tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28435566063995358982024-02-07T01:37:11.515-08:00The Indwelling Word MinistriesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-91525933818174938182016-11-09T08:07:00.001-08:002016-11-09T08:07:18.466-08:00The Ministry of Beholding His Face<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I realize that it has been a really long while since I have shared anything on this ministry. And I'm not sure what God has planned in the future for The Indwelling Word Ministries; I'll have to pray about that. But God placed a message on my heart today that I thought I should share with you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lord has been teaching me much lately about simply studying Him. Remembering Who He is and what He has done for us. I know I've talked about this before, but it is so easy (<b>for me!</b>) to forget to look full into His wonderful face.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure there are many passages I could share, but the one God laid on my heart this morning is Isaiah 40:9-11.</span><br />
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~~Isaiah 40:9-11~~</div>
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<i>"O Zion, You who bring good tidings, </i></div>
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<i>Get up into the high mountain; </i></div>
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<i>O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, </i></div>
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<i>Lift up your voice with strength, </i></div>
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<i>Lift it up, be not afraid; </i></div>
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<i>Say to the cities of Judah, </i></div>
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<i>"Behold your God!" </i></div>
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<i>Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, </i></div>
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<i>And His arm shall rule for Him; </i></div>
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<i>Behold, His reward is with Him, </i></div>
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<i>And His work before Him. </i></div>
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<i>He will feed His flock like a shepherd;</i></div>
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<i> He will gather the lambs with His arm, </i></div>
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<i>And carry them in His bosom, </i></div>
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<i>And gently lead those who are with young."</i></div>
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After these three verses, Isaiah goes on to talk about how there is absolutely nothing that can compare to our Lord. But look at that command in verse nine: "Tell everyone you know, shout from the rooftops, lift up your voice with strength. And say: Behold. Behold your God."</div>
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Wow. What is the command we receive here? We are instructed to behold our God. To muse on the works of His hands. To meditate on what He has done for us. To think about Who He is.</div>
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There have been seasons in my life, where I honestly haven't focused my heart upon His character and goodness. And those were times where I was oft distracted by the things of the world, oft discouraged by my own imperfections. But these past few days, God has been calling me back to Himself. Calling my just to walk hand-in-hand with Him and allow Him to turn my eyes back onto things that are eternal. And I can testify from personal experience that beholding His face is the most amazing thing ever! Last night, I was so overwhelmed with His grace in the face of my own weakness and unfaithfulness, that I was simply overflowing with praise! I understood through my own experience what the psalmist said when he wrote, <i>"My heart is <b>overflowing</b> with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King, my tongue is the pen of a ready writer"</i> (Psalm 45:1). I couldn't contain the joy inside and couldn't help but share God's goodness with some friends. =)</div>
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That is how my perspective changed by beholding my Lord. And honestly, it was one of the most amazing things I've done. It continues to be, as I continue to look at Him.</div>
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I suppose I can't make you begin to behold His face once you hit "exit" after reading this post. But I can share my own experiences and the Word of God with you. I'm not going to list off 101 benefits of meditating on Him. Nor am I going to list off all the Scripture passages that talk about how we should do it. I only ask that you might come away from the things of this world that are so empty and will never satisfy, and allow your gaze to be fixed upon the King of kings. There is nothing more amazing. Nothing.</div>
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If you wonder where to start, or how even to begin beholding His face, I suggest two things for you:</div>
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<li>Read the Scriptures. You can start with Isaiah 40, which says so much about Who God is and how absolutely amazing and incomparable He is. God's Word reveals to us Who He is. Be faithful, my dear friend, to read it and muse over it. This Word literally has the power to change your life, as you gaze upon the King (2 Timothy 3:16-17).</li>
<li>Keep a thanksgiving journal. I've been writing down the things that I'm thankful for and it's really helped me to look around and see God's presence in my life and how good He has been. It's forced me to watch for His answers to my prayers and I've witnessed Him at work. And watching Him in my own life has definitely put a song of praise in my heart.</li>
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And with those thoughts, I leave you. My friends, God is so good. <3 I'm overwhelmed at His mercy and His grace. Even that He has brought me to this place in my spiritual walk where I realize that nothing is more important than Him. Without His help, I would have never reached this place, but would have continued to wallow in misery and selfishness. God is <b>ever so good</b> to His children!</div>
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<i>"Praise the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name."</i> ~Psalm 30:4</div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-36831318877401931582016-06-13T13:43:00.001-07:002016-06-13T13:43:53.440-07:00Praying in Jesus' Name<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been thinking today about what it means to pray in Jesus' name. John MacArthur offers a great commentary on this topic, speaking about John 14:14 which says, "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." I pray that you may be encouraged to pray in Jesus' name, understanding in full what that means.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Jesus’ disciples had left everything and were completely without resources. Without their Master, they would be all alone in a hostile world. Yet, He assured them, they did not need to worry about any of their needs. The gap between Him and them would be closed instantly whenever they prayed. Even though He would be absent, they would have access to all His supplies.<br /><br />That is not carte blanche for every whim of the flesh. There’s a qualifying statement repeated twice. He doesn’t say, “I’ll give you absolutely anything you ask for,” but rather, “I’ll do what you ask in My name.” That does not mean we can simply tack the words, “in-Jesus’-name-amen” on the end of our prayers and expect the answers we want every time. Neither is it a special formula or abracadabra that will magically guarantee the granting of our every wish.<br /><br />The name of Jesus stands for all that He is. Throughout Scripture, God’s names are the same as His attributes. When Isaiah prophesied that Messiah would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Isaiah%209.6">Isaiah 9:6</a>), he was not listing actual names, but rather giving an overview of Messiah’s character. “I am who I am,” the name revealed to Moses in <a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Exodus%203.14">Exodus 3:14</a>, is as much an affirmation of God’s eternal nature as it is a name by which He is to be called.<br /><br />Therefore, praying in the name of Jesus is more than merely mentioning His name at the end of our prayers. If we are truly praying in Jesus’ name, we will pray only for that which is consistent with His perfect character, and for that which will bring glory to Him. It implies an acknowledgement of all that He has done and a submission to His will.<br /><br />What praying in Jesus’ name really means is that we should pray as if our Lord Himself were doing the asking. We approach the throne of the Father in full identification with the Son, seeking only what He would seek. When we pray with that perspective, we begin to pray for the things that really matter, and we eliminate selfish requests</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-64200333876917294752016-06-03T12:16:00.001-07:002016-06-03T12:16:24.302-07:00How to Look to Jesus --Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you know, over these past few weeks we've really been examining different ways we can fix our gaze upon the Person of Jesus Christ. For me, these things can be so easy to allow to slip to the side. But I know when I take the time to very purposefully place my eyes upon Jesus, the results are far greater than I have time to tell here. I pray that the Spirit may move in your heart, drawing you to fix your gaze upon Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These suggestions are small ones, not as significant as the ones we have talked about already. Nevertheless, I thought I would give them to you in the hopes that, in some small way, they might encourage you (and me while I am writing them!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although it's so easy to allow this to fall to the side (I speak from personal experience), recording God's faithfulness--in the little things and the big things--has been so instrumental in my walk with the Lord. It helps me to be more aware throughout the day of what God is doing and saying so that I can write it down. And whenever I am feeling discouraged or downtrodden, I can look back at those journals, the records of God's faithfulness, love, and mercy, and be encouraged. There have been countless times when paging through those entries has lifted my spirits and my eyes to the One who loves me with an everlasting love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Talk about Him with Others</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This can be so beneficial! When you gather with fellow believers (and even sharing the gospel with those who do not know the Lord), you will find that turning the conversation to the things of the Lord is so helpful to turning your gaze back to Him. Even when the conversation is over I find myself reflecting on the things we have talked about and, in turn, praising the Lord. Just try it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This is all I have time for today. Be encouraged my friend! Consider your Savior, for He has bought you with an everlasting love and drawn you with His mercy. This Gentle Savior is more amazing than anything this world has ever known! Let us fix our eyes on HIM.</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-77383988197576553582016-05-24T14:05:00.004-07:002016-05-24T14:06:38.500-07:00How to Look to Jesus --Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we continue studying what it means to look to Jesus, I want to give you one thought to ponder as you go about your day. We'll add it to the list of ways to remember Him that we began last <a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/2016/05/how-to-look-to-jesus.html" target="_blank">Wednesday</a>. We've already looked at reading God's Word and meditating on the Scriptures, now let us examine a third way we can refocus the eyes of our heart upon the risen Savior.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Praise and Worship</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is so important! The Psalmist speaks often of praising the Lord, and it was clear the effect it had upon his life. His thoughts were continually turned upon the King of kings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Praising God is something that we should do <i>every moment</i> of every day! We can worship Him literally anywhere. Doing the dishes, taking a shower, driving to work each day. It doesn't take much to praise Him. Singing songs is a wonderful way to bring glory to Him through praise, but it isn't necessary. Take time to adore Him with verses of Scripture you have memorized, or just thoughts that come to your mind concerning His character and goodness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Direct your admiration towards HIM, through times of worship and praise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have found it especially wonderful (and richly rewarding) to <b>set-apart a time in my day to praising God.</b> A time where I leave the noise of the world behind, get out some worship music or open my Bible to the Psalms. In those moments I allow my heart to give way to deep and heartfelt praise. I encourage you to do this along with me. Let every breath praise the Lord!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is not only something we should prioritize in private, but also in public. Ephesians 5:19 reminds us, "<i>Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." </i> Just imagine with me for a moment what would happen if we actually followed this verse. What if we really obeyed this Scripture?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh, let everything that has breath praise the LORD!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Psalm 117:1-2:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"Praise the Lord, all nations! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Extol him, all peoples! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>For great is his steadfast love toward us, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>and the faithfulness of the Lord </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>e</i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ndures forever. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Praise the Lord!"</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-62809251391467438262016-05-18T15:47:00.002-07:002016-05-18T15:47:17.164-07:00How to Look to Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may remember <a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/2016/05/fix-your-gaze-upon-jesus.html" target="_blank">last Wednesday</a>, when we looked at Peter's adventure on the water, where he looked straight at Jesus and had faith. But when he took his eyes off of his Savior and gazed around him at the wind and the waves, his faith faltered. I've been thinking a lot lately about just how important looking to Jesus really is. But today, instead of diving into all the reasons <i>why</i> we should look to Jesus, I want us to think about some practical ways we *can* look to Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see, saying "Remember Him" or "Turn your eyes upon Jesus" can sound good in theory, but I've found they can be rather hard to accomplish in practice. So just what does these phrases mean? And how can we, on a practical, everyday basis, live with our eyes fixed upon the King of kings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a little list in my journal, and would like to share some of those things here with you today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Read the Scriptures </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gloria K. made a good point in a comment she left on last weeks' article. She said, "I'm convinced the only way to keep our eyes on Jesus is to constantly immerse ourselves in His Word." This is so true. I have found in my own life that when I make the effort to spend time at His feet in the Word each morning, my thoughts are more directed upon Him throughout the day. But when I sleep in late, or get up and do other things, my day is more likely to be distracted and not centered upon Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another thing I have found to be helpful is to <b>read the Scriptures <i>throughout </i>the day</b>. Have verses pasted around your house, on your computer/phone, in your school books--wherever you will see them often. Even just pausing for 15 minutes during your lunch break to read the Scriptures can help your mind refocus on Him. Imagine with me for a moment what would happen if we took every spare moment of our free time and spent it in the pursuit of God's Word--whether through reading it, or through meditating on it. Wouldn't the results be amazing?! Maybe, just maybe, you should try it. =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, it's one thing to read God's Words, and it is another thing to <b>study the Scriptures</b>. When you spend focused time (at any point during the day) to <i>study</i> what God's Word has to say, making notes or looking up other verses to support it, etc. you will find the message sticking in your head in a much greater way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Meditate on Verses from Scripture</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have found this to be one of the most effective ways to fix my thoughts upon the Lord. When we meditate on verses of a nature that pertains to His character or what He has done for us, our thoughts are purposefully placed upon Him. Let me tell you all something, this turning our eyes upon Jesus thing, it doesn't happen <b>subconsciously</b>. It takes purposeful, planned out effort if you want to set your mind on things above. It takes hard work, but in the end it is more than worth it. (<i>P.S. I have found though that the more you purposefully look to Jesus, the more naturally it becomes. After a while you will find yourself inherently focusing on Him.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So meditating on specific verses of Scripture that talk about Who He is is a really purposeful way to fix the eyes of your heart upon Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only is it important to meditate on a particular verse or passage, it is also a good idea to look at the broader scope of things and remember the message of the gospel. Reply what happened on the cross in your mind--while you're on a car ride, doing the dishes, or falling asleep--redeem the time when your mind is otherwise unoccupied to remember the cross and what Jesus did for you there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, that's all we have time for today, but I encourage you to keep thinking about the practical ways we can fix our eyes upon Him. You're welcome to share with me in the comments or contact page; I would love to hear! I have more thoughts on this subject that I hope to share with you sometime soon! Until then, may your eyes be ever fixed upon the face of your King.</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-16967544623942883392016-05-13T19:48:00.000-07:002016-05-13T19:48:17.524-07:00Fix your Gaze Upon Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matthew 14:22-33:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.</i></span></div>
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<i>25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.</i></div>
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<i>27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”</i></div>
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<i>28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”</i></div>
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<i>29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”</i></div>
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<i>31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.</i></div>
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<i>33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”</i></div>
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I've been thinking about this story lately. Peter saw his Lord coming and immediately was filled with great faith. He stepped out on the water. Notice at this point where his eyes are looking. Toward Jesus. But then what happened?</div>
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He took his eyes off of Jesus.</h3>
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Oh my, the winds are great. Oh, and the waves! And as he began to look around him, his faith and his footsteps faltered. He began to look around him at the things of this world, and immediately he lost his faith. He lost his hope and sense of security. Suddenly the wind and the waves seemed greater and more powerful than anything else.</div>
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How often are we like Peter?</h3>
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We see God and we have great faith. Our gaze is fixed steadily upon Him and we believe anything is possible. But then (typically in our generation, this happens slowly and unconsciously) our gaze turns downward. Look at those waves. The wind blows so fiercely! Our problems seem so big, and for some strange reason, our God seems so small.</div>
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We have lost our faith. Why? <b> Because we turned our eyes off of Jesus.</b></div>
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My friends, <i>how easy it is </i>to allow our gaze to falter off of the King of kinds. The natural inclination of our flesh is to look at the things of this world. But we <b>must </b>reject this inclination. We <b>must </b>fix our eyes upon Jesus.</div>
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This is easy to think about conceptually, but what about practically? How can we turn our eyes upon Jesus each and every day of our lives?</div>
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I've been thinking about this question a lot over the past few days, but I would like to give you a chance to think. How do we fix our gaze upon Jesus? <i>You are welcome to share your thoughts below in the comments section or share privately through the "<a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/p/contact.html" target="_blank">Contact</a>" page. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!</i></div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-77709526613599037892016-05-11T12:54:00.000-07:002016-05-11T12:54:32.206-07:00A Few Questions (for you) on God's Word<iframe frameborder="0" height="2050" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1V-WFnsrZRamLwQKmcpcIeYRpevQIGRcKjlD008eOjEg/viewform?embedded=true" width="540">Loading...</iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-71808446361854791652016-05-10T14:42:00.001-07:002016-05-10T14:42:20.416-07:00God's Word is our Great Reward --Part 2<div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last Wednesday we began to examine the second part of Psalm 19:11. This is the last verse in the study we have been doing on Psalm 19:7-11. Let's review the line: </span><br />
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<b>“And in keeping them [God's commands] there is great reward.”</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you remember, we discussed the Hebrew word for keep (shamar). We also looked at the great reward that is awaiting us in heaven.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On top of all that though, we will also be rewarded here in this earth, although the measure is very small in comparison to the glory awaiting us. Still, it is comforting to remember that our sacrifice for obedience does not go unnoticed and unblessed in this world. James 1:25 grants us a small picture of what this means: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Joshua 1:8 also reminds us that if we will be careful to observe and do all the things written in the Scriptures, we will be prosperous and successful wherever we go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like what Thomas Brooks said,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The joy, the rest, the refreshing, the comforts, the contents, the smiles, the incomes that saints now enjoy, in the ways of God, are so precious and glorious in their eyes, that they would not exchange them for ten thousand worlds. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh! if the vails, [Gratuities, presents] be thus sweet and glorious before pay-day comes, what will be that glory that Christ will crown his saints with for cleaving to his service in the face of all difficulties, when he shall say to his Father, "Lo, here am I, and the children which thou hast given me." Isaiah 8:18. If there be so much to be had in the wilderness, what then shall be had in paradise!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My friends, we cannot fully realize the benefits of keeping God's Words until we actually go out and do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Motive</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But honestly, although this is our reward, it is not our motive. We keep God's commands 1) because He, the almighty, holy, and just God, commanded us, but also 2) because we <b>love</b> Him. Jesus Himself established this as the way we can demonstrate our love for Him and our thankfulness for what He has done on the cross. He said,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> “If you love Me, keep My commandments" (</i>John 14:15)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little later in that chapter He says:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"Whoever has My commandments </i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and keeps them,<b> he it is who loves Me. </b></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, </i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~John 14:21</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFBbYhVg_mKoR7xPx7bKBcePrFFndksW2uxrP1g7YSYOfQjB-xrT0OpKTqxzoJNA4-DQylVBsG_aVSfFDHy_8dnOV5l00JZmQ9gwkHYPPX1nBgp9kCpa_D6-zYj10XXT8r_mzfoII1g2q/s1600/IMG_6512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFBbYhVg_mKoR7xPx7bKBcePrFFndksW2uxrP1g7YSYOfQjB-xrT0OpKTqxzoJNA4-DQylVBsG_aVSfFDHy_8dnOV5l00JZmQ9gwkHYPPX1nBgp9kCpa_D6-zYj10XXT8r_mzfoII1g2q/s320/IMG_6512.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is how we demonstrate how much we love God, by obeying His commands. It's not merely forced upon us or something we "have" to do, keeping God's commands (Psalm 19:11) is something we do out of love.</span></div>
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2 John 6 says,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>"This is love,</b> [this is the way that we demonstrate our love for God] that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it."</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Keeping</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It all comes back to obeying the commands. Yes, we have a great reward awaiting us, and no that is not our purpose (love is), but whatever may be, we must keep these commands. We must treasure them in our heart, guarding them in our minds, and obeying them with our actions. My friends, God's Word is an ocean rich and deep with treasures. Both within it's pages, and as rewards for obeying them. But we must open the book. We must apply ourselves diligently to it. And we must submit ourselves in obedience to it's commands. Let us demonstrate our love for He Who gave His all for us by obeying His commands. We'll leave the reward in His hands, knowing however, that it will come, just as Psalm 19:1 has promised.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I leave you with this quote by Charles Spurgeon: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Then shall we know the value of the Scriptures when we swim in that sea of unutterable delight to which their streams will bear us, <b>if we commit ourselves to them."</b></span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-59629032338885279472016-05-04T14:11:00.000-07:002016-05-04T14:11:15.384-07:00God's Word is Our Great Reward --Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglthM1snU4PW32rCAKplZOT3xdH6rhyepr7S2NGWSLRESocuSUDwZ1GFx3mIcGNumRjY2Xdgv0zKsr6rGg3T_THxC1KwD2d-dQMcdjm1QgYYC0ekvIDrJ09vJtnaAhDkEmgFcGwlqmN9dP/s1600/IMG_6237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglthM1snU4PW32rCAKplZOT3xdH6rhyepr7S2NGWSLRESocuSUDwZ1GFx3mIcGNumRjY2Xdgv0zKsr6rGg3T_THxC1KwD2d-dQMcdjm1QgYYC0ekvIDrJ09vJtnaAhDkEmgFcGwlqmN9dP/s320/IMG_6237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>“And in keeping them [God's commands] there is great reward.”</i></b></div>
</i></b><br />Today we come to the line of the Scripture we have been studying for these past few weeks: Psalm 19:7-11. I have so enjoyed studying God's Word with you and really diving deeply into our own heart responses to God's Word. But let us dive into this last line, about the great rewards of following God's Words.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we look at what scholars call the "interpretation" and "application," let's take a look at observation--specifically, Hebrew words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hebrew Word for Keep</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The word for "keeping" is the word "shamar." I know that doesn't really mean anything to you, but as a Hebrew student myself, it is kind of cool. :) I'll even show you how it's spelled in Hebrew: </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: blbHebrew; line-height: 39.936px; text-align: center;">שָׁמַר</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: blbHebrew; line-height: 39.936px; text-align: center;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 39.936px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pretty cool, hugh? Anyway, the word shamar means</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "to keep, guard, observe, give heed." It's the way you keep something in your mind (Genesis 37:11), or the way you keep a covenant (Genesis 17:9). It also carries the idea of guarding (Joshua 10:18) and is translated that way in other passages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is how we are to treat God's Words. We are called to keep them in our minds and to guard them from escaping our hearts. More than that though, we are to observe them and give heed to what they say. We are to obey God's Words.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Great Reward</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be the first to admit that following in Christ's footsteps isn't always easy. In fact, Jesus promised we would have trouble (John 16:33). Although sometimes it may seem that we are in the loss, in the end, we <b>will</b> gain the greatest reward as we keep God's commands. We <b>will </b>one day be blessed beyond imagination. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Spurgeon says it well: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Oh the glory yet to be revealed! It is enough to make a man faint for joy at the prospect of it. Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Then shall we know the value of the Scriptures when we swim in that sea of unutterable delight to which their streams will bear us, if we commit ourselves to them.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What wonderful blessings and rewards we have waiting for us in heaven! We can not even imagine what great things God has in store for us there (Ephesians 3:20-21)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Unfortunately this is all the time we have for today. Come back again on Friday to hear more about the rewards we have for obeying God's Word, but even more than that, our motive. I'll see you then!</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-40046719628807100172016-05-02T13:58:00.001-07:002016-05-02T13:58:18.271-07:00God's Word is Our Warning<span id="docs-internal-guid-14eacb2e-7328-b4db-fd59-def7ad438faa"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa19feh7zWiyRL-FLllgvQD1VofU8onNHQsSK7rWH0OqGIHGDHrPWdBcGFgKsLiCUTIY2UB9eh9JeK8fqaGEeJuv6u4MEB5T1pUzQwHALDwwLYXXSG_Z6qEhX1Au6qlO4c3Qv2pLQ3qWk/s1600/IMG_6158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa19feh7zWiyRL-FLllgvQD1VofU8onNHQsSK7rWH0OqGIHGDHrPWdBcGFgKsLiCUTIY2UB9eh9JeK8fqaGEeJuv6u4MEB5T1pUzQwHALDwwLYXXSG_Z6qEhX1Au6qlO4c3Qv2pLQ3qWk/s320/IMG_6158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Moreover by them Your servant is warned...”</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me provide you a little bit of context to the line of Scripture above so you can better enjoy its beauty and learn from the depth of its meaning: </span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"More to be desired are they [God's words, the Scriptures] than gold,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yea, than much fine gold;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moreover by them Your servant is warned,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in keeping them there is great reward." </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Psalm 19:10-11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is such knowledge found in the word of God. Through the Scriptures, we are warned of our depravity, our danger, our duty, and our remedy. The Bible is our mentor and our counselor. It is our guide and our helper. It sheds a light on the dangers of our path and shows us the right way to go. It warns us of that which might hurt us (although sometimes it seems pleasant when we first behold it) and provides something so much better for us. He is our Guard and our Gentle Shepherd, leading us in the way of everlasting.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I liked this commentary. It was a good visible representation of the Bible's role in warning its readers:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A certain Jew had formed a design to poison Luther, but was disappointed by a faithful friend, who sent Luther a portrait of the man, with a warning against him. By this, Luther knew the murderer and escaped his hands. Thus the word of God, O Christian, shows thee the face of those lusts which Satan employs to destroy thy comforts and poison thy soul. —<i>G. S. Bowes, B.A., in "Illustrative Gatherings for Preachers and Teachers."</i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do we <b>value </b>and <b>hold dear</b> the warnings of the Scriptures as we ought? Our gentle Shepherd is leading the way to green pastures; do we hear His voice? Do we follow His direction? Do we heed His warnings?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you choose how you are going to spend your free time today, remember Psalm 19:11. <b>Will you choose to sit at the feet of your Guide and soak up His words of warning?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you approach the Scriptures each day, remember that these words hold counsel and training. They will teach you the way of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."</i> ~2 Timothy 3:16-17</span></blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-27321973096597050972016-04-29T12:00:00.000-07:002016-04-29T12:00:21.867-07:00A.W. Tozer Quote on the Bible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfNdpi6xIkCeVf8mAeHRrxqInan6qzB2JwQXuukz76r_LTrGCAb532mKwtDtpMRqUb-1HAT3K3-iq-lsGyS6GpaqsoPwhY_LZRolOMOe5AZMbF-gm8kLoMOY4MpSBOp1vZI9BhK0lLQOc/s1600/IMG_5643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfNdpi6xIkCeVf8mAeHRrxqInan6qzB2JwQXuukz76r_LTrGCAb532mKwtDtpMRqUb-1HAT3K3-iq-lsGyS6GpaqsoPwhY_LZRolOMOe5AZMbF-gm8kLoMOY4MpSBOp1vZI9BhK0lLQOc/s320/IMG_5643.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<b>Read </b>it much, <b>read </b>it often, <b>brood </b>over it, <b>think </b>over it, <b>meditate </b>over it—meditate on the Word of God day and night. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you are awake at night, <b>think </b>of a helpful verse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you get up in the morning, no matter how you feel, think of a verse and make the Word of God the important element in your day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Holy Ghost <b>wrote </b>the Word, and if you make much of the Word, He will make much of you. It is through the Word that He <b>reveals </b>Himself. Between those covers is a <i>living </i>Book. God wrote it and it is still vital and effective and alive. God is in this Book, the Holy Ghost is in this Book, and if you want to find Him, go into this Book." ~A.W. Tozer</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-69756663864194763162016-04-28T14:05:00.001-07:002016-04-28T14:05:13.849-07:00Delighting in God's Word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgzRlVoANQc-QLEejmKhQ79Aw-1vzIR2sgzh4pMEtBxVs7sFO9Zl0TFotqkTyWOlMOJGEWtvxmfBrXTGwFXOlgfvD6_50wXFT1KfcnI8EwkuO0CMjQf2wvn_PvAkRykRCOWY0Wh4jid4X/s1600/IMG_5443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgzRlVoANQc-QLEejmKhQ79Aw-1vzIR2sgzh4pMEtBxVs7sFO9Zl0TFotqkTyWOlMOJGEWtvxmfBrXTGwFXOlgfvD6_50wXFT1KfcnI8EwkuO0CMjQf2wvn_PvAkRykRCOWY0Wh4jid4X/s320/IMG_5443.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/2016/04/gods-word-is-sweeter-than-honey.html" target="_blank">Yesterday</a>, we were touched by the truth that God's Word is sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:10). And we were challenged to examine our own hearts. Do we really treat God's Word as the most satisfying treasure on earth?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">If we honestly examine our heart and find the answer to that question is "no" yet we want it to be, how do we learn to treasure God's Word? How can we get to the point where we value God's Word and love to spend time in its pages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we look at two specific ways we can learn to treasure God's Word more than our necessary food (Job 23:12), we must recognize and believe one truth: even though we may not <i>feel</i> in our hearts that God's Word is sweeter than honey, we must know that it <b>is</b>. God's Word is truth, whether our feelings align with it or not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Spend More Time Reading God's Word</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">If we want to see the rewarding God's Word is, we must spend time each day pouring over its pages.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggk_16b-Vnv7boDcoISXFvCEjG2Z1MFuMuTkG_OhoWLoLVxe7vIVI5oD28HnOaeCvf_A1WcGbXjL_9Yj_aZMou0TNDZ8hsXuWspxcbLArguGf08-13hfsIxgxpDk-edsPSz9DojiMXXdXE/s1600/IMG_5444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggk_16b-Vnv7boDcoISXFvCEjG2Z1MFuMuTkG_OhoWLoLVxe7vIVI5oD28HnOaeCvf_A1WcGbXjL_9Yj_aZMou0TNDZ8hsXuWspxcbLArguGf08-13hfsIxgxpDk-edsPSz9DojiMXXdXE/s320/IMG_5444.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone once said, "The <b>longer </b>you read the Bible, the more you will like it; it will grow <b>sweeter </b>and <b>sweeter</b>; and the more you get into the spirit of it, the more you will get into the spirit of Christ."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we spend time studying and memorizing God’s Word, we will grow to love it more. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love using this analogy: It has been said that we crave what we consume. If you are always eating junk food, the healthy things that are actually good for your body may seem flavorless. On the other hand, as you wean yourself of the sugarcoated food, the nourishing things like salad taste better and better. It is the same with His Word. The more you consume it by reading, studying, and memorizing, the more you will begin to see its value and long for more and more.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">George Whitefield bears witness through his own personal testimony: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I began to </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">read </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">the Holy Scriptures upon my knees, laying aside all other books, and praying over, if possible, every line and word. This proved <b>meat</b> indeed and <b>drink </b>indeed to my soul. I daily received fresh life, light and power from above.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spend as much time as possible in God's Word. I will warn you, this heart transformation won't take place at once. But as you spend day after day after day pouring over the words of our precious Lord Jesus, you will find in them a sweetness you never knew possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Meditate on God's Word</b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I like the way Thomas Brooks has said it: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“Remember that it is not hasty reading, but </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">serious </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">meditation on holy and heavenly truths, that makes them prove </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">sweet</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">profitable </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">to the soul. It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time on the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest, and strongest Christian.”</span></blockquote>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpV2G8zWeptXQZE6I8p3YyXeIQXb2Ud8JemVevJ3rOal5wkkET7Jd273cqB1krDRzbqDClYtMOuTsSW0-VUHopYlHLPUkq0Q6MgvohpFbFzQ9JdqykckC5ng4jZTwmTPaMM3l9YLfZZUFj/s1600/IMG_5619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpV2G8zWeptXQZE6I8p3YyXeIQXb2Ud8JemVevJ3rOal5wkkET7Jd273cqB1krDRzbqDClYtMOuTsSW0-VUHopYlHLPUkq0Q6MgvohpFbFzQ9JdqykckC5ng4jZTwmTPaMM3l9YLfZZUFj/s320/IMG_5619.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we are merely rushing through our reading, we will not realize the full sweetness of the flower.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I encourage you friends, spend time in God's Word--reading, studying, and meditating. You will find there-in treasures beyond comparison and sweetnesses beyond description. For in the words of God you will find <b>Christ</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"You will show me the path of life;</i></div>
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<i>In Your presence is fullness of joy;</i></div>
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<i>At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." </i></div>
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~Psalm 16:11</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-72000828756459478602016-04-27T14:24:00.001-07:002016-04-28T13:53:38.266-07:00God's Word is Sweeter Than Honey<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcc1Bu79NM0U18WmbXDDZ8ygO8WYqXdPCAuPmzdbLcU_rrIy09MIbsspWnZ5BX_t9JcGnxnfDUzKZJ9cUscc-aD78MIj5TtOvRht2EaJ0OZtxUB5tVtJIek4fmWkfExWAYT-I949UiJlWg/s1600/IMG_5428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcc1Bu79NM0U18WmbXDDZ8ygO8WYqXdPCAuPmzdbLcU_rrIy09MIbsspWnZ5BX_t9JcGnxnfDUzKZJ9cUscc-aD78MIj5TtOvRht2EaJ0OZtxUB5tVtJIek4fmWkfExWAYT-I949UiJlWg/s320/IMG_5428.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-14eacb2e-3f24-3082-8d74-19d32417e26c"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only are God's Words more valuable than anything else on earth, they are also more rewarding, more pleasant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we continue our study of <a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/2016/03/psalm-197-11.html" target="_blank">Psalms 19:7-11</a>, <b>consider </b>the</span> place God's Word holds in your life. Do you treasure it as more sweet than honey and the honeycomb?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honey was considered the </span><b style="line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sweetest </b><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">of all thing</span></span>s and a luxurious delicacy in Bible times. God’s Word is like this; it is absolutely delightful, more pleasant than anything this world can imagine. It satisfies our<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> cravings for good things as nothing else can. The </span><i style="line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Treasury of David</i><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> says this, </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">The pleasures arising from a right understanding of the divine testimonies are of the most <b>delightful </b>order; earthly enjoyments are utterly contemptible, if compared with them. The <b>sweetest </b>joys, yea, the sweetest of the sweetest falls to his portion who has <b>God's truth</b> to be his heritage."</span></span></blockquote>
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My friend, have you experienced the joy of God's Word in this same way? When you open the Scriptures, do you find your deepest longings satisfied? Could you honestly say that God's Word is more valuable <i>to you personally </i>than the sweetest edibles? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jeremiah 15:16 says,</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Your words were found, and I ate them,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."</span></span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you love God's Words as the prophet Jeremiah does? My friend, <b>allow these questions to challenge you and penetrate your heart.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow we will examine how God's Word can become sweet as honey to you, but for now...take some time to look into your own heart. Ask yourself honestly, are the Scriptures full of joy to me? Do I find in them delicacies beyond all comprehension?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"You will show me the path of life;</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><i>In Your presence is fullness of joy;</i></i></span></div>
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<i>At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Psalm 16:11</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-44095053782645739522016-04-20T14:16:00.000-07:002016-04-20T14:25:36.800-07:00God's Word is More Costly than Gold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI-bZ39z47PIi7S4ylA-2awG29ub0buwKthu7GSxjH2OTkRo86QZa0u5fco4l3yQdn9OERwym07sP8cOaGFc9Bin8HftSmM2yLmpPwZ_Kktnl-oOVDf9pCgPZWwjHQgKYB6sJuWsPukn4/s1600/IMG_5569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI-bZ39z47PIi7S4ylA-2awG29ub0buwKthu7GSxjH2OTkRo86QZa0u5fco4l3yQdn9OERwym07sP8cOaGFc9Bin8HftSmM2yLmpPwZ_Kktnl-oOVDf9pCgPZWwjHQgKYB6sJuWsPukn4/s320/IMG_5569.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“More to be desired are they [God's words] than gold, Yea, than much fine gold;</span>”</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's words as spoken to us through the Bible are more precious than the finest treasures in the world. Men spend years laboring after earthly treasures, yet there is a reward <b>so </b>much greater. Each and every verse found in the Scriptures. Because of this, it is to be sought after and desired with greater eagerness and vitality. <br /><br />Men risk their lives, forsake pleasures, and renounce ease for the desire to attain gold. Should we not have even half the love that these men have for their earthly treasures? In fact, we should have more! For our treasures are a thousand times better than what they pine after. God’s Words are of inestimable worth.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imagine what it would be like if we really treasured God's Words more than moneys or riches, or anything else in this world! What if we actually sought after it more than any other earthly (and perishing, may I remind you) treasure? Think about this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 119:14 <i>“I have <b>rejoiced </b>in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in <b>all </b>riches.”</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 119:92 </span><i>"The law of Your mouth is better to me Than <b>thousands</b> of coins of gold and silver."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Psalm 119:127<i> "Therefore I <b>love </b>Your commandments More than gold, yes, than <b>fine </b>gold!"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let us likewise treasure God's words more precious than gold, because they truly are. It's not a matter of simply believing something to be true in our own heart, but aligning our hearts with the truth. Because the truth is, God's Word <b>is</b> more precious than gold. The question we must as ourselves is, do we really believe this to be true? And more than that, do we live each and every moment of our lives treasuring God's words above everything else?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-54585629436211253822016-04-18T18:05:00.001-07:002016-04-18T18:06:13.544-07:00God's Words are True and Rightoues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY49htSoPT4467oqpwDJyCZrpMVFrgPDmUXHh5Hyv0THrvDmMatYo8GdHwKTmwL4uHYAcLux7tLMteIAL5N9td4__h0L7CNAOcfb17Lncf0S1zsoYNOW4wBo1XYG9w2C9I5PXC1higDnvL/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY49htSoPT4467oqpwDJyCZrpMVFrgPDmUXHh5Hyv0THrvDmMatYo8GdHwKTmwL4uHYAcLux7tLMteIAL5N9td4__h0L7CNAOcfb17Lncf0S1zsoYNOW4wBo1XYG9w2C9I5PXC1higDnvL/s320/IMG_1533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today we examine this wonderful phrase, as we study through Psalm 19:7-11, a beautiful passage which . The truth and righteousness of God's Word are also compared together in other verses in the Psalms:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Psalm 119:142: <i>"Your <b>righteousness </b>is an everlasting <b>righteousness</b>, And Your law is <b>truth</b>."</i></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;"><i>"The entirety of Your word is <b>truth</b>, And every one of Your <b>righteous </b>judgments endures forever."</i> ~Psalm 119:160</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's Word is True</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Scriptures are true, and they are right. Jesus, the Word of life, is also noted as being true and righteous: “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He [referring to Himself] who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>true</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and no unrighteousness is in Him” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(John 7:18). His words are just. His decisions are </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">truth </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the truest sense. Their justice and truth is unimpeachable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of this, anything that man says contradictory to God’s Word is automatically a lie. If science seems to contradict the Scriptures, it is science who is wrong the whole time. We cannot doubt this fact. God’s Word </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> right and it </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> true--no matter what.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is <b>truth</b>.”</i> ~John 17:17</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Scriptures are just and completely righteous. All God's Words, and specifically His commands, are righteous and proper. We do not need to question them, because we can know that whatever God has asked us to do through His Word is completely righteous and the right thing to do in every way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"<b>Righteous </b>are You, O Lord, And <b>upright </b>are Your judgments. Your testimonies, which You have commanded, Are <b>righteous </b>and very <b>faithful</b>."</i> ~Psalm 119:137-138</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So Let Us Praise!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Especially having grown up in a Christian home, it is so easy for me to forget the wonder of having a love letter from the King of kings that is true in the fullest sense of the word and altogether righteous. Let us not take this for granted, my friends, but rather choose to praise God for His righteous judgement. The psalmist even arose in the night to praise the righteousness of God's Word! Should not we also take time each day to praise the Lord for this wonderful gift?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"At midnight I will rise to give <b>thanks </b>to You, Because of Your righteous judgments"</i> (Psalm 119:62).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><i>"Seven times a day I <b>praise </b>You, Because of Your righteous judgments"</i> (Psalm 119:164).</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-40281950600553869002016-04-15T09:09:00.000-07:002016-04-15T09:09:00.146-07:00God's Word is Clean and Eternal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;”</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />As we continue in our study of the beauty and characteristics of God's Word, as explained in Psalm 19:7-11, we reach this line. Open you heart to hear what the Spirit is saying to you today.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's Word is Clean</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Treasury of David puts it best: “The doctrine of truth is here described by its spiritual effect, viz., inward piety, or the fear of the Lord; this is clean in itself, and cleanses out the love of sin, sanctifying the heart in which it reigns. Mr. Godly-fear is never satisfied till every street, lane, and alley, yea, and every house and every corner of the town of Mansoul is clean rid of the Diablolonians who lurk therein.” <br /><br />When a righteous and holy fear dwells in our spirits as we read the God’s law and statutes, we are purified and cleansed of the darkness of sin. The Word of God is intended to produce a holy reverence for the Most High. As our eyes are opened to Who He really is, we begin to tremble in His awesome presence. And that fear is completely and perfectly clean. It is right.<br /><br />Psalm 119:9 "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word."<br /></span><h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's Word is Eternal</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God has said through the prophet Isaiah, “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:7, 8).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God’s words are constant and unchangeable. Though heaven and earth will pass away, none of God’s words will fall (Matthew 24:35). Filth brings decay, but cleanness allows something to last a long time. With God’s Word, that time is forever. God’s Word never changes, His will never moves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It is constant, enduring. His words don’t “expire,” they are just as true when written as they are now. They shall stand, remain, and endure forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David says, “The <b>entirety </b>of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psalm 119:160).</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listen to these quotes:<br /></span><blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Cities fall, empires come to nothing, kingdoms fade away as smoke...But that this book no tyrant should have been able to consume, no tradition to choke, no heretic maliciously to corrupt; that it should stand unto this day, amid the wreck of all that was human, without the alteration of <b>one</b> sentence so as to change the doctrine taught therein--surely there is a very singular Providence, claiming our attention in a most remarkable manner." ~John Jewell, English Bishop and Puritan Leader</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The Bible--banned, burned, beloved. More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other book in history. Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it; dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those who read it. Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more powerful than their weapons. Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints." ~Charles W. Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My friends, God's Word is clean and it <b>is</b> eternal. No matter how many people try to defile it or destroy it, they will be unable to. Because these are <b>God's words. </b>You can trust them, read them, and study them, because anything that can be this amazing is worth our pursuit.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-25480520411556864632016-04-13T12:40:00.001-07:002016-04-13T12:40:32.881-07:00Thy Word Is Like A Garden, Lord<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkym9KN1YG5l390zAkyXJfBbHWj5UNFhAXkr-O27j7roEt0WubLrXgs7hcX3iMtvm3BFaTRcilUlBz3P8oxfvwUHqkI5dduqbY0Goza1bvQcgby_Snf5phKLBL-cVrAnHz7X9zuOibjuBD/s1600/IMG_5335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkym9KN1YG5l390zAkyXJfBbHWj5UNFhAXkr-O27j7roEt0WubLrXgs7hcX3iMtvm3BFaTRcilUlBz3P8oxfvwUHqkI5dduqbY0Goza1bvQcgby_Snf5phKLBL-cVrAnHz7X9zuOibjuBD/s320/IMG_5335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;<br />And every one who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.<br />Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare<br />Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.<br /><br />Thy Word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light<br />Are seen to guide the traveler and make his pathway bright.<br />Thy Word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair;<br />And find, for life’s long battle day, all needful weapons there.<br /><br />O may I love Thy precious Word, may I explore the mine,<br />May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine!<br />O may I find my armor there! Thy Word my trusty sword,<br />I’ll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />~Edwin Hodder</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-34364538308385398482016-04-12T09:49:00.001-07:002016-04-12T09:49:46.069-07:00God's Word is Pure and Purifying<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3f7d8e92-0b51-bfc5-dc83-fc48f5eb91ac"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;”</span></div>
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As we continue in our study of Psalm 19:7-11, we come to this phrase. Let us examine God's Word with open hearts and allow this words to change our attitude about the beautiful Scriptures.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's Word is Pure</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No error defiles God’s Word, no sin pollutes it. It is clear, clean, sincere, as defined in the Hebrew. It is not mixed with any blackness, any untruth, any corruption. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In our world, “pure” oftentimes isn’t completely 100% pure. But the Scriptures are. They are a thousand times more pure than anything we can imagine on this earth. It is free of any mixture of men’s inventions or the dross of corrupt knowledge (Charles Spurgeon). It is clear of all chaff and impurity. In all ways, it is <b>perfectly</b> pure. Listen to what David says about God's Word:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“The words of the Lord are pure words,</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Purified seven times.”</i> ~Psalm 12:6</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The apostle Peter offers application: <i>"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (</i>1 Peter 2:2). Let us desire this 101% pure milk, for by it we will grow. It is not defiled with anything that would hurt us, but will only teach and train us, purifying <i>us </i>even as it is pure.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's Word is Purifying</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God’s Words are the <b>enlightening of our eyes</b>. Oftentimes, we face a problem and we just can’t make sense of it. Something comes up and we don’t know what to think of it. But because God’s Word is completely <b>pure</b> itself, it can remove the layer over our own eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God’s Word <b>purifies </b>our own thoughts, removing all the darkness and sin within our minds so that we might clearly see with His perspective. It enlightens us to our own sin and depravity, which we ourselves are often blind to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> God’s Word reveals even to us as believers sins we have not noticed, and outlines a way that we might repent and turn from our sins. It shares with us a message of hope, opening our eyes to the love of our Lord. Indeed, the Scriptures enlighten our eyes in so many ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."</i> ~Psalm 119:105</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amen! Let us take time to study this pure Word, because, even as it is pure, so it will purify our heart, our emotions, our minds, and our actions. It will remove the sin, the dirt, and the grim. It will cleanse us from the defiling worldviews of the culture. Indeed, God's Word enlightens our eyes, giving us wisdom from above to know how God would have us to act and believe. Let us devote ourselves to the Scriptures, my friends!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-72649964932272976982016-04-06T11:20:00.000-07:002016-04-06T11:24:15.796-07:00God's Word is Right and Brings Rejoicing<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-02091f10-ecb8-44a7-fd77-0863ddce16c4"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;”</span></div>
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As we continue in our <a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/2016/03/psalm-197-11.html" target="_blank">study</a> of Psalm 19:7-11, we come to a line that makes me smile just reading it. Let us meditate together on the riches and wonder of God's Word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's Word is Right</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His precepts and statutes are founded in righteousness. It is just the right thing needed to free us sinners from the shackles of sin that have bound our hands and feet (John 8:32). A physician gives the right medicine and a counselor the right advice, so is the Word of God the “right” in everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Hebrew word here means “straight, upright, correct, right; straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper.” The Word of God fits this definition by every scale of measurement. It is righteous, upright, and just. It is straightforward. It makes no mistakes or errors of information or accuracy. In all issues, debates, or controversies, God's Word <b>is</b> right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can stand on the sure, rock-solid foundation of God's Word. We can trust in it's accuracy and it's ability to give us the right wisdom and counsel for every circumstance.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's Word Brings Rejoicing</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God’s Words are the rejoicing of our heart. Notice the progression thus far. First, <a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/2016/03/gods-word-is-perfect-and-powerful.html" target="_blank">we are converted</a>, then <a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/2016/03/gods-word-is-sure-and-full-of-wisdom.html" target="_blank">taught</a>, and now we are made to rejoice. What a wonderful process! As we read, study, and learn from the Word of God, we come to love it and find our soul’s greatest joy in it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Indeed, this book has power to bring joy like no other! We may try to find happiness and satisfaction in other things, but only the Scriptures can really satisfy, only they can make our hearts joyful, truly joyful, always joyful.<br /><br />Jeremiah 15:16 says, <i>"Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a <b>joy </b>and <b>the delight of my heart</b>, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is God's Word the joy and delight of your heart? Jeremiah had to seek out God's Word and seek His face. Then he ate them--which is a physical phrase that represents the discipline of meditation. As we chew on God's Words and really think about what they mean, they become to us the delight of our heart. Let us meditate on God's Word so that we might find in it that joy inexpressible.<br /><br />Here's another verse of David's that I like:<i> "I <b>rejoice </b>at Your word As one who finds great treasure"</i> (Psalm 119:162). We rejoice when we read, study, and meditate on God's Word because we have found a treasure of limitless value. God's Word is precious and valuable. It is a treasure-house of wisdom and knowledge. It gives peace. And most importantly, it brings life. Such words are truly a treasure!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So today, because God's Word is right and true; because God's Word leads our heart to rejoicing, let us devote our time to its pursuit. Let us spend time in the presence of the Lord pouring over the Scripture because we know His words are right. And let us learn, as the prophet Jeremiah, to rejoice in the Scriptures, because they are the joy and delight of our heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"You will show me the path of life;</span></div>
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In Your presence is <b>fullness of joy</b>;</div>
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At Your right hand are <b>pleasures </b>forevermore."</div>
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~Psalm 16:11</div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-5143549438369911712016-04-05T14:29:00.001-07:002016-04-05T14:29:27.181-07:00When God Answers Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a short mission trip. We only had one day to spend with the kids which our team has been ministering too for several years now. We had spent months beforehand praying for these kids and for our time there. We were all sad that it would have to be so short, but knew that God could work even in times like these.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I learned many lessons during that trip, as I watched God working in ways so beyond my imagination. Yes, we only had 12 hours, but we saw in that small moment of time just how much God was doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I reflect upon my weekend, I am so wowed by the way that God answered each and every one of our prayers. I am so humbled to think that God is working through us in ways we never thought possible. I am so excited to know what God has done in the hearts of these kiddos and I look forward with child-like expectation to see what my heavenly Father will do next.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the things that sticks out to me from this trip as one of the (many) lessons God wanted to teach me is how He answers prayer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I learned that sometimes He answers in a way different then we thought.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our thoughts are so below His. While we think and dream and plan, we must realize that God knows infinitely more than we do. And He's been around for a lot longer than we have. Because of this, sometimes His plans to measure up to ours. On the surface, it may seem like He didn't even answer our prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But when we really take a look at what He has done, we see that He really <b>has</b> answered our prayer. And when we remember Who He is and how amazing His plans have turned out in the past, we trust that He knows what is best. Just think of all the stories in the Old Testament. I'm sure crossing the Red Sea wasn't Moses' idea of fleeing Egypt. But it was in God's plan. And looking back so many yeas later, we see that God knew best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And He knows best today as well. He may not answer our prayers in exactly the way we were hoping they would be answered, but His ways are infinitely better than ours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another thing I learned is that sometimes His answers seem ordinary.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I first reflected on how well our trip went, sitting on the couch of our room at 10:30 that night, I thought it was a pretty ordinary day. Or maybe simple is the word I am looking for. No fire fell from heaven. No one's life was drastically changed. But then I started thinking about all the "little" things God had done. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized how <i>many</i> things God had done! Some of them were little, and some of them were big! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example, during that trip we didn't encounter a whole lot of spiritual attack from the enemy. So at the end of the day, I thought, <i>this was pretty easy after all!</i> But the fact that we didn't have to spend all our time waging war with the devil showed me that God was on our side fighting for us! He had defeated the enemy so that we could work freely and unhindered. What an amazing God we serve!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So a trip that seemed to be ordinary changed into extraordinary because of what God did. From this I have learned to look for God in the little things and not to take the seemingly small things for granted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have also been reminded not to just offer a little "Thank You, God" and then move on, but to really ponder what God has done. We can take so much that the Lord has done for granted instead of giving Him the credit and glory for what He has done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lord also taught me to avoid the temptation of thinking I did it all in my own strength.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it's easy for me to fall into believing I could have done it without God--<b>especially</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>when His answers come in ordinary and peaceful ways--like He did with this past missions trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past, I have fallen into the trap of thinking, "Hey, I could have done that. It wasn't as hard as I thought." We spend hours and hours in prayer and fail to trust in Him even when He promises to be with us. And then, when He <b>is</b> with us, we believe that we did it all on our own strength... :( Oh, how sad!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us remember, dear friends, how much we cannot do it on our own strength and need Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, when God answers prayer, remember to praise!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's so easy for us to forget to spend set-apart, devoted time to praising Him. I think of all the many hours that we invested in prayer for this missions trip. And God answered each and every one of those prayers! Would we be so unthankful as to not spend at least a fraction of amount of the time spent had in prayer in praising Him? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We pray so hard for an answer, and then, when it comes, we seem to simply shrug it off. Let us resolve to thank our merciful Savior for the many ways He has answered our prayers. Let us acknowledge His answers for what they are--complete miracles! Undeserved grace and mercy. Bountiful blessings. Let us praise Him!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If God answers your prayers, do not say a simple "Thank You," and move on to the next request that needs answering. Spend <i>time</i> in praising Him through song and prayer. Remember how good He is and how gracious He has been to answer the cries of your heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope this all didn't sound confusing or disorganized. These are the thoughts of my heart and I really wanted to share them with you. I pray that you too would be, as I have been, reminded and challenged to praise the Lord when He answers your prayers and not take credit for yourself, even if it seems ordinary or is different from what you had planned. God is <b>so</b> good and He <b>does</b> answer prayer! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-71480590118476404312016-03-30T12:38:00.004-07:002016-03-30T14:15:01.094-07:005 Watchman Nee Quotes on Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lIM2fLM1RNpUVRsU8C7zWZ82ztYaMqi4qGFAmPo0BjOw7JY-pULVS3mi19kgSWYIDUaRyEW8HB1ms9k_phnXVlgaq87Wz5HD3gpXMNO0hGmTb9mwjluWmRRQZZZdaHvoiRkume7BayTS/s1600/IMG_4657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lIM2fLM1RNpUVRsU8C7zWZ82ztYaMqi4qGFAmPo0BjOw7JY-pULVS3mi19kgSWYIDUaRyEW8HB1ms9k_phnXVlgaq87Wz5HD3gpXMNO0hGmTb9mwjluWmRRQZZZdaHvoiRkume7BayTS/s320/IMG_4657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How we need the Lord to <b>enlighten our eyes</b> that we may comprehend afresh the <b>importance </b>of prayer and know anew its <b>value</b>. Furthermore, we must recognize that had Satan not deceived us we would not be neglecting prayer so much. We should therefore <b>watch</b> and <b>discover </b>therein all the various wiles of Satan. We will not allow him to delude us any more in<b> relaxing in prayer</b>.<br /><br />Prayer is the acid test of the inner man’s strength. A strong spirit is capable of praying much and praying with all <b>perseverance </b>until the answer comes. A weak one grows weary and fainthearted in the maintenance of praying.<br /><br /><b>Prayer </b>enables us first inwardly to <b>overcome </b>the enemy and then outwardly to <b>deal </b>with him.<br /><br />We should not open our mouths too hastily upon approaching God. On the contrary, we first must <b>ask God to show us what and how</b> <b>to pray</b> before we make our request known to Him. Have we not consumed a great deal of time in the past asking for what we wanted? Why not now ask for <b>what God wants</b>?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer is work.</span></b> The experiences of many children of God demonstrate that it accomplishes far more than does any other form of work.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-40469589909162726802016-03-23T14:48:00.001-07:002016-03-23T14:51:43.697-07:00God's Word is Sure and Full of Wisdom<span id="docs-internal-guid-37018033-a55d-4251-496a-29fb32dc4972"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;”</span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />As we continue in our <a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/2016/03/psalm-197-11.html" target="_blank">study </a>of the Word of the Lord through Psalm 19:7-11, let us look at this precious line from verse 7.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's Word is Sure</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Lord has borne witness to many things--His creation, for example. He has laid down an account of these things in His Word for us. And we can know that it is sure. It is correct; it is infallible. God has borne testimony against sin; he has testified of our fall and our restoration. And it is sure. <br /><br />The Hebrew for this word "sure" means “to be established, be faithful, be carried, make firm.” And certainly that is what the Word of the Lord is. We have no reason to doubt, but can rather stake our entire lives on these truths; they will never fail us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like what Charles Spurgeon has to say about this topic:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"God's witness in his Word is so sure that we may draw solid comfort from it both for time and eternity, and so sure that no attacks made upon it, however fierce or subtle, can ever weaken its force. What a blessing that in a world of uncertainties we have something sure to rest upon! We hasten from the quicksands of human speculation to the terra firma of Divine Revelation."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's Word Gives Wisdom</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And this sure Word contains within its pages such knowledge and wisdom that even those who are babes might be made wise. It contains gems of truth that even a young one can understand. And through that understanding, they grow to be among the wisest of all. Again I like what Spurgeon says: "Humble, candid, teachable minds receive the word, and are made wise unto salvation. Things hidden from the wise and prudent are revealed unto babes. The persuadable grow wise, but the cavillers continue fools." </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those who approach the word humbly and with a teachable spirit can learn the truths that will make them wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />When God's testimonies are our meditation and when we study His words, we gain wisdom that is greater than all earthly teachers, no matter how "smart" or good at learning we think we are!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I have more understanding than all my teachers,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For Your testimonies are my meditation.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I understand more than the ancients,</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Because I keep Your precepts."</i> ~Psalm 119:99-100</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Isn't that such an encouraging thought though? God's Words can make you and I wise! They can give us the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding we need to navigate this crazy life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"But what is so amazing about wisdom?" you may ask. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Solomon gives the answer so much better than I ever could:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and the one who gets understanding,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">for the gain from her is better than gain from silver</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and her profit better than gold.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She is more precious than jewels,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and nothing you desire can compare with her.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Long life is in her right hand;</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in her left hand are riches and honor.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Her ways are ways of pleasantness,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and all her paths are peace.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> those who hold her fast are called blessed." </i>~Proverbs 3:13-18</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's Word imparts this precious and life-giving gem called wisdom.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Psalm 119:130 reminds us, <i>"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do we value God's Word for what it is --> faithful and dripping with wisdom? Do we approach God's Word every morning seeking to learn from it's pages how we might live out our lives? Do we recognize the surety and firmness of God's Word? Do we live in light of this understanding?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May this new understanding of God's Word cause you to run closer to it that you may gain the wisdom from its pages. It will never falter or fail. None of its words will return back void.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-50487928979694526222016-03-21T14:30:00.000-07:002016-03-21T14:30:47.639-07:00God's Word is Perfect and Powerful<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbOsNnOQyrCri6F-qlW8uVp_hqozeiA2xYyRbuyxO5yILB4FtyvhyphenhyphenHUGHxEYw8HYZ3bvEFrZet8QosuCJOfYSarSl8vgvdYphUtfUthqf3YVeuJckHd0I2SgBI3abHcgLu_LapKqNpG62/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbOsNnOQyrCri6F-qlW8uVp_hqozeiA2xYyRbuyxO5yILB4FtyvhyphenhyphenHUGHxEYw8HYZ3bvEFrZet8QosuCJOfYSarSl8vgvdYphUtfUthqf3YVeuJckHd0I2SgBI3abHcgLu_LapKqNpG62/s320/IMG_1406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">~Psalm 19:7a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today let us look at this phrase from Psalm 19:7-11 as we <a href="http://theindwellingword.blogspot.com/2016/03/psalm-197-11.html" target="_blank">study</a> the beautiful passage. May the things we study move beyond mere head knowledge into heart knowledge. Let us together worship our gracious and merciful Savior Who has written us our own special love letter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is Perfect</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's Word is the instruction and direction of God. It is His holy order and rulebook. This law <b>is </b>perfect. There is no flaw within its pages, no contradiction to stain its words, no gap to hinder its holiness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This word "perfect" in the Hebrew means, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"complete, whole, entire, sound; without blemish." </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just think; if the law of Moses which David refers to is perfectly perfect in the greatest sense of the word, how much more so is the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These words, in their entirety, are complete. Nothing can be added; nothing subtracted. They completely share the message of the gospel of hope. They completely reveal the love of God and the mercy of Christ. Nothing could make it more whole and sound. It is, in every sense of the word, perfect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is Powerful To Bring Others to Him</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It, God’s Word, is the one which accomplishes the work of converting souls. We try to come up with our own fancy speeches with illustrations, allusions, and other things to entice a crowd. We spend hours developing our own methods for evangelism. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Yet, the most effective tool for spreading the news of the gospel, is the gospel itself! The very Word of God! God’s Word has gone forth from His mouth and will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). It is living and active; it has the power to pierce hearts with its message (Hebrews 4:12). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Think of the wisdom and power of God's Word if it has the ability to convert our souls. With such a powerful tool, we have no need of anything else. It is God’s Word itself, not man’s commentary on God’s Word that will save. Keep this principle in mind as you speak with others (believers or non). Sharing the Word itself is more valuable than lecturing or exhorting with your own speech. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is Powerful in Our Own Lives</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Hebrew word "convert" means "to turn back; to bring back." This isn't merely something that happens when we become a Christian! Our hearts (mind in particular) needs to be turned back to the Lord every day! My mind and emotions can so easily be swayed by the things of the earth. There are so many things that grab my attention and pull me away from the King of kings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I need God's Word to bring me back to Him everyday!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And that's exactly what He has promised to do through His Word. After all, He declares that His Word has the power to convert the soul. However, He warns us, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you" </i>(Psalm 32:9). When we come to His Word with an approachable and teachable heart, it will accomplish that which the Lord sent it out to do. Psalm 119:9 speaks of this same concept:<i> "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let us take time each morning to dig deep into the Word of God. After all, it <b>is</b> perfect! And it has the power to turn our hearts back to Him each and every day. Let us also remember that the gospel message, spoken by our Savior Himself, has the perfect power to change souls.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-91464909866902965422016-03-18T12:07:00.000-07:002016-03-18T12:08:40.712-07:00Psalm 19:7-11<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More to be desired are they than gold,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yea, than much fine gold;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moreover by them Your servant is warned,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And in keeping them there is great reward."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~Psalm 19:7-11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We're going to begin a series of articles on this beautiful passage. It's important to meditate on God's Word, and that is what we plan to do over the next few posts. For now, take some time to meditate on these verses yourself. What do they mean? Allow the truth of God's Word to soak into your heart and change the value you place on the Scriptures. More to be desired are they than gold!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pray that the Lord would open our eyes as we study His Word. Let us seek His face together, knowing that in His presence is <b>fullness</b> of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2843556606399535898.post-49380333763337841402016-03-16T14:31:00.002-07:002016-03-16T14:31:50.228-07:00Come and Be Satisfied<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQa7F4vHBifusZXortjB1qh-FVgT33Lxylh7-tqTvbLtD03BmtLHaZgIBdwp5igOXUjTuj8ixhPRkRDjV46m0VtN97Y8CM4djh-JAQat0wEYvQV8dnGzW97cC_iwHOnSMre__uoATEsvM/s1600/IMG_1313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQa7F4vHBifusZXortjB1qh-FVgT33Lxylh7-tqTvbLtD03BmtLHaZgIBdwp5igOXUjTuj8ixhPRkRDjV46m0VtN97Y8CM4djh-JAQat0wEYvQV8dnGzW97cC_iwHOnSMre__uoATEsvM/s400/IMG_1313.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Come </b>to the waters;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And you who have no money,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Come, buy and eat.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, come, buy wine and milk</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Without money and without price.</span></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why do you spend money for what is not bread,</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And your wages for what does not satisfy?</span></b></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And <b>let your soul delight itself in abundance.</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Incline your ear, and come to Me.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hear, and your soul shall live..."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~Isaiah 55:1-3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These three verses have been on my heart and mind today. When I read them this morning for my daily Bible time, the Lord convicted my own heart that I often spend my time and sometimes even money for things that do not satisfy, instead of coming to drink at the river of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This "wine" and "milk" costs no money. We do not have to do anything to earn it. We must simply preform two things 1) thirst, and 2) come. The first is merely to acknowledge our weakness, our need for Him. The second is, for some, harder. We must actually set down that time waster and come to seek His face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And when we do, when we come to the waters and eat what is good, our soul will delight itself in abundance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is this food and drink talked of here?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit being like water:<i> "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given,because Jesus was not yet glorified" </i>(John 7:37-39).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus also speaks of Himself as the bread of life: </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”</span></i></blockquote>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always." </span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. </i>~John 6:33-35</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Other verses in the Psalms too speak of God satisfying us through Himself:</span></h4>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-88204e31-8148-8089-c86b-cd4c659b6200"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Psalm 36:8 -- <i>“They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You [O Lord] give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.”</i><br /><br />Psalm 103:5 -- <i>“[God] Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”</i><br /><br />Psalm 16:11 --<i> “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God offers to satisfy us if we will come to Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">But what does this look like on a </span><span style="line-height: 23.4851px;">practical</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> level?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>First, we must leave all else behind to follow Him. </b> We must no longer spend our wages (our time and our talents) for that which is not bread. Anything besides the Lord Jesus will not satisfy us. Examine the way you spend your time. Is it in doing things that will bear eternal spiritual fruit? Or do you whittle away time on social media, phones, or the television? Do you spend hours reading fictional novels, or doing pretty much nothing with friends all day. Walk away from these things and choose to come to Jesus.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><b>Second, come to Him! </b></span>Spend time in His Word. We cannot spend a few minutes each day in God's Word and except to be completely satisfied for the entire day. Your physical body requires that you feed it three or more times a day! It is not satisfied with one quick, five minute feeding. Such is the case in our spiritual lives as well. God's Word is our food (Matthew 4:4) and we must spend time in God's presence (through His Word) to gain a fuller picture of Who He is. When we do, we will experience the joy that is found in His presence!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Come </b>to the waters;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And you who have no money,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Come, buy and eat.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, come, buy wine and milk</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Without money and without price.</span></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why do you spend money for what is not bread,</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And your wages for what does not satisfy?</span></b></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And <b>let your soul delight itself in abundance.</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Incline your ear, and come to Me.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hear, and your soul shall <b>live</b>..."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~Isaiah 55:1-3</span></div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505328263851579405noreply@blogger.com2