Putting Out The Fire With Fire 

JULY 12, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

    On TV, I saw a raging fire on the west coast of the US burning out of control. The firefighters were actually not trying to stop the blaze; they were concentrating on making sure it did not spread much farther. They realized it was out of control and were busy trying to control the amount of damage it would do. To do so, they ignited a controlled fire around the blaze, large enough to burn everything in its path. Their hope was that when this raging inferno reached that point, it would no longer have anything to burn and that the pre-burned area was too large for the flames to leap over. Fortunately, it worked. Yet, to control the fire, everything around it had to be destroyed.

     Often people who believe they are right, and will not listen to counsel, are just like that fire. No matter what the facts say, no matter what the evidence of God’s hand at work says, no matter what, they believe they are right. It is not until everything around them has been destroyed that they begin to realize, in their unwillingness to learn, they destroyed themselves. There is nothing left to consume. No one left to complain to or listen to them and their ideas. People avoid the destructive fire of a stubborn heart.

     Today’s verse says, “he that hateth reproof is brutish.” The word “brutish” here means eaten up or self-destructive. Just as the fire was destroyed by fire, so will people who are unwilling to receive instruction destroy themselves by destroying relationships all around themselves.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    You might be asking, if I realize that is me, and I am in the middle of it, how do I change? Reach out to the mighty hand of God to pull you free. Ask Him to open your heart to the truth. Do not try to get God to get on board with what you are doing. Find out what God is doing and get on board with Him.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 12, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Chronicles 30-32     /     Psalm 12     /     Proverbs 12     /     Matthew 14-15 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Ezra 4-7           /    Acts 11

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

Who Is In Control? 

JULY 10 & 11, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

2 Chronicles 26:16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    James S. Hewett once wrote; a newly elected politician was visiting Washington, D.C., to get acquainted. He was visiting in the home of one of the ranking senators who was trying to interpret the bizarre wonder of the capitol. As they stood looking out over the Potomac River, an old deteriorating log floated by in view on the river. The old-timer said, “This city is like that log out there.” The fledgling politician asked, “How’s that?” The senator came back, “Well, there are probably more than one hundred thousand grubs, ants, bugs, and critters on that old log as it floats down the river. And I imagine every one of them thinks that he’s steering it.”

      It is often this way in other areas of life. Once people feel they may have gained a little control, they then seem to want it all. When truly the only time humanity is in complete control, is after we turn complete control over to God. Letting God lead your life shows you have learned to control your will by letting God’s will lead. Once we try to rule our own destiny, rejecting God’s leading, God removes His hand and lets us do just that. Then, 99% of the time, we will make a mess of it .

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    When we learn to control our desire for control, life becomes so much more enjoyable. We need to give to God what is due Him. He deserves all our allegiance, and all of our life. We must strive to yield total control to the One who created us. After we do so, it is hard to control the joy we sense from the freedom of not having to be the one who steers the log down the river of life anymore.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  July 10, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Chronicles 26-29     /     Psalm 10-11     /     Proverbs 10-11     /     Matthew 13

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Ezra 1-3          /  Acts 10:23-48

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

Build Up Or Break Down

JULY 09, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

      Arguments, yelling, screaming, fighting, and disagreements. What do these words bring to mind? Some might say home. “That is all it seems we do at home is fight.” Some could say work. “Every day is a battle at my workplace.” Some might say the world today. “There appears to be a war on every horizon.” Sadly, some might even say church. “No one seems to agree and there are cliques everywhere.”

      Jesus was pretty clear about the outcome of such situations. Any home, city, or kingdom divided against itself will not stand. Why, because they are constantly figuring out how to pick at the people in their own group, instead of considering how they might help them. For anything to really work well there must be a foundation of agreement. In the home, the father should be the leader who leads the family to the Word of God for answers. At work, God’s Word says we are to submit to the authority over us and obey the rules they put in place. In the world we need to point people to Christ, pray, and as much as possible live peaceably with others. In the church, God is the head. He will never lead people in two different ways. If there is a division in the church, one or both parties have taken their eyes off God and placed them back on self. Unfortunately, they have become much like the world they are trying to influence and have fallen into the trap of not seeking what God wants, but rather only what they may want.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    Divisions equal destruction. Destruction of the Christian life is what Satan wants most. God is about building a Christian Life. Satan is about destroying it. Believer, who do you want to be working with, Builder or destroyer.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 09, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Chronicles 24, 25     /     Psalm 9     /     Proverbs 9     /     Matthew 12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Chron. 34-36           /    Acts 10:1-22

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

What Are You Talking About?  

JULY 08, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 8:8-9 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    Have you ever tried to explain something technical to someone who had no idea what you were talking about? Maybe you are one of those great computer people who know all the different things about megabits, gigabits, terabits, mosquito bites, and all those different things. When you talk with someone who has problems setting the alarm on their alarm clock, you might as well be talking about brain surgery. Why, because they have no current understanding of the clear knowledge you have. Could they understand what you were saying if they wanted to? Yes, by taking time to read up on computers and gaining the knowledge of what you are talking about. Then you can explain it to them, and they would understand. On the other hand, you could take the time to teach them about the topic by breaking it down into simple words so they might understand it.

     We can often find ourselves in a very similar situation when we as Christians go out into the world to tell a person about Jesus Christ. Everything we are telling them is foreign to the understanding of someone who has never met Him. So how do we share the Gospel? In the same way you would explain Salvation to a child. One bit of understanding at a time. Always praying the Holy Spirit will bring to their understanding the truths of the Gospel you are presenting.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     It might be the person you have been trying to witness to for so long, the one who keeps shutting you down, just really does not understand. Pride may keep them from asking you, “what do you mean when you say that?” So, instead they just brush you off. Pray for them to receive understanding. Also, pray God will give you clarity of speech to share the message in a way they might understand. It is a simple message if we just tell it that way.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 08, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Chronicles 22, 23     /     Psalm 8     /     Proverbs 8     /     Matthew 11

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Chron. 31-33           /  Acts 9:20-43

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

The Perfect Attorney 

JULY 07, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 7:10-11 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    Lawyers often get a bad rap. They have upon looked at as dishonest, deceitful, and someone you cannot trust. Some of them may have actually earned that label by their tactics in the courtroom. Yet, it seems unfair to label them all this way. What a great feeling it would be, to walk into a courtroom with an attorney that everyone knows has never told a lie about one detail of one case ever. To have an attorney who would never take the case of a guilty person, only to defend them by manipulating the truth and hiding the fact of their guilt. A defender so honest that when they got in front of the judge instead of pleading their innocence, they would simply turn the guilty person over to the court for the punishment they deserved. Then, when the judgment is given, this advocate for justice would step up to the bench and say, “I will stand in their place and pay the debt owed.” Wouldn’t it be great if your legal defense were not only your defender when you are in the right, but also the judge, passing down the sentence? This sounds almost impossible right?

     As believers, we have this defender. “Jesus.” Jesus is our advocate, or representative with the Father. He defends us against the evil accusation of Satan and the world. The word “defence” in our verse today means, “like a shield hovering over us to protect us.” However, this shield of protection goes two ways. Not only is He protecting the redeemed child of God, but also, He is hunting out evil that may be done against His people and judging it.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    How do the evil intentions against God’s church often end up? Frequently the trap laid for another, will spring back to ensnare the setter. The anger and hostility used against another person will often settle in their own heart. They then live a bitter disgusted life because of their resentful work toward another. We should pray “Oh God that my heart would remain soft toward you and your will. That I might let only you be the judge of all, including me. AMEN.”

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 07, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Chronicles 20, 21     /     Psalm 7     /     Proverbs 7     /     Matthew 10

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Chron. 28-30           /    Acts 9:1-19

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