Good From Evil Genesis 50:19-20 Romans 8:28-30 Isaiah 61:3 Isaiah 38:17 Jeremiah 29:11 10.31.14

GOOD FROM EVIL

BREAD

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Genesis 50:19-20 (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.

Isaiah 38:17 (NIV)

11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Somehow in the wonder-working providence of God, our worst problems become our best pulpits. God turns our tragedies into testimonies and our emergencies into evangelism. Our testimonies are forged and crafted in the trials of life, our pain has an evangelistic purpose, our problems become His pulpits, and the things that happen to us turn out for the furtherance of the gospel.”   Robert J. Morgan

“The devil tempts that he may ruin; God tests that He may crown.”  Ambrose

“To the child of God, there is no such thing as an accident.  He travels an appointed way…..Accidents may indeed appear to befall him and misfortune stalk his way; but these evils will be so in appearance only and will seem evils only because we cannot read the secret script of God’s hidden providence.”  A.W. Tozer

“Upon some points a believer is absolutely sure. He knows, for instance, that God sits in the stern-sheets of the vessel when it rocks most. He believes that an invisible hand is always on the world’s tiller, and that wherever providence may drift, Jehovah steers it. That re-assuring knowledge prepares him for everything. He looks over the raging waters and sees the spirit of Jesus treading the billows, and he hears a voice saying, “It is I, be not afraid.” He knows too that God is always wise, and, knowing this, he is confident that there can be no accidents, no mistakes; that nothing can occur which ought not to arise. He can say, “If I should lose all I have, it is better that I should lose than have, if God so wills: the worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall to me if God ordains it.” “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” The Christian does not merely hold this as a theory, but he knows it as a matter of fact. Everything has worked for good as yet; the poisonous drugs mixed in fit proportions have worked the cure; the sharp cuts of the lancet have cleansed out the proud flesh and facilitated the healing. Every event as yet has worked out the most divinely blessed results; and so, believing that God rules all, that He governs wisely, that He brings good out of evil, the believer’s heart is assured, and he is enabled calmly to meet each trial as it comes. The believer can in the spirit of true resignation pray, “Send me what thou wilt, my God, so long as it comes from Thee; never came there an ill portion from Thy table to any of Thy children.”   C. H. Spurgeon

HEART SAVOR

·       God is a Master at making beauty from ashes.

·       My pain has purpose.

·       There is no such thing as chance or happenstance.

 

Trifle Not With Temptation - Flee Matthew 26:41 1 Corinthians 10:11-13 James 1:13-15 Galatians 6:1-3 10.29.14

TRIFLE NOT WITH TEMPTATION - FLEE

BREAD

41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 (NIV)

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:13-15 (NIV)

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 6:1-3 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Be thoroughly acquainted with your temptations and the things that may corrupt you.”  Richard Baxter

“Satan doesn’t surrender his prey without a fight.  He comes racing after the converted soul, chariot wheels churning the dust, seeking to discourage you, to defeat you.  He pursues you with the intensity of Pharaoh.  He may use your old friends, a spot of persecution, or discouraging responses by your family.  He may show you a hypocrite in the church or afflict you with a general slacking of zeal.  He may launch a missile of temptation right at your heart or fire a volley of trials and troubles into your life.”  Robert J. Morgan

“Every time we resist the slightest temptation, we honor God.  Every time we overcome even the smallest problem by trusting and obeying our Lord Jesus, God is glorified in our lives.  Whenever we choose character over convenience, faithfulness over ease, or honesty over deceit, we bring honor to the Lord Himself.”  Robert J. Morgan

“We need to keep our heart full of a sense of the love of God. This is the greatest perspective available to us against the power of temptation in the world...Fill your heart with a sense of the love of God in Christ, and apply the eternal design of grace and shed blood to yourselves. Accept all the privileges of adoption, justification, and acceptance with God. Fill your heart with thoughts of the beauty of holiness...then in the ordinary course of walking with God, you will experience great peace and security from temptation.” John Owen

“To realize God’s presence is the one sovereign remedy against temptation.”   Francois Fenelon

“I entreat you, give no place to despondency.  This is a dangerous temptation – a refined, not a gross temptation of the adversary.  Melancholy contracts and withers the heart, and renders it unfit to receive the impressions of grace.  It magnifies and gives a false coloring to objects, and thus renders your burdens too heavy to bear.  God’s designs regarding you, and His methods of bringing about these designs, are infinitely wise.”   Madame Guyon

“Contrary to the world's beliefs, the spiritual fruit of self-control does not come about through the discipline of self-mastery, but rather through surrendering ourselves to God's control. None of us fully have the power, capability, or wisdom to master our own lives. You cannot resist all the temptations that are hurled at you, control the behavior of those closest to you, or limit the ideas that pop into your mind. What you can do is surrender your life to the Holy Spirit. You can control how you respond, yield, and submit to Him.”    Michael Youssef

“Temptation has its source not in the outer lure but in the inner lust.”   D. Edmond Hiebert

“Every temptation leaves us better or worse; neutrality is impossible.”   Erwin Lutzer

HEART SAVOR

• ·       I am to watch and pray to keep myself from falling into temptation.  One falls into sin but holiness is a pursuit.
• ·       God does not tempt me it is my own evil desires.
• ·       God always shows me a way out of temptation – a door of escape.  I am to flee through it. 

Thoughts Philippians 4:8 Colossians 3:1-4 Psalms 63:6-8 Proverbs 21:29-30 1 Corinthians 13:11 10.27.14

THOUGHTS

BREAD

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)

6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Psalms 63:6-8 (NIV)

29 A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways. 30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.

Proverbs 21:29-30 (NIV)

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

BUTTER

“The future of civilization depends on our overcoming the meaninglessness and hopelessness that characterizes the thoughts of men today.”  Albert Schweitzer

“His wisdom’s vast, and knows no bounds, a deep where all our thoughts are drowned.”  Isaac Watts

“We must be aware of the various ways sin pulls us to wrong thoughts about God, righteousness, grace, ourselves and sin itself. Only the truth of God’s word and meditation in prayer can reveal the deceitfulness of sin.110 Sin works against God. Sin will either deceive us into thinking God is a cruel taskmaster, or, if that will not work, will deceive us into thinking He is like a doting grandfather who really does not care what we do. Sin affects every Christian’s view of God and leads us to worship idols, figments of our own imaginations, and not the true God. Sin will deceive us concerning grace. We will either be deceived into thinking it is too good to be true, or we will buy into cheap grace and think that ethics are unimportant.”  Dr. Bob Flayhart

“We need to keep our heart full of a sense of the love of God. This is the greatest perspective available to us against the power of temptation in the world...Fill your heart with a sense of the love of God in Christ, and apply the eternal design of grace and shed blood to yourselves. Accept all the privileges of adoption, justification, and acceptance with God. Fill your heart with thoughts of the beauty of holiness...then in the ordinary course of walking with God, you will experience great peace and security from temptation.” John Owen

“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. Men understand this law in the natural world and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating. A person's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, than an abundance of useless seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”   James Allen

“Think through me, thoughts of God.”   Amy Carmichael

“He that rides to be crowned will not think much of a rainy day.”   John Trapp

“We are justified if we have accepted Christ as Savior.  But present communion with God requires continual bowing in both the intellect and the will.  Without bowing in the intellect, in thinking after God; without acting upon the finished work of Christ in my present life; and without bowing in the will in practice, as the waves of the present life break over me, there is no sufficient communion with God.  Without these things I am not in my place as the creature in a fallen and abnormal world.  These three things are absolutely necessary if there is to be real and sufficient communion with God in the present life.”   Francis Schaeffer

HEART SAVOR

·       I am to dwell on things above – true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy things - not earthly things.

·       A prudent person will give thought to their ways.

·       No earthly wisdom will ultimately succeed against the Lord Who makes known the end from the beginning.

Honorable Honesty Proverbs 12:17 Exodus 20:16 Leviticus 19:11-12 Psalms 51:6 Psalms 101:5-7 Psalms 119:29-30 2 Corinthians 6:3-7 10.24.14

HONORABLE HONESTY

BREAD

17 A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.

Proverbs 12:17 (NIV)

16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:16 (NIV)

11 Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another. 12 'Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:11-12 (NIV)

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Psalms 51:6 (NIV)

5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure. 6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. 7 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.

Psalms 101:5-7 (NIV)

29 Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. 30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.

Psalms 119:29-30 (NIV)

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God;

2 Corinthians 6:3-7 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Every time we resist the slightest temptation, we honor God.  Every time we overcome even the smallest problem by trusting and obeying our Lord Jesus, God is glorified in our lives.  Whenever we choose character over convenience, faithfulness over ease, or honesty over deceit, we bring honor to the Lord Himself.”  Robert J. Morgan

“Honesty has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it.”  Charles Swindoll

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”   John Wesley

“He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.”   Blaise Pascal

“Where truth is, there is God.”   Miguel de Cervantes 

“To have one foot on the land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will involve a terrible fall and a total ruin.  Christ will be all or nothing.  God fills the whole universe, and hence there is no room for another god; if, then, He reigns in my heart, there will be no space for another reigning power.  Do I rest alone on Jesus crucified, and live alone for Him?  Is it my desire to do so?  Is my heart set upon so doing?  If so, blessed be the mighty grace which has led me to salvation; and if not so, O Lord, pardon my sad offence, and unite my heart to fear Thy Name.”  C. H. Spurgeon

“Subtle distortions of the Truth, when left undealt with, will always grow into severe deceptions.”   Michael Youssef

“There’s no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity.”    Tom Peters

HEART SAVOR

• ·       God desires truth in my inmost being.  I am not to practice deceit.
• ·       I am to be helpful not harmful to my neighbor which does not bring dishonor to Christ in me.
• ·       There is no such thing as a harmless lie.

The Evil of Envy James 3:16 Romans 1:28-31 Proverbs 14:30 Proverbs 23:17 Mark 7:20-23 10.22.14

THE EVIL OF ENVY

BREAD

16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

James 3:16 (NIV)

28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 1:28-32 (NIV)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 23:17 (NIV)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’”

Mark 7:20-23 (NIV)

BUTTER

“All the commandments of God are commandments of love tending to our real good and great happiness; far from being grievous to those who have faith and love, the practice thereof is life and peace.   The world may think it a grievous burden; but this is a great mistake indeed.  Sin is grievous.  In hatred, envy, anger, revenge, pride, there is nothing but torment and slavery; but in love there is a sweet rest and pleasure.  Thus a sinner always punishes himself, and is robbed of great peace and blessing, by transgressing the commandments of God.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky

“Let us note how far from satisfactory is the state of those who are content with sound doctrinal opinions, and orthodox correct views of the Gospel, while in their daily life they give way to ill-temper, ill-nature, malice, envy, quarrelling, squabbling, bickering, surliness, passion, snappish language, and crossness of word and manner.  Such persons, whether they know it or not, are daily proclaiming that they are not Christ’s disciples.  It is nonsense to talk about justification, and regeneration, and election, and conversion, and the uselessness of works, unless people can see in us practical Christian love.”    John Charles Ryle

“Envy is a denial of providence.”   Stephen Charnock

“Envy of another man’s calling can work havoc in our own.”   Watchman Nee

“Many aspects of the flesh are disarmed and eliminated by a deep apprehension of our justification by faith. Faith in Christ cures unbelief, anxiety, and insecurity, and in so doing it cuts the roots of envy, jealousy and a host of related egocentric fleshly patterns.”   Richard Lovelace

HEART SAVOR

• ·       In Jesus there is sweet rest and pleasure but envy rots my bones.
• ·        My words and my actions must match.  I will practice what I believe to be Truth as my actions are the true telling of what I believe.
• ·       Envy will work havoc in my life and my calling.  My focus is to be upward not outward and inward.  It is His approval I seek.  I am to live my life for an audience of One.

Wonderful Wisdom Proverbs 2:1-10 Proverbs 3:13-18 James 3:17-18 Ephesians 1:17-19 Colossians 2:2-3 James 1:5 10.20.14

WONDERFUL WISDOM

BREAD

1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Proverbs 2:1-10 (NIV)

13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV)

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:17-18 (NIV)

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Ephesians 1:17-19 (NIV)

2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2:2-3 (NIV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5 (NIV)

BUTTER

“His wisdom’s vast, and knows no bounds, a deep where all our thoughts are drowned.”  Isaac Watts

“Most of us go through life praying a little, planning a little, jockeying for position, hoping but never being quite certain of anything, and always secretly afraid that we will miss the way.  There is a better way.  It is to repudiate our own wisdom and take instead the infinite wisdom of God…..God has charged Himself with full responsibility for our eternal happiness and stands ready to take over the management of our lives the moment we turn in faith to Him.”   A. W. Tozer

“Wisdom is man’s true strength; and, under its guidance, he best accomplishes the ends of his being.  Wisely handling the matter of life gives to humankind the richest enjoyment, and presents the noblest occupation for his powers; hence, by it he finds good in the fullest sense.  Without wisdom, man is as the wild ass’s colt, running here and there, wasting strength which might be profitably employed.  Wisdom is the compass by which we are to steer across the trackless waste of life; without it we are derelict vessels, the sport of winds and waves.”  

Charles H. Spurgeon

“The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

HEART SAVOR

• ·       Godly wisdom guides me right - always.
• ·       If I am lacking in wisdom I am to ask God Who generously gives what I am without.
• ·       Godly wisdom prevents my folly and my falling.