Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 22, 23, 24; Psalm 8, 38, 68, 98, 128; Proverbs 8
“
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Psalm 68:11
The day we live in is filled with attacks against anything remotely Christian. The A.C.L.U. (American Civil Liberties Union) is attacking through the legal system. We are bombarded with attacks from all sides. Unfortunately, we even see some blind side attacks from within. Christians have given the enemy of our soul ground and that brings division.
One area in which we fail to stay vigilant is our study of the Scriptures. You and I eat on a daily basis. We eat to live; we do not live to eat. The same is also true of our spiritual lives, too. An old saying goes, “seven days without the Word of God makes one ‘weak’.” This is painfully true.
I remember a time in my life that I had suffered the loss of a large amount of blood due to my neglect of a bleeding ulcer for fourteen years. I became anemic. I was vulnerable to any illness that I came in contact with.
When you and I forsake the reading and study of God’s Word, we allow ourselves to become spiritually anemic. Our churches are filled with these kinds of people. It is unfortunately very evident. Our churches have lost our vision for winning souls and our worship is all off base. The root cause is we have left out a vital part of our life. We have left off the living Word of God.
Let me challenge you and myself to go back to the Word of God and begin reading it again.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
January 7
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 19, 20, 21; Psalm 7, 37, 67, 97, 127; Proverbs 7
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:5-6
In this New Year, we need to evaluate our commitments. Some people are committed to many different things form fantasy football to racing of all types and more.
We must be committed to the Lord in salvation. If you died today and stood before God and He said, ”Why should I let you into my Heaven?”. What would you tell Him? This is the single most important commitment you will ever make.
People who know Christ as their Saviour should be committed to Him in many ways. One way in which to be committed is to be faithful in daily prayer. The avenue of prayer is like a stick of dynamite in the arsenal of a Christian. Through this avenue, we have access to the God of Heaven, the creator of the world.
When my wife was a little girl, her mother was sewing dresses for her and her sisters. They were looking for buttons in a big tin. They found all but one. My wife’s mother suggested they pray and ask God if He would help them find that last button. When they opened their eyes, the button was laying on top of all the buttons in the tin.
We need to also be committed to Bible study.
We need to be committed to winning souls, also. What an awesome privilege we have to show someone else how to know for sure that when they die they will go to Heaven. When Jesus was on earth, He put a high priority on soul winning. Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” This needs to be a priority in our lives as well.
This year, let’s commit to the Lord in salvation, prayer, Bible study and soul winning.
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:5-6
In this New Year, we need to evaluate our commitments. Some people are committed to many different things form fantasy football to racing of all types and more.
We must be committed to the Lord in salvation. If you died today and stood before God and He said, ”Why should I let you into my Heaven?”. What would you tell Him? This is the single most important commitment you will ever make.
People who know Christ as their Saviour should be committed to Him in many ways. One way in which to be committed is to be faithful in daily prayer. The avenue of prayer is like a stick of dynamite in the arsenal of a Christian. Through this avenue, we have access to the God of Heaven, the creator of the world.
When my wife was a little girl, her mother was sewing dresses for her and her sisters. They were looking for buttons in a big tin. They found all but one. My wife’s mother suggested they pray and ask God if He would help them find that last button. When they opened their eyes, the button was laying on top of all the buttons in the tin.
We need to also be committed to Bible study.
We need to be committed to winning souls, also. What an awesome privilege we have to show someone else how to know for sure that when they die they will go to Heaven. When Jesus was on earth, He put a high priority on soul winning. Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” This needs to be a priority in our lives as well.
This year, let’s commit to the Lord in salvation, prayer, Bible study and soul winning.
January 6
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 16, 17, 18; Psalm 6, 36, 66, 96, 126, Proverbs 6
“And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” Genesis 16:13
“Thou God seest me” is the title of a great sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon. I know this because as a much younger and green as grass preacher, I decided to use his notes and preach the message myself. I knew that I could never deliver this message as well as Mr. Spurgeon. I worked and prepared all week (while working my regular job, also). It was terribly hot evening in Indiana and the service was progressing nicely.
My turn came to deliver the message and the electricity went out. “Great!” I thought. I have three hours of sermon material and the people have thirty seconds worth of listening ability. As I started the message I knew I had to “Keep it short, stupid”. If you are wondering, I did just that.
I believe that God preached His own powerful message that evening to me. He said, “Thou God seest me”. I learned that night first hand, that God is in control, and He was what took place that evening. It was a painful lesson, but one that will not soon be forgotten.
We need to live our lives every moment in the light of the truth that “thou God seest me”. There is no place anywhere that does not apply.
“And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” Genesis 16:13
“Thou God seest me” is the title of a great sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon. I know this because as a much younger and green as grass preacher, I decided to use his notes and preach the message myself. I knew that I could never deliver this message as well as Mr. Spurgeon. I worked and prepared all week (while working my regular job, also). It was terribly hot evening in Indiana and the service was progressing nicely.
My turn came to deliver the message and the electricity went out. “Great!” I thought. I have three hours of sermon material and the people have thirty seconds worth of listening ability. As I started the message I knew I had to “Keep it short, stupid”. If you are wondering, I did just that.
I believe that God preached His own powerful message that evening to me. He said, “Thou God seest me”. I learned that night first hand, that God is in control, and He was what took place that evening. It was a painful lesson, but one that will not soon be forgotten.
We need to live our lives every moment in the light of the truth that “thou God seest me”. There is no place anywhere that does not apply.
January 5
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 13, 14, 15; Psalm 5, 35, 65, 95, 125; Proverbs 5
“Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.” Psalm 65:11
Some time ago a story circulated the internet that was titled “Prayer Path”. The story opened with a missionary winning a village of natives from an island to Christ. Soon, these natives began to grow spiritually and understand the vital importance of Bible study and prayer. Each native had their own specific place of prayer. As each one walked daily to that place, a path began to be worn down in the grass. When one of these prayer warriors began to slip in their faithfulness, the grass and weeds would return again to cover the path.
What about your path over this past year? Has the path you once travelled begun to grow back over with grass and weeds?
Our text here tells us that God encircles the year. What a fantastic truth! No matter where we turn from year to year, our God is right there all around us protecting, providing, etc…
The word “paths” refers to a track, so we must stay on track with God encircling us. The word “drop” means to drip. The word “fatness” refers to abundance. So, as we travel the track of our lives, we are encircled by God’s goodness year after year. Our tracks drip with the abundance of God’s goodness and blessing.
As we commit to run the track of our lives, let us remember to be truly thankful that God encircles us and abundantly blesses us to the point that it runs over and begins to drip.
“Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.” Psalm 65:11
Some time ago a story circulated the internet that was titled “Prayer Path”. The story opened with a missionary winning a village of natives from an island to Christ. Soon, these natives began to grow spiritually and understand the vital importance of Bible study and prayer. Each native had their own specific place of prayer. As each one walked daily to that place, a path began to be worn down in the grass. When one of these prayer warriors began to slip in their faithfulness, the grass and weeds would return again to cover the path.
What about your path over this past year? Has the path you once travelled begun to grow back over with grass and weeds?
Our text here tells us that God encircles the year. What a fantastic truth! No matter where we turn from year to year, our God is right there all around us protecting, providing, etc…
The word “paths” refers to a track, so we must stay on track with God encircling us. The word “drop” means to drip. The word “fatness” refers to abundance. So, as we travel the track of our lives, we are encircled by God’s goodness year after year. Our tracks drip with the abundance of God’s goodness and blessing.
As we commit to run the track of our lives, let us remember to be truly thankful that God encircles us and abundantly blesses us to the point that it runs over and begins to drip.
January 4
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 10, 11, 12; Psalm 4, 34, 64, 94, 124; Proverbs 4
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
We have the pleasure of receiving counsel from the wise man of old. Solomon received his wisdom from the one who is wisdom. It came as a gift from Almighty God. Solomon met the condition of James 1:5 and God gave him wisdom like had never been seen until Jesus Christ.
The heart is the seat of our emotions. It is vital to protect this vulnerable part of our being. The word “keep” refers to guarding the heart.
Part of the way we guard our heart is to fill it with God’s Word (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Another way we can guard our heart is to daily put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).
To “keep” our heart with “diligence” refers to a guard, the post of the prison. We must do the same thing with our heart. We need the “breastplate of righteousness”, the “shield of faith”, and the “sword of the Spirit”.
A heart filled with God’s Word will not have room for fleshly, carnal, or worldly pleasures. What you put in will come out the other end. If you pour in apple cider, don’t expect oil to come out. So it is with the Christian. You cannot fill your heart with things that are ungodly and expect to continue to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, post a guard at your heart and fill it with the Word of God.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
We have the pleasure of receiving counsel from the wise man of old. Solomon received his wisdom from the one who is wisdom. It came as a gift from Almighty God. Solomon met the condition of James 1:5 and God gave him wisdom like had never been seen until Jesus Christ.
The heart is the seat of our emotions. It is vital to protect this vulnerable part of our being. The word “keep” refers to guarding the heart.
Part of the way we guard our heart is to fill it with God’s Word (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Another way we can guard our heart is to daily put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).
To “keep” our heart with “diligence” refers to a guard, the post of the prison. We must do the same thing with our heart. We need the “breastplate of righteousness”, the “shield of faith”, and the “sword of the Spirit”.
A heart filled with God’s Word will not have room for fleshly, carnal, or worldly pleasures. What you put in will come out the other end. If you pour in apple cider, don’t expect oil to come out. So it is with the Christian. You cannot fill your heart with things that are ungodly and expect to continue to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, post a guard at your heart and fill it with the Word of God.
January 3
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 7, 8, 9; Psalm 3, 33, 63, 93, 123; Proverbs 3
“Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.” Proverbs 3:25
The word of God exhorts us to “fear the Lord”. This is not referring to a paralyzing fear whereby we are scared to move. The fear of the Lord speaks of a reverential respect toward God. If I love and respect God properly, then I will fear Him.
The phrase “sudden fear” in this passage refers to an instant alarm. The Devil seeks to paralyze the child of God with fear, to prevent us from being used of God. The Devil hates God and His children, so he will employ many tactics to cause us to quit or go off course. Ungodly fear is a huge weapon in his arsenal. This could be the proverbial “bump in the night” to prevent a time of prayer to a fear of rejection that paralyzes us and prevents us from witnessing when we should. II Timothy 1:7 tells us, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear here is being timid or fearful.
We need only to fear God who has the power to kill the body and put the soul in Hell where we deserve (Matthew 10:28).
“Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.” Proverbs 3:25
The word of God exhorts us to “fear the Lord”. This is not referring to a paralyzing fear whereby we are scared to move. The fear of the Lord speaks of a reverential respect toward God. If I love and respect God properly, then I will fear Him.
The phrase “sudden fear” in this passage refers to an instant alarm. The Devil seeks to paralyze the child of God with fear, to prevent us from being used of God. The Devil hates God and His children, so he will employ many tactics to cause us to quit or go off course. Ungodly fear is a huge weapon in his arsenal. This could be the proverbial “bump in the night” to prevent a time of prayer to a fear of rejection that paralyzes us and prevents us from witnessing when we should. II Timothy 1:7 tells us, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear here is being timid or fearful.
We need only to fear God who has the power to kill the body and put the soul in Hell where we deserve (Matthew 10:28).
January 2
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 4, 5, 6; Psalm 2, 32, 62, 92, 122; Proverbs 2
“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” Psalm 32:6
This refers back to verse five and possibly verses 1-5. This is a prayer of confession of sin (I John 1:9). The only time God cannot be found, so to speak, is the times that sin blocks our fellowship with Him. God loves to hear and answer the prayers of the “godly” (those in a right relationship to or with Him). It is like the incenses of the Old Testament burning upon the altar. Our prayers are a sweet smell or odor to God. How does your prayer life “smell” today? Is it a sweet smell or a stench?
Confession keeps us in a place of fellowship with God. Sin breaks that fellowship and also the lines of communication. What a good shower is to our body so is a prayer of confession to our soul.
“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” Psalm 32:6
This refers back to verse five and possibly verses 1-5. This is a prayer of confession of sin (I John 1:9). The only time God cannot be found, so to speak, is the times that sin blocks our fellowship with Him. God loves to hear and answer the prayers of the “godly” (those in a right relationship to or with Him). It is like the incenses of the Old Testament burning upon the altar. Our prayers are a sweet smell or odor to God. How does your prayer life “smell” today? Is it a sweet smell or a stench?
Confession keeps us in a place of fellowship with God. Sin breaks that fellowship and also the lines of communication. What a good shower is to our body so is a prayer of confession to our soul.
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