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Saturday, January 31, 2015

What Keeps Us From Seeing the Glory of God John 11: 39, 40


click to Read the passage: John 11  (a new browser window will open)



                           (Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was
                           dead, saith unto Him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead  
                           four days.  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest  
                           believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

            1.            It is not because Jesus is not present.

            2.            It is not because Jesus is silent.
                           Jesus had been declaring Himself. v. 23, 25, 26,
                           Jesus had spoken.
                           It didn’t have to be figured out, only heard.

            3.            It is not because Jesus is not willing to show Himself strong.

            4.            It is not because of a lack of need.
                           Other men died. Lazarus could have been placed in that category.
                           But Jesus was to raise Lazarus. There was a Holy Spirit inspired need.
                           There was a need to trust Jesus as well.

            5.            It is not because of the size of the challenge, its difficulty or greatness.

            6.            It is not because conditions are irretrievably advanced, too far gone.

            7.            There is but one reason, absence of belief.
                           Jesus didn’t ask anything of Martha, but to believe.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

God's Revelation of Himself 1 Samuel 3: 7, 10-14


click to Read the passage: 1 samuel 3  (a new browser window will open)


v.7 1. Man cannot know God unless God chooses to reveal Himself.
(Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word…revealed unto
him)
                God is in total absolute control of divine truth.
Man can only know God as God chooses to reveal Himself.
A believer can only gain wisdom and the knowledge of the word as God chooses
to give it.

Man cannot bind God. Man cannot encumber God. Man cannot coerce God.
God is in control.

It is an unmatched blessing to know God---to have God open up Himself to
receive man and  to give Himself to man.

A believer need realize the precious relationship that exists whereby God
chooses to release to him insight and instruction.
A believer need hold dear the Holy word of instruction.

A believer need seek to know God. A believer need reverence the word in light
                of the blessed relationship which he has been called into and allowed to enter in.

Truly it is a blessing to know God.

The way a believer responds to God’s revelation has great influence on whether
                he will receive additional revelation.

v.7 2. God reveals Himself through His word.
(the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.)

God has established a way of communication to men. That is His Holy word.

Even when God communicates through the Holy Spirit the enlightenment is of
and from the word.  (John 16: 13.)

When God reveals Himself in prayer it is in accordance with His word.
He is revealing the instruction and confirmation of truth.

God has prepared for man’s every need through His word.

v.10 3. God desires men to know Him.
(And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel. Samuel.
Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.)

Thus, God comes to man, calls to man to get his attention, and declares Himself
to man.

God has designed a way for man to know him through His Son; God further
greatly desires man to know His Son and to gain fellowship with God.

Oftentimes there is much calling upon God’s part to man’s indifferent or
inattentive ears.
The Lord is longsuffering.

God calls man by name (Samuel, Samuel) so there is no mistaking God’s call. 
God is persistent because of His wondrous love.

v.10 4. God does reveal Himself to man.
God has made that choice. God does appear to man.
God comes first to man indicating His desire to be man’s Savior and Lord.

When man accepts God the Son as his Savior, God continues to reveal Himself
to that man, revealing the pathway of life and honor.

Thus, the word of God becomes a constant source of nurture and guidance to
God’s child.

The believer becomes greatly dependent upon God’s revelation.

v.11 5. When God does reveal Himself man knows it is God.
(And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both
                the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.)

God does the impossible. God does the spectacular, the miraculous.
God does that which in unequaled. God’s works are right and pure.
We expect God to be too ordinary.
When God does His work man cannot explain it away or change it.
Man may not understand it and may try to discredit it, but God’s work glorifies
Him.

The presence of God in a life is an evident presence.
It is apparent to the possessor and to others observing that life.

God’s word has a definite effect on God’s children. (Jer. 17: 5-8; 18: 5-8)

Contact with the word of a Holy God requires a reckoning and a humble
reverence. (Jer. 23: 9-29)
v.12 6. God’s revelation is the beginning and end of needed knowledge.
(In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning
his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.)
All God’s people need what God has and will give.

All things are complete in God.
Man needs nothing that Jesus cannot provide.

There is no knowledge nor wisdom outside of God.  (Heb. 1: 2, 3)

That which Jesus initiates, Jesus finishes.  (Heb 12: 2)  (Phil. 1: 6)

Man need seek no more than Jesus. To seek more is to shed neglect and
dishonor upon  the perfect work of Christ and to lead to guilt and frustration
because of the shame of discrediting Christ.

Man only needs Jesus, ever needs Jesus.

v.13, 7. The message of God’s revelation carries an eternal duration declaring man’s
destination.
   14 (For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he
knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.)
(And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli‘s house
shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.)

God’s word is eternal.
What God promises He promises eternally.
What God condemns He condemns eternally.
What God judges He judges eternally.

God determines man’s destination.
Man’s choosing Jesus assures a heavenly destination.
Man’s rejecting Jesus assures eternal condemnation in hell.

What God says to His children is not a light thing but always has eternal
significance and consequence.
Obedience to the word of God carries into eternity. 
God remembers His word and a believer’s obedience to it.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

The World's Most Priceless Gift Ephesians 2: 8-


click to Read the passage: Ephesians 2:  8  (a new browser window will open)


(For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:)

            1.            It is available to all but not all desire it.

            2.            It is affordable by all but not all choose it.

            3.            It is a gift for every person, no man excluded except by his own decision.

            4.            It is a gift fully paid for.

            5.            It is a gift that will endure forever.

            6.            It is a gift that has no other comparable measure.

            7.            It is a gift no man can live without. It is the gift of salvation through 
                           Jesus Christ.


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

The Assurance of Faith Numbers 13: 30



click to Read the passage: Numbers 13  (a new browser window will open)


(And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once,
and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.)

1. All God said heard.

2. All God said considered infallibly true and complete.

3. All God said desired.

4. No reason found to question God.

5. No reason found to tarry before God.

6. No reason to consider any alternatives.

7. Having a prompting of the Spirit to proceed.









Saturday, January 17, 2015

Unforeseen Opportunity Joshua 1: 1-8


click to Read the passage: Joshua 1  (a new browser window will open)



Deut. 31:7          1.           There comes a time when God will put his hand upon you.
                        (And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be
                        strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land 
                        which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause  
                        them to inherit it.)

                           2.            Prior to that time, pay close attention to the lessons God is teaching
                                          you, to the things God is exposing you to.
                        Realize you are not just performing tasks, but preparing for the future.
                        i.e. Moses life- Egyptian training;  Midian training, then 40 years in Midian later
                        with Israel

Deut. 31:            3.            In God’s work, God is always the successor. You are not alone.
     3-6                               His promises accompany you.
                        (The Lord thy God, He will go over before thee, and He will destroy these
                         nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall
                         go over before thee, as the Lord hath said.)
                        (And the Lord shall do unto them as He did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the  
                         Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom He destroyed.)
                        (And the Lord shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them 
                        according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.)
                        (Be strong and of good courage, fear not, not be afraid of them: for the Lord thy
                        God, He it is that doth go with thee: He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.)

Deut. 1: 8            4.            You shall not fail because God cannot/will not fail.
Josh 1: 5            (And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He 
                          will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.)
                          (There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life;
                          as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake
                          thee.)

Josh 1: 6            5.            God’s purposes extend beyond you- your life, your needs.
                          (Be strong and of good courage for unto this people shalt thou divide for an
                          inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.)

                           6.          Learn from those gone before you, but realize your life and message 
                                        will not necessarily duplicate theirs.
                                        Only one Moses. Only one …

Josh 1: 8          7.            Focus on your part, God will perform His; success comes from your
                                       loyalty to, love for, and obedience to God’s word.
                           (This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thous shalt
                           meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to 
                           all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and
                           then thou shalt have good success.)


                           


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

At Thy Word Luke 5: 5


click to Read the passage: Luke 5  (a new browser window will open)

(Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.)

1. The counsel of truth that is to precede the action of the believer is the word
of God.

2. The sufficient authority required to support the believer’s action is the word
of God.

3. The most important measure for the obedience of the believer- has God
said?; what has God said?
4. The life given for the believer’s faith and trusting is the word of God.

5. Freedom to respond is given; the believer is free to obey the word.
Christ is giving hope to the believer as well.
The reward of the word follows and awaits often obedience to the word.

6. The evidence of a believer’s trust is not first the manifestation but first the believing.
(I will let down the net.)

7. All of a believer’s life on earth is to be tied precisely to the direction and
counsel of the word of God.
Even the ministry of the Holy Spirit is tied to the word of God.  
John 16: 13, 14.  This is a test of the work of the Holy Spirit.
This is the protection from the fear of subjectivism. The work of the Holy
Spirit is objective because of the word of God.



Saturday, January 10, 2015

He (Jesus) is our All 1 Chronicles 29: 14


click to Read the passage: I Chronicles 29  (a new browser window will open)



(For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.)

Jesus!

1) All we have is given of Jesus.

2) All our increase is His testimony.

3) All our graces are of His love.

4) All of our life belongs to Him.

5) All we can do is give out of love in return.
All we give can never repay.

6) All we desire is Him.

7) All our hope is met in Jesus.


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

What Every Day Needs Psalms 143: 8


click to Read the passage: Psalms 143  (a new browser window will open)


        (Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning: for in thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto
                thee.)

1. A meeting with God in the morning.

2. An open ear to God.

3. The freshness and reassurance of God’s loving kindness.

4. Bountiful trust in God’s sufficiency.

5. Every part of my being lifted up to and dedicated before God.

6. The revealed knowledge of God’s way.

7. A walk with God throughout the day, based on the way He has revealed.