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Saturday, July 29, 2017

The Success of God's People Joshua 1: 8



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



(This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou 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.)

It is tied to the word of God:

1. Knowledge of truth is the securing factor, not the knowledge of men.

2. Knowledge of truth must always precede and pave the way for applications
of practice.

3. God is always first to be pleased.

4. Obedience to God’s law does please God.

5. God’s word has application to every life circumstance.
God has a word that fits every need His people have.
God’s word is timeless, that is it is fitting to all generations.

6. A prospered way is tied to the precedents of obedience to God’s word.
(for then …)

7. Success is not measured by men, but by God Himself; it is assured through
obedience to the word of God.
(and then thou shalt have good success.)




Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Divine Justice John 5: 28-30


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

v.28 1. There is a time appointed.
(Marvel not at this:  for the hour is coming,)

v.28 2. There is unchallenged authority given to Christ.
(in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,)

v.28 3. All shall be called.
(all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,)

v.29 4. There are only two possible decrees; one will be given.
(...unto the resurrection of life; ...unto the resurrection of damnation.)

v.29 5. There will be no last minute alteration.
(And shall come forth;)

v.29 6. There will be no last minute appeals or stay of execution.
(they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done
evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.)

v.30 7. All will be according to perfect divine justice
(...I judge:  and my judgment is just;)







Saturday, July 22, 2017

Abraham's Appeal Genesis 18: 22-33


click to Read the passage: Genesis 18  (a new browser window will open)



v.22 1.Abraham had a genuine  concern for people.
( ..... but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.)

v.23 2.Abraham knew God to be just.
( And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the 
wicked?)

v.24 3.Abraham didn't qualify the unjustness of man.
( Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city:.....)

v.27 4.Abraham was not testing God.
( .... I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes.)

v.28 5.Abraham was taking a position on behalf of others.
( Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous:.....)

v.30 6.Abraham was on narrow ground.
v.32  (Peradventure there shall thirty be found there.......)( Peradventure ten......)

v.33 7.Abraham had to leave matters in God's wise hand.
( And the Lord went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham:  and
Abraham returned unto his place.)

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Free Indeed John 5: 13, 14


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


v.13 1. The one with truth has no argument.
(And he that was healed wist not who it was:)

v.13 2. The one blessed of truth has no reason to bind truth. God does that.
(wist not who it was:  for Jesus had conveyed Himself away, ...)

v.14 3. The one meeting truth has a desire for more truth.
(Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold,)

v.14 4. Truth gained is irreversible.
(...Behold, thou are made whole:sin)

v.14 5. Truth's liberty is forgiveness.
(sin no more, lest a ...)

v.14 6. Truth's liberty is absolute, complete.
(thou art made whole:)

v.14 7. Truth's liberty is to be continued in.
(sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.)









Saturday, July 15, 2017

God's Victory Psalms 98: 1-9


click to Read the passage: Psalms 98  (a new browser window will open)



v.1 1. It cannot be withheld from the Lord.
(…for He hath done marvelous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath
gotten Him the victory.)
God will wear out the opposition.

v.1 2. Victory only fits God.
(…Him the victory.)

v.2 3. It pleases God to give it.
(The Lord hath made known His salvation: His righteousenss hath He 
openly showed in the sight of the heathen.)
Psalms 97: 10, 11

v.4-6 34 When God gives victory, it cannot be taken away.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: …)
i.e. the promised land

v.4-6 5. When God gives victory, it cannot be given away.
(With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the
King.)
Like salvation, it is God’s gift, based upon God’s sure work.
i.e. promised land; the ark in the hand of the Philistines.
A believer cannot give victory to the enemy.

v.7,8 6. It is the capping message of a believer’s faith.
(Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell
therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.)

We trust God, believing in His response. That is victory.
Victory catches up to God’s people. it will be given.

v.9 7. Only those in fellowship with the victorious one remain.
(Before the Lord; for He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall
He judge the world, and the people with equity.)
He alone holds victory over death.  -1 Corin. 15: 57
Psalms 89: 14; 96: 13






Wednesday, July 12, 2017

The Desert Place Mark 6: 35-37, 39-44


click to Read the passage: Mark 6  (a new browser window will open)

V 35 1) A place of loneliness ... or a place of great presence
(This is a desert place) 
(Come aside into a desert place) 
Jesus is present in the desert place.
To be alone with Jesus is special. The desert place can be special.
How can we be lonely with Jesus present? 
Know the sufficiency of His special presence.
Isaiah 30: 15 …In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.

V 35 2) A place of shortness of time … or a place of great portion.
(and now the time is far passed.) 
We measure time as so short. God measures it as sufficient.
We don’t measure time accurately by allocating it to the right priorities, thus, it seems to be short.

V 36,37 3) A place of hopelessness… or a place of great potential. 
(Send them away, ... ) (He answered and said unto them, 
Give ye them to eat.)
Our assessment of our circumstances overshadows faith’s potential.
God may not have changed our circumstances yet, but there is Godly potential. 

V 37 4) A place of doubt ... or a place of great peace.
(Give ye them to eat. And they say unto Him, shall we go and buy .... ) 
Isaiah 26: 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon thee because he trusteth in thee.
If we doubt God’s sufficiency and revealed will, there will be no peace.
Doubting deprives us of our peace.
We are to trust in God’s matchless strength and might- to drive away fear and doubt.
God’s word is sure. Meditate on its sureness and peace will ensue.

V 39,40 5) A place of confusion …or a place of great perception.
( ... sit down by companies ... ranks ... ) 
God making preparation for the distribution of His resources. Where God is at work, there is order.
God had every detail worked out, there was a way for all needs to be met.
See Jesus as the answer, see His sufficiency, see His order.

V 38 6) A place of testing …or a place of great proof.
(how many loaves have ye?)
Emphasis is on what we have not what we don’t have.
1 Tim. 6: 8 and having food and rainment let us be therewith content.
Let God prove His ability and grace is greater than apparent supplies.
With God little is enough-for He will expand it into His great bounty.

V 39 7) A place of haste or a place of great patience.
(he commanded them to sit down …)
With God in control and knowing of God’s supply there is no need for hastiness.
Be patient and wait on the Lord. His supply is much more peaceable than our labors to attain.

V 37,41 8) A place of trial and error…or a place of great purpose.
(and they say ... ) (He looked up to heaven, and blessed, ... ) 
God has a cause, a purpose to be fulfilled.
God is not validating a preferred way but revealing the only way.
God was revealing eternal truths; eternal purposes.
God desires our view be heaven ward.

v41 9) A place of worry … or a place of great prayer.
(He looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves,… )
Jesus was never worried because He knew of heaven’s bountiful supply.
Jesus knew He had a hearing Father.

V 41 10) A place of prominence …or a place of great preeminence.
(He looked up to heaven …)  
Christ is first, the only begotten Son of God. He was not just a leader but the preeminent Son of God.
Heaven recognized the Son, heard His petition, released its bounty.

v41 11) A place of need … or a place of great provision.
(heaven)
The desert ceased being a desert in the presence of the might of heaven.
The resources of heaven brought fruitfulness to the barrenness of the desert. 

V 41 12) A place that is temporary ... or a place of great permanence.
(heaven) 
Provision based upon heaven’s permanence.
Deserts in our life are temporary-look toward the unchanging, the changeless Christ.
Heaven’s stable bounty never changes irrespective of earthly uncertainties.

V 37,41 13) A place that is uncertain or a place that is of great perfection.
(shall we go ) (He looked up to heaven ... ) 
Desert amenities are uncertain; desert supply is limited. Desert solutions are not certain, not palatable, not exciting.
Everything that heaven has to offer is perfect.

V 41 14) A place of despair ... or a place of great promise.
(He looked up to heaven and blessed) 
What are we going to do is the question of the desert?
The question of the desert is satisfied by heaven’s great promise.
Blessings are in heaven. Jesus partook of heaven’s offering.

V 37,41 15) A place of quietness … or a place of great pronouncement.
(give ye them to eat) ( ... and blessed ... ) 
Pronouncing heaven has supply; heaven is God’s storehouse.
Man’s needs are met by heaven’s supply of grace and goodness.

V 35,41 16) A place of slowness ... or a place of great promptness.
(time is far passed) (broke ... gave ... set before them) 
The supply was there all the time just awaiting faith’s claim.
The supply was provided on time.

V 42 17) A place in question ... or a place of great propriety.
(and they did all eat) 
How is not a consequential question in heaven.
Heaven is reliable, is trustworthy, is proven.
Heaven’s sufficiency is demonstrated.

v42 18) A place of distaste ... or a place of great pleasance.
(and were filled) 
Desert is dry-no fruitly savor.
Heaven’s provision is delightful, tasty, pleasureable.
Every man was satisfied.

v42 19) A place of condemnation ... or a place of great pardon.
(they did all eat) 
It is desert. There is none to eat 
God’s merciful provision (bounteous) amidst desert surroundings.
You desire to be hungry-you wandered out in the desert-brought no food-or God’s compassionate heart and reward to those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11: 6

v42 20) A place of hunger or a place of great partaking. 
(they did all eat)
Nothing wrong with hunger- be filled with right food.
The desert produces hunger-hungry men partake of food. Psalms 107: 36
God has such bountiful, rich supply to partake of.
2 Peter 1: 4 by which are given unto us …

v42 21) A place of error ... or a place of great precision. 
(they did all eat) 
God’s supply is adequate for every need. There is no misestimation in God’s Kingdom. What a challenging measure to the church’s decision making and practice.

V 35,42 22) A place of waste or a place of great profit.
(time is far passed) (they did all eat) 
It is so profitable to seek God’s way.
It is so wasteful to conclude man’s way has merit.
It is so wasteful to try to squeeze life out of desert circumstances.
It is profitable to seek heavenly resources.

V 42 23) A place of ungratefulness or a place of great praise.
(and they did all eat, and were filled)
There is much to praise God for. A heart that experiences and understands God’s abundance will be a grateful heart.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness … Psalms 107

V 42,43 24) A place of lack ... or a place of great plenty.
(and they did all eat, and were filled.) 
(And they took up twelve baskets full ... ) 
God’s supply is inexaustible. Believers should never tarry in seeking or asking in fear of short supply.
The supply of heaven shall never cease
The river of life shall never run dry. John 4: 14

v 43 25) A place of emptiness ... or a place of great possession.
(and they took up twelve baskets full)
There is emptiness in solutions offered in the desert
There is fullness of joy in heavenly possessions.
Heaven’s riches are real, are possessable, last, endure, give life.
Go away full of the Lord, with substance.

V 43 26) A place of reserve … or a place of great proportion
(and they took up twelve baskets full ... )
God is so gracious.
There is no reason to hold back-partake fully of heaven’s offering, all of it.
The servings of heaven are generous; There is more than enough.
There is more than you the believer can partake of.

V 44 27) A place of regression ... or a place of great progression.
(five thousand men)
Is the desert place a step backward?
It is forward march with heavenly provision in you.
A believer is readied to march on in service in the King’s army.
There is readiness in service, contentment in attitude, sufficiency in preparation, and strength that endures.

V 44 28) A place of wantonness ... or a place of great power.
(and they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.)+ women and children
There is no lack of heaven’s supply.
No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly 
Psalm 84: 1 
All power is available in heavenly places. Matthew 28: 18
God’s mighy power shall be displayed where there is great need for it.
Oh, that we might find need for God’s mighty power!

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Christ's Teachings- a Fallen Heart Luke 15: 11-16


click to Read the passage: Luke 15  (a new browser window will open)


(v.11- And He said, A certain man had two sons:)

v.12 1. A life focusing on its own rights will soon fail.
(And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of
goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.)

v.13, 2. A fallen heart wants to get away from its source of security.
    14 (And not many days  after the younger son gathered all together, and took
his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous
living.)
(he began to be in want.)

v.13 3. A fallen heart is a wasteful heart.

v.14 4. A self seeking heart makes no provision for needs greater than its own
ability.
(And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and 
he began to be in want.)

v.15 5. The independent heart finds forced dependency.
(And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him 
into his fields to feed swine.)

v.15 6. The fallen heart finds great displeasure.

v.16 7. The independent heart is quickly reproofed for its denial of the Father’s
blessings.
(And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did
eat: and no man gave unto him.)






Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Right Desire Psalms 27: 4


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

(One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell
in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the
Lord, and to inquire in His temple.)

1. Be single-minded toward God.
(one thing)

2. Desire according to God’s heart.
(have I desired of the Lord)

3. Seek to gain God’s granting and fulfillment.
(that will I seek after)

4. Desire to abide continuously with the Lord.
(that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,)

5. Desire to see all God will reveal to you.
(to behold the beauty of the Lord,)

6. Seek God’s wisdom.
(and to inquire in His temple)

7. Be content in Jesus.
(one thing have I desired of the Lord, …)