Today's Word -- Inherent Nature

 Proverbs 2:6 

For the LORD gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. 

We are all born with an inherent knowledge of good and evil thanks to Adam and Eve's decision to disobey God. "No" is one of the first words we learn to say after we learn our caregivers names, "Mama", "Dada", or in my son Brian's case, "Dani" (his sister). And we learn when to say 'No': when we want something we can't or shouldn't have and when we want to do something we should or shouldn't do. It's our nature. 

The same logic is applied when we become born-again Christians. We learn what is good and what is evil. We learn to walk in the Spirit. We learn to talk in the Spirit. We learn to read God's Word with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Especially when we have good leaders to lead us and guide us through God's Word; leaders we look up to and find ourselves following after. 

As this verse in Proverbs 2:6 states, wisdom, knowledge and understanding come from God. And it is to God we must turn to in order to receive each one and apply them to our lives as His children. No longer are we under sin's command, now we are under God's command. And His command is love. Our new nature is very different from our old nature. Before, we always said 'No' and justified according to our desires. Now, we say 'Yes' and are justified by grace according to God's desires for us. We live in His love and can only grow and thrive in His love as long as we remain in His love, His Word. 

Wisdom is Applied. 

Knowledge is Gained.

Understanding is Growth.

Our new nature seeks after God in His Word and in prayer with Him; that's how we hear from Him. This new inherent nature is through Christ living in us: we are new creations in Him. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 

We are new creations in Christ when we believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, that He died on the cross in our place, rose from the dead and walked out of the grave into newness of life and is seated at the right hand of the Father Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Today's Word - Wisdom

 1 CORINTHIANS 3:19-20

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness." And again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."

The 'wisdom of this world' died in the flood because they did not believe God. 

The 'wisdom of this world' is restrictive to the soul, the mind and the body; it enchains and entices and kills. 

The 'wisdom of this world' denies the power of God and seeks power for itself. 

The 'wisdom of this world' is unkind, unloving and untruthful. It is hard-hearted, hateful and a liar. 

I would much rather be wise in the ways of the Lord than wise according to the substandards of this world, this age. What does it mean to be wise in the Lord?

Job 28:28

And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

Proverbs 9:10 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Reverent fear acknowledges the awesome greatness of God, The LORD God. This fear is the beginning of being wise. I want to be wise. Don't you?

Craftsmanship

 

1 Corinthians 3:10

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.

Even though it is Paul speaking here these verses still apply  to the born-again believer who shares the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

But when we build (preach, teach, encourage), we must build on that foundation properly: with the Word and nothing else. Whatever books we read or teach from must align properly with the Word of God or not be used at all. No false teachings which do not align with the Word of God. The Spirit makes this known to the faithful believer. 

Our building, our house, must be built on The Rock and not on sand. Our work has to make it through the storms of life. 

Matthew 7:24-27

“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great and complete was its fall.” 

Proverbs 10:8

A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.

Proverbs 12:7

The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the house of the righteous will stand.

We should want to be the house of the righteous. Are we? Are you? Am I building (preaching, teaching, encouraging) according to and in the Word of God? Yes, yes I am. 

Am I receiving the faithful True Word of God from others whose preaching I listen to? Yes. Am I hearing the Truth of God's Word from teachers I listen to? Yes, yes I am. Am I being encouraged by the faithful and encouraging others through and by the Word of God? Yes, I am. 

Be the wise heart. Be the house of the righteous. Build in righteousness. Build in Truth. Build with Wisdom, with Love, with Truth. Be built up according to the Truth of the whole Word of God and you will stand when the storms hit you head on.

A Consecrated Life

 

2 Corinthians 7:1

  Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life—a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God. 

Having been saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, we still have an obligation to work with God's Holy Spirit to become a holy people, as God commands us to, for holiness or the lack thereof is not an option. 

1 Peter 1:15, 16 is quoting Leviticus 11:44 when he says, But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” While becoming holy is not something we can do on our own, we still have daily decisions to make concerning becoming holy. Give in to temptation or Just Say No. Every time we say no, and rebuke the devil for trying to lure us away from our goal of becoming holy, we are that much nearer to accomplishing a set apart lifestyle. 

Proverbs 20:9 asks us, 'Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?' The answer? No one. Jesus makes our heart clean. The Holy Spirit makes us pure. Leviticus 20:7 'Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.' We choose to be set apart, sanctified for God's purpose in our lives. 

Psalm 51:10 'Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.' A prayer each of us should be making every day of our lives. A request to be made clean and a request to be made right. 

Isaiah 55:7 'Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.' This is revival. A revitalization of the soul, turning one's back on sin and turning one's face to the LORD. And God will have mercy on the one who does this. 

Proverbs 8:13 'The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward (twisting words, perverse, fraudulent) mouth, do I hate.' Isaiah 35:8 'And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it--only those who walk in the Way--and fools will not stray onto it.' This highway is designated to be built when King Jesus sets up His millennial reign, but the shadow of this Highway is the Way (John 14:6) in which the Christian to walk every day until we are called home or Christ returns to get His Bride, the Church who has faithfully followed The Word. 

Some folks have grown up singing an easy to remember song in Sunday School, O Be Careful Little Eyes, which was an action song by The Cedarmont Kids in 1995 that helped us to remember it, especially when we were the teachers.  Oh the trouble we could have saved ourselves if we had only remembered it before we chose to sin against God! 

O BE CAREFUL LITTLE EYES 

O be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little eyes what you see

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little ears what you hear

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little tongue what you say

O be careful little tongue what you say

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little tongue what you say

O be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little hands what you do

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little feet where you go

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little heart whom you trust

O be careful little heart whom you trust

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little heart whom you trust

O be careful little mind what you think

O be careful little mind what you think

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little mind what you think

So, be careful little mind what you think

While you may think this is 'only a children's song', you are wrong. Once we give our hearts to God and begin to follow Christ, we are responsible every single day, all throughout our day, to make wise choices and be obedient to God's Word. Yes, we will fail and stumble, but we must repent of our wrong decision and seek to do what is right in God's eyes, not our own. 

I Speak Jesus

     Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world*. For He that is in me is the Light of the world and the Light shines in the darkness which comprehends Him not*. This Light lives in me and shines through me into the darkness of the world around me*.

*1 John 4:4

*John 8:12; John 3:19; John 1:4; John 9:5; John 12:35-36, 46

*Matthew 5:14-16; Proverbs 4:18; Philippians 2:15

This Light is Jesus Christ. I speak Light. This Light is Love. I speak Love. This Light is Hope. I speak Hope. This Light is Mercy. I speak Mercy. This Light is Peace. I speak Peace. This Light is Healing. I speak Healing.

This Light is Jesus Christ. I speak Jesus.

Being Wise

 

And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:2-3

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30

Contemplate this: are we the wise or the shameful? Will we go into everlasting life or everlasting contempt? How can we know now? 

Are we leading people to righteousness, telling people about the saving grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ? That’s being wise. 

Are we saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who died on the cross? Who bore our sins upon Himself? That’s being wise. 

What is wisdom? Listening to and Obeying the Word of God with joy and a merry heart. Not with anger, nor accusative words, but with Love, with Patience, with Mercy. We are to treat one another with Grace and with Peace that passes understanding in this world. 

We must ask ourselves, “Am I being wise?”. Am I honoring God with my words and my works? Am I telling people about my Jesus, testifying what He has done for me? Am I a fruitful servant? Am I even saved in this manner, by the blood of Jesus Christ? And if I am not, how can I know that I am?

Romans 10:8-10

8. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

9. that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

Some live on the false hope, false belief that sin is not real and salvation is not necessary. This is foolishness and definitely not wisdom. Wisdom comes from God. True morality and knowing right from wrong is having the wisdom of God.

Romans 3:22-23

22. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 

23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:10, 18

10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 6:23

23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

8. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13

13. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 8:1

1. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

And that’s how you can know you are saved, that’s how you can know now whether or not you are being wise or being shameful. So, again, the question is put forth: are we, are you, am I, being wise? Am I leading my family, my friends, my enemies and the strangers I meet daily to righteousness? Am I telling them, you, about my Jesus? Have I told you lately what Jesus Christ has done for me?

He saved me. He filled me with His precious Holy Spirit. He walks with me daily and all throughout my day. He talks with me, tells me things I need to hear and know. He lives in my heart, cleaning it out and making more room for His glory. My Jesus loves me. My Jesus died for me so I wouldn’t be sent into everlasting contempt. My Jesus feeds me with His daily Bread and quenches my thirst with His Living Water. My Jesus both satisfies me and gives me a hunger to know Him more. 

This I want for you. But only you can make that decision. I can pray for you. But only you can make your choice. Do you want to go to heaven? Or do you want to go to hell? Hell is not a pretty place. It is not a land of endless parties, nor is it a nothingness. Hell is hot. Hell is ugly. Hell is a place where you are never happy, never satisfied.   If you are selfish in this life, your selfish attitude goes with you to Hell. You can’t leave Hell after you die, so praying for this to happen after a person dies without Jesus Christ is foolishness.

Luke 16:19-31 is the parable of the rich man and the beggar.  Here we learn what Hell is.

23. It is a place of torment. 

24. It is hot and fiery.

26. It is separated from Paradise by a great chasm which none can cross, nor can anyone leave Hell. 

We have six senses in this life. Some work like they’re supposed to, some don’t. Whether we are in Heaven or Hell, we will have all six and they will all work.

Sight

Hearing

Touch

Smell

Taste

Knowing

How do we know this? Again, read Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:23

Torment is felt (touch)

Luke 16:23

The rich man could see Lazarus in the distance.  

Luke 16:24

Though he had never seen him, the rich man recognized (knowing) Abraham right away (sight) and in his selfishness begged for the poor man to tend his needs. He was hot (touch) and thirsty (taste) and in agony (touch).

The sense of smell is implied because the man was burning and whatever is on fire smells like it is on fire. It’s not a good smell when it’s a person. 

A person can speak and hear in Hell, for the rich man spoke with Abraham and heard (hearing) Abraham’s response. 

As nasty as it is to choose to go to Hell, Hell will not last forever. But this is not good for those who choose to go there either. 

Revelation 20:14-15

14. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.

15. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

That’s Hell and Hell’s destination. Why would anyone in their right mind choose to disobey God and go to Hell? We can only have a right mind if Christ is in us and we are in Him. This comes through believing on His name, 

Mark 5:9, 15, 18-20

9. "What is your name?" Jesus asked. "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."

15. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

18. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him. 

19. But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.” 

20. So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

The man who was put in his right mind went back home and began to tell his family and friends about what his Jesus had done for him. He was being wise and fruitful. 

I am in my right mind. Though the world calls me crazy, God calls me His child. Though people call me odd and radical, Jesus calls me friend. I am being wise. And it is my prayer that I continue to be so. I want you to be so, too. I pray Ephesians 3 over your life. I pray the Romans Road to Salvation into your hearts and minds. I pray the Word of God bless you and make known to you the true Love of God and that you come into the knowledge of saving grace. 

 

The LORD Is.....Month of August

 

ELYONE

MOST HIGH

Lamentations 3:38

Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?

Job 2:10

"You speak as a foolish woman speaks," he told her. "Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Isaiah 45:7

I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

The LORD GOD MOST HIGH Is Supreme. He is above all, over all and His throne is so far from us as to be beyond our sight. The LORD GOD MOST HIGH Is Omnipresent (everywhere at the same time), Omniscient (knows all, sees all) and Omnipotent (all powerful).

The Omnipresent God:

Psalm 139:7 Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

The Omniscient God:

1 Chronicles 28:9 And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

The Omnipotent God:

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

Psalm 93:2 Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.

JEHOVAH CHECED

The LORD Is My Steadfast Love

Psalm 144:2

He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

Steadfast Love: goodness of God, lovingkindness

Micah 7:18-19

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in Loving Devotion?

He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.

This is my God. The God Who forgives sins and forgets sins. 

Isaiah 43:25

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

Hebrews 8:12

For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.

The LORD Is My Steadfast Love.

 JEHOVAH GAAL

The LORD Redeemer

Isaiah 48:17

Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go."

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.

Psalm 73:2

You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.

ELOHIM MACHSEH OZE

God Is Our Refuge & Strength

Psalm 46:1

For the choirmaster. 

Of the sons of Korah. 

According to Alamoth. 

A song. 

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Deuteronomy 4:7

For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?

Psalm 32:6

Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.

EL YAAQOB

THE GOD OF JACOB

Psalm 146:5-6

Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever.

Psalm 71:5

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.

Guard My Heart

 

Good Morning

GUARD MY HEART

John 14:15

If you love Me, keep (guard) My commandments.

Proverbs 4:23

Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

Jesus Christ is the Wellspring of Life. Once He enters our hearts, we become His dwelling-place, His living quarters. We know, too, that He is the Word of God.  Therefore, when we begin to believe, the Word is planted in our hearts as a small seed.

This Word-seed requires maintenance that it might grow within us until it, the Word-seed, reaches full growth and is able to propagate. 

Planting requires preparation of the heart (faith to believe), removing the rocky stones (of unbelief), seeding the tilled heart (reading my Bible daily with prayer), watering the Word-seed (with tears of joy, tears of grief), and much sunlight (the Holy Spirit). 

While it is our faith that invites Jesus Christ into our hearts, it is God who ushers Him in. It is only through the power of the Almighty God that any of this is possible. Nothing we do can even begin to compare with what God can do. 

Are you guarding your heart? Are you keeping His Word in your heart? that it might spill forth like a rushing waterfall into the ears of  those who seek Him? Only you can answer that. I am guarding my heart.

The Godly Wife

 

It is not the woman's job to go looking for a husband: it is the man's job. Proverbs 18:22 "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD." 

The wife complements the husband. Adam went looking for the one who could fill the empty place in his heart, but could not find one. So God created Eve from one of Adam's ribs, that Adam would have the one who would complete him.

While Eve remains the one who was created in this way for Adam, God still creates godly women for godly men. Proverbs 31 does not describe the perfect woman, it describes the aspects of being a godly wife. 

*Noble character (excellent morals and ethics)

*Trustworthy (dependable, reliable)

*Industrious (skillful, diligent, hard-working)

*Thoughtful of Others (considerate, kind)

*Financially Wise

*Strengthens Herself In The Lord

*She is Filled with The Holy Spirit

*She keeps her hands busy

*Generous heart and hands to the less fortunate

*Family is clothed well

*She is clothed in glory

*(cf. Proverbs 31:23 with Proverbs 12:4) She brings honor to her husband

*What she creates by her industry, she also sells

*(cf. Proverbs 31:25 with 1 Timothy 2:9-10) Self-discipline and self-control are evident in her

*Speaks the Word wisely, honestly and faithfully

*Watchful in prayer over her household

*Her children defend her honor and declare her righteousness in the Lord

*(cf. Proverbs 31:29 with Ephesians 5:27) Lives an overcoming life in the Word

*Fears the Lord 

*Soul-winner (cf. Proverbs 11:30)

The godly wife is the foreshadow of the Bride of Christ. As the wife is, so the church is.