ACQUIRING WISDOM THAT LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION

Today's Bible readings are Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8, & Proverbs 1:20-23

Proverbs 1:20-23

²⁰ Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. ²¹ She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: ²² “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?
²³ Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.

Today I want to talk about how to acquire wisdom. We live in a day of information, much of it wrong by the way. Blogs like this one, Google searches, talk shows, radio shows, etc... are pumping out opinions & ideas faster than we can digest them. The masses really are being influenced by this information, many times in the wrong direction. That is one of the main reasons that our culture is changing at this rapid pace. I believe that it is connected to the rapid increase of information going forth.

Information is what influences people to share the ideas & perspectives that they have. Information can become the compasses that direct our lives & even morals. This is fine if the information is coming from the right source with the right motives, but it is destructive if it come from wrong sources with evil or self seeking motives.

It appears to me that people are becoming more & more foolish with the more information that is being pumped through the information pike line. People in our country are not getting smarter, there is much proof to the contrary. The data shows that there is a “dumbing effect” taking place in our culture. Why is that???

Many proclaim that knowledge is power. I don’t necessarily agree with that thinking. Here is the truth—“What is your knowledge about?” 

²⁰ Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. ²¹ She calls to the crowds along the main street,

Much like in our readings in Matthew today where we saw Jesus going to call out Peter, Andrew, James, & John to follow Him; Jesus is crying out for us to return to Him so we can gain true wisdom once more. His voice is shouting out in the streets of America. His Spirit crying is crying out to our government. His voice calls to the crowds that are on the broad path—Return to me & find wisdom.

True wisdom comes from Jesus Christ.  It is released & received through the reading of God’s HOLY WORD—The Bible. Scripture tells us that Jesus has been made unto us wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom & knowledge. As people grow away from the very things that can produce wisdom & as culture turns to the information of others to guide & direct their lives there will continue to be a dumbing effect & moral decline.

BUT HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS:

1.      Jesus is still calling.

2.      He relentlessly pursues hearts.

3.      He regularly challenges the saints.

4.      His Spirit is still in the Earth.

As you continue to commit to God’s Word He is going to bless you by granting you His wisdom. He will change the way you think, which will change the way you live, which will lead others to the truth. Don’t’ let up in your pursuit of TRUE WISDOM!

Pastor Richard

Today's readings are Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, & Proverbs 1:10-19

There are so many great things that we can pull from today's readings. First, we can look at the life of Noah that we read of in Genesis. We can see from his life that God is more than able to protect the righteous while destruction falls on the wicked. 

This is encouraging for us because we know that there is great wickedness in the Earth today, unlike that which has ever been seen before. It is easy to get consumed with fear as we see the destruction of the wicked before or eyes. We must remind ourselves that God will provide a way for us to escape the destruction taking place around us. Many things that are happening around us that can cause us to worry are things that we don't have to pay much mind to. We are inn Christ & not subject to wrath but salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What I really wanted to talk about today is something that John the Baptist said.

Matthew 3:8-10

⁸ Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. ⁹ Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. ¹⁰ Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Our lives should be significantly different now that we are Christians. There are certain things that we should see in each others lives now that we have chose to follow Jesus. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car. 

Jesus said that people will know we are His followers by our love. Let me ask you a question today-- How is your love life?  I do want to clarify that because I don't want anybody to think that I'm being inapproprate. I'm not speaking about you sex life--I asking about your love life?

A lot of people are up tight all the time. They are always complaining & grumbling about something. Could it be that love is waxing cold in their life? Do you get agitated quickly? Do you tend to find fault in everything? Are you quick to criticize what others are doing? Do you demand that your needs come first? Do you still hunger to see souls saved or are other things more important to you?

You can gauge a persons love life by this one thing every time--how far will you go to reach the lost?

Jesus is our model. He is the exact representation of love. Considered how far He went to save the lost. He demonstrated His love by dying for us. He held back nothing. He poured out everything. 

There is an old hymn that says:

To be like Jesus
To be like Jesus
All I ask - to be like Him
All through life's journey
From earth to glory
All I ask - to be like Him. 

We sing it, but I think we often forget to consider what that would really mean. 

I leave you today with the words of the great apostle Paul in regards to love:

1 Corinthians 13:11

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

Pastor Richard

Lord, help us to grow in love.  Let us put away the childish ways & move to maturity, in Jesus name we pray.

The Fall

Today's reading Genesis 3:1:4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, & Proverbs 1:7-9

Genesis 3:1-4

The Fall

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” ² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³ but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

⁴ “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.

I love the caption to this portion of scripture:  "The Fall". Here we see the single event that led something of such great cost. I'm sure that Eve & Adam never realized the height from which they were about to fall. Yet, I know for certain, that after it happened they felt so guilty that they hid from God. 

Fall always starts where trust in God ends. The enemy desires to confuse you. He works in areas of our thinking that would lead us to question the integrity of what God has said.--"DID GOD REALLY SAY" or "IS THAT WHAT GOD REALLY MEANT". We must know & be confident in what God has said. This comes by knowing His word--faith comes by hearing & hearing by the Word of God.

When this same thing happened to Jesus, His reply to the enemies suggestions where: "IT IS ALSO WRITTEN..." It was Jesus' knowledge & understanding of His Father's word that kept Him from falling.

Hosea 4:6

⁶my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.

Here are 5 things that you must settle in your heart & mind to never question:

1. God's love for you is GREAT.

2. God's mercy towards you NEVER ENDING.

3. God's grace extended to you is GREATER than all your sin.

4. NOTHING is impossible for Him.

5. God is for you, not against you.

Let these 5 things be the foundation that you build your trust & confidence in God on. Add to this, continued daily reading of His word. Attach to that, being actively involved in a Bible preaching church. Cover it all in meeting with God regularly in prayer & you will find that your relationship with Him will grow & you will experience less fall in your life.

Pastor Richard

Today's bible reading is Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-6, & Proverbs 1:1-6

Today I want to share a message of encouragement to you that comes from one of the verses in today's reading plan.  "In the beginning..."
Today is the first day of a new year. Millions of people late last night made resolutions that they plan to keep for this up coming year. They will resolve to do new things, & old things differently, to make this coming year BETTER than last year.
The best thing that any person can do is read the Bible daily. That is what this blog spot is all about. Last year people where challenged to read the New Testament in a year. This year we are going to take it up a notch & read the whole bible in a year. Somebody may wonder, "why".

Psalm 1:1-6

¹ Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers, ² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. ³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.⁴ Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. ⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.⁶ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

The key to greater blessing is walking in greater obedience to God's Word. The entrance of it brings light. It has been sent to heal us. It causes us to bear His fruit. It leads to us prospering in all that we do. If want to be blessed you have to know the path that leads to blessing. That path is laid out in God's Word.
I speak over you now, in Jesus name, that as you commit to delight in God's way of doing things, that you are going to experience blessing greater than you have ever experienced before. The way to learn God's way of doing things is through reading & meditating on His Word.


Pastor Richard

December 31
Happy Ending~

Revelation 22

New International Version (NIV)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

John and the Angel

6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 

19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
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What a year it has been, my friends! 
We have "witnessed" the mysterious birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, watched him grow up, walked the dusty roads with him as He taught, healed, restored and gave life to so many! 

Then we read of his death... 
          and His glorious resurrection! 

Today we stand at the end of our one year journey through the New Testament. 
I pray that you are closer now in your walk with the Lord than you were one year ago.
I pray that you will continue in the Word of God each and every day of 2014.
I pray that you will diligently seek the gifts of wisdom and revelation.
God bless you as you begin a new year in the Lord! 

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 22:16 The Greek is plural.

December 30
Beautiful City

Revelation 21

New International Version (NIV)

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[c]in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits[d] thick.[e] 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[f] 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls,each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
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vs 27  Is YOUR name written in the Lamb's book of life? 

Splendor.   There is not much splendor in this world. So to think about the splendor of that city... the new Jerusalem where God's people will dwell is really beyond what we might imagine.

But some glorious day we will be there, standing in the midst of the magnificence of it all. If.... 
If your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, you will be there.
Your name does not get written down just because you breathe air on this earth. It is written when you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior... when you BELIEVE and surrender your life to Him. 

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17
2. Revelation 21:4 Isaiah 25:8
3. Revelation 21:16 That is, about 1,400 miles or about 2,200 kilometers
4. Revelation 21:17 That is, about 200 feet or about 65 meters
5. Revelation 21:17 Or high
6. Revelation 21:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.