"Word of God Speak"

December 11, 2011 (Philemon, Hebrews 1-4)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.” Hebrews 3:6 NLT

Observation: The writer of Hebrews is establishing the superiority of Christ over the religion of Judaism. The first four chapters of Hebrews contain great truths and great warnings. A person that studies the book of Hebrews must be careful not to miss the “key” words in the verses. Words like “if” in the verse above provide the actual meaning of the verse. If we removed the word “if” from the verse above how the meaning would change. The statement would still be true, but the meaning of the verse would change. Living a Christian life is more than just a confession, it must be a commitment. We must not only place our faith in Christ but we must guard and protect our faith as well. We must place our faith in Christ and continue in that faith until the very end. For by grace have you been saved, through “faith”. By faith we become, and remain, God’s house.

Application: Guarding, growing, and continuing in faith are not attributes of the “Christian Life” that are spoken of much in our modern society of great wisdom. Finding the Lord has become the most important goal, rather than continual faith and obedience after one has been born again. The fact is Jesus was never lost so we cannot find Him; He must find us. Many profess they have “found the Lord” yet the Lord has not yet found them. How I know this, you may ask, “You will know them by their fruits”. To be a part of God’s house we must remain full of courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. Our obedience to the teachings of Christ and our surrender to Him completely bare witness of our true conversion. Our faith will initially connect us to Christ and our faith will keep us connected as well. Our faith must remain.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this wonderful day. Thank You for Your strong right arm that fights for me and wins! Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day. Crush my enemies’ plans; catch them in their own trap! I plead for Your mercy and assistance; You are the only one that can rescue me! Give me wisdom to know what’s right and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. In Jesus name, Amen!

December 10, 2011 (1 Timothy 1-4)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:16 NLT

Observation: Paul is writing a letter of instruction and encouragement to his son in the faith, Timothy. He instructs him to pay attention to how he’s living and be sure to practice what he preaches and teaches. He also instructs him to pay close attention to what he’s teaching. Paul instructed Timothy to not waste his time arguing over godless ideas or old wives’ tales, but instead to train himself to be godly. Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them! Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers and teaching them to obey the truth.

Application: Do as I say, not as I do, never sounded like wise counsel to me. However, this is the type counsel we are most often provided. Wise counsel often comes with a requirement for great discipline. Not many men will reach out and embrace younger men like Timothy in our day, because not many men are living lives of example like that of Paul. This is why it is so important no matter what age you are, to be found living, and practicing, what you proclaim to believe. We must heed Paul’s warning to Timothy and apply it to our lives today. Keep a close watch on how you live and what you teach. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those that hear you. The faith of many has become shipwrecked due to hypocrisy and willful disobedience.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day. Thank You for Your word that instructs me in the ways of righteousness. Thank You for faithful men that mentor younger men in the faith. Help me be found faithful and worthy to live an example for others to see. Give me wisdom to know what’s right and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. In Jesus name, Amen!

December 9, 2011 (1 Timothy 5-6; Titus 1-3)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,” Titus 2:11-12 NASB

Observation: For the grace of God has been revealed in Jesus Christ. Through Him, and Him alone, salvation is delivered to all men. Salvation is a gift from God, His only begotten Son. Only those who receive the gift, have the benefit of salvation. This salvation instructs us to set aside all unrighteousness, and being born again, begin walking in a newness of life with Christ. When we’ve received the gift of Christ we began to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age.

Application: Grace is available to all mankind, yet only a few will receive and embrace the gift of God. Many are on the broad way that leads to destruction, few find the narrow path that leads to righteousness. Many in the church say it’s impossible to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age of evil. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. The first step is complete surrender to Christ and His will for your life. You are no longer your own, you have been bought with a price.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank You for Your grace that is available to all mankind. Your mercy and kindness endure forever. Help me surrender completely to You and Your will for my life. Provide courage and understanding for the journey you have laid out and planned for me. In Jesus name, Amen!

December 8, 2011 (1 Timothy 1-4)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5 NASB

Observation: The goal of biblical instruction is to change a person from vile sinfulness into holy godliness. Real love comes from a pure heart that has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. A true Christian has a good conscience because they realize, and know, they have passed from death unto life. They no longer live for the flesh, serving it’s desires and lust, but now Christ lives in them perfecting a lifestyle of holiness. This is only accomplished with a sincere faith. More than just a statement of faith, action on that profession must be taken.

Application: I would dare to say that most people that attended church last Sunday would be hard pressed to remember the instruction giving by their Pastor. Rarely does one even know if the instruction is of God, because we fail to seek God in His word on our own. Even fewer would be able to remember the book, chapter and verse they were instructed from. Why? Because few pay any real attention to the instructions being given. We go through the motions of church service without ever really receiving any instruction most of the time. We act as if we’ve done God a service by simply making an appearance. A sincere faith will affect your life and result in a good conscience and a pure heart. Jesus desires followers, not enthusiastic admirers.

Prayer: Father, I praise and worship You for who You are! You are eternal, King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Cleanse and purify my heart and soul for Your service and honor. Make my conscience clean and good by the instruction I receive from Your word. Strengthen my faith to be sincere and steadfast. Help me pay attention, hear and remember Your instruction, in Jesus name, Amen!

December 7, 2011 (Colossians 1-4)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach; if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” Colossians 1:21-23 NASB

Observation: There are a couple of key words in this passage of scripture. The first being “formerly”. Paul was speaking to those in the church who had accepted Christ as savior and had been born again. They had formerly been alienated, hostile in mind and engaged in evil deeds, but since receiving Christ they had put all action such as this away. The second key word is “if”. Although we all have sins in our past we can expect Christ to present us before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach “if” we continue in this newness of life He gives. We must not be moved away from the hope of the gospel and return to a life of sin, but rather perservere in the faith and receive the prize of eternal life when our race is finished.

Application: Yesterdays faith is not sufficient for today’s battle. We must renew ourselves daily in God’s word. He is our strength, He is our provision, He is our protection and He is the only One we can put our hope in. To profess Christ at one point and then turn back into a life of sin, is to be like the fig tree Jesus cursed. It had leaves of profession but no fruit. We must continue to walk in the newness of life Christ has provided. When we accept Him as Savior and Lord, a lifestyle of sinfulness being alienated from God and hostile in mind should be the description of what we once were, not what we currently are. Our faith must be firmly established on God’s truth and we must be steadfast and not moved away from it.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank You for Your Spirit that fills us, comforts us, guides us, protects us, and leads us into all truth. Thank You for Jesus who strengthens us to overcome all the sinful temptations we ever face. It’s by His power and strength that we are able to persevere. Being connected to Him like a branch to a vine, He lives in us to strengthen us to overcome, just as He overcame! Father, I know You hold on to me, and through Christ’s strength, I’ll hold on to You, in Jesus name, Amen!

December 6, 2011 (Philippians 1-4)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” Philippians 4:12 NASB

Observation: Paul had peace no matter his circumstances. Whether in prison, or a free man, Paul viewed life with the eternal in mind. He knew his time here was for just a moment, so he didn’t stress over the temporal things or seasons. His focus was more on what he was suppose to do, rather than what he felt he was suppose to have. He learned the secret to having peace in any and every circumstance, it was simply this, he knew he could weather any storm, face any battle, have an abundance or find himself in poverty because Christ would provide him strength to overcome every situation he found himself in.

Application: Realizing this secret is one thing, putting it into action is another. To rest in this truth we must be willing to accept God and His sovereign will for our lives. Total and complete trust and surrender to Christ is the only place this secret is discovered. I’m sure being imprisoned was not on Paul’s top ten list of things he wanted to accomplish in his life. But with his eyes fixed on the eternal, Christ strengthened him to overcome every circumstance and become one of the greatest witnesses of the gospel this world will ever know. You too, can do all things, face any situation, rest in peace in the midst of poverty, or rejoice in thanksgiving with abundance because it is Christ who strengthens you!

Prayer: Dear Lord thank You and praise You for Your wonderful word that encourages and assures us of Your presence in every situation. You are the awesome God of heaven and I love You. Not only for the things You give, but because of who You are! Your protection is unmatched! Your provision is incomparable! You are my very present help in time of need. You’re my God, whether I’m on the mountain or in the valley, it’s You that strengthens and sustains me, in Jesus name, Amen!

December 5, 2011 (Ephesians 5-6; Psalm 119:1-80)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;” Ephesians 5:11 NASB

Observation: Paul instructs us to be careful how we walk and who we walk with. It is very important to avoid any pleasure or activity that results in sin. In fact we are not only instructed to stay clear of these things, but we are to expose them. When the light of Christ is in you, you can’t help but shine. This is one of the reasons Christians are hated and even despised. Remember John the Baptist? His head was chopped off because he let his light shine! He exposed the sinful actions of darkness and was persecuted because of it.

Application: We shouldn’t be surprised when we are persecuted for letting our lights shine. We will often hear, “you’re just holier than thou, you have no right to judge me. The bible says judge not…”, but we should not be discouraged or dismayed. It’s the word of God that judges, not us. But as vessels of honor, God uses us to expose the unfruitful works of darkness. The word of God instructs us to openly expose these actions because our silence could be mis-interpted as approval if we don’t. God wants people who will take a stand for whats right. As Christians we must be bold enough to speak out against the evil works of darkness, while being very careful not to be overcome by temptation ourselves.

Prayer: Dear Lord, You are wonderful. Your love is everlasting and eternal! I thank You and praise You for Your love. Help me Father, walk according to Your word. Use me, as a vessel of honor. Let Your light shine through me, exposing the unfruitful works of darkness, showing the filthiness of sin. By Your Spirit convict the heart and soul of each of us and bring us to repentance, in Jesus name, Amen!