MONDAY MOTIVATION

JOIN PASTOR GUY EVERY MONDAY FOR BIBLICAL ENCOURAGEMENT, INSPIRATION & INSIGHT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Welcome to Monday Motivation—a devotional blog to keep you encouraged throughout the week! My name is Pastor Guy Deckard and I am incredibly excited for you to join in every Monday.
 
Below, you will find the most recent Monday Motivation post and if you continue scrolling, you will find an archive of blog posts by date. If you’d like to get a better understanding as to how this blog came about, click HERE to read the first Monday Motivation post. 
 
I invite you to follow along with me every Monday! And if you would like to dive even deeper into your study of God’s Word, purchase the same daily study that this blog is based, just click HERE.
#mondaymotivation

Please Stand

 
Please Stand!
From the January 31st reading
 
What would it be like to have to stand boldly for our faith – even if it meant our very life? Let’s take a walk with Stephen and others this morning and imagine.
 
SCRIPTURE:
Acts 7:56
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (NIV)
 
OBSERVATIONS:
  • God separated the veil so that Stephen could see into the throne room of heaven
  • Stephen was one of the Seven chosen to serve the widows
    • The Apostles had laid hands on him (Acts 6:2)
  • Here we find him quoting scripture, speaking eloquently, and boldly in front of the Sanhedrin
  • He was filled with the Holy Spirit (Vs. 55)
  • Jesus is standing!
    • He normally is seated at the Father’s right hand
    • He is standing to show His support
    • He is standing to welcome the first Christian martyr into glory!

APPLICATION:

  • God will give us the words to speak when it becomes necessary – to speak boldly
  • No matter your position God can use you
    • Stephen was a waiter (Acts. 6:1-6)
  • Jesus is on our side and stands from His throne when we are in need of Him
    • He doesn’t just sit there!
  • We shouldn’t just sit there either.
    • We should stand for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted
 
MOTIVATION:
She was 17 years old. He stood glaring at her, his weapon before her face. “Do you believe in God?” She paused. It was a life-or-death question. “Yes I believe in God.” “Why?” asked her executioner. But he never gave her the chance to respond. The teenage girl lay dead at his feet!
(Excerpt from the book: Jesus Freak)
 
This isn’t a story that happened in a Muslim country or even in China. This particular story did not happen in ancient times, but it happened at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, on April 20, 1999. Do you believe in Jesus?
Whenever I read stories like this one, and the biblical account of Stephen I am amazed at the courage and the fortitude that believers have when faced with certain martyrdom. God always gives His full attention when one of His own is being persecuted or about to be killed for their faith.
 
In the case of Stephen in Acts chapter seven, we see Jesus standing next to the Father. Stephen has His full attention. Jesus is standing with His arms open wide and with a look of confidence. Much like a father watching his child performing on stage – the child is looking nervously at her dad – and dad gives her a nod and a smile – telling her “you’ve got this!”
 
When we look at Stephen we don’t see anyone special. He is not an Apostle, and wasn’t a part of Jesus inner circle. He was selected by the Apostles to be a “waiter” to take care of the needs of the widows so that they could handle more important issues. He was ordinary. But here in Acts we see God using him – speaking through him. Stephen, filled with the Spirit of God, preaches to the Sanhedrin with supernatural boldness.
 
Warren Wiersbe in his commentary says this, “You wonder what kind of a world we live in when good and godly men like Stephen can be murdered by religious bigots! But we have similar problems in our “enlightened” age today: taking hostages, bombings that kill or maim innocent people, assassinations, and all in the name of politics or religion. The heart of man has not changed, nor can it be changed apart from the grace of God.” We live in a sin sick world!
 
The statistics are staggering. Over 100,000 Christians are persecuted every day across the globe today. There are approximately 30,000 believers imprisoned for their faith in North Korea alone. In countries like Pakistan, India, Iraq and Iran it is not safe to claim the name of Christ. And as we see in Exodus at the time of Israel’s enslavement, God hears the cries of His people. He knows each of them by name!
 
Much like Stephen we are no one special. I don’t know about you, but I am pretty ordinary. But, when we are put in situations where we must stand for our faith, God will give us the words to speak and the courage to stand. God used Stephen’s death to launch His believers from Jerusalem into Samaria and all of Judea. He can use you as well, in ways that you can not imagine.
 
We are instructed to be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us at all times (1 Peter 3:15). If we are going to Transform Chino, then we need to be prepared. Do you believe? If so, then be prepared. You might just be called on to take a stand!
 
PRAYER:
Pray that you would be prepared to speak with courage and boldness should the opportunity come.
 
If you would like more information on how you can be an advocate for the persecuted Christians around the world visit Christian Freedom International at www.christianfreedom.org



 Devotionals by Date

 January 2018

 
 
 
 

MONDAY MOTIVATION INTRODUCTION

 
 
 
  
 
 

THE GREAT SHEPHERD

 
January 1, 2018
 
 
  
 
 

THE GREAT PLANNER 

 
January 8, 2018
 
 
 
 
 

PROTECTING YOUR ROOTS

January 15, 2018
 
 
 
 
 

FACING YOUR GIANTS

January 22, 2018
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

February 2018

 
 
 

PLEASE STAND

February 5, 2018
 
 
 
  
 
 
 

BE A GAME CHANGER

February 12, 2018
 
  
 
 
 

FINISH STRONG

February 19, 2018
 
 
 

STRETCHER BEARERS

February 26, 2018
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

March 2018

 
 
 

DIGGING YOUR WAY OUT

March 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

REAL PEARLS

March 12, 2018
 
  
 
 
 

HIDDEN IDENTITY

March 19, 2018

 
 
 

MYSTERY GARDEN
March 26, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
April 2018
 
 

THE TEST!

April 2, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

PASS IT ON!

April 9, 2018
 
  
 
 
 

CRACKED POTS!

April 16, 2018

 
 
 

LAY THEM DOWN!

April 23, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

LETTING GO 

April 30, 2018
  
May 2018
 
 
 

IDOL WORSHIP OR IDLE WORSHIP?

May 7, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

WATCH AND PRAY!

May 14, 2018
  
 
 
 

DON’T SAY GOODBYE

May 21, 2018

 

 
 
 

TRAPPED

May 28, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

 

June 2018
 
 
 

GOT A MATCH?

June 4, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

CHOSEN?

June 11, 2018
 
 
  
 
 

I’M THIRD!

June 18, 2018

 

 
 
 

CHANGED LIVES MATTER

      June 25, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
July 2018
 
 
 

MADE FOR MORE THAN THIS

      July 2, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

SET FREE!

       July 9, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

   HEAVENLY PLACES       July 15, 2018

 
 
 

LOOKING IN THE MIRROR

July 2, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

NO SURPRISES HERE

July 2, 2018

 
 
 
August 2018
 
 
 

INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED

August 6, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

THE PEOPLE PLEASER

August 13, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 

ONE CHURCH

      August 20, 2018

 
 
 

BROTHERLY LOVE

August 27, 2018

 
 
September 2018
 
 
 

NEWLYWEDS!

September 3, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

WHEN GOD SPANKS US!

September 10, 2018

 
 
 
 

TAKING A STAND

September 17, 2018

 
 
 

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

September 24, 2018

 
 
October 2018
 
 
 

FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY

October 1, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

STAND YOUR GROUND!

October 8, 2018

 
 

 

 

FAITH UNDER FIRE

October 15, 2018

 
 
 
 

HOMELESS FOR A DAY

October 22, 2018

 
 
 
 
November 2018
 
 
 

A HEAVENLY MARRIAGE?

November 5, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

HOLY SMOKE!

November 12, 2018

 
 
 
 

MIRROR, MIRROR…

November 19, 2018

 
 
 
 

SECRET AGENT

November 26, 2018

 
 
 
 
December 2018
 
 
 

INNOCENT

December 3, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

HOPE?

December 10, 2018

 
 
 
 

FREEDOM

December 17, 2018

 
 
 
 

MORE THAN A MANGER

December 24, 2018