Seek The Lord

Got a beautiful little passage from Isaiah for you today.

Isaiah 55:6-9 (New Living Translation)

6 Seek the LORD while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
7 Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

8 "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD.
"And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

What better way to start the year than with your daily dose of the Bible.

411God.net


g-ram

New Thru30

Here comes a challenge for the new year and for the new decade. This will not be an easy thing to accomplish but the benefits will far outweigh the sacrifice.

Starting Sunday January 10th we are going to dive into reading the entire New Testament in 30 days. The reading plan has been designed to walk through the New Testament chronologically. That means you will be reading books of the New Testament in the general order that they were written. There are also built in two grace days a week so that you will have time to rest (or catch up).

If that sounds too intense then just make it 60 days.


This is going to be a life changing experience for all those who commit to the process and keep up with the plan.

(If you would like the reading plan then just let me know and provide me with an email address to send it to)

Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!
Don't Give Up. Start Well!

g-ram

FEARLESS 01: Gideon Follow Up

Battles are inevitable but victory is not. We often find ourselves fighting enemies that are stronger than we are. So how do you stand fearless when there's so much at stake? Be inspired by accounts from God's word about average people who became champions and overcame insurmountable odds. Do you have what it takes? Experience "FEARLESS" to find out once and for all.

Take a listen to week one and then work through these thoughts by yourself or with some friends. You can even just work through the study without listening to the podcast if you really want. :)

BREAKING THE ICE:

• What are some success philosophies that are popular today?

• Share a time when you experienced God’s strength through your weakness?

CONNECTING:

1. Graham defined a “practical atheist” as a person who believes in God but lives as if God doesn’t exist. In what area of your life are you dangerously tempted to be a practical atheist?

2. God saw Gideon as a mighty warrior. Gideon saw himself as weak and one of the least? What are some wrong beliefs about yourself that God is helping you to overcome? What does God say about you in His Word?

What would it look like in your behavior if you believed what God says instead of your feelings, weaknesses or circumstances?

3. What promises did God make to Gideon? (see Judges 6:12,14,16,22) What does Gideon’s questions reveal about why he lacked trust in God? (6:13-15)

What circumstances in your life make it difficult for you to trust God?

4. What battle are you facing today that gives you cause for concern? What has fear kept you from doing that God wants you to do? What are you going to do about it? What risks are you willing to make in order to experience God’s strength and sufficiency?

5. In what way was Gideon just an average guy with common fears and weaknesses?

In what ways can you relate to Gideon? Where are you uncertain,

cautious or afraid of God’s will or calling for your life? What are some of your negative absolutes? In what way are you feeling weak and outnumbered?

TAKE IT HOME:

1. What has fear kept you from doing that God is calling you to do? Address your fears by honestly acknowledging to God your mistrust of Him. Be honest about any wrong beliefs about yourself and any negative absolutes that you have believed. Begin rejecting these thoughts and replacing them

with what God says. Build up your faith in God by focusing on His promises, His character and His past faithfulness.

2. How has depending on your own sufficiency or focusing on your weaknesses, kept you from experiencing God’s strength? What risk does God want you to take in order to experience His strength through your weakness? When thinking or speaking of your

weaknesses or your negative circumstances, end your thought with but God . . . Example: I feel weak and inadequate but God is my adequacy ( 2 Cor.3:5-6).

DISCOVERY QUESTIONS:

1. Read Judges 6.

• Prior to Gideon saving the day, what was the situation in Israel? (vv1-6)

What did the oppressed and fearful Israelites do? (v7) How did God respond?

(vv7-10) What did the Lord declare to Gideon? How did he respond?

What questions did Gideon ask the Lord? What do Gideon’s questions reveal about his fears?

• Make a list of all the Lord’s declarations and promises to Gideon. Which of these promises apply to us today? How difficult is it for you to simply take God at His Word and trust His promises? Why is God’s word sometimes not enough to convince us to trust God?

• What fleeces (signs) did Gideon put out to test the Lord? When have you tried the “fleece” method of determining God’s will? What was the result?

Like Gideon, were you tempted to do it again?

• In one night, Gideon tore down an alter to the false god, Baal, built another and made sacrifices to the true God. What role do you think this played in the defeat of the Midionites? What would you like to “tear down” in your life?

What would you like to “build up” to the glory of God?

2. Read Judges chapter 7 through chapter 8 verse one.

• Why did God want to reduce the size of Gideon’s army? What significance does God’s method of selecting the 300 man army have? Why did God choose the men that lapped water? What was God trying to teach Gideon?

• Why did God have Gideon spy on the enemy’s camp? (vv9-12) How did God confirm for Gideon that he had truly heard from God? What means has God used to encourage and build up your faith?

VERSES FOR FURTHER STUDY:

Deuteronomy 6:13-19; Judges 6-8:1; Psalm 56:2-4; Isaiah 43:1-5

g-ram

I Must Become Less

If Jesus was the main event, John was the opening act. He warmed up the crowd, but now it was time to turn over the spotlight to Jesus.

John 3:26-30 (New Living Translation)

26 So John's disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us."

27 John replied, "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, 'I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.' 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

John understood that if he tried to hold on to the spotlight, people would be looking at him, not Jesus.

411God.net

The Torch

It's the passing of the torch.

Matthew 3:13-17 (New Living Translation)

13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?"

15 But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." So John agreed to baptize him.

16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."

411God.net

g-ram

Jesus' Birth Afterparty

Well, the presents have been unwrapped and if you're like me, you're finishing off the last 18 Christmas cookies. Things are really starting to slow down. Maybe, after Jesus' birth, things really started to slow down...? Wait, I can't back that up.

Matthew 2:7-12 (New Living Translation)

7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!"

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Herod was a sneaky jerk--in my humble opinion--but the wise men knew this Child was so much more than a tiny baby boy. I guess that's why they called them the wise men. I'm wondering about their gifts though--you ever smelled frankincense? It's a little weird.

411God.net


g-ram

Expecting

Mary wasn't the only one expecting. Shortly after Jesus was born, she and Joseph took the newborn Jesus to the temple and were met by an old man named Simeon.

Luke 2:28-35 (New Living Translation)

28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

29 "Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
30 I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for all people.
32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!"

33 Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby's mother, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul."

Have you met the Saviour yet?

411God.net


g-ram