The Eye Of The Lord Is Upon Us, Giving Us Wisdom From Above: Let Our Tongues Be Guided By Heavenly Wisdom Guiding The Course Of Our Lives

Today's Focus Scripture: James 3:1-14

James 3:1-14

1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 
2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 
3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 
4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 
10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 
11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

15-18 (J.B. Phillips version)
You may acquire a certain superficial wisdom, but it does not come from God—it comes from this world, from your own lower nature, even from the devil. For wherever you find jealousy and rivalry you also find disharmony and all other kinds of evil. The wisdom that comes from God is first utterly pure, then peace-loving, gentle, approachable, full of tolerant thoughts and kindly actions, with no breath of favouritism or hint of hypocrisy. And the wise are peace-makers who go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness—in other people and in themselves.

The Grace Of God Has Appeared Instructing Us To Deny Wordly Ungodliness

Today's Focus Scripture: Titus 2:11-15

Titus 2:11-15

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

We Are Not Separate Units But Intimately Related To Each Other In Christ, Properly Equipped Each For Their Service For The Building Up Of The Whole Body

Today's Focus Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-25


Ephesians 4:11-25

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Discoveries That Changes Everything; A Journey Of Finding God's Corporate And Personal Promises, Thereby Bringing Terror Upon The Enemy

Today's Focus Scripture: Joshua 2:8-11 
(Guest - Pastor Kim Pitner: Foursquare Missional Director for the Mid-South District)

Joshua 2:8-11 
8  Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 
9  and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 
10  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 
11  And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 

• Having terror of the enemy, quite the contrary, terror falls upon the enemy.
• We are the devils worst nightmare because God is with us.
• Jesus conquered the enemy making an open show of them.
• We are a harassment to the enemy, not the other way around.
• The enemy is not all powerful. Jesus is all powerful.
• The enemy's kingdom has been destroyed.
• The devil loses sleep over us and is tormented by us.

1 John 3:8 "... the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."

Deuteronomy 28:10 "And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you."

1 John 3:2  "Beloved, now are we the sons of God ..."

Be Forearmed In Our Spiritual Conflict Fully Armored And Ready For Battle

Today's Focus Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-24

Ephesians 6:10-24

10-18 In conclusion be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless resource. Put on God’s complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore you must wear the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground. Take your stand then with truth as your belt, righteousness your breastplate, the Gospel of peace firmly on your feet, salvation as your helmet and in your hand the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Above all be sure you take faith as your shield, for it can quench every burning missile the enemy hurls at you. Pray at all times with every kind of spiritual prayer, keeping alert and persistent as you pray for all Christ’s men and women.

^19-20 And pray for me, too, that I may be able to speak freely here to make known the secret of that Gospel for which I am, so to speak, an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may speak out about it as my plain and obvious duty.

^21-22 Tychicus, beloved brother and faithful minister, will tell you personally what I am doing and how I am getting on. I am sending him to you bringing this letter for that purpose, so that you will know exactly how we are and may take fresh heart:

²³ Peace be to all Christian brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

²⁴ Grace be with all those who sincerely love our Lord Jesus Christ.

Taste Liberty, Enjoy Freedom, We Are Not Under Law, We Are Under Grace

Today's Focus Scripture: Acts 21:18-24

Acts 21:18-24

18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
19 After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;
21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
22 What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
23 Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;
24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.

By And Through Faith - We Are Justified By Christ Through Our Faith In Him And What He Did For Us

Today's Focus Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Romans 3:21-31

Justification by Faith

²¹ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 

²² even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 
²⁴ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 
²⁵ whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 
²⁶ for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
²⁷ Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 
²⁸ For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

³⁰ since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one [God]. (Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear O' Israel, the Lord our God is One)
³¹ Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

LAGNIAPPE:

(Verse 25) PROPITIATION - ἱλαστήριον - hilastērion - hē-lä-stā'-ē-on

(Propitiation - To have been appeased, to have favor, to bring to a state of peace)

 

I.  relating to an appeasing or expiating, having placating or expiating force, expiatory; a                                                                                                           

     means of appeasing or expiating, a propitiation

         A.   used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was

                sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement

                (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by

                their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by

                this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the

                propitiatory

         B.   an expiatory sacrifice

         C.   a expiatory victim

(Verse 31) - ESTABLISH  - ἵστημι - histēmi  -- hē'-stā-mē

1. to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set
   1. to bid to stand by, [set up]
      1. in the presence of others, in the midst, before judges, before members of the Sanhedrin;
      2. to place
   2. to make firm, fix establish
      1. to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place
      2. to stand, be kept intact (of family, a kingdom), to escape in safety
      3. to establish a thing, cause it to stand
         1. to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything
   3. to set or place in a balance
      1. to weigh: money to one (because in very early times before the introduction of coinage, the metals used to be weighed)
2. to stand
   1. to stand by or near
      1. to stop, stand still, to stand immovable, stand firm
         1. of the foundation of a building
   2. to stand
      1. continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared
      2. to be of a steadfast mind
      3. of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waive

The Scriptures Are Written and Established In the Heavens - Read Them Daily, Read Them Often - Live By Them Daily

Today's Focus Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit up into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. After a fast of forty days and nights He was very hungry.

“If you really are the Son of God,” said the tempter, coming to Him, “tell these stones to turn into loaves.”

Jesus answered, “The scripture says ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’.”

Then the devil took Him to the holy city, and set Him on the highest ledge of the Temple. “If you really are the Son of God,” he said, “Throw yourself down. For the scripture says—‘He shall give His angels charge concerning you,’ and ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone’.”

“Yes,” retorted Jesus, “and the scripture also says ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’.”

Once again the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and from there showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their magnificence. “Everything there I will give you,” he said to Him, “if you will fall down and worship me.”

“Away with you, Satan!” replied Jesus, “the scripture says, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve’.”

Then the devil let him alone, and the angels came to him and took care of him.

LAGNIAPPE:

·         The Word breaks the “Spirit of Entitlement.”

1.     Law – Instructional teaching, how to live

2.     Word – Revelation of God’s will

3.     Ordinances – judgments – legal pronouncements, the way God runs His universe, rules of divine administration, the way He expects us to yield to that

4.     Commandments – faithful, religious principles, how to live in a religious community with each other, in a community of faith, how to worship, to worship

5.     Precepts – teach moral obligations before God, to care for the poor, social justice, protect the rights of others, how to live morally in an immoral universe

6.     Testimonies – ways in which He reveals Himself, by keeping His testimonies; self revelations, we invest ourselves in seeking Him, we come to know who God is by His testimonies,

7.     Statutes – limitations, walls of orders, civil and religious, these set limitations upon our lives to keep us from getting out of bounds, the walls of the canyon inside which we live

8.     Judgments – see Ordinances

Summary - Way – Thy Way of His word, commandments, etc.  The way of God, the scriptural way to live for God, the bible, the way God teaches us how to live, to think, and how to lead.  Thy Way is living the Bible Way.

Take Confidence and Be Strong - The Way of His Word - A Reminder That Our Confidence Comes From God and Through His Word - Revealed In Us - Written Upon Our Hearts

Today's Focus Scriptures: - From the Facebook Page of "Three Rusty Nails Church" a short devotional

Joel 3:10: Let the weak say, “I am strong.”

There are moments in our walk with God that we do feel weak; we feel inadequate. But here, God is calling us to speak his word over our lives; as the Bible says Jude 1:20 “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Also the Bible says in Hosea 14:2 ”Take my words with you.” Let the seed of God’s word grow within you. The Bible says in Acts 19:20 ”So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Let the word of God grow inside of you; water it every day in prayer. Spend time with God with his word. Let the word of God become in you an overcoming force. Let it prevail and win over everything.

Be Confident of Who You Are!!!


Joel 3:10
Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, “I am a mighty man.”

Jude 1:20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Hosea 14:2
Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips.

Acts 19:20
So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

LANGIAPPE:

Psalm 119:9-16

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.
16 I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.

2 Timothy 1:13-14
So keep my words in your mind as the pattern of sound teaching, given to you in the faith and love of Jesus Christ. Take the greatest care of the good things which were entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

Patiently Enduring, Persevering, Obeying, Keeping God's Word; These Will Keep Us In the Testing Hour Soon To Come

Today's Focus Scripture: Revelation 3:8-13

Revelation 3:8-13
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 
9 Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 
11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’


(J.B. Phillips Version)
8-13 I know what you have done. See, I have given you a door flung wide open, which no man can close! For you have some little power and have been faithful to my message and have not denied my name. See how I deal with those of Satan’s synagogue, who claim to be Jews, yet are no Jews but liars! Watch how I make them come and bow down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have obeyed my call to patient endurance I will keep you safe from the hour of trial which is to come upon the whole world, to test all who live upon the earth. I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have—let no one deprive you of your crown. As for the victorious, I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he will never leave it. I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down out of Heaven from my God. And I will write upon him my own new name. Let the listener hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.

We Take Refuge In You O God, In Your Presence Is Fullness of Joy.

Today's Focus Scripture: Psalm 16:1-11 (The entire Psalm)

Psalm 16:1-11

1 Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.

2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

I have no good besides You.”

3 As for the saints who are in the earth,

They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;

I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,

Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You support my lot.

6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;

Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.

8 I have set the Lord continually before me;

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will dwell securely.

10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

11 You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

God Is Able To Keep You From Stumbling, And To Make You Stand In the Presence Of His Glory Blameless With Great Joy

Today's Focus Scripture: Jude

Jude
1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,
7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.
11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
12 These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;
13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.
14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,
15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”
19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting;
23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.
Amen.

Save Us In Your Lovingkindness O Lord, Hide Us In the Secret Place of Your Presence

Today's Focus Scripture: Psalm 31:13-24

Psalm 31:13-24

13 For I have heard the slander of many,
Terror is on every side;
While they took counsel together against me,
They schemed to take away my life.
14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord,
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in Your hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant;
Save me in Your lovingkindness.
17 Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I call upon You;
Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
Which speak arrogantly against the righteous
With pride and contempt.
19 How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man;
You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord,
For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.
22 As for me, I said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried to You.
23 O love the Lord, all you His godly ones!
The Lord preserves the faithful
And fully recompenses the proud doer.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in the Lord.

God's Law Requires, Demands Justice Be Served and Jesus Died To Fulfill That Requirement, What the Law Demanded. Now We Have This Hope, That Justice Will Not Seek Us Out, Salvation Because of Christ.

Today's Focus Scripture: Micah 7:1-9

Micah 7:1-9

1 Woe is me! For I am
Like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers.
There is not a cluster of grapes to eat,
Or a first-ripe fig which I crave.
2 The godly person has perished from the land,
And there is no upright person among men.
All of them lie in wait for bloodshed;
Each of them hunts the other with a net.
3 Concerning evil, both hands do it well.
The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe,
And a great man speaks the desire of his soul;
So they weave it together.
4 The best of them is like a briar,
The most upright like a thorn hedge.
The day when you post your watchmen,
Your punishment will come.
Then their confusion will occur.
5 Do not trust in a neighbor;
Do not have confidence in a friend.
From her who lies in your bosom
Guard your lips.
6 For son treats father contemptuously,
Daughter rises up against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
God Is the Source of Salvation and Light
7 But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
8 Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy.
Though I fall I will rise;
Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.
9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord
Because I have sinned against Him,
Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me.
He will bring me out to the light,
And I will see His righteousness.

QUOTES:
Dr. Richard Hanner - "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed."

Pastor Eric Hulet - "Life affords us constant opportunities to see both the best and worst in humanity, and privileges us to see that without the grace of God we would be the worst."

What God Has Put His Hand To, What God Has Ordained, These Things Cannot Be Overthrown by Human Effort or Interference

Today's Focus Scripture: Acts 5:30-42 

Acts 5:30-42

(The time of the arraignment of the apostles before the Sanhedrin)

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
31 He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
33 But when they [the Sanhedrin] heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.
36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.
38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;
39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
40 They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.
41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

What We All Have In Common Is the Need For the Remission Of Our Sins

Today's Focus Scripture: Acts 2:38-47

Acts 2:38-47
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness [remission] of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 
39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.


LAGNIAPPE:

verse 38 - FORGIVENESS

απηεσισ Strong's G859

Pronunciation: af'-es-is
Definition: 
1) release from bondage or imprisonment
2) forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty

from 863; freedom; (figuratively) pardon:-deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission. see GREEK for 863

Being Sons of Light, Darkness Cannot Overtake Us Completely By Surprise as a Thief In the Night; Live Together In Peace

Today's Focus Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-13

1 Thessalonians 5:1-13
1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.
2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;
5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,
13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.


J.B. Phillips (PHILLIPS)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-13
But as far as times and seasons go, my brothers, you don’t need written instructions. You are well aware that the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a burglary to a householder. When men are saying “Peace and security” catastrophe will sweep down upon them as suddenly and inescapably as birth-pangs to a pregnant woman. But because you, my brothers, are not living in darkness the day cannot take you completely by surprise. After all, burglary only takes place at night! You are all sons of light, sons of the day, and none of us belongs to darkness or the night. Let us then never fall into the sleep that stupefies the rest of the world: let us keep awake, with our wits about us. Night is the time for sleep and the time when men get drunk, but we men of the daylight should be alert, with faith and love as our breastplate and the hope of our salvation as our helmet. For God did not choose us to condemn us, but that we might secure his salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. He died for us, so that whether we are “awake” or “asleep” we share his life. So go on cheering and strengthening each other with thoughts like these, as I have no doubt you have been doing. We ask you too, my brothers, to get to know those who work so hard among you. They are your spiritual leaders to keep you on the right path. Because of this high task of theirs, hold them in highest honour. Live together in peace.

Do You Think That the Scripture Speaks To No Purpose?

Today's Focus Scripture:  James 4:1-10

James 4:1-10

1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 

2 You lust and do not have;so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 

4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “The spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy?" 

6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.


LANGIAPPE:
The writer of this blog today has come across the word "ENVY" quite a bit in the past weeks. The understanding of envy has always been equal to jealousy as far as I could tell. However, these 2 words, envy and jealousy are not at all similar words in definition and meaning. On the one hand, jealously desires something for self, whereas envy desires to deprive others of what they have.

Envy is distinctly evil, compared to Admiration.  Envy is the supposed sin of Cain, and lead to murder.

Job 5:2
For wrath kills a foolish man,
And envy slays a simple one. 

(Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)
ENVY: 
The distinction lies in this, that "envy" desires to deprive another of what he has, "jealousy" desires to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself. 


Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!

(NOAH WEBSTER'S 1828 DICTONARY of AMERICAN ENGLISH)

ENVY:
v.t. [L. invideo, in and video, to see against, that is, to look with enmity.]

1. To feel uneasiness, mortification or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another; to repine at another's prosperity; to fret or 
grieve one's self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account.

2. To grudge; to withhold maliciously.

ENVY:
n. 
Pain, uneasiness, mortification or discontent excited by the sight of another's superiority or success, accompanied with some degree of hatred or malignity, and often or usually with a desire or an effort to depreciate the person, and with pleasure in seeing him depressed. 
Envy springs from pride, ambition or love, mortified that another has obtained what one has a strong desire to possess. 

(Emulation differs from envy, in not being accompanied with hatred and a desire to depress a more fortunate person.)