Why Does The Bible Remind Us Of The Same Things Over and Over Again … Why All The Repetition?

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Judges 9; Judges 10; Psalm 49; 1 Corinthians 16


Why Does The Bible Remind Us Of The Same Things

Over and Over Again … Why All The Repetition?

Scripture

1 Corinthians 16

¹³ Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. ¹⁴ And do everything with love.

Observation

Have you ever noticed how many times in scripture that we are told to be courageous and to be strong? How many times in scripture have we been told to be on our guard and to stand firm in the faith? How many times in scripture have we been told to do everything with love? 

Why all the repetition? 

Because it is easy for us to be off our guard and to get caught in sin and it is easy for us to wobble in our faith. So many things cause us to Fear that we have to be constantly reminded to be courageous and so many things cause us to be weak that we have to constantly be reminded to be strong. Our natural tendency is not to do everything with love so we have to be constantly reminded. 

That is why it is so important to be in God’s Word everyday. If we are not in His Word everyday then we won’t be reminded to be on our guard or to stand firm in our faith. We will tend to be “Wimps” when we should be courageous and we will be weak when we should be strong. And we won’t do everything with love!

Read God’s Word everyday!

 Application

I will strive to be in God’s Word everyday. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me take the time to read Your Word everyday. I know that it is Your desire that we constantly be in Your Word. I pray for the folks at church that they would begin to do the same thing. I pray that Your Word would do a powerful work in my life and in the lives of those that attend Christ Fellowship! Thank You for reminding me today to be on my guard, to stand firm in my faith, to be courageous, to be strong, and to do everything with love. 

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Why Are You Down In The Dumps? Read This If You Need To Be Lifted Up!

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Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1 Corinthians 15 (The Message)

Why Are You Down In The Dumps?

Read This If You Need To Be Lifted Up!

Scripture

Psalm 42

⁵ Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
      Why are you crying the blues?
   Fix my eyes on God—
      soon I'll be praising again.
   He puts a smile on my face.
      He's my God.

 ^6-8 When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
      everything I know of you,

Observation

OK, I have to admit it I do get down in the dumps quite often these days. I have been really down in the dumps during the past 6-7 weeks because I was sick and I was having a hard time getting well. I have been to a bunch of doctors over the past month or so. Even this week I have been down in the dumps because I realize that although I am a lot better than I have been over the past 6 weeks I am not well enough to return to work and serve the Lord like I used to do.

Don’t get me wrong I still plan to get well enough to serve Him on the mission field and reaching an unreached people group in  India. I still plan to help our church become the mission church that God wants our church to be! I still plan to recruit other churches help us reach the unreached in India.

So how do I get out of the dumps? I do exactly what the Psalmist says to do.  I rehearse everything I know of God. I go back to how He saved me and how He has taken care of my family and me for all these years. He has taken care of our health. He has provided for us financially. He has been very good to us.

I go back over the attributes of God: God is Love. God is Good. God is Just. God is Holy. God is my friend. (I know that this is probably not an attribute of God but it a very good thing to remember when you are down in the dumps). God always keeps His Promises. I could go on and on but you get the idea.

Having a pity party for ourselves doesn’t do us any good!

Application

When my soul is in the dumps I will rehearse everything I know of God. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are good. Thank You for taking care of me. Help me to fix my eyes on You the next time my soul is in the dumps. Then I know that I will soon be praising You again. You will put a smile on my face. You are my God.


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Love…Puts Up With Anything!

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Judges 4; Judges 5; Psalm 39; Psalm 41; 1 Corinthians 13

Love…Puts Up With Anything!

Scripture

1 Corinthians 13

^3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

   Love never gives up.
   Love cares more for others than for self.
   Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
   Love doesn't strut,
   Doesn't have a swelled head,
   Doesn't force itself on others,
   Isn't always "me first,"
   Doesn't fly off the handle,
   Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
   Doesn't revel when others grovel,
   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
   Puts up with anything,
   Trusts God always,
   Always looks for the best,
   Never looks back,
   But keeps going to the end.

Love…

   Puts up with anything,

Observation

Yesterday did not start out real great for the Williams’ household! I think that is a huge understatement, but I will leave it at that. I was working hard on getting some paperwork done and it was extremely important (in my mind at least). Kathy had made plans to pick up two of our grandchildren that live over in St. Pete. She had already talked to our daughter about what time we would pick them up. I wanted to go by a doctor’s office first to drop off what I thought were extremely important papers and I was determined that those papers had to get there immediately.

How can I say this?

I am very glad that Kathy has the kind of love for me that Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 13! Love that puts up with anything!

I was bad. I didn’t handle things very well at all . I am so glad that her love for me goes well beyond the kind of love that first attracted us to each other. She was and still is one very, very attractive gal! I am not sure what Kathy saw in me, but I am glad that something caught her attention.

Agape love is what Kathy has for me even when I deserve to be shot!

Do you have this kind of love for your spouse, for your children, for the people in your work place? I hope that you also have the love that puts up with anything – you are going to need it! 

Application

I will do my best to live out 1 Corinthians 13. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am so glad that over 42 years ago You gave me the best wife in the entire world. I praise God for her maturity in Christ and her deep love for You and her deep for me. I fall so short of being able to live out 1 Corinthians 13. I really need Your help. Thank You for the example of sacrificial love that we have seen in so many of our friends as they have done so many wonderful things to help us during this difficult time in our life. You are Love! 

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Hey Church! We Are The Body Of Christ! Don’t Read This If You Have A Weak Stomach!

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Judges 1; Judges 2; Judges 3; 1 Corinthians 12

Hey Church! We Are The Body Of Christ!

Don’t Read This If You Have A Weak Stomach!

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12

²⁶ If one part of the body suffers, then all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part is honored, then all the other parts share its honor.

Observation

I hope that you take time to read all of 1 Corinthians 12 today! I am just focusing on one little verse but I could have written about the whole chapter.

The other day I was tinkering around in my garage and was trying to cut a piece of plexiglass for a little project I am working on. To cut a piece of plexiglass you take a straight edge and you etch a mark down the glass with a razor blade knife. I was doing just fine until my razor blade knife veered off course and instead of cutting the plexiglass it went for my middle finger.

When you are pulling that razor blade knife with enough force to cut into that plexiglass I don’t need to tell you what it can do to the soft end of a finger. It made a clean cut and filleted the side of the tip of my middle finger right off. I started to faint but then I realized that Kathy wasn’t home and she wasn’t going to be happy with me if she came in and found me on the floor. So I sucked it up and didn’t faint. Bleeding after you have had open-heart surgery is always an issue and I knew that I was going to have trouble holding pressure on the wound and trying to get it bandaged up, but I did it.

Now my middle finger on my left hand is not a big part of my body, but since I whacked part of it off it has had the attention of the rest of my entire body. When one part of your body is hurting … your whole entire body is hurting. My body has made sure that I have babied that middle finger because if I don’t then my whole body knows that it is in for pain again.

This is the way it is with the church. When one member of the body is hurting the whole entire church is hurting. When Pastor Bruce shared that his little daughter Gwyn was in the Pediatric Emergency room on Sunday morning instead of being at church I immediately began hurting for her and his wife Heather (especially because I know what it is like to spend time in Emergency rooms.) It was like the pain of a razor blade knife slicing through my middle finger!

This is the way the Body of Christ is supposed to function!

Application

I will be more careful with razor blade knives! Just kidding!

I will continue to hurt for and minister to those in our church that are having a difficult time. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful church. Our small group is a great example of how church is supposed to be. Last night so many in our group asked for prayer for people that were hurting, that were out of work, that needed healing. It was the body of Christ being concerned for the rest of the body. Thank You for allowing me to be a part of that prayer time. I know that You smiled on our small group last night because their focus was not on themselves but on others around them. Amen.

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Hey Dad Can You Say This? Hey Mom How About You? How Would Your Kids Score You On This?

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Joshua 23; Joshua 24; Psalm 44; 1 Corinthians 11

Hey Dad Can You Say This?

Hey Mom How About You?

How Would Your Kids Score You On This?

Scripture

1 Corinthians 11

 ¹ Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ. 

Observation

What kind of example are we setting for our kids and for us older folks our grandkids? Can we tell our children and our grandchildren, “Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ?” Or are there obvious contradictions that our children and grandchildren see in us everyday?

Are we doing things or are we involved in things that totally contradict a Christ-like lifestyle? Do our children hear us lie (like: telling someone on the telephone that our spouse is not home when he/she is), do they see us cheat or steal (like not being totally honest on our taxes so we get more money back from the government or calling in sick to our work when we are not).

Do our children observe us looking at television or videos or looking in magazines and we know that the content is not right. Do our children see us gambling: buying Lotto Tickets or spending time and money at the Casino? What kind of example is that?

Our children and our grandchildren need for us to be examples. They desperately need to see Jesus in us with no contradictions! Are you and I willing to set the example?

 Application

I want to live my life in such a way that I can say to my kids and my grandkids, “Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ.” How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me be the Christ-like example to my children and my grandchildren and to everyone else around me. 

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Let Our Worship Leaders Lead Us! Like They Did In Psalm 47…

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Joshua 21; Joshua 22; Psalm 47; 1 Corinthians 10

Let Our Worship Leaders Lead Us!

Like They Did In Psalm 47…

Scripture

Psalm 47

¹ Everyone, clap your hands.
   Shout with joy to God!
² The LORD Most High is awesome.
   He is the great King over all the earth.
³ He helped us defeat other nations.
   He put those people under our control.
⁴ He chose our land for us.
   He chose that wonderful land for Jacob, the one he loved.
            Selah
 ⁵ The LORD God goes up to his throne
   at the sound of the trumpet and horn.
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises!
   Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
⁷ God is the King of the whole world.
   Sing songs of praise!
⁸ God sits on his holy throne;
   he rules all the nations.
⁹ The leaders of the nations have come together
   with the people of the God of Abraham.
All the rulers of the world belong to God.
   He is over them all! 

Observation

Have you ever heard someone negatively say, “I don’t like it when our worship leader tells everyone to clap, or I don’t like it when our worship leader tells everybody to raise up their hands to the Lord.” 

I wondered if they had the same kind of grumblers when the Korah family told all the Israelites to clap and shout! Wow … not just clap, but they were told to clap and shout!

We are a strange people aren’t we! Some of us tend to look for things to complain about. 

Here is one thing that you should never forget and that one thing is this, “It is perfectly OK when our worship leaders tell us to do something as a congregation.” 

If it was OK for those who first heard and sang Psalm 47 then it should be perfectly OK for us too. It is the Word of God!

Application

I will encourage our praise team to lead us with all their hearts. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is so easy to go negative and be critical. Help me to be supportive of all of our leaders at our church. I pray for them today. I pray that you use them in a mighty way to help us grow as a church. I pray for Pastor Bruce today. I pray that You speak through him and I pray that people would be saved because of the message they hear. 

I pray that Feed The City would go well today. Use our people to touch the city! You are a Mighty God. You love for us to worship You.   

Everyone, clap your hands Shout with joy to God!  Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! God is the King of the whole world. .Sing songs of praise!

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Paul’s Trick To Winning People To Jesus! It Works! Why Don’t You Try It

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Joshua 18; Joshua 19; Joshua 20; 1 Corinthians 9

Paul’s Trick To Winning People To Jesus!

It Works!

Why Don’t You Try It 

Scripture

1 Corinthians 9

²² To those who are weak, I became weak so that I could help save them. I have become all things to all people. I did this so that I could save people in any way possible. ²³ I do all this to make the Good News known. I do it so that I can share in the blessings of the Good News. 

 ²⁴ You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one runner gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win! ²⁵ All who compete in the games use strict training. They do this so that they can win a prize—one that doesn’t last. But our prize is one that will last forever. 

²⁶ So I run like someone who has a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something, not just the air. ²⁷ It is my own body I fight to make it do what I want. I do this so that I won’t miss getting the prize myself after telling others about it.  

Observation

The Apostle Paul has showed us how to be successful as witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are guy and you want to reach a guy that likes to hunt, then you go hunting with him. If the guy likes to fish then you go fishing with him. If he likes to go to football games, hockey games, or basketball games, then you go with him. 

If you are a woman and the gal you are trying to reach loves to go to garage sales on Saturday mornings then you start going to garage sales with her on Saturday. Maybe she likes to go shopping at the mall on Fridays then you start going to the mall with her on Fridays. Or maybe she takes her kids to a certain park on a certain day of the week then you rearrange your schedule and spend time with her and her kids at the park. 

The list is endless, but the truth is if you and I really want to win someone to Jesus then we must be willing to be as much like that person as possible. We must spend time with them doing the things that they like to do. Paul said that when he was with a Jew he acted like a Jew, when he was with a Gentile he acted like a Gentile, and when he was with someone that was weak he acted like someone that was weak. 

Paul summarizes what he is saying by saying this, “We are running a race and we need to run to win!” Winning the race is helping people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!

Application

I will look for a person that I can identify with and I will spend time with them doing what they are interested in to help them come to know Jesus as Savior. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guide me to someone that I can spend time with and who I can help come to know You. It would be really great if they like to go fishing, but I will leave that up to You! Amen.

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Love Strengthens The Church!

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Joshua 15; Joshua 16; Joshua 17; 1 Corinthians 8

Love Strengthens The Church!

Scripture

1 Corinthians 8

“… But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.”

Observation

The church in Corinth had many problems that Paul tried to help them with and one of those was the issue of eating food that had been offered to idols. For some Christians eating food that had been offered to idols was not a problem at all because they knew that the so-called gods and idols were not real. But new Christians had a real issue with eating food that had been part of an offering to idols because they thought of it as worship to real gods and it was very offensive to them. 

So hear is the lesson for us. Being right does not always mean we get our way. Paul told the believers at Corinth that if eating food that had been offered to idols bothered some of the new believers then none of them should eat the meat even if they knew that there was nothing wrong with it if by eating it was going to be offensive to some in the church. 

In other words while, “knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.”
There are times when we must yield to a weaker brother or sister in Christ even though we are right.   

Application

I will be more concerned about loving the people at our church than always having to be right.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be gentle with weaker brothers that I come across from time to time. I don’t always have to be right. It is more important to love them that try to win an argument with them that will only cause them to be offended. Whether the issue is over what Bible translation to use in our worship service, or whether women should wear slacks to church etc. help me to be gentle with them as they come with their concerns and complaints. 

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Don’t Be Enslaved By The World! Are You Over Your Head With Credit Card Debt? You can get help…

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Joshua 12; Joshua 13; Joshua 14; 1 Corinthians 7

Don’t Be Enslaved By The World!

Are You Over Your Head With Credit Card Debt?

You can get help…

Scripture

1 Corinthians 7

²³ God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.

1 John 2:16

The Message (MSG)

 ^15-17 Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 

1 John 5:4-5 (MSG)

^4-5 Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world's ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.

Observation

It is so easy to get wrapped up in this world and all of its trappings. It would be nice if once you surrendered your life to Christ that the world would lose all of its attractiveness but that doesn’t happen. 

There must be a marked difference how we as Christians few worldly goods from those who don’t know Christ. 

Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, internet, bill boards, are all wanting to catch our attention and lure us into buying the newest and the best product out on the market. Car advertisements are some of the most appealing and sell a lot of Christians on the idea that they deserve that new car! It is all crazy!

The world “entices” us to buy into its ways, just like I entice a fish with a shiny lure or some delicious live bait. The hook is visible but the offer is just to good to say “no”. 

Maybe you have been enticed by this world and you have run up a huge amount of debt that is really hurting your family. Let me encourage you to sign up for the next Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University course when it is offered. 

Get free – you don’t have to be a slave to this world any longer!

http://www.daveramsey.com/home/

Application

I will resist the temptation to buy every time I see those great deals on the Internet and in the flyers that come to my house.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, keep me from being enslaved by this world. I know that I was bought with a high price. I am very valuable to You. Help me to keep myself focused on You and help me to keep my eyes off of the things of this world. You are the Mighty King. Nothing is too hard for You. 

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God Bought You With A High Price! So Honor God With Your Body…

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Joshua 9; Joshua 10; Joshua 11; 1 Corinthians 6

God Bought You With A High Price!

So Honor God With Your Body…

Scripture

1 Corinthians 6

¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Observation

The Apostle Paul was talking about running away from sexual sin because our bodies are the Temple of God, but I think that the lesson also goes to taking care of God’s Temple, watching what we eat, getting enough exercise etc. 

Our culture tends to worship food. Just look at facebook and look at how many times people mention food or where they have recently gone to eat. The portions served in restaurants are all way more than a person needs to eat! 

Bottom line … God bought us with a high price! So we must honor God with our body.

Application

Even though my body has taken a beating lately and seems in poor condition I will still honor God with my body by staying away from sexual sin, by eating right and exercising all that I am able.  How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, my body is Your’s. I know that it has been bought with a High Price. Help me to honor You with my body! Amen.

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Your Sin Always Hurts Others There Is No Such Thing As A Private Sin Are You Trying To Hide Pet Sins In Your Life?

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Joshua 7; Joshua 8; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5

Your Sin Always Hurts Others

There Is No Such Thing As A Private Sin

Are You Trying To Hide Pet Sins In Your Life?

Scripture

Joshua 7

 

¹⁹ Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don’t hide it from me.” 

 ²⁰ Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. ²¹ Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.” 

²⁴ Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. ²⁵ Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The LORD will now bring trouble on you.” 

And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. ²⁶ They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the LORD was no longer angry. 

Observation

The sinful acts of someone close to you can cause you to suffer for a lifetime even though they were the ones that sinned. Your son or your daughter is arrested on drug charges, your husband has a wreck and kills someone while under the influence of alcohol, or your spouse gambles away all of your money and you are losing your home and car.

 All of these things and more happen everyday to the people around us and they happen to us too. Sin is never private. Your sin and my sin always have negative and destructive consequences on those around us.

 Application

I will keep my sin confessed up so they don’t destroy the ones I love.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, if we confess our sins to You, You are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 1 John 1:9
 
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Can You Say This?

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Joshua 3; Joshua 4; Joshua 5; Joshua 6; 1 Corinthians 4

Can You Say This?

Scripture

1 Corinthians 4

¹⁶ So I urge you to imitate me.

Observation

Are you such a strong Christian that you can tell your children, your family, your co-workers, and your friends at church to imitate you? You and I should be able to do that. I would hope that our children and our grandchildren could imitate us. 

Do your children and grandchildren see you reading your Bible? Do they hear you pray? My five-year granddaughter came into my bedroom the other night as I was getting ready to go to bed and she said, “Grandpa, I want to pray for you.” And then she prayed an unbelievable prayer for her sick Grandpa. I was so proud of her. It did make me cry. She is imitating her Dad. Her Dad has been doing a super job of showing her how to act as a Christian. Of course, I hope she was also imitating her Grandma and her Grandpa a little bit too!

Application

I will continue to be an example for my children, my grandchildren, and my extended family and everyone that attends our church. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the Apostle Paul as an example of how we should live the Christian life. Help me live in a way that I could always say to someone, “imitate me.” You give us children, grandchildren and family for us to influence and to show how they are to live the Christian life. Help us to be good examples.  

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The Lord Rescues The Godly … He Is Their Fortress In Times Of Trouble GOT TROUBLE …READ ON

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Joshua 1; Joshua 2; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 3

The Lord Rescues The Godly …

He Is Their Fortress In Times Of Trouble

GOT TROUBLE …READ ON

Scripture

Psalm 37

³⁹ The LORD rescues the godly;
      he is their fortress in times of trouble.

Observation


When you were a kid did you ever build “forts”? Growing up we had several Orange Groves and when the pickers would come out to pick the oranges they would always drop off these wooded boxes or crates several weeks before they came to pick the fruit. My brother and I would build forts out of those wooded crates and they were actually pretty cool. When you crawled inside of them you would feel safe and secure. 

Those forts are nothing compared to what God provides for us. He is our fortress and nothing can get to us. He is our fortress in times of trouble. As I deal with being sick and seemingly not able to get over all the stuff that has come at me, I take heart in verses like this one. The LORD will rescue me. The LORD is my fortress during this time of trouble.

My brother and I would each build a fort made of those crates and then we would have orange fights and we would fiercely throw oranges at each other’s fort. Rotten oranges thrown at even the best fort caused a lot of damage! And suddenly your fort didn’t seem nearly as secure as it did before the orange fight began!

Application

I will hold on to these verses through this time of sickness.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are my Rock. You are my fortress. Nothing can get to me that You do not allow. You rescue the godly. You allow us to hide under the shadow of Your wings when we are facing trouble. I will be still in Your presence and I will wait patiently for You to act.  You direct the steps of the godly. You delight in every detail of our lives. Though we stumble, we will never fail, for You hold us by the hand. Amen.

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This Is Not Our Home God Has Something Way Better In Store For Us In The Future Meditate On This Verse Today

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Deuteronomy 32; Deuteronomy 33; Deuteronomy 34; 1 Corinthians 2

This Is Not Our Home

God Has Something Way Better In Store For Us In The Future

Meditate On This Verse Today

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2

⁹ That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
   “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
      and no mind has imagined
   what God has prepared
      for those who love him.” 

Observation

This is a great verse for me this morning! How about you? I have something to look forward to something so wonderful that I don’t have the capacity to imagine how good it is going to be!
This is not our home. We are just passing through. 

There is a place being prepared for us that is beyond our comprehension! It is a good reminder for us that our time on this earth is short and very temporary, but for those of us that have trusted Christ as our Lord and Savior we are heading to a place that is too good to even imagine and it is going to last forever!

Application

What I am going through right now is only temporary. This is not my home. I will Praise The Lord through the storm.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, when I think of Heaven I have to admit that my ideas of what I think it is going to be like come up way too short. The way You described it must mean that it is going to be a million times better than I can even think or imagine. I will take You at your word and I will look forward to experiencing how wonderful it will be. Amen

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Who Gets The Glory Around Your House?

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Deuteronomy 30; Deuteronomy 31; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1

Who Gets The Glory Around Your House? 

Scripture

1 Corinthians 1

²⁶ Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. ²⁷ Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. ²⁸ God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. ²⁹ As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

Observation

Some Christians think that they are really God’s gift to this world. They have an arrogance about them that really annoys me. I am thankful that they are in the minority and most of us know that we are just regular folks that have been saved by God’s grace. 

Paul is reminding the church at Corinth that their fighting and fussing with one another was all based on a few people feeling that they were more important than they really were. 

Humility is realizing who we are in Christ and giving Him the honor and the glory for whatever we accomplish in this life. We are nothing. He is everything. When we begin to believe that we are something and begin to take the glory that belongs to Jesus then we are in for a world of trouble. 

I have watched this happen to Christian leaders, and prominent pastors in our area and I have watched them fall. 

Lets boast only in the Lord!

 Application

I will ask the Lord to keep me humble today. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for our Christian leaders that are in such important positions for Your kingdom. Keep them humble so they don’t fall into sin. Protect them from the Evil One. I pray for our leadership team at Christ Fellowship that they would continue to serve You and I pray that they would continue to give You the honor and the glory for everything that is happening at our church. I pray that they would be teachable and I pray that they would be valuable for Your kingdom. Unto Him who is worthy of all the Honor and all the Glory Amen!

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Law Of The Harvest Has Anyone Ever Explained To You How It Works? This Is Important…

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Deuteronomy 28; Deuteronomy 29; Galatians 6

Law Of The Harvest

Has Anyone Ever Explained To You How It Works? 

This Is Important…

Scripture

Galatians 6

⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. 

Observation

I can remember Dr. Waylon B. Moore teaching the church about “The Law of the Harvest”. It is something that all of us better remember! Here are a few things that I remember that he taught us that day:

1.      You harvest the same kind that you sow. If you sow corn, you are not going to harvest beans. If you sow love, you will harvest love. If you sow hate you will harvest hate!

2.      You will always harvest more than you sow. If you sow corn seeds you will harvest way more than you sowed. If you sow love or kindness you will harvest more than you sowed. If you sowed unkindness or meanness you will harvest more than you sowed.

3.      You will always harvest in a different season than you sowed. The harvest will come later, but it will come.  

Application

I will think of a good deed that I can do for someone this week. I know by God’s word that I will reap a harvest of blessings by doing good things for other people.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is not our nature to do good things for other people. We are selfish by nature. Help me think of ways that I can do good things for others this week. So many people have done so much for me. I am blessed. Thank You for bringing Dr. Waylon Moore into our lives at just the right time. He is my mentor and my great friend. I pray that You bless him with health and strength today so he can continue serving You with all his heart. You are a Mighty God. 

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We Have Two Natures Battling For Control Of Our Lives Spiritual Nature + Fleshly Nature Which One Is Winning?

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Deuteronomy 25; Deuteronomy 26; Deuteronomy 27; Galatians 5 

We Have Two Natures Battling For Control Of Our Lives

Spiritual Nature + Fleshly Nature

Which One Is Winning? 

Scripture

Galatians 5 

¹⁴All of Moses’ Teachings are summarized in a single statement, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

²²But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control.

¹⁹Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, ²⁰idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and things like that.

Observation

You have heard the story I am sure about the Indian that would travel around from town to town and he would fight his two dogs for money. He had a white dog and he had a dark colored dog. From town to town as he fought his dogs sometimes the white dog would win and then other times the dark colored dog would win. Some one finally asked him how he knew which dog was going to win each fight to which replied, “Oh, that is very simple the one I feed the most!” 

Our two natures are fighting against each other every day. Which nature is going to win the battle today – the one I feed the most. That is why it is so important to dig into God’s word every morning before you start your day. You will be bombarded during the day with things that feed your fleshly nature and if you don’t purposely guard God’s word in your heart before you go out the door then the dark colored dog is going to win the fight!

Application

I will read God’s word every day before anything else. I will guard my eyes from things that feed my old sinful nature, whether it is on the television, in a magazine, or walking down the street.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me feed my spiritual nature more than that old sinful nature. I want to make You smile at how I live my life. I want Your face to shine on my family and me. Keep me from things that appeal to my corrupt nature. Help me feed my spiritual nature so that my life might reflect love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

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Rich Beyond Measure As God’s Children We Are Heirs To Everything He Has! And Just In Case That Didn’t Sink In … He Owns Everything!

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Deuteronomy 22; Deuteronomy 23; Deuteronomy 24; Galatians 4

Rich Beyond Measure

As God’s Children We Are Heirs To Everything He Has!

And Just In Case That Didn’t Sink In … He Owns Everything!

Scripture

Galatians 4

⁴But when the right time came, God sent his Son into the world. A woman gave birth to him, and he came under the control of God’s laws. ⁵God sent him to pay for the freedom of those who were controlled by these laws so that we would be adopted as his children. ⁶Because you are God’s children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, “Abba! Father!” ⁷So you are no longer slaves but God’s children. Since you are God’s children, God has also made you heirs.

Observation

How much are you worth? 

You might look around and you might find that you have an empty bank account, no savings, too much credit card debt, student loans, and very few assets, maybe an old car or a boat, and few other grown up toys. Maybe this stresses you out! If you have been careless with your spending then maybe it should and maybe you need to go to a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class and begin to make some drastic changes! God does want us to be good stewards of what He has provided us. 

But for many of us we don’t have much debt, but we also don’t have very many assets to show for all the years we have been on this earth. If you fit into this category like Kathy and I do then you may have reason to rejoice with us. 

If you are a Christ Follower and you are getting closer to the end of your life and you have very few toys, very few assets, not much money to speak of then maybe you can rejoice with us and consider this huge truth that the Apostle Paul shares in Galatians 4:6-7 “⁶Because you are God’s children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, “Abba! Father!” ⁷So you are no longer slaves but God’s children. Since you are God’s children, God has also made you heirs.

We are rich! If God owns everything and we are His heirs then we will also own everything! That should put a smile on your face! We are children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are children of the Mighty Creator God Who owns and created everything. He created everything just for you and me! How about that! God is so good. 

Application

I am content with what I have and what I don’t have because I know that one day I will have everything!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am so blessed. You have provided everything I need to live out this Christian life. You provide for my daily needs. You take care of me. I am so blessed. I am Your child. As Your child I am heir to everything You have. You have adopted me into Your family. I don’t deserve it, but I get to enjoy it. Thank You for loving me so much. Help other believers understand the riches that have because they belong to You. 

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Don’t Be Stupid!

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Deuteronomy 19; Deuteronomy 20; Deuteronomy 21; Galatians 3

Don’t Be Stupid!

Scripture

Galatians 3

¹You stupid people of Galatia!

Observation

Anybody that adds to the Gospel or takes away from the Gospel is STUPID! I didn’t say it the Apostle Paul said it. But I do agree!

If you were to stand before God at Heaven’s gate and He were to ask you why should I let you into my heaven what would you say? There is only one correct answer to this question, but I am always amazed at how most people answer this question.

“Well you have to keep His Commandments.” “You have to do more good on this earth than bad.” “You have to do His will” “Well I know I have to live a good life.” “You have to serve Him.” I hear these answers every week at Mission Tampa as I talk to people about Jesus. It is interesting that when I bring up that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven they will then say something like this, “O yes and you have to have faith in Jesus too!”

When they make that comment about oh sure and you have to have faith in Jesus too it is at that moment that I want to shout out as the Apostle Paul did to the church at Galatia, “You stupid people!” Of course, I don’t shout it out but I feel sick that so many have been blinded by the Evil One.

Salvation is found in Christ alone! It is Christ + Nothing = Salvation!

 Application

I will continue to share with people the Gospel as clearly as I can so people can understand how to be saved.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know we can’t call people stupid just because they have been blinded by the Devil. I pray that when I share the Gospel that people will be able to understand it. Give me the ability to communicate Your truth clearly. I pray that people would be saved at Mission Tampa today. I pray that people would come to Christ at our church this coming Sunday. 


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Crucified Yet We Are To Be A Living Sacrifice Don’t Crawl Off The Altar

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Deuteronomy 16; Deuteronomy 17; Deuteronomy 18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

Crucified 

Yet We Are To Be A Living Sacrifice

Don’t Crawl Off The Altar

Scripture

I have been crucified with Christ. ²⁰I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live I live by believing in God’s Son, who loved me and took the punishment for my sins. Galatians 2:20 God’s Word Translation

A Living Sacrifice

 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

Observation

The Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20 tells us that we have been crucified with Christ, that we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. Even though we have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live but Christ lives in us - we still have an option.

Paul says in Romans 12:1 that we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices. Dead sacrifices have an advantage over living sacrifices you know. Living sacrifices can always walk or crawl or run off the altar. 

As living sacrifices we have to constantly remind ourselves that we are crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. The lives we now live we live by believing in God’s Son.
When we live according to Galatians 2:20 and Romans 12:1 we are very powerful people!

You can listen to Christian’s conversations and many times their words reveal whether they are living sacrifices for the Lord of if they have crawled off the altar. Listen to people today and see if you can tell the difference.

Application

I will ask God to help me stay on the altar!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want to be a living sacrifice. Help me everyday to stay on the altar so your Mighty Power might work through me. You are an Awesome God. I pray for worship today at our church. I pray that You use the music and the message to change lives. Be glorified today. 

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Has The World Made You Feel It’s “Gloom and Doom” Did Into God’s Word Today… We Have Been Rescued

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Deuteronomy 13; Deuteronomy 14; Deuteronomy 15; Galatians 1 


Has The World Made You Feel It’s “Gloom and Doom”

Did Into God’s Word Today…

We Have Been Rescued 

Scripture

Galatians 1

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Observation

So many of us are extremely concerned about how evil our world has become and this is especially obvious to me during these presidential elections. You would almost tend to give up and lose hope. If I didn’t have the word of God to read everyday I might even buy into the doom and gloom mentality that is causing such fear among so many. 

Here are the facts from God’s word: 

1. We have been rescued from the present evil age.  “³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

2. Jesus has already conquered this world. “I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world." John 16:33

Application

I will stay up on current events but I will not fret over who wins or who loses in these elections because I have been rescued from this present evil age and Jesus has already conquered the world. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to trust more in You than we do in our government. I pray for leaders that have a personal relationship with You to win the elections. I will not be driven by fear because I know that the opposite fear is trust. You are Mighty to Save. You are also Mighty to Protect. You will rescue Your saints from this evil world. Amen

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Here Is Your Choice … Do You Want To Be Blessed Or Cursed? You Get To Choose!

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Deuteronomy 10,11,12; Mark 16

Here Is Your Choice …

Do You Want To Be Blessed Or Cursed? 

You Get To Choose!

Scripture

Deuteronomy 11

²⁶ See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— ²⁷ the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; ²⁸ the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. 

Observation

People living in the world today are either living under God’s blessing or they are living under God’s curse. 

When a person put their total trust and faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior and when they turn from sin and self and turn to God they become one of God’s children. God tells us that we have all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places. His word tells us that we don’t lack one thing to live a successful Christian life. We live under God’s blessing. We live under the shadow of His Wings. We are blessed. 

Most people in this world have never placed their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and are living their lives like does not exist. Either they have never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus or like so many in the US they have heard about Jesus but have rejected what they have heard. These two groups are living under the curse of God. They have rejected the Creator God and He will let them live out their lives as if He didn’t exist.

Those of us that have a personal relationship with God live under His blessing. He promises to take care of us. He will provide for us. We can call on Him any time we are in trouble and He will hear us. He has given us the gift of eternal life. He will walk through the difficult times in our lives with us. He will never abandon us.

Those that live without a relationship with God live without His help. He is not their Heavenly Father. He doesn’t promise to provide for them. He doesn’t promise to come to their rescue if they happened to cry out to him. He doesn’t stop them from getting involved in sin and He allows them to experience the full consequence of their life of sin – destruction. 

So would you rather be blessed or cursed by God? I choose blessed. How about you?

Application

I will live for God today. I want to stay under the shadow of His wing.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are so much like the children of Israel in that we seem to always drift towards sin and doing things that do not please You. I want to live under your blessing and I sure don’t want to experience Your curse. Help me to share my faith so that others can come out of a life of disobedience and out of a life full of destruction so they can experience Your wonderful blessings like I experience. You are the Mighty God who Saves!

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Here Is An Example Of How To Pray For People! Who Are You Praying For? This Is Extreme Intercession… read on

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Deuteronomy 7,8,9; Mark 15

Here Is An Example Of How To Pray For People!

Who Are You Praying For? 

This Is Extreme Intercession… read on

Scripture

Deuteronomy 9

 ¹⁸ Then once again I fell prostrate before the LORD for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the LORD’s sight and so arousing his anger. ¹⁹ I feared the anger and wrath of the LORD, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the LORD listened to me. ²⁰ And the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too.

Observation

Can you imagine anyone prostrate on the ground praying for forty days and forty nights? Can you imagine doing that and not eating or drinking one thing the entire forty days and forty nights? Can you imagine someone doing that for a bunch of people that didn’t even like you? 

Moses was truly amazing! He didn’t just pray for forty days and forty nights once, he did it several times. 

How hard have we prayed for someone?

 I know how hard people prayed for me when I was in the hospital. I will never forget that –never! I have prayed hard for people to get well. I have prayed hard for people to give their lives to Jesus. But I have never prayed for forty days and forty nights and gone without food or water. I wouldn’t recommend praying for forty days and forty nights without food or water because my friend you and I are not Moses! 

It is so important to pray for other people. It is way more important to pray for other people than it is to pray for ourselves. People need for us to pray for them. It is the way God has designed His Kingdom. He responds to our prayers when we pray for others. 

Application

I will continue to pray for the sick and for those that need to be saved. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Moses is a huge example for us when it comes to showing us how to pray. His faith and trust in You is amazing. He stood in the gap for people that didn’t deserve it. Help me to do the same thing. Thank You for the people I know that love to intercede for other people. They are truly Prayer Warriors! Use them to change our church and use them to change our city!

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Your House Speaks Volumes About Your Relationship With Jesus! Or Does It?

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Deuteronomy 5; Deuteronomy 6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

Your House Speaks Volumes About Your Relationship With Jesus!
Or Does It? 

Scripture

Deuteronomy 6

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 

Observation

When someone walks into your home do they immediately realize that you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? I love this passage in Deuteronomy 6 where Moses is telling the people one last time how to live out God’s commandments. 

Here is my rough paraphrase of Deuteronomy 6:4-9

 “The word of God should be in your hearts. You are to teach them to your children. They are to be the subject of conversation when you are sitting around the house and when you go on trips. You should talk about God’s word when you lie down for bed and when you get up for breakfast. It is a good idea to wear scripture bracelets or other things like that on your hands or around your neck that remind you of the word of God. Your house should have scriptures on the walls and stuck on the refrigerator. Sometimes even on the mirrors in your home if you are trying to memorize scripture.” 

When people come into your house are they immediately aware that you serve the Lord Jesus Christ by what they see. Can someone walk through your entire house and not see one scripture or symbol that indicates that you have a relationship with someone very special – Jesus!

I love the way Kathy has our house decorated with things that reflect our relationship with Christ. You would have to be blind to walk into our house and not realize that we serve a Mighty God. How about your house? Is it a witness?  

Application

I will talk about the things of the Lord with my children and my grandchildren when they are in our home and I will continue to do everything I can to help them develop and improve their relationship with Jesus.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that Your word should be a daily part of our lives. Our children and our grandchildren should expect to hear us quote Your word when we are talking with them. They shouldn’t be shocked when we share Your word with them. Help it to be a natural part of our lives. 

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