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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The Reservation of Faith James 4: 13-15



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


An accompaniment to trust.; Ch. 4 topic- worldliness and pride

v.13 1. Believers are tempted to make plans apart from the inspiration of divine
leadership.
(Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will)

v.13 2. Faith lives within the reality that time’s span lies totally within the control of
God.
(Today or tomorrow we will …city, and continue there a year, and buy)

v.13 3. Faith lives within the reality that a believer can only successfully do what
God directs him to do.
(we will go into such a city, and continue)

v.13 4. Faith lives within the reality that gain is not based upon the expanse of man,
but the immeasurable goodness of God.
(and buy and sell, and get gain:)
man’s activity
The thrill seeker of our day offers a very short term view of God.

v.14 5. Faith lives within the reality that the only sure hope for tomorrow is Jesus.
(Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what)

v.14 6. Faith lives within the reality that life and time are both precious resources
which together can gain God’s highest and best.
(For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and
then vanisheth away.)
Thus, live for God, not apart from God.

v.15 7. Faith lives totally within the boundary of the will of God and bases all
actions upon doing God’s will.
(For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.)
It is not a trial and error process; nor is it a process of trying something,
hoping it to be God’s will.
It is doing based upon the revealed will of God.






Saturday, December 26, 2015

Thy Prayer is Heard Luke 1: 13


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


(But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zechariah: for thy prayer is heard;
and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name
John.)

1. It does not abide alone.

2. It didn't start with us as believers.

3. It is bigger than I am.

4. It rests upon God's will and power to fulfill.

5. It has no honor apart from God, nor message.

6. It awaits God's fulfillment.

7. It will receive God's reward.








Wednesday, December 23, 2015

She Brought Forth Luke 2: 7



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


(And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him inn swaddling clothes, and laid 
him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.)

1) The record of faith (believing) becomes very visible.

2) The promises believed bear no disappointment. 

3) The only expectation is of Jesus being present (presented).

4) Unable to control circumstances, free to enjoy them.

5) Seeing the beginning, sensing the ending.
1: 49-55; 67-79

6) Loving who men have no time for.

7) Having a completable task and doing it.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

The Work of the Spirit in Worship John 4: 24


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


        …(they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

1. Reveals the preeminence of Christ.
The cross so clearly presents.

2. Reveals the worthiness of God.
Revelation 5: 11,12,13

3. Reveals the works of God.
Brings to remembrance.

4. Reveals the personal appropriation of God.
The believer’s privilege and favor with God.

5. Reveals the need of the believer’s heart.

6. Prepares the heart to receive insight of scripture.
(in truth)

7. Keeps the heart in conformity with the truth of scripture.
(in truth)









Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Guided into the Presence of Jesus Matthew 2: 1-12


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


v.1 1. In the midst of man’s indifference and preoccupation with himself, there are 
                some who are genuinely seeking for Jesus.
(Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.)

v.2 2. Ones genuinely seeking Jesus are not afraid for others to know of their pursuit.
(Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in
  the east and are come to worship Him.)

v.2 3. There is something manifestly clear to the genuine seeker that this Jesus is
unlike any other one, uniquely identified in scripture, uniquely sought after,
uniquely positioned before men.
(born King of the Jews.)

v.2 4. The heart of a true worshipper is prepared to meet the king. 

v.3 5. The heart of a true worshipper is not distracted by those who have no interest in
worship.
(When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, …)

v.7, 6. There are those who have a disconnected interest in worship.
8         (Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, … bring me word
                again, that I may come and worship him also.)
There are many pretenders at the Christmas season.

v.9 7. God is the one who faithfully guides the genuine seeker to His son, the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
(When they had heard the king, they departed: and, lo, the star which they saw
                in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child
was.)

v.10 8. Oh, the joy of being privileged to find Jesus.
(When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.)

v.11 9. What is most fitting in the presence of Jesus?   worship.
(And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary
His mother, and fell down and worshipped him:)

v.11 10. Worship acknowledges the true character of Jesus.
(…they presented unto Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.)
Acknowledging His kingly rule, His place as great High Priest, and His sacrificial
destiny.




Saturday, December 12, 2015

The Witness of God's Spirit Luke 1: 42-45


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


   
v.42 1. Proclaims the presence of truth.
  (And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among
  women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.)

v.42 2. Presents the blessing of truth.
  (Blessed art thou …)

v.43 3. Presents the Lordship of Christ.
  (the mother of my Lord)

v.42 4. Presents the test of fellowship.
  (…the babe leaped)

v.44 5. Presents the source for joy.
  (the babe leaped in my womb for joy.)

v.45 6. Presents the test of truth.
  (and blessed is she that believed;)

v.45 7. Presents the promise of truth.
  (for there shall be a performance of those things)










Wednesday, December 9, 2015

The Fruit of Seeking the Lord Matthew 27: 57-61


click to Read the passage: Matthew 27  (a new browser window will open)



v60 1) The benefit of seeking the Lord diligently is that the preparation of our life fits into his plan. 
(and laid it in his own new tomb,) 
Joseph was probably hewing out the tomb for his own use. 
Because he was diligent God was able to use the fruit of his labor. 
Jesus was not concerned previously about His burial site but was concerned with doing His father's will. 
When we concern ourselves with seeking the Lord~ we find our pathway fits into His plan and purpose. Matt. 6:33 

God’s sovereignty evident here- fulfilling Isaiah 53: 9

God in all details around the cross did not leave any detail untouched by His wisdom and foreknowledge. God did not honor men but Himself.  
God did not allow the message at any point to be defiled.
Thus, Joseph of Arimathea had to have a message of honor to honor the message of Christ.

2) The focus of service is not on the future fulfilment but upon the task presently assigned. 
Jesus was to be resurrected; but first death and a tomb from which He would arise. 
Joseph fit into God's plan~ He didn't try to produce a resurrection but did what was before him. He placed the body in a tomb. 
Joseph in the old testament is another good example of focusing on the ministry before him. 
He began focusing on fulfillment of the promise (his brothers bowing to him) but then focused on the life God desired to build--his own. 
We are to focus on what God has presently assigned to us not upon future fulfillment. 

57,58 3) God's timing is in His hands. 
(… He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.) 
So often we are pressured by time. 
We find that God was only working out His plan in our life. 
God begins in advance moving on our heart so that we will be readied at the right time. 
Many pressures we feel are just God’s means of getting us ready. Example- a mother sensitive to a child’s need.
God is at work in the body of Christ today.
Sensitive believers will respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting.

v57 4) Sensitivity is the need, not calculation or manipulation. 
(When the evening was come … He went to Pilate,) 

Again Joseph merely operated in God's timetable. Earlier, there would have been no need. Later, the opportunity would have been gone. 
He was sensitive to God's timing. He was observant of what was taking place and his (Joseph's) part. 

v57 5) The honor is not in the vessel God uses but in the portion of Christ's life being unveiled. 
(a rich man of Arimathia, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus disciple:) 
The message was of Christ prophesied before and now being fulfilled.  
Isaiah 53: 9 
Joseph happened to be a vessel God used. 

v60 6) God's purpose must be brought to pass by God. God doesn't ask that of man. 
(and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.) 
Upon obedience, Joseph's work was done. 
It was God's work to fulfill scripture. 
God would roll the stone back and rise from the grave. 
He didn't ask that of Joseph. 
He only asked Joseph to obey, to accept his appointed role. 
Again, often we seek a more glamorous role. 
God just wants our obedience. The glory to come is His. 

V 59,60 7) Seeking the Lord really frees a believer to enjoy the Lord. 
(And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. . .) 
God is responsible for His plan. 
We are free to focus upon the assignment God has given. 
God has assigned to us an accomplishable part. 
God is presently at work in our life on His future plan. 
God is looking over our life. God is holding us on course. 
We are free to follow Him. 

We worry needlessly about the part God must do rather than focusing on what God has assigned, and enjoying the fellowship of obedience.


Saturday, December 5, 2015

That Which the Enemy Cannot Touch Matthew 2: 5-12


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



v.5,6 1. The enemy cannot touch nor affect the promises of God’s word.
(And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea; …)
Today the enemy has new Bible versions but has no power to change nor
alter God’s precious word.

v.7 2. The enemy cannot touch nor detain heaven’s proclamation of Jesus.
(…what time the star appeared.)

v.8 3. The enemy cannot touch nor alter the plan of God.
(And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the
young child;… )

v.9 4. The enemy cannot touch nor alter the instruments of God’s choosing.
(When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they
saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the 
young child was.)

v.10 5. The enemy cannot touch nor harm the true spiritual joy Christ brings to the
human heart.
(When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.)

v.11 6. The enemy cannot deceive a heart(s) bent upon getting into the presence of
Jesus.
(And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with 
Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had 
opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts: gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh.)

v.12 7. The enemy cannot touch nor alter that which Jesus transfers to the heart of
the worshiper, the love, the loyalty, the keeping.
(And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, 
they departed into their own country another way.)




Wednesday, December 2, 2015

To Touch the Hem (Him) of His Garment Matthew 9: 20-22


click to Read the passage: Matthew 9  (a new browser window will open)


v 20 1) Many in the crowd seek the blessing of the master without seeking the master. 
(a woman ••• ) 
Believers want many things, Jesus wants us to want Him.

2) Not all in the crowd have their needs met, only those whom Christ chooses to meet their needs. 
(diseased twelve years) 
sickness awaiting God's testimony 
unbelief is a great barrier 

3) The step of faith is to reach out and touch the faithful ONE. 
(touched the hem of His garment.) 

4) Great faith recognizes a great God. 
(the hem) 
only to touch the hem would be sufficient. 
Christians magnify their needs (like looking through 2 different ends of telescope) 

V 22 5) The step of the faithful one is to reach out and touch the one having faith. 
(daughter be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee well.) 
Faith gains God's attention 
(but Jesus turned about) 

6) There is power in the Him of His garment. 
(and the woman was made well) 
His garment of righteousness, of oneness with His Father) of truth, of sovereignty and majesty 
clothed with absolute perfection, absolute power, royal majesty unique glory, unchallenged victory, exalted authority, exclusive ownership, true riches 
1 Chronicles 29: 11, 12 

7) To touch the Him  of His garment is to gain the sufficiency and completeness of Christ. 
(made well from that hour)
 complete deliverance of Christ 
Ephesians 3: 20, 21
Immutability
Dependability
Might
Irrefutability
inexhaustability