Deuteronomy 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Sometimes we tend to make people more than they really are. This passage is very enlightening. Here we are told that the blessings of God on these people are due not to their righteousness (see Isaiah 64:6), but it was rather because of the extreme wickedness of others. Sometimes we see people getting spiritual victories and think that they must really be something because they are gettin ahead. God may just be exposing the extreme wickedness of those around them, and they shine due to the fact that they aren't so bad. We need to be wary of having the attitude that God is blessing us because we are doing so much for Him. He can use a prophet who has a bad attitude, and hates the people that he is preachin to, to preach a message that sees over 100,000 souls repent.(Jonah) So let's remember, God doesn't need us, He simply chooses to use us. Thank God for His mercy toward me.
Are YOU a Christian?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
This is the day. for 10/21
Deuteronomy 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth
What a sad, yet true, picture of America today. Everywhere we look we see so many "self-made men/women" who do not realize that they are only breathing because of the grace and mercy of God. God is the one who allows life to begin, and He controls when life ends, yet so many people are idolized because of their so-caled success. We, as Christians, must avoid these thoughts and attitudes that "we" are the successful ones, and must relize that without God we are nothing.
Are YOU a Christian?
What a sad, yet true, picture of America today. Everywhere we look we see so many "self-made men/women" who do not realize that they are only breathing because of the grace and mercy of God. God is the one who allows life to begin, and He controls when life ends, yet so many people are idolized because of their so-caled success. We, as Christians, must avoid these thoughts and attitudes that "we" are the successful ones, and must relize that without God we are nothing.
Are YOU a Christian?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
This is the day.
Deuteronomy 8:14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
Here is a real problem for most of us. We tend to be lifted up, or proud, about who we have become, and forget to consider Who it was that brought us to where we are. God, just like with the children of Israel, brought us out of bondage. Ours was a spiritual bondage, and a pitiful state it was too. Fear, doubt, anger, worry, depression, and so many other things plaged the life. However, God stepped in and with His great power, and by His wonderful grace, broke the chains of that bondage, and released us to a glorious freedom, that is described as the "peace that passeth all understanding." How could we then be so lifted up in pride as to forget what God did for us, and to have an attitude like we have done everything all by ourselves? May God help us to be humble, and honest about who we are, and about where we have come from!!
Here is a real problem for most of us. We tend to be lifted up, or proud, about who we have become, and forget to consider Who it was that brought us to where we are. God, just like with the children of Israel, brought us out of bondage. Ours was a spiritual bondage, and a pitiful state it was too. Fear, doubt, anger, worry, depression, and so many other things plaged the life. However, God stepped in and with His great power, and by His wonderful grace, broke the chains of that bondage, and released us to a glorious freedom, that is described as the "peace that passeth all understanding." How could we then be so lifted up in pride as to forget what God did for us, and to have an attitude like we have done everything all by ourselves? May God help us to be humble, and honest about who we are, and about where we have come from!!
This is the day. for 10/19
Deuteronomy 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Sometimes we as Christians think that we have gotten away with things, and if we read this verse, (at first glance) it would appear that we are able to. You see a man cannot always catch his children when they do wrong. However, understanding that God is all-knowing, we soon realize that not only can we not get by with things, but also that God will chasten us for the sins that we commit. It is a solemn thought indeed to realize that God knows everything we do, and that He will punish us for each of those things. Let us consider that carefully as we live each day. May each day be for God's honor and glory rather than for our own fleshly endeavors.
Sometimes we as Christians think that we have gotten away with things, and if we read this verse, (at first glance) it would appear that we are able to. You see a man cannot always catch his children when they do wrong. However, understanding that God is all-knowing, we soon realize that not only can we not get by with things, but also that God will chasten us for the sins that we commit. It is a solemn thought indeed to realize that God knows everything we do, and that He will punish us for each of those things. Let us consider that carefully as we live each day. May each day be for God's honor and glory rather than for our own fleshly endeavors.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
This is the day. for 10/16
Deuteronomy 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Does it seem like sometimes things in your life are not what they should be? The children of Israel wondered forty years in the wilderness, because God was proving their loyalty to Him. During that time every one who was twenty or older at the beginning of the treck died, except for Joshua and Caleb. Each new child that was born, and all of the people who were twenty or under at the beginning had to be proved over that period of time to show their hearts toward God. Each of these people had to be endowed with a humble attitude toward God. When God is dealing with us, we can do one of two things, we can either become proud, and rebel against God, or we can be humble and let God lead us in the way that we should go. Our reaction will determine whether or not God can use us. I think I would rather be humble. May God always find me useful for Him!
Does it seem like sometimes things in your life are not what they should be? The children of Israel wondered forty years in the wilderness, because God was proving their loyalty to Him. During that time every one who was twenty or older at the beginning of the treck died, except for Joshua and Caleb. Each new child that was born, and all of the people who were twenty or under at the beginning had to be proved over that period of time to show their hearts toward God. Each of these people had to be endowed with a humble attitude toward God. When God is dealing with us, we can do one of two things, we can either become proud, and rebel against God, or we can be humble and let God lead us in the way that we should go. Our reaction will determine whether or not God can use us. I think I would rather be humble. May God always find me useful for Him!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
This is the day. for 10/3-10/15
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 ¶ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
What is the primary purpose of preaching? So much of what is called preaching today is focused on the minds of men, but is this the purpose of preaching? From this passage we can see that the primary focus and instrument of salvation is the heart. The heart is the key to salvation! The heart is also the key to the growth of a Christian. It is pretty clear in the Bible that problems of the mind stem from heart problems.
When people who have the "heart" problem of not being saved, get a change of heart what happens? Their mind changes! The way they thought and felt about things in their lives changed. The Bible says that old things pass away, and all things become new.
What about when a person is not yet saved? Many people focus on changing their minds about sin, but we can clearly see that the heart is the key to salvation. Belief and repentance come from the heart. Many souls have been led to an alter and led through a profession based on their thoughts that they needed to change, but have come away from the altar the same as when they went down on their knees because their heart was not in it.
What about when a Christian has trouble? Some Christians go through "mental" problems such as depression and anxiety. Why? Saul in the Old Testament seemed to go through a tough mental struggle, but what was actually happening was that his heart was not right with God. We see the mental struggle of dealing with the flesh in Paul's life in Romans, but he soon tells us that his problem is acutally a spiritual problem. Even Jesus in Gathsemane seemed to go through a mental stuggle, but His struggle was really about the spiritual issue of becoming sin for us.
My surmising is this: Is preaching about the mind or the heart? So many men try to incorporate pshycology, and the dealing with the mind into preaching, but is this the focus? God's Word shows us that the heart is what is dealt with in preaching, and I honestly believe that in so many circles that is why "preaching" seems to accomplish so little today. The focus is on the wrong area. God would focus on the heart, not on the mind.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 ¶ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
What is the primary purpose of preaching? So much of what is called preaching today is focused on the minds of men, but is this the purpose of preaching? From this passage we can see that the primary focus and instrument of salvation is the heart. The heart is the key to salvation! The heart is also the key to the growth of a Christian. It is pretty clear in the Bible that problems of the mind stem from heart problems.
When people who have the "heart" problem of not being saved, get a change of heart what happens? Their mind changes! The way they thought and felt about things in their lives changed. The Bible says that old things pass away, and all things become new.
What about when a person is not yet saved? Many people focus on changing their minds about sin, but we can clearly see that the heart is the key to salvation. Belief and repentance come from the heart. Many souls have been led to an alter and led through a profession based on their thoughts that they needed to change, but have come away from the altar the same as when they went down on their knees because their heart was not in it.
What about when a Christian has trouble? Some Christians go through "mental" problems such as depression and anxiety. Why? Saul in the Old Testament seemed to go through a tough mental struggle, but what was actually happening was that his heart was not right with God. We see the mental struggle of dealing with the flesh in Paul's life in Romans, but he soon tells us that his problem is acutally a spiritual problem. Even Jesus in Gathsemane seemed to go through a mental stuggle, but His struggle was really about the spiritual issue of becoming sin for us.
My surmising is this: Is preaching about the mind or the heart? So many men try to incorporate pshycology, and the dealing with the mind into preaching, but is this the focus? God's Word shows us that the heart is what is dealt with in preaching, and I honestly believe that in so many circles that is why "preaching" seems to accomplish so little today. The focus is on the wrong area. God would focus on the heart, not on the mind.
This is the day. for 10/2
Deuteronomy 7:17 If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?
18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;
The book of Deuteronomy is a remembering book. Moses here is telling Israel to remember how God had provided for them before, and to learn from those experiences. Remeber what God did for you before. God has not changed. Often we have things in our lives that happen, and we whine and complain about them, but who has changed? It is not God. There are countless masses of men and women in this world that will not realize that they have rebelled against God, or someone He has given authority, one too many times, and that He will not accept them any more for what He once would have allowed them to do. These people are often sad, and miserable in their lives, not even realizing that they have a problem. They will not, however, turn from their ways, give up "their" ambitions, and realize that they can no longer be what they want to be. If only they would let God work in their hearts. He might allow them to actually do something for Him (though not the original work), but so many will go on their own way, and be a curse rather than a blessing, always trying to shipwreck someone else's life. How sad to be out of God's will!!!
18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;
The book of Deuteronomy is a remembering book. Moses here is telling Israel to remember how God had provided for them before, and to learn from those experiences. Remeber what God did for you before. God has not changed. Often we have things in our lives that happen, and we whine and complain about them, but who has changed? It is not God. There are countless masses of men and women in this world that will not realize that they have rebelled against God, or someone He has given authority, one too many times, and that He will not accept them any more for what He once would have allowed them to do. These people are often sad, and miserable in their lives, not even realizing that they have a problem. They will not, however, turn from their ways, give up "their" ambitions, and realize that they can no longer be what they want to be. If only they would let God work in their hearts. He might allow them to actually do something for Him (though not the original work), but so many will go on their own way, and be a curse rather than a blessing, always trying to shipwreck someone else's life. How sad to be out of God's will!!!
Monday, October 5, 2009
This is the day. for 10/1
Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deu_6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
This is the first of the ten Commandments that God has given us. It is a very sober thought really. How much do we love God? He loves us infinitely, and I am afraid that we often do not return His love in the right way. If we would dedicate our affections to serving Him, He has promised that He will give us manifold blessings. "The world has yet to see what could happen to one man who would give himself wholly to God." This quote from D.L. Moody still stands true today. Would to God that someone would stand up and say, "I'll be that person." It could change this ungodly world in which we live!!! It would definitely change that person's life. Who will be that person?
Deu_6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
This is the first of the ten Commandments that God has given us. It is a very sober thought really. How much do we love God? He loves us infinitely, and I am afraid that we often do not return His love in the right way. If we would dedicate our affections to serving Him, He has promised that He will give us manifold blessings. "The world has yet to see what could happen to one man who would give himself wholly to God." This quote from D.L. Moody still stands true today. Would to God that someone would stand up and say, "I'll be that person." It could change this ungodly world in which we live!!! It would definitely change that person's life. Who will be that person?
This is the day. for 9/30
Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Listen to the greif of a Holy God! He is longing and yearning for His people to give themselves to Him in complete service. God does not want to have to punish erring children, He would much rather bless the service of those who claim His name. His desire is that we fear Him, and keep His Law. If we would only do that He would bless us and ours forever. What a wonderful God!!
Listen to the greif of a Holy God! He is longing and yearning for His people to give themselves to Him in complete service. God does not want to have to punish erring children, He would much rather bless the service of those who claim His name. His desire is that we fear Him, and keep His Law. If we would only do that He would bless us and ours forever. What a wonderful God!!
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