Word

God's wisdom helps me see

*** NOTES FROM SEP 16th ***

Proverbs 3

John 9

Subject : The mind of Christ

Thought: I need the wisdom of God

* Wisdom : the ability to judge correctly and follow the best course of action.

Challenge : To stand on the wisdom of God

God wants us to see with our hearts first.

We speak by faith things that are not yet seen as though they where!

Paul said to the Corinthians "become a fool so that you may become wise"

Proverbs 3:1 - God is saying to us, "Don't forget what I told you" - For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. (Proverbs 3:2 KJV)

How can we forget the God that has provided and protected us?

There is nothing better than the protection of God!

? Admit my faults.
- we need to check ourselves before we check others.

Acknowledging the things that have affected you is one thing, but know that in Christ you are a new creature.

In everything give thanks.

WHEN YOU’RE FEELING DEPLETED


Luke 22:43- And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

The twists and turns and ups and downs of life have a way at times of making us feel helpless, hopeless.  Especially when the prices on everything are going up, but our income is the only thing that seems to remain the same.  Or maybe your job is weighing you down because the company refuses to hire the manpower needed to get the work done.  And out of fear of becoming a victim to cutbacks, you grin and bear the load.  The Minds of many in our country are snapping!  They are feeling trapped by life’s seemingly unbeatable circumstances.  Not just unbelieving sinners, but the spiritual lives of many Christians are suffering because of mental exhaustion. 

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was mentally exhausted.  Our Lord was so mentally spent that God sent an angel to strengthen Him.  The mental anguish of facing the reality of death taxed His soul into bankruptcy; but the Spirit of the Living God in His Spirit reinvigorated His soul!  Now I understand why David said, “He (God) restoreth my soul” (Ps. 23:3)…!  Perhaps you need strength, or know someone in need of encouragement.  Our human capacity can hit its wits end; but there is no such limitation to those who desire seek God through prayer, who have faith and believe God’s Word, and who trust and have confidence in Him in spite of what their natural reality says.  Let God strength you with His unfailing strength!  As it was with our Lord Jesus Christ, you and I can fulfill our purpose if we stay in the presence of God.        



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TRUST AND OBEY

1 Cor 14:8- For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

In the Days of Israel, after the exodus from Egypt, the people understood the sound of the trumpet.  Depending on the sound the people knew exactly what to do.  There was a certain sound to move, or to stop, or to prepare for war.  The trumpeter knew how vital it was for him to blast the right sound.  Truthfully, the sound of the trumpet could mean the different between life and death.  Moreover, everyone had the responsibility of responding to what they heard.  All violators would be subject to an untimely death.  You were not to question the sound of the trumpet, but to answer it by doing what the sound relayed.

 

The trumpet is merely a type of God’s Word.  The Word speaks loud and clear.  By His Word has God kept the earth from its birth (Ps. 90:2; Heb. 11:3).  Its instructions are for the good of all mankind.  And if His written Word was hard to believe God sent His Word wrapped in flesh to prove that salvation is available through His Word alone, Jesus Christ (John 1:1-2,12).  Why do we question what needs to be done, when the Bible has a uniquely distinguishing sound?  God sent the Word to give us life, and to guide us through life.  His only begotten Son proved His Word is the truth (John 14:6)!  God’s Book of books is the only of its kind!  In it is His plan on how to overcome the struggles of the mind.  Obeying God’s Word means everlasting life.   Rebellion to it will grant a one way ticket to eternal damnation in hell: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”  God’s Word is our trumpet!  Therefore, trust and obey it. 

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Self Evaluation

“For if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  for he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets  what manner of man he was.  But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1: 23-25

Instructions:  Please answer the following questions in honesty, and meditate upon the Scriptures.

1. How often do you pray and read the Word during the week? (Psalm 119:11, I Thessalonians 5:17)


2. What has God called you to do within the body of Christ? (II Peter 1: 1-10)

Have you answered the call?

If not, Why?

 

3. Do you praise and worship God only on Sundays?  (Psalm 34:1, John 4:20-24)

If so, why not during the week?

 

4. When was the last time that you have shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone? (Mark 1:17)

 

5. Is God first in your life? (Matthew 6:33)

 

6. When troubles come or things don’t go your way, what is your first response? (Rom. 8: 26-49)

 

7. Are you led by the Spirit of God? (Romans 8:14)

If not, what or whom is guiding you? And why not?

 

Brother Mark Johnson

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WHAT AM I EXPECTING

I Kings 17:12- And she said, as the Lord God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse:  and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.  Read 12-16  

 

When the widow woman met up with Elijah, she had given up any hope for the life of her son and herself.  She was certain that she was going to cook her last supper and die.  But God sent the man of God, Elijah, her way to change her perspective.  When she acted upon His Word, the little bit she had increased to more than enough! 

 

In hard times, or in times of uncertainty, it is difficult to walk in expectation of good things when everything bad is happening.  It is easy to be pessimistic, and it is a fight to be optimistic.  As Christians, we cannot hope for the best and expect the worst.  this is not biblical at all!  We must remember this: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  See what you are going through as a test of your faith in God’s Word.  Have you ever wonder about what God is expecting of you?  Surely He does not want you to lay down and die, to run, to give up, or to pack your bags and walk away!  Our Father wants us to expect Him to move in a way that we will be convinced—Surely the Lord has done this thing! 

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How Faith Grows

Heb. 11:6- But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

For many faith has been defined in so many ways, they still don’t have a grasp on what the proper definition of faith is.  Moreover, unfortunately, they may not understand how to use it, or how it works, or how it increases.  To add to one’s problem I will not seek to do.  The best theological definition of faith to me is, “To be fully persuaded by the Word of God.”  What is my reasoning behind this?  Simple.  To be fully persuaded is to be confident in what God has said.  The action of faith is believing; therefore, you must be convinced of what has been said by God in order to act upon it!  Saying you have faith without showing your works by your faith means you don’t have faith at all.  Are you convinced by God’s Word?  Are you walking, talking, and thinking like you have what you have asked for even though you do not see it?

 

Seeking God is studying, meditating on, obeying, trusting in, relying on, and resting solely upon His Word.  When we do these things—our faith will increase.  Though it may start as a mustard seed, it will grow into our most powerful attribute (Matt. 13:31-32).  Faith without works is dead (James 2:17-26).  How do I know my faith is growing? You may say.  Faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17).  And when you hear God’s Word be fully persuaded of everything it says, and then believe it!  My friend, do you realize without faith it is impossible to please Him?  Focus on His Word, and your faith will grow!

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THE HEART

Prov. 4:23- Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life

 

The heart is the core of our being.  What affects the heart affects the whole man.  The seeing and taking of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil is secondary, when compared to Adam and Eve hearing a stranger’s voice and breaking God’s command.  It was what Eve heard that did the damage to her heart.  What they heard moved their hearts against God.  Like Adam and Eve, when we cease to guard our hearts, we become like a country without walls (a defense; Prov. 25:28).         

 

Have you ever noticed that the words “he, her, ear, and “hear” are in the word heart?  God made our hearts and He has given us ears to hear His Word, so that His Word will keep our hearts!  The woman in the Bible who had the issue of blood—had another problem:  she also had a wounded heart.  She was financially broke, she had exhausted all her options, and was getting no better but worse.  But she heard that the Word was in town.  Her encounter with the Word of God changed her heart forever!  Is your heart burden down with the cares of this life?  Are you tired of being sick and tired?  The Word of God will give your heart strength!  And once the Word strengthens you, diligently guard your heart.  Rather than issues, let rivers of living waters flow from your heart! 

Pastor Troy v. Ingram

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Restoration is Now

Sadly, the word Christian has been diluted over the last 2000 years.  The enemy has made what was originally intended to be a lifestyle into organized religion.  A religion filled with souls that think Christianity is relegated to going to church every Sunday and giving their tithes. Is this not the same thing that has happened to the Jews of the Old Testament, who were punished for hypocrisy?   
 
Man’s purpose on earth is to worship God in spirit and in truth.  This is only accomplished by living a life that is holy and acceptable unto God (Rom. 12:1-2).  Our sacrifices of praise only remain pure when our heart is pure and fully yielded to God (Hebrews 13:15).   If God is in your heart, then His Word will come out of your mouth. For out of the heart proceeded the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).  And the tongue speaks that which is in the heart.  This is trueworship, This is true praise!
 
God is calling for a renewal of vows; a renewed commitment to him. We must put off the religious mindset, and return to our first love.  We are so far away, yet we are so close. God is saying, turn your heart back to me..  Remember the sweetness of the fellowship you once had when you first came to Christ.  Take back your praise and worship that the enemy has stolen through deceits and trickery. Our Lord Jesus Christ is knocking on the door of your heart (Revelation 3:20) ; will you let him in?
 
 
Brother Mark Johnson
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SEEK TRUTH

I Tim 4:1- Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

From our beginnings, the enemy has sought to discredit the Word of God. Suggesting to us that we should do what we want, and that God is hiding the truth from us (Gen. 3:4-5). His greatest tool against mankind is deception. I define deception as something seemingly good with hidden evil intentions. The equivalent is having a plate of food laced with a poison that is hard too detect. Unfortunately deception is an easy product to market, and even easier to sell! And with over 2500 religions in our world today, it cannot be denied that the forces of darkness have enjoyed the success of their seduction. Thank God for sending the truth, Jesus Christ, to walk among us so that we may counter the lies of satan.

Please read Ps. 1:1-3. Let us take heed to what the Holy Spirit has said. Surely we are in the “latter times.” Many are giving heed to compromising messages and teachings that lead them further from the truth of God’s Word, and closer to “another gospel” (II Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6). Rather than seek the truth, many seek what is intellectually acceptable and comfortable to their lifestyle. This is a gospel void of sacrifice and commitment to the teaching of the Bible, and suggests merely a self-improvement agenda without denial of self (Matt. 16:24). This is, in fact, the doctrines of devils (better translated demons). In all our getting we must get an understanding (Prov. 4:7). Let us seek truth, which is only found in the Word of God, and we will avoid departing from the ways of God.

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MY SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING

Matt. 4:4- But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

When the enemy came to mankind through the serpent, he knew what his mission would be.  In order to be successful with his deceitfulness, he would need to cast doubt in the minds of humanity concerning God’s Word to them (Gen. 3).  God told us, “Thou shalt surely die.”  The enemy changed it to, “Ye shall not surely die.”  This ever so slight change, speaking from a grammatical standpoint, brought about 6,000 years of dealing with sin and its co-conspirtors, death and the devil.  Our spiritual well-being became severely compromised.  Then Jesus came to save man from the dreaded virus called sin, and to give us the Holy Spirit to revive our spirits within.  

Almost all of us give a lot of attention to our outer appearance.  Billions of dollars are spent, collectively of course, to keep our outward man looking good.  Plastic surgery, nipping, tucking, and cutting, working out, some spare no expense as it concerns their physical beings.  Christians included.  Yet it is the inner man that is usually being starved or dying of dehydration.  This should not be!  Furthermore, to groom the inner man take no money at all.  Howbeit it will take the time and effort of getting into the Word of God, and praying the same Word of God in faith.  This will be time well spent.  Really, our spirit man cannot survive nor wage spiritual warfare without having the Word of God that was rejected in the Garden of Eden.  As milk does the body good, so does the Word of God secure our spiritual well-being.  So, ask yourself a question: Do I take care of my physical being better than my spiritual being?       

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