Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

Spiritual Training 05 July 2012

Posted: July 5, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon’s Death 

Judges 8:28-32 Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again.  During Gideon’s lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty years.  Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live.  He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives.  His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelech.  Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.  

The relationship between Gideon and a concubine produced a son who tore apart Gideon’s family and caused tragedy for the nation.  Gideon’s story illustrates the fact that heroes in battle are not always heroes in daily life.  Gideon led the nation but could not lead his family.

Let’s Bring it home: No matter whom you are, moral laxness will caused problems.  Just because you have won a single battle with temptation does not mean you will automatically win the next one.  We need to be constantly watchful against temptation.  Sometimes Satan’s strongest attacks come after a victory.

Proverbs 3:21-26 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 3, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 3:21-26 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your site; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
 
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 give 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 truth.

Spiritual Training 03 July 2012

Posted: July 3, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
 
Judges 8:22-27 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us – you, your son and your grandson – because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.” But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.” And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an ear-ring from your share of the plunder. “ (It was the custom for the Is…hmaelites to wear gold earrings. They answered, “Well be glad to give them. “So they spread out a garment and each man threw a ring from his plunder onto it. The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels neck. Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. Those who were very wealthy put ornaments on their camels as a way of displaying their riches. Women wore vast amounts of jewelry as well often up to 15 pairs of earrings, Jewelry was also worn for good luck. After Gideon’s rise to power he seems to have become carried away with this accumulation of wealth. Eventually it led the Israelites to idolatry.
 
Gideon probably had good motives for making the ephod (a visible remembrance commemorating the victory). Unfortunately, the people began to worship the ephod as an idol.
 
Let’s Bring it home: Sadly, many decisions that stem from good motives produce negative results. Perhaps no one stops to ask, “What might go in your plans and decisions, take time to anticipate how a good idea might lead to a potential problem

Proverbs 2:6-7 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 2, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 2:6-7  For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He hold victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless. 

 God gives us wisdom and victory but not for drifting through life or acting irresponsibly with his gifts and resources.  If we are faithful and keep our purpose in life clearly in mind, he will keep us from pride and greed. 

Proverbs 1:7-9 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 2, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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 Proverbs: 1:7-9

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.  Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching, they will be a garland to grace your head and chain to adorn your neck. 

 In this age of information, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce.  Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot.  It is a basic attitude that affects every aspect of life.  The foundation of knowledge is to fear the Lord –to honor and respect God, to live in awe of his power, and to obey his word.  Faith in God should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes and your actions.  Thrust in God-he will make you truly wise. 

Spiritual Training 02 July 2012

Posted: July 2, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

 Judges 8:22-23 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us – you, your son and your grandson – because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.”  But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you.  The LORD will rule over you.”

 The people wanted to make Gideon their King but Gideon stressed that the LORD was to rule over them.  Despite his inconsistencies, Gideon never lost sight of the importance for both a nation and an individual of putting God first. 

 Let’s Bring It Home: Is God first in your life?  If he is, he must affect every dimension of your life not just what you do in church. 

Spiritual Training 29 June 2012

Posted: June 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

Judges 8:15-17 The Gideon came and said to the men of Succoth, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me by saying, Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession?  Why should we give bread to you’re your exhausted men?”  He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Succoth a lesson by punishing them with desert thorns and briers.  He also pulled down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of the town. 

 Gideon carried out the threat he had made in 8:7.  It is difficult to determine whether this act of revenge was justified or whether he should have left the punishment up to God.  Gideon was God’s appointed leader, but the officials of Succoth and Peniel refused to help him in any way because they feared the enemy.  They showed neither faith nor respect for God nor the man God had chosen to save them.

Lets bring it home: We should help others because it is right, regardless of whether we will benefit personally.

Proverbs 29:16 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 29:16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall. 

When the wicked are in leadership, sin prevails.  In any organization-whether a church, a business, a family, or a government-the climate comes from the top.  The people become like their leaders.  What kind of climate are you setting for people you lead?

Proverbs 28:09 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
 Proverbs 28:09 – If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law even his prayers are detestable.

God does not listen to our prayers if we intend to go back to our sin as soon as we get off our knees.  If we want to forsake our sin and follow him, however, he willingly listens-no matter how bad our sin has been.  What closes his ears is not the depth of our sin, but our secret intention to do it again.  God hears our intentions as clearly as he hears our words.

Spiritual Training 28 June 2012

Posted: June 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

Judges 8:4-9 Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it.  He said to the men of Succoth,  “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” But the officials of Succoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession?  Whey should we give bread to your troops?”  Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.”  From there he went up to Peniel and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Succoth had.  So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”

The leaders of Succoth and Peniel refused to help Gideon, probably fearing Midian’s revenge should he fail (Gideon’s army was 300 men chasing 15,000).  They should have realized that victory was certain because God was with Gideon.  But they were so worried about saving themselves that they never thought about God’s power to save.

Lets bring it home: Because of fear for ourselves, we may not recognize God’s presence in other people and therefore miss God’s victory.  Then we must face the often bitter consequences of failing to join forces with those God has chosen to do his work.  Because God will prevail with or without you, be quick to join others who are engaged in his work.  Lend support with your time, money, talents, and prayer.

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