Prophecies Came True

 March 28
 Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 28 / Luke 4:14-44

GOD SAID:

Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: 

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     People say they want to know the future. What’s going to happen down the road. Daniel and Revelation are two of the most studied books in the Bible because of the truths they hold about our future. However, does knowing the future cause you to live better, or worse. Knowing something is going to happen, but not knowing just when, should cause people some concern.

     In Deut. 28 God tells the Children of Israel about the blessing He’ll pour out on them if they live according to His directions. He also says in verse 15, if you don’t, there is a price to pay. God prophesies the carrying away of Israel and Judah into Assyria and Babylon in verse 36. In verse 49 He foretells of the Roman Empire’s conquering and ruling over Israel. The emblem of the Roman Empire was the eagle and their language, which the Jews did not understand, was Latin. Then again in verse 64 God tells of the eventual scattering of the Jewish people in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed. The nation of Israel may be back today, but the people are still scattered globally. God forewarned them hundreds of years in advance of these things happening. Yet as time passed, they all to believe it wouldn’t be today, so let’s live it up. Each one of these prophecies came to pass exactly as God said they would. Yet each one seemed to catch them by surprise. Why? It wasn’t that they didn’t know. It was because they believed it wouldn’t happen to them now.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Throughout the New Testament we’re told of Christ’s return. For Christians, a time of rejoicing. For unbelievers, a time of reckoning. Sadly, I see both groups living as if it just couldn’t happen today. Yet, someday it will. What then?

Do we really believe Jesus could come back today?

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Prayers For A Touch

 March 27
 Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 25-27 / Luke 3:23-4:13

GOD SAID:

Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    Most children while growing up, look to their parents as their greatest encouragers in life. Whenever any accomplishment was achieved, it was the praise of mom or dad that added the perfect touch of completion and satisfaction. In your young mind, they were the ones who knew the most about everything. When they said, “Good Job,” or “Child I am proud of you,” any toil and time you’d put into mastering this victory in life felt worth it. The people you loved most in all the world, have just put their stamp of approval on your life. The touch of love and approval have reached deep within to your very soul. (P.S. I never grew out of the desire for my folks to say well done. No matter who else praised what I did, their approval always touched me more. I sometimes miss that today.)

  Deut. 26:13-15 is a prayer to God. They have fulfilled all that was expected of them. They have taken care of those in need around them, offered the tithe due to God with joy in being able to do so, and they have remembered the word of God and done them to the best of their ability. Now, as a child looking to a parent for that approval, they look to God and say, “Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel.” In essence they are saying, “God, did we do ok? Was what we have done pleasing in your sight?” They were praying for that touch only a Heavenly Father could give.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    We all need a touch from God. We need to know we’re doing ok, and we’re pleasing in His sight. In Rom. 8:16 it says; “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” He’s God’s touch to your soul.

Have you thanked God for His touch?

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Performing The Task

March 26
Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 22-24 / Luke 3:1-22

GOD SAID:

Deuteronomy 23:21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    People love a deal, a bargain, a real find. If it’s a good deal, both parties come away feeling great. My wife and I like to garage sale in the summer. This is where someone has found something they no longer need and they’ve set a price on it. Often you can find a real bargain on things that are in great shape, or on occasion never even used. If I can use it, I’ll buy it. I leave with something I can use at a very low price, and the other party is glad to recoup some of what they had originally invested. We both come away from this feeling like we have made a great deal.

    Sometimes people will find themselves in situations they’re not sure how to get out of. When they do, they may call on God to fix it and start making deals with God. “God if you will heal me I will go to church every Sunday the rest of my life.” “God if you help me find a job I promise to tithe on that income every week.” Making a deal with God is serious business. God will take you at your word. In today’s verse, Deut. 23:21 it says; “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.” God always keeps His promises and as His children He expects us to do the same. When calling on God’s name in this deal, it brings God into a contract with that person. Not fulfilling it, is sort of like using God’s name in vain. We know what He thinks about that.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Deut. 23:22 says; “But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.” In other words, it’s better not to make a promise to God, than to make one you will not keep. We can ask for God’s help without playing “Let’s make a Deal.”

Why make deals we might not keep?

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Passing The Test

 March 1
 Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 18-21 / Luke 2:25-52

GOD SAID:

Deuteronomy 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. 

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     How do you know if something is genuine or not? In the Art World there are experts who have studied original paintings and know them. If presented with a fake, they can often spot it simply by careful inspection of the brush strokes and density of the paint used. They can do so because they have studied the originals and know the difference. Bank tellers use to have to count real money over, and over, and over again before stepping behind a teller booth. The purpose was for them to get the feel of real money so when a fake bill touched their fingers, it immediately set off something in their mind to look closer at that bill. They have that ability because they had handled the real thing so much, a phony immediately didn’t feel right.

     God tells the people of Israel to be aware of false prophets coming their way. The penalty for lying and saying God said something that He had not was sever. They were to be put to death. There was no bible for people to reference at the time. Instead there was a test given to find out if someone was genuinely sent from God or a phony. If what they said didn’t happen, God didn’t say it. God never lies. The apostle who began the New Testament Church were given signs and wonders for the same purpose. Proving they were sent from God. Today we have the Bible. It’s our test of authenticity. If what someone says isn’t verified by God’s word, well, they flunk. Don’t follow them.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    There are still many false prophets today. The problem is not that we have no test for authenticity. We have the Bible. The problem is, we have not handled it enough to recognize a phony when they speak.

Do read your bible enough
to know if someone is a fake?

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

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Remember Your Job

 March 23 & 24
 March 23 – Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 15-17 / Luke 2:1-24
 March 24 – NO Daily Reading

GOD SAID:

Deuteronomy 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. 

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    Many years ago I worked in the Food Service Industry. That’s a fancy way of saying I bused tables at a restaurant. I worked my way up to the position of waiter, and finally was given the manager’s position. Before becoming manager, there was another guy I worked with who didn’t like the manager we had. The reason was simple. That manager didn’t care about his employees at all. He tried to make people respect his authority, but instead he made people dislike him. I recall my friend saying, “If I ever get the manager job, I will never do what he does.” Guess what? He got the job. You know what else? He acted just like the manager he despised so much. He forgot about the cares and lives of the people he worked with, and instead turned into the tyrant he disliked. It wasn’t long until he was fired too.

     In today’s passage the Children of Israel didn’t have a king. However, God in His wisdom and foresight knew they would demand one someday. So in Deut. 17 He sets up some guidelines for the position. Vs 15 says he must be an Israeli National, no foreigners. A foreigner would not have experienced their history. Vs 16-17 says He’s not to multiply horses, which would represent military power, nor wives which could divert his attention, nor money or wealth. Vs 18-19 says he was to write a copy of God’s word and read it daily. Why? So he’d not become prideful and remember, his job was to follow God and care for the people.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

       Sometimes Christians forget, it’s God who changes lives. We try force people our version of a Christian. Our job is to share the gospel and love God’s children. I once heard it said; “God makes us fishers of men. If we catch them, God will clean them.”

Are you fishing or fighting?

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

      Looking back can, at times, be harmful. We may forget our Christian race is before us, not behind. However, as we’ve seen this week, we should remember some things:

●  Remember The Journey
●  Remember His Jealousy
●  Remember To Journal
●  Remember The Judge
●  Remember To Justify
●  Remember Your Job

    It’s like the rearview mirrors of your car. Great tools as we move forward for God.

SUNDAY’S:

        Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs

God had the Children of Israel set up memorials and markers
of what He’d done in their lives.

Not to dwell there and dream of the past,
Rather to aid those who did not know of the past
as they moved forward In their journey with Him.

Let your past propel you into
serving God better in the future.

Living In His Word Ministries
“Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12