Verse of the Day 10/15

Verse of the Day 10/15??????

Galatians 5:18?? But if you are led by the Spirit,??you are not under the law.?????? New International Version (NIV)

The other day I quoted Elijah from I Kings 18 when he asked the Israelite's, "how long will you waver between two opinions"; challenging them to turn from Baal and follow the One true God.?? There is a constant battle going on between the "works of the flesh" and following the Holy Spirit's promptings in our lives.??

Our men's Bible study reviewed this passage from Galatians 5 this week (read it below) and it brings this concept into perspective, into full view.?? Before us we have the "works of the flesh (v.19) vs. the fruit of the Spirit, which gives us the grace to follow Jesus' example.?? It is up to us. Self control is listed as a component, an instrumental part of the "fruit of the Spirit".?? If we are to follow we must use self control

I had pasted the following note about self-control in my eBible. "It is impossible to achieve the highest level of self-control apart from God???s abiding Spirit within us. Self- control does not come by the outworking of mere fleshly energy and effort. Like all the rest of the fruit, self-control is the outcropping of the life of the Holy Spirit within us. When we come to know Christ as a personal Savior, the Father sends the Holy Spirit not only to seal us, indwell us, and fill us, but also to produce fruit through us."  (source unknown)    Now go back to today's verse, "if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law".  The law is about following rules and regulations - do not steal, lie, cheat, or commit the acts listed in the passage below.  If you break the "rules" you will always be looking over your shoulder and continually be "covering your tracks".  But if we live by the Spirit, follow His promptings, we will have no worry of such things, there is nothing to be looking back over our shoulders about - goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience and self control to name a few.    This then begs the question, are we being led by the Spirit?  Do we want to or would we still like to "waver between two opinions"?  It is up to each of us.     Galatians 5:25 "We must live in the Holy Spirit and follow after him."  The Passion Translation

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Galatians 5:17-25??The Passion Translation (TPT)

^17??For your self - life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit??and hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit???s intense cravings hinder your old self - life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self - life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.^[a]

^18??But when you are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit^[b]??of grace, you will no longer be living under the domination of the law,??but soaring above it!

^19??The cravings of the self-life are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography,??^20??chasing after things instead of God,^[c]??manipulating others,^[d]??hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions,??^21??being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions,^[e]??wild parties, and all other similar behavior.

Haven???t I already warned you that those who use their ???freedom??? for these things^[f]??will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!

^22???23??But the fruit^[g]??produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:^[h]

joy??that overflows,^[i]

peace??that subdues,

patience^[j]??that endures,

kindness^[k]??in action,

a life full of virtue,^[l]

faith??that prevails,

gentleness??of heart, and

strength??of spirit.^[m]

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.^[n]

^24??Keep in mind that we who belong to Jesus, the Anointed One, have already experienced crucifixion. For everything connected with our self - life was put to death on the cross and crucified with Messiah.??^25??We must live in the Holy Spirit and follow after him.

Verse of the Day 10/13

Verse of the Day 10/13

1 Kings 18:21 ^?? Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, ???How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the??Lord??is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!??? But the people were completely silent.?????? New Living Translation (NLT)

Today's verse came up in my Old Testament reading yesterday in the book of 1 Kings.?? Ahab had led the people in the worship of Baal and Elijah faced 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah and challenged them.

In today's society many people are paralyzed between two opinions on many subjects and just can't make a decision or if they make one it is one of compromise against the clear direction of God's Word in the name of political correctness.?? Instead of walking in the strength, power and grace of the Lord; they are hobbled, wavering between opinions.?? Pick the topic in question and bring it before God's Word, bring it to Him in prayer and decide who you will follow.

Today's verse should be a call to action for us and decide who we will follow.?? May we decide that what Elijah said then is still good today, to call on the name of the Lord and follow Him.

Be bold, be strong
For the Lord your God is with you
Be bold, be strong
For the Lord your God is with you
I am not afraid
I am not dismayed
Because I'm walking in faith and victory
Come on and walk in faith and victory
For the Lord your God is with you???? (Morris Chapman)

In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Kings 18:16-24??New King James Version (NKJV)

^16??So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

^17??Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him,?????Is that??you, O??troubler of Israel????

^18??And he answered, ???I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father???s house??have,??in that you have forsaken the commandments of the??Lord??and have followed the Baals.??^19??Now therefore, send??and??gather all Israel to me on??Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal,??and the four hundred prophets of??^[a]Asherah, who??^[b]eat at Jezebel???s table.???

Elijah???s Mount Carmel Victory

^20??So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and??gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.??^21??And Elijah came to all the people, and said,?????How long will you falter between two opinions? If the??Lord??is??God, follow Him; but if Baal,??follow him.??? But the people answered him not a word.??^22??Then Elijah said to the people,?????I alone am left a prophet of the??Lord;??but Baal???s prophets??are??four hundred and fifty men.??^23??Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay??it??on the wood, but put no fire??under it;??and I will prepare the other bull, and lay??it??on the wood, but put no fire??under it.??^24??Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the??Lord; and the God who??answers by fire, He is God.???

So all the people answered and said,??^[c]???It is well spoken.???

Verse of the Day 10/9

Verse of the Day 10/9

Romans 5:8 ^???? But Christ proved God???s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!???? The Passion Translation (TPT)

I usually try to avoid repeating verses as "Verse of the Day" through the course of the year.?? But sometimes I'll come across a quote in relation to a verse that causes me to go against that self imposed rule.?? Most of us are probably very familiar with today's verse which, in the NKJV below tells us that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us".?? I read the following quote from James Smith which should cause us to dwell a little longer on the implications of what that means for us.

He loved us, as sinners.   He died for us, as sinners.   He called us, as sinners.   He saves us, as sinners.   He will have great glory by saving such great sinners. We cannot do anything to repay Him for His wondrous love. Salvation is by free grace--from first to last! Believe this, and it will raise up your drooping mind! 

There are many who avoid attending church having the notion that they'd have to "clean up their act" before they could come through the doors; that God even moreso than the church members would expect as much from them.?? But God, rich in mercy, loved us as sinners when He sent His son.?? He still loves us as sinners, forgiven by grace.?? The other thing to ponder is that while we come to Him as sinners, He doesn't leave us in the same condition.

Last Sunday was communion Sunday for many churches across the world.?? Many probably sang the hymn "Just as I Am".

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come! I come

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt
Fighting and fears within without
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot
to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

If you feel tossed about with "many a conflict, many a doubt".?? Come to Him just as you are.?? He won't leave you that way.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Romans 5:6-11??New King James Version (NKJV)

Christ in Our Place

^6??For when we were still without strength,??^[a]in due time??Christ died for the ungodly.??^7??For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.??^8??But??God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.??^9??Much more then, having now been justified??by His blood, we shall be saved??from wrath through Him.??^10??For??if when we were enemies??we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved??by His life.??^11??And not only??that,??but we also??rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Verse of the Day 10/8

Verse of the Day 10/8

Philippians 4:19-20 I am convinced that my God will fully satisfy every need you have, for I have seen the abundant riches of glory revealed to me through the Anointed One, Jesus Christ! 20 And God our Father will receive all the glory and the honor throughout the eternity of eternities! Amen! The Passion Translation (TPT)

Today's verses came up in the read through the New Testament plan that I'm following. Every time I read this chapter and in particular, verse 7, I cannot help but be reminded of my son Jeff who has told us "I have the peace that passes understanding".

This weekend marked 20 years from his near fatal car accident which left him with a TBI and permanent disabilities. We were told he would not talk again. Thankfully, God had something else in mind. By God's grace, Jeff speaks of this peace that passes understanding along with the "joy of the Lord" which is his strength. He doesn't worry about his needs, he knows that they are being supplied for him and to him, they are inexhaustible.

Having seen this in Jeff today's verses encourage me and hopefully, encourage you as well to believe that "God will fully satisfy every need that you have". The way He does so may come in ways that we do not understand, but He will reveal them to us in His time, nonetheless. May we experience His joy and peace as we rely upon His future grace.

John Piper writes, "If we live by faith in this promise of future grace, it will be very hard for anxiety to survive. God's "riches in glory" are inexhaustible. He really means for us not to worry about our future.....We should follow this pattern that Paul lays out for us. We should battle the unbelief of anxiety with the promises of future grace."

Blessings,

Mike

Philippians 4:14-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I [a]have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

 Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Verse of the Day 10/5

Verse of the Day 10/5?????? ??????

Proverbs 9:10-11???? The starting point for acquiring wisdom

is to be consumed with awe as you worship Jehovah-God.
To receive the revelation of the Holy One,^[a]
you must come to the one who has living-understanding.
^11??Wisdom will extend your life,
making every year more fruitful than the one before.?????? The Passion Translation (TPT)

The NKJV (below) and other translations, begin today's verses?? with "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom".?? The Passion Translation refers to that "fear" as "being consumed with awe".?? It boils down to the same thing, true wisdom begins and ends with God and His word, actively working in our lives (Hebrews 4:12).?? It is a good reminder for us.?? There are many places that we may go to gain wisdom, knowledge or facts about things.?? I admit that I use Google everyday for information and knowledge about an item or subject.?? But true wisdom in how to live our lives; live them as God would have us live; is found in His Word and seeking His wisdom with the intent to apply it to our lives.

I read the following from my John MacArthur study Bible from Proverbs 1:7 which also talks about the "fear of the Lord"

"Notice the progression here: 1) teaching about God; 2) learning about God; 3) fearing God; 4) knowing God; and 5) imitating God???s wisdom. The fear of the Lord is a state of mind in which one???s own attitudes, will, feelings, deeds, and goals are exchanged for God???s"

Show moreShow less

??? from "The MacArthur Study Bible"

If we desire that our lives be more "fruitful" day by day and year by year (verse 11) it will come from seeking wisdom from the source, God and His Word;, going to Him daily "waiting at His doorpost" (Prov. 8:34).?? It is a state of mind focused upon - 1) teachings about God; 2) learning about God; 3) fearing God; 4) knowing God; and 5) imitating God???s wisdom.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Proverbs 9:9-12??New King James Version (NKJV)

^9??Give??instruction??to a wise??man,??and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just??man,??and he will increase in learning.

^10?????The??fear of the??Lord??is??the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One??is??understanding.
^11??For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
^12??If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And??if??you scoff, you will bear??it??alone.???

Verse of the Day 10/4

Verse of the Day 10/4

Ephesians 6:10-11 Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.

11 Put on God's complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser. The Passion Translation

At the end of yesterday's post, I quoted the hymn Channels Only and the line from that song that always stands out in my mind is "flowing through us Thou canst use us, every day and every hour." Ephesians 6 about putting on the full armor of God came up in my read through the New Testament plan. I'm reading The Passion Translation and in verse 10 it speaks of being "supernaturally infused with strength" and having "his explosive power flowing in and through you".

In the. NKJV below, verse 10 starts out by saying "be strong in the power of His might". I hadn't thought of putting on the full armor as having His power flowing through us before. But that is how it works. When we put on His full armor, we put our full faith and trust in Him and that power flows through us, enables us to stand against our foes, who or whatever they may be, and to be overcomers in this world.

As we prepare to face the challenges of the day, may we put on His full armor and stand, infused with His supernatural power.

Blessings,

Mike

Ephesians 6:10-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

 Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Verse of the Day 10/3

Verse of the Day 10/3

Proverbs 8:34-35 If you wait at wisdom's doorway,
longing to hear a word for every day,
joy will break forth within you as you listen for what I'll say.
35 For the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find me,
and this is the secret of growing in the delight
and the favor of the Lord. The Passion Translation (TPT)

The Holy Spirit can work in us in many ways. He may prompt us to do something for Him or for someone else, but most often God speaks to us, His wisdom speaks to us from His Word. His Word is "wisdom's doorway". How often do we wait for His wisdom, how often and how hard will we dig into it and spend some time in it.

I like the way The Passion Translation begins verse 35, "for the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find me". Think of some of the ways that this fountain pours into you. Think back to Galatians 5:22-23 and the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace to begin and flowing though us with hope.

How I praise Thee, precious Savior,
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be.
Refrain:
Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.

Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me,
A clean vessel in Thy hand;
With no pow'r but as Thou givest
Graciously with each command.

May we go forth today with "no power but as He gives us". May we daily be;

"Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors." V34 NKJV

Blessings,

Mike

Proverbs 8:32-36 New King James Version (NKJV)

32 "Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death."

 Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com