Fruitful: October 30, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 30, 2015.

FRUITFUL

DEFINITION:

Producing good results; beneficial, profitable, abounding in fruit; producing abundant growth.

SCRIPTURE:

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13:7-8.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In the verse above from John, Jesus teaches us that He is the vine and we are the branches and if we abide in Him we will bear much fruit. He is talking about bearing fruit with spiritual results such as bringing others to know Christ. That is what we as believers are called by God to do.

The key words in this verse are: “ABIDE IN HIM.” Abiding in Him gives evidence to our salvation and results in us bearing fruit. This fruit is not only soul winning but it produces spiritual fruit that includes a spiritual attitude and a Godly character. That should be a goal that we all should have as believers.

In Galatians 5:22 the Apostle Paul tells us that “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, fruitfulness, gentleness and self-control.

When we think of being fruitful we think of a farmer that desires to have a bountiful harvest of his crops. He must have the right soil, rain, sunshine, seasons, cultivation, and God’s blessing. A farmer who is a non-believer may say he needs “MOTHER NATURE TO BLESS HIS CROP” because he does not know God. He is really saying he needs God but does not understand that it is God who blesses crops by supplying the necessary nutrients from the soil, the necessary moisture, and the necessary sunshine and good weather.

To be fruitful as a believer we need God’s blessing. God can only bless us when we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing to Him in all respects, doing what is good and increasing daily in the knowledge of God.

Like a farmer a believer must have the right soil, a personal relationship with Jesus. He must have rain and sunshine which is the daily communication with God through prayer and the reading of His Word. And then there must be the sowing and the cultivation which is the going out among the world and walking in your faith and talking about your faith. When the soil of your heart is well prepared then God will bless you with a bountiful fruitful harvest. Without God you can do nothing.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in James 4:7.

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
 

PRAYER:

Guide me as I endeavor to abide in You that You will abide in me so that I can be fruitful in furthering Your kingdom. Bless my family and friends this day and produce in us the fruit of righteousness so that others will see Christ in us.

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Obedience: October 29, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 29, 2015.

OBEDIENCE

DEFINITION:

To submit to authority; to follow orders; to comply with instructions or commands.

SCRIPTURE:

Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession, although the whole earth is mine. Exodus 19:5.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Obedience can be a challenge especially when we feel tempted to do what we know is contrary to the will of God. When God commands us to obey Him, He is giving us a principle by which to live. He is setting a framework around our lives that forms a hedge of protection from evil.

When we choose to obey God His promises of blessing for obedience far outweigh any possible consequences. He asks us to submit ourselves to Him and leave whatever happens up to Him. When we obey God He pulls us closer to Himself and teaches us more about His precepts and His love.

There are 7 principles that will enable us to obey God with confidence and joy. Remember He can be fully trusted to keep the promises of Exodus 19:5 (above) because God keeps all of His promises.

First of all, we must earn to trust God with our life and with all that concerns us. You will never go wrong when you put your hope and trust in God. He will always lead you in the best way possible.

Second, always wait upon the Lord for an answer to your problem or situation. You need to refuse to move ahead unless you know that God is leading you.

Third, we must meditate on God’s Word. By saturating your mind with God’s Word, you will look at situations from God’s viewpoint. You will know right from wrong and will allow God’s convicting power to guide you.

Fourth, we must always listen to the Holy Spirit. God speaks to us through the reading of His Word and the Holy Spirit. We become sensitive to the Holy Spirit by spending time with Him reading God’s Word and praying.

Fifth, we need to be willing to wait or walk away when the way before you is unclear. Always remain firm. If you do not feel or sense a clear guidance from the Lord, ask God to confirm your feelings through the reading of His Word. He will never contradict scripture and His will for your life will always line up perfectly with what the Bible says.

Sixth, be willing to endure some conflict. We will face strong opposition because God at times allows trouble and conflict in our lives in order to show us our need to totally depend on Him.

Finally, we need to leave all the consequences we may face to God. We need to be prepared to face criticism from others, and fierce obstacles and opposition, but God will enable us to endure it. Obedience always puts us in a favorable position with God. It is obedience that brings His blessings into our life and makes us His treasured possession.

Stay on the path of obedience and leave the rest to God.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in James 4:7.

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
 

PRAYER:

Thank You for the assurance You give when we believe that obedience to You will always put us in a favorable position with You. Keep my life on a straight and narrow path of obedience, to honor You, and to listen for Your direction in every area of my life.

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Friend: October 28, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28, 2015.

FRIEND

DEFINITION:

A person on intimate and affectionate terms with another; supporter; well-wishers; one who gives assistance.

SCRIPTURE:

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:13-14.

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17a

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Psalm 18:24.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We all need a helper and a friend in our life. As God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” Genesis 2:18. Indeed we all need a friend, someone who will be there for us and help us in our time of need. There are many types of friends in this world and we need to be very careful as to how we choose one.

Children are easily swayed by their friends so parents need to be alert and involved in counselling their children on choosing friends. There are what we call “Fair weather friends.” They are with you as long as all is going well between the two of you or until another friend comes along that has something better to offer or a situation arises that they do not agree with you on.

The greatest characteristic of a friend is loyalty. A true friend loves at all times and sticks closer than a brother through thick and thin. There is an old saying, “A friend in need indeed is a friend in deed.”

Many people, especially those who have lost so called friends, are asking where one can go to find true friends. As you choose friends remember where your heart is, that is the place you will feel more comfortable and will see people that think and act your way.

We found out that we found our friends in the places we spent time such as at church, at school functions with our children and in Christian circles where we were ministering. Parents must make sure their children are spending their time at the right places where they can find friends with Christian values and Godly standards.

Take a moment and read the book of Philemon in the Bible. It is only 25 verses in length but as it is recorded, Paul talks to Philemon both as his brother in Christ and a true friend. They were beloved friends and fellow laborers in the faith so they had a lot in common.

As friends Paul prayed for Philemon and encouraged Philemon in his faith and was thankful for Philemon for being an encouragement to him. While in prison in Rome, Paul became friends with Onesimus who was Philemon’s runaway slave. Paul had led Onesimus to accept Jesus as his Savor and Onesimus had been a great help to Paul. As a close friend to both Philemon and Onesimus, Paul knew he could appeal to Philemon to do the right thing and forgive Onesimus and accept him not just as a forgiven runaway servant but as a friend and dear brother in Christ.

True friends will pray for each other, encourage one another and guide each other to do right.

It is important for us to remember that the greatest friend we have is Jesus. He is with us at all times. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Yes, you can tell Jesus everything because He already knows and He does not want you to go it alone.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in James 4:7.

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
 

PRAYER:

Thank You for being my friend and my Lord and Savior. Help me to be a friend to others that loves at all times and sticks closer than a brother. Help me to be a witness to others so that they will know what a friend they have in Jesus.

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Imperfect: October 27, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 27, 2015.

IMPERFECT

DEFINITION:

Characterized by defects or weaknesses; lacking completeness.

SCRIPTURE:

If you believe, you will receive whatever whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. I Corinthians 1:27.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “How can God use an imperfect person like me?” Jesus said some astonishing words about this in John 14:12. “He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do.” Astounding isn’t it? Yes, Jesus did say that as believers in Jesus we will do works greater than He has done. This truth seems impossible when we consider it in light of our faults, sins, and weaknesses.

Many believers sit on the sidelines feeling that God can never use them because of the many goofs that they have made in life and their insufficiencies. The problem is not our inadequacies or imperfections but it is because we have allowed our feelings to overshadow the truth of God’s Word.

The Lord is able to use you to show His love to others. Once we have confessed and turned over our sins to Jesus, we are cleansed permanently and ready for His service. But we have to act and not sit back and think how bad we have been or how useless we feel.

No longer should your questions be, “Do I deserve to serve Him?” or “Am I talented enough to represent Him?” The question you need to ask yourself is, “Will I obey God and trust Him to show His love to others through me?”

We are imperfect but we do not serve the Lord because we are perfect or imperfect. We serve Him because we are thankful for what He has done for us. And the work we do for Him is greater because every time we show His everlasting love to another person, it multiplies and grows.

Do not worry about being imperfect. God will overcome for you your weaknesses, faults, and inadequacies. He will work through them to make you a shining light for Him in this dark world.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in James 4:7.

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
 

PRAYER:

Help me today to overcome my imperfections and allow You to work through me. Give me a new faith and the strength to be Your witness to those that I meet today.

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Follow: October 26, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 26, 2015.

FOLLOW

DEFINITION:

To accept as a guide or a leader; to accept the authority of; to imitate or copy; to pursue or go after; to conform or to comply with.

SCRIPTURE:

Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. Exodus 23:2.

The Lord said to Moses, speak to the Israelites and say to them; I am the Lord your God. You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan where I am bring you. Do not follow their practices. Leviticus 18:1.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Follow means to accept someone as a guide or a leader and to do as they do. People can choose to follow many types of leaders, some are good and others are bad. People are easily swayed by what others think and by peer pressure and then make the mistake of following the crowd. When one makes a choice to follow the crowd in most cases it is a dangerous decision. Just because everyone is doing something doesn’t make it right. When one follows the crowd they do as others do and begin to think and act as others do. In order to be obedient to God we must be committed to following God’s standards of what is right and wrong.

God called Moses to the top of Mount Sinai and gave him the Ten Commandments. God instructed Moses to teach the Israelites to live by these commandments. God also gave Moses instructions in addition to the Ten Commandments. One of God’s instructions to Moses was: “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong” (verse above).

Even though Moses spoke these words about 1445 B.C. they are still to be applied to us today. God’s commandments never change. In order to obey God, we will more often than not, have to stand alone.

In John 12:26, Jesus said that whoever serves Him must follow Him. Many adults, parents and children today succumb to peer pressure and follow the crowd because they do not want to be considered the odd person.

The school age years are difficult for children because there is so much peer pressure to be like everyone else so they will be accepted. Parents have the responsibility to teach their children not to follow the crowd but to stand firm on God’s principles of right and wrong even if it means standing all alone. Also, the pressure is on parents because children look to their parents to see if they follow their crowd.

When Jesus chose His disciples He clearly said to each of them in Matthew 4:19 to “Come, follow Me.” When we follow Jesus we must follow Him completely, not just on Sunday or when you go to a church function.

In Matthew 22:37 Jesus gave us a commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Are you following Jesus completely and wholeheartedly or just when it is convenient for you?

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in James 4:7.

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
 

PRAYER:

Keep me from desiring to follow the crowd and help me to follow You completely and wholeheartedly. Help me to live my life so that I am an example to my family and all those who surround me as one who follows You and not the crowd.

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