Friend

Monday, June 15, 2009: Proverbs 13:20

He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
What company should you keep? Stay with the wise; avoid fools.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009: Proverbs 18:24

A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
What is the rule of friendship? Be friendly but stick to your best friend through thick or thin.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009: Proverbs 27:10

Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
Whom to turn to in bad times? Not distant family, but nearby friends.

Thursday, June 18, 2009: Proverbs 27:6

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
What is the test of friendship? The wounds suffered by a friend for your sake, not the love shown by fair-weather friends.

Friday, June 19, 2009: James 2:23

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
Who’s your best friend? God, if you believe Him.

Demons 1

Monday, June 8, 2009: Luke 11:14–16

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.
What can a demon do to a victim? During possession, the demon runs the victim in his own way.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009: Luke 11:24–26

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’
And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
What is a demon’s house? The mind of the willing victim.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009: Luke 11:27–28

And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”
But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
What form do demons take? They are often multi-limbed women.

Thursday, June 11, 2009: Matthew 17:15–18

“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
Who was at fault for the demon not being cast out? The lack of faith in the father.

Friday, June 12, 2009: Matthew 17:19–21

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
What prompts demon possession? Willingness of the victim.

Central Theme of the Bible

Do you know the central theme of the Bible if anyone asked you?
Do you know the theme that runs through every book and section in the Holy Bible?
Well, here it is, from the New International Version of the Bible.

Monday, June 1, 2009: Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
What is the common denominator in every book of the Bible? Mankind sins: we do things that are not right even by our own standards, leave alone God’s standard.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009: Romans 6:23a

For the wages of sin [is] death;
What can you expect as the right salary for your sin? Eternal separation from God.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009: Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
How do we erase our sins? We can’t; God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to bear our punishment.

Thursday, June 4, 2009: Romans 6:23b

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So what procedure do we use to erase our sin? We accept the gift proffered by God.

Friday, June 5, 2009: Romans 10:9

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Do we reach out our hand to take this gift? We reach out the hand of our faith and believe that God raised Jesus Christ after His payment. We declare Him as our Lord.

Finished

Tuesday, May 26, 2009: Hebrews 4:2–3

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
“So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
What does a lack of faith prevent us from entering? The unbeliever is prevented from entering the rest of God.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009: John 17:3–4

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
What is the work that Christ finished in these verses? Eternal life is knowing God through the Son.

Thursday, May 28, 2009: John 19:30

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
How did Christ die? He gave up His life of His own will.

Friday, May 29, 2009: 2 Timothy 4:7–8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
What does Paul say he has finished in his life? Paul declares his fight, race and keeping the faith as finished.

The Mind and Thinking

Monday, May 18, 2009: Romans 12:3

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
What is the Biblical measure of how highly you should think of yourself? Our faith is the measure of ourselves: but faith is belief in Christ Jesus, not our own ability!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009: Philippians 3:18–19

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
If you are not an enemy of Christ, how can you then walk as His enemy? We do so by NOT looking at Him but on the things of this world.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009: Philippians 2:5–8

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
How can the mind of Christ be in us? By taking the place of a servant, whatever the cost.

Thursday, May 21, 2009: Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
What is the difference between transforming your mind and your body? The former passes the inspection of God; the latter, of men.

Friday, May 22, 2009: 2 Corinthians 13:11

Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Can you be of one mind with another if you are inflexible? NO.

Disciplined

Monday, May 11, 2009: 1 Corinthians 11:30–32

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Why does God allow illness? If we don’t discipline ourselves, God has to, as a loving father.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009: Hebrews 12:9–10

Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Do fathers discipline their children for the child’s profit? No, not always: fathers have a tendency to provoke their children.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009: Hebrews 12:11

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
If discipline is for our own good when sent from above, why do we whine? We want everything to be perfect for us even though we are imperfect and in need of correction.

Thursday, May 14, 2009: Luke 23:20–22

Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”
What should the person applying discipline be mindful of? Fairness.

Friday, May 15, 2009: Romans 2:20–21

an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
Why should we look at ourselves first before we discipline others? We might have the same uncorrected faults.

Meekness

Monday, May 4, 2009: James 1:21

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Road rage is loosing your temper while driving a dangerous weapon: is weakness the opposite? No, meekness (not weakness) is the opposite and it is keeping a tight control on your temper.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009: Galatians 6:1

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Do we use gentleness to correct faults of peers and subordinates? We should, considering the fact that the one being corrected often sees us doing the same thing.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009: 1 Peter 3:15

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Instead of telling others that they are sinners, what does this verse suggest? Meekly tell how your sins were forgiven.

Thursday, May 7, 2009: James 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Does willingness to yield show when you speak to others? If it does, it will diffuse most confrontations.

Friday, May 8, 2009: Proverbs 15:1–2

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
A soft answer is good but is there such a thing as a soft question? Yes, there is. But we must practice this often.