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Saturday, November 29, 2014

Where Your Disagreement With God Takes You Jonah 4: 5


click to Read the passage: Jonah 4  (a new browser window will open)



1) away from the blessing
( out of the city )

2) away from the fellowship with those changed by God 
( out of the city )
A heart not being changed by God itself will not rejoice with hearts which are being
changed.
Such a heart is a self centered heart because it concludes all is all right, thus, no need
for change.

3) away from the inspiration of new hearts
( out of the city )
Ones having just met Jesus have a fresh message, a convicting joy and a contagious
spirit.

4) away from God's initiation
( and there made a booth for himself, )
One here is not real; sure he wants God to use him.

5) away from God's protection
( a booth )

6) away from God's nearness
( and sat under it in the shadow, )

7) away from God's will
( till he might see what would become of the city. )
Jonah was still expecting the city to fall. 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Integral Part of Worship Psalms 99: 9


click to Read the passage: Psalms 99  (a new browser window will open)

(Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the
                Lord our God is holy.)

1. God is inseparable from His holiness.
                In considering worship, there is not a separation, as in a separate
                activity; it is an expression of the abiding life of Christ within.

2. Worship is inseparable from His holiness.

3. Every aspect called worship must be reviewed and evaluated
                in light of its holiness.
It is not segmented, not a part of and by itself. 
                It is the testimony of the life of Christ within.
Colossians 3

4. To impute or superimpose holiness upon that which is
                unholy within is a travesty upon worship and is very misleading.

5. Only true exaltation of God brings worship, only true
                worship exalts God.
Worship comes out of living. Colossians 3: 17

6. God has no pleasure in man defined and man produced 
                worship, it will lack God's power and blessing.

7. Worship is not for a show to men, but for the glory of a holy
                God.







Saturday, November 22, 2014

Doing a Good Thing Psalms 92: 1-3


click to Read the passage: Psalms 92  (a new browser window will open)



v.1            1.            Giving thanks to God for His goodness.
                        (It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,)

v.1            2.            Acknowledging the greatness of His name.
                        (and to sing praises unto thy name,)

v.1            3.            Singing praises that glorify God.
                        (and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:)

v.2            4.            Anticipating God's provision.
                        (To show forth thy loving kindness in the morning,)

v.2            5.            Declaring our faith in God's provision.
                        (thy loving kindness in the morning...)

v.2            6.            Reporting on God's faithfulness.
                        (and thy faithfulness every night,)

v.3            7.            Expressing as fully as the heart allows, worship to the Lord.
                        (Upon an instrument of ten strings, ...)

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The Blessing of Being Chosen Psalms 65


click to Read the passage: Psalms 65  (a new browser window will open)


                                                                
Truths about who God is, does.

1)  Sovereign in prayer.                                                                                    1Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.

2)  Absolute in rule.
2O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

3)  Alone in forgiving sin.                                                                               3Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

4) Inclined to bless.                                                                                          4Blessed is the man whom thou choosest 

5)  Willing to receive man’s finite weakness and exchange deity’s tenure.                  4Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

6)  Provides the only true satisfaction to man’s heart.                                             4 …  we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

7)  Uniquely joins the heart of the saved with God’s heart.
5By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

8)  Uses His power and might to bring peace to His people.                                    6Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power: 7Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.

9)  No man is untouched by God’s witness; each day witnesses to man’s heart of God’s joy.
8They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

10)  Circumstances of living are proof man’s need is beyond himself.                         9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

11)  God’s care of His creation witnesses of a generous and faithful hand.
10Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

12)  God points man’s focus to harvest seasons.                                                11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

13)  God unmistakably is to and true before all men the source of abundance
and joy.
12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.                                                                                                             

14)  God’s message cannot be silenced; those of joy shout for it and their hearts cannot be silenced.                                                                                         13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.


Saturday, November 15, 2014

From the Life of Joseph-Responding in Righteousness Genesis 37-50


click to Read the passage: Genesis 37-50  (a new browser window will open)



37: 27-36
1) When rejection by others occurs, even the brethren, and no malice nor bitterness follows.
This is affirmed by Joseph’s service in Potiphar’s house.

39: 7-19
2) When temptation visits and finds no interest.
Affirmed by Joseph’s fleeing- v 18

39: 17-19
3) When false accusation fails to cut into one’s soul.
Joseph suffers humiliation and offers no external defense.
1 Peter 2; 20 What glory is it if , if when ye are buffeted for you faults, ye shall take it 
patiently? …

39: 20-23
4) When justice fails to surface and God’s grace is manifest forth.
Joseph exhibits no unfairness syndrome.
Joseph was available to minister.

40: 1-23
5) When time extends no sympathy, and patience is readily exhibited.
Joseph exhibits a servant’s heart.

41: 1-32
6) When God’s door of opportunity swings open, and the servant is spiritually prepared.
Loyalty to God is shown forth-(v. 16- it is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer
 of peace.)

41: 33-45
7) When freedom is granted and honor is returned.
Joseph is released from prison and given absolute rule, yet he honors God, God’s purposes,
Pharaoh and his house, the people of Egypt, the Hebrews.

41: 46-57
8) When wisdom is chosen over expediency.
Joseph is prepared and does what is needful for the ensuing trials that follow.

41: 46-53
9) When stewardship is a priority, rather than indulgence.
Joseph sought not to take personal advantage.

42, 43, 44
10) When power is in one’s hand and is not abused.
Illustrated with Joseph and his brethren. ( v 23 Peace be to you, fear not; …)
(Proverbs 3: 27- Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power
of thine had to do it.)

45: 5-8
11) When loving kindness and generous forgiveness is chosen over retribution.
The true character of the heart is readily evident and wonderfully displayed.

45: 9-, Ch 46, Ch 47
12) When the genuineness of a servant’s heart is evident, rather than being served.

47: 29
13) When convenience takes no precedence over loyalty; when surrender to the will of
God follows a sensitive heart.
Jacob had a desire to be buried in Canaan. This was also God’s desire and will. Joseph
grasped the opportunity.

48: 4-22
14) When God’s abundance is overwhelming and no pride follows.

49
15) When God’s record is prerecorded and there is humble acceptance.
Joseph had nothing in his heart toward his brethren. God knew the heart of each of
Joseph’s brethren. Joseph left all in God’s hands.

50: 14-21
16) When past offenses of others are long forgotten and steadfast love is all consuming.

50: 25,26
17) When the past and the present are lost in one’s view of God’s great purposes and 
commitment to future generations to which the servant of God is faithfully committed.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Unstaggered Faith Romans 4: 20


click to Read the passage: Romans 4  (a new browser window will open)


(He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief: but was strong in  faith, giving glory to God:)

1. Not overcome by human deficiency.

2. Not tarrying in trust.
gave no time for enemy invasion and erosion.

3. Not questioning God’s hand.

4. Not measuring the human possibility.

5. Placing the integrity in God’s name.

6. Willing for God to receive glory.

7. Resting in the security of God’s word.







Saturday, November 8, 2014

A Weak Leader Exodus 32: 2-32


click to Read the passage: Exodus 32  (a new browser window will open)



v.2            1.            Vulnerable to peoples pressure.
                        (And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings,)

v.2            2.            Hears man without hearing God.
                        (…and bring them to me.)

v.3            3.            Forsakes the integrity of God’s entrustment.
                        (And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears,
                        and brought them unto Aaron.)

v.4            4.            Provides an alternate deity for God’s people.
                        (And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, 
                        after he had made it a molten calf: and they said,

v.4            5.            Forsakes the exaltation of God’s name and denies true Godliness.
                        (These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.)

v.5            6.            Enters into personal idolatry, misleading God’s people.
                        (And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it: and Aaron made 
                        proclamation, and said, Tomorrow  is a feast to the Lord.)

v.22            7.            Refuses accountability.
                        (And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the 
                        people, that they are set on mischief.)
                        not necessarily openly rebellious, but typically  not accountable to God’s Holy 
                        Spirit.

v.23,             8.            Purports a pseudo honor of intent.
   24                 (For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as
                         for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we
                         wot not what isbecome of him.)
                        serious intent, sincere, but wrong.

v.24            9.            Lies about his direct action.
                        (And I said unto them, Whomsoever hath any gold, let them break it off. 
                        So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.)
                        When held accountable no truth to support.
                        Inasmuch as this leader has not been honoring truth, he has difficulty being 
                        accountable.  i.e. Adam and Eve.

v.25            10.            Disgraces himself and God’s people.
                        (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies.)

v.26            11.            Causes division in God’s camp.
                        (Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s
                        side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves
                        together unto him.)

v.28            12.            Weak leadership results in destruction of followers.
                        (And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there 
                        fell of the people that day about three thousand men.)

v.31,            13.            Endangers the attainment of God’s promises.
    32                 (And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have
                          sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.)
                         (Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out
                         of thy book which thou hast written.)

v.33:1            14.            Is only offset and overcome by a loving, merciful, powerful God.
                        (And the Lord said unto Moses, depart, and go up hence, thou and the people
                        which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I
                        sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed  will I
                        give it.)

                        In contrast:
Moses was decisive-lined up with God’s truth, was firm and judicious , loved God, 
loved God’s people, provided Biblical leadership, knew God’s honor, shepherding
God’s people, pursued God’s promises.


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

True Contentment Psalms 84: 1, 2


click to Read the passage: Psalms 84  (a new browser window will open)



v.1 1. To have God visit you.
(How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!)

v.2 2. To be in the house of the Lord.
(My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord;)

v.3 3. To meet with God.
(my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.)

v.2 4. To have God's personal ministry to your own heart.
(the courts of the Lord.)

v.2 5. To have God satisfy the thirst of a dry soul.
(My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord;)

v.2 6. To have God receive your yearning desire.
(my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.)

7. To find God is all He is.








Saturday, November 1, 2014

Who God Looks To Isaiah 66: 2


click to Read the passage: Isaiah 66  (a new browser window will open)



( ... but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth
at my word.)

1) One that can't help himself. 
(poor)
One who can help himself will be trying to.

2) One that doesn't try to buy off God.
(poor) ".
Recognizes he has nothing to buy with- to impress God with; trying to convince God to 
accept them the way they are.

3) One that has nothing of his own to impress the world with.
(poor)
poor in spirit Matt. 5:3
has need; acknowledges his need; responds to the provider.

4) One who doesn't try to outsmart God.
(contrite)
doesn’t maneuver or manipulate or go around God- doesn’t rationalize.

5) One who is broken before God.
(of a contrite spirit)

6) One who pride cannot persuade to follow.
(contrite spirit)
filled with humility and grace

7) One who fears not man, but God.
 (and trembleth)
doesn’t fear events in the world- worry over economics, health, etc.

8) One who knows when God is speaking and dares not challenge it.
(and trembleth)

9) One who makes God's word his priority.
 (and trembleth at my word)
To many people God can’t look at today because they don’t make God’s word
 a priority.

10) One who counts God's word as the final authority in his life.
(and trembleth at my word.)
Doesn’t debate it; looks no place else.