Monday, September 20, 2010

Repentance

Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.
:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

If we truly believe we are in the last days, we will understand the need for the bride of Christ to make herself ready.

Repentance precedes revival. Revival produces more repentance.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God's call to us for repentance is an act of His love.

Is 5:16 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

If we don't repent He will come in judgment.

Rev 2:5 They had placed other priorities before loving the Lord with all their heart.

Rev 2:16 They had compromised.

Rev 2:22 They were corrupt

Rev 3:3 They were dead

Rev 3:19 They were lukewarm

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

Sin dims the revelation of Jesus.

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Confesion is key to getting rid of guilt.

Jer 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgresed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the Lord.

Jer 2:29 Wherefore will ye plead with Me? ye all have transgressed against Me, saith the Lord.

Jer 2:35 Yet thou sayest, because I am innocent, surely His anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

Is there something you are covering up? You can't hide it from God.

Pr 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Sometimes we must repent in our relationship with others.

We are only as close to the Lord as we are close to the person we love the least.

1 Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus taught repentance from the beginning.

Mk 1:15 And saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mk 6:12 And they went out and preached that men should repent.

Lk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.
:31 Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained: whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Pr 29:1 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without rememdy.

Num 32:23 Satan tells us no one will know

Gal 6:7 Satan says sin and you will get away with it.

God doesn't let us get away with anything, even when sometimes it looks like we will. Sin always has consequences, and it always separates us from God.

Heb 10:30 For we know Him that hath said, vengence belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people.
:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Remorse is our reaction to how our sin has affected us.

Regret is our reaction to how it has affected others.

Repentance is how we respond to sin from God's prespective from His word and how it has affected God and others.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Our Attitude Toward Sin

There are 4 levels in our attitude toward sin I am looking at. They are:

1. Person doesn't sin because consequences are too great. They may have hate or lust, etc in their heart, but don't murder or commit adultery etc. There is no hatred of evil or fear of the Lord, only fear of the consequences.

2. Lives by golden rule. Wants peace at any price. Can be full of sin of selfishness or self-righteousness and not be aware of it. Often does good deeds.

3. The sincere Christian who earnestly desires to please the Lord. Wishes he could find an answer to why he is always having to confess over and over again the same sins. Longs for freedom from those sins.

James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

4. Person who has fear of the Lord. Hates sin; therefore, he seldom sins. If he does there is quick awareness and repentance. Willing to humble himself before others if that is what the Holy Spirit tell him.

Pr 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil.

We don't commit sin because it is the right thing to do or we are forced into it. We choose to sin, because we love that sin more then we love and fear God. If we have God's attitude toward sin, we will not be doing the same sin over and over.

Ps 25:14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant.

God created us for intimate friendship with Him, He wants that more then we do.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

We can't serve God and the devil at the same time. We must choose each moment who we will follow.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Have you forgotten?

God's Holiness

To fully understand God we must first understand His holiness.

2 Cor 5:21 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Is 6:3 And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them si wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

How important to God holiness is!

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Ps 11:7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.

Pr 23:17 Let not thine heart eny sinners; but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

If we stay in the fear of the Lord all day, we will remain holy in our thoughts, words and actions.

Deut 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God, require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

:13 To keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

Notice the first thing mentioned is to fear the Lord? And we are told to do these things with all our heart and all our soul. If we do that we will be walking in holiness.

Friday, September 10, 2010

September 10, 2010

Pr 29:25 the fear of man brings a snare

When we only fear God's reaction and not man's we have freedom.

We should say I know what man thinks, but what do You think God. Then we must act according to what God thinks.

Is 50:10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay (rest) upon his God.

Jer 6:10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised (closed) and tehy cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

If we neglect the word of God, we are rejecting it.

Ps 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts.

Lam 3:25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.

Sometimes when we ask God for direction, it takes awhile for an answer. We must wait till we hear clearly from Him and not do anything till we know it is what God wants us to do or not do.

Think back to situations where you were seeking the Lord for an answer about if you should or shouldn't do something or go somewhere.

The time came when you had to make a decision and still no answer. So you did it or went only to have everything turn bad. Know why? God's no answer may have been a test to see if you would move ahead without His direction. When you did, you opened the door for the devil to attack.

Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

I believe part of that account will be whether we waited on God or went ahead when He didn't clearly answer us one way or another.

Jn 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

We have no spiritual authority outside of obedience to God.

Sometimes people confuse forceful speaking, even when it is the truth being spoken, with spiritual authority. Only what is spoken with God's authority will touch men's spirits and cause them to take the steps of obedience that will change their lives. Everything else touches their mind or emotions.

1 Thess 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Mt 12:36 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

September 9, 2010

I am doing some studying on the fear of the Lord. Here are notes from today.

Lk 4:4-15 Jesus tempted by the devil. Jesus used the Word of God against the devil and that is what we should do also.

Fear (reverential fear) of the Lord is what will keep you from sinning.

There is good fear (reverential ) and bad fear. Adam had bad fear when he hid when naked before the Lord. Good fear draws you closer to God, not causes you to hide from Him.

We should seek daily to link our heart to God's.

Pr 8:13 Fear of the Lord is the hatred of sin.

God hates sin so much, He will not compromise with it and neither should we.

Lev 19:2 Be holy because God is holy.
Mal 2:5 Be afraid or in awe of God's Name.
Ex 3:14 He is the I AM. What do you need? That is what He is.
Ps 33:8-9 God spoke and it was done, do we really need more reason to fear Him?
Heb 1:3 He upholds all things by His Word.
2 Pet 3:7 The heavens and earth are kept by His word
2 Pet 3:13 He will bring new heaven and new earth by His word
Ps 22:22-23 We are to praise Him and give Him glory as we fear Him

We need to take God seriously.

Matt 10:26-28 He knows everything, instead of fearing man who can kill the body,and not the soul, we need to fear God.

Acts 5:1-13 God will reveal your sin. He struck down Ananias and Sapphira because of their lie. It was their money, they could have just said they wanted to give some of it instead they lied and said they would give all.

Ps 99:1-3 The Lord's Name is holy.
Ps 2:10-11 We are to serve with fear
Ps 119:120 We should fear God's judgment
Jer 5:22 We should tremble at His presence. He placed the sand as boundary for the sea.
Jer 9:23-24 We need to know God and glory in Him

When we have understanding of God's unconditional love for us, demonstrated by the price He paid for our redemption at Calvary, we will always feel safe and secure in Him.

Ezra 9:4, 10:3 We should tremble at His word

My greatest need is to have a far greater revelation of what God is really like.

God doesnt reward causual inquiries, only diligent seekers.

We must be careful in our studying and time with God that it doesn't become routine, that we do it with out absorbing what He is saying to us.

Obedience because of Who God Is

Gen 22;12 Because he feared God, Abraham was going to do as God said and sacrifice Issac.

When you argue with God or delay obeying Him, it shows a lack of fear.

Jonah 1:9 Jonah said he feared the Lord, but his actions proved he didn't.

Jonah 1:14-16 the others on board feared God

The consequences of disobedience are always harder then the act of obedience, no matter how hard. When we disobey we come under God's judgment.

Ps 130:3-4 When we repent God forgives us

The more we learn of God and Who He is, the easier it is to obey Him.

The fear of God is evidenced in our lives by instant, joyful, and total obedience to God. That is biblical obedience. Anything else is disobedience. Delayed or partial or obedience with murmuring is disobedience.

Heb 11:5 He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

When God gives us something to do, we need to keep the emphasis on who He is not what He wants us to do.

Alot of times we don't understand why God wants us to do something. It is not important that we understand why, it is important that we obey.

Pr 3:5 Don't rely on your understanding but on His.

Pr 28:26 He who trusts in his own mind is a fool.

Lk 22:42 Not my will, but Yours.

James 4:7 Resist the devil when he tells you not to do something God has called you to do

Jn 10:3-4, 27 His sheep hear His voice and follow Him

Ps 32:8 He will show us the way and teach us

Ps 34:11-13 Lips free from deceit

Pr 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

WHen God requires obedience without explanation, it is one way your faith is built.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Pr 31:29-31

I decided to finish off Proverbs 31 this morning.

Pr 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

This is the first verse that speaks more personally and to her. The rest have said she, her, etc. This one uses thou or you.

Here it says others are virtuous even though we know they are rare and hard to find. So it is possible for others, she wasn't the only one living a virtuous life.

Pr 31:30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty if vain; but a woman who feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

There is good fear and bad fear. If we fear God in the right way, it will draw us closer to Him.

Pr 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

A godly and virtuous woman will be rewarded. She will reap from what she sows.

She has been busy doing the things God wants her to do. He rewards those who diligently seek Him with not only their words but with their actions. Words are easy. Living those words can be hard.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Pr 31:28

Pr 31:28 Her chilren rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

The word blessed is sometimes translated happy.

She is blessed because she seeks God and His will for her life first. If you seek happiness itself, you may not find it, but if you seek God, happiness is often a result.

Here are some verses that tell how to be blessed.

Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Ps 2:12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.

Ps 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteh in Him.

Ps 40:4 Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust.

Ps 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee.

Ps 84:12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.

Ps 94:12 Blessed is the man who Thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of Thy law.

Ps 112:1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments.

Ps 119:1-2 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.

Ps 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walk in His ways.

Ps 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

So basically, we need to be careful who we get counsel from or associate with. We need to put our trust in Christ alone. That one is so important that in just these few verses it is mentioned 4 times. We need to find our strength in Him. The joy of the Lord is our strength remember. We need to accept His chastening and learn from it and His word. Which means we need to spend time in His word. We need to have fear of the Lord and keep His commandments to us. We need to seek Him with our whole heart. Our hope must be in Him and nothing else.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Awesome!

Pr 31:27

Pr 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Looketh well means to keep watch.

She watches over what her children are doing. Making sure they are forming good Godly habits.

She is not idle. Idleness means sluggishness or laziness.

That doesn't mean she never has a time of rest. Just that she doesn't waste any of her time when she needs to do things the Lord has called her to do as a virtuous woman.

As an older woman, I have found over the years that if I take care of the things God has called me to do around my home, or for my family, that He multiplies the time and makes it productive. And He makes time for me to do the things I enjoy. I enjoy them more also knowing that the things I should be doing are all done.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Pr 31:26

Pr 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

This is the only verse that talks about her words. Probably because she guarded her tongue all the time and that is all that needed saying.

What comes out of your mouth is what is in your heart, so be very careful when you speak. Your heart is showing.

The same love of the Lord that guards her heart, guards her tongue.

Ever say anything that you wouldn't say if Jesus was in the room with you? Guess what if you are born again, He is ALWAYS with you. He hears every word that you say. Matthew 12:36 says and this is Jesus speaking, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Lord help me to guard my tongue every minute of every day and only speak words that are pleasing to you.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Pr 31:25

Pr 31:25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come.

The Lord provides the clothing mentioned in this verse.

She knows the joy of the Lord is her strength and she totally embraces that . What a joy it must be to be around her.

The word rejoice means laugh. It says she can laugh at the future. That is because she totally relies on the Lord.

She has been wise and made provision for the future as much as she is able. And she relies on the Lord for everything else.

While she (like us), didn't know what the future held, she (like us) know the One who holds our future.