SCRIPTURE
(IITim. 1:13&14) "Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you."
OBSERVATION
To retain something is to work hard at maintaining possession of it. Paul instructs Timothy to work hard at maintaining possession of sound doctrine or the teachings he has given him. He says to guard it as a valuable treasure entrusted to him. And yet in the letter to the church at Phillipi, Paul says he was poured out as an offering in service of his faith. Should we guard the treasure or give it away?
APPLICATION
What looks like it could be a dichotomy is really an instruction to maintain the integrity of the teachings of Christ. Paul actually wants the believer to give the hope that lies within them away to a sinful or needy world. This treasure is unending and transforming. If we live to give this treasure, we will see the kingdom of God manifest right before our eyes.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to maintain the holiness of Your Word, and I want to pour it out on a contaminated world and see your transforming power.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
I Just Want to be Happy!
SCRIPTURE
(I Tim. 6:6&9) "But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. . . But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction."
OBSERVATION
Paul is instructing the younger Timothy on the destructive vises that tend to tempt most people and lead them astray. He wants Timothy to instruct the believers that an attitude of contentment paired with God honoring actions leads to true fulfillment in life.
APPLICATION
How often do marriages end because one of the spouses is not "happy" and they believe God wants them to be "happy." They deserve to be "happy." When asked for specifics of what happiness is, these discontent individuals have no idea of what they are running after. They are just looking for a feeling. When feelings dictate our choices destruction is just around the corner. Seek to live in a godly manner and chose to be content in the provisions and direction of the Lord.
PRAYER
Lord, by faith I believe that You will provide all my needs. I will be content with Your plans and direction for my life. Give me Your discernment to know your direction and the specifics of what it means to be trully "happy."
(I Tim. 6:6&9) "But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. . . But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction."
OBSERVATION
Paul is instructing the younger Timothy on the destructive vises that tend to tempt most people and lead them astray. He wants Timothy to instruct the believers that an attitude of contentment paired with God honoring actions leads to true fulfillment in life.
APPLICATION
How often do marriages end because one of the spouses is not "happy" and they believe God wants them to be "happy." They deserve to be "happy." When asked for specifics of what happiness is, these discontent individuals have no idea of what they are running after. They are just looking for a feeling. When feelings dictate our choices destruction is just around the corner. Seek to live in a godly manner and chose to be content in the provisions and direction of the Lord.
PRAYER
Lord, by faith I believe that You will provide all my needs. I will be content with Your plans and direction for my life. Give me Your discernment to know your direction and the specifics of what it means to be trully "happy."
Friday, June 20, 2008
It's not really stealing!
SCRIPTURE
(IIKings 5:20) "But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, 'behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.'"
OBSERVATION
Naaman was the commander of an army. He had contracted leprosy and sought the help of the prophet Elisha. Following the instructions from Elisha to dip himself 7 times in the Jordan River, Naaman was healed. In gratitude the leader wanted to reward Elisha, but he refused any payment. Elisha's servant Gehazi became greedy and sought the reward for himself.
APPLICATION
Proverbs 10:9 says, "He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out." The person who says, "if nobody else claims it, then it is mine" will soon come to ruin. The person with integrity will not seek something that doesn't belong to them, because in the broader scope of life, it is stealing.
PRAYER
Lord, I rejoice that you always provide more than enough. Let me always be a man of integrity.
(IIKings 5:20) "But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, 'behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.'"
OBSERVATION
Naaman was the commander of an army. He had contracted leprosy and sought the help of the prophet Elisha. Following the instructions from Elisha to dip himself 7 times in the Jordan River, Naaman was healed. In gratitude the leader wanted to reward Elisha, but he refused any payment. Elisha's servant Gehazi became greedy and sought the reward for himself.
APPLICATION
Proverbs 10:9 says, "He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out." The person who says, "if nobody else claims it, then it is mine" will soon come to ruin. The person with integrity will not seek something that doesn't belong to them, because in the broader scope of life, it is stealing.
PRAYER
Lord, I rejoice that you always provide more than enough. Let me always be a man of integrity.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Nobody's gonna tell me what I can and can't say!
SCRIPTURE
(Col. 4:6) "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person."
OBSERVATION
Paul is aware of the struggles of the church in Colossae and the potential of the tongue to build up or tear down. Paul is outlining overt signs of holiness in public life, and the tongue, or the way we speak to others, is an indicator of our heart's condition. Proverbs 15:4 says, "a soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit."
APPLICATION
People often think that because I live in a free country with freedom of speech, I have the right to say whatever I want. In the kingdom of God we have a responsibility to guard what we say. Hebrews 10:24 says that we should consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. When a person is trully surrendered to the lordship of Christ, they will choose their words wisely.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to ever be mindful of the power you have given me in the words I speak. Let my words bring health and healing because they are tempered by Your love.
(Col. 4:6) "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person."
OBSERVATION
Paul is aware of the struggles of the church in Colossae and the potential of the tongue to build up or tear down. Paul is outlining overt signs of holiness in public life, and the tongue, or the way we speak to others, is an indicator of our heart's condition. Proverbs 15:4 says, "a soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit."
APPLICATION
People often think that because I live in a free country with freedom of speech, I have the right to say whatever I want. In the kingdom of God we have a responsibility to guard what we say. Hebrews 10:24 says that we should consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. When a person is trully surrendered to the lordship of Christ, they will choose their words wisely.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to ever be mindful of the power you have given me in the words I speak. Let my words bring health and healing because they are tempered by Your love.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
What did you put on this morning?
SCRIPTURE
(Col. 3:14&15) "And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."
OBSERVATION
Paul is giving instructions as to what is fitting behavior for the believer. There should be an observable difference between the lifestyle of the believer and the non-believer. That difference will come down to what you chose to put on each day: love and peace, or self-centeredness and resentment or fear.
APPLICATION
Paul tells me to put on love, "but he doesn't know the injustices of my life situation!" We often feel justified in our emotional reactions, but Paul is giving advice on how to create unity and glorify God, not achieve our perceived fairness. The emotional atmosphere of your home is determined by what you chose to put on.
PRAYER
Lord, I confess there are times when I want my way and it creates disunity. I ask that today Your love would rule in my heart and create an environment that glorifies You. I put on Your love and Peace.
(Col. 3:14&15) "And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."
OBSERVATION
Paul is giving instructions as to what is fitting behavior for the believer. There should be an observable difference between the lifestyle of the believer and the non-believer. That difference will come down to what you chose to put on each day: love and peace, or self-centeredness and resentment or fear.
APPLICATION
Paul tells me to put on love, "but he doesn't know the injustices of my life situation!" We often feel justified in our emotional reactions, but Paul is giving advice on how to create unity and glorify God, not achieve our perceived fairness. The emotional atmosphere of your home is determined by what you chose to put on.
PRAYER
Lord, I confess there are times when I want my way and it creates disunity. I ask that today Your love would rule in my heart and create an environment that glorifies You. I put on Your love and Peace.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Peace Talks Won't Work!
SCRIPTURE
(Colossians 1:12&20) "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven."
OBSERVATION
The ultimate goal and place of safety is being reconciled (made right) to a Holy God. In human history we have tried to earn, manipulate, and dominate or control others to gain security. The author of Colossians is identifying the one true way to peace and security: The blood of the Cross.
APPLICATION
In this day of international unrest and threat, we see world leaders meeting for peace talks. Their effectiveness is always short-lived and eventually broken. The only way to continual and eternal peace is still through the blood of the Cross. Peace talks won't work! Applying the redemptive blood of Jesus will!
PRAYER
Thank-you Lord for Your blood that was shed for me, and on my account. I will stand in Your redemptive peace.
By Pastor Roger Watson
(Colossians 1:12&20) "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven."
OBSERVATION
The ultimate goal and place of safety is being reconciled (made right) to a Holy God. In human history we have tried to earn, manipulate, and dominate or control others to gain security. The author of Colossians is identifying the one true way to peace and security: The blood of the Cross.
APPLICATION
In this day of international unrest and threat, we see world leaders meeting for peace talks. Their effectiveness is always short-lived and eventually broken. The only way to continual and eternal peace is still through the blood of the Cross. Peace talks won't work! Applying the redemptive blood of Jesus will!
PRAYER
Thank-you Lord for Your blood that was shed for me, and on my account. I will stand in Your redemptive peace.
By Pastor Roger Watson
Take two and Call Me in the Morning!
SCRIPTURE
(Philippians 4:6&7) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
OBSERVATION
Philippi was a military city. More than likely security and defensive stratagies influenced the thoughts of the residents. Paul is communicating the peace of God is the antidote to anxiety and is available to those who learn the secret of turning fears into prayers and worries into thanksgiving for His provisions.
APPLICATION
Societal compromise leads to spiritual consequences, but the prayer of a righteous man can accomplish great things, and a thankful heart will empower God's peace that passes all understanding. If you are struggling with fear or anxiety, take two (prayer & thanksgiving), and call me in the morning.
PRAYER
Lord, when the economy of this world is shaken, help me always to recall Your peace is available to all who ask and rejoice.
By Pastor Roger Watson
(Philippians 4:6&7) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
OBSERVATION
Philippi was a military city. More than likely security and defensive stratagies influenced the thoughts of the residents. Paul is communicating the peace of God is the antidote to anxiety and is available to those who learn the secret of turning fears into prayers and worries into thanksgiving for His provisions.
APPLICATION
Societal compromise leads to spiritual consequences, but the prayer of a righteous man can accomplish great things, and a thankful heart will empower God's peace that passes all understanding. If you are struggling with fear or anxiety, take two (prayer & thanksgiving), and call me in the morning.
PRAYER
Lord, when the economy of this world is shaken, help me always to recall Your peace is available to all who ask and rejoice.
By Pastor Roger Watson
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