Posts Tagged ‘faith’

Spiritual Training 20 June 2012

Posted: June 20, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

Judges 6:36-39 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised – look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor.  If there is dew only on the fleece, and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened.  Gideon rose early the next day, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew-a bowlful of water.  Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me.  Let me make just one more request.  Allow me one more test with the fleece.   This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew” That night God did so.  Only the fleece was dry, all the ground was covered with dew. 

 Was Gideon testing God, or was he simply asking God for more encouragement? In either case, though his motive was right (to obey God and defeat the enemy), his method was less than ideal.  Gideon seems to have known that his requests might displease God (6:39), and yet he demanded two miracles even after witnessing the miraculous fire from the rock (6:21).  It is true that to make good decisions, we need facts. Gideon had all the facts, but still he hesitated.  He delayed obeying God because he wanted even more proof.

Demanding extra signs was an indication of unbelief.  Fear often makes us wait for more confirmation when we should be taking action.  Visible signs are unnecessary if they only confirm what we already know is true.

Lets bring it home: Today the greatest means of God’s guidance is his Word, the Bible.  Unlike Gideon, we have God’s complete, revealed Word.  If you want to have more of God’s guidance, don’t ask for sign, STUDY THE BIBLE (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Proverbs 15:10 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 15, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 15:10 – Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die. 

We know that when we leave the path of righteousness, the Lords discipline is waiting for us, and will bring us back if we heed his correction.  Those who continue down the wrong path, who just can’t stand to be corrected, will suffer many troubles as which some of those can lead to death.  So if you have a problem taking correction from someone, start praying to God to change your heart.

Spiritual Training 14 June 2012

Posted: June 14, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon 

Judges 6:14-16 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand.  Am I not sending you?”  “But Lord, “Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.” 

“I will be with you,” God told Gideon, and God promised to give him the strength he needed to overcome the opposition.  In spite of this clear promise for strength, Gideon made excuses.  Seeing only his limitations and weaknesses, he failed to see how God could work through him.

Lets bring it home: Like Gideon, we are called to serve God in specific ways, Although God promises us the tools and strength we need, we often make excuses.  But reminding God of our limitations only implies that he does not know all about us or that he has made a mistake in evaluation our character.  Don’t spend time making excuses.  Instead spend it doing what God wants. 

Spiritual Training 13 June 2012

Posted: June 13, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Gideon 

Judges 6:11-13 The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezirte, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.  When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” But sir, “Gideon replied, “If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?  Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?  But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.” 

Gideon questioned God about the problems he and his nation faced and about God’s apparent lack of help.  What he didn’t acknowledge was the fact that the people had brought calamity upon themselves when they decided to disobey and neglect God.  How easy it is to overlook personal accountability and blame our problems on God and others.  Unfortunately this does not solve our problems.  It brings us no closer to God, and it escorts us to the very edge of rebellion and backsliding.

Lets bring it home: When problems come, the first place to look is within. Our immediate response should be confession to God of sins that may have created our problems.

Proverbs 13:03 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 13, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 13:03 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. 

You have not mastered self-control if you do not control what you say.  Words can cut and destroy.  James recognized this truth when he stated, “The tongue is a small part of the body but makes great boast”. If you want to be self-controlled, begin with your tongue.  Stop and think before you react or speak.  If you can control this small but powerful member, you can control the rest of your body. 

Proverbs 12:16 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 12, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command 
Proverbs 12:16 A fool show his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.  

When someone annoys or insults you, it is natural to retaliate.  But this solves nothing and only encourages trouble.  Instead, answer slowly and quietly.  Your positive response will achieve positive results.  Remember Proverbs 15:01: A gentle answer turns away wrath.

Spiritual Training 12 June 2012

Posted: June 12, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon 

Judges 6:06-10 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.  When the Israelites cried to the LORD because of Midian, he sent them a prophet who said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:  I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors.  I drove them from before you and gave you their land.  I said to you, I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.  But you have not listened to me.  

Again the Israelites hit rock bottom before turning back to God.  How much suffering they could have avoided if they had trusted him! Turning to God shouldn’t be a last resort; we should look to him for help each day.  This isn’t to say life will always be easy.  There will be struggles; but God will give us the strength to live through them.

Lets Bring it Home:  Don’t wait until you’re at the end of your rope.  Call on God first in every situation.

Spiritual Training 11 June 2012

Posted: June 11, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

Judges 6:01-05 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.  Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.  Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.  They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.  They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locust.  It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.

The Midianites were desert people descended from Abraham’s second wife, Keturah (Genesis 25:1,2).  From this relationship came a nation that was always in conflict with Israel.  Years earlier the Israelite’s, while still wandering in the desert, battled the Midianites and almost totally destroyed them (Numbers 31:1-20).  Because of their failure to completely destroy them, however, the tribe repopulated.  Here they were once again oppressing Israel.

Spiritual Training 08 June 2012

Posted: June 8, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command 
Judges 5 The Song of Deborah
(Read Entire Chapter)

Music and singing were a cherished part of Israel’s culture.  Chapter 5 is a song, possibly composed and sung by Deborah and Barak.  It sets to music the story of Israel’s great victory recounted in Chapter 4. This victory song was accompanied by joyous celebration.  It proclaimed God’s greatness by giving him credit for the victory.  It was an excellent way to preserve and retell this wonderful story from generation to generation.

In Victory, Barak and Deborah sang praises to God.  Songs of praise focus our attention on God, give us an outlet for spiritual celebration, and remind us of God’s faithfulness and character.  Whether you are experiencing a great victory or a major dilemma, singing praises to God can have a positive effect on your attitude.

Proverbs 05:18-20 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 5, 2012 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 05:18-20 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?    

God does not intend faithfulness in marriage to be boring, lifeless, pleasure less, and dull. Sex is a gift God gives to married people for their mutual enjoyment.  Real happiness comes when we decide to find pleasure in the relationship God has given or will give us and to commit ourselves to making it pleasurable for our spouse.  The real danger is in doubting that God knows and cares for us.  We then may resent his timing and carelessly pursue sexual pleasure without his blessing.

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.

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