Month: October 2024

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10.11.24.Giving From the Heart

God gifts men/women to do the work of the ministry

1 Cor 8 Giving 

We set aside one day of the week for our tithing but there are other times when we give sacrificially to meet the needs of others. Paul had been collecting monies for the Jerusalem church. Many gave out of their hearts, not out of their abundance. In fact, they had little to nothing but gave and gave and gave that they might receive the blessing of being a part of the giving. God has seen and blessed these for their names and places are recorded in heaven. Paul records this: “with abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.” [2 Cor 8:2-4]

Today, as then, we have many needs before us and it is time for us to open our pocketbooks to give sacrificially beyond our weekly tithing. 

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10.10.24.Word to the Wise

Listen, look then determine

Proverbs 23 What price? 

Probably one of our weakest areas in this life is this tool of discernment. You may be born with it, but truly it is a skill that you must be taught and honed. To discern is to stop and think what is true in contrast to what is false. The Proverbs chapters speak of this over and over, so it must be a skill that is needed to succeed and one that will protect us from falling for the ways of the world and our arch enemy Satan. 

Discernment is what you can use in nearly every engagement be it, purchasing a garment or even  as this Proverb says to paid dinners with high ranking people. Not always, but many times, the dinner is really a cover up for what they want you to do after the dinner. For example, you are invited to a swanky hotel and a posh dinner but behind that dinner, usually after listening to a speech, you are asked to donate an amount whether it be for a starving child or a man/woman who wants our vote. 

The Proverbs author tells us “do not crave that ruler’s delicacies,for that food is deceptive.” In other words, that meal you are enjoying comes with a price. Warning signal: “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you;” In fact the Proverbs author goes so far as to say: “will have wasted your pleasant words.” 

Word to the wise, stop and consider what the payment will be if you attend these functions. 

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10.8.24. Encourage

Snail ,mail

2 Cor 7 Rejoicing

What thoughts bring joy to your mind today? For Paul, it was the moment he embraced Titus upon his return. Paul had been despondent at not finding him at the last stop he had made and so did not serve God in that place. But, now, Paul was excited to see his precious friend once again and even more so when he shared the good news from the church in Corinth. A happy heart is good medicine, so the Proverbs author said, and it seems to be true. When we are downtrodden, we are sad beyond measure and nothing anyone says or does draws us out of our doom and gloom. But, let a friend call or a friend drop by or receiving good news, we are moved from sadness to joy. 

So it was when Titus returned with good news from Corinth, that Paul was able to share with the Corinthians by letter how pleased he was at this news. 

Paul writes “Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus because all of you have refreshed his spirit.” [2 Cor 7:13] 

Today someone needs your words of encouragement and your friendship. Take a moment today to speak to that person in writing or by a phone call or by personal attention.  

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10.7.24.Holiness

Holiness is like a puzzle ..

2 Cor 6 Beware Brethren 

Today we received the news of another leader who has fallen from grace by having an inappropriate relationship with one of the opposite sex. It saddens me for this man has had an influence in the church as he taught the scriptures with accuracy. But, it is one thing to know the scriptures and another to live the scriptures. Perhaps that is one reason Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth whose one failing was immorality. “Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?” [2 Cor 6:14] 

Those who are in darkness are those who do not walk with Christ or do not obey His Word and His commandments. Today, as then. we must be on guard against the wiles of the devil who will use sex as a tool to draw men and women from the appointed goal of purity. The Apostle John wrote clearly about this and we should take his advice. 

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10.6.24.Promises Made & Kept

God is a promise keeper

Psalm 111 God is Promise Keeper 

In 1948 this verse was fulfilled: “He announced that he would do mighty deeds for his people, giving them a land that belonged to other nations.” [Ps 111:6]  After thousands of years being subjected to other nations and rulers, God brought this verse to reality. “On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel.”  Today we see a vibrant nation in the Middle East where the land has flourished just as God said it would. Why is it we don’t believe the Word of God when we read prophecies such as this and see its fulfillment? It is because of what Paul told the Corinthians: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God.” [2 Cor 4:4]

Today stop and praise God for what He has done, and fulfilled to last jot or tittle so that men are without excuse. God is a promise keeper and we see it even if it takes years to happen. 

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10.5.24. How do you smell?

2 Cor 5 What aroma are you sharing?

One of the fears mankind faces is that of death. We think we are ready to die, but in reality we are not. God has the timetable for each one and no one knows when that will be. Yet, one thing a believer has is his peace and comfort knowing that when that time comes it will be perfectly orchestrated by His command.  Until then let’s follow Paul’s advice that he gave to the Corinthians about their bodies. “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” [2 Cor 5:9] As we go about our daily routine, stop and think how you “smell” to the world around you. Do you smell sweet because of the words and actions you share or do you smell like the pigsty of the prodigal son? 

Today go and be a blessing to someone so that God is pleased.  If today is your death date, you want to enter His presence with joy and peace knowing that you have fulfilled that command. Be a pleasing aroma to those around you and it will translate to a kingdom blessing in heaven. 

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10.4.24. Do not fall for Satan’s Tricks!

2 Cor 4 Discouraged? NO! 

A magician has his bag of tricks, Satan his bag of the deadly d’s. One his tools in his bag is seeking to undermine the work of Christ by discouragement.  Maybe your discouragement has come because of fear or of lack of progress in your spiritual walk. Whatever it is,know the true source of discouragement is from the enemy. Perhaps it might be good to stop and just read those few words Paul penned where he noted the reason he was not discouraged was because God had shown him mercy beyond all that he could think of. He had been a persecutor of the early church and as he thought back he could recall the scenes of going house to house, dragging believers to the places of punishment. But, God in His way, and in His time, chose to reveal Himself to Paul on the Damascus road and turn him 180 degrees around to become not a persecutor but a proclaimer. 

Now Paul stops to reflect on his work of presenting the gospel. Just as he was gifted with mercy that was undeserved, so he saw the unsaved in need of such a gift. He was well aware of the work of the enemy, Satan. “among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” [2 Cor 4:4] Thus he knew that they, like he, may be discouraged but needed to hear the truth and return that tool back to Satan’s bag of tricks. 

Precious reader, do not become discouraged. Reflect on the gift of mercy you have received and go forth to present the gospel message. 

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10.3.24. God is our helper

God is awake 24/7

Psalm 108-109 God is our Helper

We live in a world where the spiritual forces against us are strong and powerful. Paul noted it well. “ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. [Eph 6:12] It was the same when the OT was written. King David, recognized the enemies around him,some were physical and tangible, but others were spiritual, just as we face. David’s prayer is one we can incorporate. Wisely David says and we can say, without God’s help, they cannot be conquered. Notice his understanding and prayer: “Give us help against the enemy, for any help men might offer is futile, By God’s power we will conquer; he will trample down our enemies.’ [PS 108:12,13] 

What enemies are around you today that are physical but others unseen yet real. Who will you depend on, God or man? David recognized that truth, how about you? 

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10.2.24. Discipleship

2 Cor 3 Letters from Heaven

To each who has presented Christ by which a person accepts Christ, they are a letter of commendation of their faithfulness. Think of this way, think back to the person that led you to Christ…you are a letter written on their heart..and you are read and known by everyone who meets you..because you are a letter of Christ, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God…you are not on a tablet of stone but on the tablet of the heart.

That is pretty awesome.Here’s an example from my life. I am a letter written on the heart of Ma Bennett with whom I lived for a season. Or Mr. Papke, my faithful Sr. High SS teacher. Or there was Mrs Laycock, ,my pastor’s wife who took it upon herself to teach me the first elements of discipleship as she taught me to sew my first project of an apron. Those were instrumental in my salvation step by step. How I praise the Father for each one. 

Who can you say for your life? 

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Happy October! 10.1.24.

How to handle a broken heart

1 Cor 2 Heartbreak 

Have you ever faced a troublesome day or week or month in which it seems like there is a huge rock along your path? It could be something real, or it could be a circumstance, but whatever it is, it has blocked your ability to study, meditate, and minister. This is where we find Paul. God opened the door for him to minister in Troas, but his heart was so heavy having not found Titus, his co-minister, he was unable to move forward. (He would later find Titus) 

Paul has opened his heart to the reader so that we might be able to relate to his circumstance. Sadness of heart often renders our service lacking. We say it like this; my heart wasn’t in it. Even though Paul went through the motion of presenting the gospel—we later learn that a church was founded there because of his teaching—-his heart was not in it. He, like us, went through the motions but lacked the fervency of the message. Yet, even in this, God used the message, even though the messenger was lacking, to bring many to Christ. This is an important point: it is the message not the messenger that God uses to bring many to repentance.

If this is where you are, let us come alongside you to be your encouragement. 

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