datethewordtest

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  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 30 (1/30) is Luke 1:30

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 30 (1/30) is Luke 1:30

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 30 (1/30) is Luke 1:30
    Luke 1:30 says, “Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
    As the angel Gabriel makes his announcement of God’s assignment to Mary that she is going to be the mother of our Lord, he tells her NOT TO BE FEARFUL.  The reason that he could tell her to not be fearful was she has something that is going to make all the difference for fulfilling the assignment.  What was the “something” she had?  She had found FAVOR with God.  Gabriel says to Mary to not be afraid because she has found FAVOR with God!

    As we look to do God’s assignments God’s FAVOR is to be GREATLY desired.  In Numbers 6:26 we find part of the priestly prayer for the people, and it says, “may the LORD look with favor on you.” The idea of favor is to have God’s APPROVAL.

    For Mary to hear that she has found favor would mean she was APPROVED.  This approval would have come from being tested though she most likely did not even know she was being tested.  In her private life, she was making wise decisions that would now open doors for God to use her.  To have found favor with God also would convey that she would have upon her an ANOINTING, that God’s good hand would be upon her. While the assignment would be difficult and greatly misunderstood by many, she could rest assured that God would be with her.

    Mary had nothing to fear as she had His favor!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 30 (1/30) is Luke 1:30. It says, “Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

    One of my personal prayer requests is for God’s favor based on Malachi 1:9. It says, “And now ask for God’s favor.” I do not want to do life and ministry without it!! And neither should you!

    Continue Strong knowing there is nothing to fear when you have God’s favor!!!!!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 29 (1/29) is John 1:29

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 29 (1/29) is John 1:29

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 29 (1/29) is John 1:29
    John 1:29 says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
    The ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS

    John the Baptist was born to announce the Messiah as His forerunner and here in John 1:29, he does just that.  Here we read one of the greatest announcements ever made to the world as John the Baptist ANNOUNCES more than just a person and a name.  He ANNOUNCES the PURPOSE of Jesus, the Messiah, that He is the one to TAKE AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!! 

    What no human could ever do to solve his or her greatest problem the LAMB OF GOD would be able to do! As the perfect Lamb He would die for the sins of man and with His precious blood, He would wash us from our sins! 

    For us who are believers, those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, there will be a day for us to make a pronouncement in heaven as we will fall down before the Lamb of God and proclaim WORTHY IS THE LAMB!!!  I trust you have trusted Him!

    Bonus: Let us with this announcement of the ages consider a few other great announcements about Jesus.

    Consider the announcement from the angel Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:30-33.
    Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31  “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32  “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33  “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  

    Consider the announcement of the angel to Joseph in Matthew 1:21.  “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

    Consider the announcement of the angel to the shepherds in Luke 2:10-11.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

    Oh, what announcements we have heard!  A Savior, the Lamb of God has come to save sinners!

    One last thought.  As believers, we are now Ambassadors for Christ, and we are to be ANNOUNCING what JESUS DID and WHAT HE CAN DO for every lost sinner in the world.

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 29 (1/29) is John 1:29. It says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

    Continue Strong announcing the greatest news ever!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 28 (1/28) is Colossians 1:28

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 28 (1/28) is Colossians 1:28

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 28 (1/28) is Colossians 1:28
    Colossians 1:28 says, “we proclaim Christ Jesus, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
    The Apostle Paul’s Mission Statement for his Ministry

    From the Apostle Paul, we can find “life mission” statements.  For instance, “For me to live is Christ.” (Phil. 1:21) or “My ambition is to be well pleasing to Him.” (2 Cor. 5:9) Or “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24).  

    As well we can get ministry mission statements from him such as from Colossians 1:28.  Paul says here his mission is “to present everyone mature in Christ.”  Let’s notice how he does it so we can also do it.

    When we become a believer, we begin a journey of BECOMING Christ-like.  The journey starts with a new birth and as a newborn, we must GROW.  Little by little the newborn becomes a child, and the child is to then grow to maturity.   
    For maturity to be achieved Paul says he issues WARNINGS as well as imparts WISDOM.   When warnings and wisdom are applied you will see a believer becoming MATURE.  

    Regarding seeing an example of this I look to Ephesians 4:28.  Paul writes to those who were thieves and issues first a WARNING and then WISDOM.  He writes, “Let the thief no longer steal,” That is the WARNING.  STOP STEALING!  He continues with WISDOM. “But rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”   Warning and Wisdom are imparted and when applied we have a mature believer living a CHANGED LIFE! 

    For a person to be known as MATURE we would say they have become RESPONSIBLE. The mature know there are things that they don’t do, and they DON’T DO THEM and there are things that they do and THEY DO THEM   They listen and they learn! They heed the warnings and hear the wisdom.  They acquire wisdom and they APPLY wisdom! 

    Part of maturity is understanding the necessity of helping others mature. We who now know Christ are to make Christ known to others (evangelism). We who are MATURING (the process is continual) are to help others become more like Christ (discipleship). 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

    Some questions to ask: 
    Are you maturing?  Can others see your progress in becoming more Christ-like?
    Are you listening to warnings from Scripture?  
    Are you learning from the wisdom of Scripture?  
    Do you have a mature believer in your life that gives warnings to you as well as imparts wisdom?   
    Are you making Christ known (witnessing)? 
    Are you helping mature (discipling)?

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 28 (1/28) is Colossians 1:28. It says, “we proclaim Christ Jesus, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”

    Continue Strong maturing as a believer and helping others mature as a believer.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 27 (1/27) is Philippians 1:27

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 27 (1/27) is Philippians 1:27

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 27 (1/27) is Philippians 1:27
    Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,” 
    The Conduct of a Christian

    In Philippians 1:27 the apostle Paul REVEALS what he would like to hear about fellow believers. He would like to hear of a believer’s behavior being HONORABLE to the Lord. Do you question before acting if an action is pleasing – is honoring – worthy to the one who saved you?

    He wants to hear of believers STANDING for the faith – unified in belief. “Standing fast” is a military term for standing a post, of holding a position. Are you standing fast in defending our common faith? Jude wrote in 1:3 that he “found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Are you a defender of the faith? Do you know what you believe and why you believe it?  Are you standing up and speaking out for the faith?

    Then Paul changes to an Athletic word saying he wants to hear of believers STRIVING – sharing – proclaiming – making known the gospel. While standing for the gospel we are to be SHARING the gospel with the lost!! 

    Are you having gospel conversations with the lost?  Do you have a passion lo be winning souls?

    So, if we were at Philippi in the days of Paul what would he be hearing about your life as a Christian?  Something to ponder!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 27 (1/27) is Philippians 1:27. It says, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your actions, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

    Take proper actions to be a defender of the faith while being a spreader of the gospel!

    Continue Strong pleasing the Lord,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 26 (1/26) is James 1:26

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 26 (1/26) is James 1:26

     Our verse to DATE the Word on January 26 (1/26) is James 1:26
    James 1:26 says, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”
    CONVERSION CHANGES YOUR CONVERSATION

    If one has experienced a conversion to Christianity, then one of the marks of the conversion will be their conversation.  When the Lord enters our lives our language changes.  The filthy mouth gets filtered and our language is clean and wholesome.
     
    Pastor James is writing a letter that gets to the heart of the matter and he will address the language of believers several times in his letter. In chapter 3 he will drill down on how harmful the tongue can be.  He will ask very directly and pointedly how could one’s tongue bless God and then turn around and curse men.  He states emphatically that these things SHOULD NOT BE. 

    The Christian is to have CONTROL over their CONDUCT and their CONVERSATION!  The Christian is to have clean, wholesome, words proceeding from their tongue.

    As far as finding verses to help with controlling your conversation THERE ARE MANY!! The Book of Proverbs has around 150! 
    Here are just a few to help you BRIDLE your tongue:
    Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
    Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
    Psalms 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
    Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.“

    Are you converted? If so, your conversation will be different!   If your conversation is not different then you need to ask if you are really converted!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 26 (1/26) is James 1:26. It says, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue has deceived his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

    Continue Strong with wholesome words!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 25 (1/25) is James 1:25

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 25 (1/25) is James 1:25

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 25 (1/25) is James 1:25
    James 1:25 says, “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”
    Obedience to God opens doors of BLESSINGS

    Pastor James is challenging readers to DO SOMETHING with what they are hearing and reading from God’s Word! He has been very direct with this challenge. He expects the reader to be a DOER, not just a hearer!  Like Solomon with Proverbs and Jesus with the Sermon on the Mount there are the appeals to BE DOERS of the WORD and as one DOES, they are BLESSED!

    As a reminder that God blesses obedience:
    In Proverbs 8:32 we read, “Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.  33  Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. 35  For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD;”

    In Luke 11:28 Jesus said, “blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

    Recall David’s opening Psalm as he says “BLESSED is the person who…..delights in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

    Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

    Psalm 119:2  Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,     Who seek Him with the whole heart!

    When you are reading God’s Word you are to take a good look at what God has to say, looking at it like looking into a mirror to be told of changes that need to be made.  As you see the changes that need to be made you TAKE ACTION!  It is in taking the actions that the TRANSFORMATION takes place.  

    Be a DOER of the WORD and as you do you will experience the BLESSINGS OF GOD!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 25 (1/25) is James 1:25. It says, “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”

    Continue Strong in OBEYING the Word
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 24 (1/24) is Matthew 1:24

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 24 (1/24) is Matthew 1:24

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 24 (1/24) is Matthew 1:24
    Matthew 1:24 says, “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary to be his wife,”
    Bring the ability of DEPENDABILITY to the room!

    Have you ever pondered on the key “Christmas Characters” in the Christmas story?  Much of the Christmas story focuses on Mary, His mother, and for good reason. One has to love her AVAILABLITY in Luke 1:38. (Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”) There are Angels making the most incredible ANNOUNCEMENT that a Savior has been born. (“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.) There are Shepherds who hear one of the greatest announcements of all time and immediately take ACTION and go with haste to see the baby that is born to save the world! Then they went from hearing the announcement to being announcers!  (Luke 2:17 “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.) There are Wise men who will make their way following a STAR and OFFER extravagant gifts to the newborn King!

    And then there is Joseph. Ah, Joseph. Let us not forget Joseph.  Joseph seems to be very much behind the scenes. If one was writing a Christmas play for children’s church play Joseph would have NO LINES if one follows the Bible story as there are no recorded words that he ever spoke.  That is right.  He never speaks a word.  He was the strong SILENT type.

    Yet, what an incredible example Joseph is to every one of us!!  He is one of the best examples of IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE. Not just obeying God when told what to do, Joseph IMMEDIATELY OBEYED. IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE to God!  That is Joseph.  

    Let us ask how quickly, yes, how quickly and quietly do you obey God? Is heaven recording a Matthew 1:24 action regarding you? Can your name be placed in place of Joseph?  A reading of Matthew 1:24 would have your name, “Then (your name), being aroused from sleep, DID as the angel of the Lord commanded.”  Are you known for immediate obedience to God?

    Bonus thought – Jesus had parents with extraordinary ABILITIES:
    Mary brought to the table AVAILABILITY and Joseph brought DEPENDABILITY!

    Availability is the first ability and dependability is the greatest ability!!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 24 (1/24) is Matthew 1:24. It says, “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary to be his wife.”

    Continue Strong immediately obeying God,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 23 (1/23) is James 1:23

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 23 (1/23) is James 1:23

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 23 (1/23) is James 1:23
    James 1:23 says, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”
    Do more than look at yourself in the mirror!

    The Bible is not a class you can audit!!

    Are you just “looking” at God’s Word but not living it?

    Are you staying the same after seeing what Scripture says about how you should be living?

    Here is a good question to consider: Are you just auditing the Bible but not applying the Bible?

    Pastor James wants more than observation of the Word! He wants obedience to the WORD!  The study of God’s Word is INCOMPLETE without the APPLICATION of the WORD!  You can hear the Word, read the Bible, see the Scriptures, learn the Word, search the Scriptures, acquire Biblical knowledge, memorize the Scriptures and meditate on it yet doing all these wonderful things is not enough.  It still comes down to the APPLICATION of God’s Word by obeying what it tells us to do or not do. 

    LEARN the Word and LIVE the WORD. LOVE the Word and LIVE the WORD.

    .Friends, we are to be far more than HEARERS – we are to be DOERS!  James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  The wise man hears and does! The foolish man is one who hears but does not obey!  

    It is not Bible knowledge that makes one wise!  It is obedience that makes one wise! 

    Are you one who believes but does not practice what one believes? 

    Are you using the “mirror” of the Word to bring about changes?   Don’t just look at the Word and leave looking like you did when you looked.  Let it change you!  Make the decision to obey what you have learned!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 23 (1/23) is James 1:23. It says, “or if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

    Don’t dismiss what God is revealing to you!

    Continue Strong obeying God’s Word
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 22 (1/22) is 1 Peter 1:22

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 22 (1/22) is 1 Peter 1:22

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 22 (1/22) is 1 Peter 1:22
    1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”
    WHAT ARE YOU FERVENT about? 

    Peter writes that we are to LOVE one another FERVENTLY. To be fervent is to have or show great warmth, to have the intensity of spirit and strong feelings, and to have enthusiasm. It may be described as having great passion. It carries the idea of being ON FIRE!! Thus we are to be loving one another with great intensity. 

    This word fervent is also found in how we PRAY! James 5:16 “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
    The word fervent is also found regarding our attitude toward serving the Lord. Roman 12:11 “not lagging in diligence, fervent in SPIRIT, serving the Lord.”

    I asked to open this what are you FERVENT about?
    Are you fervent about SERVING the LORD?
    Fervent about PRAYER?
    FERVENT ABOUT LOVING OTHERS?  

    These three need our full attention! Let us be FERVENT – ON FIRE – for SERVING THE LORD, PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER and from today’s verse, LOVING ONE ANOTHER FERVENTLY!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 22 (1/22) is 1 Peter 1:22.  It says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

    Continue Strong showing fervent love to one another,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 21 (1/21) is Philippians 1:21

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 21 (1/21) is Philippians 1:21

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 21 (1/21)
    Some verses to DATE the Word on January 21 (1/21) start with Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
    Our DATE THE WORD approach will be a little different today as I am on a study tour in Israel and as I looked at the various verses that are available to be the verse for the date there are several that connect with Israel, even connecting to some of the things I experienced and saw this very day.  So we will highlight several verses with short thoughts.   

    The first verse is Philippians 1:21.  To ask the Apostle Paul what he was living for in this present world would bring about an immediate answer are you living for CHRIST?  What are you living for?  What goes in the blank when you state that for you to live is ________________.    Is it Christ?  

    Yesterday I was in Bethlehem and part of the tour was to see the living quarters of Jerome.  Jerome came to Bethlehem and did the hard work of translating the Hebrew Bible into Latin and gave us the version called the Latin Vulgate.  In the courtyard was a statue of him and at his feet was a skull.  Immediately questions started coming about why there was a human skull at his feet.  The guide told us it was there because Jerome understood that death was sure to come, and he needed to work with urgency and leave something for future generations.  He needed a symbol, and the skull was a symbol of the transience of human existence.  

    Jerome had a mindset of living every moment for Christ and making a difference that would carry on long after he was in heaven.   How about you? 

    A verse for January 21 (1/21) is Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

    Another verse for January 21 (1/21) is Deuteronomy 1:21 ‘Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’

    Being in Israel has been a reminder of what God told the Israelites to do and how they were not to live in fear nor be discouraged.  Are you stepping out by faith daily to do what God has called you to do?

    Another verse for January 21 (1/21) is Judges 1:21 But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

    Reviewing the history of Israel, one has to acknowledge that they did not do what they were supposed to do and they ended up letting the enemy “hang around.”   A spiritual principle that can be drawn here is to ask if we are letting some temptations hang around.    

    Another verse for January 21 (1/21) is Ruth 1:21. Naomi says,  “I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

    Being in Bethlehem meant we considered the various stories related to Bethlehem and one of the major stories is the story of Ruth. One of the tough verses of the book of Ruth is Ruth 1:21 where Naomi laments that she has come back to Bethlehem EMPTY and her evaluation of her life is God has afflicted her.  Yet knowing the full story we know that Naomi had made a bad evaluation because she did not return empty.  Returning with her was RUTH and Ruth was one of the greatest blessings Naomi would have.   Let us make sure we are evaluating our present circumstances carefully.  Let us not miss the blessings God is putting in our lives!

    Another verse for January 21 (1/21) is Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

    Being in Bethlehem we were minded why He came and Matthew 1:21 lays out clearly what His purpose was. 
    Matthew 1:21 states it so beautifully, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

    On Thursday we were in Nazareth, and we pointed out that by 12 Jesus said that He must be about His Father’s business.  (Luke 2:49).  On the coming Tuesday we will tour where Jesus died and then rose again fulfilling the words of Matthew 1:21.  He died to SAVE!  He died to save you!

    Continue Strong 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD