READ>THINK>PRAY>LIVE 6/10/04

1 Thess 4:1-12, Psalm 10:12-18, Prov 3:9-10

1 Thess 4:1-12
v.1 - Please God in a living, spirited dance. Abound more & more.
v.11 - Mind your own affairs. Work with your hands.
v.12 - Be self supporting

v.3-5 Control,possess, manage your own body in purity & honor, not sexual vice, lust, immorality.

Psalm 10:12-18 David turns to intercession
PRAISE GOD! v.18 (MSG) "Orphans get parents, the homeless gets homes, the reign of terror is over, the rule of the gang lords is ended"
He's a Father to the fatherless, our shelter, our protection!

1 Cor 10:13 - God will never let you down

Eugene Petersen - "My security comes from whom God is, not from how I feel. Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about Him, myself, or my neighbours."

Proverbs 3:9,10

Honor the Lord with your own possessions, wealth, everything you own, and with the firstfruits of your increase, give Him your first & your best. Your barns will burst & be filled with plenty, and your vats will brim over, overflowing with new wine.

see Malachi 3:10 - If you honor God in this, He promises to open up heaven & pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams.

READ>THINK>PRAY>LIVE 5/10/04

1 Thess 3, Psalm 10:1-11, Prov 3:7,8

1 Thess 3 - Accountability, Encouragement, Teamwork
John Maxwell says that accountability provides a cure.

CURE = Correction, Updates, Reminders, Encouragement

Paul couldn't return even if he wanted to. he might have been killed. He sent one of his team - Timothy, who was a great encouragement (v.2)

Team Leaders -Isn't it great to have a team that you can count on & call upon at any moment?!

Team members - Are you "always on" so that you are ready when called upon? (Donna Crouch has a great message on this attitude)

Psalm 10:1-11

It may feel that God is afar off & not interested but more than likely that is perception (which is powerful) due to circumstance & it's time to stir up the faith within. Sometimes this is easier said than done. It comes to mind that here is the importance of keeping in the Word, wise counsel & awesome fellowship, etc to keep stirred up & encouraged.

Also to encourage others just like Timothy in the 1 Thess 3 reading.

Eugene Petersen - "the only mistake we can make when conflict, persecution, illness etc comes, is to think that God himself has somehow gotten bored looking after us, and has shifted His attention to some more exciting Christian, or has become disgusted with our meandering obedience and has decided to let us fend for ourselves for a little while. God’s interest in us does not wax and wane according to our spiritual temperature."

1 Cor 10:13 - God will never let you & I down

Proverbs 3:7,8

Surprise! You & I don't know it all!

Fear God, run to Him, worship Him

You will have healthy flesh & a glow

Your bones will vibrate with life & have strength. They will be moistened.

Renewed health, vitality, vigor & energy. (A promise worth grabbing onto today!)

READ>THINK>PRAY>LIVE 4/10/04

JUDE, ISAIAH 53, ECCLESIASTES 9:16-18

Jude 4 - God's grace doesn't give us a licence to sin. How then should I respond to this grace?

Jude 23 - Hate the sin, love the sinner "tender with sinners, but not soft on sin" (MSG)

Interesting to note that Jude is writing to the church calling for radical faith & obedience.

Keep the faith - avoid

1. Unbelief (5)
2. Disobedience (6)
3. Immorality (7)

Isaiah 53 - the ultimate sacrifice, God's rescue plan foretold, the exchanged life

Have you & I accepted the ENTIRE gift that Jesus purchased for us?

Think of what that would be like. His strength, security, solid emotions, forgiveness, reconciliation, salvation, health, wholeness, peace.................

v.5 - "He took the punishment & that made us whole" (MSG)

Ecclesiastes 9:16-18

Wisdom is better than muscle, strength, might (v.16), warheads & weapons of war (v.18)

v.17 - Listen to wise people who speak quietly, not people who rant & rave about foolish things

READ>THINK>PRAY>LIVE 3/10/04

JOSHUA 6, PSALM 9:11-20, PROV 3:5-6

Joshua 6 - Joshua was obedient to God even if the command seemed absurd.

v.10 - Sometimes its best to keep your mouth shut until the right time to obtain victory (wisdom)

v.6 - take up the Ark of the Covenant (presence of God). Seek His presence.

v.27 - Joshua had favour with God & man.

v.25 - Rahab was spared according to the promise in Joshua 2:14

Psalm 9:11-20
SELAH - worth pondering in light of an election next weekend, considering an entire nation & its leadership.
v.15 - Lord, let that not be Australia!

Prov 3:5-6 Maxwell calls this the irony of spiritual leadership. In Prov 2:1-5 we are told to get understanding & wisdom & now are told not to lean on it apart from the Lord.
How should we think then?

• Think big - God's vision is usually bigger than ours
• Think of others
• Think continually-don't be satisfied with today's answers
• Think bottomline - results & fruit
• Think continual growth - keep improving
• Think without lines - let God outside of the box
• Think victory - we want God's rule to come to the earth
• Think intuitively - have a sense of what will work
• Think servanthood - serve & add value to people
• Think quickly - evaluate & see possible answers

READ>THINK>PRAY>LIVE 2/10/04

Joshua 5, Psalm 9:1-10, Prov 3:1-4

Joshua was obedient.
v.12 - the manna ceased because they were positioned for permanent blessing
v.6 - " a land flowing with milk & honey"

v.15 - The army commander of the Lord (Prince of the Lord's host) told Joshua to take off his sandals for the place where he stood was holy ground (compare Exodus 3:5)

Host = angelic army. Lord of the Hosts = God of the angelic armies.
King of Glory (Psalm 24:10)

Old custom of Israel - removing sandal is a part of an official matter taking place (Ruth 4:7)

what followed? Moses - Israel's deliverance, Joshua - Jericho
(I am sure that it takes more than us taking off our Grosby's to be successful, or does it (metaphorically)?)
OBEDIENCE TO GOD = SUCCESS (more obedience equations below)

Psalm 9:1-10 Declare this just as David did. Say it out loud.
v.10 - The Lord has not forsaken those that seek Him.
Luke 11:10 - He who seeks finds.
Luke 12:31 - Seek His Kingdom.

Psalm 9:9-10 (MSG) - "God's a safe house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax, you're never sorry you knocked."

Prov 3:1-4
v.1,2 (Compare Joshua's obedience)
OBEDIENCE TO GOD=LONG LIFE + PEACE(NKJV)
PROSPERITY(NIV)
A LIFE LIVED FULL & WELL(MSG)
TRANQUILITY(AMP)

v.3,4 - Live a life of mercy & truth and you will find favour with God & man! SELAH

READ>THINK>PRAY>LIVE 1/10/04

JOSHUA 4, PSALM 8, PROV 2:16-22

Joshua 4 - Memorial Stones.
John Maxwell says "a legacy for the next generation". He also states "Good leaders provide "handles" like these to enable their people to grab onto the vision".

WHAT LEGACY ARE YOU & I LEAVING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION?

As I think of this I recall a song by Mortification called "Jehovah Nissi", which mentions a memorial book (or scroll)....see Exodus 17:14
Luke 22:19 - Jesus said to have communion in remembrance of Him.
Is this why we need memorials? hmmm....
Ecclesiastes 1:11 (MSG) - "Nobody remembers what happened yesterday, and the things that will happen tomorrow? Nobody'll remember them either. Don't count on being remembered."

Psalm 8: Maxwell - Identity. A balanced perspective of God's role & the leader's role.

1. David sees his own weakness & humanity (v.3,4) He realises that man accounts for a small part of the univers & that keeps him humble
2. David sees his God given position & privileges (v.5-8) God put humans in charge of the whole world & gave them authority over creation (see Genesis 1:28)
3. David gives glory to God (v.1,9)

Proverbs 2:16-22 Wisdom

v.18 - Being with an immoral woman leads to death. Be wise. One night of pleasure ain't worth a lifetime of pain.

v.21 - The upright dwell in the land. Blessing, permanence, occupation, fruit that remains, blessed to be a blessing to others.

READ>THINK>PRAY>LIVE 30/9/04

1 Thess 2, Psalm 7:11-17, Prov 2:10-15

1 Thess 2 - Maxwell's Law of Connection: Paul mentors his children

• v.7 - nurtured
• v.8 - shared Gospel & lives
• v.9 - worked hard not to burden with needs
• v.10 - be an example
• v.11 - dealings like a father with his children
• v.12 - encouragement

It's all about people! v.19 - "For what is our hope.....is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?"

Note to self - check heart motivation, do not seek the approval of man (v.4,6)

Psalm 7:11-17

v.16 - "His trouble shall return upon his own head"

Galatians 6:7 - "A man reaps what he sows"

Prov 2:10-15

v.12 - Wisdom delivers you from the man who speaks perverse things. Get out of the presence of ungodly counsel (Psalm 1) & speakers of perverse things.