How does man stay alive?

Mo. 8/19/13: Deuteronomy 8:2                  Why did Israel wander 40 years?

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Why did Israel wander 40 years? God tested them to know what was hidden in their hearts.

Tu. 8/20/13: Deuteronomy 8:3                  How shall man live?

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

How shall man live? Man’s life is really lived by faith in the living God, not man’s ability to provide for himself.

We. 8/21/13: Deuteronomy 8:4 – 6                  What is heart knowledge?

Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.

What is heart knowledge? Knowledge felt by the heart is applied in human wisdom.

Th. 8/22/13: Deuteronomy 8:14 – 17                  What is worldly wisdom?

… when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage … who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, … that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’

What is worldly wisdom? Worldly wisdom is telling yourself, “I did it MY way.’

Fr. 8/23/13: Matthew 4:3 – 4                  What did Christ answer?

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

What did Christ answer? “I am here to do God’s will.” This is the meaning of His title, ‘The WORD.’

The Word of God and Abram

Mo. 10/22/12: John 1:1 – 2                  Who visited Abram in a vision?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

Genesis 15:1 

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Who visited Abram in a vision? The Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who would be Abram’s seed, who was Abram’s greatest reward!

Tu. 10/23/12: Genesis 15:2                  Was Abram confused?

But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

Was Abram confused? Yes, Abram did not grasp that the Giver was the Gift! He did not realize that the Word of God would be his heir

We. 10/24/12: Genesis 15:3 – 4                  What did the Word of God say?

Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”

What did the Word of God say? Abram would have children.

Th. 10/25/12: Genesis 15:5 – 6                  What was Abram’s test?

Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

What was Abram’s test? Abram could have doubted the Word of God; but he believed. Believing in Christ is the ultimate answer.

Fr. 10/26/12: Genesis 15:7                  Who is the Word of God?

Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”

Who is the Word of God? He identifies Himself as the Lord.

Word of God

Monday, August 31, 2009: Mark 4:39–41
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Why were the disciples terribly afraid? This was the Word of God in flesh! Only the Word could command wind and waves.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009: Matthew 12:10–13
And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.
Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.
How could a withered hand be stretched out? The Word of God said so and the man with the withered hand believed.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009: Matthew 9:27–31
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.
What did the blind men really ask for? They wanted their sight from the mercies of the Word of God. They believed. Christ touched their eyes: at His word, their eyes received sight.

Thursday, September 3, 2009: Matthew 9:4–8
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
How can a paralyzed man rise in strength enough to carry a stretcher home? He did so at the very Word of God.

Friday, September 4, 2009: John 11:43–44
Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
How can a dead man, tightly bound, come out from a grave? Only at the command of the Word of God.