Monday, October 31, 2016
Proverb of Steel
Making excuses for sinful excuses will nothing
to help your case on the day of judgment. Only the blood of Jesus can
erase your sin.
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus – John 11:1-44
This is the second day of our lesson. Jesus is travelling back to Judea to raise Lazarus back from the dead. It is interesting that on the way Thomas told the other disciples they must be willing to die with Jesus. Thomas and the disciples were away of the political climate Jesus was in.
1. Jesus comes into Bethany where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. Many people had arribed and were trying their nest to comfort and console the family.
2. Martha heard that Jesus had arrived and when she saw Him she said, “Jesus if you would have been here my brother would still be alive.” Many times we question God about His timing and will when things do not appear to be going our way.
3. Even though Lazarus had died Martha knew that the Father would give Jesus anything He asked. True faith does not give up but believes for the impossible and known that if we ask anything in Jesus name it shall be given to us.
4. Jesus told Mary that her brother would rise from the dead and she responded that he would rise in the resurrection on the last days. She gave Jesus a theological response but many times we need to forgot our theology and just truth Jesus.
Verse Today
2 Corinthians 5:17New International Version (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
Monday Thought
It is Monday and here is your thought for the brand new week. Making excuses for sinful excuses will nothing to help your case on the day of judgment. Only the blood of Jesus can erase your sin. So today confess your sin and get forgiveness and live for the Lord and make a difference for God where ever you go.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus – John 11:1-44
Over the next five days we will look at this powerful and wonderful story and the life lessons we can learn from it.
1. This is one of Jesus’ most heart felt accounts. Jesus was out ministering when a note from Martha the sister of Lazarus came to Him. It informed Him that Lazarus was very sick. Jesus told His disciples that this sickness would not end in death and at God’s glory would come through the Son.
2. He loved this family but chose to stay where He was for two more days. God’s timing is not always understood but it always perfect.
3. Jesus went back Judea even though He knew the Jews there were trying to kill Him. The will of God always has courage to face whatever challenge if presented too it.
4. Jesus on the way told His disciples that a person must walk while there is still light or they will stumble. Jesus knew His time was limited.
5. Jesus is the Light of the world and so He must do work while there is still time and light and we must do the same.
6. Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus had died after they misinterpreted what Jesus said. Jesus had told them that Lazarus had fallen asleep and Jesus was going to wake him up. Jesus it the resurrection and the life,
7. 7. Jesus told them that He was going to raise Lazarus up from the dead so that would know He is the resurrection and the life and that through this miracle they would believ
Thrive
It is the weekend and here is your thought. The fool chooses to survive. The wise choose to thrive. So today invite the Lord in your life and thrive. He promises abundant life and that is wise.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Verse Today
1 John 3:8New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil [a]has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
Sin, faith and duty
Sin, faith and duty – Luke 17:1-10
Jesus in these verses teaches us four truths which we will look at for a moment.
1. People who cause sin especially little ones shall be judged harshly.
2. If your brother sins rebuke him. This however must be done with the motives of love, acceptance, forgiveness and restoration. If he repents forgive him no matter how many times he has sinned.
3. If a person has the faith the size of a mustard seed they can say to a tree or as Mark points out a mountain and these objects will move. Faith moved objects and the hand of God.
4. We must be willing to do our duty because we are servants of the Most High God. A soldier does not question the orders of their superior in turn we are to serve our master with faith and trust.
Be a winner
It is Thursday and here is your thought for Today. Did you know every battle is won or lost before you leave your prayer closet. So today spend time with the Lord and win all your battles on your knees. You will change your life and the world of those around you.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Verse Today
James 4:7New International Version (NIV)
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
The Rich Man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19-31
Jesus told a powerful parable and yet it is not a parable because it actually names the participants. He tells of rich man and Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury while the poor man lived in poverty. They both died and the rich man went to hell and Lazarus went to paradise. This story by the way gives a clear picture of what hell looks like and who better to know than Jesus. In hell the rich man who had had the best saw Lazarus. Lazarus who during his life time could not even get crumbs from the rich man’s table was with Abraham. The rich man called out to Abraham to send Lazarus to have him wet his tongue so he could get relief from his torment. Abraham said, “There is a wide gulf between us.” The he went on to explain to the rich man that in life he had the best while Lazarus lived in agony. It was now Lazarus turn to enjoy life. Jesus was saying there is a day judgment coming where all things will be put right.
The rich man asked Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers. Abraham said, that even if someone came back from the dead many will not believe. This was of course a direct statement to Jesus’ rising from the dead. Jesus then closes off this story by reminding His audience that even the prophets and Moses had warned them about the coming judgment but they still did not believe.
This is a strong warning to watch how you live and teach others. It is also a story about how things will be put right and to believe when you have been given the opportunity.
The Word
It is the middle of the week and here is your thought for today. When the word has changed you in your inner world, it will change your outer world. You need to let the Bible become a part of you. It must change your entire outlook. It is God's word and his thoughts for you. Read and apply it daily and touch others for the Lord.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Tuesday Thought
It is Tuesday and here is your thought for today. It is better to be walking in faith and victory than stumbling in fear and defeat. This is your choice and it really depends on who you listen to in your life. ill fear or faith rule your life. The choice is yours. Choose wisely.
Law on Divorce
Law on Divorce – Luke 16:18
Jesus in this verse attacks a belief that the Pharisees had on divorce. They said that it was o.k. to divorce your wife on trivial means, much like today. Jesus had stated in the Sermon of the Mount that the only cause of divorce in the eyes of God was adultery. If a person divorced their spouse for any other reason He told them that the next person they married would be committing adultery with them.
The Bible is very clear on this issue. Paul would later reveal in the book of Corinthians that a Christian could be divorced if they were living with an unbelieving spouse who wanted out of the relationship. The divorce however had to initiated by the unbelieving spouse and carried through by them. Paul says we are called to live in peace.
Verse Today
Proverbs 3:5-6New International Version (NIV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
Monday, October 24, 2016
Benefits of Heaven
John 3:1 says, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." God values us so much that He has adopted us into His family. Here are just four of the many:
God's creation
Look around you. The sunset, the air you breathe, the beaches, the food you eat and everything that exists - God made that for you. Everything that we see was made to speak of God's name so that we be reminded how loving, powerful and able our Father is. Isaiah 44:23 says, "Break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel."
Our dominion
Genesis 1:26 says, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'" God entrusted all of creation to us because He wants us to know He trusts us. Despite our sinfulness and stubbornness, God values us enough to entrust us with everything He has created. God wants to bring his dominion in your life and world.
God's forgiveness
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Everyday, we fail God and His laws, but still He readily offers forgiveness because He wants us to know that we are important to Him. If we weren't we wouldn't be existing today! But because God loves and values us, we are forgiven and atoned for. He has given us brand new life enjoy it.
Christ's sacrifice
There is no greater proof of God's love than the arrival of Jesus Christ into this world. In His love, our Lord chose to become a lowly man just like us, walk this earth, feel our pain and suffering, and even die an excruciating death just to prove how much He loves us. John 3:16 makes this crystal clear to us: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Rise today in this reality and share this message to all in your world.
Proverb of Steel
Prayer does its greatest work we when see what
God sees and then we begin to do it.
Verse Today
Isaiah 40:31New International Version (NIV)
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Jesus reveals the hearts of the Pharisees.
Jesus reveals the hearts of the Pharisees. – Luke 16:14-18
The Pharisees who loved money sneered at Jesus. He replied, “You know that you try to justify yourself to men but God knows your heart. He told them that the things that ate highly esteemed among men are an abomination to God.
Jesus then taught that the law and prophets were waiting for Jesus. He stated that right now the Kingdom of God is being preached and every man is being pressed by it. The Lord is looking for decisions right now. The day you hear about Jesus Christ is your day of decision. You become responsible the very moment you hear about Jesus Christ, You are in the valley of decision. Jesus also said that when the Kingdom of God is being preach many will try to for force their way but they will not succeed.
Jesus then stated that heaven and earth will passed away before one letter of the law will pass away. Jesus never came to do away with the law but to fulfill it and then institute a new covenant created in and through His blood. As one the writer of Hebrews puts it, “He gave us a new and living way.” Today in your time of decision make sure you chose Jesus and not the law. Life and not death. – Luke 16:14-18
Greatest work
It is the beginning of the week and here is a thought you can do all week. Prayer does its greatest work we when see what God sees and then we begin to do it. So through this week pray and see what God can and will do in your life and in the lives of those you pray for.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Friday, October 21, 2016
The Shrewd Manager
The Shrewd Manager - Luke 16:1-13
Jesus told His disciples a story about a manager who was caught of wasting resources. The master brought him before himself and asked him about it. The master then fired him so he started to think about what he could do. He wasn’t strong enough for manual work. So he called each one of the master’s debtors. He then reduced their bills by 20%. The master commended his servant for being so shrewd.
Jesus went on to say that people are more wise and shrewd than people of the light. Whoever can be trusted with little can be trusted with much. If a person cannot be trust with worldly wealth they certainly cannot be trusted with true riches.
Jesus then goes on to say that they will not be given true wealth for their own. He closes off this parable with the point that a person cannot servant two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Verse Today
Daniel 11:32New King James Version (NKJV)
32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
Pray and obey
People are always trying to be successful so here is thought today to help that. True success in life comes when you have prayed the price. Prayer is key in getting a hold of all the benefits of heaven. The Lord today wants to hear and answer your prayer. So pray and then obey. This is the price for success in the Kingdom of God.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
What Love is All About. – 1 John 4:7-12
What Love is All
About. – 1 John 4:7-12
Intro: Today we are
returning to the Book of 1 John and today we are exploring what true love is
all about from John’s and the Bible’s perspective. These verses in 1 John is the essence of this
book.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God.
1. John begins with
his familiar greeting. Dear friends, or
my beloved. Then he gives
This exhortation,
“Let us love one another.” John believed
and expressed this
Exhortation in
every book he wrote. John truly believed
that grace and mercy would
Be given even in
times of wrath.
2. He states three
things about love which we will look at for a moment. First, love
Comes from God. It is the essence of Him. It is a communicated attribute of Him. It
Is pure,
unselfish love given without any expectation of being returned in like manner.
Secondly, everyone
that loves is born of God. They
have responded to the love given
To them through
Jesus Christ. Quote John 3:16. When one is born of God or
Regenerated. Their old heart of sin with its
hatred, hurt, unforgiveness and other
Evils associated
with it is gone and it has been replaced with a new heart that is in
Tune with God. Do guitar tuning experiment. Those born of God have a desire to
love.
3. Lastly, they that
love, know God. It is a one to one
relationship. They follow
Matt 22:37-40. They have started with God. It is Him they love and this allows them
To love all.
Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love.
1. John is very black and white on his outlook here. His frankness or bluntness makes it
Clear. If a person does not love, they do not know
God. There is no room for hate,
bitterness and prolonged
anger in a believer’s life.
2. God is love.
It is who He is. It is part of
His character. The essence of His
being.
Love begins with
Him and will never be truly experienced in its fullness or
Completeness until
we become one with Him through Christ.
3. God is patient and
kind. He does not envy, boast or is
proud. He is not rude, self-
Seeking, or
easily angered. He keeps no records of
wrong, or delights in evil. He
Rejoices in
truth, protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.
He never fails.
4. The Ladies Home
Journal wrote, “Those who love deeply never grow old, they may
Die of old age,
but they die young.”
This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world
that we might live through Him. This is
Love: Not that we loved God, but that He
loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1. Jesus was God’s greatest
expression of love. God sent His
only son. John as we
Have learned saw
Jesus as the only saviour. He presented
Jesus as God. The perfect
John, if you saw
Jesus you saw the Father and vice versa.
2. John states here that true
life is lived through Him. John
saw people living sub par
Lives until they
became believers. John stated in John
10:10, “that Jesus came to
Give life and to
give it abundantly. No profession,
lifestyle, dream and destiny is fully
Realized until
your come to know Jesus. Life is hollow,
empty and pointless until you
Come to know
Jesus Christ as far as John was concerned.
3. This
is love. John states with
confidence, frankness and simplicity.
Remember John’s
Vocabulary for
this book is no larger than 600 words.
He wanted to make this book
Simple enough
that a child could understand it. Jesus
is God’s expression of love.
4. John
then says, Not that we loved Him but He loved us. Redemptive love does not
Begin with us. We did not seek salvation or even realize
that we even needed it. It
Began with
God. He sought us. Jesus said, “I have come to seek and save the
lost.”
Jesus stated that
the sick seek a doctor not those that are well.
Until we realize that
We are sick with
sin and evil we will not seek salvation.
Talk about my conversion.
5. John closes these
two verses, telling his audience and readers that Jesus is the
Atoning sacrifice for our
sins. Atonement which means to
reconcile. To bring two
Warring parties together. It means making a way for peace. Jesus made peace
Between God and
man. Our sin separated us from God. Jesus became the bridge
Between us and
God. In a few minutes, we will be celebrating the means of how that
Happened. Through
His broken body and shed blood.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1. John comes back to
his theme of loving one another. As one
preacher said, ‘if you
Love one another
you are loving God. Jesus says in Jn
13:35, “we are his disciples,
When we love one
another.” He commands us to love one
another in Jn 15:17.
2. Love
is not an option for the believer but a command, an expectation and expression
Of our love for God.
3. John says because
God loved us, we can love others. He
makes it possible for us to
Love.
No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us
and His love is made complete in us.
1. John was the only
New Testament writer that actually explain the physical make up of
God if we can
call it. In John 4:24 we learn from
Jesus, that God is Spirit, He has no
Physical body and He cannot
be seen. They who worship Him must
worship Him in
Spirit and truth. Because He is Spirit, He is omniscience, knows
all, Omni-present, is
Everywhere,
eternal, lives forever and has no beginning or end. He is the essence of
Good, truth,
love, purity, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience, faithfulness, joy and
Self
control.
2. If we
love one another, God lives in us. Love
is the physical expression of God.
When we love we show God’s
life in us. Love is both unseen
and seen. It starts with
Loving God with
every fibre of your being. Then choosing
to love others in the same
Way. John closes by saying, “His love his made
complete in us. This is a scary
Thought. God’s physical expression of love is made
complete in us.
Proverb of Steel
The greatest ministry a person can have is that
of prayer. It is what Jesus is doing right now.
The Parable of the Lost Son
The Parable of the Lost Son – Luke 15:1-32
The account we are about to examine is one of the most beloved and well known of Jesus’ parable. It is the classic story of failure and redemption.
Jesus the master story teller talks about a son who asks his father for his portion of his inheritance. This son then goes to a far off land where he spends his money on foolish and poor choices. When the money runs out he find himself in dire straits. He finally is able to get a job on a pig farm. This is obviously the worst job in the world for a fine Jewish boy. After a while he becomes so impoverished that even the pig food begins to look good. He comes to his senses and goes back to his father repenting.
The father more than accepts him back. He puts on a feast in his honor. The older brother comes back and becomes jealous. The father tells the older son that everything he has belongs to Him. He should rejoice over his brother who has come back. Here are some life lessons we can learn from this story.
1. Living in the world brings nothing but despair and anguish over time. We have so much more when we live for the Father and do His business.
2. When we come to our senses then we begin to see how hopeless things really are and we come back to the Father who receives us back with open arms.
3. We as brothers in Christ must welcome back all who have gone astray and we are to do it with love.
Verse Today
John 10:10New International Version (NIV)
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Greatest ministry
It is Thursday and here is your thought for today. The greatest ministry a person can have is that of prayer. It is what Jesus is doing right now. So be a person of prayer and fulfill the greatest ministry of all and touch your world for Christ and be a blessing.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Lost Sheep
Lost Sheep and Coin – Luke 15:1-10
This whole chapter is about something that is lost being found. Jesus was with some sinners and tax collectors when the Pharisees accused of being with sinners. To this Jesus replied, “The Father is like the shepherd with 100 sheep. If He loses one He will leave the 99 and go search for the lost one. When He finds it, He places it upon His shoulder and rejoices.” This is what the Father in heaven does when one sinner comes back.
Jesus then told a parable about a woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. She cleaned the house until she found it, When she found it she invited all her finds over that they might rejoice with her. In the same way there is rejoicing by the angels in heaven when one sinner comes to God.
Jesus used these two parables to point out that a sinner salvation is s celebration in heaven. God is looking for a sinner. He looking for the lost and He is looking for those who need salvation. Let us pray that we can be instruments in His hands to see a sinner come back so the party in heaven can continue.
Verse Today
Psalm 34:10New International Version (NIV)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Inner World
It is the middle of the week and here is your thought for today. When you win the battles in your inner world you will win the in your outer world. John told us in 3 John 2, that prosperity and health comes when we are right with God and seek Him first. Jesus said in Matt 6:33, that all things would be added to us when we sought the Lord and His righteousness. So today begin your victory from the inside out.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Proverb of Steel
Prayer is the one area we have complete control
over. If we choose to do it or not that is up to us.. The results
will be quite self evident.
The cost of being a disciple
The cost of being a disciple – Luke 14:25-35
Jesus turned to the crowds and talked to them about the cost of being a disciple.
1. A person must be willing to give up all for Christ. They must be willing to deny themselves and carry their cross and follow Christ.
2. We cannot be like the foolish man who built a tower or the king who went to war. They did not fore see the cost. We must be willing to give all to Jesus Christ.
3. We are also called to be salty for the Lord or we will be thrown out.
4. Let us ear with our ears.
Verse Today
Psalm 119:176New International Version (NIV)
176 I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.
Prayer
It is Tuesday and here is your thought for today. Prayer is the one area we have complete control over. If we choose to do it or not that is up to us.. The results will be quite self evident. When you pray you invite God into your life and situation. He wishes to bring abundant and eternal life. It will change you and those around you. So pray and receive all God has for you.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Proverb of Steel
Never let one day of prayer pass. Remember seven
days without prayer makes one weak.
Meal with the Chief Pharisee
Meal with the Chief Pharisee – Luke 14:1-24
Jesus was invited to the house of a great Pharisee. There in front of the Pharisees Jesus saw a man that was afflicted so he asked them if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. They had been watching Him very closely. When they were silent to His question, He healed the man. Then He told them that they would go and help an ox out of a well on the Sabbath and that is why He healed the man. They still remained silent.
Jesus then noticed how people were taking the best places at the meal so Jesus them told them the parable of the best place. A person was invited to a feast and how they took a place of lower honour and how the host went and brought them to a higher place of honour. Jesus said if however they took a prominent seat and the host asked them to take a lower place how they would be humiliated. Jesus then said, “whoever exalt themselves will be humbled and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted,
Jesus then asked His host why he had only invited all His friends and rich neighbours who could pay him back. He told him that he should have invited, the poor, blind and lame. These people could not pay him back. That is how it will be in the time of the resurrection.
Jesus had a man who sat beside Him who said, blessed is he who eats the feast in the Kingdom of God. Jesus told this man a story about a man who invited his friends and for one reason or another they could not come. The man became angry and sent his servants to find the poor and when they still had room for more than the master sent out his servant’s once more. When invited to the banquet of the Kingdom of God, come or your place will be taken by another. A very good lesson to remember.
Verse Today
Psalm 119:175New International Version (NIV)
175 Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me.
and may your laws sustain me.
Prayer Power
It is the beginning of a new week and here is a powerful thought. Never let one day of prayer pass. Remember seven days without prayer makes one weak. Prayer is one way God will strengthen you and you will need his strength today and through out the week.
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