"Word of God Speak"

March 5, 2012 (Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” Mark 12:24 NLT

Observation: The Sadducee’s approached Jesus and ask Him whose wife a woman that had been married to seven brothers would be in the resurrection. The Sadducee’s did not believe in the resurrection after death, but wanted to know what Jesus would say. He quickly confronts the issue head on and confounds them with His answer. He starts with, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” He goes on to explain to them that God is the God of the living not the dead, and that they have made a serious error in the religious belief they have created.

Application: Many today are making the same mistakes of the Sadducee’s. They create their own beliefs and then call them faith. They profess to be “Christians” because Jesus is a part of their own made up religion, however, He’s not the center of their faith. They choose to believe what makes them feel good and twist God’s Word to justify their idols of belief. Their error is the same as the error of the Sadducee’s, they don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. We can never expect to know the scriptures unless we study them for ourselves. We will never truly understand the power of God unless we study the scriptures for ourselves. If it’s truly your hearts desire to know God’s truth, He will provide understanding if you will seek Him earnestly.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this wonderful day You’ve made. Bless the work You’ve given my hands to do today. Cause prosperity to rain down from heaven so that I may have to give to others! Thank You for Your word that reveals Your power and strength. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily. Your strong right arm is amazing and You gladly fight on my behalf. Thank You for Your faithfulness, in Jesus name, Amen!

March 4, 2012 (Numbers 34-36; Mark 11)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so He went over to see if He could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit.” Mark 11:13 NLT

Observation: It was early in the morning and Jesus was leaving Bethany headed back to Jerusalem when He got hungry. He spotted a fig tree a little way off that was in full leaf. He went unto the tree and found it had leaves of profession but no fruit. He spoke to the tree and said, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” The next morning the disciples noticed that the tree Jesus had spoken to had withered from the roots up and died. When they told Jesus about this He said, “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘may you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.”

Application: So what is the lesson we can learn from the fig tree that produced no fruit? I believe we can easily compare the fig tree in Mark 11 with those who profess to know Christ as Savior today. Many have the leaves of profession but lack the fruit of that commitment. I think this is a clear warning for all who claim to be “Christians”. A person that has been born again will have more than just a profession, they will have fruit that is produced right from the start. From the time we truly surrender to Christ and receive Him as Lord, our lives begin producing fruit that bare witness of our proclamation. When Jesus comes to us, He should find fruit, no matter what season or time it is.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for this day and for Your word. Your word reveals truth this world cannot offer or understand. Thank You for the fruit that is produced from a life that is fully dedicated and surrendered to You. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily. My desire is to produce a harvest of fruit, You will be well pleased with. In Jesus name, Amen!

March 3, 2012 (Numbers 32-33; Mark 10)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” Mark 10:22 NLT

Observation: A man came running up to Jesus and ask Him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him by naming some of the Ten Commandments, you must not murder, you must not commit adultery, you must not steal, you must not testify falsely, you must not cheat anyone, and honor your mother and father. The man said, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Jesus looking at the man, felt genuine love for him and said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Application: The answer Jesus gave to the man becomes very interesting when you compare it to the answer such a person would receive today. According to some reports I hear, people go to church asking this same question today. What must I do to inherit eternal life? But the answer they are given is much different than the answer Christ gave. Now days we say you don’t have to worry with any of those silly commandments, they were the Law, but we are under grace. Just repeat this simple sinners prayer and you are good to go. Salvation is yours and no one can ever take it away and you can never lose it. It cost you nothing and nothing but repeating the prayer is required of you. However, some pastors do still encourage you to sell your possessions, but you should give the money to the church, they will distribute it to the poor for you. Wow, sounds like Jesus didn’t know what He was talking about! But I think He did.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Jesus! He was not afraid to tell people what they really needed to hear. I pray for those who have gone astray from preaching Your gospel, help us to see the error of our ways. Open our eyes to see clearly and understand completely what Your message is. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily! In Jesus name, Amen!

March 2, 2012 (Numbers 30-31; Mark 9)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.” Mark 9:42 NLT

Observation: The disciples saw someone using the name of Christ to cast out demons and they told him to stop because he wasn’t in their group. But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him!” He went on to say, “anyone who is not against us is for us.” Then he reveals a very important truth that the disciples had not understood. Telling someone that trusts in Jesus to stop using His name because he was not a part of your group, could very easily turn a little one away from Christ and cause them to fall into sin. Jesus said, “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.” This warning from Christ should not be skimmed over or taken lightly.

Application: A new convert, or Christian is considered as a little one in the Kingdom of God. As new born babes we are fed the spiritual milk of God’s word until we are able to chew and digest the spiritual meat of His word. We must be careful as we mature as Christians to be mindful of little ones coming into the fold. Maybe they will get a little rambunctious at times, but we must compassionately and carefully teach them God’s truth without causing them to fall into sin. The goal and ambition of all who are called to work in God’s kingdom should be to teach others to repent of their sins and turn to God. The whole message of God’s word and purpose of discipleship is for people to receive Christ as Lord and triumph over sin and death through Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this wonderful day You’ve made. Bless it and keep it holy for Your glory! Thank You for Your amazing grace and mercy that provide and protect me daily. Your love is everlasting and Your strong right arm is ever present! Protect me from causing a little one to fall into sin. In fact, use me to proclaim the message of repentance, urging people to turn from sin and run to You, in Jesus name, Amen!

March 1, 2012 (Numbers 28-29; Mark 8 )

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from Me, satan!” He said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Observation: Jesus begins to tell His disciples about the suffering He would face and the rejection He would endure from His own people. He said He would be killed by them, but three days later He would rise from the dead. Peter took Jesus to the side and tried to reprimand Him for the things He was saying, but Peter is the one who ended up being corrected. Jesus quickly, and unashamedly, rebuked Peter sharply. Without the indwelling power of God’s Holy Spirit Peter could only see from a human perspective.

Application: Certainly to see Jesus beaten, stripped, mocked, tortured and killed on a cross does not seem like a good plan in the eyes of man. To see children end up in environments that are detrimental to their health and welfare sometimes can make a person wonder where God is. How can “this” be the will of God for me? “This” makes no sense! Yet when we submit to God’s almighty power and trust completely in His amazing grace and mercy, He reveals to us His plan and provides us His peace. The ways and thoughts of God are far above my understanding and the best thing I can do, is trust Him. He knows what He’s doing.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for this day You have made. Thank You for Your amazing grace and mercy that provide and protect me daily. I praise You for Your high ways and thoughts. Even though at times it’s hard to understand Your plans, I am learning what it means to trust in You completely. You are my rock, my fortress, my shield, my protector, my provider and my God forever, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 28, 2012 (Numbers 24-27; 1 Corinthians 13)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”           1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

Observation: Paul is giving us a warning about the knowledge we currently have of God. We don’t know the full story now and should be careful and watchful when we begin to think we have it all figured out. We must be diligent to remember God’s ways are higher than our ways, His understanding is greater than ours. He sees clearly now, and then, we will only clearly see then. God reveals things to us in this life to keep us on the right path, but our full understanding will not be recognized until the day we stand face to face with Christ.

Application: This verse of scripture is meant to keep us on a continual quest seeking God and His righteousness. As we mature in Christ He reveals more and more to us. In fact the more I study God’s word, the more I realize how much I don’t know. It baffles me sometimes to hear a person speak about how much they know God and of the great understanding they have of the scriptures. Sure, anyone can pick out a scripture here and there and express their knowledge of it, even satan did this, but it should be the desire of every born again believer to continually seek God and learn of His mighty power and grace.

Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive me for being boastful and prideful at times acting as if I’ve got You all figured out. Forgive me for even the thought that I could in some way by my own intelligence understand Your word and ways. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily. You are the awesome God of the universe and above You there is no other. Thank You for the things You have revealed to me through Your word and I pray You will continue to teach me Your ways, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 27, 2012 (Numbers 21-23; Mark 6-7)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux: 

Scripture: “So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.” Mark 6:12 NLT

Observation: Jesus sends out the twelve disciples two by two. He needs to raise some money so He can continue His ministry so He sends the disciples ahead setting up the next spiritual conference in the next town. He puts them in charge of selling the tickets for only $19.95 each! Oh wait, that’s not how it went. Jesus sent the disciple’s out two by two preaching repentance. They proclaimed this message not only to the people who gathered at the local church, but they told it to everyone they met along the way. Repent of your sins and turn to God! That was the message then, and it still is today, and it shouldn’t cost a dime to hear this message from those who have been sent out by Christ.

Application: Somehow over the years the message of repentance has been replaced with the message of “we need you to give so we can continue God’s ministry”. Greed and a distorted interpretation of the scriptures have made fundraising the most important part of church service. In fact, I was once told, “as director, your most important task will be fundraising”. I was shocked and appalled to say the least. We’ve been called to be disciples of Christ and the message He sends us out with is the same, repent of your sins and turn to God! Nowhere in scripture did Christ direct His disciples to “sell the gospel”, in fact He said, “freely you have received, freely give.” It’s time the disciples of Christ get out of the church building begging for money and start telling everyone they see, repent of your sins and turn to God!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day You’ve made. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily. I love You Lord and desire to please You with all of my life. Forgive me for being embarrassed to tell the world, “repent of your sins and turn to God” I know this is the calling You have given me in the purest form. I desire courage and strength from You my Lord, in Jesus name, Amen!