GOD’S WORD:

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 is 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 have 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 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 are 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 is 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?

 

 

Passing The Test

March 27 2023
 Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 18-21 / Luke 2:25-52

 

 GOD’S WORD:

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 does not 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 He had not was severe. 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 did not happen, God did not say it. God never lies. The apostles 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. Our test of authenticity. If what someone says is not verified by God’s Word, well, they flunk. Do not follow them. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

 

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

 

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

 

 

 GOD’S WORD:

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 is 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 did not like the manager we had. The reason was simple. That manager did not care about his employee. 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. Do you know what else? He acted just like the manager he despised. He forgot about the cares and lives of the people he worked with, and instead turned into the tyrant he disliked. It was not long until he was fired too.

 

      In today’s passage Israel did not have a king. However, God in His wisdom and foresight knew they would demand one someday. So, in Deut. 17 He sets up 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 is not to multiply horses, which represents 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 would 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 is God who changes lives. We forcing on 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 us. However, as we have 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 is like the rearview mirrors of your car. Great tools as we move forward for God.

 

     Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 

 SUNDAYS:

    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.

 

March 27, 2023	Deuteronomy 18-21	Luke 2:25-52
March 28, 2023	Deuteronomy 22-24	Luke 3:1-22
March 29, 2023	Deuteronomy 25-27	Luke 3:23-4:13
March 30, 2023	Deuteronomy 28	Luke 4:14-44
March 31, 2023	Deuteronomy 29-31	Luke 5:1-26
April 1, 2023	Deuteronomy 32–34	Luke 5:27-39
April 2, 2023	No Passages Assigned

Looking Back

 March 24, 2023
 Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 12-14 / Luke 1:57-80

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Deuteronomy 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     Little children have forever been told not to follow after strangers. Do not get in the car with someone you do not know. Even if that person might tell you a very sad story, do not follow them. With social media today it is even harder to patrol who is trying to lure children into life threatening situations. False identities, fake pictures, and tempting situations easily attract an unsuspecting innocent mind away from safety. Today’s market is full of companies, all claiming to have the best way to protect them. The best deference has always been to know for sure what is right, know where you are safe, and then do not stray from what you know. Oh yes, and never wander off alone. Always stay with someone you know and trust.

 

     God’s warning through Moses to Israel was, do not follow someone who says they have a new god, a new way, a new truth. Justify everything you are told, with what God has said and done. This is still great advise today. In fact, Jesus gave the exact same advise in Matt. 24:23-25 when He said, “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.” We can identify the false guy if we justify and verify with God’s Word.

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

 

       Oh, one more thing. When we become a child of God, we never walk alone again. God said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He is someone you know, and defiantly someone you can trust. 

With so much information out there today, how do you sort out what is true?

 

 

 March 23, 2023
 Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 9-11 / Luke 1:39-56

 GOD’S WORD:

Deuteronomy 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

 

  Every Olympic competitor will tell you who the most important people are at the competition. Their parents and siblings may come to cheer them on, and these are very important people in their lives. Without them it is very likely they would not be who they are, nor, where they are in life. Their coach will be at the sideline giving them last minute advice on how to compete. The fans and spectators give them encouragement as they challenge others in their sport. Yet every contender knows, they are not performing for any of these people. They are keenly aware of where the judges are, and what they want to see. These judges will reward them if they do well.

    In today’s reading of Deuteronomy, Moses has reminded the Children of Israel once again that their God, and that God alone will be the judge of how they live their lives. In Deut. 10:17-18 it says, “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment …” This means He is the only judge. He has all the power and does not show any partiality to one person or another. Also, you cannot bribe this judge. To receive reward Deut. 11:27 says, “A blessing, if ye obey…” Deut. 11:28 says, “And a curse, if ye will not obey…” He is the judge, but the choice is yours. Blessings or not, it is really up to you.

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Do not misunderstand. Being good does not gain you entrance into heaven. These conditions were for God’s children. John 3:7 says, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” Without Christ, you face a different type of Judge.

Which judge will Christ be for you?