Jan Magiera did a fantastic teaching this week on a biblical illustration for keeping ourselves in fellowship with God. If we keep ourselves in the garden via meditation on God’s Word, then it is God’s job to provide us with the full measure of water to cause us to prosper spiritually. God truly is the great gardener of our lives!
Special thanks to Jan for teaching this week.
One of the great privileges and responsibilities in our Christian lives is telling people of Christ Jesus so they too can be saved. With a strong desire to speak, the next requirement is opportunity and people to speak to – an open door of utterance. Two great lesson from God’s Word is that prayer facilitates those opportunities and God has amazing power to connect those praying to share the Gospel and those lost souls longing to know God.
Verses:
1 Timothy 2:1-4
Colossians 4:2-3
Acts 10:1-48
Ephesians 6:18-19
1 Corinthians 10:12 cautions us that “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” When we put stock in our own ability to stand in life – even if it be upon our strengths, we are setting ourselves up for failure and disappointment. Likewise, Solomon (in the book of Ecclesiastes) describes all the many places he set his affections, areas in which he excelled upon Earth, and how they all were ultimately lacking. To truly obtain meaning in life we find that all things “under the sun” come up short, but heavenly affections result in great happiness and meaning.
Verses:
1 Corinthians 10:12
1 Kings 3:12
Deuteronomy 17:14-17
Ecclesiastes 1-2:20
Philippians 3:4-8
Colossians 3:1-2
Additional Verses on Solomons Violating God’s Word (from Deuteronomy 17):
On multiplying wives to himself: 1 Kings 11:3
On multiplying horses to himself: 1 Kings 4:26
On greatly multiplying gold and silver to himself: Ecclesiastes 2:8
December 3, 2009
God is a rewarder of those who seek him says Hebrews 11 but our rewards are not only in this life but the life to come. God promises a crown of glory, an eternal crown for those who sow righteousness. He asks us for a shift from selfishness to selflessness; a change from working for ourselves towards working for God and his righteous purposes. He calls those who walk in His calling “blessed” and promises rewards when Christ returns. Not the reward of heaven which is given to all those who believe on Jesus Christ but rewards in heaven. Is that not more than we could ever imagine?! Make no mistake there will be tribulations abounding when doing our work for God but God is righteous to reward. Amen!
Verses:
Hebrews 11:6
Hebrews 11:24-26
I Timothy 4:8
Matthew 16:24-27
Proverbs 11:18
Matthew 5:1-12
Luke 6:20-38
I Peter 5:2-4
II Timothy 4:7
James 1:12
II Corinthians 5:10
Colossians 1:21-22
Colossians 3:23-24