Psalm 37:23-24 – Upheld by the Lord

Psalm 37:23-24
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

-A disciple is one who follows a particular philosophy or mentor.  In the case of a Christian Disciple, we follow Jesus Christ.  Where He goes, we go.  When He stops, we stop.  Where He leads, we follow.  This is important because we will inevitably stumble and fall.  Proverbs 24:16 says “a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.”  How is he able to rise?  Because he follows the Lord and so the Lord is always near to lift him back up.  Proverbs 24:16 also says that “the wicked shall fall into mischief.”  Why is that?  Since the wicked do not follow the Lord, He is not near to catch them when they fall, and so they fall deeper and deeper into wickedness.  “Woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

Luke 18:16-17 – As a Little Child

Luke 18:16-17
16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

-What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God as a little child?  Think about how a child accepts anything.  They don’t apply logic and rationale to the things they encounter as an adult would, they either choose to accept something or refuse it.  This is the kind of trust the Lord wants to receive from us.  We don’t need to prove God’s existence to accept that He’s there.  We don’t need to ‘feel’ like a sinner to believe that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). You don’t have to know all the books of the Bible or understand the nuances of doctrine; trusting in the Lord is simply of matter of believing that He’ll do what He says He’ll do.  It’s so easy that a child can do it.

1 Peter 2:15-16 – Through Well Doing

1 Peter 2:15-16
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
 
-The name “Christian” carries with it many stereotypes in modern culture; we are seen as naïve and foolish, self-righteous and judgmental, etc.  Some of these stereotypes have been properly earned by Christians who failed to heed the teachings of the Bible.  Take this section of scripture in 1 Peter for instance.  The Bible warns us that “foolish men” will interpret what it means to be a Christian and we are supposed to stop such false interpretations through well-doing.  What we are absolutely not supposed to do is use Christian liberty as a “cloke of maliciousness”, an excuse to treat those around us disrespectfully or otherwise improperly.  Jesus Christ was always good and kind to those around Him; how can any of us who claim to be “Christ-like” do any less than He?  After all, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” (Matthew 10:24)

Luke 10:19 – Power for Living

Luke 10:19
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

-Often people make the mistake of thinking that the Christian life is powered by positive thinking and personal determination, but there is in fact real power for living our everyday lives that the Lord is ready to provide. Now, don’t go trying to find your way into trouble just to see if the Lord will protect you because you wouldn’t want to be guilty of tempting the Lord. (Matthew 4:7)  But, think in terms of the problems we are bound to face without having to look for them. Are you plagued by unholy thoughts and feelings? Start your day by praying and asking the Lord to help you cast those thoughts away. Do you get angry when those around you inconvenience you or “get in your way”? Find in God’s Word how all that is really just a pride problem and ask the Lord to help you with it. It’s easy to get focused on the Lord’s amazing provision of salvation, but don’t think that God only starts working when we get to Heaven.  He’s ready to help this morning and every day after.

John 8:36 – Are You Free Indeed?

John 8:36
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

-We all have chains that bind us; chains of worry, chains of doubt, chains of regret. They may vary from person to person, but chains are chains, regardless. The notion that we could be made free in salvation and yet still live bound doesn’t really make much sense.  More importantly, it’s not an idea that we learned from the Bible. If we live bound and defeated it means one of two things: 1) We haven’t properly learned exactly how free Christ has made us, or 2) Our “freedom” comes from some other source and is no real freedom at all. Fortunately, the cure for either of these is the same- Jesus. He is both the giver of ultimate freedom and the teacher of what freedom ultimately means.

Mark 9:17-27 – Help My Unbelief

Mark 9:17-27
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
 
-In this passage, Jesus performs a wondrous miracle in response to a small measure of faith possessed by a desperate father.  The father does believe, but his great unbelief gets in the way.  He admits his weakness and asks Jesus to fix that problem as well.  Jesus goes above and beyond what the father asks for and gives the man every reason to let go of his unbelief.  Just imagine if Jesus had stopped with the father’s request and done nothing else.  The boy’s demons were exercised, but he was left for dead.  Jesus could have left it at that, but He gave something the father didn’t think to ask for, a complete restoration of the boy’s health.  How often have we asked for something specific from the Lord only to have him do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)?  Perhaps an even more important question is what miracles have we missed in our own lives by asking God to do spot repairs and all the while He is waiting to fix everything?

Matthew 15:30 – …and He healed them.

Matthew 4:23
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 15:30
30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:

-In an act of great trust in the power of Jesus, the multitudes laid out their sick, their afflicted, and, in some cases, even their dead before Him so that He might bring healing and restoration; which He always did.  The Lord wants to pass by your way and bring healing as well.  What sick or dead things do you have in your life that you could lay before Him?  Could it be your faithfulness to read the Bible?  How about your prayer life?  Perhaps it is the love that you used to have for your friends and family or your burden to pray for lost souls.  Maybe yours is the lost soul in need of saving.  Whatever it is the solution is the same: take these dead things to Jesus in faith and watch them live again.

John 6:26 – Because You Were Filled

John 6:26
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
 
-God can make light in nothing but darkness.  God can take nothing and turn it into something.  He can take dirt and make a living, breathing thing.  Such miracles are awe-inspiring and praiseworthy, but relationships aren’t built on grand gestures; they are built on smaller, deeper things.  God can take a broken heart and heal it.  He can take a hopeless life and make hope.  He can take an empty soul and make it full.  If you are familiar with God as the Creator and Master, you do well; but to really know God is to know Him as your Savior, Father, and Friend.

Leviticus 11:44 – True Sanctification

Leviticus 11:44
44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

-The Lord had already called out the Hebrews and made them His people. (Exodus 6:7) In Leviticus 11, He emphasizes the importance of the people sanctifying themselves and walking holy. This is important because it sets up the proper sequence of events in regard to salvation and sanctification.  Many people think that we can just clean up our act and make ourselves presentable in the eyes of God.  But contrary to popular opinion, sanctification does not result in salvation.  True sanctification is a result of salvation.  God must work the first before He can give us the tools to begin working the second.  Without God, there can be no sanctification.  “And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.” (Leviticus 20:8)

Genesis 32:24-30 – I Will Not Let Thee Go

Genesis 32:24-30
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
 
-The idea of a man wrestling with God Himself may seem peculiar at first reading, but did you know that this is supposed to typify our prayer life?  How often do you get alone with God and absolutely refuse to let Him go until your request is granted?  Such diligence is not to be taken lightly.  Notice that after this encounter with God, Jacob was no longer called Jacob and he walked with a limp for the rest of his life.  As was the case with Jacob, getting this close to God will leave an impression on us that will forever change the way we walk and the way we are identified.  But once the Lord has left His mark on your life, your prayers will finally line up with His will.  You will no longer pray for what you want.  Your only prayer will be that the Lord would bless you, because the blessing of the Lord is the only true prosperity that exists.