Friday, July 24, 2009

This is the day. for 7/23

THE HEART OF MAN

Genesis 42:28 And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?

Their heart failed them. These men (the brothers of Joseph) were already in a state of fear because they felt they were being punished for their sins. They had sold Joseph, and had no idea where he was or what he was doing. They were now being treated roughly by the governor of Egypt, and thought that this must be God's judgment on them. When they opened their sacks heading home, they found all of their money restored. This made their hearts fail. We must realize that the way we act will not only affect the immediate situation. If we do someone wrong, God will repay us for what we have done. May we always strive to live a life that is pleasing to God, demonstrative of Christian principles, and right with our fellow man.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

This is the day.

THE HEART OF MAN

Genesis 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

We find out in the New Testament that, in God's eyes, Esau was guilty of murder at this point. Jesus said if we hat our brother, we have committed murder in our hearts, having our hearts right with God is so important, because everything we do in our hearts directly affects who we are, and how we live. God wants us to be right in our hearts. We should try to be close to God, and we should do our best to keep our hearts right with Him. We could easlily get to the point of being murderers or adulterers in our hearts, if we don't react to situations in the right way with the right attitude.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

This is the day.

Genesis 24:45 And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

This passage tells of the prayer of Abraham's servant. The example of Abraham toward this servant had taught him to pray, and to seek God, now he was seeing the result of faith toward God. God had answered the prayer of his heart, and he saw the work of God completed in his life. What kind of example have we given to those around us? Do others see the kind of faith in us that would make them want to serve God also? Are we falling short of what God wants us to be? God help us to be the right kind of Christians.

Monday, July 20, 2009

This is the day.

THE HEART OF MAN

Genesis 20:5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
Genesis 20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

This passage is interesting. Here the heathen king had more integrity than the man of God. Abraham had lied, and Abimelech had inocently taken Sarah as his wife believing that she was Abraham's sister. God even says that Abimelech did this innocently. Hey, as Christians, you and I had better watch what we do. People are watching us, and if they see something in us that doesn't add up, they will use this as an excuse to live a life of sin. Will there be blood on our hands in the day of judgment because we lived an inconsistent life?

Friday, July 17, 2009

This is the day. for 7/16

THE HEART OF MAN

Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Still looking at the heart, we see here that even good men have problems with there hearts. The Bible tells us later that man's heart is deceitful and wicked, and we can see this in this passage. Abraham believed what God had said about making him a great nation, yet when God tells him that He is still going to make this happen, Abraham laughs. Abraham was old, and his wife was old, the natural man could not have made either of them able to have children. Because of this Abraham mocked God in his heart. Our hearts don't really understand the workings of God, but He is not bound by our lack of belief. God can do whatever it takes to get the job done, and He doesn't need us to tell Him how to work. Abraham went so far as to ask God to fulfill His promise through Ishmael. When God says something is going to happen. MARK IT DOWN!! IT WILL HAPPEN! EVEN IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW GOD WILL WORK, HE WILL FULFILL EVERY PROMISE TO US COMPLETELY.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

This is the day.

THE HEART OF GOD.

Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

This is the second time God's heart is mentioned in the Bible, and we can see that He has been satisfied by the sacrifice of Noah after the flood. This is a great thought! God's heart is pleased by sacrifice. Read Romans 12:1-2 for a New Testament challenge to the way we are to sacrifice to God! God promised the world He would never again judge the earth by destroying all living things. What a difference a sacrifice will make! God has stated that all men are wicked, and that there is no hope for mankind outside of Him, yet He has also prepared the way for each and every one of us to be reconciled to Him. The step we must take is to offer a sacrifice to Him (ourselves). God is merciful, and if you want to touch his heart present yourelf as a sacrifice to Him. Half-heartedness on our parts will send the world around us to Hell. God is great, we should put forth an effort to serve Him with our whole hearts!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

This is the day.

THE HEART OF GOD.

Genesis 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

What a statment is made here! God saw man's great wickedness, and His holiness was grieved. God's heart is a wonderful thing to think about, considering that it is the most tender, loving heart in the universe. How sad it is to think that our wickedness will grieve God, and make Him regret the creation of man. Many will say that the wickedness of man is even worse today than in Noah's day, so just think how much more God must be grieved if this is the case.
Let's even get more personal with this thing. Is God grieved at us because of our wicked hearts? Do we constantly dwell on thoughts of sin, and figure out ways of indulging ourselves in that sin? Is thy heart right with God? We all need to do a whole lot more self-examination, and we neeed to do all we can to stay close to God. THE SOULS OF MAN DEPEND ON CHRISTIANS WHO WALK CLOSE TO GOD!!

SONG: IS THY HEART RIGHT WITH GOD

Have thy affections been nailed to the cross?
Is thy heart right with God?
Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss?
Is thy heart right with God?
Refrain

Is thy heart right with God,
Washed in the crimson flood,
Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly,
Right in the sight of God?

Hast thou dominion o’er self and o’er sin?
Is thy heart right with God?
Over all evil without and within?
Is thy heart right with God?

Refrain

Is there no more condemnation for sin?
Is thy heart right with God?
Does Jesus rule in the temple within?
Is thy heart right with God?

Refrain

Are all thy pow’rs under Jesus’ control?
Is thy heart right with God?
Does He each moment abide in thy soul?
Is thy heart right with God?

Refrain

Monday, July 13, 2009

This is the day.

THE HEART

Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

The first time the heart is mentioned in the Bible, it is in this light. Man's heart is evil. In the world today, everybody tells us to "follow our hearts," or they tell us "I felt it in my heart." We can clearly see from this passage, that our hearts cannot be trusted. We are warned about the wickedness of man's heart throughout the Word of God. The only type of heart that can be trusted, is the one that has been surrendered to God. The heart is the key to belief in God, and, therefore, a key to salvation. Once we are saved, we can then begin to slightly trust our hearts, but we still must be careful, because there are two natures working within us, and the one that has controlled our hearts the longest is very, very wicked.

Friday, July 10, 2009

This is the day.

I Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

The charge of Paul is simple: keep in the fight! Keep doing the work of God, and keep serving Him. Fight against those who would pervert the truth, and challenge them through the power of sound doctrine. Be ready to reprove (2. To charge with a fault to the face; to chide; to reprehend. Luke 3.), rebuke (1. To chide; to reprove; to reprehend for a fault; to check by reproof.), and to exhort (1. To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action). In the days in which we live we must be ferverent with the fight for truth and righteousness.

Keep on the firing line

If you’re in the battle for the Lord and right,
Keep on the firing line;
If you win, my brother, surely you must fight,
Keep on the firing line;
There are many dangers that we all must face,
If we die still fighting it is no disgrace;
Cowards in the service will not find a place,
So keep on the firing line.

Refrain:
Oh, you must fight, be brave against all evil,
Never run, nor even lag behind;
If you would win for God and the right,
Just keep on the firing line.

God will only use the soldier He can trust,
Keep on the firing line;
If you’ll wear a crown then bear the cross you must,
Keep on the firing line.
Life is but to labor for the Master dear,
Help to banish evil and to spread good cheer;
Great you’ll be rewarded for your service here,
So keep on the firing line.

When we get to heaven, brother, we’ll be glad,
Keep on the firing line;
How we’ll praise the Savior for the call we had,
Keep on the firing line;
When we see the souls that we have helped to win,
Leading them to Jesus, from the paths of sin,
With a shout of welcome, we will all march in,
So keep on the firing line.

This is the day. for 7/9

PICTURES OF SALVATION

Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

God provided a way to escape from judgment. The ark that God provided was a beautiful picture of the provisions made by God through Jesus Christ. The ark was big enough to hold all who would come in. The servants of God invited everyone they could to come into the ark. The ark had only one door, Jesus Christ said that He is the door into heaven, and that He is the only way into heaven. There is only one door to salvation. There was only one window in the ark. As a picture of salvation, the purpose of the window was to look up. Jesus said He would draw men to the Father, therefore, pointing their focus UP to heaven, and God the father. The ark was a bastion of safety from the troubles and the destruction of the World, Jesus is our saftey, and our strong tower. The ark was lifted up by the forces of the world, and being lifted up saved the people who would come in from the effects of sin. Jesus was lifted up one day, on a hill called Mount Calvary, so that anyone who GETS IN may be saved from sin. The ark came to rest on a place of blessing. In the end of this thing, we will all be settled safely, BY OUR ARK (JESUS CHRIST), in that place of blessing (heaven) to forever be SAVED from sin. Hallelujah!!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

This is the day.

PICTURES OF SALVATION

Genesis 5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Some may consider this a stretch under the title "Pictures of Salvation," however, there are a couple of important things here about saved people. First, there is a walk with God. Enoch walked with God for 300 years. If your salvation is real, you will do everything that you can to consistently walk with God. God's way is the right way, and only by walking in His way will your salvation be worth anything more than a ticket out of Hell.
Second, Enoch is a picture of the rapture. One of these days, Jesus WILL come again, and when He does come all of the saints who are alive at the time will go to heaven to be with Him in that glorious event known as the rapture. Can you say with the Apostle John, "even so COME, Lord Jesus?"

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

This is the day.

PICTURES OF SALVATION.

Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Here we have a striking reminder that only throug God's prescribed method will man be justified. Cain tried to please God, Cain's way, and was not justified in God's sight. Abel came in God's prescribed manner, and was justified. God had to banish Cain, after the murder of Abel, after giving him ample time to repent. YOU WILL ONLY EVER BE ABLE TO BE SAVED THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, THAT IS GOD'S PRESCRIBED METHOD. ANYTHING ELSE, ANY OTHER WAY, SIMPLY WILL NEVER WORK, AND YOU WILL END UP IN HELL. YOU ONLY GET TO HEAVEN GOD'S WAY,NOTHING ELSE WORKS.

Monday, July 6, 2009

This is the day.

PICTURES OF SALVATION.

GENESIS 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

The first clear picture of salvation in the Bible is found here in Genesis chapter 3.
Adam and Eve had disobeyed God, and had brought death upon the whole world. Sin had entered the human race, and this black beast that still rears its ugly head in all walks of life today, had destroyed the lives of the first man and woman. The darkness of the soul that always comes when someone realizes their separation from God was now the acting force in the lives of Adam and Eve. Adam, the first man, who had enjoyed the sweet fellowship of God on a daily basis, as he walked with God in the cool of the evening, now hid himself from the One who had been so special.
Sin, what an awful influence it is on the lives of each of us. What can be done about this horrible problem? God in His infinite wisdom, and ultimate mercy, had already provided the solution. "Before the foundation of the World," God had ordained that Jesus Christ would come as the Sacrifice for all the sins of mankind. What good would that do Adam, however, Jesus was not to come for a very long time. Again, God had the solution, as a picture of Jesus' perfect death, God slew an inoccent animal, and provided the covering for the sins "of the World" (Adam and Eve). All that Adam and Eve had to do was accept this covering. Friend, on a hill near Jerusalem, on an old rugged cross, a PERFECT, SINLESS man named Jesus died for YOUR SIN. Just like the first humans had to accept the covering that God provided, so YOU MUST ACCEPT THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE ONLY COVERING FOR YOUR SIN. God's provision is based on His love, YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY IF YOU WILL ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS GOD'S COVERING FOR YOUR SIN.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

This is the day. for 7/1

Galatians 4:21

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

22

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23

But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25

For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27

28

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29

But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30

31

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
 
God gives us liberty when he saves us, liberty from the sin that binds us, liberty from self (the flesh) that holds us down, and liberty to give ourselves in full service to God.  As we think of Independence day, let us stand fast in the Liberty that God has given us.
 
 
 
LIB'ERTY, n. [L. libertas, from liber, free.]
1. Freedom from restraint, in a general sense, and applicable to the body, or to the will or mind. The body is at liberty, when not confined; the will or mind is at liberty, when not checked or controlled. A man enjoys liberty, when no physical force operates to restrain his actions or volitions.
2. Natural liberty, consists in the power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature. It is a state of exemption from the control of others, and from positive laws and the institutions of social life. This liberty is abridged by the establishment of government.
3. Civil liberty, is the liberty of men in a state of society, or natural liberty, so far only abridged and restrained, as is necessary and expedient for the safety and interest of the society, state or nation. A restraint of natural liberty, not necessary or expedient for the public, is tyranny or oppression. civil liberty is an exemption from the arbitrary will of others, which exemption is secured by established laws, which restrain every man from injuring or controlling another. Hence the restraints of law are essential to civil liberty.
The liberty of one depends not so much on the removal of all restraint from him, as on the due restraint upon the liberty of others.
In this sentence, the latter word liberty denotes natural liberty.
4. Political liberty, is sometimes used as synonymous with civil liberty. But it more properly designates the liberty of a nation, the freedom of a nation or state from all unjust abridgment of its rights and independence by another nation. Hence we often speak of the political liberties of Europe, or the nations of Europe.
5. Religious liberty, is the free right of adopting and enjoying opinions on religious subjects, and of worshiping the Supreme Being according to the dictates of conscience, without external control.
6. Liberty, in metaphysics, as opposed to necessity, is the power of an agent to do or forbear any particular action, according to the determination or thought of the mind, by which either is preferred to the other.
Freedom of the will; exemption from compulsion or restraint in willing or volition.
7. Privilege; exemption; immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant; with a plural. Thus we speak of the liberties of the commercial cities of Europe.
8. Leave; permission granted. The witness obtained liberty to leave the court.
9. A space in which one is permitted to pass without restraint, and beyond which he may not lawfully pass; with a plural; as the liberties of a prison.
10. Freedom of action or speech beyond the ordinary bounds of civility or decorum. Females should repel all improper liberties.
To take the liberty to do or say any thing, to use freedom not specially granted.
To set at liberty, to deliver from confinement; to release from restraint.
To be at liberty, to be free from restraint.
Liberty of the press, is freedom from any restriction on the power to publish books; the free power of publishing what one pleases, subject only to punishment for abusing the privilege, or publishing what is mischievous to the public or injurious to individuals.