"Word of God Speak"

March 18, 2013 (Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 3)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7 NLT

Observation: David is encouraging people to trust in the Lord. He said take delight in the Lord and He will give you your hearts desire. Be still in God’s presence and wait patiently for God to act. The Lord knows what you have need of and His watchful eye has not left you. Don’t worry, or fret, over those wicked people or their evil schemes, God knows all about them. If you are His then you are safe and secure! Walk in a way that pleases God and you’ll witness Him do miraculous wonders in your life. Commit everything to the Lord, trust Him and he will help you.

Application: God is faithful, He does not fail. He is not shaken or confused by the current events that are taking place in your life. He has not been caught off guard or surprised by anything. You can safely trust in Him, He will deliver. The best is what He desires for you, so stop settling for only good. He will lift you up in due season if you faint not. Hold fast to the hand of God and watch Him deliver as only He can. He will scatter your enemies in seven different directions on one occasion, and then lift you up above their grasp the next. He is not bound in any way. He is strong, He is prosperous, and He is your victory!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day You have provided. Thank You for all the times You’ve delivered me from the hand of my enemies. Thank You for lifting me up above their grasp and showing me You are not bound in any way! Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day, in Jesus name, Amen!

March 17, 2013 (Deuteronomy 32-34; 1 Corinthians 2)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.” Deuteronomy 33:26 NLT

Observation: Moses declares there is no god like the God of Israel! He is all powerful and all knowing. Nothing is hidden from Him. There is no power or strength that can overtake Him! He is the eternal God that we can take refuge in. His grace and mercy provide and protect us. No force of evil can defeat or harm us without His consent beforehand. He raises up, He cast down. He gives blessing, He sends curses. He heals, He rescues, and He delivers! There is no god like our God, the God of Israel!

Application: The Lord, the God of Israel, is greater than anything or anyone will ever be! He rides across the heavens to help His people. He rides across the skies in majestic splendor to rescue and deliver His children. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The beginning and the end! He was before the world began, and will be when it’s renewed forevermore. There is no god like our God! He drives out our enemies and destroys those that desire evil. How blessed we are to be God’s chosen people! He is our protecting shield and our triumphant sword! His love is everlasting and He will not fail!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your wonderfulness! Truly there is no God like You! Thank You for Your faithfulness, You have never failed me! I praise You for who You are and all You are! My hope and trust is in You, I know You will not fail. My heart safely trusts in You. Go before me, drive out my enemies! Destroy the evil desires of those against me because of Your great names sake, in Jesus name, Amen!

March 16, 2013 (Deuteronomy 30-31; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.” 1 Corinthians 1:20 NLT

Observation: While the message of the cross of Christ is regarded as foolishness to those bound for destruction, it is the very power of God leading to salvation for us who believe. God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent. When the message of the cross is preached, those that have been called by God to receive salvation are drawn to Him. Man has always tried to make his own way. Many have made up philosophies that they call faith. Others, study book after book to gain the understanding they desire. And yet others spend their time debating what has been written. In reality, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Application: Salvation is the message of the cross of Christ. However, salvation is not merely fire insurance, there’s so much more involved. Faithfulness, obedience, honesty, purity, righteousness and holiness are just a few attributes of salvation. These are not suggestions, nor options; they are the fruits of salvation that come forth from those that are saved. One may profess with their lips to have received salvation, but these attributes of salvation are the proof of one’s confession. Many call Him Lord, but few actually ever surrender to Him as Lord. Many say they have faith and believe, but few produce the evidence that sustains their proclamation.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your word. Thank You for the message of the cross that saves and delivers. May the fruit of my life testify of the salvation You have given. Your word teaches us to be doers of the word and not hearers only, help me to remember this, in Jesus name, Amen!

March 14, 2013 (Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.” Galatians 5:24 NLT

Observation: Paul is addressing the Galatian church that was being led astray by false doctrine. They were trying to justify their salvation through Christ by obeying the Mosaic Law. Paul explained to them that Christ had come to set them free! Not free to sin without consequence, but rather set free from the bondage of their sinful nature. Notice that Paul did not tell them they were set free from the punishment of sin only, but they had been set free from the bondage of sin itself. A true Christian is no longer bound by their fleshly desires. Through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us we can crucify the sinful desires of the flesh and faithfully live for Christ.

Application: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there! Have you experienced such freedom? Sadly, the majority of people that claim they have accepted Christ have not enjoyed this freedom. Why? Because our culture, and often our preachers, are feeding people a steady diet of false doctrine. They are being conditioned to believe they can accept Christ as Savior, while rejecting Him as Lord. Repentance, obedience, and faithfulness are quickly becoming old fashioned, out dated “rules” that are no longer needed. Yet God’s word is clear, when Christ truly moves into a person’s heart old passion and desires are put to death and new passions and desires are birthed by the Holy Spirit Himself!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your Spirit that fills me and provides new passions and desires within me! Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day. May my passions and desires that are not pleasing to You be nailed to the cross of Christ and crucified there. May the passions and desires that please You fill my life completely, in Jesus name, Amen!

March 13, 2013 (Deuteronomy 22-24, Galatians 4)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir.” Galatians 4:7 NLT

Observation: Before Christ we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the time was right, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the Law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the Law so that He could adopt us as His very own children. It’s though Christ that true freedom is realized. It’s through surrender to Him we gain freedom the world doesn’t understand. It’s through Christ that we are adopted into the family of God.

Application: Being adopted by God is a wonderful thing. And because of the greatness of His gift we must be careful not to take being a child of God for granted. Our freedom in Christ does not afford us the opportunity to do as we please. Just because we have rights of son-ship that does not mean we can live life any way we choose. We are still subject to the standards God has set for His children to live by. We must remain obedient and faithful to Him until the very end. Then, and only then, is our salvation eternal and secure. Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. A branch separated from the vine withers and dies. Yet a branch fully connected to the Vine produces much fruit.

Prayer: Dear Lord, sometimes Your words are hard to understand. Sometimes I struggle to understand what You really expect from me. I know I fail in many ways to live according to Your standards, but I am trying to learn of Your ways. Thank You for adopting me! Thank You for Your patience with me. Lord, help me love You the way I should. Plant a seed of obedience within my soul that will produce a crop of faithfulness to You forever, in Jesus name, Amen!

March 11, 2013 (Deuteronomy 16-18, Psalm 38, Galatians 2)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.” Galatians 2:13 NLT

Observation: Paul opposed Peter to his face in front of all the others. Peter was playing both sides of the fence. He would associate with the Gentiles as long as the Jew’s were not around. Peter, being in a position of leadership, led others to commit the same hypocrisy. Even Barnabas was led astray by Peter’s actions. Peter struggled with letting go of the Law because he was a Jew. He felt obligated to it because of his heritage. Yet through faith in Christ Paul said he had been crucified with Christ and died to the Law, so he stopped trying to meet all it’s requirements.

Application: As Christians we are all leaders in some form or fashion. People are watching our actions and observing what we do. Often times we influence people to do, or act, the same ways we do. Maybe not intentional, but the influence is real none the less. We must learn to be constant and consistent in our behavior. Our actions must line up with God’s word and represent Him rightly. To refuse to associate with another person based on their nationality would be wrong and inconsistent with what the gospel teaches. Christ has been offered to all as the reconciliation of man to God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your word. Even though it’s difficult to understand at times, it’s always good. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me everyday. Help me be constant and consistent in walking with You daily, in Jesus name, Amen!

March 10, 2013 (Deuteronomy 13-15, Galatians 1)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and no one will act so wickedly again.” Deuteronomy 13:11 NLT

Observation: Moses gave a stern warning against false prophets that lead people away from the one true God. Prophets or dreamers that promise signs and miracles are not necessarily children of The Most High. Just because they predict something and it comes to pass, that doesn’t mean they should be automatically trusted. In fact, if they ever try to lead people away from worshipping the God of heaven only, they must be put to death. Only in putting them to death will you purge this evil from among you.

Application: We don’t put false prophets that lead people to worship other gods to death in America. We tolerate them and compromise with them. We are a much more civilized society than the people Moses was leading. Our wisdom has far surpassed the commands of God and we now instruct Him! However, I wonder what would happen to the number of false prophets and people that lead others to worship false gods if they knew they would be put to death if they were caught. I have a feeling the number of false prophets, and religions, would suddenly be on the decline. We know that Jesus said in the last days there would be an increase of false teachers, could it be because we stopped putting them to death? Ultimately, even false prophets are a part of God’s amazing plan.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank You for this day. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me everyday. Thank You for Your truth! Thank You for Your word! Keep my eyes focused on You and let the message I proclaim lead people to worship You and You alone. In Jesus name, Amen!