Posts by Matthew Shorack

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. The scriptures tell us, don’t be like the world. Don’t treat people differently according to how much they can help your own situation. Don’t promote yourself, allow the Lord to lift you up in His timing and in His way. Our hope isn’t in what…

When Jude wrote about ungodly people, who pervert God’s word to get what they want, Jude, James’ brother, wrote Jude 1:11 about three men, Cain, Balaam, and Korah, who rebelled against God’s authority. Jude 1:11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. Being religious without faith is the “way of Cain”. It is the way of pride, establishing our own righteousness, and…

Galatians 2:19-21 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ…

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I had only been in Uganda for about ten months. As Missionary Matthew, I had all those romantic ideas about what it meant to serve the Lord deep in the jungle. I was prepared for everything, or so I thought. Rose was…

How can we hear God’s truth in a world full of opinions? With all that’s happening around the world, wars, natural disasters, political hatred, is there any healthy way to deal with all our stress, anger, and frustrations? Alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and suicide are at an all-time high and climbing, while online bullying is becoming the norm for soccer moms and high schoolers. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own…

2 Timothy 4:16-18 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.…

How can I know that I’m not being deceived? Is what I’m hearing supported by God’s word? Psalm 119:160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Galatians 1:8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. Do I experience condemnation or conviction? Conviction is from God while condemnation is from Satan. Romans 8:1 There…

Have you ever felt like you’re unsatisfied in life? As Christian we don’t have to feel that way. Do you know what your Spiritual gifts are? If we try to be what we were never meant to be, we will get frustrated and be unfulfilled. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in…

Most of the time we pray safe prayers. God bless us, help us, protect us, and heal us, but prayers that trust can be risky. Risky prayers are not easy, but they are changing life. They are the result of a humbled and trusting spirit and are filled with bold faith. I want to encourage you to spend three times this week reading the scriptures below and praying that the Holy Spirit will speak to you about what He wants…

Who or what are our enemies? The world, the flesh and the Devil. The world (Sociological Opposition) Many Christians are losing more battles than they would like to admit. We can experience more victory in our lives if we learn to fight Biblically. 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the…

Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. What causes us to isolate ourselves from others? Focusing on ourselves in a negative way can…

Hebrews 12:1-2a Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. What do you do, when God directs you to go to a place or to a ministry, that you don’t want to go to? Confirm the calling and…

Jeremiah was an Israelite priest and prophet who served in Jerusalem for decades during the end of Southern Judah. God had him warn Israel that there would be severe consequences for breaking their covenant with God through idolatry and misusing their power and authority. Babylon would be used to bring judgement on Israel. Jerusalem would be destroyed, and the people would be forced into exile. Jeremiah was called to stand his post and witness all these prophecies taking place as…

One of the greatest gifts of prayer is being dependent on God more than we are on ourselves. God doesn’t need me to remind Him of anything, but committed prayer reminds me of my dependence on Him. When I’m aware of my dependence on God, I turn to Him as a deer keeps returning to the fresh stream. God’s wants us to focus on the Blesser, not the blessing. Psalm 42:1-5 1 As the deer pants for streams of water,…

Ephesians 4:26-27 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. Are there any negative emotions that regularly leave you exposed to Satan’s attacks? There is a TV show called Leverage. It’s about a team of thieves who come together with a cop to help people who are being used and mistreated by someone in power. They bring justice by finding…

Does the thought of being asked to compromise your values trouble you? Why or why not? Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. At some point, most of us will have an authority figure ask us to do something that compromises our values and beliefs. Would you be willing to make a respectful appeal to them, to change…