"Word of God Speak"

October 30, 2011 (Job 21; Mark 5-6)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “They went out and preached that men should repent.” Mark 6:12 NASB

Observation: At this point in the disciples ministry they were sent out to preach one message. A message of repentance. Repentance prepares the heart of man to be changed. The beginning of new life in Christ always starts with repentance. No one can be born again without repentance. No one can live a life dedicated to Christ, who has not received the message of repentance and acted upon it.

Application: This was not a popular message then, nor is it today. But just like back then the message of repentance must be preached. Now days most of the sermons we hear are more like “sow a seed of a hundred dollars today and God will give you back a thousand”. Now I don’t know about you but that sounds to me like it could use some repentance! Sowing seeds into the kingdom is important but many sow a financial seed and never receive any financial blessing because they have not heard, embraced and submitted to a message of repentance. The blessings of God are far greater than riches alone.

Prayer: Father, You are holy and wonderful, and loving, and kind, and generous, and true. You require us to repent and be changed because its best for us. You show Your love for us by the way You make for us. Thank You Lord. God help us to realize repentance is freeing. Repentance delivers us from the bondage of guilt and shame. It changes us from what we once were into the person You want us to become. Grant repentance in my life today, in Jesus name, Amen!

October 29, 2011 (Job 20; Mark 3-4)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “The sower sows the word.” Mark 4:14 NASB

Observation: The sower is the one who sows the seed of God’s word. The sower is what we would call a preacher, teacher, pastor or evangelist in today’s time. The sowers job is to preach the word of God, not his own message or feelings. He is to sow the Word and let God’s Spirit work in the lives of those who truly believe.

Application: The cares and pressures of this life effect far to many of the sowers. Many are preaching messages that would not offend or expose sin for what it is because of the suffering the sower would face and the dollar they would loose. We must be careful to what we listen to (Mark 4:24) and discern between what is based on scripture and what is based on feelings. The Word of God is true and everlasting, it is safe to trust and depend on. No other word is so strong or so sure.

Prayer: Father praise and glory to Your name, You are God and no other is above You! Thank You for Your word that is truth we can count and depend on. It never falters or fails. Help the sowers of Your word proclaim it without fear. Provide them courage to stand strong knowing You will provide and protect them. Help us sow the word and nothing else. Help us to live Your word. Keep our emotions and feeling at bay and fill us with Your Spirit, in Jesus name, Amen!

October 28, 2011 (Job 19; Mark 1-2)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15 NASB

Observation: After John the baptist was arrested Jesus came preaching the gospel of God. Jesus told them the time was fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. The time that the prophets of old had spoken of was here. Jesus encouraged them to repent and believe in the gospel of God. Believe not the religion they had been taught, not the faith they had made up on their own, but believe in the gospel of God.

Application: This could not be more true today. Truly the times are being fulfilled Jesus spoke of. The kingdom of God is at hand and we are one day closer to seeing Christ step out on a cloud and call His children home. But are we ready? Are we believing in the gospel of God or a made up religion we’ve convinced ourselves is okay. Is our faith based solely on the word of God or have we created our own faith based on our desires and lust? Have we searched the scriptures to find truth or have we relied on the interpretation of someone else? The kingdom of God is at hand it’s time we repent and belive in the gospel of God!

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your word that is always true and faithful. The gospel You’ve sent delivers and sets free. The gospel You gave is truth and will not fail! Praise to Your name forever and ever, You are my protector and provision! Glory to Your name! Help me Lord, hear, listen and believe in Your gospel. Clear my mind of the clutter of religion. Teach me truth and provide me the courage to stand and proclaim Your message. Open my ears to hear, open my heart to receive, open my mind to understand Your glorious gospel, in Jesus name, Amen!

October 27, 2011 (Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.” Acts 27:25 NASB

Observation: Here the ones in charge found themselves in a mess because they didn’t listen to the man of God. Paul warned them the voyage was going to be with great damage and great loss, but the “majority” knew what was best. So they thought. When they come to realize the situation they were in, God used Paul once again to encourage them to listen to him. Paul said, “I believe God” and it all turned out just as God said. Imagine that!

Application: God often puts people in our lives to keep us from harm. He sends warnings and instruction that we often ignore. Sometimes the ones we feel are beneath us are the ones God sent to help us. This is why we should pay close attention to God and continually seek His Spirit to lead us. Our trust and security should be in God alone, for He is our provision and protection. Can you think of a time when God sent someone to warn you in an effort to save you, but you rejected the warning and suffered great loss?

Prayer: Lord thank You for Your mercy and grace You freely give to all who will receive it. Thank You for the warnings You’ve provided through other people that were sent to save me from harm and great loss. Forgive me for ignoring Your message and messengers. Help me to recognize them when You send them in the future. I praise You for deliverance and protection that You provide. I praise You for being my provision and hope in times of need. I love You Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.

October 26, 2011 (Job 17; Acts 24-26)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.” Acts 24:13 NASB

Observation: The Jews had falsely accused Paul of things he did not do. They were professors of religion, yet they were liars and consumed with all types of evil. They wanted Paul killed because the gospel he preached convicted them of the sin they were living in. They preferred a message of encouragement only that was embraced by the majority, rather than a message of correction that led to repentance.

Application: The same is true today. Many churches are full of people who profess Christ with their mouths, but their heart does not know Him. They still bring false charges against people they don’t like or people they want to destroy. They go to church on Sunday and talk about how much they love Jesus on facebook after doing these things. People still desire to hear a message of encouragement only. A message of correction and repentance is abhorred by the very people who claim to love God. Even though false allegations may be brought against God’s people, no weapon formed against them will prosper.

Prayer: Lord help me love You with all my heart! Put a spirit of compassion towards my enemies in my heart. Help me love them like You say, not according to how I feel. Protect Your people from the false charges being brought against them. Deliver and set the captive free as only You can! Lift me up above the shadows of sin and set my feet on the solid Rock of Your Son, in Jesus name, Amen!

October 25, 2011 (Job 16; Acts 21-23)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’ Acts 22:18 NLT

Observation: Here we have Paul’s personal account of Jesus telling him to leave Jerusalem because the people there wouldn’t accept his testimony about Jesus. Not only did Jesus tell Paul to leave Jerusalem in the beginning, but the local believers at Tyre, in Syria, prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not return to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit worked through these believers in an effort to reach Paul and prevent him from the suffering he would face in Jerusalem. Yet Paul’s personality as a man of great zeal blinded his eyes and deafened his ears from hearing what the Holy Spirit was speaking. Even though returning to Jerusalem was directly against the instructions that Jesus gave Paul in the beginning, Christ did not forsake Paul. In fact, Jesus showed up in Acts 23:11 to encourage Paul and reassure him that he would indeed preach the Good News in Rome as well.

Application: When God speaks, He says what He means and He means what He says. If He says leave a city or a place, He means leave. Unless He tells you to return, He still means leave. If He tells you to stay away from a certain person or a certain thing, then you should do just that, stay away. Even if several years pass and things appear to be different, unless God says it’s okay to return, then continue to stay away. When the Holy Spirit attempts to reach us through others, we should heed what the Holy Spirit speaks. Who knows, maybe by being obedient to the Holy Spirit we are actually sparing ourselves the agony of great suffering.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this wonderful day. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that speaks words of wisdom to lead and guide me throughout this life time. Give me wisdom to know what’s right and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. Protect me from myself; prevent my zeal to serve You from blinding my eyes or deafening my ears, in Jesus name, Amen!

October 24, 2011 (Job 15, Acts 19-20)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20:30 NASB

Observation: Paul was giving a warning to the Christians at Ephesus to watch out for those who would arise from their own to distort and draw away from the truth. They were wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. They were always looking for a way to get people to follow them. The people in Ephesus were easily led astray by silversmiths that made idols for the people to worship. They made the idols for their own profit.

Application: There are many wolves in the church today as well. They cleverly disguise themselves as sheep by professing with their mouth Christ, yet their hearts are consumed with greed for filthy lucre. They lead the people astray by speaking words of encouragement without correction. They deceive people into worshipping them, instead of the God of heaven. I’ve seen many people defend these false Christians more than they would ever stand up for God. They are just like the silversmiths in Acts, they do it for the profit. Be on guard! Everything that glitters is not gold!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your mercy and grace that we all need. Protect us I pray from the wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing that have infiltrated Your church. Expose them as what they are. Deliver those who have been blinded, bound and led astray! Father I pray for a filling of Your Spirit that causes us to discern clearly these who pervert the gospel of Christ. Provide us the courage to separate from them regardless of the mocking we will endure. Strengthen us to stand, in Jesus name, Amen!