Archive for the ‘Under Gods Command’ Category

Spiritual Training 13 June 2011

Posted: June 13, 2011 in Bible Study, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 13:13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Gusher and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

One reason the Israelites encountered so many problems as they settled the land was that they failed to conquer fully the land and drive out all its inhabitants. The cancer-like presence of the remaining pagan peoples of Canaan caused unending difficulties for the Israelites, as the book of Judges records, Just a they failed to move completely the sin from the land, believers today often fail to remove completely the sin from their lives-also with disastrous results. As a self-test, reread the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17. Ask yourself, Am I tolerating sinful practices or thoughts? Have I accepted half-measures as good enough? Do I condemn the faults of others but condone my own?

Proverbs 10:24 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 10, 2011 in Fear, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
 Proverbs 10:24 – What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

The wicked person dreads death. Those who do not believe in God usually fear death, and with good reason. By contrast, believers’ desire eternal life and God’s salvation-their hopes will be rewarded. This verse offers a choice: you can have either your fears or your desires come true. You make that choice by rejecting God and living your own way, or by accepting God and following him.

 

Spiritual Training 09 June 2011

Posted: June 9, 2011 in Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 10:40-43 – So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

God had commanded Joshua to take the leadership in ridding the land of sin so God’s people could occupy it. Joshua did his part thoroughly-leading the united army to weaken the inhabitants. When God orders us to stop sinning, we must not pause to debate, consider the options, negotiate a compromise, or rationalize. Instead, like Joshua, our response must be swift and complete. We must be ruthless in avoiding relationships and activities that can lead us into sin.

Proverbs 9:7-9 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 9, 2011 in Inspiration, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 9:7-09 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

Are you a mocker or a wise person? You can tell by the way you respond to criticism. Instead of tossing back a quick put down or clever retort when rebuked. Listen to what is being said. Learn from your critics; this is the path to wisdom. Wisdom begins with knowing God. He gives insight into living because he created life. To know God is not just to know the facts about him, but to stand in awe of him and have a relationship with him. Do you really want to be wise? Get to know God better and better.

Proverbs 8:05 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 8, 2011 in Spiritual Training, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 8:05 – You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

Are people willing to take the position to admit that they are not adequate, to say I am a sinner and that I really don’t have intellectual problems? Sometimes I think it is a joke to listen to folk with “intellectual” problems. How many times do we hear people say, “I have intellectual problems about the Bible?” What they really have is a sin problem, and he didn’t want to give up his sin. I have discovered that if a person has a sin problem and will turn to Christ with that problem, it is amazing how often the intellectual problems will be solved.

Spiritual Training 07 June 2011

Posted: June 7, 2011 in Spiritual Training, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 11:15 As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all the LORD commanded Moses.

Joshua carefully obeyed all the instructions given by God. This theme of obedience is repeated frequently in the book of Joshua, partly because obedience is one aspect of life that each individual believer can control. We can’t always control our understanding because we may not have all the facts. We can’t control what other people do or how they treat us. However, we can control our choice to obey God. Whatever new challenges we may face, the Bible contains relevant instructions that we can choose to ignore or choose to follow.

Spiritual Training 06 June 2011

Posted: June 6, 2011 in Bible Study, Fear, Fear of rejection, Justice, Security, and Happiness, Security, Spiritual Training, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 10:25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening.

With God’s help, Israel won the battle against five Amorite armies. Such a triumph was part of God’s daily business as he worked with his people for victory. Joshua told his men never to be afraid because God would give them similar victories over all their enemies. God has often protected us and won victories for us. The same God who empowered Joshua and who has led us in the past will help us with our present and future needs. Reminding ourselves of his help in the past will give us hope for the struggles that lie ahead.

Proverbs 06:25-26 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 6, 2011 in Spiritual Training, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 06:25-26 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

Regard lust as a warning sign of danger ahead. When you notice that you are attracted to a person of the opposite sex or preoccupied with thoughts of him or her, your desires may lead you to sin. Ask God to help you change your desires before you are drawn into sin.

Proverbs 3:11-12 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 3, 2011 in Bible Study, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

It’s difficult to know when God has been disciplining us until we look back on the situation later. Not every calamity comes directly from God, of course. But if we rebel against God and refuse to repent when God has identified some sin in our lives, he may use guilt, crises, or bad experiences to bring us back to him. Sometimes, however, difficult times come even when we have no apparent sin. Then, our response should be patience, integrity, and confidence that God will show us what to do.

Spiritual Training 02 June 2011

Posted: June 2, 2011 in Bible Study, Security, Spiritual Training, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 9:19-20 – but all the leaders’ answered, “We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them .

Joshua and his advisers had made a mistake. But because they had given an oath to protect the Gibeonites, they would keep their word. The oath was not nullified by the Gibeonites trickery. God had commanded that oaths be kept and breaking an oath was serious. This encourages us not to take our promises lightly.

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