"Word of God Speak"

October 2, 2011 (Zechariah 13-14; Psalm 147; Luke 15)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness.” Psalm 147:11 NASB

Observation: The Lord favors those who are aware of His presence. Not only aware but those who act on that awareness. The fear of the Lord is not a terror kind of fear, but rather a respect and reverence. To receive God’s favor we must be in right standing with Him and be found walking in His statutes. His desire to extend mercy to an undeserving and sinful people is proof of His lovingkindness.

Application: We live in a time of no fear of anything, until disaster strikes. Then all of the sudden we realize just how not in control we are. But do we remember? As I write this I’m in New Orleans on a business trip. As I look around at all the people trying to find happiness in a variety of things I can only weep for their souls. A few years ago this town was about wiped off the map by a huge hurricane named Katrina. And yet today the fear of the Lord is still absent in the heart of this city. How can God’s favor rest on this place, when His heart and Spirit is grieving for this people?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace that you pour out on us. Forgive us for seeking pleasure that You detest. Father convict the hearts of this city and cleanse it from within. Send a spirit of repentance into this place! Send a God fearing man to lead this city into prosperous times like they’ve never known, proving You bless and favor those who fear You. In Jesus name, Amen!

October 1, 2011 (Zechariah 10-12; Psalm 126; Luke 14)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “So I cared for the flock intended for slaughter – the flock that was oppressed. Then I took two shepherd’s staffs and named one Favor and the other Union.” Zechariah 11:7 NLT

Observation: Zechariah obeyed God by caring for the flock that was oppressed. To show the people what God was doing he took two staff’s and broke them in front of them. The first staff he named Favor. When he broke this staff it was representative of God’s gracious covenant with His people being broken. The second staff was named Union. When he broke it, it was representative of the bond of unity between Judah and Israel being broken.

Application: Even though when things are going good we don’t realize it, we all want and need God’s favor. But God’s favor can only be found when we are in unity with Christ. To simply profess a faith in Christ is not enough, we must put into action the word of God we have learned. When we accept Christ as Savior, we are entering into a covenant with God through Christ. We should consider and count the cost involved with such a commitment before we put our hands to the plow. See Luke 14:28-33 for more on counting the cost.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day that You have made. Praise and honor to Your name! Father I need and desire Your favor and union. Protect and guard my soul from satan’s evil desires of destruction. Help me Lord to hear Your word and understand how to apply it to my life. Create in me a clean heart and a right spirit. Plant a seed of desire for You into my soul that continues to grow and multiply. In Jesus name, Amen!

September 30, 2011 (Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.” Zechariah 7:11 NASB

Observation: God’s chosen people refused to listen to what He had to say. The only time God could get their attention was when disaster stuck. Their heart was hard like flint and this caused them to lose the capacity of hearing. Many a stubborn person have been humbled by the Lord. He knows how to bring the most proud and exalted to humble submission. He does it for our own good.

Application: God desires only what’s best for His children. His word speaks instruction to us that protects and keeps us on the right track. When our hearts become hard and we turn a stubborn shoulder toward God and His word we are in trouble. Stubborness effects our hearing, it stops it up. Humble yourself before God, pay attention to His word, and hear what He is saying. Don’t be just a forgetful hearer, but be a doer of His word.

Prayer: Lord, praise, honor, and glory to Your name! Thank You for Your mercy and grace that keeps and speaks to me. Help me pay attention to You. Heal my stubborn shoulder and unstop my ears! I want to hear You speak. I want to be led by Your Spirit. Soften my heart and mold me into what pleases You. Help me hear and learn before disaster strikes. In Jesus name, Amen!

September 29, 2011 (Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.” Luke 12:35 NASB

Observation: Nothing will please God more than to find His people doing as He commanded when Christ returns. We must be ready to open the door when He knocks. He is going to come suddenly, unexpectedly and with a quickness. In fact in a twinkling of an eye, eternity will have started. You must be clothed with readiness and be found with your light shinning.

Application: What does it mean to be dressed in readiness? Simply put, to be found doing what you have learned from Christ. Not slacking or slumbering but active and doing. Not a hearer of the word only, but a doer. Your lamp must be lit and shinning. Not hid under a bushel, but set on a candle stick lighting the way for others. Leading by example is pleasing to Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace. Dress me in readiness. Trim my wick and fill my vessel with oil. Light me and cause me to shine in a world surrounded by darkness. Protect me from temptation and keep me on the straight and narrow path that leads to You and life eternal. I pray Father, You will find me dressed in readiness with my lamp lit when You knock at my door. In Jesus name, Amen.

September 28, 2011 (Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls.” Luke 11:17 NASB

Observation: To operate in the power of the Holy Spirit one must be in unity with Christ. Jesus was casting out demons by the power of God and He was able to do this because of the unity He walked in with God. Any kingdom that is divided falls. A home that is divided falls. A church that is divided falls.

Application: Unity is God’s desire for His people. In this state we have power to cast out demons and divisions that seek to make us fall. Unity is the key element I see missing in most homes and churches and lives today. Husbands and wives are not in unity, so the home is a torturous nightmare until finally divorce causes the home to fall. Churches are no exception. The lack of unity along with a misguided vision has separated and caused many churches to fall. To be in unity with Christ is pleasing to God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, praise to Your name! For You are holy and just. Help me Lord be in unity with You. Help me know how to stand and what to stand for. Keep me from being joined together with anything that displeases You. Bring Your people together and cause us to know one another by the spirit that lives in us. In Jesus name, Amen!

September 27, 2011 (Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” Luke 10:16 NASB

Observation: The one who listens to the one that Christ sends also listens to God. The one who rejects the one Christ sends also rejects God. God sent Jesus and Jesus sends us, His disciples, not just to Jerusalem but to the entire world.

Application: When we encounter a person proclaiming a message from God we should consider and examine whether or not they are of God. God’s message will always be supported and upheld by scripture. A false prophet will proclaim a message mixed with partial truth and partial lie. Remember Eve in the garden, satan mixed just enough truth with his lie to deceive her. When we confirm the message is godly, we should receive it with joy.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your message You send us out with. Thank You for Your word that supports and upholds Your message. Help me Lord only speak the message You’ve sent me with. Keep me from being deceived or deceiving others. Anoint my ears to hear Your message. Bless me with Your Spirit of discernment so that I will not be led astray. In Jesus name, Amen.

September 26, 2011 (Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 NASB

Observation: Jesus is teaching the importance of being totally committed. Lukewarm commitment makes one unfit for God’s kingdom. The cost of discipleship is great; it’s more than money can buy. To be a follower of Christ one must be totally and completely committed, it’s the only way to stay on course.

Application: Jesus wants total dedication from us, not half-hearted commitment. We’re not allowed to pick and choose among the commands of Christ and follow Him selectively; we have to receive the cross as well as the crown. We must consider the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that we have found security in, without looking back. Once our hands are to the plow, we must keep our eyes on Christ and allow nothing to distract us from following Him.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your mercy and grace that provides for me. Help me Lord be totally committed to You and Your standards. Keep me on course by showing me the path You will have me to walk. Keep my heart from being divided so that my hands keep to the plow and my eyes stay on You. Finish the work You started in me, mold me into what pleases You, in Jesus name, Amen.