Hope of Relief.. In God's mercy

Lamentations 3:22-26 "Through the Lords mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion" says my soul "therefore I hope in Him!" The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord" NKJV

As I talk to those around me, I cant help but notice all the hurt, the troubles and the pain. Jeremiah went through and remembered how hit rock bottom with all his afflictions and troubles and as he recalled them, what he remembered only made him feel worse. Then as Jeremiah recalled the faithfulness of God brought about great change in his emotions and how he felt.

How often in life are we hurting, in despair and dwell on our circumstances? Dwelling on these hurts in our life, dig up emotions of old hurt as well and we find it hard to focus on the mercy and grace that God has already given us, finding that good that Christ offered us.

We can use Jeremiahs example of how he in his mind was able to turn around his afflictions and turn them into hope. By remembering that in the morning its a new day, to set our afflictions to God and remember His mercy, to wait along for Him to save us from whatever disaster we are in, reminding ourselves of the lovingkindness the mercy that He offers anew every day each step of the way. We have hope in the Lord, for He doesnt desire to see you hurt. Waiting, Trusting, and seeking God as He is able to pull you through.

Be faithful to God, devoted in waiting for Him to rescue you as He will. He will save you from your burden, wait patiently earnestly in hope He is your portion, He is all you need.

Hebrews 4:16 "therefore let us draw near with confidence to the trhone of grace, so that we may recieve mercy and find grace to help in the time of need"

Chosen....the eight graces that we are to wear

Colossians 3:12-14

We’ve been talking about the practical application of the basic prinicpals of Christian living.

Last week we talked about sin and things not to do in putting on a new self.

Today we are going to have a lesson in Grace, and being that we have received this abundant grace things that we are to do.

Read Colossians 3:12-14

“as those who have been chosen of God, Holy and beloved put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience bearing with one another and forgiving each other. Whoever has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you. So, also should you. Beyond all these things, put on love. Which is the perfect bond of unity.
^^^^^^^^
This was read out of the NASV.
NLT ‘SINCE GOD CHOSE YOU TO BE THE HOLY PEOPLE HE LOVES’

Vs 12 - CHOSEN. Has anyone here read or heard that they have been chosen? What does it mean to be chosen?

The definition of chosen, haven been selected as the best or most appropriate.

KJV OF VERSE 12 IS – ‘PUT ON THEREFORE AS THE ELECT OF GOD, HOLY AND
BELOVED BOWELS OF MERCIES, KINDNESS, HUMBLENESS OF MIND, MEEKNESS,LONGSUFFERING’

Notice the wording in KJV is ‘elect’, the definition of elect is chosen.

ELECTION, CHOSEN CAN COMMONLY BE MISCONSTRUDED OR DEBATED. WE ARENT GOING TO ENTER IN TO ANYTHING ACCEPT FOR WHAT THE WORD SAYS ABOUT IT.

ELECTION, OR BEING CHOSEN IS A DIVINE MIRACLE. JUST LIKE THE HOLY TRINITY, A MYSTERY SOMEWHAT IN ITSELF TO US THAT WE CANNOT FULLY COMPREHEND, AND GOD DOESN’T INTEND FOR US TO FULLY COMPREHEND.

BEING CHOSEN DIDN’T DEPEND ON ANYTHING WE ARE, OR WHAT WE HAVE DONE. GOD CHOSE US IN CHRIST.

I WANT TO DISCUSS ONE OF THE FIRST EXAMPLES OF BEING CHOSEN, IN SCRIPTURE GOING WAY BACK TO GENESIS. JACOB AND ESAU.

POOR EVE, HAD A STRUGGLE WHILE SHE WAS EXPECTING JACOB AND ESAU, THEY LITERALLY WERE FIGHTING IN THE WOMB.

GENESIS 25:23 THE LORD SAID TO HER, EVE, ‘TWO NATIONS ARE IN YOUR WOMB, AND TWO PEOPLES WILL BE SEPERATED FROM YOUR BODY AND ONE PEOPLE SHALL BE STRONGER THAN THE OTHER AND THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER’

PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO ROMANS 9:13----
ROMANS 9:13 GOD SAID ‘ JACOB I LOVED BUT ESAU I HATED’

WHY DID GOD LOVE JACOB BUT NOT ESAU? THIS IS A MYSTERY. NOT MENT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT GOD IS GOD. ALMIGHTY, ALL POWERFUL, UNATTAINABLE, BEGIN AND END, HE IS NOT HUMAN BUT GOD. WE AS HUMAN BEINGS BEING CREATED BY HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE VAST KNOWLEDGE A POWER OF HE.


WHEN WERE YOU CHOSEN?

EPHESIANS 1:4 ‘JUST AS HE CHOSE US IN HIM, BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT WE WOULD BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS BEFORE HIM IN LOVE’





Remember that the cardinal point of the Reformed doctrine of predestination rests on the biblical teaching of man’s spiritual death. Natural man does not want Christ. He will only want Christ if God plants a desire for Christ in his heart. Once that desire is planted, those who come to Christ do not come kicking and screaming against their wills. They come because they want to come. They now desire Jesus. They rush to the Saviour. The whole point of irresistible grace is that rebirth quickens someone to spiritual life in such a way that Jesus is now seen in his irresistible sweetness. Jesus is irresistible to those who have been made alive to the things of God. Every soul whose heart beats with the life of God within it longs for the living Christ. All whom the Father gives to Christ come to Christ (John 6:37).”

—R.C. Sproul


2 TIMOTHY 2:10 ‘ for this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory’




HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD A PET? HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD A PET RUN OFF, GET LOST? DID IT HURT? WERE YOU IN A SENSE OF SUFFERING? GRIEF?

SO A SHEPARD LOSES ONE OF HIS SHEEP, HOW IS HE GOING TO FEEL? THIS SHEPARD GOES OUT AND PICKS EXACTLY WHICH SHEEP HE WANTS TO BUY TO HAVE IN HIS FLOCK, AND ONE IS LOST…HOW IS HE GOING TO FEEL? ALL THE EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION OF A NEW PET AND ITS LOST… It is your duty, your responsibility, you have been chosen to go and get, go and find HIS lost sheep.

OUR GREAT SHEPARD, JESUS, YOU SEE .. HE LOVES US MORE INTIMATELY MORE THROUGHLY THAN WE COULD EVER LOVE A PET BUT IMAGINE HOW HE FEELS THAT SOME OF HIS SHEEP ARE OUT WONDERING NOT EVEN KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PURCHASED. WE HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO GO FIND THEM.

2 Timothy 2:19 tells us that GOD KNOWS WHOSE ARE HIS, NOT US WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO GOD HAS CHOSEN WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE WORKING OUT OF HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE WITH HIM. THE FACT IS THERE ARE MANY CHOSEN THAT DON’T REALIZE THEY HAVE BEEN, ITS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND THEM .. GO GET YOUR LOST SISTERS AND BROTHERS!

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 WE ARE NOT OUR OWN, WE BELONG COMPLETELY TO HIM.
WE TRUSTED HIM, RECEIVED HIM, ACCEPTED HIS GRACE SO WE ARE SET APART TO THE WORLD, UNTO HIM.

YOU SEE, TO KNOW THAT GOD HAND SELECTED YOU, HAND PICKED YOU BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, YOU ARE AN HEIR, A PRINCESS, ROYALTY, HE PUT SOMETHING IN YOU NOONE ELSE EVER WILL, EVER CAN. TO BE CHOSEN BY THE HIGHEST POWER.. BLESSING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THIS IS A PICTURE OF GRACE. TO BE SELECTED BY THE UTMOST; THE HIGHEST.

So you were chosen by God, set apart for God, loved by God (as it says in vs 12 holy and beloved) so loved that your debt was cancelled out, and forgiven by God (2:13-14) This all adds up to Grace.

Because of these gracious blessings, we as Christians have responsibilities before God. We have to put on the beautiful graces of the Christian life. Paul named the eight graces.

‘Put on’==if you put something on, what do you do with it? You wear it, everyone sees it, you feel it, you know its there.


1. Put on tender mercies: (vs. 12) we need to display tender feelings of compassion toward one another. This is not something we turn on and off, like we do a TV. It’s a constant attitude of heart that makes us easy to live with.
Philippians 2:1 “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation in love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion make my joy complete by being of the same mind maintaining the same love united in Spirit intent on one purpose”
2. Put on kindness. (vs. 12) We have been saved because of Gods kindness toward us through Jesus Christ. We in turn ought to show kindness toward others.
Ephesians 2:7 “So that in the ages to come, He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus”
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another”
3. Put on humbleness of mind..(vs. 12) Jesus is the greatest example of humbleness. Humbleness is not thinking poorly of yourself, its having the proper estimate of yourself, in the will of God. The person with humbleness of mind thinks of others first not of himself.
Romans 12:3 “for through the grace given to me I say to everyone amoung you not to thing more highly of himself than he ought to think, to think so as to have sound judgement as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”
4. Put on meekness..meekness is not weakness, its power under control. Meekness is not flying off the handle because he has everything under control.
5. Put on longsuffering..literally means long temper. Don’t act impulsively, use self control. Don’t get angry quickly at the wrong things for the wrong reasons
6. Put on forbearance..(vs 13).. this means to hold back. God holds back judgement on us as sinners. Meekness, longsuffering, and forebearance go hand in hand.
7. Put on forgiveness..we as Christians have to endure grief and provocation, and refuse to retaliate we also have to forgive the one who makes the trouble. If we don’t forgive, the feelings of malice develop and can lead to greater sins.
8. Put on love..this is the most important of the Christian virtues, and its like the tie that binds the other virtues together, or holds them in. Love is the first fruit of the Spirit, when love rules in our lives, it unites all these spiritual virtues—it keeps our lives balanced and growing.

Living with Confidence

As we continue to study in Colossians, we come to Colossians 3:1-4, this part of Colossians Paul has moved into the practical application of the doctirne that he has been talking about in the first half of the book of Colossians.

Titus 1:16 "they profess that they know God but in works they deny Him"

Faith in Christ means being united with Christ, if we share His life we must follow His example. He cannot live in us by His spirit and permit us to live in sin.

Colossians 3:1 "if then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God"

-raised with Christ.. saved.. transformed.. have you accepted Christ? Can you pinpoint that specific moment in your life where you accepted His way and denied your own. If your answer is yes then this applies to you. If not, there is no better time than now to accept Him, repent and then follow His will.
-seated at the right .. the usage of this term 'right hand' has always got me wondering why always the right hand? I have always noticed biblically that references are commonly made to the 'right hand' but why?
right hand ranges from a direction, to the opposite of wrong, what is just or what conforms to an established standard, and to a place of honor or authority; a person of high rank who put someone on his right hand gave him equal honor with himself and recognized him as possessing equal dignity and authority.

{read Colossians 3:2-4}

There is a simple message in these verses and the message is to get of the system. Divorce yourself from the world in terms of your spiritual attitude. This section is a call to true spirituality. True spirituality is setting our affections on things above and not things on earth. Its stepping away from the world, from the vantage point of divine power, making an impact.

The day you were saved, you died with Christ. YOu were crucified with Christ. You died to the world. Christ not only died for sin taking the penalty of sin away, but died onto sin, breaking its power. This means we have victory over the old sin nature that wants to control us. We died with Christ, We live in Christ, and we are raised with Christ.

Romans 7 says you died to "eternal is not a quanity of life, its the quality of life, heavenly life" your mind literally was open to understand that God and what God does and what God wills for your life.

Romans 6:2 ' how shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein"

Phillipians 3:2 "your manner of life is in heaven" we are live human beings, and if your mind is stuck on the things of this world then you are not living up to your position in Christ.

What things of this world do you think Paul is talking about?
How hard is it for us to make that our focus? can you pinpoint certain things in your life that holds you back from making your focus on 'things above' being Christ like?

Wouldnt it be great to see things and people the way Jesus see them, We have entered into the heavenlies, as our inheritance the moment we were saved but we struggle to shove our hearts up there, dont we? We get preoccupied with all the piddle stuff, whether we are keeping up with society around us and when we are we cant really offer the world anything about a heavenly dimension because we are not too sure what it is.. yet... Then someone comes along and intimidates us about some experiance theat you can reach out and get, a kind of spirituality and we are the first ones to grab onto it because we dont really understand anything out there anyway. We have to constantly be seeking Jesus.. seeking the kingdom.

Alot of times we find our self intimidated becuase we dont spend enough time talking to Him, getting to know Him, to find out that He is all we really need. Dont be intimidated by these so called 'experiences' that you feel like you are missing out on, Colossians tells us that we are complete in Christ.. what more do we want. and that should be our answer.

Paul is telling us to give us hope so that we dont feel defeated, he is saying dont sweat the small stuff affix your eyes on the savior! if you can just get yourself up there where you belong, you wouldnt be bugged bu the rest of your 'stuff'

Making Christ our central focus and all of these other things, well they dont matter so much. Our preoccupation should be on Christ. Dont let anyone tell you you need anything else. Christ is all.

The end of verse 3, says that our life is hidden in Christ. The greek word for hidden, indicates that God has already accomplished hiding us, its already done, its already happened, at the moment of salvation. We no longer belong to the world, but to Christ. This means security and sanctification. We are in Christ, who is God , so no on can seperate us from His love. (Romans 8:31-39)

Does this mean that we are to ignore our responsibilites?? NO.
It means our motives and strength come from heaven, not earth.

How can we seek the things above? Colossians 3:2 'habitually set your mind, your attention on the things above" YOur feet are on earth but your mind should be in heaven. We are not to become so heavenly minded that we are not good for Christ on earth. Practical everyday affairs of life get their direction for Christ in heaven. Its means further, we look at earth from heavens point of view..as in WWJD what would JEsus do thinking..

The emphasis is clear, having Christ is everything. He is the center of our resurrected life, therefore we should make Him center of out earthly responsibility. We should have a concious preoccupation of Christ.

Back in the Old Testament Numbers 13-14, as the nation of Isreal came to the border of the promise land, they refused to enter because of their stubborn unbelief, they had to wonder for 40 years in the wilderness. An entire generation died. Joshua and Caleb, were survivors two that were sent to spy and check on the promise land, how were these able to get the victory? Their minds and hearts were in that promise land, Canaan. They new that had an inheritance coming and lived in light of that promise. It was where their attention and affection were, they never gave up. We have to constantly keep our focus on our promiseland, our Canaan.. not loose focus. They werent perfect people, they feel short, we all do, but they continued to seek the things above not dwelling on situations in the world in their life.

Where is your mind today? Are you struggling wondering where your life is going? Will you ever get to peace, will you ever recieve your promise? What is it? what in your life is holding you captive, leaving you walking in your own personal wilderness? Jesus already fought this battle, and still today remains victorious. Dont despair, you have to know that today you are standing on the border of your promise land, your Canaan, if you lose hope you simply continue in the wilderness until you believe and have faith for Christ to take your hand and lead you on over that border.

Hebrews 4:16 " Let us therefore, come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of GRACE, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"

Spiritual Intimidation

Have you ever been intimidated?

In todays society, as Christians, we are being intimidated all the time usually we dont realize when we are being intimidated by people and things of the world, but we need to realize how we are being intimidated by false doctrine.

Colossians 2:18 Let noone keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in selfabasement taking his stand on visions he has seen inflated without cause by his fleshly mind.

There are many books, tv shows, radio shows that are 'suppose' to tell the 'truth', things that are 'suppose' to help us along with our growth as a Christian. We are in a mass media age, overexposure of everything, there isnt much of anything in our society that overexposed except 'THE TRUTH'. It may be that the things we hear, and read are wrong or misrepresented wrong. All the time there is a certain feeling that we are being left out, and these things intimidate us all of these 'things' occuring around us that we cant relate to as a Christian and they are supposeably Christian things.

The letter written to the Colossians by Paul, is an open rebuttal to false teaching. Its restates the basic truth of Christianity, which is Christ. Christ is suffiencent. Christ is God. Christ is Savior. Christ is everything, all you need.

Throughout Colossians, people came along and would tell the Colossians well its fine to have Christ but there is more than that, there was more to it. The philosophy, false teaching that Christ wasnt all they needed. It was FALSE. WRONG.

Do you ever find yourself in a position where someone can come along and say 'what your doing is good and all... but your missing something.. there is more to being a Christian..being saved that cant be all of it..there is more for you to reach more to experience it just keeps mounting and mounting till you find yourself questioning.. Hey, I am missing something. I am not experiencing all that she or he is. Pauls saying in this letter NO!!! CHRIST IS ALL YOU NEED.

We have to stand on Christ. Stand on our Completeness, Stand on what we are.. We are in Christ. We cannot buy into others on ideas and perspectives we cannot define our spiritiuality by our ability to keep man made rules. We cannot define our spirituality by our ability to keep man made rules. Obeying Gods rules is obiediance not legalism. we cannot buy into submitting to man because it sounds good or think they might be right. Upon salvation, Christ has given you complete forgiveness, complete victory dont let anyone take that from you.

Christ died to set us free and stay free. Dont allow anyone, anything define you! You are who you are, IN CHRIST. You need nothing else.

Forgotten and Forgiven.. Part I Colossians 2:8-15

How often in life are we so caught up in our 'rituals' and 'traditions' that we miss great opprotunity? Are you easily distracted from the work of The Lord, becuase things of the 'world' insist on your attention?

As we have studied Colossians, God has really opened my heart to see just how often, especially in this holiday season, to get caught up in tradition, and foresake the true meaning. As a Christian, we are to be patterned after Christ, to walk as He did.

We studied Colossians 2:8-15 this week, The Letter Paul wrote as a warning to those in Colossae as well as to us. To beware of false teachings, to continually grow in our faith to be protected from the Enemy, Satan. In Old Testament time, they were so caught up in tradition, and rituals they missed what God was saying. They believed that if they were physically circumcised observed the holiday and ate certain foods.. this was what they thought was their salvation. God continued in scripture to say 'Hey, you are missing it you are doing the outward act but there is no spiritual change' therefore, Christ came to obsolve our sin, nail them to the cross with the Old Rituals therefore we fall under Grace. We are so priviledged to get the 'grace card' But all to often in life we are missing it. We are missing the fact that when Christ came and died, our old 'flesh' died with Him, He was buried as our old self was buried with Him, He resurrected and so did we. Upon the Resurrection of Christ, OUR SALVATION, we lost the old person that we were. It was buried. Forgotten. Forgiven. How often are you going back out and digging up that old part of you from the sinner side, that old memory you keep rehashing, or maybe that old sin that you cant seem to get over? It was hung on the Cross, it was buried. Dont dig it back up! Then we find ourselved digging it back up, praying for Christ to re-burry it, He does then yet again down the road we are out digging in the dirt bringing up that old thing that no longer exists.

If you have reminders in your life, of past sin, before you acquired you new self in Christ.. Its not of God. Satan is reminding you of that old thing and you choose to dig it back up. When Christ died then resurrected on the 3rd day, He certainly didnt 'dig up' all of your old sin. They are forgotten and forgiven covered in the Blood. At salvation, Christ is in us therefore we have the power to overcome guilt, saddness, darkness its already in us. We are complete in Him. We have to put forth effort to bind the enemy, using the power of GOd. He gifted each of us with it, Dont allow Satan to have you dig up old forgiven sin. Live your day walking in the Spirit, at one with God. There is no Spiritual ritual, or tradition required for you to have sanctification.. NONE. If you have recieved Christ as your Saviour, you have made a concious decision for Him to lead your life -- you are complete.

I am saved, now what - Colossians 2:4-7

Colossians 2:4-7
"Now this I say lest anyone should decieve you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have recieved Christ Jesus The Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught abounding in it with thanksgiving"

Vs 4-6 –

Paul says that he is rejoicing with us in spirit about our good discipline and faith in Christ. Looking at your life today are you at that place in your life where Paul is up in heaven with Christ, with the Saints rejoicing over you discipline and stability?

What Paul is talking about here is your spiritual progress. You either go forward or gradually slip backward. As a Christian if your not making spiritual progress we are an open target for the enemy.

Why do we need progress>
1. Satan is deceptive – he wants to lead believers astray he does so by using deceptive words.
John 8:44 tells us that ‘satan is a liar’
What are a few examples of the words Satan is using in your life, or in your families lives to keep you from spiritual progress?
(example: I am tired this morning I don’t want to go to church, I don’t feel like going to Sunday School, I don’t like youth group, I feel bad, This is my only day off, I have laundry piles I don’t have time to study or read the word, I cant commit to that bible study right now I just have too much going on)

By Satans lies, he leads believers into the wrong path, we have to exercise spiritual discernment and continually push ourselves into the word, so that we are able to grow in our knowledge of spiritual truth.

In verse 6, Paul uses the word ‘THEREFORE” this word is reiterating that they, the Colossians, are already saved. If you are not a born again believer, this is not applicable to you.

“SO WALK IN HIM” the word “, walk” is a continuous moving action, He is referring to your daily conduct, he is saying continue to believe the truth about Christ. If you don’t know The Truth, how can you apply it in your daily lives? That’s why studying, being taught or receiving the truth is essential. Scripture doesnt say, Now you have recieved in Him sit in Him, standstill in Him...

To walk in him, is to live in union with Him, to maintain a lifestyle patterned after His.
Apostle John writes in 1 John 2:6 “ the one who says abides in Him, oughtt himself to walk in the Same manner as He walked”
---do you find yourself doing this today? In your
Relationships are you patterning yourself as Christ would?
WWJD- ‘ What would Jesus do” became a common phrase used
A lot of people had the bracelets, and then it was almost like a
Trend, it died off.. the trend itself, of the bracelet migh have faded - but that is exactly what Paul and John are
Saying, in every situation we encounter we should think to
Ourselves, what would Jesus do?

Verse 7- ‘HAVING BEEN FIRMLY ROOTED’ having been, this is a completed action, built up established in continued growth. Our rooting came at salvation our roots are planted in Christ, we draw our nourishment from Him. Your roots have to continue to grow so that our plant bearing fruit.
Think of it as a plant, upon salvation, our seed is planted in God, through and on Jesus Christ. This plant has to have all the essential elements, food water sunlight in order to grow. In the growth cycle its not just the plant above the ground that grows, the roots continue to grow and become more stable. As this seeding grows it sprouts before it grown bigger and bigger and able to produce and bear fruit, it requires constant care constant work in order for this to happen. That is where Paul is saying being built up..working toward this growth for stability.

So here you are planted a seed and the into a sprout, how are you going to hold up in the big storm they are predicting? Your roots are shallow, its going to be a bad one…..

‘BEING BUILT UP’ or established in,
Read 2 Peter 1:5-9

Lets look at the characteristics of our growing or stability:
1. Moral excellence
2. Knowledge
3. Self control
4. Perserverance
5. Godliness
6. Brotherly love
7. Kindness

All of these qualities should be ever increasing,growing as we ‘ the plant’ grown. Our lives are in the building process so we can be fruitful for the kingdom and strong for the Body of Christ.

So Paul is saying, you have been saved, you are estabilished in our faith and growing in Christ, in obiediance to how we have been told.. we are to be greatful more than greatful we are to be overflowing.
--- your pouring a glass full of water once it is ‘full’ it begins to pour over, spill out, overflow – we are suppose to be this way grateful for what The Lord has done for us. So often we find ourselves living in the negative aspects of our lives, what is all going wrong, what all we need to do and that becomes our focus. There is not one single born again person that doesn’t have something to be greatful for. If nothing else, that this situation in our life is temporary and is not going to last forever, that even though you don’t deserve your forgiven.

From verses 6-7, Lets look at it not only from the standpoint of ourselves, but our those around us as well.

Think about a new born baby, everybody is so excited and celebrating, they have showers and are just so happy for this beautiful miracle, this birth, and its life changing and its so wonderful to have that baby and watch it grow, everybody comes and visit offers all elements of advice.

What if that baby isn’t growing like it should, maybe not eating well, sickness.. again it brings that family together and you all try to do anything in your power to help that baby grow.

Being born again in Christ, it’s a new birth we see others coming to Christ and are just overjoyed and celebrating for them…but them what? What if that new Christian isn’t growing? What do we do?
Usually, nothing. Sit by and allow them to be where they are.

Jesus made the illustration about the farmer throwing out seeds,
1st – the seeds were thrown on the road
2nd the seeds were thrown in stones
3rd they were thrown in the thorns
4th they were thrown into good soil

Those first seeds thrown out in the road, just blew around, the second in the stones had really shallow roots, the 3rd thrown in the thorns they were choked out because they had no nourishment
And the fourth in the soil, they were able to flourish. In those first three, we had a root problem, these seeds weren’t able to get enough nourishment.

We have to have deep roots to withhold storms in our lives.

If we as Christians have a ‘root problem’ we need to work on some rebuilding.

Upon salvation our old foundation is ripped away, and Jesus becomes our new foundation, a clean slate, what we are going to build on.
1) We have to rebuild our minds:
Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good acceptable and perfect”

IF we are building on things of the world, its not going to work! We have to place our focus on what God has in store to avoid collapse in our life.
2) We need to rebuild our attitude
Phillipians 2:5 “ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Jesus Christ”
-Jesus was humble. He could have done anything and it would be yet, he came as one of us was crucified, stoned, and buried yet he humbled himself. HE reached out to people.
We have got to be humble put aside our pride and arrogance.
3) Rebuild our actions:
1 Peter 2:12 “Keep your behavior excellent amoung the gentiles so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation”

Challenges and Struggles effecting our daily life

Each morning we get up, we are facing a new day with new challenges, wondering if what was happening yesterday is still there, is it still going to be a burden today as it was hoping that maybe that challenge or obstacle has disappeared or maybe it was just a dream. We realize as the day goes on, it was no dream its reality. How can I possibly deal with this problem, I just dont know if I am able to face it and move forward and progress into this happy life I see so many people around me having.

Is this you? Are you struggling in areas of life that are holding you back? Are you holding onto failures, dilemmas, problems of yesterday? If you woke up this morning, its a new day and can hold new hope, so I ask you today.. what have you done differently today than you did yesterday?

Why is it in life when things are bad, we find ourselves asking God why its happened yet not searching ourselves our decision making, our life problems we dont talk to Him about? God doesnt want you in that pit of dispair.
Deuteronomy 30:20 "BY loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by HOLDING FAST to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days that you may live in the land which The Lord swore to your fathers"

The promised land, the land of milk and honey. The life. If you are choosing to live life through your own decisions, your own fleshly way isnt it time to change? Isnt it time to let God drive for awhile? God has not foresaken you. He never will. You choose to make your own decision to live your life in the way you think is best. Make a change today! Follow the way of God, seek Him, Seek His Will His way His Council let Him drive! When we live life walking in faith, we reap the abundant blessings of God. Until you step out of that wonder world, pit, your in He cant help you. Start anew today!

Its all about Jesus

In Sunday School, we are going through The Book of Colossians. Colossians is a very deep, in depth book that can be easily misunderstood. There is so much 'meat' to the book! I am trying my best to convey the study to share on this blog, however its hard to convey even in class much less on paper. I hope you can get something out of it.

Colossians 1:13-20

False teachers in Colassae, like those today wouldn’t deny the importance of Jesus Christ. They would simply dethrone Him. In their philosophy, Jesus was one of many emanations or ways that proceeded from God and through which mean could reach God. The gnostic teachers believed in an organization of evil spirits like angels, arch angels, principalities, and powers that supposibily controlled the world. Paul is addressing these issues Head on and hitting them hard. He is telling in the verses that we will be studying today that Jesus Christ is The Reason for everything. He is the only Way to God, the only way to heaven.PERIOD.

Greek philosophers at this time were teaching that everything needed a primary cause, and instrumental cause, and a final cause.

Paul is exclusive in making sure that all of these ‘causes’ were addressed.
The primary cause – is the plan {{He planned it}}
The instrumental cause – the power {{He produced it}}
The final cause – the purpose {{{He did it for His own pleasure

Everything God did and does was for Jesus.
Jesus is the Cause, The Effect, The Reason.

Mark 9:37 Jesus said “Whoever receives one child like this in my name receives Me, and whoever receives Me doesn’t receive Me, but Him who sent Me”

1:13a He has delivered us from the power of darkness (NKJV)

Look back at 1:12b share in the inheritance of the saints in the light (NASV)


Paul is using the reference of Darkness verses Light
Let’s look at a few characteristics of both and compare them.

Darkness Light
Satan’s Kingdom With the saints
sin surrounded by those
Error of God
Misery Regeneration
Death Life
Ignorance Love
Unbelief Closeness/Companion of God
Holiness
Priveledge
Enjoyment
Inheritance

The Power of Darkness – The power that once was exerted over us in that
Dark Kingdom, Satan’s Kingdom, as sinners prior to salvation we belonged to.

(( Acts 26:18 “to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me”))
((Luke 1:79 “To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace”))
((Romans 13:2 “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves”
2
1:13b “and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His Love” NASV
NIV uses the wordage brought us in
Definition of transferred is to convey from one place or person another; to transport, remove, or cause to pass, to another place or person

Christians are removed. Belonging to a different community.
The act of transferring, bringing in, is regeneration.
-By Nature these things had uncontrollable power, now we are delivered from them and into Christ’s kingdom of glory. And Jesus paid the price for our sin.

With Human nature, even as a Christian we often find ourself in state of depression, darkness, bad situations. We have to tell ourselves that is not of God. God delivered us, transferred us to the New Kingdom giving us new hope, regeneration, and Power. THrough the power of God we are able to overcome these things because they are not of God. He enables us to do this! We just have to use the power God has already given us.



Vs 14.-------
NASV “In whom we have redemption the forgiveness of sins.”
KJV “In whom we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins”
Redemption: Meaning “act of saving or being saved”

This verse is a blessing of Grace. Jesus paid the price of our sin with his blood, delivering us from sin, power, guild, and infection of sin. Christ took, put away, finished, made end of, freed us from the power of sin.

The grace of God in the hearts of believer is the power of God. There is glory in His power. The use of this strength was for sufferings. There is work to be done even when we are in times of suffering. Amidst all the trials, just like Paul who was imprisoned for preaching about Jesus, he still continued to give thanks to the Father whose grace filled them to partake in the inheritance.

Vs. 15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Jesus, was God on Earth.

Paul uses the word ‘image’ to clarify this.
An image, or exact representation and revelation
JOHN: 14;9 ‘ He that hath seen me hath seen the Father”
Hebrews 1:3 ‘the express image of His person”

the first born over all creation…..

Firstborn..when we think of firstborn we think in the reference to time as the first one being born, this reference was to place or status. Meaning of first importance of first rank.

Even in old Hebrew custom the idea of firstborn did not require that one be the first son born ;it referred more to rank and priveledge not birth order.

This verse is a major verse for our belief in the Holy Trinity.
Because, Jesus is God but came in the form of Man.
The Holy Trinity is a mystery and not meant for us to attain full knowledge of how Jesus can be an exact image of God, yet His Son.


Vs 16…….”For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, All things were created through Him and for Him”

Now, this is also showing us how God created all things for Jesus and through Jesus. He used Jesus as a vessel for which we could see. Jesus is the sphere in which all things exist, the one for whom they were made and came into being. God’s love for His son is defined in these verses, a love beyond our comprehension but many of us as mothers know our love for our children is just beyond words explainable how much we love our children. He adored Him. Hand picked His earthly mother, sent Him here, watched Him grow up, then go out remain sinless and people were mean to Him, then Jesus so still had compassion on human nature, He came here on an errand, to redeem us. To stop all of the sacrifice, to stop all the sin, Already God had covered the earth with water, yet had mercy on Noah because of His faith, then He gives His own son. Christ took all the sacrifice finished it, abolished by making himself a human sacrifice, For you. Freed you from the powers of Sin. He was made a mediator.. He agreed to take on the covenant of grace because of His great love, compassion and Mercy.

GOD THE FATHER
JESUS ((GOD THE SON))
GOD HOLY SPIRIT
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THE ONLY WAY TO GOD THE FATHER IS BY WAY OF THE SON, THE ONLY WAY TO RECIEVE THE SPIRIT IS BY WAY OF THE SON. JESUS CHRIST IS THE SPHERE OF OUR BEING. HOW WE GET TO THE FATHER, AND RECIEVE THE SPIRIT.

Vs 17,,, ‘ and He is before all things and in Him all things consisit.

Everything was created for His purpose.

IN this verse we are going to establish Jesus’ preeminense which means superior to, perfectness,above all others, outstanding
Premenisce came from the Greek word ‘proteuo’ meaning to be first in rank or influence.
The English word ‘ proto’ came from this word think of Prototype. First type, initial being)
For example: think of a car prototype, everything that comes after that should be fashioned after it. We are to be fashioned after Christ.

Vs 18 and HE is the head of the body, the church , who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead that in all things He may have preeminence.


He is the head…this shows us the significance of the church, the church is Christs body. Our bodies, make up one Body. That is why He is so jealous for us. That’s why we are enabled with gifts talents and measures, That is why we are trialed tested because He wants His body His way. Not ours! Its not our body that we are in control of we are in control of His body.. If only we could truly wholeheartedly- allow Him as the Head of the Body, Control the way His body functions.

Think about it this way… what is the first thing you see when you see someone?

Their face, Their head.
What volitale organ is in our Head?
Brain.
Which controls our logic, thinking, movements, EVERYTHING.

Christ is our Head, our most prominent feature and first seen, especially as women we spend more time on our head than we do any other part of our body. That attention should be given to Christ. Do you acknowledge Christs preeminense? Do you give Him first place in all you do and think?

Yet Jesus the Christ, as our Head still allows us as His Body to not be in total control. In our human body, if one organ or function is not working or are diseased we are not fully operating.

We, as the body of Christ. We all make up this one body and each of us have to operate effectively for The Body to by fully operating.

This brings me to the question I want you to ask yourself today…

Is there part of your body that is diseased that we can control?
Is there something in your life that is not productive that is keeping “the body” being fully operative?

How long does it take for something good to happen?

As I study through The Scripture looking back at the Old Testament, Our forefather Abram..Abraham, God made a covenanant(promise)to him. (in Genesis) that the promised that HE would deliver him to the promise land. It took 4 generations for this promise to be fulfilled.

As I read through seeing that
Abraham passed this covenant(promise) down to Jacob since it wasnt fulfilled in his lifetime, then Jacob to Moses, then Moses to Joshua,

Once Joshua took over from Moses, he journeyed with them through the wilderness they were there in the wilderness for 40 years{first with Moses now with Joshua) right at the end of the journey there was literally a straight shot to the promise land, God sent them through back to the wilderness to avoid great battles they couldnt overcome. THey had to believe and have faith enough to go that way instead of using there own judgement and literally be killed. Even though they went through battles, going the long way around, God delivered them.. just as He promised..


...woooohhhhhhh.....
Think about it this way:

You
Your daddy
Your grandad
Your great grandad

You are Joshua, your dad is Moses, Your grandad is Jacob, Your great grandad is Abraham.

Your Great grandad tells your grandad that God made him a promise, He ages and passes, then your grandad begins to age and tells your dad about this promise to be fulfilled that was told to your great grandad.. then your dad ages and tells you... Now Honestly, Would you really head this promise? Who heartedly your family has done been around the bin and back for many, many years then you actually sense that you are going to be able to fulfill this promise deliver your people from there Slavehood and you have go out of the way, instead of on the easy street literally over the river and through the woods (wilderness as it puts it in Exodus 13:17-19) just to get to the promise that was promised to your great grandad. Would you believe? Will you Believe... its impossible if we dont, but nothing is impossible WHEN we do.


Hmm... What great FAITH! And to think that we could lack in faith and effect generations and generations and generations to come.. simply because our faith isnt big enough.

So many times in our lives, we find ourselves in what appears to be this wilderness where we are just lost, cant find our way out wondering why in the world God let us get here.
Little do we know, God planned it accordingly as long as we are obiediant to where God wants us to be, in our faith its the precise plan. He might just be safeguarding us from some battle
we just arent prepared to fight. Maybe its because that battle is just to big for the small faith we have and God is afraid that we might run back to no following in His way. His will.
How comforting is it to know that amidst the trials of life, in our own wilderness that we are in that it could be so much worse. We dont know what God is saving us from. We just have to
grow our faith, allow God to stretch it just as far as He can so that we are sure we are in His will.. on His perfect path. Maybe that perfect path is going to be the long way around but what a blessing to know that when we are on that path we experiance such peace, safety, and security! Even in those times we cant see... God has already seen.


Praise God for all His wonderful measures of safety, and stretching of each of your faith as we follow in His will!

Its not just you who has to wait for these things to happen.. It happens in Gods Precise timing.. not early ... not late.. right on time

1 John 5:4 "whatever is born of God overcomes the world, this is the victory that overcomes the world OUR FAITH"

2 Corinthians 2:14 "God always delivers us to victory in Christ

Colossians - Overview - Lesson 1

Colossians - A letter recieved from Apostle Paul

History of Colossae:
Colossae, the named city, was one of 3 cites located about 100 miles inland from Ephesis. The other two cities were Laodica and Therapolos. This area was a meeting point of the east and the west, which made it an important trade route point.

At one time, all three cities were growing and prosperous. Gradually Colassse slipped in to what we now would call a small town. Even though it became this small town, the church there was still important enough to recieve a letter from Apostle Paul.

Religion in Colossae:

All kinds of religous philosophies were present, there was a large Jewish colony. But there being a point of a trade route, there were always new ideas and doctrines introduced.

The reason that Paul wrote the letter to this church, he never actually visited there nor did he establish the church there. By looking at Colossians 1:4,9, he personally had never even visited, it shows that he heard of their faith.

A church of unknown people.
In a small town.
Recieving a personal letter from Apostle Paul.


Paul had a 3 year ministry in Ephesus (acts 19;20:17-38)
It was such an effective ministry that ‘all they, which lived in Asia heard the word of THE LORD Jesus, Both Greeks and Jews. (acts 19:10)

This included people in all 3 of the cities we have talked about.

Therefore, the church was started. It was an outgrowth of Pauls mission there to Ephesus.

During Pauls ministry in Ephesus w men from Colassae were saved Epaphras and Philemon (this can be found in Phil 19)

Epephres was a founder in Colassae (1:7)
He also had a ministry in Hierapolis and Laodica (4:12-13)

Philemon had church, a meeting , in his home (phile 2)
In Phil 2, Apphia and Archippus were the wife and son of Philemon was the pastor of the church (col 4:17)

Here were 2 laymen – Regular people. Used of God to start ministries in at least 3 cities.

---a lesson for us from this
God doesn’t always need an apostle of full time Christian worker to establish meetings nor does HE need buildings and extensive organizations.

Its Gods plan that Christians in large urban areas like Ephesus reach out into smaller towns and share the gospel.

After reading this part and establishing the importance of outreach, to smaller areas It brought to mind how our church has reached out to a smaller church, Glenwood.

Colossians church primarily consisted of Gentiles in ins membership. The church was probably about 5 years old when this letter was written.


WHY PAUL WROTE THE LETTER
A crisis occurred that was about to destroy the church there

At the time this letter was written- Paul was a prisoner in Rome.
He met a runaway slave, Onesinumus who belong to Philemon. Philemon was one of the leaders of the church in Colossae.

Paul led Onesinumus to The Lord. Then he wrote a letter to Philemon, asking his friend to forgive Onesimus and receive him back as his brother in Christ.

About the same time Epaphras showed up in Rome because he needed Pauls help.

New doctrines were being taught in Colossae and were creating problems. So paul wrote the letter to establish the truth of the gospel and get rid of any wrong or false teachings.

FALSE TEACHINGS THAT WERE WRONG

Eastern philosophy and Jewish legalism is the proper wording for the problems occurring Scholars refer to this as nosticism. Which is from the Greek word ‘gnosis’ meaning ‘to know’
(agnostic is one who doesn’t know)

Gnostics were peple ‘in the know’ when it came to the deep things of God

They were promising people such a close union with God that they would achieve spiritual perfection. The only way they would, supposably, attain this spiritual fullness was by entering into these teachings and ceremonies they told them to.

Supposably these teaching would releasze them from earthly things and put them in touch with heavenly things.

All of these teachings were man made philosophies based on traditions and not Divine truth.

They speculated and pondered on speculations such as Why is there evil in the world if creation was made by Holy God. And came to the false conclusion that ‘matter’ was evil. Matter, any physical substance. They came to another false conclusion that God couldn’t come into contact with evil matter so there had to be a series of ‘emanations’ from God to His creation. They were so believing in a ‘powerful spirit world’ that used material things to attack mankind. And they also held a form of astrology…believing that angelic beings ruled heavenly bodies and influenced heavenly affairs. (col 1:16;2:10,15)

Added to these was that form of Jewish legalism, The teahers believed that the rate of Jewish circumsicion was helpful in spiritual development.

As I reviewed this and studied it really bring a lot to my mind that is like this in our world today. I am not talking about fortune tellers, and card readers, horascopes I am talking about in churchs all around us.

Can you think of anything that would be a sort of false teaching, belief, or emanations used in other churches???

----my examples:
Churches requiring snake handling, church where you are required to speak in tongues as it is considered part of your salvation, requiring of certain meats not to be eaten, your saved only if you have had a water baptism, requirement of 2 year servanthood or ceremonies of affirmation.


The church there was teaching the Old Testament Law especially dietary laws which was useful in attaining spiritual perfection. (col 2:14-17)

Definate rules and regulations told them what was good and what was evil (2:21)

Matter—I mentioned before was evil to them. So they had to find some way to control their own human natures to pursue their perfection. Therefore, 2 pracitces resulted The predominiant one thought that the only way to conquer evil matter was by rigid discipline and Ascentistism (2:23) (ascentisism means abstienance from worldly pleasure to an extreme)
The second thought it was permissible to engage in all kinds of sin once matter was evil anyway.


Pauls letter to the Colossians is to tell them that the person and work of Jesus Christ, alone, is able to offer salvation.

Jesus intended to fully redeem those who are captice to sin by dying of the crossand paying the price for their freedom.

Jesus Christ settled the sin question in His work on the cross. HE completely defeated all satanic force (2:15)
He put en to the legal demands of the law (2:14+-17)

Colossions belief began to drift in their understanding of the perons and work of Jesus Christ. Paul needed to stop the drift and reestablish proper :CHRISTOLOGY

Christology has 2 essential parts: the person of Jesus Christ includes his/or her character and nature
And
The work of Jeus Christ is all about redemption.

Jesus Christ is the image of invisible God.
- If you want to know what God looks like, Look at Jesus. He is the visible image of God (( see also John 14:9))
- Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jeus is the the exact reproduction of GOD>
There is no difference in essence or nature.
**Paul goes on to tell us in the letter ‘for in Christ all the fullness of the Diety lives in bodily form. (colossians 2:9)

How in life are we effected by traditions? IS your faith and believing strong enough that you know Jesus is the only way? Is your faith big enough to know what you believe?

As we study Colossians, Paul give clear cut points about false belief and how if it don’t come back to The Cross…its false. We will dig deeper into the letter and look each individually.

Colossians 1:1 Paul calls himself ‘apostle’
Greek root word for this means ‘to send’

The new testament employs this word to signify approved spokesman sent as a personal representative.

Although every chrisitan is not called by God to minister like paul or the 12 apostles/ Every Christian is called by God to represent Him before the people who we come in contact with.

1:2 saints… greek term meaning ‘holy people’ the essence of the word ‘holiness’ is being set apart to God.

All believer are saints not because were perfect but because we belong to God.

‘in Christ’ Paul uses this reference 80 times, in his letters. Paul saw all of chrisitan experience a growing act of the Christian believers position ‘in christ’
Basically, everything a Christian does should reflect Christ

Grace and peace… greek word grace with standard Hebrew word ‘peace’
Reminding in his letter that wholeness is in God our father who is the ultimate source of wholeness and favor

3a Praying always for you.. intercessory prayer and thanksgiving – he interceded for the Colossions and offered praise for them.

time..

time... everyone these days seems to want more of it, but why?
Overscheduled, overworked, not enough time to... go to church, Sunday School, spend time with your family, time for your spouse, time for yourself, time for God... The list is endless.

As I blogged before about Strongholds, did you know that overscheduling is can be a stronghold. Its something that holds many back from experiencing the joy of God. Right?

In todays society, we find ourself in a technological age where every gadget and gizmo is readily available for us to do things faster. Thats basically the gist of most technology. Our employers want us to work harder, faster, better, be more productive. Our children have to do more, more, more, more too.

Time has become our obsession, and it has came at a high cost. We physically suffer because of our lack of time, STRESS. Lack of time can be the root of Stress. Stress- Causes many physical problems sleep disorders, memory problems, anxiety, depression.

As parents, our children suffer. They are consumed with so many activites they are sleep deprived, overwhelmed, missing their parents, no down time. Our children, are most influenced in their childhood, and guess who the most influencial person in their lives might be? Mom and Dad.

Though we may not realize we are teaching our children to be busy, and then they fall right into our shortcomings. We are already molding their minds to sense that free time is wasted time.

Proverbs 22:6 "teach your children the way they should go, when they grow old they will not depart from it"

What if our influence, our training, is wrong? Will they depart from that wrong training?

God is a giver of time, and we are too busy even for Him. Our children are too busy for Him.

IF I am driving up the road at 120mph its harder for me to stop than, say if I am driving only 60 mph, therefore if I hit something the impact is greater if I am going faster. As we increase the activities in our lives we find it harder to break away from the things that we are involved in.

I am deeply saddened to see all the kids I know so run down chaffeared from here to there and everywhere in between, hoping to spare a few minutes to hit the Mc'y D's drive thru and eat on the road. Then getting home to hurridly complete homework, shower and finally collapse into a bed.

If we reflect on a typical day, we find that you just dont have time. TIme for you and your kids, time for God, time for.. time. What does your day reveal about your priorities in life? In what areas do you spend most of your 'time'? What defines your day?
MOst peoples priorities arent where they would like them to be. If your heart yearns for your day to be differently, what dont you do it? That yearning is your desire to live your life as you were meant to live it, to have your life reflect your priorites.

What deserves the most attention in your day?
God, Family, Health, Friends, Work?

What in your day can you rearrange so that your daily life reflects your priorities.. those of your heart.
Of course, this is easier said than done.

Simplifying time, is adjusting the way you do life. Its understanding what is most important to you then allowing ourselves to do it. We have to remind ourselves that other people dont share your feelings, maybe not even your values. We simply cannot compare ourselves to someoneelse.

Once we realize where our heart wants our priorities, then we have seen the big picture and we can work to attain it. One day, one task at a time. Pray for God to reveal things to you that maybe could be cut down on, ways that you can utilize the time you have.. for His glory!

Our children, well the grow up so fast, its just unbelievable they are born one day, start school the next, then they graduate, and poof off to college... dont be so jumbled up and overscheduled that you miss these precious moments, the precious days God gives us with our blessings.

strongholds...those things in life that make us feel like we have failed

Strong holds

All too often as Christians we feel like we have failed, and are guilt ridden. It strips us of faith, strength, and causes us to feel hopeless and worthless.
Which is exactly the opposite of what we should feel as a child of God.

We are going to journey back a little to Exodus 17
Looking at verses – 1-7 first I am going to read all of them then we are going to go back through them.

Where we are in the Bible, God is using Moses freeing the Isrealites from Egyptians

Vs. 1 – NKJV, KJV,NASV uses the words ‘wilderness of sin’
NIV uses ‘desert of sin’
Wilderness- what comes to mind when you think about that word?
- Desolate, alone,
Desert – as used in the NIV I think of dry

The Isrealites were told to get out of it, leave. The scripture is not specific about what sin they were to leave they were just told to leave.
• Keep that written in your mind as we go on with this lesson

Verse 2- the people contended with moses, they were thirsty.
It must have been an immense thirst they had been traveling out for sometime at this point – in this sense they were literally thirsty. There was no water to drink.
Now the problem was not asking for water but the ISrealites contending with Moses was the problem.
-the word contended is a verb often used to describe a judicial dispute.
Here they were grumpily complaining,
Moses ‘judged’ this to be a challenge to Gods faithful mercy telling them to leave the wilderness of sin. It shows evidence of unbelief in His, as in Gods provision.

For them to be contending with moses about their thirst basically they had a bad attitude they didn’t know that they were right square in the middle of a blessing all they think of was their physical needs.

Vs. 3-5
God was going to give them their needs, in His time he certainly wasn’t going to remove them from a wilderness of sin and not provide. But what could have been a joyful blessing turned into a bittersweet blessing.

In verse 7 that very last statement ‘is the lord amoung us or not?”
-These people have already seen Gods power in the plagues, the Exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea and the provision of manna Every day they saw the pillar of His prescense yet they were impatient and questioning.

Have you ever find yourself in this predicament, question if God is with you?

Now turn to Deut 6:

This is still the same people they have still been traveling, from when God told them to leave the wilderness of sin
(read these verses)
6: 10:11-12 – he was taking them to the promised land, the place He promised freeing them from bondage that they didn’t even know. And they even questioned God being there.
Yes they didn’t know where God was sending them but we cant see the future in our lives. We cant see Gods great plan. That’s why we have to trust in The Lord and not lean on our own understanding.

Still in chapter 6:This what we were just talking about in Exodus.
It says tempt Him. How do we tempt God?? Rebelliousness and sin
It also says do what is right and good telling us to be faithful To God, as He moves out our enemies.

Now skim down to verse 23.
Deut. 6:23 (NKJV) ‘ Then HE brought us out from here, that He might bring us in”
God brought them out of defeat – into victory. Just as He had promised.

In this verse its telling you that God will bring you out of defeat and into victory”

Defeat to victory.

I don’t know how many of you are feeling defeated today, but The Word Of God Speaks and The Lord is telling you today that There will be victory. He will deliver you from defeat.

Thinking back to that wilderness of sin..maybe some of you are trapped there in that wilderness and Gods telling you to get out! Leave! And there is just something there that you just cannot part with.

Back in Deut. Lets look at Deut. 10 verse 11 can someone read
He says ‘arise begin your journey GO GET WHATS YOURS..its there and waiting for you. This was told to them we just spoke of from Exodus to Deut.

--in order to go on and get what is ours we have to make the first step of faith but getting out of that wilderness of sin we are in we cant inherit what God has promised if we are stuck with our own understanding in the wilderness.

Maybe you know that whatever it is, is getting you nowhere,that your in the wilderness, in the desert where its just so dry desolate empty and lonely.

Just as the Isrealites were so caught up in their own desires, yes which at the time appeared a need, but God was going to provide. They cant even think of what God has already done for them and got them through thus far they couldn’t even fathom what God is perfectly capable of doing.

These things these desires that keep us in that wilderness of sin, my sister.. it’s a strong hold.

What Is A Stronghold? Anything that masters you has a potential stronghold on you. Let’s look at two places in the Bible that helps us understand “strongholds”


Isaiah 55:9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We are incapable of determining God’s thoughts through human reasoning; therefore we are dependent on divine revelation to understand God’s thoughts, and way of thinking.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; {6} in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Strongholds can be anything any form of comfort you feel or find that you cannot depart from, even when the Lord tells you to do it. You struggle leaving your own thing, your own sanctuary, your own comfort. But why?
Strong holds can be people,
it can be sin,
it can be old sin that you don’t feel like God has forgiven you of. ( 1 john 1:9 says ‘if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness’ There is only one sin God cannot forgive, it’s the one that you wont take to Him.

Strongholds are anything that stands between you and God.
Anything preventing you from being in Gods will instead of your own wilderness of sin.
Anything that is holding you back from experiencing the joy of Gods grace.


Is God speaking to you about something today, is he stirring your heart.


Break free from it! Rebuke it! Don’t be afraid.

Phillipians 3:13-14 “Brethern I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead”

There is only one way to put things behind you.
Let go of it, and go on, go on and leave it laying and do not stop.

Strong holds are a lot like laundry, you seem to get caught up and there is yet more to do.. We always are having to fight against sin so we constantly have to ‘be cleansed’

As I sit around thinking about this past weeks lesson, and my was it a lesson for me. God spoke to me more about Strongholds.

YOu know, your first thought in the morning..your last worry at night.Those 'enemies' that dominate your day and take away joy. Giving us that feeling of failure.

Our 'enemies' if you will, they are not just people that inhibit our lives. THey are situations. Unemployment, abandonment, depression, bills you cant pay, people you cant please, a past we cant shake or even a future you cant face.

We have to face our 'enemies' but we dont have to do it alone. All we have to do is call on King Jesus, He will hold our hand face our enemies for us.. Maybe our enemy is something a loved one is doing that is wrong. And you find yourself thinking he/she is never going to stop this. They are never going to get over their 'stronghold'. They are just running from God... First my friend. You have a friend. And unbias, all powerful, slow to talk but fast to listen friend, who is always available. Its never to late to call this friend, never to early, Call on Jesus. You'll never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have. Are you in the wilderness? Find refuge in the presense of God. Find comfort in his people.

We have to see our enemies not as Gods failures but as Gods work in progress projects. When we see projects that are halfway done its hard to imagine the finish product. Forgiveness is choosing to see your offender with different eyes. How we handle our tough times, stays with us for a Long time. Are you willing to ask Jesus to help you with your 'enemy' your stronghold? He cant help...if you dont ask.

what a ..week

Well.. this week we have started new endevours with homeschooling might I say..its not easy. But its so rewarding to see with my eyes my girls knowledge and learning and to see areas that they excel and need help in. To know that all of the short comings I was worried about are going to work out. In 3 short days, I have already determined areas that can be corrected that will aide their education for years to come. Being able to devote myself 100percent to their learning.. priceless.

((And they Love it!)))

Last week, my father in law, had back surgery. After 5 hours, it seemed to have went well. 1 big problem. Confusion, hallucinations. My father in law is the most 'with it' person I have EVER and probably will ever encounter. A true man of God. And he was not himself whatsoever. Between all the medications he has been given, his potassium and calcium bottomed out.. horrible!

I woke up Tuesday with a burden on my heart to go pray for him right away, a call to my brother in law and a full fledge prayer meeting and annointing..he went home last night. Not to mention, his lab work was perfect. Potassium normal. Calcium normal. Electrolites normal. Amazing the power of God and how we just, ask. He has made a 160 in his recovery process in 24 hours. I am exstatic how God works!!
After speaking with my brother in law this morning and talking about it, he said ya know after we prayed and annointed him, I knew it would work and to be frank I knew it couldnt be an immediate change or else I wouldve had a heart attack right there. So the Lord put a '24 hour hold on it' for us to be able to soke it in.

Its really made me think, we go to God for things of His will He gave us the ability and power to call out things against the enemy...how often are we really standing in the way..how often is He just waiting on us..even if nothing else.. not to frighten us.

Just so Thankful for The Big God that I SERVE...

Being a faithful messenger..He chose YOU!

Being a faithful messanger

Proverbs 25:13 “ Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters”

Think about this verse:
Lets break it down.
• Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest….
-In the time of great heat when men desire some cool relief
-cold of snow – certain places of the world, especially in biblical times, snow was used as we use ice to cool a drink. How much more refreshing is a cold drink on a hot day than a ‘lukewarm drink’
• A faithful messanger…
-a messanger, one who delivers a message think back to biblical days no email, no phone, no cars to find an individual you could actually depend on to get a message to another was probably not so easily found. The work was hard requiring devotion as well as sacrifice.

Jesus is The great messenger.
He brings Gods message to us and bears our message back to God.
The messanger is faithful and will refresh the souls of those who trust there petitions into His hand. Jesus bore tidings of mercy to us, thought through the wrath and pain of bearing the cross. What a message.

During Jesus ministry on earth, he spent more time with 12 men that with everyone else put together.
In john 17 Jesus recounts his ministry before going to the cross, he doesn’t mention the multitudes he preached to or the miracles he performed as great as those events were they were not his primary focus.
Forty times Jesus speaks to and about the men in whom he had invested His life, they were His focus.

Everyone who Christ saves, he uses.
The fact that we are here and not in heaven is proof some work awaits.
Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8 He has chosen to this office those who trust in His salvation and are called by His name.

Read Acts 1:8-11

He doesn’t send angels to proclaim His name, He could. He could use anything of this world to proclaim, but He chose you. We should be encouraged and stimulated to know that The Lord who redeemed us has appointed us.

Upon each of our coming to faith in Jesus Christ, we have been empowered with the Holy Spirit.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit God has gifted each of us with certain gifts, all different in their own way.
Myself for example, Teaching. Why was I called to teach?
I was not called to teach to organize ministry for people but, to mobilize people for ministry, Gods ministry.

. God has written different stories for each of our lives, filled with varied circumstances and challenges
. He has soverignly led each of us to certain life stages and situations surrounded by different opprotunities.
Each of us has been called by God to serve the people that surround us in different ways – using our own gifting.
God has built into our everyday lives opprotunites and platforms to spread the gospel.

Now read acts 1:22


Jesus gave the disciples one command: Make Disciples. Do with others what I have done with you.

Matthew 28:19 “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations”

1 Peter 2:21 “for you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in His steps”


Read 1 Peter 5:2-3
-Now we are to take up the cross and follow him, we are to be messengers proclaiming the word of Jesus Christ.
What kind of messanger are you?
We cant be unfaithful messangers.
Jesus gave his life, life is at stake there is no time for softness slackness or scrutinizing – there is simply no time.
(( this is found in Matthew 10:38)

Lets put this in the perspective of a ballgame,
- you have made the team (being saved in Jesus Christ you are His team),
-you got your jersey on,(your clean soul).

Why do ball teams go to practice?*(to learn plays----thus we go to church to get encouragement, we study the word to learn ..)
So are you sitting on the bench, or are you in the game? What is your position on the team?

We are to make disciples, who will make disciples, who will make disciples, who will make disciples.

Its not optional. If you are on the team play! The team is so big, Jesus (our couch) has given us each a position to play, that is why we are all gifted differently, so he can fill every position on the team.


You may feel at times that you are the wrong person, not gifted enough, smart enough, talented enough, or qualified enough to engage in effective ministry, this is simply not true.
You have the word of God before you, The Spirit of God in you, and the command of God to you.

More often than not, God used ordinary lives of men and women to accomplish His will.

Few examples:
Mary mother of Jesus. Was just an average obiediant teenager
Ruth- the great grandmother of David was a hardworking daughter in law
Gideon – one of Isreals greatest judges was the least in his fathers house
Even several of the disciples were simple fisherman with humble beginnings.
All of these lives were insignificant and obscure but God used them in miraculous ways to do great things.

Matthew 10:19b do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say it”


Ask God to make your life count where you live for the spread of the gospel and declaration of his glory to the ends of the earth. You cannot allow Satan to deceive you with his lives of feeling you don’t or cant have significant impact right where you are.


Matthew 10:32 “everyone who confesses me before men I will also confess him before my father in heaven”

Jesus, our messanger, our go to guy to the Father will take our name to God for doing what he told us to do, empowered us to do.. How awesome. You are so important they are talking about you!
To think that we, each one of us can be refreshing to God…

How we can ‘disciple’
When you think of ‘go make disciples’ what exactly do you picture that as being?
Certain words?

Do you know that going out and making disciples can be to women who are saved?

Discipleing someone means helping them become everything God wants Them to be. Whether it is to get saved and lead them to the Lord or it could be that one who is saved who needs encouragement. Ever known someone who is backslidden? Maybe God is using you as a tool in her life to help get her back on track, hopefully better than before.

Who are you to disciple?
Who ever crosses your path, God have soverignly placed them there.

Now, I want to go a step further with this. The Bible tells us that we are the minority, there will be those who reject what we are trying to lead them to.

There are people who want more than you are able to provide, do what God leads you to do. You cannot fulfill every need of every person and God doesn’t not expect you to.

There are tons and tons of women readily available with teachable hearts.
If you invest your time with women who really don’t want your help you’ll feel like you are spinning your wheels, going nowhere.
You may become discouraged about the whole process and decide that this discipling is not going to work.
DON’T ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN.
I Am no saying you are not to sow a seed, but we don’t have to be in hot pursuit. We certainly don’t want anyone to become ‘stiffnecked as the scripture says”


Love is the basis of discipleship
Allow the Holy Spirit to show you who to disciple.
Use your godly wisdom
Glorify God with your words
Humble yourself, be open to Gods challenges.


Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.


I cant save anyone, you cant save anyone Only Jesus can, We can simply ‘relay the message’ I want to be found a faithful servant, don’t you.

So, What are you afraid of?
-Fear of rejection
*Pray for boldness. Though this fear is natural its not right.
We are called to pattern our lives after The Way described in The Bible.
We are not called to fear what following the Way of Jesus may require of us, but that doesn’t mean fears will not crop up.
A life of Christ, requires relinquishing those fears when they come up. It means refusing to let your fears of what others think, your fears of rejection, keep you from pursuing the truth through the Holy Spirit and what God tells you to do.

Are you willing to pursue truth in your journey to know and be known by The Holy Spirit?


-What if God doesn’t come through?

God promises to give us the Holy Spirit if we ask.

* There is a difference between what God has promised and praying for things you would like to be true.
pray confidently for what God has promised.
Fear of God failing us leads us to ‘ cover for God’ This means we ask for less, expect less, and are satisfied with less because we are afraid to ask for or expect more. We even convince ourself that we don’t want more. That we have all of ‘God’ we need or want.

Read Luke 11:13

God is a good Father and wants to give us gifts.

-Do I even want this?
The flip side of fearing God wont show usp is fearing that He will.

If God shows up and says to do something that is uncomfortable are you going to tell Him no, or ignore Him?

The truth is The Spirit of God will ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn’t usually choose to do.

The Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross, just as He led Jesus to the cross, which is not a safe pretty place to be. The Holy Spirit of God will mold you into the person you were made to be. Its often a painful process. It strips us of selfishness, pride, and fear.
The Holy Spirit does not seek to harm us, but to make us Christ like.
As Jesus’ disciple – being in a relationship with Him must be our focus.
*Don’t hide your fears.
First, Admit them to yourself.
Secondly, Confess them to God.
Share with godly friends and allow the Spirit to continue freeing you.


The Lord challenges us to suffer persecutions and to confess Him.
He wants those who belong to Him to be brave and fearless. He himself shows how weakness of the flesh is overcome by courage of the Spirit. This is the testimony of the apostles and in particular of the representatives administering Spirit. A Christian is fearless.
-Tertullion

Read a new book.. 'of the i zing'..here is what The Holy Spirit revealed to me...

As I flip on the tv, check facebook I realize that there are so many problems in day to day life. I am utterly appaled at some of the goings on. We all have our problems.

My hubby watches Fox News, well pretty much all the time therefore I get to watch also. They were advertising Laura Ingram's new book "of the I zing" It was a must have for me, it sounded so appealing. The first few chapters I flip through and find it comical. Then I get halfway through the book, the same week I am studying and preparing for the lesson on Controlling the Tongue. Boy, did I ever get convicted. The book is about America's cultural decline. In the book she discusses everything from muffin tops to body shots, piercings, tatatoos, technology, and the fact Todays world, kiddos dont know how to talk. She has basicaly compiled a book of everything gone wrong with our country. THen it hit me, a talebearer. We are all aware of culture around us and we all have our faults. But who I am to go around pointing out flaws of those around me. And she has written it in a book, which I have spent money to read...gee.. not good. How she can still have friends is beyond me. How many people has she hurt by writing this? Can you imagine being listed with a character flaw in a book for someone to profit off of?

Moral of the story, I must apply my christian values even in my book purchases. There is nothing about this book that is going to bring glory to God. And I am very sorry that I purchased it. As I have read it and found humor in it, I have made comedy out of peoples character flaws.

Scripture clearly tells us not to judge others, not to talebear. I have clear cut allowed this to be entered into my mind...more clutter.

God tells me to clear the clutter, sanctify myself to bring glory to him.

Just goes to show, we all make mistakes. We all fall short, we all have short comings. We need to filter more than just our tongue, but what we put in our minds.

what message are you sending? Controlling The Tongue Proverbs Lesson 3

As a christian, we are walking talking billboards for Jesus Christ. We always need to keep that in mind. What we say, wear, and do are all reflections on our Saviour, Jesus. What message are you sending?This past weeks Sunday School lesson, was a lesson about Controlling The Tongue as we continue in Proverbs.

This lesson was one I have to say that was very hard for me, that is an area in which I struggle. As i studied and dug so much was revealed to me. Especially, knowing I cannot control it. Not just me, all of us. The only way the tongue can be controlled is by God.

In class, we covered many scriptures just in Proverbs that tell us exactly what not to, and what to do I will share some of those covered here, with you.

First we need to understand that our speech is a gift from God.
THe ability to speak comes so naturally to us that we are apt to forget what a miracle it is. Language is not something cultural such as learning to tell time, count money , it is a distinct piece of our biological makeup.
In the beginning, God created Adam and then Eve..made in HIS image. He who is perfect flawless, all knowing, He who communicates, therefore human beings were given the gift of speech. GOd created Adam and Eve for God to commune with.
Proverbs 16:1 "the answer of the tongue is from the Lord"

Proverbs 10:20 "the tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little"

The images used indicate the value of this divine ability of speaking that we have. NOt only do we take it for granted but, all too often we waste and abuse.

We have all heard the old saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"
However decided to make that one up, well I dont know why they ever did. Thinking back just to my childhood how someone could say something to me, how badly it hurt and to this day, I can still remember it.

Proverbs 10:11 "the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence."
Proverbs 18:4 "the words of a mans mouth are deep waters, the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook"

This tells us that words of the wise are like refreshing water. When we listen to wise (godly) people its like taking a drink of refreshing water.
Proverbs 13:4 "the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death"
Its simply not enough for a wise person to speak, we have to listen.
Think about it this way, we get a new rose bush we go out to plant it, do we simply stick it on top of the ground? Would it grow? NO. It would wither and die. Even if its watered, its not going to do much good. Being said, the ground has to be 'prepared' for our plant to survive and then has to be feed. As do our hearts. Often we hear children say and mutter silly things, and take it lightly, well because they are kids. Which techinically means they are immature. THey have not been involved in life to reach a level of maturity to know what is right and wrong to say yet. Adults we often fail to control our tongue. At any physical age, its a sign of immaturity. Our tongue can get us into trouble.
so we should choose our words wisely.
Proverbs 21:23 "he who guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from troubles"

So have ya ever ran into or know someone that are always thinking of what to say next instead of prehaps listening? Proverbs 10:19 "when there are many words transgression is unavoidable but he who restrains his lips is wise"
--sometimes we just need to listen. say nothing, just listen.

We hurt others by gossiping, lying, and by flattery. Proverbs 11:13 ' a talebearer reveals secrets but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter" Proverbs 20:19 ' he who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips"(NKJV)

talebearer, or gossiper.. enjoys his secrets as most enjoy food. THe words of a gossip are like choice morsels - they go down to a mans inmost parts" Proverbs 18:18....yep it hurts.
we have to be aware of gossip. Its so easy to get caught up in conversation and we cant hurt others so badly by doing so. Prov 20:19 'he who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips"

Flatter: the english words comes from a french word which means 'to stroke or caress with the flat of the hand' Flattery verses complimenting is different. Flattery is complimenting profusely, appealing to your ego- yet is far from sincere.
Proverbs gives distinct warning in Proverbs 29:5 ' a man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet"

Ponder that verse for a second, we all secretly enjoy flattery and dislike rebuke yet rebuke... does us more good. We have to be aware of insincerity its typically selfish motives. In 14:20; 19:4-6 it tells us that people flatter the rich in hopes of obtaining something from them. In Proverbs 5:3 7:5 the prostitute seduces her prey by using flattery.

Lying; well.. we all know this one it is a 10 commandment Proverbs reinforces it in Proverbs 26:28 ' a lying tongue hates those who are crused by it and a flattering mouth works ruin.

we also hurt people by speaking in anger.
Did your mom ever say, 'if you dont have anything nice to say - dont say anything at all?" mine did. and with good reason.
Many people carry anger within their hearts while covering their anger pretending to be at peace with their family friends, lives, careers and it comes out in ways that are fervent and hypocritical. THe scripture tells us to cover our sins with sincere love. 'hatred stirs up strife but love covers all sins" Prov 10:12

God doesnt want us to hide orur sins from Him, Proverbs 28:13 tells us, love doesnt tell the sin to others. If we are angry with someone and he sins we are tempted to spread the news as a way of getting even. Which comes out.. all wroing.

Our earthly wisdom tells us to 'fight for our right', 'every disagreement should be win lose'
Our Heavenly wisdom seeks for win win situations. JAMES 3:17 "FIRST PURE PEACEABLE WILLING TO YIELD, FULL OF MERCY, GOOD FRUIT WITHOUT PARTIALITY".

God is THE ONLY one who is able to control sustain our tongue so that it may glorify Him.
Psalm 59:12 'for the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride and for cursing and lying which they speak"
-we dont want on ourselves the condemnation David ask for his enemies in this Psalm

Here is an overview:
Speech is an awesome gift from God. Respect it.
Listen more, talk less.
Choose your words wisely, think before you speak.

We hurt others by:
Lying
Gossiping
Flattery
Speaking in anger
Swearing/cursing

We should:
speak softly, have a gentle spirit, and our speech should always bring glory to God.

Remember, we are walking talking billboards for Jesus- What message are you sending?



Closing: Father, Thank you for allowing me to understand and know how you expect me to use my tongue. I know that my tongue is not always what you want and desire for me to say. Father I ask for you to sustain my tongue in ways to glorify and honor you. In Jesus name...Amen.

Choosing the Path of Wisdom (lesson 2) 6-26-11

Choosing the Path of Wisdom - Life

The metaphor we have heard ‘life is a journey” is probably very familiar to each of us.

The bible frequently tells us to choose the right path, but the world we are in today leads us
To thinking that there are many ways to God, and that any path you follow will eventually get
You there.
Jesus made it very clear that in this life we can only go one of two ways, each of them lead to
A different destination.

Everyone must choose which path they will be on.
There is that open road, easy street, do whatever whenever however YOU want to do it
There is that narrow road which leads to life, you are a passenger allowing God to direct your path
There is no middle of the Road.
That narrow path, is salvation. Letting God control our life. Upon receiving Christ, we made our first step
In achieving wisdom. So first… you have to be saved to receive wisdom.

In the book of proverbs the words PATH and Way are found nearly 100 times.
Throughout the book of Proverbs we are going to look at Gods ways of showing us how to be wise, to
Have wisdom. Today we are going to look at what we need to do for wisdom.

Starting in Proverbs 2 we are going to look through the chapter and see what it tells us about receiving wisdom:

Read Proverbs 2: verse 1a “my son if you receive my words”
RECEIVE – (accept) Gods word


Proverbs 2:verse 1b “and treasure my commands within you”
Hide them, store them up in our minds and hearts


chp 2: verse2a “so that you incline your ear to hear wisdom”
Incline your ear, or develop and ‘ear’ for wisdom

Chp 2 verse 2B ‘and apply your heart to understanding’
Set your heart to get understanding

Chp 2 verse 3 ‘yes, if you cry out for discernment and lift up your voice for understanding
Ask for it! Cry out for knowledge and understanding

Chp 2 verse 4 ‘ if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures..”
seek wisdom or search after it if it were a treasure

that last one…like a minor searches for gold…. Spiritual wisdom isn’t a once a week job
it requires discipline, commitment and longing for and its forever.
In the world we are in with habits of things that are time consuming, our spiritual
Appetite is poor which makes our knowledge unpleasant.

Studying the word of God, is food for our soul.

If we don’t we fall prey to enemy’s that lurk on the paths of our life. We have to do our
Part to keep our soul healthy. If we do our part God will keep His promise and protect us from
The enemy.

So why are we so eager and willing to work hard in getting our education and in our workplace but lack
Applying ourselves to Gods word? We have so much more to gain with spiritual riches than any class at
School or place of employment or even the money we make can ever give us.

So I would like each of you to ask yourself, is there something that you are devoting time to other than
God that is holding you away from receiving wisdom?


The next part of Proverbs 2, teaches us that there are rewards and promises for seeking wisdom

Look at verse 5a, “then you will understand the fear of The Lord”
understand the fear of the lord

Look at verse 5b, “and find the knowledge of God”
now this is not saying that you will know what God knows, because if that were the case then you
would be God. Its saying that you will gain better understanding of Gods plan. Remember,
the definition of knowledge is knowing the right thing to do or information of sound character

3. Look at verse 6, “for the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding”
-if we have more understanding of Gods plan that will make our decisions in life a lot more simple
We will be able to see things more clearly

Someone read verse 7
4 victory is in store for the upright
5 God will be a shield to anyone whose walk is blameless

Someone read verse 8
God guards and protects the faithful ones

Someone read verse 9 - you will understand what is right and just

Now verse 10 - wisdom will enter into your heart and knowledge pleasant to your soul
These words stress the internalization of wisdom. It doesn’t merely mean to provide knowledge it
Means to provide insight to be learned intimately and practiced. And it saying pleasant means you
Will have a fullness to your soul

Proverbs 3:

God tells us that when we are obiediant to his precepts wisdom will direct our paths

God keeps His promise when we are obeidiant because our obiediance prepares us to receive and enjoy what he has
Planned for us.

Our responsibilities are:
First To receive Gods guidance we have to keep Gods truth Read 3:1

Vs 1 tells us not to forget Gods law. Do you know what Gods law is? We learn Gods truth through His word
The will of God is revealed in the Word of God” Colossians 1:9-10

secondly Read Vs2-4 -not only are we to read Gods word we are to obey His word. By receiving the word within ourhearts we experience
Growth in godly character so that mercy truth love and faithfulness become part of who we are then we bear fruit (the reference
Tie them around our neck, if we wear something around our neck, who can see it? That shows other people we are of God without
them asking. Vs 3-4 tell us that if we do days will be added to our lives and we will have peace.

Read vs 5-8
Vs 5
Third we can trust-In verse 5 the word ‘trust’ translated means to lie helpless facedown.
The danger we face today is that we lean on our own understanding and miss Gods will
The warning mentioned in these verses isn’t telling us to turn off ourselves and ignore our
Common sense and intellegance its cautions us not to depend on our own wisdom and experience
It is also stressing the importance of obeidance.

Vs 6 – God is making us a promise of directing our paths if we obey Him, yes that promise
Is predicated on our obideance
*** this means to us we are to be totally committed to Him*** (See romans 12:1-2)))))))))))
It says by doing so we will have health and strength

Read vs 9-10
Fourthly- we are to honor the lord with tithes and offering just as has been done since the
First Hebrews giving the first crop
BY honoring God with our tithes and offering we will have the promise of plenty

Read vs 11-12

Fifth-be submissive to Gods chastening
Chastening is part of Gods plan to help His sons and daughters mature in godly character as it says in(hebrews 12:1-11))))))

God chastens us not as a judge punishing a criminal but as a parent disciping a child. HE acts in love and his purpose is that
We might become ‘partakers of his holiness’ ((Hebrews 12:10)))
Sometimes we are chastened because we have rebelled and need to repent, other times he does it to keep us from sinning
And preparing us for his special blessings. NO matter how much it hurts, it wil never harm us because God always chastens in love
As it tells us in Deuteronomy 8:2-5)