December 24 Psalm 18, Proverbs 18, Acts 18
(Psalm 18) The Lord is a deliverer. You can just see the desperation in this passage. You can almost hear the waves of adversity crashing against the rocks. The beating sun in the spiritual desert when it seems as if all hope is lost. But it isn’t. The psalmist sees that there is an adversay in heaven who is working on our behalf. He sees out affliction and he cares. He is a mighty rescuer and will be with us in our time of need.
(Proverbs 18) The man who isolates himself seeks his own desire and rages against all wise judgement. This is so true. In times of trouble it is a fleshly desire to hide. It is a fleshly desire to hide from people. We want to hide from righteous judgement. The flesh does not want accountability. But that rages against all wise counsel. There is something special about wanting the best even if it hurts. We have to get radical if we want to see the glory of God.
(Acts 18) Get the Holy Ghost. Besides the salvation afforded by the shed bllod of our Lord and Savior, there is not doctrine more important than the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Apollos taught the scriptures correctly but was lacking. There are so many Christians that are lacking not only in theology but in power. They say they have a high view of scripture but they discount whole chapters of the bible. They teach fleshly ways to holiness. They act as if they can build a tower to get to God but we can’t. We need the Holy Ghost in our lives. We need Him and the power He brings.
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December 23 Psalm 17, Proverbs 17, Acts 17
(Psalm 17)My welfare is a just cause to petition God. He cares about my well being and I can come before Him with confidence that He will hear me. Many times we can think that our needs are not the concern of God but right here the psalmist says that this is a just cause. We need to know and believe that our father in heaven cares about us and out circumstances. He feeds the raven and the grass and how much better will he take care of us. Later it says, “Keep me as the apple of your eye.” We need to remember that we are important to the Lord. Him being a good Father sent His son to die so that we can have ever lasting life. That we can have the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily. This is an awesome covenant that we have with Him.
(Proverbs 17)The proverbs in this chapter had lots to say. One that really got my attention likens the beginning of strife is like letting in ruching waters. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Once you agree to host strife there is not stopping it. You cannot comprimse. You have to deal with adversity when it comes and not allow it to fester into something wicked. There are times when we will act like we did not see or hear something just to keep the peace but there is really no peace in that. That strife will flood in and consume everything in its path. It will come in like a flood.
(Acts 17) Here Paul addressed the people about the unknown God. That was just brilliant. He used what they worshiped to point them to the real and living God. The unknown god is what this world seeking. The unknown god is unknown because we do know make Him known. I know of a church that has as its motto “To know Him and make Him known.” That is so fitting. So here we see Paul making the unknown god into the known God through the shed blood of our Savior.
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December 22 Psalm 16 Proverb 16 Acts 16
(Psalm 16) The Lord is my inheritance. The world seeks after so many things that do not fulfill. Their gods do not hear them. So many people see after fulfillment and satisfaction from things other than what we were created to be fulfilled by. Self promotion is a curse from the devil. People get so caught up in trying to get what they think they deserve. This is insidious and a plague that will rob us from what we were actually created to have. If the church could be of singular minded and heavenly focused all this idolatry would fall by the way side and then we may see the Kingdom of God. Yet then, as now, men worship at other idols and sacrifice to foreign gods. Though not rams and goats, we sacrifice our inheritance for a bigger house and our children for more money.
(Proverbs 16) How much better to get wisdom than gold! Yet so few want wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and people these days only fear the devil. They cry out to God but only for Him to fulfill their lusts and desires. This the carnality that consumes the people of God and the day is coming when it will end.
(Acts 16) The Holy Spirit forbid them to preach in Asia. Paul was holy given to the leading of the Spirit. I wonder how many people today spend all their prayer time on things that God did not tell them to do.
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December 21 Day 15 Psalm 15, Proverb 15, Acts15
(Psalm 15) The pure in heart shall see God. God is not hidden. He has not thrown a blanket of confusion over the heads of people who are seeking Him. This psalm tells us that if we live right we can see God. Halleuijah!
(Proberb 15) God wants us to be quick to hear and slow to speak. He is looking for people who will function in a level of wisdom and not react to every circumstance in pure emotion. Though God gave us emotions He does not desire that we let them run our lives. Being tossed to and fro does not bring glory to God. He seeks us to be stable and wise.
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