Sunday, 8/9/15 What is it that tempts you? What’re you
struggling with? Matt 26:41, Watch and pray that ye enter not into
temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. “To watch”
means to be on guard duty. Are you letting temptation get near you? Prayer:
where? When? How long? How often? Prayer meetings? It’s not rocket science... Ps 34:1, I will bless the Lord at all times: his
praise shall continually be in my mouth. The books of Job, Psalms,
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon are Hebrew poetry. The thoughts are
often in pairs, usually separated by a colon or semi-colon. They take 1 of 3
forms: the second half restates the first; the second enhances the first, or
the second gives an opposite view. See: Ps 34:11; 34:14.
Sunday, 8/2/15 Pro 29:10, The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul. Do
you: 1hate your enemies?
2try to ignore and
have nothing to do with them? Or, 3actively
seek to improve their welfare? (The just man does the last one: he ACTIVELY
seeks to help them.) GROWTH
POTENTIAL ALERT!! Ps 27:4, One thing have I desired of the Lord, that
will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my
life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. What
ONE THING would you desire of
the Lord?
Sunday, 7/19/15 Why read the Bible? 7) For strength and encouragement to our
souls. 2 Chron 15:8, And when Asa heard these words, and the
prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage... Isa 40:31, But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength... Luke
5:1, And it came to pass, that, as the
people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of
Gennesaret. Of course Jesus has an attractiveness that no human can match,
but the same Word of God will be preached this morning and tonight within
driving distance of you. Will you “press” to hear it, or is the TV more
pressing?
Sunday, 7/12/15 I know of
no place where God specifically tells us to read our Bibles; but we’re
commanded to search the scriptures,
to study to shew [ourselves] approved,
to meditate on the Bible day and night,
to not let the Bible depart out of [our]
mouths...all of which involved reading it. Over the next few days, I will
give several benefits of attentively reading the Bible. CAUTION!!! “Room to grow
notification!!” 1 Sam 26:17, And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy
voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. Can you
speak and act as respectfully to or about those who are trying to hurt you as
David did?? (Or the better question may be, 'Will you speak thusly?')
Sunday, 7/5/15 Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without
the camp, bearing his reproach. This may be the most disobeyed verse in all
the Bible. Trying to get believers today to bear the disdain that Christ bore
(and causes) is almost unheard of. Forget others though, you and I need to obey
this more. Heb
13:7 Remember them which have the rule
over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end (goal,
purpose) of their conversation
(lifestyle). Even if our leaders stumble, we should be unaffected because, 1we
knew they could fall, and, 2our eyes were on the
Saviour anyway.
Sunday, 6/28/15 Ps
119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night
watches, that I might meditate in thy word. David made himself get stay up
simply to think about the Bible. Do you
ever alter your schedule for God, or inconvenience yourself or force yourself to gout out of your comfort
zone for Jesus and His will and way? 2
Tim 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to
come unto the knowledge of the truth. Do you feel you’re just “spinning
your wheels” regarding the Christian life? Does God’s word seem foreign to you?
Do you wonder how your pastor (or even me) can get fresh stuff out of it daily?
The verse before, ...and lead captive
silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts. “Silly women” is a
derisive term; it means “small women.” I think “petty” might be a good synonym.
“Laden” means burdened with the consciousness of many sins; “led away” has the
connotation of a dog on a leash; “divers” just means varied and many; and
“lusts” are strong desires, especially for what is forbidden. If the Bible is
“just not your thing...” 1Are you saved? 2Are
you confessed up? Confess, forsake, and fight what you know to be wrong in your
life. This involves humbling yourself. 3Do you have “secret sins”
that “are nobody’s business!!” (Not even God’s?) Do you have secret closets in
your heart into which He may not go? Do you indulge in a fantasy life (sexual
or otherwise) as a “release” a “personal thing” that you reserve all rights to? Pro 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and
there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. First comes the removal of
the worthless rock, dross, i.e. sin, and then the finishing/refining of the
pure metal. Application: the fire and pain that you feel may be for the purging
of sin, or it may be the final shaping to make you into something useful.
Sunday, 6/7/15 Ps 112:1 Praise
ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly
in his commandments. Idea: write prayer reminders in your Bible. Next to
this verse, maybe write, “Help me to love Your word more!” If you avoid doing
things that are “beneath your dignity,” then you’re not very much like God. Ps 113:6, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in
the earth! Regular, scheduled humbling should be a part of your day or
week. How? Thinking, confessing of sins, physically putting you face on the
floor or ground, or fasting are some ways.
Sunday, 5/31/15 Ps 106:1 Praise
ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy
endureth forever. Just a reminder that obedience to this verse isn’t
dependent upon your health or wealth, marital status, the weather, or your
feelings. Praise God and give thanks...PERIOD. NOW. ALWAYS. Jud 10:13-14 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other
gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye
have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. You’ll
look really funny praying to your gods of pleasure and money and hedonism when
calamity hits, and you’ll wish you would’ve developed a love for the true God.
Just sayin’...
Sunday,
5/24/15 Matt 25:15 And unto one he gave 5 talents, to another 2, and to another 1; to
every man according to his several ability... A reminder that your beauty,
brain, and ‘bilities are all gifts from God. You have no right for any proudful
boasting. Even the strength to use them comes from Him. So...step off of the
stage: you’re not the star. The spotlight belongs to Christ. 1 Sam 26:19 If the Lord have stirred thee up against me,
let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed by they
before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the
inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go serve other gods. Those of you actively
persecuting, or hating, or gossiping about another...if you succeed in driving
that person away from God...think of the souls that won’t get saved, the family
that’ll get discouraged, the Sunday School classes that won’t be taught...will
you want to see what you accomplished in eternity. Encourage people.
Sunday, 5/17/15 1 Sam 12:6 And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that advanced Moses and
Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. God
governs promotions. Sure, submit your resume; yes, network; but leave your
promotion in His hands. Live by faith in this area too. 1 Sam 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of
the oxen...and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every
thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. Their
foundational mistake was thinking that they had the right and the wherewithal
to decide what was good and what was bad instead of simply obeying God. Compare
to today’s views regarding what our standards of behavior concerning alcohol,
modest dress, proper decorum, surrendering a life to God’s service should be.
It’s not our prerogative to decide what’s good and bad. That is what Eve did in
the Garden: when the woman saw that the
tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be
desired... This usurpation of God’s authority got her kicked out of the
Garden; it got Saul kicked off of the throne; it’ll get us into trouble also.