Emmanuel Church West Dulwich

Emmanuel Church West Dulwich A Church of England church in the middle of Clive Rd. Join us Sunday mornings at 10am for all-age Holy Communion services.

31/07/2020

July 31, 2020

An Identity Worth Fighting For

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

In 1 Peter 5:8-11, God gives us the condition necessary for remaining victorious over Satan and his schemes: Be sober, be vigilant—don't let Satan deceive you. To heed this command, we must spend time with our Father. Spending time with the Lord and His Word is the only way to equip ourselves in the knowledge of God's love, Christ's victory, and our identity in Him.

Do not take lightly Satan's desire to destroy you. Do not be flippant about your time with the Lord and His Word. The Scriptures are filled with examples of great men and women who failed to see the traps set for them.

The apostle Peter knew personally what it meant to be ambushed by our enemy, and he didn't want us to make the same mistake. The Lord had told him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times" (see Matthew 26:34), but Peter failed to heed Christ's warning—and he found himself ambushed.

Yet, Peter also knew what it meant to be restored. Have you ever been blindsided by temptation? Take heart! "[T]he God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, . . . will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast" (1 Peter 5:10). The Lord can restore to you what the enemy has stolen.

Satan wants us to be so numb with activity that we have no time for anything else. Therefore, we must resist him and call on the Lord. We must be sober-minded and vigilant.

God, in His grace, is ready to give you the victory—empowering you to overcome Satan's schemes to devour your faith. And His Word is one of your greatest weapons. Therefore, meditate on what He has done and how He has transformed your identity—and be encouraged. Spiritual warfare may be our reality as long as we live in this world, but Christ has already won the ultimate victory on the cross.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for neglecting to spend time with You and in Your Word. Give me the strength to seek Your face, that I may stand firm against Satan, remembering I am a child of the victorious King. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

30/07/2020

July 29, 2020

Leading a Purposeful Life

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Psalm 27:4 says, "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." And the Lord Jesus said to Martha as she busied herself with preparations that she was "worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one" (Luke 10:41-42).

Read 1 Peter 4:1-6. If we have been transformed by Christ, we are meant to live for Christ—to glorify Him forever. When this is our ultimate aim, three things occur: We become mentally prepared, spiritually powerful, and ultimately approved.

First, if your purpose in life is to glorify God, you will be mentally prepared for any circumstance—including suffering. The agony of the cross could not deter Jesus from accomplishing His purpose. "For the joy set before him he endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). In the same way, when we fix our eyes on eternity, we will be ready to submit to the will of God regardless of the cost.

Second, armed with Christ's attitude, you will be spiritually empowered to resist temptation. When you set your mind on pleasing God alone, you will not be caught off guard so easily by sin. Instead, you will rest in His mercy and grace, overcoming past and present sins, so that you can say with Paul: "[O]ne thing I do: . . . I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

Finally, when your life is defined by glorifying, praising, and pleasing Jesus, you will be ultimately approved by the Lord on the day of accountability. When Jesus returns, those of us in Christ will escape His judgment. However, we still must answer for the way we lived our lives. On that day, we will be held accountable for whether we lived for ourselves or lived for Him who died for us (see Matthew 12:36).

Are you living a life that is glorifying God? It is never too late to seek after His purpose for your life. Ask for God's help today to live for Him—for He is the one thing you need most.

Prayer: Jesus, I know You are the one thing I need above all else. I long to live for You. Give me the strength and wisdom to live a life that honors You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:2).

28/07/2020

July 28, 2020

True Heroism

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

In 1 Peter 2:19-25, the apostle Peter shows us what Christlikeness truly is. He says that when it comes to true heroism, we need look no further than Jesus. And if we are to be followers of Christ, Peter gives us three areas in which we must emulate Him.

Following Jesus means that we do not repay evil for evil, even when we feel justified doing so. In the context of an utter dictatorship where Christians had no recourse when they suffered injustice, Peter called fellow believers to imitate Christ, who "did not retaliate; . . . [and] made no threats" (1 Peter 2:23).

Following Jesus means that we wait patiently for God's justice. No sin escapes God's notice. His Word assures us again and again that Jesus will return as the supreme judge. Not as the one who was insulted and slapped in the face, but as the God of power and might. Not as the one who helplessly hung on a cross, but as the Lion of Judah who is going to make His enemies His footstool. He will bring complete and final justice.

Following Jesus means that we must never compromise Biblical Truth, regardless of the cost. God provides only one way for sin to be dealt with: through confession and repentance. Only Christ's stripes can mend our brokenness. Only His death can raise us to new life. No matter what suffering comes our way, this Truth remains. So let us stand firm in it.

Christian, you have been called to emulate Christ. Are you following in His footsteps? He has called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light; is it not glorious? Do not be burdened with the injustices of this world. But by the power of the Holy Spirit, love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, and trust God even when you face trials and suffering. Remember the care of your Father who did not spare even His own Son, and look forward to the day when He will wipe away every tear.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy of all praise. Your love is astounding; Your hope is glorious. Help me to trust in You, looking to the cross for my strength, peace, and joy. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23).

27/07/2020

July 27, 2020

God's Stamp of Approval

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Do you ever find yourself absorbed in the activities of life and wonder how you became so busy? Many people overextend themselves to the point of exhaustion. When asked why they are rushing here and there, they answer that they are just keeping up with the normal details of life.

As amazing as it may seem, it is not unusual to find people doing all kinds of unnecessary "work" in the church. Maybe they are trying to reach a level of acceptance in God's eyes or seeking to please another person.

Striving to gain the approval of others is stressful at best. Trying to gain God's approval is useless. This is because God has already placed His stamp of approval on your life and nothing you do can cause Him to love you more than He does right now. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you gain everything there is to gain of God's love. Even before you were created in your mother's womb, God loved you fully and completely.

This world has nothing of lasting value to offer us. All of our striving and rushing to gain approval results in only one thing: emptiness of heart and soul. Satan tries to make us believe that through our good works or our smart appearance someone will love us more. Nothing could be further from the Truth.

Don't allow the enemy to entice you into believing you are unacceptable. God accepts you just the way you are. All He longs for you to do is to love Him with a whole heart. When you truly understand your acceptance in Christ and experience the everlasting love of God, you will obey the Lord as an expression of your love.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me even when I act unlovable. Forgive me for the times when I turn away from You. I surrender my life to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).

26/07/2020

July 26, 2020

An Eternal Identity

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

If you have been raised with Christ, the Lord wants to begin to change the source of your security and confidence. He wants to change your focus from the natural to the supernatural. For your life is hidden with God in Christ, and you must no longer find your identity in earthly things.

Jesus loves us so much that He died on the cross for us. He knows that if we find our identity in anything other than Him, our identity can be shaken. So He uses all possible means to transform our identity, and He is in the process of giving us an identity far more glorious than any other. Whatever He removes from you, He will replace with something far greater than you could ever hope for or imagine. And when you place your whole identity in Him, what was once shaken will stand strong and secure through life's tests and trials.

As we walk with Jesus, He reveals who we really are through His Word, which is why it is so vital for us to be in His Word every day. There will be times of struggle—but take heart. The Lord has unending grace and compassion; He will lead you every step of the way.

Are you willing to let go of all the worldly things that define you? Only then can you rest fully in your identity as a child of God. Only then will the storms of life cease to shake you when you fall short—a misstep at work, a financial hit, a crisis in the home. As we mature in faith, God lovingly strips us of our idols—those fragile and fickle identities—so that we might find our worth and refuge in Him alone. He does for us what it is impossible for us to do ourselves: to trust and depend only upon Him, which is the work of the Spirit in our lives (see Ephesians 2:8).

Take some time to pray and ask God where your sense of security lies. Whatever it may be, may the grace of God lead you to exchange your earthly source of identity for true acceptance in Him, complete confidence in Him, and the glorious riches of His inheritance.

Prayer: Father, show me the worldly things in which I try to find my worth. I repent of my pride in these things and thank You for the new identity You have given me in Christ. May I boast only in my Savior. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).

26/07/2020

July 25, 2020

The Transformation of Peter

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

One of the clearest pictures of identity transformation in the Bible is found in the life of the apostle Peter. Before Christ, Peter found his sense of security in his own competence and self-reliance. His occupation as an expert fisherman of the Sea of Galilee and his courage were the sources of his confidence—his very identity. So Jesus made sure to sanctify Peter in these two areas of his life.

Read Luke 5:1-11. In this passage, Jesus humbled Peter with a miraculous catch that demonstrated His lordship, obliterating any boast Peter might have had in his expertise as a fisherman. Jesus' actions were not malicious; rather, He was preparing Peter, as He is preparing you, to do great and mighty things for Him. He humbled Peter on the Sea of Galilee—the source of his false security—in order that he would find his eternal security as a child of the King.

Over time, Peter began to trust in Christ's sufficiency instead of his own. When Jesus called Peter out of the boat and onto the water, Peter believed that if the Lord had commanded him, he could do it. Even though he lost his focus on Christ and began to sink, this moment demonstrated how much Peter's faith and confidence in Jesus had already grown.

Jesus knew that Peter's courage would fail a final time. He knew, so He told Peter, "[T]his very night, . . . you will deny me three times" (Matthew 26:34). But even after this betrayal, Jesus restored Peter. Sitting by the very Sea of Galilee in which Peter had once found his identity, Jesus asked him, "Peter, do you truly love Me?" The old Peter would have said, "Oh Lord, I love You. I will die for You!" But the new, transformed Peter humbly replied, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you" (John 21:17, emphasis added).

Jesus will strip us of our earthly identity so that He can replace it with something greater. Many of us may be in the middle of our own stories of transformation. Be encouraged! By the end of his story, Peter had exchanged independence for dependence, false courage for trust, and self-confidence for reliance on Christ. And on the Day of Pentecost, it was a transformed Peter that preached to the multitudes and saw 3,000 people give their lives to Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your patient work of transformation in my life. Help me overcome my unbelief that prevents me from trusting in You completely. Make my life a testimony to Your love as I build my life on Your faithful promises. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"And we all, . . . are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

24/07/2020

July 24, 2020

Pride Before a Fall

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Peter's denial of Christ was a horrendous failure. Only hours before, he had confessed that Jesus was the Son of God. Then he claimed that he did not even know the Lord.

At some point, each of us has fallen into temptation. This is exactly what happened to Peter. Pridefully, he had said, "Even if all fall away, I will not" (Mark 14:29). Peter's intentions were honorable. After all, Jesus had changed Peter's name for a purpose—he became Petra, meaning "the rock."

Jesus was direct with Peter: "[T]oday—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times" (Mark 14:30). Peter, however, persisted to tell Jesus that he never would leave His side. Later that evening, he ran from the Lord out of fear of arrest.

Peter was not the only one that night to make this promise. Mark writes, "And all the others said the same" (Mark 14:31). We often associate the denial of Christ only with Peter, but the Truth is that each of us would have been tempted to do the same.

Later, Peter wrote a letter to other believers who were facing tremendous trials, temptations, and sorrows. He told them:
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, . . . And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:8-10)

In humility, make it your goal to live a holy life. Ask God to protect you and to give you the strength and wisdom you need to honor God and stand against Satan's attacks.

Prayer: Lord, my desire is to live a holy life. Please protect me from the enemy and grant me the strength and wisdom to stand against temptation. When I fail, help me not to give up but to let Your love carry me through. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

23/07/2020

July 23, 2020

Overcoming Your Fears

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

When we cry out to God, He will listen to us. God loves to hear the cries of His children who seek to grow in faith. The psalmist declared, "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4). When we realize our own inadequacies and our total dependence on God, we take a first step in overcoming our fears. We can be confident that a prayer for faith is one that will be answered.

God will help us when we acknowledge our fears in prayer. He wants us to share with Him the cause of our concerns. Even when we don't know the source of our anxiety, the Holy Spirit will work on our behalf when we seek His help. We may fool the people around us with a brave face, but our masks never fool God. He knows what is in our hearts, and He wants us to confess those fears to Him.

Once you have confessed your fears out, begin praying faith in. Turn to the Word of God and incorporate His promises into your prayers. Draw strength from God's promises as Abraham did: "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised" (Romans 4:20-21).

Pray for God's power in your life. Part of the reason for Jesus' time here on earth was to demonstrate His power. He showed us that God's Messiah has power to redeem us from our sins, to heal diseases, and to still whatever storms we face in life. God wants to show us that power today. He waits until we run out of human solutions before manifesting His power to His children. When we try to draw on our own strength, peace, and sufficiency instead of God's, we end up in stormy waters. Only the power of God, which sustains the universe, can sustain us in every circumstance we face.

Prayer: God, I know that I need Your help in overcoming my fears. Thank You for making Your power available to me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

22/07/2020

July 22, 2020

Fear and Anxiety

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Fear comes in many forms, including panic, dread, and worry. Ultimately, fear is a lack of trust in God. Anxiety is a preoccupation with unimportant things and a false reasoning that if those things are resolved, life will be great. You may find yourself falling into this trap when you say things such as, "If only I had 'x' number of dollars, I would finally have peace."

Spiritually, fear can drive you away from God. And anxiety may cause you to do one of two things: You may either spin your wheels, trying to achieve what you feel is lacking, or begin doubting God's love for you.

Ironically, sometimes our fear actually brings about the thing we fear the most. We fear rejection, so we avoid taking the risk of reaching out to others. We then become isolated, which causes us to appear arrogant, so that others begin to avoid us. Thus our fear brings about the rejection that we feared in the beginning.

When we let our fears and anxieties dominate our emotions and behaviors, peace will seem out of reach. This will remain true as long as we seek peace in our own strength. Psalm 29:11 says, "The LORD gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace."

Where do you seek peace? In striving for perfect, conflict-free relationships? In knowing you have more money than you could possibly need? In feeling accepted by those around you? Peace can only come from God’s righteousness working within us, for He alone is constant and unchanging. He will never fail to do what He has promised. So, no person can have peace apart from a daily filling of the Spirit of God, who gives us eyes to see and believe these Truths.

Prayer: God, forgive me for being afraid of life circumstances as a result of not trusting You. I pray that Your Spirit will fill me with peace today and that I would not allow fear and anxiety to dominate my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:27).

22/07/2020

God’s Peace Is for You

As God’s children, peace is our inheritance from Jesus—it’s part of who we are in Him. And that peace “which transcends all understanding” (see Philippians 4:7) is greater than anything this world can possibly offer. God wants you to experience it every single day of your life. That kind of peace is found only in a relationship with Him. It’s based on keeping our focus on Jesus and pursuing an intimate relationship with Him. Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” (see Isaiah 9:6), and as we spend time with Him in His Word, through prayer or by simply sitting quietly in His presence, He imparts His peace and rest to us.

No matter what you’re going through today—no matter how stressful things are or regardless of how things may look for the future—always remember that God loves you. He is your Source of peace and rest, and He’s your answer for the stress and pressures of life.

John 14:27

21/07/2020

July 21, 2020

Fear Not

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

During the time of the prophet Isaiah, the people of God were going through a difficult time of upheaval, insecurity, and loss. But God's promise to them 2,700 years ago remains a promise for us today: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned" (Isaiah 43:1-2).

Over and over in Scripture, God assures His people to fear not. In the heat of battle and in moments of deep disappointment, God assures us that we have no reason to allow fear to intimidate, confuse, or defeat us.

Read Matthew 10:24-31. As Jesus was preparing the disciples for ministry, He provided three pivotal fear nots that we can cling to in our own moments of doubt:

Fear not, for the Truth will ultimately triumph. In verse 26, Jesus said: "So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known." Jesus encouraged the disciples that even amidst persecution, they did not need to be afraid. Why? Because God has promised to vindicate His faithful children. God has promised to ultimately exalt righteousness and judge sin.

Fear not because heaven is your destination. In verse 28, Jesus told the disciples, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." Standing firm for the Gospel can be costly. But as children of the living God, we have nothing to fear on this earth because our eternal destination is secure in Christ.

Fear not because God has everything under control. In verses 29 and 30, Jesus said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." If God sustains the smallest of birds and takes interest in the smallest details of our lives, how much more does He take interest in providing for our needs?

When you find yourself in deep waters, remember that God will not let you drown. Trust in Him, and you will experience His presence in ways you could never have experienced in ten storm-less lifetimes.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your promises! Help me to obey Your command to fear not and to trust in Your faithfulness and power—even when it seems that all hope is lost. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid" (Psalm 56:3-4).

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96 Clive Road
London
SE218

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