The Power of the Word.....

I thought we might start a non-debate thread on what we learn or are convicted or are inspired by -

• at our churches when the message is shared. [If you are a pastor, you can share briefly what you shared.]
• or during our daily Bible reading.

I'll start:

During my reading of Psalms 12 on the 12th, the last verse just rattled me to the core. "The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men." [NASB]

We live in time and nation when vileness IS exalted. Many times by Christians. We've got to stop it and it won't take sitting around griping about the world and everyone else's evil ways. We have to examine our own ways first and repent.

My pastor, two Sundays ago, gave a wonderful sermon - in 2 parts morning and evening - on Revelation 12 and 13. His main point was that the devil has a plan and though it will be bad .... God prevails, wins, and is sovereign. And that Christians are to stay steady in the word and walk with God through Christ.

 

Been blessed today with the reading and studying of Matthew 9:1-17.

Blessed above measure to the point of crying. I can honestly say God spoke to me through his word this morning.

 

GREAT sermon today from my pastor. Text: Matthew 15:1-28.

It was about being offensive and being offended.

The Pharisees were offended at the disciples not washing their hands as per their man-made custom and they squawked about it.

Jesus brought a message that was offensive to them even more.

• THEY broke commandments for the sake of keeping their own fruitless works.
• He called them hypocrites.
• He said that Isaiah was talking about them, personally, when he spoke of people who worship vainly and emptily.
• Jesus called a huge crowd together and began refuting their traditions and teaching that what comes from the mouth via he heart is what matters

The disciples tried to stop Jesus and told them, "Hey, don't you know you are offending those guys?"

Jesus just kept on going.....

• He said they would be rooted up and he called them "blind guides" and claimed they led the Jewish people into the pit.
• He said they were only concerned with what does into the mouth and that only ends up being excreted.
• He said what should be the concern is the sexual immorality, lies, theft, slander, and more.

WHEW!!

Unfortunately, the Pharisees were to busy clinging to their offended natures to listen.

But, in contrast, the next conversation we see if when Jesus "offends" the Canaanite woman from Sidon. She cries and pleads for Jesus to hear her and help her.

• First, he ignores her.
• Second, he doesn't stop his disciples when they try to shoo her away.
• Third, Jesus says what he has is for the lost sheep of Israel only.
• Next, he says that he doesn't give what belong to those children to the dogs.

WHEW!!

But, unlike the Pharisees, if she IS offended, which I don't think she is because she says to him that she understand he is telling he truth.....she keeps on and on and on and on .......falling at his feet, worshipping him, pleading and begging for his help for her daughter.

But most of all, she keeps on calling him Lord.

You know the rest of the story.

My pastor says that if we read the Bible and listen to solid Bible preaching that we ARE going to be offended.

Why?

Because WE are offensive to God. And there are one of two ways in which we can respond.

 

Awesome sermon tonight on Daniel 10 - the spiritual warfare that we do not see. God's utilization of his angels. Our need to not stop praying. Our need for humbling ourselves.

Read it today and pray about what God would have you learn from it.