to play the “church” game where I just go through the motions while my heart is far from You. May my life line up with Your Word. By grace, may I bless the Lord at all times. May Your praise be continually in my mouth. May my soul make its boast in the Lord; and may the humble who are in my circle of influence rejoice because of my worship of You.

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

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

Looking for a Bible study on friendship? Check out this spiritual growth resource by clicking on the link below:

http://www.dennybates.com/Home/FriendshipBook.html

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

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 14--April 16, 2011--Worship

Hello my dear friends! As I write today, storm clouds are coming my way (the weather-related kind). The history of this storm is an ominous one, leaving in its wake tragic death and massive property destruction. There is a principle here that transitions very well into the spiritual lesson department for the believer.

Each one of us have faced the kinds of storms of life that caused us great hurt and harm. And yet, here we are. Still here. Still living. Still trusting in the goodness of God.

The Psalmist was quite familiar with storms too. The lesson he leaves behind is his testimony of worship. May his words of worship encourage us during our current storm and our fight to survive, or, for sure, when the next storm comes our way.

"Sonny" skies are coming,

Denny



Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #14

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

Key Scripture: 20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name. 22 Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You. Psalm 33:20-22

Core Value: Worship

“Hurry up and wait.” For many disciples, this is the slogan that defines one’s relationship with the Lord. The pace of life is hurried, harried, and stressed out to the max. We know God loves us, but we are too busy to rest in His love. We know He has a plan for us, but we are too distracted to slow down and find out what His plan for us is for today. We know we need to have a growing relationship with Him, but our busyness has contributed to the loss of our first love. Consequently, we have become content with a lukewarm status quo, slowly drifting away from the One who loves us so.

The act of worship is the great accelerator, the dynamic catalyst, to help us slow down the “rat race” of the Christian life and place our focus, love and devotion upon the Lord. When we offer God our worship, we are getting our eyes (and heart) off of us and off our circumstances. The heart that worships God is a heart that experiences God’s hope, God’s help, and God’s mercy. As we learn to wait for the Lord, we will be living in His strength, not ours (Isaiah 40:28-31).

Principle #14 & Personal Application: The quality disciple chooses to hope in the Lord and to worship Him, setting aside all distractions.

• As we worship and wait for the Lord, we place our hope in Him. He is our help and shield.

• As we worship the Lord and rejoice in Him, we place our hope in Him. We trust in His holy name.

• As we worship the Lord and experience His lovingkindness, we place our hope in Him. We are embraced by His mercy and place all hope in the Lord.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Where to I typically place my hope: in myself, in the hands of others, in the world, or in the Lord?

What would my life look like if I spent more time worshiping the Lord instead of worrying about the things I cannot control?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, my soul does wait for You. You, O Lord, are my help and shield of protection. May my heart always rejoice in You as I trust in Your holy name. May Your lovingkindness be upon me as I hope in You. May my worship always be centered in the truth that my hope, my only hope, is in You.

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

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

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