Tag: Proverbs 2:6-8
Satan had no claim on Jesus!
Scripture reading for November 2nd: John 14, Psalm 69, Proverbs 2
John 14: 25-31 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on Me, but I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”
Jesus, in one of His last teachings to His disciples before going to the Garden of Gethsemane, told them of a new ‘Helper’, the Holy Spirit, Who the Father would send to them to instruct them and help them remember all He was teaching. He reinforced His soon departure, but told them He would return, giving them His blessing of peace and encouraging them not to give in to fear. Even though in the coming dark time, Satan would come close, Satan was not in control. Jesus was following His Father’s plan and instructions. He was demonstrating His love for His Father through total obedience in laying His life down for the sins of mankind. This message would be taken to the world. His zeal for building God’s ‘House’ would consume Him as He took on the reproaches of sinful man. Full understanding would come with the Father’s Gift, bringing to them sound wisdom and understanding of God’s plan and Word.
Psalm 69:9 “For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your love, wisdom and wonderful plan of salvation. Through Jesus Christ, all believers now have eternal life and a place in Father’s house. Even though Satan seeks to lay claim to us, Jesus has overcome by taking all the claims Himself and paying them off. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and empower me to share these amazing truths that reveal Your heart of mercy and love.
Proverbs 2:6-8 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.”
The command to repent!
Scripture reading for February 15th: Acts 17, Psalm 33, Proverbs 2
Acts 17: 29-34 “”Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man Whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.”
Paul went to Athens, the center of Greek culture and philosophy of his time. He found there many idols and much idolatry, but also an open door to speak and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to those gathered to discuss the latest trends and ideas. Paul quoted one of their own poets who had stated that man was ‘God’s offspring.’ This was the truth told in Scripture as well, so Paul began there and refuted the idols of that day as creations of man’s imagination sculpted or hammered into images of gold, silver, or stone. He called on all men to repent of these humanistic ideas and embrace the Truth in Jesus Christ, Who God had appointed as King and judge! Some with hardened hearts mocked Paul, but others turned in faith and joined Paul to learn more of God’s eternal plan.
Psalm 33:10-11 “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.”
Prayer: Father God, Your counsel and plans are forever settled in heaven! I ask that they be revealed to all my offspring! Thank You for this eternal truth and for those who repent with hearts to hear and believe Your Word! Help me to walk in integrity in the power of the Holy Spirit today. Guard the paths of justice for Your people and watch over us as we walk through this wilderness to heaven’s joy and delight!
Proverbs 2:6-8 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the ways of His saints.”
Godly sorrow leads to repentance!
Scripture reading for August 6th: 2nd Corinthians 7, Psalm 6, Proverbs 2
Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 2:9-11 “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”
Paul had sent a letter to the Corinthian church urging repentance from a sin that the church had committed. The letter was hard for him to write as he was concerned with how they would respond. But Paul wrote it anyway because they needed to respond. But Paul got a report of the church responding with godly sorrow and true repentance that lead to life and peace. He rejoiced in their decision and God’s grace proven by true actions resulting in changed behavior.
Faith Confession: I am thankful for life-giving rebukes by those who care for my soul. Lord help me to always respond with godly sorrow and actions of those who truly repent.
Proverbs 2:6-8 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.”
Multiplying ministry with character.
Scripture reading for May 13th: Acts 6, Psalm 95, Proverbs 2
Key Scriptures: Acts 6:2-6 “And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, . . .”
As the number of believers multiplied and diversified, the apostles soon felt the need to multiply the leadership and spread out the duties of pastoral care. They gathered all the disciples and shared their priority of prayer and preaching God’s Word. They also shared their solution–the appointment of Spirit-filled helpers to serve the widows. They chose seven men–full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to come along side and serve. Character was more important than talent.
Faith Confession: Thank You Lord for this insightful record of how You helped the leaders in Your church to keep their priorities straight and chose helpers full of the Spirit and wisdom. Give me wisdom to multiply those serving Your church.
Proverbs 2:6-8 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.”
Sin through Adam, Righteousness through Christ!
Scripture reading for June 20th: Romans 5
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Romans 5:12,18-19 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—. . .” “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
Paul carefully explained how universal sin was because of Adam’s original sin. Adam’s one act of sin resulted in death to all mankind. This death was eventually physical death but ultimately spiritual death or the second death of complete separation from God in the Lake of Fire. But God, in His love and mercy, provided a way of escape from death by sending His Only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was perfectly obedient to His Father and fulfilled the Law completely, becoming the perfect substitute to pay the penalty for sinful man. Jesus obeyed His Father, even to dying for our sins on the cross in order that all who believed would be made righteous!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers must hold fast to these basic truths of the Gospel message and true doctrine. These simple truths bring true salvation to both Jew and Gentile! “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.” (Proverbs 2:6-8)