Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

In Luke, Christ told the crowds, “The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” Then, He proceeded to heal and demonstrate his power on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees knew the law inside and out. But they missed the point behind God’s command for the Sabbath. The Sabbath is all about building relationship with God. Instead of focusing on worshipping God, they focused on outward conformity.

Alfred Edersheim wrote, “The Sabbath law was not one merely of rest, but of rest for worship. The service of the Lord was the object of the Sabbath.”

God is not interested in just outward conformity to His Word. He is looking for the heart to be in joyful obedience. The goal of God’s law is to help us be devoted to Him above all else!

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

Charles Spurgeon had a powerful and effective ministry that began while he was still a teenager. There is no question that his incredible gifts and the enormous growth the church that he pastored were testimony to the work that God did in and through his life.

Yet for most of his ministry, Spurgeon suffered greatly from enormous physical pain. He could allowed that pain to drive him to question and doubt God, but instead it led Spurgeon to trust Him more. He said, “I am certain that I never did grow in grace one-half so much anywhere as I have upon the bed of pain.”

While hardship, affliction, and suffering are not pleasant, they are often the necessary tools God uses to shape us into the men and women He needs us to be for His Work. Each trial offers us an opportunity to learn more of God’s grace and depend more fully on Him for our needs to be met.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

Missionary Martyr Jim Elliott said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” With this view of eternity, he bravely gave his life to carry the gospel into the darkest jungles.

How could a man be willing to lay down his life to carry the message of Christ?

It is all in what you love the most. Jesus said to “Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” is the greatest commandment. This kind of love looks past the present and focuses on eternity. Paul wrote that we should “Set your affection on things above.”

If we find ourselves in love with the cares of this world, then the result will be an emptiness in life. But, when we love Him above everything else, there is a fulfilled spirit and a devotion to the eternal priorities of God. So what do you love the most?

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

When Christ came, he came to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. The news of a rabbi in Galilee performing miracles drew crowds of thousands! Each wanting something special for themselves from this humble carpenter.

Yet, the work that Jesus did took a physical toll on Him. Over time, the cost of ministry started to add up. At one point, Jesus told his disciples, “Come ye yourself apart into a desert place, and rest a while…”

Any time we set out to do something of value for God’s Kingdom, we need to be aware of the impact it will have. God is worth the investment of our lives, but it is also wise to plan for times of renewal that will restore what has been depleted. We need to consciously depend on the strength that God gives.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

He was undoubtedly the most gifted military strategist of all of America’s generals during the Revolutionary War. He was loved by His soldiers, and courageously led them into battle rather than remaining behind as many officers did. He rallied the American troops to victory in the crucial Battle of Saratoga.

Yet, we do not know him for any of his heroic actions. We know him as Benedict Arnold — the man who betrayed his country.

Though we look down on traitors like Judas or Benedict Arnold, the sad reality is that too often we also join forces with the enemy. We tend to take sin casually, not realizing what it truly says about our loyalty and allegiance. Every sin a Christian commits is an act of treason against the Lord who gave His life for our salvation. Let us live Holy lives, dedicated to Christ.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of prayer to Jesus. We are well familiar with Christ's private prayer garden, Gethsemane. It was there that Judas knew to find him because he had often gone there with Christ to pray.

Yet even before this moment, Mark’s gospel paints the picture of him rising up early to pray. Luke said that Christ withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed. In Luke 6, Christ spent all night in prayer!

The very Son of God knew the priority of prayer, and His example should be a constant reminder to us of the need for us to spend time seeking God’s face and crying out to Him for help.

Have you taken time to pray today? Follow Christ’s example, and leave one for those behind you to follow.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

In Deuteronomy, the Israelites were given a warning, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you…”

Human nature is such that we try to “improve” on what God has said. One of Jesus’ rebukes of the Pharisees was that they were selective in regards to heeding God’s Word. Parts they added to, others they ignored completely! They had added so much to the rules and regulations for keeping the Sabbath that by the time of Jesus there were thirty-nine different categories defined as forbidden — going far beyond what God had commanded.

There is a danger when we go beyond what God has said. Obedience is not adding additional rules and systems beyond what He has given. That leads to prideful bondage and a failure to receive God’s grace. Take God’s Word at face value, and do not attempt to add anything to it.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

In the heart of Rome, Italy, stands the Pantheon. It was originally constructed as an ancient Roman temple, dedicated to all gods, and remains as one of the most well preserved ancient buildings. During the time of Roman expansion, the armies of Rome would conquer foreign lands, and bring home the gods of those conquered peoples. There in the Pantheon, they would set up an altar to this new god, adding it to their collection.

We see the same trends today with the common teaching that all religious roads lead to the same destination. Jesus did not come to add a little bit to what had gone before. He came with a radically transforming message of salvation.

Jesus only is “the way, the truth and the life.” There are no other options for salvation. Jesus is and always will be the only hope of salvation.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

Throughout the Bible, we see times when God’s people fasted. Joel calls for us to turn to the Lord with fasting, weeping and mourning. Nehemiah mourned and fasted over the devastation of Jerusalem. Esther fasted over an important meeting. Daniel fasted to understand the truths of God. Isaiah says that fasting will loose the bands of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free!

Prayer and fasting is not about earning God’s favor, but about focusing our heart and mind on Him. Dr. John Rice said, “Fasting is really putting God first when one prays, [it is] wanting God more than one wants food, more than one wants sleep, more than one wants fellowship with others, more than one wants to attend to business.”

When we are serious enough about our praying to fast, we can see God work in powerful ways in our lives.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham

In 1980, officials warned everyone around Mnt St. Helens of the impending eruption. But one man, Harry Truman told an interviewer, “I don’t believe the mountain will hurt me.” Tragically, he perished in the volcanic blast because he did not take his need for deliverance seriously.

Harry said, “I’m fine.” Instead of facing the truth of the situation he ignored his greatest need.

In the New Testament, there were a group of people Christ warned, but instead of heeding the warning, they said, “I’m fine.”

The problem was that if the Pharisees had admitted they were sinners, then they would be aligning themselves with those that they despised. In their pride, they said, “I’m Fine!” and like Harry, they perished.

Today, God warns us in His Word that we need a Saviour and Jesus died to be that saviour. Trust in Him and be saved today.