KEPT PROTECTED AND SUSTAINED

Proclamation:

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because The Lord sustains me."  Psalms 3:5 (NIV)

Explanation:

King David knew that it was The Lord God who watched over him while he slumbered and slept.  He also knew that it was The Lord who woke him up in the morning.  He announced to the people of God that he knew that it was The Lord God who sustained him day and night.

Application:

We do not sleep or wake up on our own.  All that we do, we do by the grace of God.  We need to thank The Lord God each day for all that He did yesterday to protect and bless us.  We need to thank Him for watching over us and keeping us safe all night last night.  We also need to thank Him for blessing us and waking us up this morning.  We are only able to wake up, and to get up, because God blesses us and sustains us.  We ought to thank Him and praise Him daily for who He is and for what He has done for us. (Psalms 34:1, Psalms 50:14, Psalms 69:30, and Psalms 100:4-5)  We should also thank Him because He is good, and not just because He is good to us.

MAY THE GOOD LORD GOD GIVE YOU HIS PEACE

Proclamation:

"Now may The Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with all of you."  2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)

Explanation:
The Apostle Paul wrote these words as he closed his second letter to the believers in Thessalonica.  Paul knew that the believers in Thessalonica were being persecuted and they were troubled by the spiritual battles which were taking place around them. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8)  He wanted them to be at peace, in spite of their situation.  He wanted the peace of The Lord God to be with each one of them at all times.

Application:
There can be no peace without God, for He is The God of peace. (Hebrews 13:20)  There is a saying: “Know God, know peace; No God, no peace.”  Paul did not write this verse to the believers of today, but because it applies to all of the believers then, it applies to all of us now.  We are also undergoing tribulations, trials, troubles, and spiritual battles today. (2 Thessalonians 1:4 and Ephesians 6:12)  However, if we could see the angels which The Lord has surrounding us, and surrounding our enemies, ready to protect us and to do battle for us, then we would know the peace of God in troubling times. (2 Kings 6:15-17)  Thanks to The Lord God, we are able to relax and replace our troubled mind with an inner peace, His peace.  The storms in our lives occur for a reason.  So, don't pray to God for the storms to end.  It is much better to pray for God's protection and peace, as we go through the storms of life.  Now, may The Good Lord God bless you, each and every one of you, and give you His peace.

COMFORT ONE ANOTHER

Proclamation:

“Praise be to The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of compassion and The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are The Holy Spirit inspired words of the Apostle Paul which were written in a letter to the believers in Corinth and to the scattered believers everywhere.  Paul said that all comfort ultimately comes from God, The Father.  He told them that God comforts them so that they could pass it on and comfort others who are in trouble.  Comfort, like blessings, were meant to be shared, passed on, and given to others.

Application:

The "us" and "we" that Paul was referring to was himself and Timothy, but there are those of us that believe that it applies to all Christians as well.  The Holy Spirit of God is The Comforter. (John 14:16 and 14:26)  As we receive comfort from God, we are to share it with others, just as we are to do with the blessings that we receive.  In the mist of our sufferings and troubles God comforts and strengthens us and gives us courage.  We are therefore to offer words of encouragement to others to comfort and strengthen them in their times of sufferings and trouble.  A kind word or two of encouragement or an appropriate verse from The Bible can really help someone.  However, providing comfort is not always only in the words we speak, often we can comfort others by just being there with them.  Our physical presence is often valued more than the words we speak.  We learn how to comfort others by providing them with the same comfort which we received when we were going through our trials, troubles and tribulations.  Let us demonstrate our love for one another by caring and sharing our blessings and by comforting one another as we were comforted.

BE HUMBLE AND BE BLESSED

Proclamation:

“But He gives us more grace.  That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”  James 4:6 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of James, the half brother of Jesus, as he quotes Old Testament Scripture. (Proverbs 3:34)  He is trying to convey to the people of God that pride promotes strife and does not please God.  He states that whoever loves himself and the world is an enemy of God. (James 4:4)  Then he tells them that God gives more of His grace to the humble individuals and withholds it from the proud non-believers.

Application:

Most of us think too highly of ourselves.  As believers we are encouraged to live in harmony, to be sympathetic, to be compassionate, to be humble, and to love one another as brothers. (1 Peter 3:8-9)  We are to be a blessing to one another, especially to the less fortunate.  It is hard to be a blessing to someone when we do not think very highly of them.  We are to be sympathetic to the plight of others, and humble in our dealings with them.  We are not to think less of them because they are different.  Treating others in a non-Christian way may cause us to miss out on a blessing.  We should not look down our noses at others because of their situation because, but for the grace of God, we could be in that situation.  God does not forget the cries of the humble, He remembers them. (Psalm 9:12)  “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)  A man’s pride shall bring him low; but God will hold up the humble spirit. (Proverbs 29:23)  Therefore let us humble ourselves before God and let Him bless us and exalt us in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

GOD HAS PLANS FOR YOU TO PROSPER

Proclamation:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

Explanation:
These words are from the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles, to the priests, to the prophets and to all the other people that King Nebuchadnezzar had carried off into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Application:

These words can also be applied to us today.  The believers of today are suffering.  We may not have been taken into captivity but we are suffering.  God is aware of our current situations, trials, and troubles.  He knows that our problems are only temporary and that joy and happiness will be ours soon. (Psalm 30:5)  God knows all and He knows what plans He has each one of us.  He knows why we are going through the storms in our lives.  These storms will pass and their dark clouds will reveal a silver lining followed by a beautiful rainbow.  His plans are for us to prosper and to have a better future.  Soon we will be much better off.  No man has seen the wondrous things which God has in store for us. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)  So, keep the faith, keep your hope in The Lord, things will get better and "we will understand it better by and by".

THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART

Proclamation:

“Delight yourself in The Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to The Lord; trust in Him and He will do this.” Psalm 37:4-5 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are The Holy Spirit inspired words of King David as he addresses the inheritance of the righteous versus the calamity which will befall evil doers.  He said that the evil men will be cut down like grass and will wither away. (Psalm 37:1-2)  Those who commit themselves to The Lord, follow Him, trust Him, and delight in Him will be given the desires of their heart.

Application:

If you are not getting what you want out of life, maybe it is because you want the wrong things.  If your prayers are not being answered, maybe it is because you are asking for the wrong things.  While talking to His disciples directly, and to the surrounding crowd indirectly, during His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7-8)  However, this will only happen if what we want will give God glory. (James 4:2-3)  This will also only happen for those who believe in Him, delight in Him, commit to Him, and trust in Him.  To those who get great pleasure in talking to Him, learning more about Him, and in reading His Holy Word will He give the desires of their heart.  The non-believers and evil doers who call upon The Lord will be told to depart from Him. (Matthew 7:23)  Believers who love Him and want to give God glory will be blessed with the desires of their heart.

DON'T LAUGH WHEN ENEMIES FALL

Proclamation:

“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or The Lord will see and disapprove and turn His wrath away from him.” Proverbs 24:17-18

Explanation:

These are The Holy Spirit inspired words of King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live.  The Lord sees the people who do wrong to the saints and they will be punished.  He said that the wicked shall stumble and fall and be brought down by calamity. (Proverbs 24:16)  Then he told them that if you are blessed to see your enemy fall, don’t gloat or rejoice over their misfortune.  Their doing that would displease The Lord and He will stop punishing their enemy.

Application:

We shouldn't be happy and celebrate when bad things happen to our enemies.  Gloating over a fallen enemy can be a more serious problem than the sin that our enemy committed when they did us wrong.  That would not be good Christian behavior and it would displease The Lord.  Additionally, that would cause The Lord to stop punishing them and that is not what we want Him to do.  In fact, what we should do is be nice to them.  The Bible teaches us that we are to love our enemies, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them (Matthew 24:43-45).  By being good to them we bring shame and more punishment to them and we “… heap burning coals of fire on their head.” (Romans 12:20)  Don't make God mad by laughing at someone who is getting their punishment for doing wrong.  Let God handle it and them.  It is written, "… Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith The Lord." (Romans 12:19 KJV)  He also said "... It is mine to avenge; I will repay …” (Hebrews 10:30)  So, don’t laugh at them and ruin everything.

MY GOD IS AWESOME

Proclamation:

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (NIV)

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4 (KJV)

Explanation:

This Holy Spirit inspired letter by the Apostle John was written to the believers after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to serve as a call back to the basics of Christianity and the fundamentals of their faith.  After pointing out the errors of the false teachings in the earlier chapters, here he tells them that they have already won the battle against evil and they have the victory.  The Holy Spirit of God which is within them has already defeated death and Satan. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Application:

As believers we serve an awesome God.  He made us (Psalms 139:13-16), He knows us (Psalms 139:1-6), He loved us (John 3:16 & John 15:9), and He still loves us (Hebrews 13:8).  There is no person or thing that is greater.  God is omnipotent, all powerful, (Revelation 19:6), omniscient, all knowing, (Matthew 6:8), and omnipresent, He is everywhere all at the same time, (Matthew 28:20).  The God that is within us is greater than the ruler of this world.  God is great and good, and His word never fails. (Joshua 21:45)  "... My heart standeth in awe of Thy Word." (Psalms 119:161 KJV)  Or put another way “… My heart trembles at Your Word.” (Psalms 119:161 NIV)  We may be in a battle now but we know that in the end we have already won because He said so. (1 Corinthians 15:57)  The Holy Spirit of God is within all believers and because He has defeated death and the grave, sin and Satan, we have the victory through Jesus, The Christ.  My God is AWESOME!!!

A PRAYER OF CLEANSING

Proclamation:

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalms 51:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of King David and the prayer that he prayed after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and had her husband Uriah killed, and after the prophet Nathan had confronted him and told him of his sin. (2 Samuel 12:1-13)

Application:

David was a man after God’s own heart, not because he didn’t sin, but because he confessed his sins and asked to be forgiven and then walked uprightly in the ways of The Lord.  Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of cleansing.  It is a prayer that we should model our prayer after.  We should pray and ask God to have mercy on us.  We should ask Him to cleanse us of our sins.  We should acknowledge that we know that we have sinned and that all sin is a sin against God. (Psalms 51:3-4)  We should also ask God to create within us a clean heart and to renew a right spirit within us. (Psalms 51:10)  We should ask God to restore unto us the joy of our salvation. (Psalms 51:12)  Then we should ask Him to open our lips and guide our tongue so that we may praise His holy name. (Psalms 51:15)  Since we are all sinners, (Romans 3:23) a similar prayer, if not this exact one, would be appropriate for each one of us.

GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL OF OUR NEEDS

Proclamation:

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle Paul in a letter to the believers in Philippi.  After telling them that he had learned to be content whatever the circumstances, (Philippians 4:11) and that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him, (Philippians 4:13) Paul thanked them for the gift they had sent to him.  The gracious and generous gift that they gave him was probably sacrificial, decreasing their material and monetary supplies.  Paul wanted them to know that they would not suffer because they were such generous givers.  He said that God would supply all of their needs.

Application:

Considering the context in which this verse was written, it implies that if we are doing God’s will, He will take care of us.  God wants us to share.  We will not suffer because of our sacrificial giving to help others.  Giving to help others does not always refer to giving money.  There are many ways that we can help someone who is in need.  We can share our time or our talents and help someone.  As we give to meet the needs of others, God will bless us and meet our needs.  Jesus said "Give, and it will be given to you ... running over, will be poured into your lap …” (Luke 6:38)  Poor people have unmet needs all year long and not just during the holiday season.  We were blessed so that we could be a blessing to others.  Share with someone who is not related to you.  When we give to someone or help others, it should not be with the expectation that we will get something in return.   However, we will be rewarded for our giving but it is just nice to be nice.  The Bible says “He who is kind to the poor lends to The Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17)  As we bless others God will bless us.

DON'T WORRY REJOICE AND COUNT IT ALL JOY

DON’T WORRY REJOICE AND COUNT IT ALL JOY

Proclamation:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4 (NIV)

 

Explanation:

These Holy Spirit inspired words were written by James, the half brother of Jesus, The Christ, to the scattered believers after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  He told them that their trials and troubles serve a purpose.  They are only tests which strengthen and increase their faith and lead towards spiritual maturity.

 

Application:

Have you ever been down in the dumps and felt like you've been whipped and defeated?  God can lift you up, plant your feet on a solid rock, help you to climb any mountain and walk in high places no matter how rough the terrain. (Habakkuk 3:18-19 and Psalms 18:32-33)  Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we are to rejoice in The Lord because He is greater than our situation. If He brought us to it, He can bring us through it.  Remember that The Lord said, "My grace is sufficient." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)  Like the Apostle Paul learned to take pleasure in troubles because God’s strength is shown in time of human weakness.  We should count it all joy because we know that all things work together for the good of them that love The Lord. (Romans 8:28)  Our trials help us to grow.  We are still a work in progress.  So don’t worry when the storms of like come.  We are under the wings of protection of The One who controls the storms. (Psalms 91:4)  When trouble strikes, count it all as joy.  Our troubles won’t last for very long and joy is coming after them.  “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5)  "Rejoice in The Lord always; and again I say, 'Rejoice’." (Philippians 4:4)

LET US RUN OUR RACE HIS WAY

 Proclamation:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of an unknown author, who wrote them after the crucifixion of Christ, and the persecution and the scattering of the saints, to encourage them.  He did not want them to give up their beliefs and principals during the hard times they were enduring.  He compared them to a long distance runner who was running a race. He told them to focus on The Lord and not the current problems.  He also told that their suffering was nothing compared to Jesus endured.

Application:

Some things happen to us as consequences of our poor choices, some things happen as punishment for our sins, and some things happen as a test of our faith and commitment.  There can be no testimony without first having a test.  “My son, do not make light of The Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because The Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.” (Hebrews 12:5-6 which is a quote from Proverbs 3:11-12)  Distance runners suffer physically and mentally during a race.  They don’t carry any unnecessary things or weights with them which would slow them down.  As we run this race which is our life, we will suffer physically and mentally.  Our bodies and our minds will be punished and tested.  We need to keep our eyes on Jesus.  Our sins and disobedience to His Word will hinder us, entangle us, and cause us to quit or to get off course.  We need to throw off everything that is holding us back and persevere.  Let us drop all of the negative baggage that we are carrying, let go of our favorite sinful ways, look to The Lord, and let's run this marathon of life that is before us in a manner that is pleasing to Him and gives God glory. This is not a sprint.  The reward in this race is not won by the swiftest, but by he that endures to the end. (Matthew 10:22)  It is important not only that we run the race but also how we run it.  We cannot control the things that happen to us, all we can control is our reaction to them.  So, let us run our race and act in a Christ-like manner while doing it.

GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

Proclamation:

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with The Lord to take it away from me.  But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

In his letter to the believers in Corinth, the Apostle Paul was defending his ministry and boasting of the things he had done and the visions that he had seen. (2 Corinthians 11:1-12:6)  Paul said that the “thorn” in his flesh was to humble him and to keep his focus on The Lord.  The Lord’s reply to his requests to remove the thorn was that God’s power is demonstrated in the face of human weakness.  Then Paul went on to say that now he delights in weaknesses, insults, persecutions, and difficulties because when he is at his weakest, he is made strong with God’s help. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Application:

No matter what it is that we are going through, or dealing with, God's grace is sufficient to get it us through it.  The Lord can demonstrate His strength when we are weak and under duress if we turn whatever it is over to Him.  The Lord does not have to remove the mountain that is in front of us, He can give us the strength to climb over it.  He does not have to calm the storm, He can give us the strength to withstand it.  Sometimes we think too highly of ourselves and our abilities and we don’t give God the credit for enabling us and helping us.  Maybe some of our problems are “thorns” which God lets Satan inflict upon us to keep our focus on The Lord.  Remember, Peter was walking on water in a stormy sea and did not start to sink until he took his eyes off of The Lord. (Matthew 14:22-33)  Let us keep our focus on The Lord and not on our problems.  We serve a big and all powerful God and all of our problems are small and insignificant in comparison.  Our “thorns” in life can just be a humbling experience to remind us that God’s grace is sufficient.

THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US

Proclamation:

“However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no mind has conceived’ the things God has prepared for those who love Him.  These are the things God has revealed to us by The Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV)

Explanation:

This quotation by the Apostle Paul in a letter to the believers in Corinth was taken from the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 64:4)  These words are often incorrectly thought to refer to the wonders of heaven which we will receive after death but they actually refer to the human wisdom regarding God that He has prepared for believers on earth. (Corinthians 2:1-5 and 2:13)

Application:

Things may be rough for us now but we should hang on in there because better days are coming.  As we go through life here on earth, God intervenes and acts on our behalf, guides, directs, protects, and blesses those of us who believe and wait on Him.  Waiting upon The Lord shows our love for Him.  Our faith, hope, and love of God is not all about the things which will come to us later, a "pie in the sky" mentality.  We love Him for who He is and what He has done.  Because He loves us, He blesses us.  He has blessed us in the past, far too many to count, He is blessing us now, and He will bless us in the future.  There are some blessings which will be given to us in the "here and now" if we just wait upon The Lord.  Some things and blessings we want that we don’t have now because we didn’t ask God for them, or because they were totally inappropriate. (James 4:2-3)  Whatever believers ask for in the name of Jesus will be granted, if it gives God glory. (John 13-14)  If we ask, in His name, we will receive it and we will be full of joy. (John 16:24)

GOD REALLY LOVES US

Proclamation:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’” Romans 5:8

Explanation:

In his letter to the believers in Rome, the Apostle Paul tied to encourage them and give them hope.  He told them that God’s love had been poured out onto them through The Holy Spirit which was given to them (Romans 5:5) and was within them. (Ezekiel 36:27)  Then he told them that God proved that He love them by sending His only son to die in their place for their sins.

Application:

As a child I learned the song, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so ..." I sang that song as a child without an appreciation for the real meaning behind it.  Now I know that God loves us.  God loved us in the past, loves us now, and will love us in the future.  God proved His love for us, while we were still lost in sin, He sent His only begotten Son to die for us (John 3:16 and Romans 5:8) even before we loved Him.  Most of us would not sacrifice our child to save someone else, even if that someone was a good person.  We definitely would not do it for a bad or evil person, especially one who does not even love us. (Romans 5:7)  That is what God did for us.  We did not deserve such a love.  As bad and as sinful as we are, we are never without God's love and He is always with us. (Matthew 28:20)  No matter what happens to us or what we do. God never gives up on us and He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)  God really loves us, let us love Him and let us act like we love Him.  I can now sing a new song, "I really love The Lord.  I REALLY love The Lord.  You don't know what He's done for me.  He gave me the victory.  I love Him. I LOVE Him.  I REALLY LOVE THE LORD."  Let's all sing it and mean it.

IF IT IS THE WILL OF THE LORD WE WILL

Proclamation:

“Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.'  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is The Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.’”  James 4:13-15 (NIV)

Explanation:
James, the half brother of Jesus, wrote these Holy Spirit inspired words to the believers to help them correct their speech and their behavior.  Here, he urges them to be careful regarding how they speak about what they will do in the future.  He encouraged them to say, "If it be The Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."  He told them that they do not know what will happen in the future.  They cannot be sure that that they will even be alive at that future time.

Application:
At the end of each calendar year, we seem to get caught up in saying what we will do in the upcoming year.  We seem to forget that we really do not have control over the future, or if we will live to see it.  We need to remember that only "if it is in The Good Lord's will ..." would be a better way to begin any statement regarding our future plans.  The Bible says that every day always is a day for continually giving thanks to God. (Ephesians 5:20, Colossians 3:17, and Hebrews 13:15)  We should praise Him and thank Him for every day, and every week, and every month, and for every year that we are blessed to be alive.  Only God can make a day, (Genesis 1:1-5 and Psalms 118:24), and only God can sustain us through a day. (Psalms 55:22)  Let us not get so caught up in our future plans that we forget that only that which is in the will of The Lord God will occur.  Only He knows the future and what it holds for us.  We should praise and thank God daily for what He has done, is doing, and will do for us.

 

THEY MEANT IT FOR BAD BUT GOD MADE IT GOOD

 Proclamation:

"When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 'What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?' ... His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.  'We are your slaves,' they said.  But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  So then, don't be afraid.  I will provide for you and your children."  Then he reassured them and spoke kindly to them." Genesis 50:15-21 (NIV)

Explanation:
Joseph’s brothers had done him wrong years earlier.  They sold him into slavery. (Genesis 37:15-25)  Joseph did not hold that against them.  He told them, you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.  He went from being a slave to being governor in charge of all the land in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:39-40)  During the seven year long famine, Joseph was in a position to provide food for his brothers and their families. (Genesis 41:53-55) 

Application:
Sometimes when people do us wrong, God will turn the situation around and use it for our benefit.  Those who intend to hurt us may actually end up helping us.  God can turn our enemies into our footstool and then help us to use them as a step ladder to higher heights.  All of the things that happen to us happen for a reason.  Sometimes God has to prepare us for the better things that He has for in store for us.  The storms that we go through may have a silver lining.  “…All things work together for good to them that love God…” (Romans 8:28)  Often we cannot see the good in a situation or understand it at the time that we are going through it.  However, God knows all.  We just need to trust in Him and have faith that He will work things out for our benefit.

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Proclamation:

"You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

Explanation:
These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke during His Sermon on The Mount, as recorded by the Apostle Matthew.  Jesus was speaking to His disciples, and indirectly to the believers in the crowd which had gathered around them.  After He taught them the Beatitudes, He told them that they were the salt of the earth.  Then He told them that they were "the light of the world."  Jesus is The Light of the world. (John 9:5)  The Light came into the world, but mankind preferred the darkness because they were evil and sinful. (John 3:19)  Because the disciples were believers, He was within them.  They were to let the light of Christ that was within them shine forth so that men could see their good works and glorify God. (John 17:21 and 23) 

Application:
As believers we have the same charge and the responsibility to behave and speak in a Christ-like manner so that the light of Christ within us can shine and so that men can see The Christ in us.  By living a godly life, we have a convincing testimony of the saving power of Christ.  We are the only “Bible” that some people ever see so our behavior needs to be above reproach.  People will make inferences regarding all Christians by what they see in us.  Therefore, not only should we to obey His Holy Word, to do good works, and  avoid that which is evil, we should also avoid even the things which have the appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)  All that we say and do should give God glory, and those who see our good works should glorify God, and not us.  We are the present day light on the pathway to Christ for a world lost in darkness.  So, let your light shine.

BE LIKE THE SALT OF THE EARTH

BE LIKE THE SALT OF THE EARTH

Proclamation:

"You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."  Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

Explanation:
These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke to His disciples, and to the crowd that surrounded them, in His Sermon on The Mount, as recorded by the Apostle Matthew.  Jesus told His disciples that they were "the salt of the earth."  Salt has a unique flavor.  It can change the taste of food.  Salt is also a preservative.  Because of its chemical properties, it has a purifying and a preserving influence.  Salt has been used to preserve meat.  Jesus told them that if they lose their "saltiness", then they were no longer good for anything.

Application:
As students of Christ, and of His Word, believers today are to be like salt.  We bring a unique "Christ-like" "flavor" to the world.  Just as salt prevents most germs from growing or surviving on meat, we should inhibit the spreading of sin, evil, and wrong-doing by our presence, principals.  Our presence, and our words and actions, can cause others to change their behavior.  People won’t say or do certain bad things around us.  We can encourage good works in the people that we come into contact with.  Our words should be "seasoned with salt" so that we speak appropriately to people, and answer their questions correctly. (Colossians 4:6)  By speaking with “salt” in our words, we add a Christ-like flavor to the world.  If we lose that ability to add a Christ-like presence in the world, then we would be good for nothing.  So, let us be like salt, and be a Christ-like purifying influence in a sin sick world.

GOD CAN STRENGTHEN US WHEN WE ARE WEAK

Proclamation:

"Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.  And the glory of The Lord will be revealed ... The Lord is the everlasting God, The Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in The Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:4-5 & 28-31 (NIV)

Explanation:

In this Bible chapter the prophet Isaiah describes the power of God.  Isaiah comforts people by explaining what God has done and what He can do for them.  All they have to do is have faith in God.  First, he reminds them of what John, the baptizer, said “Prepare

the way of The Lord ….”  They needed to remove the obstacles between them and The Lord by repentance from their sins.  Then he comforts them by telling them that God has the power to strengthen the weak, to pick up those that fall, and to give endurance to those that are weary and faint.

Application:

The same applies to us today.  God is still all powerful and He is still in control of everything.  No matter what is happening in our lives, we need to have faith in God.  For as He works things out for us, His glory will be revealed to us.  He knows what we need when things are getting us down, and He can strengthen us.  He knows when we slip, fall, and sin, and He can pick us up.  We don’t have to wallow in sin and the mud like the pigs, we can soar above the clouds like the eagles.  All we have to do is to remove anything that stands between us and The Lord.  This we can do by believing in Him and asking Him to forgive us of our sins.  We need to have faith in The Lord.  He can share His strength and power with us.

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

Proclamation:

"Finally, be strong in The Lord, and in His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:10-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus, he told them that The Lord God had already defeated Satan and his control over Christians through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  However, Satan was still able to attack and battle them and seduce them with cleaver crafty and cunning methods of deception to lure Christians into sin, immoral practices, and depraved abominations to turn them away from God.  The only way they could defend against this was to put on the whole armor of God.

Application:
We should recognize that we are in a battle every day of our lives. We are not fighting against people but we are battling the forces of evil.  However, we cannot win if we are fighting this battle alone.  To fight this battle against the devil and his evil forces we must be prepared, and have God's help.  To put on the whole armor of God we must gird our waist and loins with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel, take up the shield of faith, wear the helmet of salvation, use the sword of The Spirit, which is The Word of God, and frequent prayer. (Ephesians 6:14-18)  We need to protect our eyes (sight), our mind (thoughts), our heart (desires), our hands (actions), our feet (walk), and our being (soul) from evil.  The things we watch, think, want, do, and the places we go reflect our lifestyle and are subject to evil influences which are sinful and not consistent with good Christian behavior.  Make no mistake about it, we need God's help to win this battle.  We need to pray daily and pray often.

WHEN WE KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT WE SHOULD DO IT

Proclamation:

"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.  But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.  From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."  Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)

Explanation:
Under the influence and guidance of The Holy Spirit of God, Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded these words of Jesus, The Christ.  Although he was not one of those who walked with Christ, Luke had access to the eye witnesses and to their writings from which to draw upon.  Here he wrote that after Jesus had spoken to His disciples the parable of the faithful and wise manager, (Luke 12:36-44) He then told them about the servant whom the master left in charge of the other servants.  This servant beat the servants under his charge then he got drunk. (Luke 12:45-46)  He then goes on to say that the servant who knows the master’s will and does not follow, it will be punished.  The two main points were, first, those who do wrong knowingly will be punished more severely.  The second point was that those who are given much material goods or responsibility, more will be required of them than those who are given less or given little.

Application:
Those to whom much is given, much will be required.  We are blessed in order to be a blessing to others.  People in positions of responsibility, especially those who have responsibility for other people, will be held to a higher standard of accountability.  Those who know that which is right, and do otherwise, will be punished more severely than those who do wrong in ignorance.  To me this also implies that those who know the right thing to do but do nothing instead will also be punished more severely.  When we know what is right, we ought to do it.  With the knowledge of The Word of God comes responsibility to share it with others, and with that knowledge also comes the greater expectation that we will live by it.  To know The Word of God and not share it with others, and to not live by it, will subject us to a greater punishment than those who do wrong without the knowledge of God’s Word.  When we know better, we ought to do better.  

Bible Verses As Bible Based Life Lessons

Rev Wendell Wharton is a Christian and an ordained Baptist Minister offering Bible verse blogs at: " revwendell.blogspot.com ".  His blogs share his enlightened thoughts on various Bible verses, or Bible quotes, as daily "Bible Based Life Lessons".  The blogs are three paragraphs featuring 1 The Word of God, proclamation; 2 the context surrounding the Bible verses, explanation; and 3 how the Bible verses relate to our everyday lives, application.  These blogs are part of a Christian Ministry of Bible study on-line, relating the Bible to our daily living in order to provide daily devotional, inspirational, thought provoking scriptures to live by.

IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

Proclamation:

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  Proverbs 3:6 (KJV)

Explanation:
This is one of the sayings of King Solomon, who was blessed to be the wisest man to ever live. (2 Chronicles 1:11-12)  He told the believers that they should acknowledge The Lord God in all that they do, and God would give them guidance and direction as they go through life.

Application:

It has been said that everything that happens to us is either a blessing or a lesson; and it provides us with a test or a testimony.  All of the people that come into our lives are there to teach us or to test us, to help us or to hinder us.  In fact, all too often those who help us also hinder us because we lean on them for help instead of trusting in The Lord.  Some times God has to remove our human crutches in order for us to learn to depend upon Him.  He has to show us that He is all that we need.  Frequently, we give a person or a thing credit for what God has done.  We say we can’t live without a certain person, we can.  We say someone did something for us, but God blessed them so that they could bless us.  We give “mother nature” credit for the weather and talk about “father time”, but God is in control of all that happens.  Everything that occurs is part of His permissive will. (Job 1:6-12)  Our trials and tribulations should strengthen us, and increase our faith in The Lord. (Romans 5:3-4)  His hand is in everything, so we should thank Him, and give Him praise, honor, and glory for everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  If we acknowledge Him for who He is, and for all that He has done, He will guide and direct us through this life. (Psalms 48:14)

GOD IS OUR HELP AND STRENGTH

Proclamation:

"The salvation of the righteous comes from The LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble."  Psalms 37:39 (NIV)  The King James Version of this Bible verse reads: " But the salvation of the righteous is of The LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble." 

Explanation:

This verse is taken from one of the psalms of King David, a man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22)  David's point is that The Lord God is the source of salvation, it is His to give, and He chooses to give it to the righteous believers.  Those are the people with whom He also shares His strength during their time of trouble. (Psalms 46:1)

Application:

Believers know that it is only by the grace of God that we are saved. (Ephesians 2:8)  We also know that our strength and help come from The Lord. (Psalms 121:1)  We know that we need help and protection from evil people and evil forces. (Ephesians 6:11-13)  It is only with the help of The Lord that we are able to stand and survive all that comes up against us in this life. (Psalms 37:40)  If we get knocked down, or fall down, it is with His help that we are able to get back up, and continue on. (Psalms 37:34)

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD

Proclamation:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Explanation:
The Apostle Paul tells the Christians in Rome, who are being persecuted after the crucifixion of Jesus, that God is in control of everything.  Then he says that all of the things that happen to those who love The Lord will work out for their good.

Application:
When we are in the mist of a bad situation, it is often very difficult to accept or understand that God knows what is happening to us.  Intellectually, we know that God is in control, but it is often hard of us to see how some things, which we consider bad, can actually work in our favor and end up being good for us.  However, we must recognize that we have a very limited capacity for understanding and even less foresight.  Every thing that happens is for a purpose.  People enter our lives for a reason or for a season, to test us or to bless us, to hinder us or to help us.  Everything is part of God’s will for us or part of His permissive will.  Remember, Satan had to get God’s permission before he could mess with Job. (Job 1:9 and 2:6) After he passed the test, Job was blessed with twice as much as he had beforehand. (Job 42:10)  We cannot possibly know what God knows about us, our current circumstances and the implications thereof. We just need to trust Him, and since He knows everything about the past, present, and the future, we should trust that God knows what is best for us.  As the song goes, "we will understand it better by and by."

WHEN TROUBLE STRIKES

Proclamation:

"Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.  The islanders showed us unusual kindness.  They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.  Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.  When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, 'This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.'  But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.  The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god."  Acts 28:1-6 (NIV)

Explanation:
Application:

Under the guidance of The Holy Spirit of God, Luke, the physician and frequent travel companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded this event which occurred after the ship wrecked during a severe storm on their way to Rome.  Paul was a prisoner on the ship.  He was being transported to Rome to be heard by Cesar because he had appealed the results of an earlier trial.  When the poisonous snake bit Paul, he did not panic.  He shook it off, and kept on doing what he was doing.

When trouble strikes, don't panic, shake it off, and keep on working for The Lord.  Don't panic, when we panic, we tend to get emotional, which clouds our judgment, and we tend to make bad decisions, which make our situation worse.  Shake it off, grabbing the head of a snake or trying to pull it off will do more damage to us.  Most of our troublesome situations will not be solved by force or the use of our strength.  We need to treat most of our problems like water on a duck's back.  Trouble, like most storms, won't last very long. (Psalms 30:5)  Keep on working for The Lord.  All of us are part of God's plan, and He has something for us to do.  The Church is the body of Christ, and all believers have a function to perform. (1 Corinthians 12:12 and 12:27)  So, keep on working, or get busy and start working for The Lord.  If we are doing His will, all things will work out for our good. (Romans 8:28)