August 10, 2008
The Seven Essentials of the Home
Proverbs 9:1 - “Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out and set up her seven (perfect number) of pillars.”
Seven is the number of perfection.
The very first verse of scripture, “In the beginning God created heaven and the earth,” contains 30 different combinations of the numeral seven.
The numeric value of the three nouns, “God, heaven, and earth” totals 777.
A number in triplicate expresses completeness, ultimate, and total meaning.
Principle: God created everything by wisdom. If He practiced wisdom in building heaven and earth, we certainly need wisdom to establish our homes. Proverbs 8:22
Practice: There are Seven Essentials that every home must have. Proverbs 14:1 - “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
Proverbs 9:2 - Develop an appetite for wisdom.
Wisdom is gained two ways - either by mentorship or by pain.
Genesis 3:6 - “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.”
Eve was deceived by her appetite and by her eyes. She reasoned rather than obeyed.
Adam was not deceived. Adam willingly sinned against God’s Word.
Proverbs 9:6 - Do not live in mediocrity.
Change your thinking.
The prudent man roasts his game!
Wise people do things differently than common people.
Excellence reproduces itself.
Excellence enables you to focus.
Excellence testifies that you value life. It’s a grateful spirit.
Proverbs 9:9 - Be a life-long learner.
Solomon was a learner.
He spoke three thousand proverbs, wrote over a thousand songs.
He studied plant life.
He understood animals, birds, reptiles and fish.
If you want to grow, you must read!
The average millionaire reads one non-fiction book a month.
Proverbs 9:10 - Live with reverential honor toward God.
Do not disrespect God.
Do not misuse His Name.
Do not speak inappropriately about His Word. If you do not know His Word, do not attempt to speak for Him.
God sets Himself against those who “wag their own tongue.”
Proverbs 9:11 - Think long-term.
Moses rejected the “pleasures of sin for a short time.”
Wisdom prolongs life.
Wisdom makes your life better while you are living it.
Proverbs 10:1 - Have a home of celebration.
Training up a child with wisdom will bring you joy.
Job makes 100 sacrifices a year on behalf of his children.
If you do not raise your children with wisdom, you will constantly have to bail them out of trouble.
Proverbs 10:13 - Wisdom is found on the lips.
Wisdom is a result of the words that you listen to.
Wisdom considers their words before they speak.
Be cautious with your words.
Strife is a result of murmuring words.
Words builds or destroys confidence!
Words are the building blocks of ALL LIFE. (John 1:3)
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July 31, 2008
God didn’t create mankind for heaven. He created earth to be the residence of man. Most people have an idea that we are going to spend eternity in heaven, which is not true. We are going to spend eternity on the new earth.
There is an incredible amount of discussion concerning the earth and how we use the resources that we’ve discovered to create and enjoy the lifestyle that we want.
The combative ideas are at the very heart of the great debate over “to drill or not to drill” that is the question. The Democrats regurgitate their talking points, “we can’t drill our way out of the problem.” Their argument is based upon a their core belief system that disagrees with supply and demand economics. The Republicans don’t have any new ideas either. They simply want to open up every possible resource that we have to “flood” the market with oil to drive down the costs. Both are old arguments with asinine foundations.
The fact that we are still using fossil fuels to empower our lifestyles is truly amazing. We should move beyond this primitive technology.
The argument for the Christian is simply, ”let’s use everything up, we’re out of here soon anyway.”
That’s the kind of thinking that fulfills the old adage, “too heavenly minded to be any earthly good.”
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July 23, 2008
Most people have great dreams but they fail to achieve them because they despise small beginnings. You will never attract increase consistently in your life until you realize that it is in the small details of life where victory is won or lost.
David was chosen to become the king of Israel after the Holy Spirit rejected King Saul and each of David’s brothers (1 Samuel 16). The Bible says that from the day that Samuel anointed David to be king, the Holy Spirit came upon David in power (1 Samuel 16:13).
Yet, what did David do after being anointed with the oil from Samuel’s flask?
He returned to care for his father’s sheep.
This is where most people miss their moment. Most people would grasp to fulfill the prophesy that they received. They would begin to maneuver or scheme the process rather than wait for God’s timing to step them into the position of prophetic destiny.
When God speaks a Word over your life, don’t rush to fulfill it - it awaits an appointed time. You may need to return to your responsibilities and work patience while the process of God takes you into your new position.
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July 17, 2008
One of the greatest observations that I’ve ever made is that a person’s gift and asset is at the same time his greatest threat. It is represented by the double-edged sword.
I know a man who is probably the most gifted in the discerning of spirits. I have seen him “read” people and know their thoughts. I have witnessed amazing insight upon the things of the Spirit; however, I also noticed how he can lean toward delusional thoughts. He at times has a sense of suspicion. When he becomes delusional he reacts aggressively, cutting and hurting people with his sharp intellect and tongue. The collateral damage is widespread and has eternal repercussions.
Years ago, I preached a message called “The Glory of the Ungifted.” It was built on the premise that John the Baptist was called “the greatest born of woman” by the Lord Jesus Himself; yet, he was also known to have “never performed a miraculous sign.” I took comfort in knowing this truth because, frankly, I do not naturally possess ministry gifts. Please don’t think that I am in anyway insecure. I hardly have an issue with that, and have never been accused of being so. I do know my gifting. I have the gift of discerning other people’s gifts. I’ve simply recruited other people’s abilities to do the work that God has called on me to do. Doing so actually makes me more gifted than possessing a gift within myself.
Keys to the Law of the Gift
The gifted often never recognize their gift because it is “hidden” in their natural ability. They simply think everyone can do it.
The gifted often never sharpen their gift because it is to easy.
The gifted are often bored with their gift.
The gifted are often to arrogant to receive instruction concerning their gift.
The gifted often covet others people’s gifts and ignore their own.
The gifted often minimize their gifts worth never understanding it’s value to others.
The gifted often reserve their gift to draw out harm rather than healing.
Those who abuse their gifting to hurt others rather than help others often become confused and ungrateful toward God.
Ingratitude is the seed of perversion to the natural state of things (Romans 1).
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July 14, 2008
Precept: 1 Chronicles 12:32
Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.
Principle:
Understanding the times gives you an advantage over others.
Practice:
- Men of Issachar were the descendants of the 5th son of Jacob and Leah.
- Issachar means “to bring in wages.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:14 - When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.
- Hebrews 11:8
- Abraham was called out of his father’s place in order to step into his future.
- Abraham’s father, Terah, remained in Haran.
Principles to Apply:
• Understand the times in order to have the advantage of new income.
• During difficult times is a time for reflection and seeking God for new opportunities.
• Don’t allow the nostalgia of the past to hold you from stepping into your future.
• When the brook dries up (God’s former provision) discomfort will move you into your next place.
Mark 10:29 Principle!
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