Proverbs 13: 1-4
New King James:
1. A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2. A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
3. He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
4. The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
It is interesting the placement of these verses. Their interpretation cannot be missed, but is there a link to the order of the words to that which Christ and the Apostles spoke in the New Testament about the abuse of the tounge and the affect it has on our soul.
Christ is the Son, We are the son in need of instruction, And we have to listen to the teachings of the Word of God (The example of Jesus spelled out to us in words).
The Mouth is talked about in the new Testament James 3:1-12 talks about taming the tongue as it can bring forth both blessing and damnation not only to one's self but to others. The words of our flesh mouth can affect the soul of our body and those of others. Our tongues are the sowers of seeds, blessing to the poor and downcast, but they can also rip a seed from it's bed because of proud doctrine, and discourage the poor and downcast.
Our Soul is the recipient of the work of other mouths, our hands and heart. We will be judged according to how diligent we seek the kingdom of God and walk the path of Christ. Do not let your mouth stumble you or others, do not let the seeds of the world to fruit out of your mouth and produce bad fruit, Let the rivers of Life from Jesus nourish the Word in your heart and bring forth blessing upon your soul and others.
The Son gives the Seed, the Mouth waters the soil and the Soul is the Harvest.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Parallel Prayers
In some reading tonight I was compelled by the sincerity, simplicity and parallels that the two most famous prayers offer. Both the 23 Psalm and the Lord’s Prayer are beautiful and faithful representations of not just prayer with God, but how we should live our everyday life.
| | Psalm 23 | Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:8-13 |
| A | 1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. |
| B | 2. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. | 10 Your kingdom come. |
| C | 3. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. | Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. |
| D | 4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; | 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. |
| E | Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. | 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. |
| F | 5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. | 11 Give us this day our daily bread. |
| G | 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever | For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen |
A. Parallels – Extolling the Lord first, addressing the proper order of creation. They both praise the Lord as well as addressing our position in relation to God.
Prayer Application – Praising the Lord is vital in all situations of prayer; it helps establish the proper mood for talking to the Lord, and also addressing our position as the broken vessel or ignorant lamb in relation to God’s place of power and authority.
Life Application – A wonderful way to set the tone for a good day is to praise the Lord for what He has already given you, and also express the faith for what is to come. Enter everyday with the mindset of a servant and God will use us if we are willing and available.
B. Parallels – The life of men is chaotic and hectic at the least, but God’s kingdom is peace and tranquility in the midst of it all. Both address the kingdom, but Psalms just describes it.
Prayer Application – By extolling the virtues of God’s kingdom, it reminds us of the reward ahead of us if we follow the righteous path and increases our faith and trust.
Life Application – We prepare our mind to accept God’s kingdom on earth, as well as seeking the serenity of the kingdom He has provided us with.
C. Parallels – God restores us so we can do His will, walk His path of righteousness
Prayer Application – Pray for the will of God, as this action in all things will bring about good things or at least good things we may not see. The will of God is perfect in nature.
Life Application – Living with a restored (born again) soul, gives us the righteousness of God through Christ to live for God in the presence of sin. Living in the will of God brings with it a set or rewards that will enrich our lives daily. It may not always be fun, we may not always understand, and His timing may not be our timing, but God’s will is perfect, and I would rather a perfect God run my life instead of my imperfect self.
D. Parallels – God’s deliverance, and presence in our lives.
Prayer Application – Pray for help, we all need it in this world of temptation. Only God is stronger than our sin nature.
Life Application – let God’s Holy Spirit convict and let you know when you need to stop, or when you need to go forward with him. Having the knowledge that God is with us throughout our day is comforting.
E. Parallels – Discipline and forgiveness go hand in hand
Prayer Application – Once we are in a positive, trusting frame of mind we are better able to confess our sins, as well as be more charitable to forgive others. We must also pray for the comfort of the rod that God compassionately uses. His mercy is forever.
Life Application – We need to accept the discipline of God in our lives to be moved by the convicting Spirit of God to enable us to be more charitable to others. We also need to forgive on a daily basis as well as confess to Christ our sins for forgiveness to continue to walk in purity before God.
F. Parallels – food and necessities
Prayer Application – Trust God to give us those things we need in our lives on a daily basis.
Life Application – By giving God the control over the little things in our lives and trusting Him completely, He cannot fail. Only we can fail in out faith in Him.
G. Parallels – God’s mercy and grace are part of His kingdom on earth, which last forever.
Prayer Application – We again praise His kingdom, His work in our lives.
Life Application – If we continually remember all those good works He has done in our lives, and continually remember the grace of salvation through Christ, we will be His glory.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The Lord's Supper Servant
We often attend Churches that serve the "holy sacrament", or the interpretation of the Last Supper that Christ commanded us to do in rememberence of Him. But how often the church neglects and important lesson that was taught here.Christ was not only beaten and spilled out for our transgressions, but became a lowly servant who washed the dust from the feet of those who followed Him.
John 13:1-17
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
I love this verse, it shows that what Christ is about to do is out of LOVE.
2 And supper being ended,[a] the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
I love how adamantly Peter at first won't allow the Savior to humble Himself, but in the revelation of the meaning he wants it ALL.
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
So many want the experience of the Lord's supper, the image that it represents, but none seem wiling to perform the tasks that Christ has called us to humble ourselves to do. What an image it would be to find a Church that honors each other by washing the feet of not only the members, but of the visitors first on the day communion is taken. We would definitely have the time to ponder our own hearts prior to entering into so sacred an act as communion.
Christ states that He has given and example and if we know them, nothing happens, but if we follow His example and do them, we will be blessed.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Earning God’s trust in life.
In the materialistic world and environment we live in today, our value is mostly determined by what we have and what we do. I often hear people asking how they can become better off financially, or gain a life of ease that they see others possess. Now I am not going to say that my biblical study means if you follow it, that you will gain financial security, but you will gain the peace of mind given by God.
Luke 16:10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
Matthew 25:23
23. His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Matthew 6:32-34
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34is its own trouble. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day
The key to a successful Christian life is in the servant hood. By seeking the Kingdom of God, serving His will in our lives and letting Him reign as King in EVERY aspect, how can we not succeed?
Now not all are called to handle financial gains that leave them without funds for wants, but how will God give stewardship to those that squander their own finances and time.
In the military they have the same idea, if they cannot trust you to shine your boots, keep your bed made to certain specifications, then how can they trust you to follow the specs to load a bomb or direct aircraft.
God is looking for those who hold His glory, His will and His interests in top priority to their own earthy wants and gains.
Our own works are meager compared to that of God’s; His glory shines best when we take our fingers out of the pie.
As with our children and most people we meet, we trust at first until it is broken, then we expect those to earn our trust. Our deeds, actions and management of all resources in our lives are what we can use to earn God’s trust. When we sinned we broke his trust, but we can earn that back through the help of Jesus’ sacrifice and willingness to be a broken and pliable vessel for His use.
Do you want to know financial freedom, give up the idea that YOU must do it all to attain it, focus on what you do have, how to manage what you have for His kingdom including your time, your money and your priorities. If your children suffer your loss so you can make money for bigger TV’s, play sets, and to “give them what you didn’t have”, think about what your actions are telling your children. Your family and friends want your time with them, just as God wants your time with Him. If you don’t have time for either at the end of the day, how can you expect God to give you more of anything, if you can’t give him more of your time?
Jesus compared faith to that of a mustard seed as its size is small, but the plant that grows from it is large. Our investment into God’s kingdom, though small will prosper in the hands of the First Gardener of life.
Luke 16:10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
Matthew 25:23
23. His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Matthew 6:32-34
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34is its own trouble. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day
The key to a successful Christian life is in the servant hood. By seeking the Kingdom of God, serving His will in our lives and letting Him reign as King in EVERY aspect, how can we not succeed?
Now not all are called to handle financial gains that leave them without funds for wants, but how will God give stewardship to those that squander their own finances and time.
In the military they have the same idea, if they cannot trust you to shine your boots, keep your bed made to certain specifications, then how can they trust you to follow the specs to load a bomb or direct aircraft.
God is looking for those who hold His glory, His will and His interests in top priority to their own earthy wants and gains.
Our own works are meager compared to that of God’s; His glory shines best when we take our fingers out of the pie.
As with our children and most people we meet, we trust at first until it is broken, then we expect those to earn our trust. Our deeds, actions and management of all resources in our lives are what we can use to earn God’s trust. When we sinned we broke his trust, but we can earn that back through the help of Jesus’ sacrifice and willingness to be a broken and pliable vessel for His use.
Do you want to know financial freedom, give up the idea that YOU must do it all to attain it, focus on what you do have, how to manage what you have for His kingdom including your time, your money and your priorities. If your children suffer your loss so you can make money for bigger TV’s, play sets, and to “give them what you didn’t have”, think about what your actions are telling your children. Your family and friends want your time with them, just as God wants your time with Him. If you don’t have time for either at the end of the day, how can you expect God to give you more of anything, if you can’t give him more of your time?
Jesus compared faith to that of a mustard seed as its size is small, but the plant that grows from it is large. Our investment into God’s kingdom, though small will prosper in the hands of the First Gardener of life.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Reading God's Word
I thought I would start my studies with reasons we should read God's word. In my youth, one of the verses I first memorized was Ps 119:11 "thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee."
In the New Testament Christ quoted scripture in response to Satan's temptation and Satan's scripture quoting.
My favorite is the first quote:
Matt 4:1-4
"1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”'
Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD."
Christ uses the knowledge He gained reading the scripture to counter the mis-use of scripture by the Deceiver. How can we fight the sin and deception in our lives if we don't really know the words by heart or even read them ourselves.
Christ also gives credence to the scripture as a spiritual food here, even above the physical food for our bodies. As we would give good food to our children so must we feed our souls.
Most take for granted and get their "food" from only their pastor's or teachers, and take for granted what actually knowing and reading God's word can do for us.
Another passage I memorized as a Child was Ps 119: 105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Jesus said "I am the light of the world, he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of light" John 8:12; "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:5.
In both the Old and New Testament, the word of God and the words of Jesus are life and light giving sources. Our path will always be lit if we read the Word of God. By actually getting past our busy lives and wondering why we don't have the time for anything, if we make the time for God and His word and not just excuses, we may find we weren't looking for time for other things after all; We were looking for Him.
How can we truly come to be in love with our savior, if we don't read about His nature, His example, or His love letters to us.
Thanks,
Sealjoy
In the New Testament Christ quoted scripture in response to Satan's temptation and Satan's scripture quoting.
My favorite is the first quote:
Matt 4:1-4
"1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”'
Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD."
Christ uses the knowledge He gained reading the scripture to counter the mis-use of scripture by the Deceiver. How can we fight the sin and deception in our lives if we don't really know the words by heart or even read them ourselves.
Christ also gives credence to the scripture as a spiritual food here, even above the physical food for our bodies. As we would give good food to our children so must we feed our souls.
Most take for granted and get their "food" from only their pastor's or teachers, and take for granted what actually knowing and reading God's word can do for us.
Another passage I memorized as a Child was Ps 119: 105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Jesus said "I am the light of the world, he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of light" John 8:12; "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:5.
In both the Old and New Testament, the word of God and the words of Jesus are life and light giving sources. Our path will always be lit if we read the Word of God. By actually getting past our busy lives and wondering why we don't have the time for anything, if we make the time for God and His word and not just excuses, we may find we weren't looking for time for other things after all; We were looking for Him.
How can we truly come to be in love with our savior, if we don't read about His nature, His example, or His love letters to us.
Thanks,
Sealjoy
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