Category: Tĩnh nguyện

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.”  Ephesians 6:12 (GNT)

There is an unseen battle going on in a realm that we don’t even understand, a spiritual war in other dimensions between good and evil, between God and Satan, between angels and demons—and you’re caught right in the middle. If you’re a child of God, Satan hates you. And he wants to mess you up.

Ephesians 6:12 says, “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age” (GNT).

When you pray, there’s often a battle over how it’s going to be answered. While you’re waiting for God to answer, Satan is throwing darts at you—darts of doubt, discouragement, disappointment, and depression. The Bible says to be aware that he’s going to try to get you down.

The Bible doesn’t tell us much about the spiritual warfare that’s going on behind your prayers. But we do get a glimpse of it in the book of Daniel.

Daniel had a vision of an angel, who said, “Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer. The [evil] angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia” (Daniel 10:12-13 GNT).

Are those the wildest verses you’ve ever seen? It says that Daniel had a prayer that wasn’t answered for a while, and he was starting to get discouraged. The angel showed up and said, “We heard your prayer from day one, but we’ve been in a battle over this, and it was such an intense battle that Michael the archangel had to come down and help me with this battle so I could come and tell you that the answer is on its way.”

The same thing is sometimes happening when you are waiting on your answer from God. You can’t know what kind of intense battle is going on over your prayer, but you can remember this: A delay is not a denial. When an answer to prayer is delayed, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to be answered. It just means God is fighting for you.

Don’t be discouraged. Keep praying!

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”  Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

Do you ever feel like you’re waiting on God? Maybe you can’t relate to the Israelites, who wandered in the desert for 40 years while they were waiting on God to deliver them. But you feel like God has you on hold. He hasn’t given you the answer or the deliverance you wanted or expected.

God still makes us wander in the desert sometimes—but there is always a purpose to the wait.

When God has you in a waiting period, don’t put your life on hold. Instead, imitate the habits that grow strong faith.

The Bible says there are five things you should keep on doing in the waiting period.

1. Keep on praying.

Matthew 7:7 says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (NLT). Keep on praying, and you will get your answer.

2. Keep on serving.

The Bible says in Romans 12:11, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically” (NLT). Don’t worry about having a significant ministry. Just make your ministry significant.

3. Keep on going to small group.

“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together . . . Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer” (Hebrews 10:25 GNT).

4. Keep on sowing.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 says, “Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow—perhaps it all will” (TLB). You never know what God will do with the seeds you plant while you’re waiting.

5. Keep on believing.

The Bible says, “You must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true” (2 Timothy 3:14 TLB).

While you wait, stay active. Don’t be passive. God cannot steer a parked car!

Don’t tell God you’re waiting on him. Turn on the ignition, and just start driving. Where? Anywhere! Get involved in a ministry. Get involved in service. Get involved with small group. Do the things you know you could be doing to develop your skills and habits and become more like Jesus.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.”  Proverbs 3:9 (TLB)

When you become a person of faith, you learn to give according to what God tells you to give. You don’t limit what you give by deciding, “This is what I think I can reasonably give.” That kind of giving doesn’t require any faith.

Instead, ask God, “What do you want to give through me?” There’s a difference between giving by sight and giving by faith.

My wife, Kay, and I have been tested several times in this way on giving. One of the most dramatic examples was when we raised money to build Saddleback Church’s first worship center in 1993. We asked people to make a commitment to give over a three-year period. So Kay and I prayed about what we would give, and we came up with an amount that didn’t seem reasonable, based on our income. From our perspective, it was more than we could afford. But we trusted God for that amount.

A few days later I was reading in 1 Chronicles 29 about how God told King David to announce his gift to build the temple so everybody knew that he was sacrificing as much as everyone else.

I sensed God was telling me to announce our gift so it would be a challenge to others. I was worried people would misunderstand my motive. But I did it anyway, and I asked our church to pray for us.

A month later, we were going into the weekend where we would take up the special offering, and we were still wondering how this would all work out. Then, the Friday before that weekend, I got a call from Zondervan Publishing Company saying they wanted me to write a book and call it The Purpose Driven Church, and they would give me an advance that was more money than Kay and I had committed to giving.

You cannot out-give God!

Telling our church this news was one of the greatest experiences of my life. And I nearly missed it because of my own stubbornness. We would have missed seeing how God is dependable if we hadn’t done what God told us to do. It was a lesson I will never forget.

“Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines” (Proverbs 3:9 TLB).

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.”  Psalm 112:9 (NLT)

Generosity expands your influence. The more generous you become, the more influential you will become.

Influence comes not from what you get in life. Influence comes from what you give away in life, and the more you give away, the more influential you’ll be—and the more opportunities you’ll have to use your influence for God’s purposes.

The Bible says in Proverbs 11:24, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller” (MSG).

The Bible also says, “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor” (Psalm 112:9 NLT).

When Kay and I got married nearly 50 years ago, we were tithing 10 percent. At the end of our first year of marriage, we raised our giving to 11 percent. At the end of our second year, we raised it to 12 percent. At the end of the third year, we raised it to 13 percent. Every year for 40 years, even in tough times, we have raised our giving a little bit.

Why? Because I wanted my heart to grow bigger every year. I wanted to be more like Jesus. I wanted to be godly. I wanted to be holy.

We weren’t doing this to show off. In fact, I didn’t tell anybody about it for more than 25 years. We just quietly did it every year until 20 years ago when we started giving away 91 percent of our income and living on 9 percent.

We do it because we cannot out-give God. And while my giving went up, so did my influence. God has used that influence to make Jesus’ name known in many places in the world. I’ve tried to use every ounce of influence that he’s given me to help more people hear the gospel.

God wants to use you to do great things for him. As you grown in generosity, he will grow your influence so you can use it for good.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NCV)

Whenever we pursue something in life, we do it hoping that it will give us significance. But the only way to really experience significance is to serve with others in ministry. Ministry just means doing good to other people.

Significance does not come from status or a hood ornament on your car or a logo on your shirt. Significance does not come from a bigger salary. Significance does not come from sex.

Significance comes from service. Significance comes when you start thinking about other people more than you think about yourself and you give your life away. You cannot be selfish and significant at the same time.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others” (NCV).

What are your talents? What are the unique skills and abilities God has given you? They were not given for your benefit. God gave them to you for the benefit of the people around you. You are shaped for significance, and you find that significance by using your gifts and talents and abilities to serve other people.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help. If two lie down together, they will be warm, but a person alone will not be warm. An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves; a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break” (NCV).

You may think it’s easier to do things on your own. You may prefer solitude. You may need your alone time. But you will always get more done when you serve with other people.

You’re not meant to serve God by yourself. You’re meant to serve God on a team. You’re meant to serve God in a family, in a small group, in a church. You’re meant to serve God in relationship.

Do you want to find significance and give your best to God? Then serve him with your community.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow.”  Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

There are some things you will never learn on your own. You only learn them in community. To grow and develop your potential, you must learn from other people.

For example, you can only learn forgiveness in relationships. You can’t learn that on your own. You can only learn loyalty in relationships. You can only learn love in relationships. You can’t learn kindness or faithfulness or graciousness or unselfishness without others.

In fact, the most important things you need to learn in life require that you be in relationship to other people. You can’t do it on your own. If you want to build your potential, you must learn from others.

Where is the best place to do that? In God’s family. You learn it by being connected to the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:16 says, “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow” (NLT).

This is why I’ve talked so much about small groups over the years—because I’ve seen it work: I’ve seen people join a small group who felt unconnected, who were unsure of their purpose, who needed direction in serving others, who just needed to be known. And being in community with others in God’s family made all the difference. Sharing their lives and being open about their struggles and cheering each other on in life made all the difference.

Why does sharing your life with others make a difference? Because you weren’t made for success. You were made for significance. And the best way to live a life of significance is in relationship with others, serving and sharing and growing and worshiping with them.

You need the people God has placed in your life. And they need you! God wired us to depend on each other and to learn from each other. When you’re connected to other people, it’s not just you who grows and benefits. You also use your gifts and experiences to help others fulfill their purpose.

We need each other!

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of [Christ’s] body.” Romans 12:5 (MSG)

We only learn who we are in relationship. We only learn our true identity in community.

You’ll never learn who you really are by yourself. You only learn it in relationships. That means you must connect with other people for fellowship.

If you had been born and lived your entire life to adulthood with no human contact, you wouldn’t have the slightest idea who or what you were. You wouldn’t even know you were a human being. You only know that because you’re in relationship to other human beings. You learn your identity by being in relationships.

The Bible says we need to be connected to God’s family, the body of Christ: “We are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around . . . Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of [Christ’s] body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we?” (Romans 12:4-5 MSG).

My ear only functions and fulfills its purpose by being connected to my body. If my ear was cut off and was lying on the ground, what’s the value of it? Nothing, because it can’t hear anything.

Same goes with my nose and eyes: If they’re not connected to my body, what’s their purpose? They don’t have a purpose, because they can’t smell or see anything by themselves.

In the same way, if you’re not connected to the church, then you’re not going to know the purpose of your life. You’re not going to know your role. You’re not going to know your function. You’re not going to know your value and your meaning.

As a part of God’s family, you have a special role that only you can play. You have a job that won’t get done if you don’t do it. You have contributions to make that other people won’t benefit from if you’re not connected to God’s family.

You’re an important part of the body of Christ! And you’ll only find your value, your purpose, and your identity when you are connected to the church and form relationships that help shape you into who God made you to be.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.” Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT)

You need to plant by faith, not by your feelings.

Do you think that every day a farmer wakes up excited to go to work on their farm? No. It’s hard work! But if a farmer only worked their crops when they felt like it, not much would get done. They may not want to get up early. They may not want to go plant and weed and cultivate and harvest. But they do it anyway.

Let me make a little confession: I don’t always feel like being nice to people. I hate to admit it! Sometimes I want to be cranky. Sometimes I just want to say, “Leave me alone!” I don’t always feel like being kind. I don’t always feel like being generous. I don’t always feel like giving people hope.

But I don’t live by my feelings. I choose to live by faith. Sometimes I plant when I’m tired. Sometimes I plant when I’m distracted. Sometimes I plant when I’m stressed out. Sometimes I plant when I’m in deep, deep grief. And I move ahead in faith in spite of my feelings, expecting God to act.

One year at Saddleback Church, we were approaching the anniversary of my son’s death, and I really didn’t want to be at church. It was close to Easter, and I would have rather just celebrated the resurrection at home with my family and my Lord and just get through the day.

I was in tears most of that week, and I claimed Psalm 126:5-6 as a promise: “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest” (NLT).         

And you know what? As I was planting seeds in 14 Easter services, God gave a harvest of 2,604 people who came to Christ. Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. All those people are going to be in heaven because I didn’t do what I felt like doing. I did what I did by faith.

Sometimes God will call you to make a sacrifice—through your money, yes, but also through your time, talent, and maybe even your life. You may feel like saying, “I don’t feel like it.” But if you do, you will miss the blessing that God wants to give by using you.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”  John 4:38 (NLT)

Years ago PBS did a series of family histories of famous Americans. They wanted to include a pastor, so they asked me if I would participate. They took a swab of DNA from my mouth, and they used it to trace my family tree back a thousand years. They didn’t discover that I’m the descendent of kings, but they found all kinds of interesting things and compiled it for a TV special.

One of the things they discovered is the amount of godly ancestors I have. I am reaping the benefit and blessings from grandparents and great-grandparents and others who were praying for their children’s children and making disciples in our family. I can see the blessings in my life because I had people in my family who loved God and were praying for future generations.

I know many would say, “I didn’t have a family like that. But I’d like to have a legacy like that.”

You start it! Start that kind of legacy—the kind with eternal effects—with your family. You determine that the future generations of your family name are going to be blessed because you planted seeds of godliness, because you prayed and did not give up, even when you didn’t get to see the harvest. If you do, the people who come out of your family tree will have a blessing in heritage.

You are harvesting both good and bad from your past. Why? Because you’re not the only person sowing. You need to take your choices very seriously, because your life is going to affect future generations. You can’t control the past, but you can break the chain of hurt and abuse and ungodliness now. You can change the course for your family. You can establish a godly legacy by sowing seeds of prayer and love and generosity and faith.

Jesus said in John 4:38, “I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest” (NLT).

You may never see the harvest here on earth. But you can be sure your faithfulness will have an impact for generations to come and for eternity.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”  Luke 6:38 (ICB)

To reap a great harvest, you must plant generously in faith.

My wife Kay and I have done this hundreds and hundreds of times. We’ve raised our giving from 10 percent 40 years ago to giving away more than 90 percent of our income today. I’m an example of the fact that you cannot out-give God. I’ve tried for more than 40 years and lost every time.

To plant generously in faith, you need to remember two promises of Jesus. First, Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you” (ICB).

You need to start being generous in planting seeds in this life to harvest in the next. “The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”

Then, in Mark 10:29-30, Jesus gives a guarantee about anything you give up for his sake. He says, “There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time . . . and in the age to come eternal life” (ESV).

God says that anything you give up for his sake and sacrifice for his kingdom will be returned a hundredfold. You know how much a hundredfold is? That’s 10,000 percent interest. Do you know any stockbroker that will guarantee that? Only God and his Son can do that. They’ve been doing business with people like you for 2,000 years.

These are the promises of God. You can believe them or not. But if you don’t believe God’s promises, I have to ask you this: Why do you believe Jesus will save you and take you to heaven? That’s the same Jesus. Why do some people trust God with their eternal salvation, but they don’t trust God with their finances?

It only makes sense to trust God for both and to plant generously in faith so that you can reap a harvest.