"Word of God Speak"

May 7, 2012 (2 Samuel 13-14; Matthew 24)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.” 2 Samuel 14:2 NLT

Observation: Absalom had avenged the rape of his sister Tamar by killing the rapist, his brother Amnon. After killing Amnon, Absalom fled to Geshur and stayed there for three years. Joab arranged for a woman that had a reputation of great wisdom to go to the King with a plan to reconcile Absalom to him. When the king heard her made up story and agreed to grant her request unto her, she ask him this question, “why don’t you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me?” She went on to say, “You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son. All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, He devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from Him”

Application: Although many may come to us with a reputation of great wisdom, we should always seek God before making any commitments of reconciliation. It may seem like a good and right thing to be reconciled to estranged loved ones, but often times it only leads to more heartache and pain. True reconciliation only comes with true repentance, and true repentance only comes with real remorse. God does not just sweep our broken lives away, He devises ways to bring us back to Him. The first step in reconcilation is repentance, only through repentance can we really understand the love God has for us. Only by the leading of His Spirit can we understand what is a really good or bad decision.

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 love and forgiveness. Help me Lord understand how to deal with the sins of my past. Help me clearly see what is best. Work in the hearts of my sons and keep them from repeating my mistakes. Heal the wounds of betrayal and restore according to Your will, in Jesus name, Amen!

May 6, 2012 (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.” Matthew 23:5 NLT

Observation: The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees knew how to put on a good show. They played the part so well, but Jesus could see right through them. Everything they did was for show. They loved to be praised and admired by men. They loved to be called Rabbi, Father, and Teacher. They had a very high value of themselves. But Jesus taught them that the true measure of a great leader was how they served others. In fact Jesus said, “The greatest among you must be a servant.” Yet the Scribes and Pharisees led many people astray because of their hypocrisy. They would cross land and sea to make one convert, (That sure seems good), yet then they would turn that one convert into twice the child of hell that they were! (That’s not so good).

Application: The religious leaders of our day suffer from this same disease. Take away the money, power and prestige and the real leaders would stand out like a orange growing on an apple tree. Often times church services seem more like movie productions than worship services. Pack a crowd into a 15 million dollar building on Sunday morning and just watch the peacock feathers begin to fan out. The pastors and church leaders arrogantly and boastfully recieve the praise and admiration of men, accepting it as if it is owed to them for the awesome job they are doing. They try to teach us how to become better “leaders” while they themselves  have forsaken the real purpose of Christ. Everything they do is for show. In many cases it didn’t start out this way, it’s just how it ended up. When we take the praise and honor that belongs to God, we open the door for satan to move in and manipulate our hearts.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day You’ve made. I praise and honor You for who You are! All my praise, all my honor, all my worship belong to You! Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me everyday. Thank You for being all I need. Without You, I am nothing. I could do nothing, I would be nothing and I could accomplish nothing. Teach me how to serve others. Keep me from becoming a show. Bless the work You’ve blessed me to perform, in Jesus name, Amen!

May 5, 2012 (2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.” Psalm 20: 7-8 NLT

Observation: David explains why his enemies fall. Their trust and hope was in their on abilities and the shear number of their army. They became arrogant and thought because they were so many they could not possibly fall. Pride has a subtle way of bringing a person to their own designed end. David’s trust and hope was in the Lord alone. His confidence and faith was in God above. David sought God and ask Him for the battle plan, and God gave him the instructions. When David fought, he fought with confidence, because he knew he had consulted with the best military strategist ever.

Application: So how can we gain some insight from this in 2012? America sure seems to be a nation boastful and arrogant about it’s military strength. Could it be that we have become arrogant and proud to the point that we no longer seek God for our battle instructions? Could it be that we are trusting more in our own abilities and strengths like the Ammonites did? Do we remember how things worked out for them? Over 40,000 soldiers were killed and the remaining Ammonite soldiers had no choice but to give up and become slaves to the Israelites. Do we think we are too big to fail? I say we should be careful not to push God into showing us, we are not. Our own abilities and strengths will bring us defeat, but a faithful trust and obedience in the Lord will provide us triumphant victory!

Prayer: Dear Lord, You are so great! I love You and appreciate all You are and all You do. You cause the sun to rise and the gentle breeze to blow, You pour out the life sustaining rain from the heavens above and cause an increase from the seeds sown. You are my strength. You are my hope. You are my Lord. Your are my King. All of my trust is in You and Your amazing power, You will not fail, in Jesus name, Amen!

May 4, 2012 (2 Samuel 8-9; 1 Chronicles 18-19; Matthew 21)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “He said to them, “The scriptures declare, My Temple will be called a house of prayer, but you have turned in into a den of thieves!” Matthew 21:13 NLT

Observation: Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He was upset because making money had become the purpose of the Temple and the number one priority. People came from miles away to worship at the Temple only to be manipulated into paying a higher price for the animals that were to be sacrificed. They even had money exchangers so they could take all forms of currency, no matter what country the people were from.

Application: Unfortunately this same type manipulation still goes on today. We may not be selling animals for sacrifice, but the Temple is still a profit center and manipulation is still the preferred method of getting the peoples money. Now days we charge high prices for “leadership” conferences, (and the like) that will encourage and instruct people into becoming better “leaders”. We market the conference in a way that makes it look like this is what it cost to put this thing on. But behind the scenes things are not so innocent. In most cases a conference, a golf outing, a BBQ lunch, a special singing, these things are just clever ways of raising funds for various ministries. And there’s nothing wrong with raising money for ministry, but manipulation should not be a tool that is used in doing so.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me everyday. I pray that You would bless the leadership conference today and bring about some good from it. If manipulation was used in the marketing of this conference, I pray You would convict the leaders that have been blinded by the need for finances. Renew them and place within them a clean heart and a right spirit, in Jesus name, Amen!

May 3, 2012 (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage?” Matthew 20:13 NLT

Observation: The land owner, that “evil” rich man, was accused of being “unfair” because he chose to give the same pay to those that had only worked an hour or two. The workers that agreed early in the morning for what they would work for became jealous because these that worked little had received the same pay. The land owner let them know it was his business what he did with his money! Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my own money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others? I have paid you what you agreed to work for, take your money and go!

Application: There’s a timely message in this parable for us who live in the year 2012. If you turn on the news you will surely hear about how some “evil” rich person has been “unfair” to the poor and “less fortunate”. Evil corporations and all their profits are being withheld from the poor and this is unfair! We demand that the government take that rich persons money and give it to those who did not work! In the name of fairness, of course! Yet no matter how we try to justify our jealously, the facts show us we are acting just like the jealous workers in Matthew 20. We should repent of our jealously and get up and go to work!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for giving me the ability and opportunity to work. Thank You for the privilege of repentance. Thank You for a clean heart and a right spirit that only You can provide. Thank You for Your amazing grace and mercy that provide and protect me everyday! I pray that You would protect the innocent from the jealously of others and encourage each person to work hard and be content with the wages they agreed to receive. Cast jealously far from me and place within my heart the desire, and freedom, to give. In Jesus name, Amen!    

May 2, 2012 (1 Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.” Matthew 19:25 NLT

 Observation: Jesus had just told a rich young man that to have eternal life he must keep the commandments and sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and come follow Him. The rich man walked away from Jesus sad. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter theKingdom of Heaven.” “Then who in the world can be saved?” the disciples asked. Jesus answered, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible, but with God everything is possible.” The culture of that day, and even still today as a matter of fact, looked at people with great wealth as “blessed” by God. So if it was “very hard” for these people who were “blessed” by God to enter in, what hope was there for a few uneducated fishermen?

Application: The lack of great wealth will in no way keep a person from entering into heaven, any more than the presence of great wealth guarantees them a mansion there. Salvation cannot be purchased with money or good deeds. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone. It is by His grace that we are saved and are assured of a place being prepared for us there. We must be careful that what we hold on to so dearly in this life does not become the object of our affection and in reality our god. God must be first and most important. Our money, houses, cars, land, family, friends, and yes even our own will, must be laid down and surrendered to Christ and become useless to us when compared to God the Father.

Prayer: Lord. I praise You and worship You for who You are this morning! You are the awesome God of the universe and above You there is no other. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me everyday. Thank You for being all I need. Help me surrender everything and come follow You. Nothing I have given up is worth more than what You have given me in Christ Jesus, in Jesus name, Amen!

May 1, 2012 (1 Chronicles 14-15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18 )

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” Matthew 18:35 NLT

Observation: What will the heavenly Father do? He will remember what had been forgiven and impose the full penalty. The wicked servant of Jesus’ parable owed the king millions of dollars. When the king called the loan due, the servant pleaded for mercy and ask for more time to pay the loan. The king was moved with compassion toward the servant and let him go and forgave the entire debt. This same servant, who had been forgiven and set free, went out and found someone who owed him a few thousand dollars, grabbed him by the throat and demanded to be paid in full. This man fell at his feet and pleaded for mercy but received none. When the king that had forgiven this wicked servant heard what happened, he called the wicked servant in and judged him by the same measure that he had judged his fellow servant with. This is what the heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.

Application: While God’s love for us is unconditional, according to Matthew 18:35, God’s forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is conditional upon our willingness to forgive those who are indebted to us. We must learn to forgive our brothers and sisters from our heart so that we never jeopardize the forgiveness that God has extended toward us. Because God in His mercy has forgiven all of our sins, we should not withhold mercy and forgiveness from others. If we truly appreciate the forgiveness that God has given to us, then we will demonstrate our thankfulness by forgiving others. True repentance will produce a harvest of mercy springing forth from the seeds of grace that have been sown.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for your wonderful mercy and grace that provide and protect me everyday! Thank You for Your compassion and forgiveness. May I have compassion toward others and forgive them as You have forgiven me. Keep Your mercy at the forefront of my mind and never allow my feet to stumble onto the dark pathways of wickedness. In Jesus name, Amen!