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Devotions

Do You Know Christ Lives in Your Heart?

Gary Wilkerson

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Paul begins this portion of this letter by asking, “Do you not know?” It is a bit of an alarming question because the Corinthian Christians were probably almost eight years into their faith, yet he is asking them one of the most elementary of questions. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple?” Perhaps they had not been able to pick up on that fact even though Paul had taught on it before.

I want to ask that question of you. Do you really know that you are the temple of God? Are you confident? Is it settled in your heart? This God who dwells in an unapproachable light, so glorious, marvelous, wonderful, precious, loving, pure, and holy selected a place to live and it is in those whose hearts are humbled and contrite.

How does it impact you to know that this God of all creation lives in you? What does that do to all the problems and crises that you face in life? The trials and tribulation that you walk through? The sorrows of your life? The pain?

Christ lives in you, the manifest presence of God. The fire of God that led and directed the children of Israel has decided not just to go out in front of you, but he said, “Wait a minute! Catch up to me or I’ll come to you and dwell in you.” The pillar of fire, the cloud, the smoke — he lives inside of you now. The direction, the leadership, the potential, the power, the glory, the love, the fruit of the Spirit.

We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us reference God in our lifestyle, in our worship experience, in our everyday walk with him. 

Peace for Today through God’s Word

Carter Conlon

Perhaps you find it difficult to get into the Word daily. However, God can give you grace. It all begins with a simple prayer: “Lord, will You help me to read the Bible? Would you establish my thoughts in Your ways? Would you take me farther than I have ever gone before?”

I suggest you start by reading Matthew to Revelation in the New Testament, the Psalms, and Proverbs. Read them until they become a part of you. And read a translation that you can understand. There are some great modern translations out there that are easy to understand. You can even buy Bibles that have four or five translations across the page so you can tell the full sense of a verse of Scripture.

And don’t forget, you not only have to read your Bible, but you have to believe what you read! As written in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Let it be quality time that you spend with God, even if it is only fifteen minutes you can get in the morning. Go before the Lord with your open Bible and say, “Father, speak to me today. Speak to my mind and speak to my heart. Guide me and guard me. Let me see throughout the day how your Word will keep me.”

And then watch what the Lord will begin to do! He will open His Word to you. He will begin to lead you to places you never thought you could go, empowering you with a strength that you know is not your own. Suddenly you will find yourself with a greater thirst to get in the Word of God. You will realize that God spoke to you in advance through the Scripture about what you were going to face. And day after day, you will see that His Word is truly alive!

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001.

Your Friends Matter to God!

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

You probably have various circles of friends that include your business world — your coworkers, partners or clients — and acquaintances you associate with on a surface level. We would have to leave the world altogether in order to avoid these kinds of contacts.

God cares most about your intimate circle, your bosom pals. These are the people you love most and who have an influence in your life. You agree on most things and you feel safe opening your heart to each other.

It is important to know that as a follower of Jesus, you will be tempted by Satan to form ungodly friendships. He will try to bring into your life someone who can destroy everything godly in you! You may think, “Wait a minute! I don’t want to start doubting my friends.” If you are true friends, knit together by the Spirit of Christ, you have nothing to fear in examining your relationships with them. But it would be wise for you to look at your friendships in the light of scripture.

A true, godly friend will always take the side of God’s Word in any matter, and not just your side because you are friends. Such a friend will love you enough to tell you the truth, even though it may hurt at times.

Beloved, your friends are a serious matter to God — because their actions have serious consequences. The Bible is very clear: “Make no friendship with an angry man … lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul” (Proverbs 22:24-25). “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Take a stand today. If you have ungodly friends in your inner circle, break them off. And always be alert to Satan’s attempts to put someone in your life who would destroy Christ’s work in you.

Pray this prayer today, “Lord, open my eyes to all my friendships. Help me to see them clearly, whether good or bad, and may all my relationships bring glory to you!”

“Fear Not!”

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

God commands us not to fear our enemies. “You shall not be afraid of them” (Deuteronomy 7:18). For Israel, “them” represented the massive, well-armed heathen nations they faced in the Promised Land. For us today, “them” represents every problem, trouble and overwhelming difficulty we face in life.

God says we are not to fear, so no other explanation is needed. God is all powerful and he is aware of the satanic strongholds we face — every snare, trial and temptation. But he still says, “You shall not fear any of them!”

God told Abraham, a man living in a strange country and surrounded by powerful kings, not to fear. Abraham had no idea where he would end up but God promised to be his shield and exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1). God was telling Abraham, “You are going to face difficulties, but I will protect you through them all.” And Abraham responded by believing God’s word to him: “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (15:6).

This same word came to Abraham’s son, Isaac. He also lived in a hostile environment, surrounded by Philistines who hated and harassed him. They wanted him off their land and Scripture says that the Philistines filled the wells Abraham had dug and left for Isaac (see Genesis 26:15). Isaac felt conflict his entire life and he must have thought at times, “God, why have you planted me here?” But God said: “Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants” (26:24).

We are also the children of Abraham and God makes the same promise to us he did to Abraham and his offspring: “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). Our heavenly father sees every step of our lives and in spite of all our crises and difficulties, he commands us again and again in Scripture, “Fear not!”

All that Matters is God’s Presence

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

The Old Testament is filled with many accounts of the blessings that came to those who had the presence of God with them. These stories are meant to encourage and exhort us to seek God’s presence in our lives.

God’s presence was so evident in Abraham’s life that even the heathen around him recognized the difference between their lives and his: “Abimelech … spoke to Abraham, saying, ‘God is with you in all that you do’” (Genesis 21:22). This heathen king was saying, “Abraham, there’s something different about you. God guides you and blesses you wherever you go!”

God promised Joshua that no enemy could stand against him when God’s presence was with him: “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life … I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 1:5-6). When God’s Spirit is present with us, we can be strong and courageous — because no enemy can harm us.

God told Gideon: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! … Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel” (Judges 6:12, 14). God was saying, “Gideon, there is a might in you that is so powerful, it can save Israel. And that might is my presence.” Even though Gideon lacked courage, God wanted to prove to him that any person can do great things when the Lord’s presence is with him.

God warned Jeremiah that the whole nation would turn against him and reject his prophecies. Yet God promised, “They shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you” (Jeremiah 15:20). God is saying, “It doesn’t matter if the whole country turns against you, Jeremiah. All that matters is that my presence is with you. Be confident of that!”

Seek him with all your heart and desire his presence in your daily life. Then you will experience the incredible glory of God.