Archive for the ‘Bible Study’ Category

Spiritual Training 29 June 2011

Posted: June 29, 2011 in Bible Study, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 24:16-18 – Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.”

All the people boldly claimed that they would never forsake the Lord. But they did not keep that promise. Very soon God would charge them with breaking their contract with him (Judges 2:2-3). Talk is cheap. It is easy to say we will follow God, but it is much more important to live like it. Yet the nation followed God through Joshua’s lifetime, a great tribute to Joshua’s faith in God and powerful leadership.

Spiritual Training 28 June 2011

Posted: June 28, 2011 in Bible Study, Security, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command, winning
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 24:15 -But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

The people had to decide whether they would obey the LORD, who had proven his trustworthiness, or obey the local gods, which were only man-made idols. It’s easy to slip into a quiet rebellion-going about life in your own way. But the time comes when you have to choose who or what will control you. The choice is yours. Will it be God, your own limited personality, or another imperfect substitute? Once you have chosen to be controlled by God’s Spirit, reaffirm you choice every day.

In taking a definite stand for the Lord, Joshua again displayed his spiritual leadership. Regardless of what others decided, Joshua had made a commitment to God, and he was willing to set the example of living by that decision. The way we live shows others the strength of our commitment to serving God

Spiritual Training 27 June 2011

Posted: June 27, 2011 in Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Spiritual Training, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 23:8- But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.

Joshua was dying and so he called all the leaders of the nation together to give them his final words of encouragement and instruction. His whole message can be summarized in this verse, “Hold fast to the LORD your God.” Joshua had been a living example of those words, and he wanted that to be his legacy. For what do you want to be remembered, and what do you want to pass on to your children and associates? You can leave them nothing better than the admonition to hold on to God and to the memory of a person who did.

Proverbs 27:15-16 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 27, 2011 in Bible Study, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 27:15-16 – A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; restraining her is lie restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.

Quarrelsome nagging, a steady stream of unwanted advice, is a form of torture. People nag because they think they’re not getting through, but nagging hinders communication more than it helps. When tempted to engage in this destructive habit, stop and examine your motives. Are you more concerned about yourself-getting your way, being right-than about the person you are pretending to help? If you are truly concerned about other people, think of a more effective way to get through to them. Surprise them with words of patience and love, and see what happens.

Spiritual Training 24 June 2011

Posted: June 24, 2011 in Bible Study, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 23:6-13 – “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or sewer by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now. The LORD has driven out before great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God. But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whip on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.

Joshua knew the nation’s weak spots. Before dying, he called the people together and gave commands to help them where they were most likely to slip:
1. follow all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses without turning aside
2. don’t associate with the pagan nations or worship their gods
3. don’t intermarry with the pagan nations.
These temptations were right in their back-yard. Our associations and relationships can be temptations to us as well. It’s wise to identify our weak spots before we break down. Then we can develop strategies to overcome these temptations instead of being overcome by them.

Proverbs 23:17-18 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 23, 2011 in Bible Study, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
 Proverbs 23:17-18- Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

How easy it is to envy those who get ahead unhampered by Christian responsibility or God’s laws. For a time they do seem to get ahead without paying any attention to what God wants. But to those who follow him, God promises a hope and a wonderful future even if we don’t achieve it in this life.

Spiritual Training 22 June 2011

Posted: June 22, 2011 in Bible Study, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 22:5 – But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.

Here Joshua briefly restated the central message Moses gave the people in Deuteronomy: Obedience should be based on love for God. Although the Israelites had completed their military responsibility, Joshua reminded them of their spiritual responsibility. Sometimes we think so much about what we are to do that we neglect thinking about who we are to be. If we know we are God’s children, we will love him and joyfully serve him. We must not let daily service take away from our love for God.

Proverbs 21:03 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 21, 2011 in Bible Study, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 21:03 – To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”

Sacrifices and offerings are not bribes to make God over-look our character faults. We can’t exchange good behavior in one area for bad behavior in another. If our personal and business dealings are not characterized by justice, no amount of generosity when the offering plate is passed will make up for it.

Spiritual Training 21 June 2011

Posted: June 21, 2011 in Bible Study, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 22:1-4 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gradates and the half-tribe of Manasseh and said to them, “You have done all the Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. For a long time now-to this very day-you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you. Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.

Before the conquest had begun, these tribes were given land on the east side of the Jordan River. But before they could settle down, they had to first promise to help the other tribes conquer the land on the west side (Numbers 32:20-22). They had patiently and diligently carried out their promised duties. Joshua commended them for doing just that. At last they were permitted to return to their families and build their cities. Follow-through is vital in God’s work. Beware of the temptation to quit early and leave God’s work undone.

Spiritual Training 20 June 2011

Posted: June 20, 2011 in Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 21:43-45 – So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the LORD’S good promises to the house of Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled. .

God proved faithful in fulfilling every promise he had given to Israel. Fulfillment of some promises took several years, but “everyone was fulfilled.” God’s promises will be fulfilled according to his timetable, not ours, but we know that his word is sure. The more we learn of those promises God has fulfilled and continues to fulfill, the easier it is to hope for those yet to come. Sometimes we become impatient, wanting God to act in a certain way and now. Instead, we should faithfully do what we know he wants us to do and trust him for the future.

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