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Saturday, April 30, 2016

Attempt to Run From God Jonah 1: 3-17


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


v.3 1. We apply our energy and creativity to get away from God rather than to God.
(…went down to Joppa, and he found a ship going to Tarshish;)

v.3 2. We use up personal resources.
(So he paid the fare,)
Money, time, energy, peace, strength.

v.4 3. We bring trouble and error to our journey.
(But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, …)

v.9 5. We are unable to deny God.
(…I  am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, …)

v.17 5. We become overwhelmed with the magnitude of our unmanageable 
circumstances.
(Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.)

ch. 2:        6. We cry out to God in our self brought trial of despair.
     2 (And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord and He heard 
me; …)

Ch. 3: 7. We learn we cannot escape God, nor outrun His call.
      1 ( the word of the Lord come unto Jonah the second time saying.)







Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Always Money Judges 16: 5, 18


click to Read the passage: Judges 16  (a new browser window will open)

( ... and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.) 
(And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.) 

1 . The enemy gains a lot of loyalty with the promise of mammon. 

2. The enemy seems to have plenty of man's mammon to serve his sinful practices. 

3. Mammon allows for a transfer of accountability. 
The lords of the Philistines were not a direct part. 

4. Mammon presents a false belief and value of loyalty and service. 

5. The enemy trades value and integrity for the short term gain sought after. 
The lords don't care about Delilah; the enemy never cares for anyone. 

6. Mammon motivates people in a way that seemingly nothing else can. 
Many of God's servants get waylaid on their journey of obedience by the love for mammon. 

7. The reward of mammon is a reward of deceit and empty betrayal. 


Other teachings regarding money: 

Other abuses connected with money: Judas Iscariot in Luke 22; Gehazi in 2 Kings 5: 22-26 

Ecclesiastes 5: 10 -He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 

Is money inherently evil? No. Does God want the child of God not to have any? No 

Job was a man of great increase. Job 1 : 3 
Solomon was a man of great wealth. 1 Kings 10: 14-29 
Abraham was a a man of great abundance. Gen. 24: 35 
God truly is willing to bless His people. 

It seems it is the response of the child of God to wealth that is the problem. 

Can he posses it and remain humble? 
Can he possess it and not stray from His Lord? 2 Chron. 7: 17-20 Can he posses it and not love it? 1 Timothy 6: 10 
Can he possess it and be judicial? Amos 2: 6 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Israel. and for four. I will not turn away the punishment thereof: because they sold the righteous for silver. and the poor for a pair of shoes;) 

Godliness is the better pursuit. Herein Samson failed. 1 Tim 6: 6, 7 

God's promises are to meet our needs. Phil 4: 19. It is not a monetary promise, although it could include monetary blessing. 
God promises daily bread. The Lord's prayer- God promises sufficiency. 
God promises abundance. 
God gives spoils of battle. 
God gives spirrtual gifts, one of which is giving. 

Thus, there is a principle of stewardship involved in all. I.e. the parable of the talents. (Matt. 25: 14-29) 

Some points of wisdom: 

1. Make sure God is your source, your supplier. Phil. 4: 19 
2. Focus on need, not greed. Phil. 4: 19 
3. Seek only God's testimony, not your own. Romans 3: 11 
4. Seek Jesus first in all things. Matt. 6: 33 
5. Thank Jesus for everything you have. 1 Thes. 5: 18 
6. Pray inlfor all things. 1 Thes. 5: 17 
7. Be content with what you have. Hebrews 13: 5 
8. The world's standards regarding finances are not to be yours. Psalms 1: 1-3 
9. Don’t  let comparisons with others rule you. 2 Gorin. 10: 12 
10. Focus on stewardship, not gain. Matt. 25: 14-29 
11. Follow God's leading of generosity. Eph. 2: 8, 9; John 3:16 
12. Draw by faith from God's deep well of water Heb. 11: 6; John 4: 14 
13. Know your financial boundaries, don't go beyond them. 1 Thes. 4: 12 
14. True riches are not defined in monetary terms. Matt. 6: 19-21 True riches are of enduring value. 

Saturday, April 23, 2016

The Mighty Power of God Revealed 2 Thessalonians 2: 8


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

(And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming;)

1.The greatness of God's power is shown in its restraint all the years of evil's work.

2.The greatness of God's power is shown when He decides evil has done enough.

3.God's people will see how great the power of God has always been.

4.God's people will clearly see the power over evil that was in Christ who was living  in them.

5.God will consume the enemy with His breath.

6.God's power is far greater than just dealing with the enemy, the devil.

7.The power in God's hand is eternally determinate.
When God says it is over, it is over.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Yielding the Innermost Secrets of the Heart Judges 16: 17


click to Read the passage: Judges 16  (a new browser window will open)


(That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a 
razor upon mine head: for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my
mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall 
become weak, and be like any other man.)

1. There is a communion with God never to be yielded.

2. There is a gifting of God to be respected.

3. There is a God to whom the servant owes all devotion.

4. There is always a cost to compromise.

5. There is a true knowledge to the servant of the source of his strength.

6. To reveal secrets to the enemy is never justified.

7. The seeds of sin sewn in the heart will reap destruction.




Saturday, April 16, 2016

Testing Foretold Mark 14: 27-31


click to Read the passage: Mark 14  (a new browser window will open)

v.27 1. Every believer will have his faith tested, sometimes severally shaken.
(And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this
night: for it is written, I)

v.27 2. A believer’s relationship to the shepherd shall be the subject of the test.
(I will smite the shepherd, and the)

v.27 3. The undesirable consequence of the testing is to be separated from the
shepherd.
(and the sheep shall be scattered.)
(v.28-But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.)

v.29 4. It is difficult to measure the extent of the test and thus the extent of one’s 
commitment in advance.
(But Peter said unto Him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.)

v.30 5. Christ knows of the extended weakness of the human heart.
(And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in
this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.)

v.31 6. The power to endure and pass the test can only come through Christ, not
through human determination or human strength.
(But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny
thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.)

v.31 7. The strength of numbers committed, by itself, is not sufficient guarantee
that any one or all shall pass the testing of their faith.
(Likewise also said they all.)








Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Flirting with the Enemy Judges 16: 6-11


click to Read the passage: Judges 16  (a new browser window will open)

v.6 1. The enemy declares his intention.
   (And Delilah said To Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great
strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.)

v.7 2. To play the enemy’s game is unwise.
(And Samson said unto her, If  they bind me with seven green withs that
were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.)

v.8 3. To allow sin to bind the servant of God is foolish.
(Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which
had not been dried, and she bound him with them.)

v.9 4. The enemy’s trap is set.
(Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And
she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the 
withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength
was not known.)

v.9 5. An escape from the enemy is only an escape, when the servant is flirting 
with sin.
It isn’t victory.

v.10 6. The wicked cease not to bring temptation to the servant of God.
(And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told
me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.)

v.11 7. If the debate over human strength against evil is not cut off, it will lead to
entrapment and to a fall.
(And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were 
occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.)





Saturday, April 9, 2016

God's Faithfulness Matthew 27: 12-50


click to Read the passage: Matthew 27:  12-50  (a new browser window will open)


V 12 1. didn't witness against His own 
(He answered nothing) 

v 1 2. didn't compromise 
(and He answered him never a word,) 

v 28- 3. didn't force 
(they stripped Him, ••• plaited a crown of thorns, ••• ) 

V 33 4. didn't become faint hearted 
(Golgotha ••• ) 

V 41 5. didn't turn against His own 
(Likewise also the chief priests, mocking Him, ••• )

v 46 6. didn't fail 
(My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?) 

v 50 7. didn't cease 
(yielded up the spirit.) 
Diety lives forever. 

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Trapping Oneself Judges 16: 1-3


click to Read the passage: Judges 16  (a new browser window will open)



v.1 1. Playing into the enemy’s trap is foolish.
(Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto 
her.)
One may escape, but there will be harm.

v.1 2. Treating God’s standard lightly is careless.

v.2 3. The enemy seeks to take advantage anyway he can.
(And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they
compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and 
were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill 
him.)

v.2 4. The enemy seeks to slay the servant of God.

v.3 5. Were it not God still had purpose for His servant, the servant would perish.
(And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of
the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all,
and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill
that is before Hebron.)

v.3 6. God is greater than His servant’s trespasses.
In no way should it be construed God sanctioned or supported Samson’s
sin.

7. Having been equipped by God, an erring servant appears to escape harm in 
                the present season.






Saturday, April 2, 2016

Faith's Encounter Acts 12: 16


click to Read the passage: Acts 12  (a new browser window will open)


(But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and
saw him, they were astonished.)
1. To believe in the authority of God’s word.
To take God at His word.

2. To believe in the sustainment of God’s purpose.

3. To believe in the power of God’s might.

4. To believe in God’s choice as to how.

5. To believe in God’s rule over the enemy and his every expression.

6. To believe in the prevailing witness of prayer.

7. To believe God for physical manifestation of His answer.