I Corinthians 2:10
“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” As we walk along by faith, God begins to reveal His plan for our lives. He does this through the Holy Spirit, which lives in us, as we read His Word and ask for His direction. We cannot receive God’s direction if we are not seeking it by communicating with Him. Our walk with God is a two way street, just like our relationships with our friends and family members must be. We talk to God through prayer, and He speaks to us through the Scripture. If our Bible is always closed and sitting on the table, we are not hearing God’s direction for our lives. If we do not come to God in prayer, our requests will not be heard. When reading God’s Word, we may read a verse that we have read a hundred times before, yet we see something different within the Words. This is the Holy Spirit revealing the Truth to us. The Spirit searches our hearts and reveals the deep Truths of Scripture to us just when we need them. Ask the Lord to show you just what you need within the pages of your Bible today. He is sure to reveal something that will help you serve Him and shine your Light for His glory. Bible Reading: II Chronicles 7-8 | I Timothy 2 | Proverbs 12
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I Corinthians 2:9
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” More beautiful than any sunset. More lovely than the purest melody. Our hearts cannot comprehend all that God has planned for us. This Truth brings comfort when we are amidst the battle or storm. Our affliction is but for a moment, because one day… God will reveal to us what He has been preparing. He has more in store for us than we can see, hear, or even desire! This world is not our home; we are just passing through on our way to our eternal dwelling place. While we walk along this life’s journey, God is not only preparing our heavenly home, but He is working behind the scenes here as well. His plan is unfolding with each step of faith we take in His direction. Sometimes we veer off course when we make a decision outside of His guidance, but when we stop and ask for help, He begins to lead us once again to His purpose. Take comfort today that God has your situation all under control, and has a better plan that He is working out for your good, and His glory! Psalm 31:19 “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” Our eyes have never seen such goodness. Our ears have never heard such goodness. Our hearts cannot hold all the goodness that God is. God is working things for our good, because He is Good! Bible Reading: II Chronicles 5-6 | I Timothy 1 | Proverbs 11 Romans 15:30
“Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;” The Apostle Paul realized the demand the ministry requires, as well as the spiritual warfare and resistance that he faced on a daily basis would require people to stand in the gap and pray for him and the work. He begged for the prayers of the people. “Now I beseech you, brethren…” Does your pastor have to beg you to pray for him? The Scripture tells us to pray for those that God has placed in authority. It is our duty to lift up our pastor in prayer. Pray for your pastor as he leads the church. I Peter 5:1-2 “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;” Pray that there will be a hedge of protection around your pastor and his family from the attacks of Satan. II Corinthians 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices,” Pray for your pastor that he and his family will not grow weary in well doing. Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Pray for your pastor that he will glean Truths from the Word of God so that he can feed the flock. Acts 6:4 “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Pray for your pastor because he prays for you. Philippians 1:3-5 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;” “Interchanging prayers is an excellent token of the interchanging of loves.” Matthew Henry Spend some time today, and everyday, thanking the Lord for the man of God He has placed in your life. Support him and the ministry through prayer and supplication. The greatest gift you can give your pastor is to pray for him. II Corinthians 1:11 “Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.” Bible Reading: II Chronicles 3-4 | II Thessalonians 3 | Proverbs 10 Luke 10:33-34
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” Jesus used the Good Samaritan as an example to not only the lawyer in Luke 10, but for us today as we read through our Bibles. There is so much to be learned from this one man’s display of compassion upon that stranger on the side of the road. We must to go to them. “came where he was” We must make an effort to reach out to others, and we cannot do that by sitting still. Jesus showed us this example by going to Samaria. He felt led to the very city that our Good Samaritan was from. John 4:4 “And he must needs go through Samaria.” What might the Lord do if we would obey His leading to go to others? We must look at their need. “and when he saw him” Our eyes will affect our heart if we are sincere. God will give us a desire to help those in need as an opportunity to share His love for them. Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men…” We must have compassion on them. “he had compassion on him” We find in Scripture that only some will have compassion, and those that do can make a difference. When God gives us compassion, He gives us opportunity to reach people for His glory. Jesus displayed this by having compassion on the multitudes, and fulfilling their needs of hunger and healing. Matthew 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them…” Compassion is more than just an acknowledgement of a need; it compels us to do something. The Good Samaritan not only went to this man, but his compassion compelled him to bound up his wounds and take him to an inn to care for him. Compassion in Action. We’ve all heard the sayings “Actions speak louder than words”, and “they won’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care”. Both are found to be true. The lost will not realize their need unless we show them through the love of Christ. The backslidden will not realize their condition unless we love them through their trouble. The hurting will not receive the help they need unless we bear their burdens through intercessory prayer for them. Speak the love of Christ by showing the love of Christ. Compassion in Action. Do you know someone hurting today? Are you burdened for them? Show them you care. Do something to make a difference in their life today. An encouraging text or phone call, or a card in the mail. Just a simple gesture of love to remind them that you are praying for them can change their mindset. If you cannot think of someone or something to do, ask the Lord to place someone on your heart. Ask Him to show you what the person needs. Put action behind your compassion today. Bible Reading: II Chronicles 1-2 | II Thessalonians 2 | Proverbs 9 Lamentations 1:12
“Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.” When an accident or medical emergency happens, there are two types of witnesses, those that stop to help and those that stand back and watch. When individuals do not offer any means of help to a victim while other people are present, it is referred to as the Bystander Effect. This is a social psychological phenomenon that is inversely related to the number of people present. The more people around, the less likely it is that someone will help. The level of responsibility that a bystander feels is dependent on three things:
The person decides what they will do in one of three ways:
We see this effect within the Scripture through the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. Jesus Christ tells this parable to an inquisitive lawyer admonishing him to help his neighbor. We can see examples of all three ways of intervention within this story. The priest saw the wounded man, and crossed the street to avoid him. The Levite came by and looked upon his wounds, then passed by as well, perhaps going to go get help. Then the Samaritan came to where he was and had compassion on him, bounding up his wounds and taking him to the inn to heal. We are all bystanders most of the time. No, we may not witness an accident or medical emergency right before our eyes on a regular basis, but we see people all throughout the day that are lost and on their way to spend eternity in a place prepared for Satan himself, yet what do we tend to do? We pass by them. “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?” We neglect getting directly involved most of the time, and detour the responsibility to just those who are “called” to do the job…pastors and missionaries. We tell the “first responders”, but then we sit back and watch from the sidelines. Detour intervention is not an excuse. We are all called to proclaim the Truth of the Gospel. It is time we ourselves get involved, and do our part to share the Gospel with a lost and dying world. Jesus commanded all of us to go & tell others. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” If we are honest, we are all guilty of the Bystander Effect. When will we realize that we may be the only person who can reach a particular person with the Gospel? Are we going to pass them by? It is nothing to us? Lord, help us to reach them before it is eternally too late. Bible Reading: I Chronicles 27-29 | II Thessalonians 1 | Proverbs 8 II Timothy 3:14
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;” In those times when we are required to turn away, we must continue in what we know to be the Truth. Continue In Prayer. Colossians 4:1-2 “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” Continue In The Word. John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Continue Abiding In His Love. John 15:9-11 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” Continue In Him. John 15:5-7 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” We can continue today through Him, because we are nothing without Him. Bible Reading: I Chronicles 25-26 | I Thessalonians 5 | Proverbs 7 II Timothy 3:1-5
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” We are living within the “perilous times” that the Bible has foretold of for thousands of years. Perilous here refers to times that are hard to bear. We watch as what was once thought right is now thought wrong, and what was wrong is not only tolerated but is now the norm. This passage is often referred to as speaking of the world in general during the last days. However, Paul is actually warning his son in the faith, Timothy, of what would be occurring within the churches during the last days. Paul then admonishes Timothy to continue in his faith despite the persecution he was sure to face. Today, amidst the turmoil of the world, some are seeking religion. Many churches are beginning to rise in attendance due to their inspirational words and lack of preaching against sin. There is persecution from without, and corruption from within our churches. Jesus warned us of wolves in sheep’s clothing, and Paul here warns of those that have a form of godliness, yet deny the power in which they claim to have. Many are called Christian in name, yet they only have religion, and no relationship. This is what Paul is referring to here in our text. The word “form” speaks of a resemblance. These are those who look and act as if they are a Christian or a follower of Christ. They resemble what the world now considers a Christian…perhaps one who sometimes enters the doors of a “worship center” or auditorium for a few hours on Sunday morning singing their praises and then leaves their “Christianity” behind as they blend in with the world the rest of the week. To resemble something is not to possess it. What does the Scripture say to do when we find people who only possess a form of godliness? Turn Away. We are Biblically told to withdrawal ourselves and avoid them. II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” Romans 16:17-18 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good works and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” This avoidance & turning away does not mean we should not love them and share the Gospel with them. We are simply not to fellowship with them. When you find a person or church with a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof… turn away. Bible Reading: I Chronicles 23-24 | I Thessalonians 4 | Proverbs 6 2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” If… We can learn from the Lord instructions to Solomon. This verse reveals the steps we must take in order to see revival in our hearts and our country. There are conditions to God’s blessing on our lives and our land. We Must Humble Ourselves. James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” We Must Pray. James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” We Must Seek His Face. 1 Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” Psalm 105:4 “Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.” We Must Turn From Our Wicked Ways. Acts 26:17-18 “Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Then… After He lays out the requirements for revival, the Lord shows what blessings we will receive through obeying His requests. He Will Hear Us. Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” Psalm 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” He Will Forgive Our Sin. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He Will Heal Our Land. Jeremiah 3:22 “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.” Bible Reading: I Chronicles 21-22 | I Thessalonians 3 | Proverbs 5 Romans 10:1
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Paul had a burden for the people within his country. He didn't want them to just live a good life or serve others, he desired for them to be saved. He prayed that they would realize their need for a Saviour, then not only recognize it, but receive Him. As we read on through chapter 10 of Romans, we see that Paul addressed those that had religion, but not salvation. The people were “going about to establish their own righteousness”. They relied on their good works and morality to be enough. Paul went on to explain to them how simple salvation is, if only they would confess and believe. He cared enough about their eternal state to express his concern and share the Truth of the Gospel with them. Romans 10:9-10,13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul pinned these verses that are typically used today when explaining the Gospel. The simplicity of the Truth of the Gospel is evident in them. The Gospel has not changed. The desire of the hearts of people has changed. What is your desire for your country? Do you desire to see the people saved? If the answer is yes, then what are you doing about it? People will not be saved unless they confess and believe, but how can they if they have not heard? Paul understood this, as he closed out the rest of the chapter. See verses 14-17. We must do our part in order for the Great Commission to be carried out. Pray for your country today. Pray for revival and a great awakening to the souls of men. Bible Reading: I Chronicles 19-20 | I Thessalonians 2 | Proverbs 4 Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” We find here three different parts to the Great Commission. Each plays a vital role in the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ, and together they make up the team effort needed in order to fulfill Christ’s direction for the church. While most of the time these are lumped together as one task that everyone should fulfill, the reality is that not everyone can do all three. It takes teamwork. Some are called to Go. Your call to “Go” may not take you overseas to a different country and culture. It may be across the street to your neighbor or the cashier at your local grocery store. This is one step that all of us are called to do. Some are called to Teach. Some are blessed with the task and ability to teach and train others in their walk with the Lord. Discipleship is crucial in the furtherance of the Gospel. If we do not teach others to reach others we have failed in the Great Commission. Some are called to Baptize. Some have answered the call to preach the Gospel and lead our churches as pastors. These men are specifically given the “baptizing” role of the Great Commission. In order for there to be people to baptize, others must be taught to reach people and obey the command to “Go”. All of us are called to do something. We may not be able to baptize or even teach others, but we can all go. Whether it is to another continent, another country, another state, another county, another town, another street, or another person. Go. Make an effort today to go & tell others. How can we do our part? Because we have God-Given Power! Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Rest in that power today. Through this power you can go, teach and baptize. Do your part to fulfill the Great Commission. Bible Reading: I Chronicles 17-18 | I Thessalonians 1 | Proverbs 3 |
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