Bob's
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Friday - September 29, 2006 Two weeks ago in church on Sunday morning, a young girl accepted Jesus as her Savior during the time of congregational prayer. I asked people to introduce themselves to a person next to them and ask them if they had a prayer need. A member of our church asked the person they were praying with if they would like to accept Jesus as their Lord. The person said "yes." They were led in a sinner's prayer and were surprised at how easy the new birth was. I have kept up with the young girl who was saved and her life has been a daily miracle since that Sunday. We cannot be surprised when we go to church, thinking everyone in attendance is a Christian. Even the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 14 that the purpose of God's anointing and spiritual gifts is to bring the sinner to the realization of the presence of God. So, this means we are to take the gospel to the highways, hedges and church pew. Be prepared to ask any stranger if they have accepted Jesus, even if you are in church. Then expect a supernatural harvest.
Thursday - September 28, 2006 I sat beside a young girl on the plane flying from Dallas to Tokyo last week. She lived in Austin, Texas and worked for Dell computers and was on her way to the factory in Taipei. Her father lived in Malaysia and her mother in Bangladesh. She was raised with her mother in Bangladesh and had only moved to the U.S. in her teen years to attend college in Atlanta. After telling her I was the pastor of a church, I asked her if she had ever been around Christians. She told me she knew many missionaries growing up and had a Baptist roommate in college. The roommate had many of her Baptist friends over during the school year. I then asked her if she had ever had the gospel presented to her. To my surprise, she said "no." After I took a few minutes to tell her the simplicity of the new birth, she told me she wanted to think about it. I am praying for her to receive Jesus soon. What shocked me was that she had never heard the gospel after living around Christians. But, on the other hand, maybe I should not be shocked. How many of us have lived around unbelievers and never told them the simple news of Jesus' love for and His sacrifice for them? I am afraid it is too many.
Wednesday - September 27, 2006 I just returned from a minister's conference in Manila. I was one of four ministers from the U.S. who came to speak to 1800 pastors from across the Philippines. As we drove through Manila to the conference I saw more people living in poverty than most other countries I had visited. The pastors live in extreme conditions with very little income from their congregations. Most have to work outside their church to help maintain their lives. Yet, these ministers know revival is coming from God. So many missionaries have been in the Philippines for so many years, the seeds have been sown, churches have flourished and an expectation has arisen for a move of God. They would even like to turn the Philippines into a missionary sending nation. They are hungry to know more of God's Word and they are also desirous to break from American support to become self-supporting. Please keep them in your prayers. They deserve God's best.
Tuesday - September 26, 2006 Being offended is the number one reason why people leave churches, turn from God, and fall into bitterness. In the parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus said, ".when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended" (Mark 4:17). Offenses are usually molehills that become magnified into mountains! Often they occur in small areas-little irritations that fester into open sores. In local churches, believers can be offended by the color of the carpet, the loudness of the music, the type of worship songs sung, or how the pastor and his wife dress. Satan loves to use these side issues to divert us off the path. Ironically, the more material blessing we have in a church, it seems, the more opportunities we have for taking offense. Remember, an offense is usually a non-issue taken seriously. Why don't you choose today to keep focused on the primary reason you are a part of your local church-to receive the greatest gifts of all-eternal life and the eternal Word of God!
Monday - September 25, 2006 When we receive salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit as a Person. We have a real and intimate relationship with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit at the time we are born again. The Holy Spirit in us gives us life at the time of salvation, but through the infilling (Acts 2:3-4) the Holy Spirit on us gives us power to live the Christian life. Before the day of Pentecost, Peter was afraid to admit he even knew Jesus to a young girl warming her hands at the time of Jesus' betrayal. Yet, after being clothed with power by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up and boldly preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to 3000 people! The same power believers needed in the early church is needed for believers today. There is a world of hurting people who are in desperate need of ministry. They do not need a list of impossible rules and empty philosophies from powerless Christians, but powerful demonstrations of the only true and living God! If you are filled with the Holy Spirit do not neglect that gift! If you are not filled, you can receive this gift today. For a more detailed explanation, go to www.precepts.com and click on the tab that says "Find Help."
Friday - September 22, 2006 Did you know that before God gave Adam a family, He gave him a job?! Adam learned to provide for and protect the family he was yet to have. The work ethic was already part of his life when Eve was brought to him in marriage. Man worked before the fall and will continue to work into the millennial reign of Jesus. The result of the fall for the man was difficulty, adversity, and sometimes pain in his career. His business would face opposition and although he could still prosper, it would cost him some sweat. Satan's attack today is still primarily on the man. The same devil that was at work in the garden is still at work today. It is time for more men to rise up as godly leaders in their homes, businesses, and nation. I'm challenging men today to be all God has called you to be!
Thursday - September 21, 2006 God has always intended that heaven and earth work together. He wants His will to be done "on earth as it is in heaven." Whatever we "bind on earth, will be bound in heaven," and whatever we "loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven." The Bible tells us that the entire universe is held together and sustained by the spoken Word of God. It has always been God's intention that creatures in heaven and earth form an antiphonal, echoing praise and worship back and forth from both worlds. Did you know we can have a little bit of heaven on earth? Why don't you join the host of heaven and the saints that have gone before us in praising God today? The God who created the heavens, the earth, and you and me deserves our praise!
Wednesday - September 20, 2006 Love for people is the very reason Jesus was sent into this earth to bring redemption. Although God hates sin, He loves sinners. Jesus hates adultery, but loved, with God's love (agape), the woman caught in adultery. When this woman repented, Jesus did not condemn her but simply said, "Go, and sin no more." The work of the cross will not only make you free, it will keep you free! It is possible to come out of any sin-adultery, fornication, homosexuality, pornography-PERMANENTLY! If you have been sinning, you don't have to stay there! You can be free! Jesus did not exclude you from His plan of redemption. Only Satan would tell you that God does not care. Only the devil would say that you cannot be forgiven because your sins are worse than anyone else's. If you have been trapped in sin, why don't you ask God to forgive you today? First John 1:9 is for every child of God. Then determine to read and study your Bible daily. Make sure you are in church where you can be strengthened in God's Word. If you don't have a church home and live in the Tulsa area, my wife Loretta and I would love for you to visit Grace Church. Make the decision today to turn toward God and away from sin. He is waiting for you with open arms!
Tuesday - September 19, 2006 A calling is something God ordained from before the foundation of the earth. It is a part of our make-up from conception. God does not place a calling on us when we get born again. Our calling and our ministry are there from eternity past. Paul told us he was called by God's grace from his mother's womb. Whether a person ever receives the Lord, God has a ministry for them. Just as surely as John knew his calling, we can know ours also. While a ministry is not something we can pick, choose, and then believe for, it is something we can depend on God to reveal. He knew before we were ever born what our spiritual and natural make-up would be, and He also knew where He wanted to place us in the body of Christ. If you haven't discovered your calling or just need clarification about where God has called you to operate in the body of Christ, why don't you ask Him today? He is faithful and will show you!
Monday - September 18, 2006 I am leaving today for Manila. I will be ministering with David Shibley to a vast number of Philippine pastors in the capital city. Pray for me for strength, physically and spiritually, a minimum of jet lag so I can sleep and be refreshed, and for the ears of the ministers who attend. If they will hear, the word will change their ministry and give many of them new hope. Then pray for me as I return. I will be arriving back in Tulsa this Saturday. I want to be able to sleep on the plane so I will be ready to minister to you, the congregation, on Sunday. I thank you ahead of time for standing with me. Together we will see rewards on earth and one day in heaven too. Thank you for holding my arms up in prayer. Together we will see victory and the armies of the enemy defeated.
Friday - September 15, 2006 It's good to check yourself each day for spiritual growth. Just like we measure our children as they grow, we need to see if we have added "spiritual inches" to our lives today. Have you taken time to open God's word today and study it? If not, are you presently reading a book or listening to a c.d. of a sermon. Faith and it's growth can only come through a deeper understanding of God's word. Have you prayed today? Your spiritual link to heaven is more critical today than ever before. There are more distractions and temptations today than ever before. We need the power of the Holy Spirit which can only come through prayer and fellowship time with the Father. Have you taken time to worship God today? Worship does not mention needs to God or thank Him for specific things we enjoy in life. Worship just spends time with God enjoying Who He is. With that checklist, I hope you can end this day with some spiritual growth. Then, tomorrow, I will pray you will take a fresh account of yourself and make growth a daily goal. It can only do you good.
Thursday - September 14, 2006 Our entire country has taken account of our increased safety achievements during the past five years. September 11, 2001 was only five years ago. Everyone is saying it is the day that changed the United States and the world. I believe it has changed us for the good. It has opened our eyes to evil in the world and those who are possessed and driven by that evil. The world has it's checklist of changes we have seen in travel, school and business. As believers we should have a checklist also of our newfound awareness of evil in the world. We should be more compassionate toward the Muslims of the world and the struggles they go through each day just trying to live without being killed or taken in by terrorists of the Muslim religion. Those who live in major countries of the world are going through an identity crisis as they try to live peacefully with other races. We should also have a deeper trust in God to protect us when we travel or go to work each day. Our trust is not in ourselves for our protection, but in God. Finally, we should have a more abiding peace knowing that terrorists will not have the last word, Jesus will at His coming. We can look up for our redemption is nearer each day.
Wednesday - September 13, 2006 I hope you are more aware of angels this week. I began a new series last Sunday, God's Messengers, on the subject of angels. I have been praying for you to become more aware of God's protection. One of the great ways God protects you is through angels. There are so many of them and a great number of them are surrounding you throughout the day. They are with you right now. If you are aware of them, you can begin to see their hand in your everyday life. Perhaps the good fortune you are having today is not just chance, but God ordained and carried out through angels. When you have an opportunity, look up some scriptures on angels and meditate on them. Expand your understanding and awareness of God's messengers.
Tuesday - September 12, 2006 Sunday night, T.L. Osborn showed us what has made him great. At 83 years old, he is still excited about the gospel and the simplicity of salvation and healing. He talked about how the devil runs when he begins his meetings. His love for people and seeing them come into God's family is a reminder to us of our need to fulfill the Great Commission. It was not given only to the evangelist but to all of us as believers. Sharing the gospel is simple and so rewarding. I pray for you, the congregation, daily that you would take the spreading of the gospel seriously and the needs of the world seriously also. The disciples told Jesus one time, "where shall we go. Only you have the words of eternal life". Since the resurrection, that is not completely true. Each believer has the words of eternal life. It has been given to us to give away. Someone shared with you one day and your life was changed. Don't let it stop with you. Let it begin with you and be completed in the lives of others. I have confidence in you that you will do just that.
Monday - September 11, 2006 Today is September 11th. This will be forever known as a day that changed the world, not only a nation. Flying has changed and security has changed across the country. You can't just get on a plane like you used to do. Now you have to arrive early and be checked out and inspected by security guards. Yet, it is worth it. Terrorists will not win. They are doomed to destruction. So many parts of our lives have been affected and changed because of this date and what it means. But, God has not changed. His Word has not changed. His Holy Spirit has not changed and our future is still intact. Heaven is a reality which cannot change and you and I as believers will be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ forever. The changes of life are only temporary. They will one day be gone and we will enter into the changeless eternity. That should make this day a little more tolerable. You can actually rejoice and give thanks today, September 11th. Our protection and security is in the hands of our unchanging Heavenly Father.
Friday - September 8, 2006 This Sunday is a full day of blessings. After the Sunday morning services, we have a car and bike show beginning at 3:00 pm. This is a great time to invite your friends to come and see some beautiful hot rods, street rods, custom cars and motorcycles. There will be refreshments and entertainment as well as a good time to see friends and meet new people. Sunday evening, T.L. Osborn will be with us for a great service. What a great soul-winner and evangelist T.L. is. He has been to almost every nation on earth and seen millions give their lives to Jesus. He has also witnessed hundreds of thousands of people receive healings and miracles. You will not want to miss a thing on Sunday. I plan on being at the church and I plan on seeing you there! Join me and why don't you plan on bringing someone!
Thursday - September 7, 2006 At lunch this week, I watched the President make a speech about Iraq and terrorism. He spoke about our better tomorrows and how important the defeat of our enemy is today. Successful battles we fight now bring peace in the days to come. This spoke to me about the battles you and I face each day in our spiritual walk with the Lord. Satan would love for us to give up today and forfeit the fight. It would be so easy and seem to be the answer for the moment. But, just like Esau, who sold his birthright for a momentary bowl of soup, he regretted it later when he realized what he had given up. Our battle cry today should be, "In due season I will reap if I do not faint." I will not give up today and forfeit a great victory tomorrow. God has promised us we have the victory, but it does not come easily. He has promised us we can outlast Satan, but it may not come today. The spoils of victory will be sweet when they arrive. We will be glad then that we did not give up today. No weapon formed against us will prosper.
Wednesday - September 6, 2006 The prophet Jeremiah told us that God's mercies are "new every morning". God is not new every morning, but His mercies are. God does not change. We must come to the conclusion that God has more mercies than we have mornings. God must have prepared all of His mercies before the world began and knows we can never use them all up or exhaust them. That should be good news today. Maybe you are thinking that you have not seen a new mercy for awhile. You should look for them each day by faith. If God said He has new mercies for today, He must mean it. I must begin to look forward to finding them, to anticipate them. This makes each day a new adventure. Expecting new mercies will make today exciting, so keep your eye open!
Tuesday - September 5, 2006 Today is the first day of classes for Grace School of Ministry (formerly School of the Local Church). I remember when I attended Bible School and prepared for the ministry. That was a definite period of my life when I prayed for Jesus NOT to come. I was so anxious to get into the ministry, my only fear was the rapture disrupting my ministry plans and future. I know the students in this new class feel the same. They will be entering the classroom and their own future with great anticipation and excitement. We have a group of Hispanic students who have a strong desire to train their own community in the Word of God. Take time today to pray for all the students. Pray for their finances, jobs, family and calling to come to pass. This will be a good year for them!
Monday - September 4, 2006 When watching the news, I sometimes get tired of hearing about the remnants of Hurricane Katrina. I know there are people who are still displaced, but everyone wants to point a finger at someone else who was responsible. It was a hurricane. More than that, it was an act of great destruction. Satan is the author of destruction. It's not the government's fault, the president's fault, FEMA's fault or anyone else's fault. The issue is recovery. It begins in the hearts of people, not with streets, buildings, bridges and homes. The most important recovery people can have is to accept Jesus or come back into fellowship with Him. Thank God for the churches who are still preaching the power of Jesus to forgive sins and give real meaning to life. Thank God for the gospel workers who were sent and are still going to New Orleans. They have not only brought food, water, clothing, blankets and home repairs, they have brought eternal changes with them to many of the people. The God who has saved you and given your life real meaning is the God who can do the same for them. So, for the news commentators who will not report what God is doing in the hurricane torn region, I have brought you the true news, the
good news! This is Pastor Bob Yandian reporting!
Friday - September 1, 2006 A week ago Loretta and I attended Dr. Harold Harder's twenty-fifth anniversary celebration of his ministry, Blessings
International. His calling is to provide medicine to foreign lands and bless ministries with medicine so doors can open to nations which would normally be closed. We marveled at the testimonies of people who have accepted Jesus through the dispensing of medicine. I will never forget one testimony of a man who smiled when given medicine. Dr. Harder asked him how long the medicine would last and his smile disappeared. Dr. Harder then told him about Jesus who would be with him forever and he accepted the Lord as His Savior. Thank God for Harold Harder and the many ministries we support from Grace Church. These faithful ministers are reaping eternal rewards.
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