Friday, December 02, 2011
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
"The storm was raging. The sea was beating against the rocks in huge, dashing waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing; but the little bird was asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head serenely under its wing, sound asleep. That is peace: to be able to rest serenely in the storm!" (Billy Graham, Peace With God); =================================================================
FEASTING ON GOD'S WORD (a devotion by Pastor Paul Esswein)
"Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous so that the land was filled with them. (Exodus 1:6-7, NIV)
The Bible is filled with promises of God for His people. Many times the promises are not only given but also the fulfillment. These verses a one place we see God's promises come true. He promised Abraham many years before the time of this passage that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore (Gen. 15:5, 22:17-18). While Israel was in Egypt, the promise was consummated. Through this we learn three key truths about God's wonderful promises.
1. God's promises are true. God promised Abraham his descendants would be numerous. In Egypt that promise came true (or at least it evidently begins to become true). Israel "was fruitful and multiplied". God is a keeper of His promises. He is faithful and true. The timing of their fulfillment is often different from ours. We may think God is slow in keeping His promises (2 Peter 3:9). Yet His promises are true in that they will be fulfilled in His time. The multitude of promises for us in His Word are fulfilled in Jesus. We can trust God to do what He says He will do.
2. God's promises are good. A second truth is that God's promises are good. This means they are for our benefit and well-being. God is good so His promises are good. He knows what is best and when He promises something we can be assured it is what is best for us. Words like "greatly", "numerous", "filled", and "exceedingly" are used to describe His promise in these verses. These are words of blessing and abundance. Without His promises we would have no hope and desire to do good. God knows what is best for us and promises to do only what is truly beneficial for us. His promises enable us to live fulfilled and satisfied lives, they show us what is needed to know and experience God in our life, and they are good because He is good.
3. God's promises are for difficult times (v.16). A third truth about God's promises is that they sustain us in difficult times. His fulfillment didn't mean that the lives of the people of Israel would be easy. In fact because of its fulfillment, their troubles only increased. They eventually became a threat to the Egyptians and were enslaved by them. They were treated harshly because they were so numerous. But this promise helped them through this hard time. It gave them assurance that God was with them and courage to know God would see them through. Without the promises, we would be at a loss when tough times come. They are for us (true and applicable) even when the situation is hard. Their value is not dependent on the circumstance of our life but on the faithful character of God. His promises are especially for hard times.
I pray that in this Thanksgiving season, you will take time to remember some of the promises of God for you. As you give Him thanks for them, also remember that they are true (await His appointed time), are good (what is best for our lives), and for hard times (even in our suffering). Affirm your trust in Him and hope in His promises. You will be more thankful as a result.
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DAILY FOOD(daily 'Through-the-Bible-in-one-year' readings from God's Word for the month of DECEMBER)
DECEMBER
1 Psalms 77-78
2 Psalms 79-82
3 Psalms 83-86
4 Psalms 87-89
5 Psalms 90-91
6 Psalms 92-94
7 Psalms 95-97
8 Psalms 98-101
9 Psalms 102-104
10 Psalms 105-106
11 Psalms 107-109
12 Psalms 110-113
13 Psalms 114-118
14 Psalm 119:1-80
15 Psalm 119:81-176
16 Psalms 120-124
17 Psalms 125-131
18 Psalms 132-134
19 Psalms 135-137
20 Psalms 138-140
21 Psalms 141-144
22 Psalms 145-147
23 Psalms 148-150
24 Proverbs 1-2
25 Proverbs 3-4
26 Proverbs 5-7
27 Proverbs 8-10
28 Proverbs 11-13
29 Proverbs 14-16
30 Proverbs 17-20
31 Proverbs 21-23
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "The storm was raging. The sea was beating against the rocks in huge, dashing waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing; but the little bird was asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head serenely under its wing, sound asleep. That is peace: to be able to rest serenely in the storm!" (Billy Graham, Peace With God); =================================================================
FEASTING ON GOD'S WORD (a devotion by Pastor Paul Esswein)
"Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous so that the land was filled with them. (Exodus 1:6-7, NIV)
The Bible is filled with promises of God for His people. Many times the promises are not only given but also the fulfillment. These verses a one place we see God's promises come true. He promised Abraham many years before the time of this passage that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore (Gen. 15:5, 22:17-18). While Israel was in Egypt, the promise was consummated. Through this we learn three key truths about God's wonderful promises.
1. God's promises are true. God promised Abraham his descendants would be numerous. In Egypt that promise came true (or at least it evidently begins to become true). Israel "was fruitful and multiplied". God is a keeper of His promises. He is faithful and true. The timing of their fulfillment is often different from ours. We may think God is slow in keeping His promises (2 Peter 3:9). Yet His promises are true in that they will be fulfilled in His time. The multitude of promises for us in His Word are fulfilled in Jesus. We can trust God to do what He says He will do.
2. God's promises are good. A second truth is that God's promises are good. This means they are for our benefit and well-being. God is good so His promises are good. He knows what is best and when He promises something we can be assured it is what is best for us. Words like "greatly", "numerous", "filled", and "exceedingly" are used to describe His promise in these verses. These are words of blessing and abundance. Without His promises we would have no hope and desire to do good. God knows what is best for us and promises to do only what is truly beneficial for us. His promises enable us to live fulfilled and satisfied lives, they show us what is needed to know and experience God in our life, and they are good because He is good.
3. God's promises are for difficult times (v.16). A third truth about God's promises is that they sustain us in difficult times. His fulfillment didn't mean that the lives of the people of Israel would be easy. In fact because of its fulfillment, their troubles only increased. They eventually became a threat to the Egyptians and were enslaved by them. They were treated harshly because they were so numerous. But this promise helped them through this hard time. It gave them assurance that God was with them and courage to know God would see them through. Without the promises, we would be at a loss when tough times come. They are for us (true and applicable) even when the situation is hard. Their value is not dependent on the circumstance of our life but on the faithful character of God. His promises are especially for hard times.
I pray that in this Thanksgiving season, you will take time to remember some of the promises of God for you. As you give Him thanks for them, also remember that they are true (await His appointed time), are good (what is best for our lives), and for hard times (even in our suffering). Affirm your trust in Him and hope in His promises. You will be more thankful as a result.
***********************************************************************************
DAILY FOOD(daily 'Through-the-Bible-in-one-year' readings from God's Word for the month of DECEMBER)
DECEMBER
1 Psalms 77-78
2 Psalms 79-82
3 Psalms 83-86
4 Psalms 87-89
5 Psalms 90-91
6 Psalms 92-94
7 Psalms 95-97
8 Psalms 98-101
9 Psalms 102-104
10 Psalms 105-106
11 Psalms 107-109
12 Psalms 110-113
13 Psalms 114-118
14 Psalm 119:1-80
15 Psalm 119:81-176
16 Psalms 120-124
17 Psalms 125-131
18 Psalms 132-134
19 Psalms 135-137
20 Psalms 138-140
21 Psalms 141-144
22 Psalms 145-147
23 Psalms 148-150
24 Proverbs 1-2
25 Proverbs 3-4
26 Proverbs 5-7
27 Proverbs 8-10
28 Proverbs 11-13
29 Proverbs 14-16
30 Proverbs 17-20
31 Proverbs 21-23
SUNDAY'S FEAST( a listing of the Bible verses, sermon titles and Biblical themes Pastor Paul will be preaching on during the month of DECEMBER)
PASTOR PAUL’S SERMON TITLES AND TEXTS FOR DECEMBER 2012
12/4 Rob Wertheim (Jews for Jesus) Christmas and Hanukkah
12/11 City Team ministries share
12/18 Colossians 1:15-17 The Peace Christ Brings The Bible calls Jesus the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6). What kind of peace does He bring? In a world of war and strife, how can we find peace? The peace Jesus brings is threefold. He gives us peace with God (Ro. 5:1) which reconciles us with God and makes possible reconciliation with other people (Eph. 2:14-15). He also gives the peace of God which is peace in our hearts that is above the circumstances (Col. 1:15, Phil. 4:6). Difficult times may be like storms raging against us, but His peace calms our troubled hearts. Jesus also brings peace unending. It is eternal, everlasting peace with us everyday of our life and for all eternity. There will come a day when all war, sorrow, pain, trials, and strife will come to an end. His peace will reign forevermore because He is the Prince of Peace. This is the peace we welcome at Christmas and receive as we wait for His second coming.
12/25 Micah 5:2-5 A New Leader This is one of the most amazing prophecies of Jesus’, the Messiah’s, birth. It even reveals the place of His birth. While social decay lay around him, moral decline filled the country, and religious hypocrisy infested the temple worship, Micah brings these words of courage. God is sending a new leader who is not like any other leader. He is of humble origins (v.2a), of God’s plan (v.2b), of care and guidance (v. 4a), of strength (v.4b), of majesty (v.4c), of safety and security (v.4d), and of peace (v.5). This was the leader Israel needed. Jesus is also the master we need in our lives. We celebrate His birth in a time of uncertainty. World markets are unstable and we have many questions about direction in our lives. Only He can lead us through the uncertainties and challenges that lay ahead. Christmas is a time to affirm that Jesus, the Messiah has come and He is the Lord (leader) of our lives.
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PASTOR PAUL’S SERMON TITLES AND TEXTS FOR DECEMBER 2012
12/4 Rob Wertheim (Jews for Jesus) Christmas and Hanukkah
12/11 City Team ministries share
12/18 Colossians 1:15-17 The Peace Christ Brings The Bible calls Jesus the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6). What kind of peace does He bring? In a world of war and strife, how can we find peace? The peace Jesus brings is threefold. He gives us peace with God (Ro. 5:1) which reconciles us with God and makes possible reconciliation with other people (Eph. 2:14-15). He also gives the peace of God which is peace in our hearts that is above the circumstances (Col. 1:15, Phil. 4:6). Difficult times may be like storms raging against us, but His peace calms our troubled hearts. Jesus also brings peace unending. It is eternal, everlasting peace with us everyday of our life and for all eternity. There will come a day when all war, sorrow, pain, trials, and strife will come to an end. His peace will reign forevermore because He is the Prince of Peace. This is the peace we welcome at Christmas and receive as we wait for His second coming.
12/25 Micah 5:2-5 A New Leader This is one of the most amazing prophecies of Jesus’, the Messiah’s, birth. It even reveals the place of His birth. While social decay lay around him, moral decline filled the country, and religious hypocrisy infested the temple worship, Micah brings these words of courage. God is sending a new leader who is not like any other leader. He is of humble origins (v.2a), of God’s plan (v.2b), of care and guidance (v. 4a), of strength (v.4b), of majesty (v.4c), of safety and security (v.4d), and of peace (v.5). This was the leader Israel needed. Jesus is also the master we need in our lives. We celebrate His birth in a time of uncertainty. World markets are unstable and we have many questions about direction in our lives. Only He can lead us through the uncertainties and challenges that lay ahead. Christmas is a time to affirm that Jesus, the Messiah has come and He is the Lord (leader) of our lives.
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