Use What You Learn

This morning following my Bible study time and prayer time the Lord impressed upon me that, as Christians, we need to pay attention to people around us.  I mean, really pay attention, to them.   As we get closer to Christmas many of us are getting busier and busier, wrapping up business before a vacation, wrapping up presents for our loved ones, and wrapping up our wish lists.  While we’re getting caught up in and focusing on celebrating our Lord and Savior’s birthday, we may be walking by the person who desperately needs that bit of encouragement, or a smile.  We may be missing the opportunity to tell them that you and Jesus love them, that no matter what is going on in their lives Jesus has it covered.  You see for many people, both Christian and non-Christians, Christmas isn’t the time of joy it should be.  It’s a time of pressure, a time of not having enough, a time of being alone, a time of embarrassment and shame when they feel they can’t deliver even a simple gift.  But as God’s chosen people if we don’t make an effort to pay attention to the people we come across, we will miss the opportunity to use what we study and learn and maybe miss the opportunity to stop that random stranger from going home and blowing their brains out.  Think about it.  What else are you trying to get out of your daily studies?  If it’s only to make your life better you’ve missed the point.  

“And he (Jesus) said unto them (His followers), Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:15-23)

Mark 16:15-23 does a perfect job of explaining why we should be endeavoring to learn the Word, and to spend time in our daily studies, so we can spread the gospel will signs following us.  So what is the gospel we are called to preach to every creature?  Jesus tells us in Luke 4:18 where He says “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” 

Well there you have it.  God’s marching orders for His people: preach the gospel to the world.  Preach deliverance, healing good news for the poor (prosperity), liberty.  Remember, pay attention.  Look people in the face, listen for the Holy Spirit to prompt you and use what you’ve learned.  It may be a challenge at first.  But remember; you are equipped.  “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:16-18) Don’t hide your light, use what you learn.

GOD’S COMPLETE LIFE PLAN FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS, WANTS AND DESIRES

GOD’S COMPLETE LIFE PLAN FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS, WANTS AND DESIRES

Written by Sheri Neufang

This week, during my Bible time with the Lord, I saw something new in a Psalm I’ve read many times.  Psalm 37:3-7 lists God’s plan to provide for your needs, desires, your vision, your vindication and peaceful rest.  Each verse has an action for you to take and a promised result.

Food and shelter: Verse 3.
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” 

Recommended action: Trust in the Lord, not your job, not a rich friend or relation, not in the economy turning around, not in a newly elected official, not in your beauty or strength.  Trust in the Lord and do good. 

Promise:  Verily you will be fed.  How about a place to live?   Verse 3 says to trust in the Lord and do good and that’s how you will manage to keep living here.  Did you ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life?  Are you following his command to tithe 10% on the increase that comes to your house?  Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”  You can count on him to feed you and keep you in a place to live.  Further proof?  Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” 

Desires beyond basic needs:  Verse 4
“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Recommended action: Delight yourself in the Lord.  Enjoy worshiping Him, spending time in His word, thinking about his laws and promises to you. Get excited about being a Christian, about going to church, about sharing what you believe. 

Promise:  He will give you the desires of your heart. Not just what you need for survival.  Further proof?  Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” 

Your vision:  Verse 5
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” 

Recommended action: Decide here and now, make a commitment that the way you do things, the way you think, act and speak will be the Lord’s way. Then start reading and understanding the Bible so you know what His way is. This is going to take some trust in God.  Sometimes the way He tells us to be is contrary to our raising, our life experience up to this point, our emotions, even feelings in our physical body.  Trust in Him. 

Promise: He will bring it to pass, make it happen.  Make what happen?  Your vision.  The seed-picture He put in your mind’s eye where you can see yourself doing some amazing, seemingly impossible thing for God and enjoying it too.  “But it’s been so long since I began to dream of that.  And I still don’t see visible evidence of it happening.”   Look to Habakkuk 2:3 for confirmation.    “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”  His job is to bring it to pass, your job is to commit your way unto Him and trust in Him.  The promise continues in verse 6.

Vindication and Justice:  Verse 6
“And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”  If you Trust in the Lord and do good, delight yourself also in the Lord, commit your way unto him while trusting in Him, he promises to make it as plain as the light of day where you were unjustly accused. He promises to give you your judgment (that is King James Version for justice) for everyone to see, like light at high noon.   Further proof:  Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

Peace while you wait:  Verse 7
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself…”   

 Recommended action:  Don’t panic saying, “What do I do?”  Don’t take actions God would not have you take trying to save yourself, make things happen, get it done.  Rest in the Lord.  Actually, resting in the Lord is an action.  Further proof Hebrew 4:11 warns us to do the work or labor of believing on God so we can rest in Him.   “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”  Let’s look at that verses 10-12, 16.  “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”  When God rested, He stopped working.  Are you still trying to work in an area of your life in which God has told you to rest?  “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”  If you’re not resting in that area when He has told you to, you’re not believing His Word about that area.   And now the good news, “For the word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  The weapon God has placed in our hand, His Word, is ALIVE and POWERFUL.    Would you be afraid of a rat running at you if you had an atomic bomb to fight him with?  More encouragement.  God has not left us to fight our battles alone, even with this powerful weapon.   “ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  We can come with confidence, boldly right up to the King, the Lord of Hosts knowing we will find mercy there and the grace (special provision of strength) to help when we need it.  It reminds me of my son running up to me for help. I’m not going to turn him away and I am wiser, stronger and able to fix his trouble. 
If you want survival, trust in the Lord and do good.  If you want the desires of your heart, delight yourself in Him.  If you want to see your vision, commit your way unto Him while trusting in Him; and He will give you vindication.  So, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself…”