Archive for the ‘Beliefs’ Category


Under Gods Command

John 7:26-27 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ? But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”

This Chapter shows the many reactions people had toward Jesus. They called him a good man (7:12) a deceiver (7:12, demon possessed (7:20), the Christ (7:26), and the Prophet (7:40). We must make up our own minds about who Jesus is, knowing that whatever we decide will have eternal consequences.

There was a popular tradition that the Messiah would simply appear. But those who believed this tradition were ignoring the Scriptures that clearly predicted the Messiah’s birthplace (Micah 5:2)

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.


Under Gods Command

John 4:13-15 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
Many spiritual functions parallel physical functions. As our bodies hunger and thirst, so do our souls. But our souls need spiritual food and water. The woman confused the two kinds of water, perhaps because no one had ever talked with her about her spiritual hunger and thirst before. We would not think of depriving our bodies of food and water when they hunger of thirst. Why then should we deprive our souls? The living word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible can satisfy our hungry and thirsty souls.


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 29:1- A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes, will suddenly be destroyed-with remedy.

Warnings rarely come with countdowns. We can’t tell when we’ve had our last chance to change. When we, like the person in this proverb, refuse to consider valid criticism, we leave
Ourselves open to sudden disaster. The moment we realize that a change is necessary is the best moment to take action. What significant adjustments have been on hold in your life for too long?


Under Gods Command

 Jeremiah 48:29 – We have heard of Moab’s pride-her overweening pride and conceit, her pride and arrogance and the haughtiness of her heart. 

 Moab was condemned for its pride.  God cannot tolerate pride because pride is taking personal credit for what God has done or looking down on others.  God does not condemn our taking satisfaction in what we do.  (Ecclesiastes 3:22), but he stand s against overestimates of our own importance.  Romans 12:3 teach us to have an honest estimate of ourselves.


Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 5:15-21 – Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.  Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?  Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers, May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.  A loving doe, a graceful deer-may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.  Why be captivated, my son, by an adulterous?  Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife?  For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. 

 In contrast to much of what we read, see, and hear today, this passage urges couples to look to each other for life-long satisfaction and companionship. Many temptations entice husbands and wives when marriage becomes dull in order to find excitement and pleasures elsewhere.  But God designed marriage and sanctified it, and only within this covenant relationship can we find real love and fulfillment.  Don’t let God’s best for you be wasted on the illusion of greener pastures somewhere else.  Instead, rejoice with your spouse as you give yourselves to God and to each other.


Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 4:13-17  Hold on to instruction; do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.  Do not set foot on the path of the wicked, or walk in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, do not travel on it, turn from it and go on your way.  For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.  They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 

 Even friends can make you fall.  It is difficult for people to accept the fact that friends and acquaintances might be luring them to do wrong.  Young people who want to be accepted would never want to confront or criticize a friend for wrong plans or actions.  Many other people can’t even see how their friend’s actions could lead to trouble.  While we should be accepting of others, we need a healthy skepticism about human behavior.  When you feel yourself being heavily influenced, proceed with caution.  Don’t let your friends cause you to fall into sin.


Under Gods Command

Jeremiah 46:28 Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, for I am with you,”  declares the LORD, “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy your.  I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”

 God punished his people in order to bring them back to himself, and he punishes us to correct and purify us.  No one welcomes punishment, but we should all welcome its results: correction and purity.


Under Gods Command

Jeremiah 44:9-10 Have you forgotten the wickedness committed by your fathers and by the Kings and queens of Judah and the wickedness committed by you and your wives in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem?  To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed my law and the decrees I set before you and your fathers.

 When we forget a lesson or refuse to learn it, we risk repeating our mistakes.  The people of Judah struggled with this; to forget their former sins was to repeat them.  To fail to learn from failure is to assure future failure.  Your past is your school of experience  Let your past mistakes point you to God’s way.


Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 3:21 – My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight. 

 What is the difference between sound judgment and discernment? Discernment (or discretion) is the ability God gives to many people to think and make correct choices.  Sound judgment, however, he gives only to those who follow him.  Sound judgment includes discernment, but goes beyond it.  It also includes the knowledge that comes from instruction, training, and discipline, and the insight that results from knowing and applying God’s truths. 

 Please remember that these emails are going to over 100 people.  I used BCC to keep your email address private.  I just want to share my own personal walk with you, and yes, please hold me accountable for my actions.   I love you all and there is nothing that you can do about it. 


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 2:11 Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you. 

 Discretion is the ability to tell right from wrong.  It enables the believer to detect evil motives in men and women.  With practice it helps us evaluate courses of action and consequences.  For some it is a gift; for most it is developed by using God’s truth to make wise choices day by day.  Hebrews 5:14 emphasizes that we must train ourselves in order to have discretion.