"Word of God Speak"

February 12, 2012 (Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus.” Acts 19:9 NLT

Observation: Paul begins to minister to the people of Ephesus and once again he is confronted by those who reject the message of Christ. They not only rejected Paul and his message but actually began speaking against it publicly. They wanted Paul to leave and to take his gospel with him! So Paul left the “synagogue”, (church, place of worship, Temple) and began having daily discussions at a local lecture hall teaching people the gospel of Jesus Christ. He took the believers with him and started a New Testament church and left the religious pretenders behind doing what they do best.

Application: Have you noticed that it was mostly the religious people that rejected Paul and the other disciples? Isn’t it odd that when Paul began a ministry in a new town he went to the local synagogue first and started his work there? Could it be that Paul and the other disciples realized and understood that judgement must indeed begin at the house of God? I know of many new churches that have started right here in my community, but none have had the boldness to start their ministry at the local church that is leading people astray. What would it look like today for a “Paul” to enter into a church and lead the true believers out, while leaving behind the religious pretenders? Oh, I can visualize people picking up stones now and once again wanting to kill the messenger of Christ for messing up their pretend religious playhouse!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for men like Paul that are bold enough to start a ministry at the center of where we have gone astray. Thank You for those whom You have chosen to hear and receive the gospel message of Jesus Christ. May they be led out of the depths of religious despair by a disciple that seeks to bring only Your name glory. Thank You for Your grace and mercy that provides and protects me daily. Fill me with Your Spirit and prepare me to perform the work You’ve called me to do, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 11, 2012 (Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18 )

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads-I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.” Acts 18:6 NLT

Observation: The Jews refused to accept Christ as the messiah, no matter how much Paul tried to explain the scriptures to them. They were hell bent on doing things their way and believing what they wanted to believe. Paul was the metaphorical life boat God had sent to save them from certain destruction, but they refused to get on board. Paul told them they were responsible for their own destruction and he shook the dust from his clothes and left to preach to people who didn’t already know it all.

Application: Fast forward two thousand years and we find the same type attitudes within many churches. No matter how much the scriptures are explained many refuse to accept Christ on His terms and His way. Many have invented new ways to heaven and reduced Christ to just one of many ways. The people in modern church America are so much like the Jewish people of old it’s frightening. Being hell bent on believing what has always been taught can get you in deep water fast, especially when you’ve been taught a distorted version of the real truth. Don’t refuse the life boat of salvation when Christ  reaches out for you. Turn off the thunderous noise of what you already have your mind made up to believe, and search the scriptures daily with a heart they can hear the voice of God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this wonderful day You’ve made. Thank You for the grace and mercy that You provide and protect me with. Help me understand and hear Your truth as I search the scriptures for Your wisdom. Reveal to me what You would have me to believe by Your Holy Spirit. Cleanse my mind of any belief that is contrary to Your gospel. In Jesus name, Amen!

February 10, 2012 (Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” Acts 17:11 NLT

Observation: The majority of the people in Thessalonica were not very receptive to the gospel. The Thessalonian Jews turned jealous and formed a mob to oppose the gospel message. So Paul and Silas headed for Berea to preach Christ there. The people in Berea eagerly listened to Paul’s message and wanted to know more. They searched the scriptures daily to see if what they were hearing was truth. They discovered it was and many believed and joined Paul and Silas in spreading the gospel.

Application: It’s amazing how little people have changed over the past two thousand years. People who refuse to accept the gospels truth are still in abundant supply. They form mobs to protest against what the Bible clearly teaches as sin. They rebel against the moral authority of God’s word and do as they please. But a few will do just what the Bereas did. They will search the scriptures daily and see what the truth is. I pray that every person I ever witness to will turn to God’s holy word to determine if what I teach is truth. To study the scriptures and know the truth is one thing, to study the scriptures and submit to the truth is another.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for this day You’ve made. I love You and worship You for who You are. You are the awesome God of heaven and greater than You is not possible! Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily. Thank You for Your truth that I can discover within the pages of Your holy word. May I always seek Your scriptures to learn, know and submit to Your truth, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 9, 2012 (Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” Acts 16:25 NLT

Observation: Paul and Silas had been stripped and severely beaten with wooden rods by a mob that formed because Paul cast a demon out of a female fortune-teller. They were thrown into prison and the jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to the Lord when an earthquake shook the prison so much so that the chains that bound every prisoner fell off. The jailer, fearing that all the prisoners had escaped, was going to take his life when Paul shouted out to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

Application: Paul and Silas had had a great bad day. They preached the gospel, cast out a demon, freed a young girl from oppression, and ended up being beaten and cast into prison. Yet when most of us would have been having a “why me” pity party, Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God. It was truly an earth shattering moment. In the midst of all that had went on the day before, God was starting a new day for them with souls to win. The jailer and his entire household were saved and baptized that night. Paul and Silas quickly understood why they ended up in prison at that hour. God can use any situation to reach those whom He has called, our job is to pray, sing to the Lord, and experience the power of His might, whatever happens.

Prayer: Dear Lord You are awesome! You provide and protect me daily with Your mercy and grace. I thank You and praise You for who You are and all the things You do. Help me to remember in the darkness of midnight, You are there, and You are working. May I remember to pray and sing to You when trouble surrounds me, and may You send an earth shattering manifestation of Your Spirit to deliver me, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 8, 2012 (Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.” Acts 15:39-40 NLT

Observation: Paul and Barnabas made up a strong missionary team, but things were about to change. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin John Mark with them, but Paul absolutely refused. John Mark had left them in the midst of their work before and Paul had no confidence in him. Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company, but God used their disagreement to take one missionary team and turn it into two. Later, Paul’s confidence in John Mark was restored and he became a help to Paul once again.

Application: God is not bound by what He can use to accomplish His will. Even human disagreements and failures can be utilized to accomplish God’s plan. Had the early Christians not been persecuted, we may very well have never heard of Jesus. But because of such strong persecution the early Christians were scattered and began sharing the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the entire region. We owe our understanding and knowledge of Christ to the early ministers of the gospel who refused to coward down when faced with extreme opposition. God uses Paul’s accountability, and Barnabas’ grace to teach us what it means to be faithful and yet compasionate.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day You’ve made. Thank You for Your grace and mercy that provides and protects me daily. Thank You for Your strong right arm that fights for me in times of trouble. Help me to clearly see and understand how You are working in my life. Help me recognize the opportunities You’ve provided and be faithful to perform the work You’ve called me to do. In Jesus name, Amen!

February 7, 2012 (Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas.” Acts 14:2 NLT

Observation: Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue in Iconium and began preaching the gospel message with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. Then, some of the Jews got jealous at their success and spurned God’s message, poisoned the minds of those who would listen and turned them against Paul and Barnabas.

Application: Jealousy always leads people to do things they would not ordinarily do. I’ve witnessed, and personally experienced, how satan uses jealousy to destroy relationships. When God delivered me from the bondage of sin, satan immediately went to work trying to turn me back. He knew God had a plan to turn my mess of a life into a message of grace and forgiveness that would bring God glory. The day I was born again I became enemy number one to satan and a threat to him he could not ignore. Filling my blood relatives with jealousy was his method of attack against me. He thought surely this would break me and send me running back to the comforts he once provided. But with a firm grip my hands hold to the plow of God and I’ve determined that nothing I could lose will ever be worth more than what I have gained in Christ.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your wonderful mercy and grace that provides and protects me daily! You are the awesome God of heaven and above You there is no other! You provide strength and courage to walk in faith and trust in Your sovereignty. Suffer me not to be a vessel satan could use with jealousy. Fill me with grace and mercy by Your Spirit and protect me with Your strong right arm. As I hold my hands to the plow, please Lord Jesus, hold to my hands, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 6, 2012 (Leviticus 1-3; Acts 13)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for His message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.” Acts 13:48 NLT

Observation: The gospel message was presented to the Jews first but they rejected it and refused to receive the truth. Upon hearing the gospel message the Jews stirred up a riot and ran Paul and Barnabas out of town. The Gentiles, on the other hand, were very glad to be given the gift of eternal life through the privilege of repentance. The Gentiles that were chosen embraced the message of Paul and Barnabas and received Christ as Lord and Savior. Christ Himself has chosen them that will believe from before the foundation of the world.

Application: The gospel message of Jesus Christ is often a message of offense when preached in it’s purest form. Unfortunately, most today hear an adulterated form of the gospel message instead of the offensive version that the disciples and Christ Himself proclaimed. In the name of political correctness and religious tolerance the gospel message has been toned down and sugar coated to become more satisfying to the taste of the hearer. A lot of self proclaimed ministers of the gospel have turned Jesus and His gospel, into another way, instead of the only way. God has called many to come to Christ, but few have been chosen to accept God’s gift of eternal life through the privilege of repentance.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Praise and honor to Your name that is above all names! Your love and mercy endures forever and ever, Your kindness and patience are amazing. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provides and protects me daily. Thank You for the gift of eternal life through the privilege of repentance. Thank You for the offensive message of the gospel that saved me and set me free from the bondage of sin. In Jesus name, Amen!