Week 28 Day 1

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 28 Day 1

Introduction…The book of John was written between 85-90AD by John the Beloved, a close disciple of Jesus Christ. After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension to the Father, the disciples ministered the Gospel and thousands were saved. The new believers and the disciples went into all the world with their testimony of faith and the world was coming to Christ. But this spiritual revival came with the price of great persecution. See Acts 8:1. John was exiled to a remote island of Patmos because of His faith. The persecution the early Church faced was fierce. The first century believers were threatened, tortured and martyred for their faith and yet the Church of Jesus Christ flourished because it was built upon the truth and the fact, they had seen Jesus live, die for them, rise again and ascend to the Father. Their faith was not in fables nor did they give their lives in vain.

Read John 15:18-23 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own, but the world hates you because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. Remember the word which I spoke to you. The servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours. But they will do these things to you because of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have no excuse for their sins. He who hates me hates the Father too.”

Bible Study

• The disciples were not stopped when threatened or surprised when persecution came because Jesus warned them clearly and repeatedly…it will happen.
  • “They will deliver you up to councils and you will be beaten in synagogues and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them…and they will put them to death and you will be hated by all for my name sake.” See Matthew 10:17-29, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 12:2-9,51-53.
• The Roman government and society of the day, hated the Christians, in fact it became illegal to be a Christian in the first century. Why were they hated?
  • The Christians would not call Caesar, “the Lord.” That title was rightfully reserved only for the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Christians moved to the beat of a different drum…that of God and the Word. They were not impressed by Roman rule or moved by their threats.
  • Christians were hated because they did not conform to the world around them and appeared as rebels fearlessly living out their faith.
  • Christianity’s Godly lifestyle and higher standards espoused by the believers made non believers uncomfortable and resentful.
• The world that hates the Christian can be defined as…human society organizing and establishing itself while disregarding God and His Word.
  • Be it known, the source of the hatred and disregard for God is Satan and the object of the hate and disdain is focused on the way, truth and life…our Savior Jesus Christ.
• In Matthew 10:28 Jesus offers perspective saying, “Fear not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Application

• Two notable ministers of the 20^th century made these true statements:
  • J.C. Ryle… “A man’s religion may well be suspected when he is content to go to heaven alone.”
  • C.H. Spurgeon…“Better for us to die than to live if souls be not saved.”
• When we pray for the Church of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven…remember those believers today who are facing persecution and pray… “God give your Church courage, great faith and put your angels about us as your Church boldly ministers your Gospel.”

Tags: Take 10

Week 26 Day 3

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 26 Day 3

Introduction…In the Gospel of John when we see the phrase “the other disciple” or in this chapter where it says, “the disciple Jesus loved”, it refers to the writer, John, who in true humility does not mention his name throughout the book he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus certainly loved all of the disciples, not just John, in fact He loved the entire world for which He came to die. The real question then and still today is…who loves Jesus? Certainly John the Beloved did, but in Judas’ case, he acted the part so well that he fooled the other disciples who thought he was one of them who loved and followed Jesus. Jesus, the Son of God, looked upon the heart and knew who His betrayer was. Jesus identified Judas and told him to go and do what he intended. What a tragic situation to be a betrayer? A betrayer of Jesus…the only sinless one!

Read John 13:26-33 “Jesus said: ’It is he for whom I will dip the morsel in the dish and give it to him.’ So he took the morsel and dipped it in the dish and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon. And after that man had received the morsel, Satan entered into him. So Jesus said to him: ‘Hurry on what you are going to do.’ None of those who were reclining at table understood why he said this to him. Some of them thought that since Judas had the money box, Jesus was saying to him, buy the things we need for the feast, or he was telling him to give something to the poor. So that man took the morsel and went out at once and it was night. When Judas had gone out, Jesus said: ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified and God has been glorified in him and now God will glorify himself in him and he will glorify him immediately.’ Little children, I am going to be with you for a little while. You will search for me and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you too: ‘You cannot go where I am going.”

Bible Study

• It was a custom in the day of Jesus that dinners were eaten in a reclined position. John was on Jesus’ right, making his head at Jesus’ chest and Jesus’ head at Judas’ chest. So intimate conversation could be carried on between those.
  • Jesus being the host made attempts to love Judas from the washing of his feet, to having Judas sit next to Him, to offering Judas a morsel of food, which indicated deep friendship.
  • Jesus made every attempt of love to win Judas right up to the very end.
  • After nothing worked to change Judas’ heart, Jesus told him to go and do his evil deed.
  • The disciples were clueless that Judas would ever betray Jesus or no doubt they would have attacked him as they did the guards when they came for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
  • Since it was customary to give to the poor during the Passover Feast and Judas was the appointed treasurer, signifying the trust of Jesus, the disciples thought when he left, that he went to give a donation to the poor.
• Jesus is light the light of the world (See Matthew 5:14) and brings the true light (See John 1:9), but some people choose darkness because their deeds are evil. See John 3:16-18
  • Jesus tells Judas to go and execute his evil plan. Interesting enough that the evil deed was carried out in the night. See John 3:19-20, “men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.”
  • The light and love of God for Judas was over. There is a point of no return where God gives up with those who continually resist Him. No more attempts of love from Jesus. Satan entered his unbelieving heart.
• The glory of Jesus is the Cross and great sacrifice He will make. In this God the Father has been glorified and He will glorify Jesus. See Galatians 1:3-5.
• Jesus was about to return to the Father in glory and in heaven to be seated on the right hand with His great work of redeeming mankind so that whosoever will may come to God, be forgiven and live eternally with Him. See Hebrews 1:1-4.

Application

• Do not fear…Satan cannot enter a true believer, as he did Judas. A disciple of Jesus Christ is sealed by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30 assures us, “after you believed you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” and “by whom you are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
• In the Scripture in John 10, which we already studied, Jesus promises that He gives us eternal life, we will never perish and, “no one can pluck us out of my Father’s hand.”
• The forces of evil can buffet or come against us. See Ephesians 6:11-17. And it is in those times that we, like Jesus, must defeat the enemy with the power of Scripture. Here are some of well used Scriptures to depend upon…
  • “When the enemy comes in like a flood, God raises up a standard against him.”
  • “No evil formed against us can prosper.”
  • “If God be for us who can be against us.”
  • “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.”
  • “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.”
  • “We are more than conquers through Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.”
  • “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Tags: Take 10

Week 25 Day 5

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 25 Day 5

Introduction…Confession is good for the soul, but not the reputation, it is said. God said in Scripture, if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us. God knows all and knows those who are His. To put what He knows about us into words, God say, if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord (ruler and owner of our life), then we shall be saved. So we cannot fool God, be a secret admirer of God, or a closet Christian. If we love God, He knows it, we will live it and we will say it. See Romans 10:8-11.

Read John 12:42-50 “Nevertheless many of the rulers believed in him, but they did not publicly confess their faith for they did not wish to be excommunicated; for they loved the glory of men rather than the glory of God. Jesus cried and said: ‘He who believes in me does not believe in me, but him who sent me. And he who looks upon me, looks upon him who sent me. It was as light that I came into the world, that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him. I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who completely disregards me as of no account and who does not receive my words, has one who judges him. The word which I spoke, that will judge him on the last day. That is so because it was not out of my own self that I spoke. But the Father who sent me, it was he who gave me the commandment which laid down what I should speak and what I should say. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things that I speak, I speak as the Father spoke to me.”

Bible Study

• Some of the Jewish leaders secretly knew Jesus was the Messiah and tried to follow Christ from a far off. Why? The fear of being excommunicated from their religion and social life. The book of Proverbs teaches us ‘the fear of man is a snare.’ Instead, we should fear God, which ‘is the beginning of wisdom’.
• “Secret Discipleship” is an oxymoron. You cannot hide your faith in God, or follow Christ from a far off. The call to make a move, take a stand, or commit comes to us all and we must be strong minded, choose and go and follow Christ.
• “Lukewarm Christianity” is an oxymoron. God said in Revelation 3:15-16, He would rather us be ‘hot’ or ‘cold’, follow Him or forsake Him. Some thought they could be ‘lukewarm’ in their faith, but God will not accept and will cast out.
• “Almost Persuaded” is an oxymoron. In Acts 26:28 King Agrippa said he was almost persuaded to be a Christian to Paul who was sharing the Gospel with him. But almost only counts in horseshoes, not in following Christ.
• The Scripture we are studying today in John, makes it clear that an encounter with Jesus confronts a person with God. That is why we are disciples and follow Jesus.
  • To see Jesus is to see God…
  • To hear Jesus is to hear God…
  • To meet Jesus is to meet God…
• The paradox the world must grapple with is this, Jesus came as an expression and provision of God’s love, but to reject Him, God’s love,  is to reject God and receive God’s judgment.

Application

• With all the information coming at us in today’s world we must discipline our mind to focus upon following hard after Christ, which has great in this life and in the life to come.
• At the end of the day and ultimately at the end of our life, what will we have achieved if we ‘consume’ all the information of this world and lose our soul?

Tags: Take 10

Week 24 Day 1

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 24 Day 1

Introduction…It is astonishing to some that Jesus, the Son of God, could weep as He was wrung with emotion and anguish of the human heart. Jesus had heard about Lazarus’ illness, yet He was led of the Spirit to delay His going to Bethany to intervene, and then a few days later knew that Lazarus had died. Jesus was prepared for what He would face. He knew the miracle He would do, however, the scene of human suffering so moved Jesus to mourning and weeping. When Jesus saw the pain and suffering death caused, He was gripped with emotion and grief. What does this tell us about God?

Read John 11: 28-35 “When Martha had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister. Without letting the rest of the people know, she said to her: ‘The Teacher has arrived and is calling for you.’ When she heard this, she rose quickly and began to go to him. Jesus had not yet come into the village, but he was still in the place where Martha met him. So when the Jews, who were in the house with Mary and who were condoling with her, saw her rise quickly and go out, they followed her, for they thought that she was going back to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was, when she saw him, she knelt at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit so that an involuntary groan burst from him, and he trembled with deep emotion. Jesus said to them: ‘Where have you laid him?’ ‘Lord,’ they said to him: ‘Come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews said: ‘Look how he loved him!”

Bible Study

• When Jesus finally arrived at Bethany, He found faith amidst the grief. Both Mary and Martha, called for Jesus, waited for Him and so wanted Jesus to come and
  • They had faith that Jesus could heal Lazarus, but would He?.
• Even with their hope differed after Lazarus’ death, they loved, served and had faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
  • What good thing would Jesus do for them? Would He grieve with them?
• “Jesus wept.” The shortest Scripture verse in the Bible, but what a revealing statement about Jesus, the Son of God and what a powerful truth about the nature of God.
  • Does God Almighty understand my human pain, or feel my hurt, or care about my problems?
  • Lamentations 3:22, 32 tells us, “It is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness…yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.”
  • Matthew 9:36 tells us Jesus, when He saw the people, “was moved with compassion.”
  • Matthew 20:34 says Jesus “had compassion on them and touched them”
• Do we know the heart of God, His great love and are we grasping His mercy and compassion for us?
• As evidenced by Jesus’ reactions we can fully see that God is effected by our sorrow, sickness, grief, hurt and pain.
• Hebrews 4:14-16 sums up Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, the human nature of Jesus and the supernatural nature of God, where it says, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.”

Application

• What is your prayer? Not what are you praying? Not your praying for food or in a Bible Study…but what is your heart’s desire? What is your God inspired prayer?
• God cares about you. God is able to help.

Tags: Take 10

Week 24 Day 2

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 24 Day 2

Introduction…Sometimes we see ourselves as rather good people and then there are times when we see the other side of ourselves. The side that is not so good. The Bible says that the heart of man is desperately wicked. It is exhausting to hear commentary on the news or sports that spends its time, “Monday morning quarterbacking.” Talking about what could have or should have been done in yesterday’s game or a decision that was made. Looking at today’s Bible Study shows once again human nature to question, to ask what if and look at what could have been done…we even see the audacity of some to criticize God. Can the clay say to the Potter, don’t make me a bowl, make me a vase? Or the created ask the Creator, why did you make like this?

Read John 11:37-44 “Some of them said: ‘Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind have so acted that Lazarus would not have died?’ Again a groan was wrung from Jesus’s inner being. He went to the tomb. It was a cave and a stone had been laid upon it. Jesus said: ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to Him: ‘Lord, by this time the stench of death is on him for he has been in the tomb for 4 days.’ Jesus said to her: ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’ So they took the stone away. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me. But I said this for the sake of the crowd which is standing round, because I want them to believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice: ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The man who had been dead came out, bound hand and foot in grave clothes and with his face encircled with a napkin. Jesus said to them: ‘Set him free from his wrappings and let him go!”

Bible Study

• This account of Lazarus coming back to life, so proves and establishes Jesus as the only Son of God, Messiah, is so amazing and reassuring still today.
• We serve the Creator, Living God, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who sent to this world, Jesus, our Savior. He is the Resurrection and the Life!
• Miracles are a sign from God so that we might believe, they bring glory to God, but require those who experience the miracles to have ongoing faith in God.
  • 1 Kings 18:37 tells us how Elijah prayed, “Answer me, O Lord, that this people may know that you are God.”
  • Jesus prayed to the Father thanking Him for hearing and answering with the intent of establishing belief in God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
  • Jesus tells a Parable in Luke 16:19-31 about life in the hereafter as it relates to heaven with God and hell without God. After death, it will be too late to decide on Jesus as Savior, but Jesus’ strong comment is… though someone were to come back from the dead…some people will not believe in Jesus, will not declare Him, Lord, resulting in not have a saving belief in Jesus as Savior and therefore be lost and separated from God.
• In Jesus’ short time ministering on earth, we read in God’s Word, on several occasions the accounts of raising the dead.
  • Jairus’ daughter. See Matthew 9:18-26
  • The widow’s son at Nain. See Luke 7:11-16
  • In Lazarus’ resurrection, he had been dead 4 days!
  • If we die before Jesus returns, we too shall be raised from the dead and so be with the Lord forever.

Application

• Do we pray with the understanding and assurance that God is love, He hears us when we pray, He will answer us according to His good and perfect will?
• Our role is to have faith and pray.
• When God answers…we will thank and glorify Him.

Tags: Take 10

March 1, 2010 – Favor, Part 3

Last week we talked about how obedience to God’s word will allow you to grow in the favor of God.  Obedience brings protection, blessing and favor into our lives.  Today we talk about another way in which we can grow in favor with God and it is faith.

Hebrews 11:6 says, Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

If you want to please God (have favor with Him) than Hebrews tells us here in the “faith” chapter that we need to have faith to do it.  To truly obey God’s word, like we said last week, many times it takes faith because faith is having the confidence that what God said is actually going to happen.  It is actually the purest form of obedience because you are obeying before you know the results of obeying – faith.

The second part of Heb. 11:6 is that you believe that what God has said is true.  By faith I am going to believe that who you say you are is true and what you say you are going to do you will do.  Many of the promises of God require something from us and it starts with faith, coming to God believing that He is.

And then the final part of this verse says that He rewards those you seek Him diligently.  The promises are ours when we obey His Word and believe them by faith and the reward is His favor in our lives – that He will be our shield of favor.

So, this week I am going to believe Your word is true.  That I am going to step out in faith before I see the answer.  That I am going to walk by faith and not by sight and see You do something in my life that is special.  And I will obey You by faith no matter what knowing that You are a rewarder of those that seek You.  Remember, nothing motivates God more or moves Him on your behalf more than faith in who He is and what He has said.

Lets grow in God’s favor, lets grow in our faith,

Jonathan

• If you want to grow in favor with God live a life of faith – AMEN!

Tags: Jonathan Spuler

Week 8 Day 2

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 8 Day 2

Introduction…our words  have power. What we say can put us over or under. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21. “A good person out of the good  treasure of his heart brings forth good things and an evil person out of the evil of his heart brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12: 35-37 NKJV

Read  James 5:12 “Above all things my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven nor earth, nor by any other oath. Let your yes be a simple yes and your no a simple no, lest you fall into judgment.”

Bible Study

• Here is great advice for living. So simple and yet so powerful.
  • We do not need to swear by anything to give credence to our words.
  • When we say yes, mean yes. And when we mean  no, say no.
  • We do not need to add words or swear by anything to make our words more believeable.
  • Just be consistent and tell the truth.
  • Be honest and true to our word.

• Our words are weighed in heaven and matter on earth and for eternity. WOW!

• What is in our heart will come out of our mouth. What is spoken with our mouth reveals what is in our heart. (Matt. 12:34)

• We can change the course of our lives by the direction of our words. This is good news for us who know the Lord, because if we have been going in the wrong direction…we can turn it around by believing and speaking the Word of God.
• In the 10 Commandments (Deuteronomy 5) God speaks to His people saying certain things we should not do to avoid judgment, but also to live life to the fullest. Two of those 10 relate to our speaking behaviors.
  • Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. We are to bless God and praise Him recognizing Him as Creator God who is holy and the only one who can save us from our sin. What honor and respect He deserves.
  • Don’t bear false witness against others. Do not lie about someone else especially with intent to hurt them or their reputation. We are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. There is great value in a good report. Speak well of others.
• Some Scriptures to live by…all from NKJV:
  • “The mouth of the upright will deliver them.” Proverbs 12:6
  • “The tongue of the wise promotes health.” Proverbs 12:18
  • “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.” Proverbs 12:14
  • “…the lips of the wise will preserve them.” Proverbs 14:3
  • “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Proverbs 15:4
  • “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life.” Proverbs 10:11
  • “A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth.” Proverbs 13:2
  • “He who guards his mouth controls himself, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3

Application

• The Bible teaches us as believers, disciples of Jesus Christ that every word is spoken in the presence of God and therefore must be true, right and good.
• Making an oath is a sign that your words cannot be trusted at face value.
• The Christian should be known for the integrity of his/her word.
• If we have said things that were wrong or wrongly said, ask the person and God for forgiveness. “If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us.”

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 5 Day 2

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 5 Day 2

Introduction…Relationships are a top priority of life. So much of our relationship with God, our wife, family, and others depends upon our communication . The words we choose to say and the conversations we have are the crucial elements in building, keeping and improving our relationships. Knowing what to say and how to say it is such a valuable skill. Controlling what you say is key?

Read James 3:2-4 “For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech, never says the wrong things, that person is a fully developed character and perfect, able to control his whole body and curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about. Likewise look at ships, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.” The Amplified Bible

Bible Study

• Regardless of what language we speak, there is power in the tongue, what we say. The fact is we all offend in what and how we say things. So this Scripture should be getting the attention of all of us.
• Words may seem insignificant, but they are absolutely crucial and should be chosen carefully.
• Understand that the words and communication we use, comes from within us, from our hearts. What we think on and is resident in our heart comes out in what we say and how we say it.
• The Bible explains this truth so well in Luke 6:45 “A good person, out of the good stored up treasure in his heart, brings forth good. And an evil person out of what is in their heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
• If your heart, your inner person is in peace and you have the love of God in you, your words can heal and help, but if not you can damage people and relationships and sin against God’s standard.
  • “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger…a gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Proverbs 15:1-4
  • Jesus said, “On the day of judgment we will have to give account for every idle word spoken, for by your words you will be justified and by our words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

Application

Do you have control of your words? Could you improve in your communication skills?

Consider this story:

There was a young boy who  had a bad temper. One day his father gave him a bag of nails and told the boy, every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back fence. The very first day found the boy loosing his temper a few times and hammering nails as a result. Over the next few weeks there were 37 nails driven into the fence, but the boy was controlling his temper better especially as he thought about the many times he had to go out back and drive more nails. Finally the day came when it seemed the boy had learned his lesson. No more nails were being driven into the fence. Now the father suggested that the boy pull out 1 nail each day that he was able to control his temper. The days passed and eventually all the nails were gone. At this point the father took his son to look at the fence and said, “You have done well, but look at all the holes that damaged the fence. Please remember my son that when you say things to a person in anger, they too damage and leave a scar.”

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 5 Day 3

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 5 Day 3

Introduction…There is great power in this little member of our body, the tongue. Power to do such good and yet, so much damage. Who can tame it? How?

Read James 3: 5-8 “So the tongue is a small part of the body and yet it boasts of great things. Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity. The tongue is set among our members as that which delies the entire body and sets on fire the course of our life and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds…has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue, it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.”

Bible Study

• A fire describes the danger of our tongue, when it is out of control and certain destruction of our words.

o      It is wide ranging meaning, like fire, the destruction of our words spreads from me to you and the negative affects move to others as well.

o      It is uncontrollable, like fire, because once the wrong thing is said, who can take it back or reverse the negative impact.

o      Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city…”

• What we say matters to God, who hears all and will hold us accountable. For example in Scripture…

o      Miriam grumbled/complained against God’s anointed leader, Moses, and it was negatively impacting God’s good plan for the Israelites. God struck her temporarily with leprosy. Numbers 12:1-10

o      When God instructed Moses to send spies into the Promised Land/Israel, 10 came back negatively and fearfully saying it will be impossible to enter this land, even though God said He would give it to them. Only 2 came back and with faith spoke well of the land filled with plenty. God judged the 10 nay sayers and all those who believed the bad report by not letting them enter Israel. Numbers 13:30-33

• Realize God’s warning about the misuse of words and the importance He places on our communication.

o      Realize our words are like weapons when misused. They injure, do damage and can kill. “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21

o      Realize wrong words are sinful…lying, blasphemy, criticizing, murmuring and judging others. Ephesians 4:31 says, “let all bitterness, wrath, anger…and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice.”

o      Realize God hears and cares about our communication

o      Realize we can ask God and others for forgiveness, repent and begin to live speaking the truth in love. See Ephesians 4:25-32

• Realize God’s best for yourself, others and all affected by your words:

o      Realize how much He loves you. 1 John 4:16 “We know how much God loves us and we have put our trust in His love.”

o      Realize we do not need to fear with God on our side. Psalms 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”

o      Realize God has made promises to you. Matthew 21:22 “And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and truly believing, you will receive.”

o      Realize God is with you so have faith in Him. Matthew 17:20 “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain be moved…and nothing will be impossible for you.”

o      Realize you are God’s love extended to others. John 13:34 “So now I am giving you a new commandment. Love each other just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Application

• Realizing all God has for us, we must guard our heart and mouth from thinking and speaking evil.
• A great prayer related to this topic that has helped me is found in Psalms 19:14. It says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 5 Day 4

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 5 Day 4

Introduction…sometimes the split personalities of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde come out of us via our words. Amazingly enough we can bless God with our tongue and later cut down and curse people, the very creation He loves. How can this be? How can I be consistent with my words?

Read James 3: 9-12 “With it (our tongue/words) we bless the Lord and Father and with it we curse the men who have been made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth there emerge blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers. Surely the  one stream from the same cleft in the rock does not gush forth fresh and salt water? Surely brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a vine figs, nor can salt water produce fresh water?

Bible Study

• It is unnatural for water, or fruit to come from anything else but its source. Figs/Fig Tree, Olives/Olive Tree and fresh water from a fresh water spring. So good and Godly words of blessing and encouragement should come from a disciple of Jesus Christ, from a true born again believer.
• It is tragic and unnatural when and if we bless and curse from the same tongue
• What must be do if this is happening in our life? Consider the source!
• Understand the dynamics at play in this situation of blessing and cursing:
  • The source of blessing and cursing is different even though it comes from the same person.
  • Within each of us there is a battle between good and evil, the Spirit and the flesh. These forces are diametrically opposed to each other.
  • Our fight is not physical, or against people or circumstances, our battle in life is spiritual. See Ephesians 6:12 “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood (people), but against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness…”
• The Spirit of God in us as believers is the source from where comes the blessings to God and words that edify, or strengthen others. This describes the new man in us at work that is led by His Spirit.
• If not Spirit led, the source from where anger, jealousy and cursing comes is from the flesh, the carnal, worldly person that is not yet totally turned over to God, nor given over to His control. This is the old man, not yet regenerated by God and not Spirit led.  See Ephesians 4: 22-23.
• What is the answer? How do I sustain speaking words that heal, help and encourage? How do I bless God and bless people His precious creation?
• Keep turning over all areas of your life to God. Be filled with the goodness and truth of God. Be filled with His Spirit by meditating on His Word. Speak to yourself in psalms, hymns and spiritual sayings. See Ephesians 5: 18-21
• Jesus declared that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit within “from out of our innermost being would flow rivers of living water”…that is His goodness, peace, joy, love. John 7: 37-39

Application

• Let’s desire to learn with His help to control your tongue. Ask God to guard your words.
• Let’s desire to be filled with His Spirit.
• We must choose to put on the new man by the renewing of our mind. See Ephesians 4:24

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10