datethewordtest

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  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 29 (5/29) is Deuteronomy 5:29

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 29 (5/29) is Deuteronomy 5:29

    “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and 
    always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them
    and with their children forever!”  – Deuteronomy 5:29

    God’s PLEA should be our PURPOSE!!! 

    What is your heart’s passion?  God makes a plea that we would have a heart that is passionate about having reverence and respect for God. Having reverence and respect for God is what it means to FEAR Him.  God is not looking for us to be AFRAID of Him, but He is looking for us to be in AWE of Him.  Being in AWE should lead to ADORATION and WORSHIP.

    Do you fear the Lord?   

    Furthermore, God wants us to keep, to OBEY His commandments. Please do not miss the word “ALL” in this verse. We don’t get to pick and choose the commandments we obey. 

    Do you keep, obey His commandments? Is your heart prone to keeping ALL His commandments? One should never say they fear God or love God while living in disobedience. Obedience is most certainly connected to fearing the Lord and loving the Lord.  Do you recall that Jesus said, “If you love me KEEP my commandments?”  John 14:15 

    Our verse for DATING provides a tremendous reminder that how we live today affects our tomorrow and affects our children’s future!  Obedience opens God’s multiple doors and windows of blessings upon our lives.  

    How will you respond to God’s plea? You have read what kind of heart He wants.  Will your heart be turned toward Him with a desire to please Him and carry out His purpose for our lives?

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 29 (5/29) is Deuteronomy 5:29. It says, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their childrenforever!” 

    From Deut. 5:29, Let us answer God’s plea with our reverence and obedience! Let our heart be about God’s heart!!!

    Continue Strong with reverence and obedience to God,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    PS – Worth noting Proverbs 20:7 as it says, “The righteous who walks in his integrity bring blessing upon his children after him!”

  • Verse to DATE the Word for May 28 (5/28) is Ephesians 5:28

    Verse to DATE the Word for May 28 (5/28) is Ephesians 5:28

    “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he
    who loves his wife loves himself.”  – Ephesians 5:28

    A Major INSTRUCTION to a Husband

    Some of the most important instructions for a successful marriage are clearly laid out in Ephesians 5:21-33.  No person should enter marriage without knowing God’s instructions. The responsibility of both the husband and the wife is laid out in verse 21 which states, “submitting to one another in the fear of God.”  Starting with this command to both the husband and the wife, we then find within verses 22-33 a variety of other responsibilities for both the husband and wife. The ultimate instruction for the wife comes in verse 33 as Paul sums up all the responsibilities by saying that the wife shows respect or as I like to say, “gives admiration” to her husband. 

    Within verses 22-33, we also find a variety of responsibilities for the husband with verse 33 giving the ultimate instruction as Paul commands the husband to love his wife as himself.  I like to say the husband is to “pay close attentionto her needs.”  

    What is written in verse 33 is basically a repeat of our verse to DATE on 5/28. Eph. 5:28 says, “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.”  What does this mean?  As a man would look after his needs, he is to be focused on looking after the needs of his wife. 

    Husbands are to NOTICE her needs and not NEGLECT her needs. 

    To the husbands (now and those who will be in the future) reading this you better know that God has high expectations and demands for a husband. Your needs are secondary to the needs of your wife and your children. You are to be diligent in looking to their spiritual, physical, and emotional needs.  It is the husband’s responsibility to understand his wife (1 Peter 3:7) and keeps her emotional tank full with encouraging words, words of affirmation, and appreciation.

    JUST A NOTE HERE: While you may expect to go into marriage to get love, the mature man will realize quickly it is your responsibility to GIVE love!! Man up and LOVE your wife and your children!!

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 28 (5/28) is Ephesians 5:28. It says, “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.”

    A marriage works when you work at your marriage.  The role and responsibility of a husband is to PAY ATTENTION to the needs of his wife and MEET THOSE NEEDS!  Meet her needs first and your needs will then be met. 

    Continue Strong being responsible with your responsibilities,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    BTW – you really don’t have to know a lot to have a successful marriage.  4 of the major combination codes are found in Genesis 2:24 and Ephesians 5:33.   Genesis 2:24 tells the couple to LEAVE and CLEAVE!  Ephesians 5:33 tells the husband to PAY ATTENTION to the needs of his wife and for the wife to GIVE ADMIRATION to her husband.

  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 27 (5/27) is Luke 5:27

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 27 (5/27) is Luke 5:27

    After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting
    at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” – Luke 5:27
    The Shocking Request that Changed His Life

    On the surface, we have a pretty straightforward verse here in Luke 5:27 as Jesus sees a man named Levi (Matthew) and calls him to FOLLOW Him. Yet this is a very profound verse as we read of Jesus calling what many would call the most unqualified and even more so undesirable person to be a disciple. Levi is, after all, a tax collector.  The title of tax collector speaks of CORRUPTION! It speaks of one who TAKES ADVANTAGE of their own people!  It speaks of one with NO INTEGRITY!!

    Yet Jesus calls this man, this type of man, to join Him. After all, Jesus did come to SEEK and to SAVE those who were lost, to save SINNERS. (Luke 19:10)

    We should pay attention to the call, to the invitation, for Jesus did say, “Follow ME.”  That two-word invitation to Levi the tax collector was an invitation to LEAVE what he was doing and walk in a new way and learn new things and yes, become a new man.   He would no longer be a tax collector but a follower of Jesus!

    BTW – How much of a change took place in the life of Levi (Matthew) the former tax collector? If you open your NT to the first page, you will see the name Matthew (Levi).  How about that?!!  He becomes one of the gospel writers.  And when we read His gospel, we get more than a story of one named Jesus Christ. We read proof after proof that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. Over and over Matthew will use the word FULFILLED to demonstrate that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.  This means he had to learn and know the Old Testament really well!

    So, why do we get to read the gospel of Matthew with multiple proofs that Jesus is the Messiah?   Because one day Jesus saw more than a tax collector.  He saw more than a vile, wicked, corrupt sinner and extended him an opportunity to be different and to make a difference! 

    Here is something to think about from Luke 5:27.  There just might be in your path today a vile, wicked, corrupt sinner that needs to hear an invitation from you to follow Jesus.  If Matthew could go from being a tax collector to a disciple and writer of a gospel book the person in your path can be changed by Jesus as well.  Don’t look at where they presently are and what they are known for or to be.  Look at what they can become if they know and follow Jesus!!

    Verse to DATE on May 27 (5/27) is Luke 5:27.  It says, “After these things Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi (Matthew), sitting at the tax office.  And He said to him, “Follow Me.” 

    Let us be inviting sinners to meet the Savior and become saints!! 

    Continue Strong letting sinners know about our great SAVIOR,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 26 (5/26) is Galatians 5:26

    “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, 
    envying one another.”  – Galatians 5:26
    These are THINGS NOT TO DO

    In working through the New Testament, a believer is going to learn numerous actions to DO for and with other believers. I have identified at least 56 actions to do for and with one another. 
    See https://datetheword.com/56-christ-like-actions-to-do-4-others/.   While there are not as many a believer does need to know there are some things WE ARE NOT TO DO as we seek to relate and have community with one another.  Galatians 5:26 will list 3 of those things we ARE NOT TO DO.

    The Apostle Paul first commands the believer not to become conceited.  To be conceited is to be arrogant and boastful.  It makes more of oneself while making little of others. Maybe we should read that again.  Being conceited makes more of oneself while making little of others. WOW! One loves to tell about HOW GREAT THEY ARE and they do so in a way that makes others feel inferior, feel smaller.  The Bible (1 Thess. 5:11) teaches that we are to be building each other up yet this person is building themselves up.  Do not be conceited!

    A second thing we are not to be doing is provoking one another.  The Bible does call on us to challenge one another to do good works and to demonstrate love for one another (Hebrews 10:24) however, the idea of “provoking” in this context is to challenge to combat.  It deals with comparison as one wants to prove they are better and more superior.  Another way of describing this word is that a person doing this is picking on another person.  Galatians 526 says, “Don’t PICK ON one another.”

    Paul does not want the believer building themselves up while pushing others down and he does not want believers to be picking on one another, and thirdly, he does not want believers ENVYING one another.  The ultimate cause of the conceit and the provoking is coming from envy.  Rather than discovering and developing what God has brought into a person’s life, this person looks out with longing eyes to have what others have.  There is a lack of satisfaction that can become so bad that one not only wants what someone else has but can move to NOT WANTING SOMEONE TO HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE.  This is when things become dangerous.  

    As you consider what you are not to be and not to be doing with Gal 5:26 what areas do you need to be putting a stop to?  Read again Galatians 5:26 as it says, “Let us not become conceited (proud, building oneself up, more about self and less about others), provoking (challenging, picking on) one another, envying (not satisfied, desiring to have what others have while desiring others not have it) one another.”  

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 26 (5/26) is Galatians 5:26. It says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”  

    How will you implement, and apply NOT DOING THESE THINGS in your daily living?

    Continue Strong NOT DOING SOME THINGS
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • PRAYING EFFECTIVELY FOR YOUR PASTOR(S)

    PRAYING EFFECTIVELY FOR YOUR PASTOR(S)

    1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray for us. 
    7 Prayer requests to pray for US
    Verses to DATE the Word on May 25 (5/25) is 1 Thessalonians 5:25 “Brethren, pray for us.
    This devotional is a how-to for putting praying for “us” into practice.
    The great apostle Paul understood that he must himself be a man of prayer and that he MUST have others praying for him.  Notice some verses that have him appealing for prayer support.
    1 Thessalonians 5:25 “Brethren, Pray for us”                        
    Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us; 
    2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us,                
    Colossians 4:3 praying also for us,
    Ephesians 6:18-19  Praying always…. for me”
    Romans 15:30  Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
    2 Corinthians 1:11 You also helped together in praying for us

    If the Apostle Paul needed to pray and needed prayer warriors how much more do our pastors need our prayers?

    Please notice 7 Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor – one prayer each day of the week from Monday to Sunday:
    1. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Monday:  Pray for PROTECTION
    Pray for PROTECTION from the attacks of the wicked
    2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,  2  and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
    Pray for PROTECTION from the attacks of the Devil, namely DISCOURAGEMENT
    2 Timothy 1:3-4  I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4  greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears,
    Pray for PROTECTION from natural temptations, namely PRIDE
    1 Timothy 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.  
    John 12:43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God  

    2. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Tuesday: Pray for PREPARATION

    Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.    * He studied it, submitted to it, and he shared it

    Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 “And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright — words of truth.11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.
    “Shepherds seek to speak words to be remembered, retained and reproduced by the sheep!”
      
    1 Thessalonians 3:10 “night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and supply what is lacking in your faith:  (Pray they provide what you need to learn!)

    3. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Wednesday: Pray for PROVISION

    Luke 8:2-3 some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3  and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
    1 Timothy 5:18  For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 
    Pray for the PROVISION of PAY.  (Pastors have bills just like everyone else.)

    Pray for the PROVISION OF WISDOM, & PRUDENCE in handling people and problems
    Daniel 2:14  Then Daniel responded with tact and prudence to Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 

    1 Timothy 3:2 Pastor is to be sober-minded, (calm, cool and collected in the face of a crisis)

    Pray for the PROVISION of ENCOURAGEMENT
    2 Corinthians 7:6  But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
    2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;
    1 Corinthians 16:17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit

    Pray for the PROVISION of HELPERS
    Exodus 18:25-26 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.  26  So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.
    Acts 6:1-7 (v3)  “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

    Pray for the PROVISION of STRENGTH
    Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 
    Nehemiah 6:9 “Now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”

    4. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Thursday: Pray for PROGRESSION,  the PROGRESSION of personal pursuits of piety.
    1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 
    1 Timothy 6:11  But you, O man of God, flee (PUT WAY) these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
    2 Timothy 2:22  Flee (PUT AWAY) also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
    1 Timothy 4:12  Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
    1 Peter 5:2-3 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
    That the pastor PRACTICES WHAT HE PREACHES
    Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

    5. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Friday:  Pray for POSSIBILITIES
    Colossians 4:3 praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,

    6. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Saturday: Pray for the pastor’s PRIORITIES
    Acts 6:4  “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

    Pray for the pastor’s PRIORITIES with his Faith; his Family; his Fitness
        
    Faith – has to sit before he serves    Has to abide to abound.
    A pastor can become so busy doing the work of the Lord that they have no time for the Lord of the work.

    Family – what does it profit a pastor to gain the whole world and lose his family?  
    1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

    Fitness  – exercise    – rest – relax – recreation
    Mark 6:31  And Jesus said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

    7. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Sunday: Pray for God’s POWER. 
    POWER from God’s ANOINTING so there will be POWER from the PULPIT and in the PREACHING
    1 Corinthians 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
    Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
    Acts 10:38  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Monday: Pray for PROTECTION
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Tuesday: Pray for PREPARATION
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Wednesday: Pray for PROVISION
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Thursday: Pray for PROGRESSION of personal pursuits of piety.
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Friday: Pray for POSSIBILITIES
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Saturday: Pray for the pastor’s PRIORITIES
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Sunday: Pray for God’s POWER 
    the POWER from God’s ANOINTING so there will be POWER from the PULPIT and in the PREACHING

    Based on the appeal may you make the commitment to PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR(S)

  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 25 (5/25) is 1 Thessalonians 5:25

    “Brethren, pray for us.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:25
    The Request of Request – PRAY FOR US!

    One must describe the great Apostle Paul as a man who BELIEVES IN PRAYER!! He started letter after letter telling of how he was praying for those he was writing to, whether an individual or a church. He was a PRAYER WARRIOR for others.  Then as you get to the end of his letters, he almost always made a personal APPEAL for prayer. For instance: 
    Romans 15:30 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive (agonize) together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,”
    Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
    Colossians 4:2 says, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison  4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

    Friends, the appeals of Paul in just these few verses convey a huge truth for all of us.  If the Apostle Paul absolutely knew he could not do ministry without PRAYER what makes any of us think we can do ministry without prayer?    We must be prayer warriors and we must have prayer warriors!

    How will you apply 1 Thessalonians 5:25?  
    If you are the “brethren” of the verse I trust you will pray for your spiritual leaders (the “us” of the verse)
    If you are the “us” of the verse I trust you will be spending time in individual prayer but also ASKING OTHERS (the “brethren” of the verse) TO PRAY FOR YOU!

    “Brethren,” are you spending time praying? Are you praying for your spiritual leaders?
    “Us,” are you asking others to pray for you? 

    The verse to DATE the Word on May 25 (5/25) is 1 Thessalonians 5:25. It says, “Brethren, pray for us.”

    Reminder: “Nothing of eternal significance ever happens apart from prayer!”  Dr. Jerry Falwell

    Continue Strong as a PRAYER WARRIOR,
    And remember to DATE the Word
    BTW – your prayers for Date the Word are greatly appreciated!!!! 
    www.datetheword.com 
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 24 (5/24) is 1 Thessalonians 5:24

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 24 (5/24) is 1 Thessalonians 5:24

    “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24
    FAITHFUL in name and in character is God

    1 Thessalonians is one of the most REASSURING verses in the Bible.  We live in a world of UNFAITHFULNESS.  The evidence is all around us, whether in the family unit, the church, the political world, etc.  It is hard to know who to TRUST.  It is hard to know who to believe.   

    Then you read 1 Thessalonians 5:24 that GOD, “who calls you is FAITHFUL” and then comes the additional confirmation, “who also will do it”.   As I internalize these words, I find comfort and I find assurance and I find encouragement.   As I have entrusted my soul and my life to Jesus, I have placed myself in the sure hands of one who is FAITHFUL.  He is reliable and dependable.  He can be TRUSTED.  He keeps His PROMISES!  

    Going a little deeper let me remind you that this description of God is mentioned many times in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  For instance, in Deuteronomy 7:9 we read, “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
    Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:9  that “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.:
    To the Thessalonians, he wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:3 that “the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”  
    John wrote that He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us when we confess our sins. (I John 1:9). John describes Jesus as the FAITHFUL witness (Rev. 1:5) and tells us that one of His names is FAITHFUL. (Rev. 19:11)  

    I know we live in a world filled with unfaithfulness and where we find ourselves wondering if anyone can be trusted.  However, we do know One we can always rely on.  When God makes a promise, He keeps a promise.  And the promises of promises are tied to our salvation.  Another verse for 5/24 is John 5:24 and in John 5:24 we have this promise: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life”   What a promise.  The One we put our trust in for salvation is trustworthy!  He is faithful and will DO IT!!

    Ponder the great faithfulness of the Lord to you!!  What does His faithfulness mean to you? 

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 24 (5/24) is 1 Thessalonians 5:24. It says, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

    Continue Strong KNOWING He is FAITHFUL,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 23 (5/23) is 2 Samuel 5:23

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 23 (5/23) is 2 Samuel 5:23

    “Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; Circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.”  – 2 Samuel 5:23
    **On a personal note, 2 Samuel 5 has been a go-to for me for making decisions since I first heard a Bible study on 2 Samuel 5 taught in the early ’80s!   

    With the Philistines invading the valley of Rephaim AGAIN King David knows he must go out and battle them again.  But before he goes, he INQUIRES of the Lord what direction the Lord would have him take. We see this practice of inquiring of the Lord a few verses earlier in 2 Samuel 5:18-20 where we read “Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.”

    David inquired of the Lord and God gave the answer and because of the Lord, David experienced victory. 

    Now we come to verse 22 and read, “The Philistines came up again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.”  AGAIN – you see the word, right?  AGAIN.  So again, David has to deal with the Philistines.

    Thus David AGAIN INQUIRES of the Lord. (1 Samuel 5:23a) But this time God says, “YOU SHALL NOT GO UP.” (1 Sam. 5:23b)

    Please don’t miss this. To David’s prayer, God said “YOU SHALL NOT GO UP” as you did before. This time, God tells David he is to “Circle behind them.” (1 Samuel 5:23c) The Lord tells David that his approach will be different.
    Please don’t miss how specifically God is as He tells David to circle around.  He tells David to COME UPON THEM IN FRONT of the mulberry trees.”  (1 Samuel 5:23d)

    King David inquired of the Lord and God gave him an answer, a different answer than before. And God gave him another victory. We read in verse 24 “And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.”

    What might we learn here?  First, it is foolish to think because God gave a victory one time, He will just give it again (Think Ai after Jericho). It is also foolish to think that God will work the same way even as you face the same temptation or problems. We must be ready for God to change our direction as well as even our methods. 

    NOW, you need to ask yourself if GOD can say to you, “YOU SHALL NOT.” David was victorious twice in 2 Samuel 5 because he inquired of the Lord and he DID WHAT GOD SAID, doing the battles DIFFERENTLY!  One time they GO UP.  One time they GO AROUND! 
    (Can’t you just hear the soldiers as they moved in front of the mulberry trees saying, “We’ve never done it this way before.”) 

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 23 (5/23) is 2 Samuel 5:23. It says, “Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.”

    Are you FLEXIBLE with God to allow Him to say YOU SHALL NOT so that He can get you into the right position to be victorious again?

    Continue Strong inquiring of the Lord,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 22 (5/22) is 1 Thessalonians 5:22

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 22 (5/22) is 1 Thessalonians 5:22

    “Abstain from every form (or appearance, KJV) of evil.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:22
    The apostle Paul PUSHES us to make serious decisions about participating in sin and doing any type of evil.  As believers, we are not to participate in any form of evil! The call is to ABSTAIN. Abstain means total REJECTION.  It means to completely WITHDRAW from it.  Abstain means to absolutely STAY AWAY from the practice of any evil. In the strongest sense, it means DON’T DO IT!!  ABSTAIN!! DON’T DO EVIL!!!  Don’t even give the APPEARANCE of doing evil!

    Determining what to avoid means we must get into our Bibles to learn what is good and what is evil.  A major reason for learning what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil is there are those who will call good evil and evil good. (Isaiah 5:20) We must learn the difference and then abstain not just from the action but even the appearance of doing anything sinful or evil.  

    In growing to be stronger and more victorious over temptations we must remember that victory over temptation many times comes down to the decision of STAYING AWAY from the people and places that provide temptations. 

    DON’T place yourself in places where you are prone to FALL! 
    DON’T place yourself with people who are prone to pressure you to FALL! 

    It may be today you need to step up some decision-making! Decide to decide that you are not going to give opportunities to temptation.  Decide that you will abstain from evil!!  Decide that you will not even give to anyone the appearance of evil. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 22 (5/22) is 1 Thessalonians 5:22.  It says, “Abstain from every form (or appearance, KJV) of evil.”

    Continue Strong with strong convictions of doing right and AVOIDING wrong,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 21 (5/21) is 2 Corinthians 5:21

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 21 (5/21) is 2 Corinthians 5:21

    “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
    the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
    THE GREATEST EXCHANGE. 

    Jesus Christ, 2nd person of the Trinity, the Son of God, comes into this world as a human. Coming to this earth as a human He came with a purpose and in I John 3:5 we see the main reason for His coming as it says, “He was manifested to take away our sins AND there is no sin in Him.”

    Just as the Apostle John has written, the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that Jesus did not sin.  He was perfect.  He was completely righteous.  Paul then writes that while He never sinned, He is made sin.  This is to be understood that at Calvary, on the cross, He takes our sin. On the cross, He takes the punishment and pays the penalty for our sins.  The One who never sinned takes all our sins and pays the penalty for our sins.   Overwhelming to consider is it not?

    But there is more.  He then gives to those who accept Him as Savior His righteousness. He imparts His righteousness to the one who accepts Him.   He takes our sins and gives us His righteousness!

    Christ lived as if He lived my life or your life so that we might now have a life as if we had lived like Him. 

    Let’s just take a moment and say WHAT AN EXCHANGE!!! WHAT A SAVIOR!!! 

    BTW – The prerequisite for entrance into heaven is to be as RIGHTEOUS as God. The only way that ever happens is for Christ, who was perfect, to give us His righteousness. Our righteousness is so bad that it is described as filthy rags. You are not getting to heaven keeping the Ten Commandments – (no one is able to keep all of them,) You are not getting to heaven being a good person because while you may be good you are also bad. You are not getting to heaven because you love people or help people or serve people or even attend a church. You get to heaven by accepting Jesus who died and rose again for you and with that acceptance, you are justified, and being justified you receive Christ’s righteousness.

    Without a doubt, 2 Corinthians 5:21 is one of the most informative verses we have concerning our great and wonderful salvation!

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 21 (5/21) is 2 Corinthians 5:21. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 

    Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior?   I trust you have and that you have experienced the greatest exchange of all time. 

    Continue Strong praising God for the great exchange,
    And remember to DATE the Word