#rejoiceinthelord – herbcotton.org

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 29:11 (NLT)

Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 121:1-2 (NLT)

I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Hosea 4:1 (NLT)

Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel! The LORD has brought charges against you, saying: “There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land.

The Gospel Message:

2 John 1:1-3 (NLT)

This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth—

because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

Observation:

The above passages from the ” The One Year Bible” spoke deeply into my heart. I pray that they will speak deeply into Your heart and that the Holy Spirit will guide you so that you may live in truth and love.

Today will conclude my writing in this forum for 2017. It has been my practice to shut down in December and the first part of the New Year. So, I wish each of you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Blessed New Year.

Ephesians 6:18-19 (NLT)

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.

Prayer:

Father God, the prayer of Your servant John is the prayer that I pray for all who read, hear, and heed these words today.

3 John 1:2 (NKJV)

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 25:18 (NLT)

Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 87:3 (NLT)

O city of God, what glorious things are said of you! Interlude

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Psalm 87:5-7 (NLT)

Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, “Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.” And the Most High will personally bless this city.

When the LORD registers the nations, he will say, “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.” Interlude

The people will play flutes and sing, “The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!”

The Gospel Message:

1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

Observation:

Last week I spent time reflecting on the sermon of the previous week, and the lesson topic for my small group meeting last week. The subject was, “Guard Your Peace.”

As I read the One Year Bible passages for today, I selected the ones that spoke to my heart. As I meditated on them, the following thoughts came to my mind, and I wrote them down on paper.

Out of darkness can come light.

Out of despair hope is born.

Out of hate can come the love of God.

Only God and His love can deliver us from the troubles of this world to the glories of the City of God.

I have peace, and I rejoice with joy unspeakable when I remember these two truths from the Book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:5 (ESV)

Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

When the enemy of your life tries to steal your peace, remember these two promises, which are gifts from God to His children.

1 I have redeemed you.

2 I am with you.

Prayer:

Father God, I am so grateful for the redemption we have in Jesus, our Savior. Father God, I am so thankful and secure in knowing You are with me. What peace in knowing that God is with me always; I’m never alone.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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What is the Most Dangerous Weapon in the Hands of Man?

Text:

James 3:5-8 (ESV)

5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,

8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Observation:

The most common answer to the question asked in the title is nuclear weapons; especially in the hands of people with evil desires to kill and destroy innocent people.

However, our focal passage for today describes a weapon that has destroyed more lives than all the wars of the world. It is the tongue, and we all have one.

In my reading today, I read Psalm 5. In this Psalm David talks about the enemies he was facing, and he knew that they could destroy him, but he also knew that God could deliver him.

In times like these there is great profit in looking to the Psalms for encouragement.

Are you a child of God? Then why not turn to the Lord in prayer, and put your troubles, and worries in His hand. David turned to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 5:1-3 (ESV)

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.

2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.

3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Prayer:

Father, we love and adore You. Father, if we ever needed You, we sure do need You now. Father, we associate ourselves with David in the final words of his lament before You.

Psalm 5:11-12 (ESV)

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Father, we look to You for protections and deliverance. Father, we rejoice not in winning, but we rejoice in You. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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Who Are You Living For?

Text:

Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB)

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—

9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Observation:

The compelling desire of my life is to be pleasing to God in everything I say, and in everything I do.

What a wonderful change has been made in me since Jesus came into my life, and took up permanent residence.

My soul sings of His wondrous work: “I’m so glad, Jesus lifted me,

I’m so glad, Jesus lifted me,

singing glory, hallelujah,

Jesus lifted me”.

These are three things that are foundational principles that I live by in my daily life.

Worship – I will worship the Lord everyday.

Psalm 34:1 (HCSB)

1 I will praise the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.

Walk – I can’t even walk unless God is holding my hand.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (NLT)

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.

2 For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Work out what God has deposited in me.

Philippians 2:12-13 (HCSB)

12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God who is working in you, {enabling you} both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

Is the focus of your life about your worship, walk and work for the Lord? To live in this world you need to know the Lord, and be known by Him, and received from God the gift of eternal life.

The secret to living for Jesus is to walk by the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

Galatians 5:16 (NLT)

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Prayer:

Father, we give glory and honor to You, and to Jesus, our Savior and the Lord of our life.

Father, thank you for your loving-kindness, and your tender mercies that you have give to your children in abundance.

Father, we ask for more of Thee, and less of me in our daily worship, walk, and work. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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How to Get Through Your Circumstances

Text:

Philippians 4:10-13 (HCSB)

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity ?to show it?.

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret ?of being content?—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Observation:

Have you noticed how Paul was able to get through a troubled filled life and not lose his joy?

He gives us three of the reasons in today’s focal passage. The first thing were the people who loved him and cared about him. In verse ten he talks about the care and the concern for him that the recipients of his letter had for him.

The other two things that got him through was something that was present within him. It’s that ability to rejoice in the Lord always. Our circumstances may change, but our God never changes.

Therefore, Paul could say these two things. First, he said I can accept all things.

Philippians 4:11 (HCSB)

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Contentment comes from the Christ who lives in us, and not from the circumstances that comes from the outside.

Finally, Paul was able to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

Philippians 4:13 (HCSB)

13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

The God who lives in you is greater than any circumstances you will every face in your life. There is no one who has more care and concern for you, and who is more able to help you.

Luke 1:37 (HCSB)

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so glad that I can rest in the blessed assurance that You are Master over all things.

Father, I am so thankful that I can say what David, a man after Your own heart said; a man who was flawed just like me.

Psalm 23:1 (HCSB)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

Father, I pray a prayer of deliverance for all who are facing difficult circumstances in their life. Holy Spirit of God, I ask that You open their eyes so that they may see Jesus, and find joy in Him. In His precious name I pray, Amen.

—

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What Causes You To Weep?

Text:

Philippians 3:18-19 (KJV)

18 (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:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Observation:

Today’s focal passage reveals the reality of living in a fallen world. The letter of Philippians is mostly about joy. However, even when you experience joy in your life, it is sometimes mixed with things that make you weep.

The things that caused the Apostle Paul to weep were people who put their self-serving interest above the interest of others.

I remind you that Paul was addressing this letter to people identifying themselves as Christ followers. However, they were demonstrating by their actions that they did not have the mind of Christ concerning being a servant.

What is the mind of Christ? Paul wrote to them earlier in the letter; this is what he wrote.

Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV)

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Are you willing to link your life with believers of like mind in sacrifice and service on behalf of others? It’s the Christlike thing to do.

Prayer:

Father, help all of us to be more like Christ in the attitude we demonstrate in our daily walk. Father, keep us in step with Christ, as we walk in His steps. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Do You Have Something You Can Get Excited About?

Text:

Psalm 118:24 (KJV)

24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Observation:

I don’t know about you, but I am charged by being in the presence of people who have enthusiasm showing on their face, and in the way they live their lives.

The focal verse for today provides us with something that we can get excited about every day that you awake to behold the splendor and beauty of the day that the Lord has made.

Let’s get all excited and show on our faces and what comes from our mouth our enthusiasm for the Lord, and what He has done.

“This is the day, this is the day.

That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.

We will rejoice, we will rejoice,

And be glad in it, and be glad in it.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the day, this is the day

That the Lord has made.”

Prayer:

Father, I thank You that everyday is a day of rejoicing because it is a day that You have made, and everything that You make is good, and greatly to be praised.

So, today I am reminded of the encouragement of the Apostle Paul to the church at Philippi that we can rejoice always in the Lord.

Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Father, let everything that has breathe give praise and thanks to You, and rejoice evermore. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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How Do You React When Things Go Wrong?

Text:

Philippians 4:4-6 (ESV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Observation:

This passage is a very familiar one to many, and it is one of my favorites. As I am writing this a text message came in from a friend, and he said he was having a good time in an out of town city.

I wrote back to him, and expressed my appreciation for the good time he was having. I encouraged him to have a God time because you can have a God time even in bad times, and I told him that at the very moment his text message came in I was writing commentary on Philippians 4:4-6.

God just continues to amaze me and thrill me deep down in my soul. There is nothing that surpasses being in the presence of the living God. Our trials and troubles roll away as we behold our heavenly Father face to face.

What happens is that our heavenly Father takes our burdens and puts them on His shoulders.

The best medicine we can take to cure our troubles, temptations, bad circumstances, and difficult people is to have an attitude of gratitude. The prescription is to engage in thanksgiving instead of complaining. It is impossible to thank God for His blessings, and at the same time curse Him for our circumstances, and deficiencies in His other children.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed by Your name. Father, help all of us to be people who pray; people who fill our prayers with thanksgiving, and gratitude to You for who You are, and for Your wonderful works.

Father, draw us nearer to You, and create in us a burning desire to be God pleasers, and not just seekers of a trouble free life; a life that keeps us in a comfort zone of our choosing.

Father, life is hard, but You are good, and You are good all the time. You are God on the mountain, and God in the valley. Father, thanks for this lesson that teaches us that thanksgiving wins over complaining. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

—

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