Category: Knowledge

Put Christ First

4/5/2020

Joe tells his friend Sam, “I’m tired of being cooped up at home. If I go out, how do I know if someone has the coronavirus or not? The experts say six feet might not be enough. What if someone sneezes and they aren’t wearing a mask?” “I agree, Joe.” Sam said, “It stresses me out with worry, fear and anxiety.”

Can you identify? We have two choices. Either draw into ourselves or look toward Christ. With more time at home, let’s take advantage of this season to draw close to Christ.

In Philippians that immediately precedes Colossians, Paul explained how Christ was our heart (life & emotions), mind (head & intellect), soul (goal & spirit) and strength (actions & behavior) that parallels Christ's Great Commandment to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Colossians explains how to practically love God with our whole being by putting Christ first.

1. Pray to Know God's Will
Paul thanked God when he heard about their faith in Christ, love for believers, and hope of heaven. They heard about the gospel, which is God's grace and the word of truth producing fruit. They continually asked God for the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and understanding to live worthy lives that pleased the Lord. They bore fruit in every good work, grew in God's knowledge, and strengthened in His glorious might with great endurance and patience. They joyfully gave thanks to the Father who qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. God rescued them from the domain of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son with redemption and forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:1-14). Pray to know God's will so you can to bear fruit, grow spiritually, and experience full redemption with sins forgiven.

2. Exalt Christ as Lord Over Every Authority
Jesus is the image of the invisible God by whom all things were created in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, powers, rulers or authorities. All things were created by Him and for Him. He was before all things and in Him all things held together. He is head of the body, the church, supreme over everything. God's fullness dwelt in Christ. He reconciled to Himself all things on earth and heaven by making peace through His shed blood on the cross. Paul proclaimed the gospel to every creature and reconciled them through Christ's death to be holy, unblemished, and without accusation (Colossians 1:15-23). Exalt Christ as Lord over every authority and reconcile them to God by proclaiming His death.

3. Admonish and Teach the Gospel
Paul took up Christ's sufferings for the sake of His body, the church. God commissioned Paul to present the word of God in its fullness so Gentiles would understand Christ as the hope of glory within every believer. They proclaimed Him, admonished, and taught everyone with all wisdom for completion in Christ (Colossians 1:24-29). Admonish and teach the gospel with all wisdom to present everyone complete in Christ.

4. Discover Wisdom and True Knowledge
Paul desired everyone know Christ where all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. He taught them to be rooted and built up in Christ for the strengthening of their faith that overflowed with thanksgiving. They were to reject hollow and deceptive philosophy that depended on human tradition and worldly principles instead of Christ (Colossians 2:1-8). Be rooted and built up in Christ to discover wisdom and true knowledge while rejecting deceptive human philosophy.

5. Disarm Demonic Powers and Authorities
The fullness of Deity lived in bodily form through Christ. God gave them Christ’s fullness as head over every power and authority. After disabling the flesh by Christ's death, they were buried and raised with Him by faith in God's power who raised Jesus from the dead. He forgave sin and cancelled man-made regulations by nailing them to the cross. The cross disarmed powers and authorities (Colossians 2:9-15). Consider your identification with Christ's death, burial and resurrection by trusting in His Spirit to disarm demonic powers and authorities.

6. Reject False Humility
They found reality in Christ, not what they ate, drank or through religious festivals. They rejected false humility and worship of angels to prevent disqualification of the prize. An unspiritual mind puffed up with idle notions makes one lose connection with Christ as Head and opportunity for spiritual growth (Colossians 2:16-19). Find reality in Christ and reject false humility that puffs you up with idle notions.

7. Refuse Legalistic Commands
Believers died to worldly commands like "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!" They had appearance of wisdom with self-imposed worship. Their false humility and harsh treatment of the body lacked value to restrain sensual indulgence (Colossians 2:20-23). Don’t obey legalistic commands for harsh treatment of the body since they can't restrain sensual indulgence.

Action Steps:
I will make it my priority to be rooted and built up in Christ to discover wisdom and knowledge while rejecting deceptive human philosophies:
1. I will pray to know God's will to bear spiritual fruit and experience full redemption while I reject powerless legalistic commands
2. I will live out the true reality of Christ as I proclaim His death to reconcile every authority to Him and reject false humility
3. I will identify with Christ as I admonish and teach the gospel with all wisdom until I can present everyone complete in Christ

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Study God's Promises to Grow in Christ (Insights in NT)

5/26/2013

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Study and remind yourself of God's promises in His word to avoid false teaching and being entangled in the world's corruption after escaping it. Repent and understand His word to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

Study God's Promises and Add Character to Your Faith
God's divine power gave everything needed for life and godliness through knowing Him. He called them to His glory and goodness through His precious promises to participate in the divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by evil desires. They made every effort to add to their faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Having these qualities in increasing measure kept them effective and productive in their knowledge of Christ, proved their cleansing from past sins and made their calling and election sure without falling. They received a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:1-11). Study God's promises and add character to your faith for participating in the divine nature.

Allow a Mentor to Remind You of God's Love and His Word
Peter refreshed their memory to never forget these things after being firmly established in the truth. He was an eyewitness of Christ's majesty when he heard God say, "This is my Son, whom I love: with Him I am well pleased." They must pay attention to the prophets until the morning star arose in their hearts. No prophecy of Scripture came from the prophet's will or interpretation, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Pet. 1:12-21). Allow a mentor to remind you of God's love and His word.

Avoid False Teaching to Remind Yourself of God's Judgment
False prophets and teachers secretly introduced destructive heresies denying the Lord who brought swift destruction upon them. False teachers disregarded truth and exploited believers with made-up stories. God sent sinning angels to hell for judgment, brought the flood upon the ungodly and burned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to make them an example. He protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with his family; and rescued Lot, a righteous man, distressed by the lawless deeds he saw and heard. God knew how to rescue godly men from trials and punish the unrighteous in the day of judgment (2 Pet. 2:1-9). Avoid false teaching to remind yourself of God's judgment of sin in Scripture.

Reject Entanglement in World's Corruption After Escaping It
Those with corrupt sinful natures who despised authority and slandered heavenly beings were paid back with harm. As experts in greed, they caroused in daylight filled with adultery, sinned continually and seduced the unstable. They followed the way of Balaam who loved the wages of wickedness being rebuked by a donkey that restrained the prophet's madness. These slaves of depravity mouthed empty and boastful words, appealed to the lust of sinful human nature and enticed those who just escaped from people living in error by promising freedom. They were worse off if they became entangled again and defeated after escaping the world's corruption by knowing Christ. It was better not to know the way of righteousness than to know and turn their backs on the sacred commandment like a dog returning to its vomit (2 Pet. 2:10-22). Reject entanglement in the world's corruption after escaping it by knowing Christ.

Repent Before Christ Comes Back Like a Thief
Peter stimulated them to wholesome thinking through the prophets and apostles. In the last days, scoffers followed their evil desires doubting Christ's second coming. They forgot that God's word created the heavens and earth and He destroyed the world with water. In the future, He would destroy the heavens and earth and judged ungodly men. The Lord was patient in keeping His promise not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone come to repentance. The day of the Lord would come like a thief when the heavens disappeared with a roar, elements destroyed by fire and the earth laid bare (2 Pet. 3:1-10). Repent before Christ comes back like a thief when the earth will be destroyed.

Understand Bible Accurately to Grow in Grace and Knowledge of Christ
They should live holy and godly lives since the world would be laid bare while looking forward to a new heaven and new earth, the home of righteousness. They should be spotless, blameless and at peace with God. The Lord's patience meant salvation as Paul wrote. His letters contained some things hard to understand that ignorant and unstable people distorted like other Scriptures to their own destruction. Therefore, being on guard and not carried away by the error of lawless men to fall from their secure position, they were to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ for His glory (2 Pet. 3:11-18). Understand the Bible accurately so you can grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

Study God's promises daily to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

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Make Christ Your Leader (Insights in Prophets)

4/9/2013

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When Christ is your leader, you will unite as sons of the living God, speak tenderly to restore intimacy with God, love His people sacrificially so they seek redemption in Christ's blood, follow God's word to gain knowledge and understanding, admit guilt and seek Him for revival, expose your sin so you cry to Him for healing and seek God's approval for your actions to prevent futility.

Unite as Sons of the Living God
God told Hosea to take an adulterous wife because the land departed from the Lord. He married Gomer and she bore Jezreel (end kingdom of Israel), Lo-Ruhamah (not love Israel) and Lo-Ammi (not My people). Israel and Judah would be reunited as the sons of the living God with one leader (Hosea 1:1-11). Unite as sons of the living God.

Speak Tenderly to Restore Righteousness, Love and Intimacy with God
Rebuke Israel since she was not God's wife because of adultery and unfaithfulness. He made her like a desert, killed her with thirst and did not show His love to her children conceived in disgrace. God blocked her path with thornbushes and could not find her lovers that provided food, water and oil. She did not acknowledge that God gave her grain, new wine and oil along with gold and silver used for Baal. He exposed her lewdness before her lovers and stopped all her appointed feasts. He ruined her vines and fig trees to pay for her lovers. God allured, led and spoke tenderly to her in the desert. He gave back her vineyards as a door of hope where she would call Him, 'my husband.' He removed the names of the Baals from her lips so they could lie down in safety with the animals. He betrothed them in righteousness, justice, love, compassion and faithfulness to acknowledge the Lord. God planted them in the land to say, 'You are my God.' (Hosea 2:1-23). Speak tenderly to restore righteousness, love and faithfulness for an intimate relationship with God in the body of Christ.

Love God's People Sacrificially So They Seek Redemption in Christ's Blood
The Lord told Hosea to love his adulterous wife like God loved the Israelites who turned to other gods. He bought her for 15 shekels of silver and ten bushels of barley to live purely with him to signify Israel without king, sacrifice, sacred stones, ephod or idol. Later the Israelites sought the Lord and David their king. They would come trembling to the Lord and His blessings in the last days (Hosea 3:1-5). Love God's people sacrificially so they seek redemption in Christ's blood.

Follow God's Word to Gain Knowledge, Understanding and Glory from Him
God said Israel had no faithfulness, no love and no acknowledgment of Him in the land. With cursing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery, the land mourned, people wasted away and were destroyed from lack of knowledge. By rejecting it, God rejected them as His priests. By ignoring God's law, He ignored their children. By sinning, priests exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. Prostitution, idolatry, adultery, drinking and deserting God removed understanding, led them astray and caused ruin. Rulers loved shameful ways (Hosea 4:1-19). Follow God's word to gain knowledge, understanding and glory from Him.

Admit Guilt and Seek God for Revival
God disciplined the rebels from corrupt deeds that turned them away from Him. A spirit of prostitution was in their heart by not acknowledging the Lord. Arrogance prevented them from finding God. Ephraim was oppressed, judged and pursued idols. She turned to Assyria for help but was unable to heal her sores. God was like a lion tearing Ephraim and Judah to pieces. In misery, they admitted their guilt and earnestly sought His face. By returning to God, He healed, bound up their wounds, revived them after two days and restored so they could live in His presence. God appeared like the spring rains that water the earth when they sought to know Him. He desired mercy, not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God, instead of burnt offerings. They broke the covenant in unfaithfulness, murder and prostitution. A harvest was appointed when He restored the fortunes of His people (Hosea 5:1-6:11).
Admit guilt and earnestly seek God for revival, restoration, mercy and intimacy.

Expose Your Sin So You Cry Out to God for Healing
Before healing could take place, sins of deceit, lying, adultery, drinking, mocking anger and prayerlessness must be exposed and revealed. Ephraim mixing with the nations sapped his strength without realizing it. Israel's arrogance prevented him from returning to the Lord. Ephraim was easily deceived while turning to Egypt and Assyria before being destroyed. They spoke lies against God and did not cry out to Him from their hearts. He trained and strengthened them but they plotted evil against God. Their leaders fell by the sword because of insolent words (Hosea 7:1-16). Expose your sin so you cry out to God for healing, training and strengthening.

Seek God's Approval for Your Actions to Prevent Futility
Israel rejected what was good. They set up kings and chose princes without God's approval. They made idols for themselves from silver and gold to their own destruction. They sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind. Ephraim's sin offerings became altars for sinning. They regarded the law as something alien. Because the Lord was not pleased with their sacrifices, He punished their sins. Israel forgot his Maker and God sent fire to consume their fortresses (Hosea 8:1-14). Seek God's approval for your actions to prevent futility.

When Christ is your leader, you will:
1. Unite as sons of the living God
2. Speak tenderly to restore intimacy with God
3. Love His people sacrificially to seek redemption
4. Follow God's word to gain knowledge and understanding
5. Admit guilt and seek Him for revival
6. Expose your sin so you cry to Him for healing
7. Seek God's approval for your actions

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Prioritize Knowing and Making Christ Known (Insights in NT)

1/19/2013

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"Bad will be the day, for every man when he becomes absolutely contented with the life that he is living, with the thoughts that he is thinking, with the deeds that he is doing, when there is not forever beating at the doors of his soul some great desire to do something larger, which he knows that he was meant and made to do because he is still, in spite of all, the child of God" (Phillips Brooks).

A life focus on Christ transforms a person's goals, prayer life, perspective, attitudes and calling. He prioritizes knowing and making Christ known.

Pray for Disciples' Knowledge and Discernment
Paul and Timothy thanked the believers, elders and deacons in Philippi as they remembered them in prayer because of their partnership in the gospel. God's completed His good work in them at the day of Christ because of Paul's heart for them. He prayed their heart abound in knowledge and insight to discern what was best leading to purity until the day of Christ being filled with His fruit of righteousness for God's glory (Phil. 1:1-11). Pray for knowledge, discernment, purity and righteousness in your disciples

Rejoice Over Circumstances Advancing the Gospel
Paul's circumstances advanced the gospel throughout the palace guard and encouraged others to speak God's word boldly. He rejoiced that Christ was preached from both selfish and loving motives. Their prayers allowed the Holy Spirit to deliver and exalt Christ in his body by life or death. Dying was the best outcome but living helped them progress in joyful faith. Paul exhorted them to stand firm in one spirit for the faith of the gospel. Opposition was a sign of their enemies being destroyed and they being saved by God. Paul's life showed that suffering followed believing (Phil. 1:12-30). Rejoice that your circumstances advance the gospel amid opposition.

Practice Christlike and Servant Attitude
The love and fellowship of Christ should motivate them toward like-mindedness and one purpose by looking out for others interests instead of selfish ambition. A Christlike attitude of servanthood and humility caused one to take up their cross, even to death. God exalted Christ by giving Him a name above every name so every tongue in heaven and earth confessed Jesus as Lord (Phil. 2:1-11). Practice a Christlike, humble and servant attitude without selfish ambition.

Work Out Salvation in God's Power
Paul exhorted them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling trusting in God's power to act according to His good purpose. By not complaining or arguing, they became blameless children of God in a crooked and depraved generation shining like stars as they held out the word of life. Paul poured himself out as a drink offering desiring they walk faithfully so he could boast on the day of Christ. He planned to send Timothy, his son in the faith, who took a genuine interest in their welfare to receive news about them. Epaphroditus took care of Paul's needs and almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help they could not give Paul (Phil. 2:12-30). Work out your salvation in God's power caring for others' welfare.

Prioritize Knowing Christ Through Sufferings
Paul reminded them to rejoice and glory in Christ through worship by the Holy Spirit as they watched out for evil men who put confidence in the flesh. Paul was tempted to glory in his circumcision from the tribe of Benjamin, expertise in the law, a Pharisee, zealous persecutor of the church and faultless in legalistic righteousness. He considered everything rubbish compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ as Lord. His righteousness came from Christ, not the law. He wanted to know Christ by sharing in His sufferings and death before experiencing His resurrection (Phil. 3:1-11). Prioritize knowing Christ in His sufferings, death and resurrection.

Pursue God's Calling According to His Plan
Paul pressed on to lay hold of everything that Christ accomplished for him. He forgot the past and focused on winning the prize of God's calling in Christ. Paul exhorted them to embrace their citizenship in heaven instead of living with an earthly mindset like enemies of the cross whose destiny was destruction. Paul and his disciples waited for Christ, their heavenly Savior, to bring everything under His control and transform their bodies into a new and glorious one (Phil. 3:12-21). Pursue God's calling according to His sovereign plan allowing Him to supernaturally transform your life.

Pray Always and Think Truthfully
The Philippians rejoiced and showed gentleness because the Lord was near. Instead of being anxious, they prayed about everything with thanksgiving so God's peace guarded their hearts and mind in Christ. Their thinking was true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy to put into practice what they learned, received, heard and seen in Paul. He rejoiced over their renewed concern and learned the secret of contentment in any circumstance because of Christ's strength. Only the Philippians gave and received when he set out from Macedonia and repeatedly sent aid when Paul was in Thessalonica. He did not look for their gift but the acceptable sacrifice credited to their account. God supplied all their needs according to His glorious riches in Christ (Phil. 4:1-23). Pray always and think truthfully with thanksgiving leading to generous giving.

Answer the following questions to gauge your direction in life:
What are you praying about?
How do you view your circumstances?
What is your attitude toward others?
What are you striving for in life?
What are your priorities?
What is God's calling for your life?
What are you thinking about?

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Ingredients for Powerful Discipleship Ministry (Insights in NT)

10/6/2012

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We should not ask, "What is wrong with the world?" for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather, we should ask, "What has happened to the salt and light?" (John R. W. Stott).

Paul asked that prayer for unity in Christ and hope in the Holy Spirit empowered the proclamation of the gospel so people were transformed in their character, knowledge and ministry. His plan considered spiritual, emotional and financial resources, ministry relationships and wise counsel required to disciple people so they believed and obeyed God's word in the context of community. These are the ingredients for a powerful discipleship ministry through the local church.

Pray for Endurance and Unity in Christ
Please your neighbor for his good by building him up. The insults you face have fallen on Christ. The Scriptures teach and provide endurance and encouragement so we have hope. Let’s pray that God who provides endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity as you follow Christ for His glory (Rom. 15:1-6). Pray that God provides endurance, encouragement and unity in Christ as revealed in the Bible.

Pray for Joy, Peace and Hope in Holy Spirit
Accept one another as Christ has accepted you. Christ became a servant of the Jews to confirm the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so the Gentiles would glorify God like David and Moses. Isaiah prophesied that Christ would rule over the nations so the Gentiles would hope in Him. Let’s pray the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:7-13). Pray that God fills you with joy and peace as you trust in Him so you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Proclaim Gospel to Develop People Completely
You are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Paul was a minister of Christ Jesus in proclaiming the gospel of God so Gentiles could be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. He spoke of nothing except what Christ accomplished through him in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what he said and did through the power of the Holy Spirit in miracles. From Jerusalem to Illyricum, Paul fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ where He was not known to not build upon someone else’s foundation (Rom. 15:14-21). Proclaim fully the gospel of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit so people are transformed in their character, knowledge and ministry.

Plan Every Aspect of Your Ministry
Paul planned to spend time and have the Romans assist him on his way to Spain. His short-term goal was to take a contribution from Macedonia and Achaia to the poor saints in Jerusalem. He wanted the Gentiles to share materially with the Jews since they had shared in their spiritual blessings. Paul asked them to join in his struggle by praying that he be rescued from Judean unbelievers and the Jerusalem saints would find his service acceptable. He desired to come to Rome with joy and to be refreshed with them (Rom. 15:22-33). Plan for the spiritual, emotional and financial resources to carry out your ministry.

Develop Close Ministry Relationships
Paul commended Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea, to receive help since she ministered to many people. He asked them to greet Priscilla and Aquila, Paul's fellow workers in Christ, who risked their lives for him and the Gentile churches. Paul asked that they greet the church that met in their home, the first convert to Christ in Asia, relatives in prison with him who were outstanding among the apostles and others who worked hard in the Lord (Rom. 16:1-16). Develop close relationships with ministry team members.

Pursue Wisdom in Fulfilling Your Ministry
Watch and keep away from those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way contrary to the teaching you learned. They deceive the minds of naive people through smooth talk and flattery. Be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet since the grace of Jesus is with you (Rom. 16:17-20). Pursue wisdom, stay away from division and deception, and trust God to crush Satan under your feet.

Disciple People in God's Word Through Community
Paul mentioned that Timothy and his relatives, Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, sent their greetings. Tertius wrote the letter and greeted them in the Lord. Gaius and the whole church he enjoyed sent their greetings. Erasus, the city's public works director, and Paul's brother Quartus sent their greetings. He prayed that God would establish them in his proclamation of the gospel through the prophetic writings so all nations would believe and obey God to the glory of Christ (Rom. 16:21-27). Disciple people to believe and obey God's word in the context of community.

Here are seven ingredients for a powerful discipleship ministry through the local church from Rom. 15-16:

1. Pray that God provides endurance, encouragement and unity in Christ as revealed in the Bible
2. Pray that God fills you with joy and peace as you trust in Him so you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
3. Proclaim fully the gospel of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit so people are transformed in their character, knowledge and ministry
4. Plan for the spiritual, emotional and financial resources to carry out your ministry
5. Develop close relationships with ministry team members
6. Pursue wisdom, stay away from division and deception, and trust God to crush Satan under your feet
7. Disciple people to believe and obey God's word in the context of community

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Seek Wisdom Like Your Life Depended Upon It (Insights in Psalms)

2/28/2012

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We give our greatest efforts to those things that are most valuable to us. Proverbs 2 says wisdom should be at the top of our list of things we should strive for. J.I. Packer wrote: "Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. " The main theme in Proverbs is wisdom and the beginning of chapter 2 explain how to attain it.

To find wisdom, you have to treasure His commandments within you, make your ear attentive, incline your heart to understanding, cry for discernment, seek her as silver and search for her as hidden treasure (Prov. 2:1-4). Seek wisdom like your life depended upon it.

The benefits of wisdom:
1. Discern fear of the Lord (Prov. 2:5a)
2. Discover knowledge of God (Prov. 2:5b)
3. Guard and preserve your paths (Prov. 2:8)
4. Discern every good course (Prov. 2:9)
5. Deliver from evil men (Prov. 2:12-15)
6. Deliver from adulterous woman (Prov. 2:16-19)
The benefits of wisdom lead to knowledge of God and deliverance from evil.

The reward of wisdom:
1. Receive knowledge and understanding (Prov. 2:6)
2. Protection by walking in integrity (Prov. 2:7)
3. Knowledge enter your heart and pleasant to your
soul (Prov. 2:10)
4. Discretion and understanding watch over you (Prov.
2:11)
5. Keep the paths of the righteous (Prov. 2:20)
6. Live in the promise land (Prov. 2:21-22)
The reward of wisdom lead to heart knowledge so you can walk in integrity and embrace your promise land.

I want to close with another quote by J.I. Packer: "Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God's holiness and sovereignty... acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours."

Considering what you learned in Prov. 2, stand in awe of God's holiness and sovereignty, ask Him for wisdom, search the Scriptures diligently and listen to what He teaches you.

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Ingredients in Living Under the Reign of God (Insights in Psalms)

10/25/2011

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Robert Webber, in his book, The Younger Evangelicals wrote, “The calling of the church in every culture is to be mission. That is, the work of the church is not to be an agent or servant of the culture. The churches’ business is not to maintain freedom or to promote wealth or to help a political party or to serve as the moral guide to culture. The church’s mission is to be the presence of the kingdom… The church’s mission is to be show the world what it looks like when a community of people live under the reign of God.” Psalm 105 explains the ingredients necessary for people to live under the reign of God.

Intimacy
Thank, praise, speak and glory in His holy name and wonderful acts. Those who seek the Lord and His strength continually will have glad hearts. Abraham's offspring will remember His judgments (Ps. 105:1-7). Gladness and knowing God's glory come by seeking the Lord and His strength.

Covenant
God's faithfulness continues throughout all generations beginning with His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He promised Canaan as their inheritance when they were few in number. He protected their prophets, permitted no man to oppress them and reproved kings for their sakes (Ps. 105:8-15). Relying on God's covenant with Abraham protects and allows you to prosper.

Wisdom
When famine came, God sent Joseph who was sold as a slave and tested before being made ruler to teach his elders wisdom. God caused His people to be very fruitful and stronger than their adversaries (Ps. 105:16-24). Wisdom and strength comes from God through His called people.

Deliverance
When hate came, God sent Moses and Aaron to perform miracles like sending darkness, turning waters to blood, causing fish to die, and a land swarming with frogs, flies, locusts and hail. Lastly, God killed all the first-born and first-fruits (Ps. 105:25-36). Deliverance through miracles comes from God mediated through His called people.

Obedience
He brought them out with silver and gold. God spread a cloud for a covering and fire to illumine by night. They asked and He brought quail, bread of heaven and water from a rock. He remembered his promise to Abraham and gave them the nations' lands so they could take possession of the peoples' labor and observe His laws (Ps. 105:37-45). Obey God's word and receive His provision, guidance and inheritance of the nations.

Consider how you are living under the reign of God:
1. I seek to know God intimately every day
2. I appreciate the protection and promises of the Abrahamic Covenant
3. I am open to God's wisdom and strength in everyday life
4. I embrace God's deliverance through His miracles
5. I obey God's word and receive His provision, guidance and inheritance

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Put Christ First

Study God's Promises to Grow in Christ (Insights in NT)

Make Christ Your Leader (Insights in Prophets)

Prioritize Knowing and Making Christ Known (Insights in NT)

Ingredients for Powerful Discipleship Ministry (Insights in NT)

Seek Wisdom Like Your Life Depended Upon It (Insights in Psalms)

Ingredients in Living Under the Reign of God (Insights in Psalms)

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