The Word For Today - Pastor Chuck Smith

12/31/2023

GOD'S INVITATION

And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
--Revelation 22:17

The marvelous book--God's very Word--ends with an invitation. "Let him that hears say, 'come!'"

Once you have heard the message of God's love and received His forgiveness, once you've experienced the wonder and the joy of walking in fellowship with Him, then you also find yourself wanting to give the invitation to others.

"And let him who thirsts come." John tells us that at the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus stood and cried, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7:37). The thirst Jesus spoke about was not physical. He spoke of that universal thirst that lies deep within the spirit of man. It is the thirst that David spoke about when he said, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God" (Psalm 42:1). It's the thirst for God.

Man's problem is that he tries to satisfy the thirst for God with physical and emotional experiences or possessions. But temporary things cannot satisfy that thirst. God is freely offering to fill that void in your life. He wants you to have intimate fellowship with Him so that His living water fills you to overflowing. Only then will that thirst in you be quenched.

GOD IS INVITING YOU TO A RICH, ABUNDANT LIFE--A LIFE WITH HIM. WILL YOU ACCEPT THE INVITATION? WILL YOU COME?

Lord, thank You for being the God who pursues. Help us to respond to Your invitation and enter into a deeper, more intimate relationship with You. We acknowledge, Lord, that only You can satisfy our thirst. Amen.

Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom For Today
TWFT.com

12/30/2023

THE TRUE AND FAITHFUL WORD OF GOD

Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
--Revelation 21:15

Sometimes the things God prophesies are so amazing, He finds it necessary to confirm that His Word is true.

In Ezekiel chapter 36 God prophesied the redevelopment of the land of Israel. He described how the bare mountains would be covered again with trees, and how the fields would again bring forth their fruit for the people. After making these amazing predictions, God said, "I have spoken it and I will do it." It took Him almost 2,500 years to do it, but He has done it. This little land, smaller than New Jersey, is the fourth largest exporter of fruit and vegetables in the world.

PROPHECIES ARE BEING FULFILLED BEFORE OUR VERY EYES.

As Jesus told His disciples of the things that would transpire at the end of the age, He said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away" (Matthew 24:35).

Week after week, newspaper headlines chronicle the fact that God keeps HIs word.

What is God affirming to be true here in the twenty-first chapter of Revelation? "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son" (21:6-7).

Father, thank You for Your glorious promises, whereby we are made partakers of eternal life in Your kingdom.

IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.

Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom For Today
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12/29/2023

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.
--Revelation 20:11

People often think they are getting away with their sin because no one seems to know. But God knows. He sees it all--every thought, every action, every secret deed. And as the Bible tells us, "God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:14). In that day, the books will be opened, and each man will be judged by the things written in those books--even the secret things he has said and done.

But there is another book called the Book of Life, and that is the one you want your name recorded in. For those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. But those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and received Him as their Lord and Savior will be saved.

WHEN WE STAND AT THAT GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT OF GOD AND HEAR OUR NAMES CALLED, WE NEED NOT FEAR.

The Word tells us that, "We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). On that day, Jesus will step forward and say, "Father, this one belongs to Me. Charge this child's sin to My account." And in that moment, each of us who belong to Jesus will be declared justified. Our names will be found in the Book of Life, we will be welcomed into heaven, and our eternity with our Savior will begin.

Thank You, Father, for the wonderful work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. May we live to bring You glory.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom For Today
TWFT.com

12/28/2023

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.
--Revelation 19:7

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul said, "For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:2).

In those days, marriages were arranged because parents felt the decision was too important for a child to make. Paul, speaking as a father to the Corinthian church, tells them the arrangement has already been made. They are betrothed to Christ.

Revelation chapter 19 describes marriage of the Lamb to His bride, the church. "His wife has made herself ready." In this heavenly scene, the espousal period is over, and the time has come for the marriage ceremony. Every wedding has a bride. We read here that the bride of Christ is "arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright." And we are told that the fine linen "is the righteous acts of the saints."

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST WILL BE DRESSED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Isaiah said regarding our self-righteousness: "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). When we present ourselves to Jesus, we can either wear our own filthy rags--which represents our best efforts at righteousness--or we can wear the beautiful, clean, white garments of a bride--the righteousness of Jesus Christ through faith.

What will you choose to wear when you meet your Groom? Are you dressed in your own righteousness today, or His?

Father, we thank You that we can be clothed in Your righteousness, and that through Christ, we can stand before You, holy, pure and clean.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom For Today
TWFT.com

12/27/2023

GREAT AND MARVELOUS ARE HIS WORKS

"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."
--Revelation 15:3-4

It is very likely that every one of the singers of this song had been martyred for their faith. By the time John sees and hears them in this heavenly scene, these faithful believers had stood firm against the Antichrist--who ordered everyone on earth to receive a mark on either the right hand or the forehead--and had lost their life because of their refusal to obey. But though they experienced death, they escaped the judgments to come upon the earth. And now here they are heaven, standing before the throne of God and offering Him praise.

The song these martyrs sing is a song of victory. Though Satan raged against them, God gave them victory over the powers of darkness, and the beautiful lyrics that spring forth are lyrics motivated by awe and gratitude. "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!" How worthy He is to receive our worship!

THE SONG OF THE LAMB--A BEAUTIFUL SONG OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE FOR THE ONE WHO SHOWS MERCY AND GRACE TO THE LOST.

Lord, we are so grateful that we have come to know You and to experience Your love and compassion. May we be faithful in our service to You always.
In Jesus' Name, Amen

Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom For Today
TWFT.com

12/26/2023

OVERCOMING THE ENEMY

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail...
--Revelation 12:7-8

The enemy we face is one of the most powerful of all of God's created beings. Note, however, that he is merely a created being. People sometimes consider Satan to be God's opposite, equal opponent. That is not true. Satan is in opposition to God, he is opposed to the people of God and the things of God, but he is not the opposite of God.

THOUGH OUR ENEMY IS POWERFUL, HE IS NOT INVINCIBLE.

In today's passage, we see him being overcome by Michael, the archangel of God, who has been at war with Satan through the centuries. We read that "the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail." And Satan will not prevail against you either if you belong to God. As Jesus promised Peter, "On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

Though Satan strategizes against you, though he works tirelessly and relentlessly to try to arouse your fleshly nature and pull you away from God, he can't prevail against you if you arm yourself with Christ. You're no match for Satan on your own strength. You dare not try to face him on your own. But you can stand in the strength of the Lord. You can overcome through the cross of Jesus Christ, which gives us victory over the powers of darkness.

Lord, we are so thankful that because we dwell in You, we are shielded from the enemy; the wicked one cannot touch us. Thank You for the victory You provided on the cross.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom For Today
TWFT.com

12/25/2023

The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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12/25/2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE

CalvaryTruths.com ccTheHarvest.com Jesus loves you! Pastor Chuck Smith teaches us a Bible Study on "What Christmas Means to Me, Psalm Luke 2:1-20"

12/23/2023

HARDENED HEARTS

But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by those plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands...And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their s*xual immorality or their thefts.
--Revelation 9:20-21

Revelation 9 tells of the fifth and sixth trumpet judgements in which hell is opened and demonic forces invade the earth, killing one-third of the earth's inhabitants. You would think that the remainder of the people would be on their faces crying out to God for mercy, repenting of their sin. But such is not the case. They actually blaspheme God, and refuse to repent of their sin. But such is not the case. They actually blaspheme God, and refuse to repent of their worship of Satan.

TODAY, THE SAME IDOLS IN THE BIBLE ARE WORSHIPED.

It is easy to shake our heads at those in Bible times who foolishly worshiped false idols, but Revelation makes it clear that men will continue to worship idols all the way through the tribulation period. Those same idols are still worshipped today.

If you worship your intellect, you are worshiping Baal, the god of intellect. If you worship pleasure, then you are worshipping Molech, the god of pleasure. If you are worshiping power--the drive to reach the top, even if it means crushing people beneath you--then you are worshiping Mammon, the god of power. If you are worshiping s*x, then you are worshiping Ashtoreth, the goddess of s*x.

How do you know if you are worshiping any of those gods? You can tell by what absorbs your time, your thoughts, your energy--life.

Search your heart. What are you worshiping?

Lord, may we be quick to repent and to call upon You for the forgiveness that You have so wonderfully provided through Your Son and our Lord Jesus Christ.
In His Name we Pray, Amen.

12/22/2023

THE FRAGRANCE OF PRAYER

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
--Revelation 8:3

What an awesome gift prayer is. To think that the Creator of the universe has granted us an audience with Himself is almost unbelievable. Prayer is a privilege. And we are told that God values our prayers so much, they rise to Him as a sweet fragrance.

Prayer is worship. It is sitting at God's feet, loving Him, adoring Him, opening your heart, and letting Him open His heart to you. I believe this kind of worshipful prayer--communing with God friend to Friend-is the highest form of prayer.

ARE YOU USING THE GIFT GOD GAVE YOU?

Probably the most common form of prayer is petition. This is where we seek God's help, provision, or guidance for our lives. We all have needs, and it is perfectly proper to bring those needs to God.

Prayer is also intercession. It is going beyond our own needs to lift up the needs of others.

Prayer is a dialogue. It is God speaking to you, as well as you speaking to God. It's important to hear from God as well as to speak to Him.

Are you worshiping through prayer, petitioning through prayer, interceding through prayer, and hearing God through prayer?

Are you offering God the sweet fragrance of prayer?

Father, forgive us for wasting so much time in pursuit of worthless things. Let our hearts be attuned to the things of the Spirit as we lift our voices, express our praise, and spend time with You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom For Today
TWFT.com

12/21/2023

THE MAN OF SIN

And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer (Revelation 6:2).

When the Antichrist comes to power, he will be a pawn in Satan's hands. Through this false Christ, Satan will have complete control of the world. Using Satan's power, the Antichrist will win the world's trust and admiration through miraculous signs and wonders. And the false prophet who accompanies this man of sin will cause the world to worship the Antichrist--the "beast" (Revelation 13:12-13).

JESUS WARNED THAT IN THE LAST DAYS, MANY WOULD BE DECEIVED.

Israel today is ripe for that deception. They are waiting for their Messiah. If you ask them, "How will you know your Messiah?" Their stock answer is, "He will lead us in the rebuilding of the temple." That is an open door for deception. All the Antichrist has to do is make a treaty that enables the Jews to rebuild their temple--and they will believe he is their Messiah.

Scripture tell us that after three-and-a-half years, the Antichrist will brazenly enter the Holy of Holies and demand to be worshiped as God. The Jews will flee to the wilderness where God will preserve them through the last three-and-a-years, as the Antichrist goes to make war against the remnant of Israel.

Thankfully, we--the bride of Christ--won't be here to see or experience this time of terror. But those who reject the Lord and despise the truth will indeed suffer the consequences of their choice.

Father, we pray for those sitting on the fence right now--those who have not yet committed their lives to You. May You reach them by Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom For Today
TWFT.com

12/20/2023

WHO IS WORTHY?

Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seal?"
--Revelation 5:2

In the Old Testament, God established certain laws concerning redemption. If you owed a debt you couldn't' pay, you could be sold as a slave in order to pay off that debt. If you had a sympathetic relative, they could pay the debt for you and set you free. Such a relative was called the "goel," or the "kinsman redeemer." The same law held true for property issues. If you needed to sell your field, the "goel" could redeem the field for you.

When John recognizes that no one has been found worthy to redeem the earth back from Satan's clutches, he begins to sob. But then an elder tells him, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals" (Revelation 5:5). Jesus was worthy to take the scroll. He paid the price to redeem us from our sin, and to redeem the world from the powers of darkness.

IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THIS SCENE PLAYS OUT IN HEAVEN.

It is just a matter of time before this redemption comes due, and Jesus will step forth to loose the seals and declare that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15).

Father, we thank You for the glorious salvation that Jesus Christ purchased for us at such a great price; that as a result of this redemption we have hope for Your coming kingdom.

In Jesus' Name We Pray, Amen.

Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom For Today

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