The Reign of Christ ~ Raul Ries


“Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,
and faithfulness the belt of His waist.”

Isaiah 11:5

Along with Jesus Christ, those in their resurrected state will have positions of authority. Specifically, David will have special responsibilities over the house of Israel. The twelve apostles will judge the twelve tribes of Israel who will enter the millennium in their natural human bodies. Church-age- believers and tribulation martyrs will also have a part in the rule and reign of Christ’s government.

It is easy to see why the Lord tells us not to be concerned with power and authority in this life. He is grooming us, through humility, to serve in powerful positions in eternity. This life is but a training ground for our real life that will be played out in eternity.

Thought for the Day:

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”
--2 Timothy 2:12

Jesus Sets Us Free ~ WOW the Bible in 7 minutes a day


Jesus Sets Us Free

Romans 6:15-7:25; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 23:24-25

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another-to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 6:15-7:25

WORSHIP

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127:3-5

WISDOM

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her who bore you rejoice.
Proverbs 23:24-25

Are You Keeping watch? ~ Mike MacIntosh

And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?" And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you." - Mark 13:2-5


Have you ever noticed that some of the most important truths from Jesus come at the very beginning of His dialogues? If we don't listen to Jesus from the very beginning, we miss some very important details.


Consider Jesus' response to the disciples in this passage, for example. After Jesus had prophesied that the temple would be destroyed, the disciples privately asked Him for clarification. When would it happen? What signs would foretell it happening? Surely
Jesus knew they were concerned by His prophecy -- we saw last Friday how fascinated the disciples were with the temple. After all, they probably thought it would eventually house Jesus' throne, and that they would assume posts there. But rather than satisfy their curiosity, Jesus refocuses their hearts by first saying, "Take heed!"


This Greek word means "to see," and the present tense is best translated as, "Keep on (or continue) seeing." Remember when Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 7:16)? Well, it's as if Jesus is now saying to the disciples, "He who has eyes to see, let him see." Jesus is so quick to love the disciples, to refocus their attention onto the issues that really matter, and to point out the potential dangers that they would face. It reminds me of a caring parent, encouraging a child to "Be careful" when setting out on a task.


You see, there are things that the enemy produces to steer you in the wrong direction; to move you away from the Lord and His people. Jesus is saying: Look. Be attentive to your surroundings. Be aware of things that are going on about you. Watch that you are protecting yourself and your family from the dangers of the world. See that you don't let your spiritual guard down.


What television shows are you watching…or paying for? What books do you purchase or allow your kids to read? What magazines do you pick up or allow your kids to look at? Take these simple words of Jesus to heart. Be attentive. Be watchful and know exactly what's going on in your life and in your family's life.

Saturated soil ~ Jon Courson


Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance. - 2 Peter 1:12-13

Very likely in prison, even as he writes this letter, Peter knows he’s about to die. And he uses whatever life he has left to say, ‘I know you know this stuff. But I will not be negligent to put you in remembrance of it until you are established in it.’

If you are a Sunday school teacher, parent, elder, or anyone else who wants to be used in service, this is a huge point, for the key to ministry is putting people in remembrance of things they already know. You see, because our minds have been affected by sin, we forget the things we should remember and remember the things we should forget. Therefore, your job as a dad, my job as a pastor is to say the same things over and over and over until those in our charge are established in them.

It’s not how much you know that counts, gang. It’s how well you know what you know. What matters is how well you understand the basic truths and how deep they sink into the soil of your soul.

Picture perfect view! ~ Jack Graham


looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…

-- Hebrews 12:2

When you’re running the race God has set before you, there’s one place you don’t want to run to: back to your old life!


Now, the devil will try his hardest to lure you back there. And he’ll say, “Remember how much fun you used to have back then?”


Of course, he won’t remind you of the bad times, like when you were out of control or embarrassing yourself. Nor does he remind you of how miserable and empty you were, or how filled with sin you were.


But don’t give in! Don’t let the devil take you back there. Remember, you are not running this race alone. And you are not running in your own strength! You’ve been given spiritual power to help you overcome.


And if today, you’re tempted to go back to your old ways, the apostle Paul tells you to “look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of your faith.”


That’s because what God starts in you, he will finish in you! In Philippians 1:6, the apostle Paul wrote, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”


So keep your eyes on Jesus! There’s nothing in your old life that is better than him. Never take your eyes off of him!

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS. NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF HIM!

Living Beyond the Grind of Compromise ~ Chuck Swindoll


Psalm 1

One of the best-loved portions of God's Book is the Psalms. For centuries these songs have comforted, calmed, and consoled the hearts of readers.

The Hebrews' ancient hymnal begins with a song that addresses one of life's most common grinds—compromise. Please understand, I'm not referring to those give-and-take times so necessary for living in harmony with one another. Without that healthy kind of compromise, nations could never find a meeting ground for peaceful coexistence. Furthermore, growing family members would seldom enjoy the freedom involved in giving one another room to be different were it not for the tolerance such compromise encourages.

I'm thinking, rather, of compromising with wrong . . . allowing the slow-moving tentacles of evil to wrap themselves around us, squeezing the joys and rewards of obedience from our lives. It happens so silently, so subtly, we hardly realize it's taking place. Like an enormous oak that has decayed for years from within then suddenly falls, those who permit the eroding grind of compromise can expect an ultimate collapse.

Years ago I recall reading of the construction of a city hall and fire station in a small northern Pennsylvania community. All the citizens were so proud of their new red brick structure—a long-awaited dream come true. Not too many weeks after moving in, however, strange things began to happen. Several doors failed to shut completely and a few windows wouldn't slide open very easily. As time passed, ominous cracks began to appear in the walls. Within a few months, the front door couldn't be locked since the foundation had shifted, and the roof began to leak. By and by, the little building that was once the source of great civic pride had to be condemned. An intense investigation revealed that deep mining blasts several miles away caused underground shock waves which subsequently weakened the earth beneath the building foundation, resulting in its virtual self-destruction.

So it is with compromise in a life. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, one rationalization leads to another, which triggers a series of equally damaging alterations in a life that was once stable, strong, and reliable. That seems to be the concern of the psalmist as he composes his first song, which encourages us to resist even the slightest temptation to compromise our convictions.

Pause today and give yourself time to think deeply. Ask yourself a few probing questions such as:

  • Are areas of my life showing signs of spiritual, ethical, or moral compromise?
  • Does my life resemble the kind of tree described in Psalm 1?
  • Should I put an end to some things that are dragging me down?

Interest building accounts ~ David McGee

1 Corinthians 3:9

"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building."
NKJV


Life Lesson

We will all give an account of what we did or did not do for the Lord.


God blesses our acts of service. God fills us and prepares us for service. God doesn't act for vanity; instead, He is purposeful in everything He does. You, my friend, are a part of God's plan and purpose. You are the breathing, walking and talking result of His Word. God's Word will not return void. This means that when God invests in you, He expects multiplication of return. That's not self-serving. Our salvation is a gift from God. What we do with our lives after that is our gift back to God.

Genesis 22:8 "And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So, the two of them went together." NKJV

There are rewards stored up in heaven for your serving. It is by God's grace, you are allowed into heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once there, you will be rewarded or not rewarded for your serving. Intentions will not be rewarded.

It goes even beyond that. Do you know someone who is not serving? If so, then you are accountable, in love, to call them on it. Appeal to them. Perhaps due to your boldness to hold them accountable, they will not stand before Jesus with a heart full of intentions and hands full of air.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me so much and being so good to me. Lord, I want to give You my life. I want to give back to others because You have blessed me so much. I am sorry I haven't been as kingdom-minded as I should have been. Help me to store up heavenly rewards. Help me to be a world-changer and to make a difference. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today is the Day of Salvation ~ Mark Balmer




Based on “Get People to Jesus” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 11/14-15/09,

Message #MB396; Daily Devotional #6 - “Today is the Day of Salvation”




Preparing the Soil (Introduction): For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:12-16) God's Word is the only book that has ever been written that is alive! The words written on each page can touch us to our very core. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, it can transform us into His image and renew our minds, so that we can think His thoughts and speak His Words. It allows us to discover the character of our Creator and know His will for our lives. Like the finest surgeon's knife, the Word of God can cut through pride, unbelief, pain, sorrow, and fear, to expose every abscess that plagues us. As He pours the precious Balm of Gilead to soothe our pain, we are healed and restored. Once healed by His touch, we are eternally changed. No more scars for the people of God, only the afterglow of our Father's presence, love, gentleness, and grace.



Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): These verses teach us that no human being, no matter their annual income, education, social status, or profession, can hide from the prophetic Words of God. Each of us is naked and exposed before His eyes. He knows every unconfessed hidden agenda and transgression that every one of us has embraced. Mankind may think they are pulling the wool over God's eyes, but how wrong they are. They can legislate Him out of their laws, and never mention Him in their constitutions, but He will always be there, looking over their shoulders and waiting for them to call on His Name. And one day they will. When the rocks are falling from heaven, the moon turns black, the oceans are turning to blood, and the antichrist is fully exposed, man will look for his God. Thankfully, for some, it will not be too late, and I'm convinced their first words will be, "What took me so long?" But hopefully, for many, it won't take the earth literally crumbling around them before they call on the Lord. That's why we continue to cry that, "Today, is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2).



Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Since man will be held accountable to his all-knowing, all-seeing God, then it just makes sense for us to make this God our Friend! The first step in that direction is receiving Jesus Christ as Lord. Once He is firmly entrenched in our hearts, we have a High Priest Who will make intercession on our behalf. It's the ultimate "friends in high places" theory. With Jesus on our side, we have the "inside track" with the Father. Plus, this High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, because He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So, not only does He plead our case before God, but also, because He understands what we have to deal with every day, He is fully able to convince the Father of our difficulties. How cool is that! You have to admit, when God does something, He really does it right! So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God today. Because there we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Not because of our sterling looks or wonderful personalities, but because of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ!



Cultivating (Additional Reading):
Romans 1:16; Mark 2:1-12

God Is Good ~ Charles Stanley


Psalm 100

One of the earliest truths a child learns in Sunday school is that God is good. The simplicity of this statement masks the depth of such a remarkable attribute of the Lord. He is absolutely perfect and holy, which means that He alone is the standard of all righteousness. And since the expression of the Father’s goodness is revealed in His actions, all that He does is good and right, because He cannot violate His own nature.


God is also unchanging, and therefore, His dealings with us are determined by His character, not by our behavior. Even when we are living in rebellion, He is still good to us. As a loving heavenly Father, He responds with discipline which is designed to restore the broken relationship rather than crush the wayward child.


The Lord’s goodness is expressed in a multitude of ways. He is our Creator, and we are His people. Every breath we breathe is given to us by Him. As our loving Shepherd who watches over us, He provides for all our needs. But the greatest expression of God’s goodness is the cross of Christ. What appeared from a human perspective to be the ultimate in cruelty and unfairness was the only way to rescue mankind from eternal separation from the Lord.


Believing in God’s goodness is one of the pillars of our faith. This truth fills us with joy in happy times and grounds us with confidence when life is hard, unfair, or painful. When we don’t understand what the Lord is doing, we can trust His heart and know that He is good.

Relationship Building ~ Bob Coy


So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" Mark 10:51 (NKJV)

One of the most touching stories in all the Bible is the exchange that takes place between Jesus and the man who has come to be known as Blind Bartemaeus. It's "classic Jesus."

As the Lord makes His way through the city of Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartemaeus hears that He's within walking distance. The commotion of the crowd grows louder and louder as it passes by him. It's Jesus, and before the opportunity slips through his fingers, the blind man cries out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

His cries are barely audible above the murmur of the multitude. Then, someone takes notice of him, then another, and another. He keeps on calling out into the black void before him. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Before long the crowd starts telling him to shut up, that Jesus is too busy to bother with him.

But Jesus does what nobody expected. He stops dead in His tracks and asks that Blind Bartemaeus be brought to Him. Face to face, Jesus asks him, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

At first, this question seems somewhat foolish. "Isn't it obvious? Here I am, blind and calling out to you! Do you think healing me might have something to do with it?" But as always, there's a deeper issue attached to Jesus' question. The reason He asked this question was to give Bartemaeus the opportunity to confess His request. "That I may receive my sight," says Bartemaeus.

More than just about anything else, Jesus wants to build relationship with us. A big part of that is when we express and confess the desires of our heart to Him. Regardless of how obvious our requests may be, He wants us to share them with Him.

Discuss what you would say if Jesus were to ask you what you want Him to do for you. Share your answer and the reason why you would make this request.

Dig into Mark 10:46–52. What impresses you about verses 49–50? What does Blind Bartemaeus do once he is healed? What does this passage say to you about Jesus’ compassion for people?

Decide to pray for those who long to be healed. Ask God to touch those who are in physical and spiritual need.

More on Exceedingly Abundant Grace for Transformation ~ Bob Hoekstra


And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man…And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant. (1 Timothy 1:12-14)

By His bountiful grace, Jesus Christ transformed Saul of Tarsus into the Apostle Paul. The Lord did this by enabling Paul, making him a man of faith, and putting him into ministry. As we consider what Paul was before the Lord began to change his life, we will see even more on exceedingly abundant grace for transformation.

Before he became a follower of Jesus Christ, Paul engaged in blasphemous behavior. "I was formerly a blasphemer." Through uninformed religious zeal, he said and did much that insulted and opposed the Lord. "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:9). Part of his sin of blasphemy included trying to force Christians to speak evil of the Lord. "And I punished them often… and compelled them to blaspheme" (Acts 26:11).

Related to this, Paul severely persecuted believers in Jesus Christ before he came to salvation. "I was formerly…a persecutor." He aggressively searched out anyone he could find who followed Jesus, hoping to imprison them. "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison" (Acts 8:3). He was so enraged against the followers of Jesus that he even obtained authorization to pursue them into distant cities beyond Israel. "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem" (Acts 9:1-2).

In light of such brazen aggression, it is no surprise that Paul confesses to being an arrogant man before he was saved. "I was formerly…an insolent man." His religious success clearly led him to a prideful estimation of his own spirituality. "If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Philippians 3:4-6).

Nevertheless, all of this misguided religiosity could be transformed by God's bountiful grace. "And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant."

Lord Jesus, what marvelous grace this is! What encouraging words these are! Yes, I see that my own disqualifying failures can be turned around by Your exceedingly abundant grace! Transform me Lord, I humbly pray!

Are your projects and pressures more real to you than Jesus? (96-5) ~ Barry Werner

Are your projects and pressures more real to you than Jesus? (96-5)


“They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor…They sweep past like the wind and go on – guilty men, whose own strength is their god (Habakkuk 1:6, 11).


These members of the Babylonian army were a “law to themselves” (they do whatever they want), “promote their own honor” (they look out for number one), and their “own strength is their god” (they rely on themselves). Sounds like today. This is the fundamental struggle of every leader. Every moment of every day we choose either to live out of our own strength and be independent from God, or to depend on God alone and walk by faith. When we try to be independent, we sin. When we walk by faith, Christ’s righteousness is lived out in obedience. Read 2 Samuel 24.


In King David’s day in ancient Israel, they had a form of military service similar to America’s National Guard. There was a small, well trained, professional standing army that protected the nation’s capitol with some troops also stationed in remote areas of the nation to keep order. All other able bodied men between certain ages were expected to live in a state of ready, doing their civilian job, and assemble for war if the king determined there was a threat to the nation and put out the call for an army.


King David wanted to know how many men he could muster should he decide he needed a military force so he ordered a census of the entire nation of men that were fighting age. Unfortunately this was against a previous instruction God had given the leaders of His nation. Through Moses, one of Israel’s early God-appointed leaders, God had given instructions for all future leaders to trust Him, not military might, and had forbidden a leader to take a census of available fighting men.


David knew what he was doing violated God’s law but decided to do it anyway. How many times have each of us ignored what we knew was “right” in our leadership role to do what we wanted to do? This kind of leadership action is for our benefit, seems like it costs us nothing, and is not a worthy offering to God.


The Bible says that when the census was complete “David was conscience stricken” and said, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done” (24:10). God sent a plague and punished the entire nation for David’s sin. Isn’t it interesting that so many people in Israel died that David’s census information was now useless.


The system of this world is almost perfectly designed to encourage leaders to rely on their own strength. It is easy for our projects and pressures to become more real to us than Jesus. Instead of walking by faith, leaders can let their own strength become their god. Effective Christian leaders keep their priorities those of God rather than their own even though the system around us is designed to lure us to self-dependence and self-reliance.


Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: ,

Righteous Anger ~ Greg Laurie


My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words. Have you ever looked at the way our culture is going, especially what our youth are buying into, and found that it made you angry? Did you know there is a place for righteous anger? Even Jesus, who was God among us, was angry. We know that He displayed anger when He drove the merchants and money changers out of the temple, because they were ripping off God's people. There is a place for righteous indignation.

Indignation rose within the apostle Paul when he saw the way the culture was going. We read in Acts that while he was in Athens, "his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols" (Acts 17:16). The word "provoked" could be translated "exasperated," "irritated," or even "roused to anger." Paul was grieved to see the absolute absence of the living God and, in His place, every conceivable substitute.

If we want to reach our culture for Christ, then we must first have a burden for the people we are seeking to reach. The problem is that far too often, those outside of the church only know us for what we are against. They don't know what we are for. They know what we oppose, and I think there is a place for that. But do they know what we believe?

We could talk all day about various techniques we can employ in telling others about Christ. We could address the difficult questions unbelievers raise and how to best answer them. But none of that will really matter if we don't care about lost people. Do you have a burden for those who do not yet know the Lord?

The world needs to hear about Jesus. And we need to tell them about God's love.

Discernment ~ Joyce Meyer

But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things].
1 Corinthians 2:15

As long as we try to figure out our own problems, we will only get more and more frustrated and confused. The reason is because we are trying to operate without the grace of God.

In my ministry, the prayer request I receive most often is for guidance. Many people just do not seem to know what to do. They are frustrated and confused by the situations they face in their everyday lives. They need help, and they don't know where to look for it.

If I have a problem, I don't need to try to figure it out—I need discernment. I need to hear from the Lord. I need God's Word on my situation. I need for Him to show me what to do. Discernment is simply God's wisdom for any situation of life. It is a "spiritual knowing" about how to handle things.

One time as I was praying and asking God for discernment, the Lord spoke to me and said, "Joyce, you are never going to have discernment until you give up reasoning." Now notice that the Lord didn't say "until I deliver you from reasoning," He said "until you give up reasoning."

If you are trying to figure out everything in life, you must realize that it is just a habit, a bad habit, one that you will have to break. Your mind may be like mine was. I was addicted to excessive reasoning. There's certainly nothing wrong with using our minds . . . God has blessed us with strong minds to accomplish many great things. But as soon as you begin to feel frustrated and confused, as soon as you start to lose your sense of inner peace, you need to say to yourself, "Uh-oh, I've gone too far." You must give up your efforts and entrust yourself totally to the Lord, leaving your situation entirely in His hands.

Restoring Relationships: Confront the Problem, Not the Person ~ Rick Warren


“A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire” (Proverbs 15:1, Msg).

The fifth biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to attack the problem, not the person. You cannot solve the problem if you're consumed with pinning the blame. You must set your bitterness aside in order to mend your friendship.

You will never get your point across by being cross, so choose your words wisely. A soft answer is always better than a sarcastic one.

In resolving conflict, how you say something is as important as what you say. If you say it offensively, it will be received defensively. God tells us, "A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is" (Proverbs 16:21 TEV).

Nagging never works. You are never persuasive when you're abrasive.

During the Cold War, both sides agreed that some weapons were so destructive they should never be used. For the sake of fellowship, you must destroy your arsenal of relational nuclear weapons, including condemning, belittling, comparing, labeling, insulting, condescending, and being sarcastic.

Paul sums it up this way: "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you" (Ephesians 4:29 TEV).

What Do You Think Of When You Hear The Name Jesus Christ? ~ Kay Arthur


Romans (The Constitution Of Your Faith)

Program 1 – What Do You Think Of When You Hear The Name Jesus Christ?


When you hear somebody mention the name of Jesus Christ what does it do to you? I’m not talking about using His name as a swear word. I mean that is so common today but when they refer to Him as a person. What does it do to you when you hear that name? Why is it that secular television doesn’t want to hear the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can talk about witchcraft. We can talk about everything else but why do they hate the name Jesus?
You know as I prayed about this series and we’re going to do a series on the book of Romans, on the beginning of Romans and as I prayed about this do you know what God laid on my heart for you? God laid on my heart that you need to know the Word of God. That you need to know it for yourself. This Bible, this Book needs to become a Book that you are totally and completely familiar with.

One of the things I find is that people have their impressions
about the Bible just like they have their impressions about Jesus Christ but they really don’t know what the Word of God says for themselves. And the reason they don’t know it is because they’re so busy. The reason that they don’t know it is because they don’t know what to do. They open the Book. It’s a big Book. Where do I start? How do I do this or they read it and they close it and they, they just forget what they’ve read. I don’t know where you’re at but I believe with all my being the fact that you’re listening to me is a divine appointment and I believe that what God wants you to understand is the Word of God for yourself.

And so this is what we’re going to do. I want you to take your Bible and if you don’t have a Bible then I want you to get the booklet that we’re offering and it’s a booklet that has the first chapters of Romans in it. And what I want you to do is I want you to get it out and I want you to mark it with me as we go along and if you’ll listen to me and if you’ll do what I say, I promise you you will learn the Word of God in a way that you have never learned it before.

And I can tell you this because I’ve been teaching thousands, hundreds of thousands of people to study the Word of God this way. And you know what they tell me? They tell me, “Kay, my life has been changed.” In fact so many of them come to me and they say, “Do you know what? I have been praying and praying and praying that someone would show me how to study the Bible.” Well if you’ve been praying that way then God is about to answer your prayer. Now this is what I want you to do. We’re going to look at Romans chapter 1. In Romans chapter 1 if you don’t have a Bible then you’re just going to listen carefully. And I want you to listen carefully for a word the “gospel,” “g-o-s-p-e-l” and as you hear it what we’re going to do is we’re going to stop and mark it. We’re going to stop and mark it and this is what I do. I draw like a megaphone around it. A megaphone because it is a message that is to be proclaimed. I draw a red megaphone and then I color it green. So this is what we’re going to do. I’m going to read Romans chapter 1 to you. Not the whole chapter. We’re just going to concentrate on the first 7 verses right
now.

But this is the way it opens up. It says, “Paul, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.” Alright there’s that word “gospel.” So what I want you to do is I want you to mark it. Because when you read through the book of Romans what you see is that “gospel” is a very important word. As a matter of fact we call it a key word. A key word is a word that in the sense unlocks the meaning of the text and you’re going to find that as you go through Romans that this is what Romans is all about. It’s all about the gospel of God. You say, “I don’t understand what the gospel of God is.” Well I’m going to tell you in just a minute but first let me read on.

Now as we read on I want you to know that when we come to any pronoun or any synonym for gospel you should mark it the same way. So if you’re doing this and you don’t have a Bible in front of you just when you hear me say gospel just repeat it out loud and I’ll tell you why. Because the minute that we say something then that hearing of what we have just said puts it in our mind and helps us remember it. As a matter of fact, that’s why I know so much Scripture. It’s not because I’ve set out to memorize it but because I’ve read it out loud so much when teaching it that I have just memorized a lot of it. So it’s, “Paul, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, ...set apart for the gospel of God …,” and it says, “… which He promised beforehand….” Now that “which” refers to the gospel. It’s a pronoun there that is saying alright, this gospel of God, the gospel which He, God, promised beforehand, “through His prophets in the holy Scriptures.” Now when He’s talking about His prophets and the holy Scriptures He’s talking about the Tanak. He’s talking about the Old Testament. He’s talking about Genesis to the book of Malachi. So this gospel was promised by God through His prophets in the Scriptures. It’s recorded, whatever it is it’s recorded. We’re going to see what it is in just a minute. And then it says, “… concerning His Son, who was born a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord”.

There’s
that word that’s used as a swear word and they get mad and they just say, “Jesus Christ.” Or there’s that word that is used to describe someone who is our Lord, who is our Master. The One to whom we have bowed the knee. The One that we have submitted to. This is the One that people hate to hear His name. This is the name that they don’t want mentioned on television. This is the name that they will avoid at all costs.

Now why? Why do they avoid His name at all costs? So many times they avoid His name at all costs because His name is offensive to some. You say, “Why is it offensive?” Well you’re going to find out. You’re going to find out so you hang in there. So it says Jesus, “… who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom,” speaking of Jesus, “we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name’s sake …,” there’s His name again. It says, “… among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ”. Now listen. He’s speaking to a group of people that are not offended by Jesus Christ’s name. He’s speaking to a group of people that absolutely love Jesus Christ. He is speaking to a group of people that have bowed the knee. He is speaking to a group of people who heard this gospel and in hearing this gospel have had their lives transformed.

You know it’s no accident that you’re listening to this program because God wants to do a work in your heart. And it’s a work that is so great and so awesome that if I would sit here and tell you about it you would never believe it. I mean if somebody had sat there and told me about it before I was 29 and this name came to mean something to me I would have said, “You are absolutely insane. Absolutely insane.”

Now he goes on to say, “To all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father …,” and then His name comes again, “and the Lord Jesus Christ.” You know what? There’s peace when you discover what that name is all about. There’s peace when you understand who the person is behind the name Jesus Christ.

Well, as you look at this, as you get into this
Scripture what I want to do is I want to take you and show you what the gospel is because the gospel concerns His Son. The gospel concerns God’s Son. You say, “I didn’t know that God had a son.” Do you know that the Bible refers to God having a son in the Old Testament. That if you and I were to go back to the book of Proverbs to the very next to last chapter that we would read this. Let me read it to you.

In Proverbs chapter 30 it says this. It’s the words of Agur and it says, (SHE QUOTES PROV. 30:4) “Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists?” Who has captured the wind with His fists? And then He says, “Who has wrapped up the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth?” and said that’s the boundary, that’s the boundary, that’s the boundary? What is His name? You’d say, “God.” Unless you didn’t believe in God you would say, “God.” But listen to the next sentence. “What is His name or His son’s name?” If you can tell. God has a son. God has a son and that son’s name is Jesus Christ. And I think, in essence, that this is why so many people are offended because they don’t want to believe that God has a son, an only begotten Son and yet what is the gospel of Jesus Christ all about? The word gospel means good news. This is good news for you and for me and what you and I are going to discover over the next weeks is we are going to discover the most awesome news that you have ever heard.

Now, if you want a definition of the gospel what you really need to do is you need to go to the book of 1 Corinthians. Paul’s going to define it in Romans and he’s going to define it from A to Z. But to get a shorter version of what the gospel is we need to go to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. And in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, he’s talking about the gospel which he delivered to them. And here you would mark the word “gospel” or “the word” in the same way.

And this is what he says in verse 3. He says, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received …,” and he’s saying this is the message that I received. Paul is writing. He’s an apostle and he says, “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was
buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”.

What is the gospel? What is this good news? You say, “How could it be good news that a man died?” We have to understand the reason that He died and we’ll talk about that after the break but you also have to understand that it’s good news because of what He accomplished when He died. We’ll talk about that when I come back.
Well I left you in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and this is what Paul is declaring to those in Rome. He’s talking about the gospel. The gospel that is from God. The gospel that is about Jesus Christ. The gospel that concerns His son who was a descendant of David. So he’s building on what this gospel is all about. Now why is that good news?

Well let me go back to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 3 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received” in otherwords this is not a message of man’s devising. This is a message that is from heaven. This is the gospel of God and so you’ve got to know this. That there is a God and that this God is a God of veracity. By that I mean He’s truthfulness and whenever He says anything or whenever He promises anything you can absolutely believe Him.

Now you may be one of these people that say, “No, listen. I asked God to do something for me and He didn’t do it and I can’t stand Him.” Or, “I went to church and I was looking and those people were so mean to me and they were so nasty and they were so backbiting, I don’t want anything to do with church and I don’t want anything to do with God.” And yet, God wants something to do with you.

So this is the message that he delivered. “That Christ died for our sins.” Now all the way throughout Romans what we’re going to see is we’re going to see that, “… all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We’re going to see that there’s none righteous, there’s none that understands, there’s none that seeks after God. We’re going to see that all mankind is helpless and hopeless and ungodly and without God and enemies of God.

And yet God invades mankind. God invades space. God invades time. And what He does is He sends His son, Jesus Christ.

Let’s go back to Romans chapter 1 so listen, “Paul … called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God which He …,” God, “… promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures”. In otherwords this gospel is written in the Old Testament. It has been promised. It’s not realized until Jesus Christ comes to earth but it is promised and it is promised from Genesis all the way through the book of Malachi. There are Scriptures that show us. I’m not going to go into it now but there are Scriptures that show us hey, there’s good news coming, there’s good news coming, there’s good news coming. Why the good news?

Well, listen to what it says, “Concerning His Son …,” this is the gospel which was promised in the Scriptures and it concerns His son. It concerns God’s son. “…who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh”. Now what he’s saying is this. He’s saying that God in the person of His son had to leave heaven, had to be born on the face of this earth, had to become flesh and blood. Why did He have to become flesh and blood? He had to become flesh and blood because you’re flesh and blood. He had to become a man, mankind, a male a female, He had to become mankind because you and I are mankind. Because we’re of the species of man and so Jesus, God’s son, became a man.

Now what was His genealogy? Well if you would trace the genealogy of Jesus Christ right back and the Old Testament, is full of genealogies of people you would find out that His genealogy on His human side, on the side of Mary His physical mother, led back to Him being a descendant of David. Now that’s very interesting because God promised David in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. God promised David, He made a covenant with David, that David would have an heir that would someday sit on the throne. And as you look at this Davidic covenant as you study it you find out that this is where Messiah is going to come from. You talk to any Jew and you talk to them, “OK, what about Messiah? When Messiah comes what will He be?” Well they will say, “Messiah will
be a man.” All right. Where will Messiah come from? Well, Messiah will have to come from the genealogy of David and David was from the tribe of Judah. In fact sometimes you can say to them, “And where will Messiah be born?” And they will say, “Oh. Well the Bible tells us that it’s going to be in Bethlehem, Ephratah. That’s what the prophet Micah says.”

So Jesus was born. He was born as the Son of God and “…a descendant of David according to the flesh”. Now watch this. He’s going to tell you two “according to’s.” And it says, “… who was declared the Son of God….” He was declared the Son of God. Jesus, Jesus, this name that many people don’t like, this name that has been misused, this name that has been abused, this name through which many, many Jews were put to death and wrongly so because it’s not according to what that name is all about. But this name is the name of the Son of God. Now we saw that God has a son. All right.

So it says, “… who was declared the Son of God with power …,” How? “…by the resurrection from the dead …,” and now watch. Here you have it again. “…according to the Spirit of holiness , Jesus Christ our Lord”. This is who Jesus Christ is. And you know the reason that a lot of people hate the name of Jesus Christ when they really understand it, is because if Jesus Christ is the Son of God, if He is the One that has been born of a virgin, the One who grew up and grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man, who for three and a half years had a ministry on the face of this earth healing and showing all sorts of signs to prove that He was the Son of God, if He’s the One then whom they nailed to the cross, the One who died and yet the One who rose from the dead, if that’s who He is then you know what? You and I have to bow the knee. You and I, if we really believe that, have to say, “You’re the Lord, you’re the Master, you’re the One that deserves my obedience. You’re the One to whom I am accountable.”

You know what the problem is don’t you? We don’t want to be accountable. We don’t want to be accountable to anyone. We want to run our own life. We want to call the shots. You know why? Because we don’t trust anyone other than ourselves.
And yet I want to ask you a question. What are you doing to your life? I mean, are you excelling that well? You say, “Well, I’m trying.” I want to ask you a question. If you could have God behind you, if you could have that confidence that God would take everything in your life and this is what Romans says, everything in your life and weave it together for your good, wouldn’t you want to know that?

You see, when you understand who Jesus Christ is, when you bow the knee, when you understand, “OK, here is a man who has lived as I have lived. Here’s a man who was without sin, here’s a man who never blew it, here’s a man who always and only did what pleased God and here’s the man who loved me so much that He died for me. Here’s the man that God raised from the dead. He’s got to be God. He’s got to be the Son of God and I owe my obedience to Him.” When you say that, Precious One, when you bow the knee then you’re acknowledging that Jesus Christ is who He says He is. He is God and that is the obedience of faith that is going to bring you grace. The peace that you so long for because He is Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace.

The Riches of Wisdom ~ Bob Caldwell












The Riches of Wisdom

Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

The practical wisdom held within this collection of proverbs has been evident throughout these 31 chapters. Within God's Word we find the purest expression of truth that has ever been given through human language. These proverbs have laid the foundation on which to build our lives. We discovered that the generous man will, in the end, be the most prospered, the humble become elevated above the proud, and the hard worker will reap the harvest.

We have seen time and time again in these proverbs that the person who is slow to speak and weighs his words will find success from business to marriage. A family life built on the principles of proverbs is enriched beyond measure. In chapter 31, we are given a look at the role of a virtuous wife. There, in a few words, we are given the framework to bring blessing to every home on Earth.

I would challenge each one of us to live the principles found in these proverbs, for those who do are sure to find life greatly enriched. I believe all will find the enduring riches that come to those who pursue the wisdom of God. Before we leave the book of Proverbs, I would encourage you to find the time to reread these timeless truths over and over again. I would encourage you to make up your own list of scriptures based on the key topics of life. Then let this personally crafted resource become your first resource as you map out your response to life's daily challenges.

In the end, your life will be a proverb itself, a living testimony of the power of God's pure words of wisdom.


Proverbs 30:1-31:31 The Wisdom of Agur

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:

2 Surely I am more stupid than any man,
And do not have the understanding of a man.

3 I neither learned wisdom
Nor have knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son's name,
If you know?

5 Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

6 Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I request of You
(Deprive me not before I die):

8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;

9 Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, "Who is the LORD?"
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

10 Do not malign a servant to his master,
Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

11 There is a generation that curses its father,
And does not bless its mother.

12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.

13 There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up.

14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men.

15 The leech has two daughters—
Give and Give!
There are three things that are never satisfied,
Four never say, "Enough!":

16 The grave,
The barren womb,
The earth that is not satisfied with water—
And the fire never says, "Enough!"

17 The eye that mocks his father,
And scorns obedience to his mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young eagles will eat it.

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Yes, four which I do not understand:

19 The way of an eagle in the air,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the midst of the sea,
And the way of a man with a virgin.

20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, "I have done no wickedness."

21 For three things the earth is perturbed,
Yes, for four it cannot bear up:

22 For a servant when he reigns,
A fool when he is filled with food,

23 A hateful woman when she is married,
And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

24 There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

26 The rock badgers are a feeble folk,
Yet they make their homes in the crags;

27 The locusts have no king,
Yet they all advance in ranks;

28 The spider skillfully grasps with its hands,
And it is in kings' palaces.

29 There are three things which are majestic in pace,
Yes, four which are stately in walk:

30 A lion, which is mighty among beasts
And does not turn away from any;

31 A greyhound,
A male goat also,
And a king whose troops are with him.

32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.

33 For as the churning of milk produces butter,
And wringing the nose produces blood,
So the forcing of wrath produces strife.

Proverbs 31The Words of King Lemuel's Mother

1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

2 What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

5 Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtuous Wife

10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.

15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.

20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.

25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all."

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.


Proverbs 30:1-31:31

v. 1 Words of Agur – This one chapter of Proverbs has been ascribed to someone other than Solomon, a man named Agur Ben (son of) Jakeh. Agur means "gatherer." Nothing else is really known about him, so anything said about him is usually just speculation. He addresses the proverbs to either children of his or companions. The King James Version replaces "utterance" with "prophesy" which tells us that these are words that are inspired by God as they foretell the future, declare profitable things, and reveal His truth to mankind.

v. 2 More stupid than any man – He begins this chapter of wisdom by confessing his own ignorance and nothingness. Paul the Apostle had a similar confession when referring to himself as the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). This is not a case of false modesty, but a true sense of his limitations as a simple man before the Most Holy God. A prideful man will not admit his arrogance or lack of enlightenment. However anyone that is truly used of God will acknowledge his rightful place in God's presence; and that of lowliness and humility. If we will humble ourselves the Lord will exalt us in due time (1 Peter 5:5-6).

v. 3 Nor have knowledge – Agur continues his introduction to tell us that he does not have natural wisdom, or any knowledge of God through his own effort. This statement strips away any pretense that these are any sort of his own thoughts or words. As was the case with most prophets, God selects a simple instrument to use that cannot draw attention to itself, and just performs the function that it was created for (Jer. 18:3-6).

v. 4 Who has – Of course the answer to the questions he asks have only one answer; Jehovah. We are told of the vast ignorance and powerlessness we have over the world we live in. Though we witness the effects of it every day, we have no control over it. Only God, the Creator of all things, has power over the things which He creates. This verse reminds us of God's challenge to Job to consider who has made the wonders in our world (Job 38-39). He uses figures of speech to give us a human picture of God holding the wind in His hands, or filling a container with all the water in the world. When the disciples witnessed Jesus calming the storm outside their boat, they exclaimed, "…even the wind and the sea obey Him!" (Mark 4:41). Our Lord goes on to tell us in John 3:13 that He alone has ascended and descended from Heaven, pointing to Himself as the Son of God spoken of here.

v. 5 Every word of God is pure – God is pure, so everything that comes from Him, including His word, is pure. Note that the river that flows from His throne in Heaven is also pure (Rev. 22:1). All scripture is given by inspiration of God, not man (2 Tim. 3:16). This statement about purity cannot be made about man apart from Jesus Christ. Only the one who trusts in the Lord will be made pure because God purifies the heart (Psalm 24:3-4). We are warned not to add to His words because the scripture that we have is all-sufficient for life. To add to it is to deny this truth. Many cults seek to provide their own "revelation" of God, which usually is given equal or even greater authority than God's Word. This is simply self-seeking false religion. Men cannot improve upon the Word of God because they are liars (Rom. 3:4).

v. 7 Two things I request of You – The writer asks God for two things; remove lies from his life, and provide for his needs. The requests are brief but powerful. The warning is that excess carries with it the danger of denying God. Jesus warned of the pitfalls of riches when he said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:25). He asks God to remove sinful things from his mind, to keep him far from seeking the deceitfulness of worldly things. Instead, he simply asks God to give him his portion, a daily allotment…nothing more, nothing less. We are to trust God to decide what that amount should be, and be content with it (Phil. 4:11). We are reminded that the best place for a human being to be is in dependence on the Lord to provide our every need (Phil. 4:19).

v. 10 Malign a servant – To speak evil of, or make derogatory statements. Christians are exhorted to lead a quiet life and to mind their own business (1 Thess. 4:11). Contention with another person over his business matters is not pleasing to him or the Lord. We are to avoid judgment in this matter (Rom. 14:4).

v. 11 Generation that curses its father – The word generation is used to describe an age of mankind with certain characteristics. In this particular one we see one where children rebel against their parents. We are commanded to honor our parents (Ex. 20:12). The pride from self-sufficiency prohibits these children from recognizing any indebtedness to their parents, and instead turns against them.

v. 12 Pure in its own eyes – An unregenerate person will see himself as good, even righteous. We think that if we can justify the way we are that it absolves us of any wrongdoing. However, God sees every person in their original state as filthy and guilty before Him (Rom. 3:10-12). Only a born-again conversion through faith by first seeing himself as guilty for violating the law, and then trusting in God for forgiveness of sin, can change a human heart (Psalm 19:7-8).

v. 13 Lofty – To elevate, to exalt; arrogance. The natural man sets his eyes much higher than he is in reality. The picture here infers that he looks down on everyone from his high vantage point with scorn and disdain. Contrast this man's attitude with that of the bowed head of a humble servant. Pridefulness is great mistake because the Lord will humble the lofty man, and glorify Himself (Is. 2:11). Although God resists the proud, He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

v. 14 Devour – Means to consume, destroy, to take by force. The mouths of the wicked are compared to sharp weapons, using them for evil than for good to eat with them. They are cruel rather than kind, seeking to destroy others, even when not provoked. Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for such behavior in defending widows (Matt. 23:14).

v. 15-16 Give and give – The idea here is not of a kindly giver to others, but of someone (like the leech) who takes and is never fulfilled...give to me! The point is to express the undesirable qualities of one who continually takes from others. These two verses list four examples of things that are never satisfied. The grave continually calls people to it every day and does not cease. A woman without children is not content. The earth soaks up rain and seeks more immediately. Fire devours everything in its path and is not quenched.

v. 17 The eye – Jesus said that the eye is the window to our soul (Luke 11:34). How one looks upon the world and others is indicative of who they are on the inside. Note the severity of judgment given to the eyes which were used wickedly to look upon the parents with disdain. God is just, and the unjust will be compensated according to their works (Rev. 20:12).

v. 18-19 Too wonderful for me – These are four things that the writer, nor anybody else, truly understands. Though we observe them and can surmise some things about them, the mysteries about how and why are kept from us. The natural man thinks he has to know everything, and has a right to it. The man of God accepts that some things are simply beyond what he is capable of knowing, and rests in that.

v. 20 Way of an adulterous woman – When someone eats and then wipes their mouth, there is no evidence remaining that they ate anything. This woman devours men with her lust, then when finished with them, she pretends she is pure and virtuous by attempting to hide her guilt. Unfortunately for her, God sees all things done in private (Eph. 5:11-13).

v. 21-23 Cannot bear up – These four things are difficult to tolerate. Often when someone who has been in a lower position is put into a position of authority, they become obnoxious and impossible to be around. Rather than simply enjoying their new situation, their pride gives them a desire to repay those who oppressed them.

v. 24-28 Exceedingly wise – While being small in stature, these four animal examples show wisdom in what they do on an ongoing basis. Though many proclaim that the animal kingdom has evolved into this type of knowledge, they cannot explain the learned behavior. The concept here is that God gives them the ability to do these things. Not only do they work, but they do fine, intricate, and amazing work. The ant shows wisdom in how it prepares for the future. The rock badger (actually a type of rabbit) is defenseless so it is wise at hiding itself. Locusts have the wisdom to ban together to achieve specific objectives, and spiders (Hebrew word is lizard, or gecko) wisely use their hands to complete the tasks set before them. God's ways are indescribable (Rom. 11:33).

v. 29-31 Majestic – Defined as dignified, noble, or impressive. Here we have three more animals used to describe a different type of quality, and a human counterpart. The lion, the greyhound, and the mountain goat all move with purpose and grace. They are powerful, stately and regal when observed going about their business. A king whose troops support him is also viewed in this manner with inspired respect. The Apostle Peter observed similar things in Jesus, the King of Kings, and testified of His majesty (2 Peter 1:16).

v. 32 Hand on your mouth – In other words, if we have been prideful and sinful, just stop it. The Bible teaches that all have done these things (Rom. 3:23). Though we must acknowledge the wickedness in our life, it is far better to discontinue what we are doing than to carry on in unrighteousness. If we will recognize the folly of our ways, there is hope (Acts 3:19). God repeatedly asserts than no one is perfect, and does not expect that we will ever be. However, He acknowledges that if we will judge ourselves, we will not be judged by Him (1 Cor. 11:32).

v. 33 Produces – These three examples show action and reaction. It is certain that if we will churn milk long enough, the product will be butter. Likewise if you wring someone's nose it will eventually bleed. Similarly, anger and hostility will create conflict. Christians are called to be peaceful, gentle, and humble to generate the opposite reaction in other people (Titus 3:1-8).

Proverbs 31

v. 1 King Lemuel – It is likely that this is actually Solomon. There is not known any king of Israel, Judah or any of the surrounding nations with this name, and many believe that Lemuel is the name by which his mother called him. If true, the mother who is speaking to her son the king would be Bathsheba, David's wife (2 Sam. 12:24).

v. 2 What – Repeated three times, this earnest question frames the rest of the chapter. It is in the form of, "What shall I say to you that will be profitable for your life?" Male children were highly sought after by Hebrew women, and often they petitioned the Lord with a vow, or oath. Perhaps her vow was to offer Lemuel to the Lord as Hannah did her son Samuel (1 Sam. 1:9-28).

v. 3 Strength to women – We are warned in scripture that a harlot can bring a man to a crust of bread (Prov. 6:26). Men must avoid allowing lust to govern their lives. No doubt that the king was being advised against permitting his reason, time, and wisdom to be consumed by women.

v. 4-5 Not for kings – These verses point out the pitfalls of drinking alcohol. He is told that being intoxicated clouds judgment, and a righteous leader needs to be sober minded in order to be fair and just. The Lord told Aaron and the priests that they were not to drink alcohol before entering the Tabernacle (Lev. 10:9-11). Paul the Apostle says not to be "given to wine" when he presents the requirements for bishops and deacons in the church (Titus 1:7, 1 Tim. 3:3,8). People in leadership positions, particularly spiritual ones, should abstain in order that their decision making process is not impaired. Anyone that leads others must first be a master of himself.

v. 6-7 Let him drink – There is a sense of irony here when compared to the previous two verses. In other words, if anyone is going to be drunk let it be those who are bitter and perishing, not those who need to judge in righteousness. This person may need to medicate himself to cope with his life, but the king is not to behave in this manner.

v. 8 Appointed to die – The life that we currently live in the flesh is not eternal. Each person has an appointment to die (Heb. 9:27). The king is told to speak for all those who will perish, particularly those who cannot speak up for themselves.

v. 9 Judge righteously – To be fair, honest, consistent, just, and impartial. Especially to those who are oppressed because the weaker are often the ones who are taken advantage of the most. Jesus expressed this same command when He exhorted people to not judge according to appearance, but righteously (John 7:24).

v. 10 Virtuous wife – She is defined as a woman of character, morality, goodness and devotion. A good wife is rare and highly valued, much more so than a precious stone. She sets her mind on things that are good, just, lovely and pure (Phil. 4:8). While scarce, these women do exist, and Lemuel's mother uses the rest of the chapter to describe in detail the qualities that her son should desire.

v. 11 Trusts – The husband of an ideal wife can rest in that she will be faithful to him in all matters. Her honesty and sexual purity will not rob him of the blessings of his life. Wives are to come alongside their husband to help him so that their life together would be full of treasure (Gen. 2:18).

v. 12 All the days of her life – A virtuous wife seeks to bless her husband with the goodness of her behavior. She discerns what is good and what is evil, and chooses goodness (Ps. 34:14, 37:27). She maintains this attitude for her entire life, not only when things are going well.

v. 13 Works with her hands – Finding joy in serving, she works as unto the Lord, making good choices and being diligent with her time (Col. 3:23). She aspires to live the type of life that is commanded by Paul (1 Thess. 4:11).

v. 14-15 Rises while it is yet night – In the middle-eastern culture, women would go to great lengths to purchase and prepare meals, even traveling long distances to do it. She is not lazy, and wakes early to attend to her daily routine. She is zealous about starting her day, and shows a great deal of love for her family through it.

v. 16 Considers a field – The Proverbs 31 woman looks for bargains and applies wisdom to the purchases she intends to make. Not willing to waste resources, she is a good steward with money and her profits increase. She "counts the cost" of the venture. Jesus compares this wisdom to that of the consideration applied to following Him (Luke 14:27-30). Note that she buys the property for the sole purpose of growing something on it. Psalm 85:12 reminds us that our land yields its increase because the Lord gives it.

v. 17 Strength – This woman works hard, and because of it she is strong. She gives her tasks everything that she has. Because of her diligence she no longer tires easily. She wraps, or girds, her garments about her so that they will not be in the way of her work (we say, "roll up our sleeves"). Thus, she can singularly focus on the task at hand.

v. 18 Lamp does not go out by night – There is an allusion to her prosperity such that the profits of her labor provide enough oil to burn her lamps all night long. Notice that she is still awake to witness them still burning, as she no doubt finishes her remaining tasks or prepares for the next day.

v. 19-20 Distaff and spindle – Both terms are tools of spinning and weaving for the process of making cloth for garments, and imply the use of both hands to accomplish the task. Likewise, she extends a hand to the poor as well as the needy, and she does so liberally. Like the Lord, she has a heart for those in need, and seeks to help them (Ps. 72:12-14).

v. 21 Not afraid – When the proper preparations are taken, it greatly reduces the amount of fear.

v. 22 She makes tapestry – Because of her diligence and practice she becomes a craftswoman, able to make beautiful intricate garments. God has given us the ability to achieve high levels of skill if we are willing to commit to putting forth the effort required to excel.

v. 23 Sits among the elders – In the ancient world, the elders of the city would sit at the entrance gate to judge matters brought before them by the residents. They would hear cases of land or property disputes, as well as be witnesses to various business transactions. We see in scripture that the elders at the gate were brought those among the children of Israel who disobeyed the law in order to pronounce judgment upon them (Deut. 21:18-21). The virtuous woman is a benefit to her husband as her chaste behavior produces a husband who is honored and esteemed in the community. He occupies a position of authority in the city, no doubt enabled by his wife's willingness to submit and help him (Eph. 5:22-24, Col. 3:18).

v. 24 Sells them – As a helper she adds to the household income through her innovative skills. Not only does she provide plenty for her own family, but she makes enough to sell for the benefit of others. Note that she is shrewd enough to even sell to those who are merchants at the markets.

v. 25 She shall rejoice – Up to this point we have seen primarily the description of what this virtuous woman does. For the remaining verses we see a picture of who she is. Only a woman of God will rejoice in the time to come. Joy comes from knowing that our sins are forgiven (Ps. 32:1-2). She is described as having strength of character and honor. She does not compromise, and as such she walks in the spirit and not in such a way as to satisfy the lust of her flesh.

v. 26 On her tongue – We see that only two things emerge when she speaks; wisdom and kindness. The tongue can be a dangerous weapon (James 3:5-10). But the woman of virtue uses her words for good. What a contrast to the contentious woman spoken of repeatedly throughout the Book of Proverbs.

v. 27 Bread of idleness – To be idle is to be inactive, or lazy, which she is not. In fact, she eats the product of her own labor. The woman shown here is actively involved with her family. She studies them and keeps a watchful eye out for potential problems. She does not consumed with idle behavior, which adds to the cares of this life. Instead, she is known as one who is busy about the Father's business, and is fed by the Word of God (Ps. 119:46-50).

v. 28-29 Call her blessed – Blessed in this context is defined as happy, or joyful. Jesus gives a lengthy description of the blessed person in Matthew 5:3-11. In the natural state, this would be impossible to achieve. We must be transformed by God to even desire the things that He says make us blessed. This woman receives praise from her family, which is something that is earned through submission to the Lord (1 Peter 5:5). They look to her as an example of the joy of the Lord. As we humble ourselves God is faithful to continually conform us into the image of His Son, which is really what her family desires (Rom. 8:28-30). Notice that the husband shows that he loves his wife just as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25). Exhortation like this sets a wife free to grow and flourish into the fullness of joy that God calls each of us into (John 15:11).

v. 30 Woman who fears the Lord – God takes notice of those who fear Him, and blesses their life (Prov. 22:4, Acts 9:31). To walk in fellowship with God and to seek to please Him is the highest calling in life (1 Thess. 4:1). Charm can be faked, and external beauty lasts only as long as youth does. There is much vanity contained within the concern for the appearance of beauty. What matters most to God is the condition of the heart, and the Proverbs 31 woman has a beautiful one.

v. 31 Fruit of her hands – As she is faithful to be the person God has called her to be, she will be full of wisdom from above, which yields a crop of good fruit (James 3:17-18). She will be praised by others not out of self determination, but because of her desire to be obedient to what God has called her in Jesus Christ. She will be an example for all to see (Matt. 5:16, Titus 2:3-5).


"Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." –Proverbs 30:5-6

Powerful words, God, that we read today. This warning is for us all, no matter where we are ministering to others. Remind us daily, Lord, that the only way to truly know You as You wish to be known is through Your Word. Put it in our hearts, Jesus, so that we may know nothing but truth.


U-Turn for Christ

The goal of U-Turn for Christ is to provide a safe and structured environment for at-risk boys ages 11-17. We aim to provide the life-skills, spiritual revelation, and loving discipleship needed to experience a victorious and productive Christian life. Along with daily Bible studies, the program places a strong emphasis on serving others in our community.

Prayer Points
  • for the boys in the program and healing and salvation for their families

Translate