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  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 13 (12/13) is Ecclesiastes 12:13

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 13 (12/13) is Ecclesiastes 12:13
    Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”                                                    
    FEARING GOD IS WHAT MAKES LIFE MEANINGFUL

    The Book of Ecclesiastes starts with these doom and gloom words: Eccl. 1:2 “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Wow! What a depressing start to a Book of the Bible. Life is meaningless!  To prove how meaningless it is Solomon will tell about one pursuit after another pursuit that will leave one unsatisfied. From wine and women to work and wealth Solomon never found satisfaction.   

    A subtitle for Ecclesiastes easily could be “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.”

    However, Solomon says he has made a discovery in his search for meaning and he now gives his conclusion of the greatest discovery of all time. The conclusion for having a MEANINGFUL life is FEAR GOD and KEEP His Commandments!

    To fear God is to place God where He belongs with the acknowledgment that He exists and stand in awe of Him offering adoration to Him and recognizing His authority over you.

    Life takes on meaning when you REALIZE and RECOGNIZE there is a GOD and you are not Him!

    This will then lead to KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS.  You will live according to His standards rather than doing what is right in your own eyes.

    What has so far been the conclusion for you in finding meaning in life?  The wisest of men, Solomon would tell you that your answer needs to be “fearing God and keeping His commandments.”  This and this only is what life is about and what will bring meaning to life.
      
    Friends, until God is in the right place in your life, your life is going to stay unfilled, lacking meaning and satisfaction. Listen to Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied;” Now connect Matthew 6:33 which says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

    It is now your call!  What will be your conclusion?

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 13 (12/13) is Ecclesiastes 12:13. It says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”

    Continue Strong in the FEAR of the Lord!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 12 (12/12) is Romans 12:12

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 12 (12/12) is Romans 12:12
    Romans 12:12 says, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”
    Three KEYS to the SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE

    As the Apostle Paul pens the letter to the Romans, he has moved from doctrinal teaching to practical teaching for living out the Christian life. As one lives a transformed life one now sees life differently and approaches life differently. The Christian’s view of others is to demonstrate genuine love to them (v9) and honor others better than themselves. (v.10) They move from living for themselves seeking to fulfill selfish desires to now seeking to serve the Lord and serving Him with intense enthusiasm. (v11) To help one serve the Lord, the Apostle Paul now gives three actions to take.

    He first calls on believers to have a joyful attitude as one always has hope when one is serving the Lord as the Lord is always with them! (A great promise from the Lord is He will never leave us nor forsake us.)  There is the hope that His Word never returns void!  There is the hope that as we share Christ there will be a breakthrough.  And ultimately, we rejoice in hope because our salvation concludes (and really starts) in heaven so the best is yet to come!  What a HOPE we have in Jesus!  

    Now, being very realistic Paul tells the believer secondly they will need to be patient in tribulation or to endure, to persevere with tribulations.  Jesus told his disciples that in this world they will have tribulation but be of good cheer, He had overcome the world. John 16:33.  I trust no one told you that becoming a Christian means you will have no more problems and no more trouble.  If they did you were told something that just is not true.  Getting saved does not mean we do not have any more trials and troubles and tribulations. It does mean though that we have someone to help us get through the tribulation, helping us to ENDURE.  I truly believe one of the great marks of the Christian is endurance or perseverance.  We don’t QUIT. We REMAIN UNDER the pressure. 

    To help the believer be patient, to endure the Apostle Paul teaches us to CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER. One will only persevere in life by handling life with continuous prayer!!   This, friends, cannot be just a quick morning prayer. It needs to be persevering, continual prayer. The harder life gets the harder (if you will) one must pray!!  The idea of “continue steadfastly” is that of continuing to do something with intense effort. The harder life gets the harder (if you will) one must pray!! 

    So we have three more actions of the transformed life. There is the JOYFUL attitude. Never QUITTING and always praying!  Are these actions that describe your life?

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 12 (12/12) is Romans 12:12. It says, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”

    “In hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, persevering.”

    Continue Strong rejoicing, enduring, and praying!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 11 (12/11) is Proverbs 12:11

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 11 (12/11) is Proverbs 12:11
    Proverbs 12:11 says, “He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.”
    Work Pays Off 

    Our verse may have two words that are unknown to us.  There is the word TILL and the word FRIVOLITY.   Sometimes other versions help us out.  From the NIV Proverbs 12:11 reads, “He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.”
    NASB says, “He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.”
    NLT says, “A hard worker has plenty of food,    but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.”
    ESV says, “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.”

    Proverbs will over and over give us CONTRAST so we can see the results of an action which in turn allows us to make BETTER DECISIONS.  The contrast of Proverbs 12:11 is one person is going to be satisfied with food while the other person is going hungry.  When a person TILLS the land or WORKS the land, WORKS at whatever job they have they will be earning income to buy bread.  The person who is chasing fantasies or going after things that are worthless will not have any income and thus will not have any food to eat.  The proverb conveys that this person lacks common sense!  

    So, what is your thinking on the subject of WORK?  It is not a 4-letter curse word.  Work was given to Adam before the fall.  It was only after the fall that work took on a curse.  God has always valued work and so should we.  Here are a couple of verses to help our thinking.
    Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”
    Romans 12:11 NLT Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. (could have been the verse for the date)
    2 Thessalonians 3:10  For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11  For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. (maybe chasing worthless things) 12  Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

    One of the hard truths of the Bible is there are times when a person is not to be helped. In not helping them Proverbs 16:26 kicks in.  Do you know Proverbs 16:26? Proverbs 16:26 says, “The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.”

    I trust you have a great work ethic! 

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 11 (12/11) is Proverbs 12:11. It says, “He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.”

    Romans 12:11 NLT Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

    Continue Strong with your WORK!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 10 (12/10) is Romans 12:10

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 10 (12/10) is Romans 12:10
    Romans 12:10 says, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; “
    The CHRISTIAN’S TREATMENT of OTHERS

    Getting saved brings about TWO new relationships.  The first new relationship is with God, and He is now our FATHER!  We are no longer aliens to God but adopted children in the family of God.  Being in the FAMILY of God brings about a new relationship with people, with the OTHERS of this world. We have a new vertical relationship with God whereby He is our Father, and we have a new horizontal relationship with people who are saved as they are our BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 

    Romans 12 is now addressing this new horizontal relationship.  Romans 12:4-8 taught how we use our spiritual gifts to edify each other.  Moving into verses 9-10 we are to genuinely love one another, being kindly affectionate to one another.  The idea of kindly affection speaks of being DEVOTED to another.  It means being there when they need you.  It is Ruth being there for Naomi.  

    The apostle Paul now moves us to a new level of LIVING as we are to honor others above ourselves. We are to GIVE PREFERENCE to others!  Others before us and others above us!  This new level of treatment means we don’t just treat people like we want to be treated but rather we treat them better than we want to be treated! 

    Do you treat OTHERS better than you treat yourself?  

    BTW – The version of the International Standard says, “Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other.”  What a different world we would have if we EXCELLED at RESPECTING one another!!!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 10 (12/10) is Romans 12:10. It says, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”

    Selfish people think only of themselves. Saved people think of OTHERS. 
    They think of others before they think of themselves and they place others above themselves!

    Continue Strong Loving your brothers and sisters,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9
    2 Corinthians 12:9  says, And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
    A THEREFORE MOMENT

    Being very honest and transparent I will tell you that seeing life from God’s perspective is difficult. Oh, I know Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  I know that Joseph was able to tell his brothers in Genesis 50:20  “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”  What a divine perspective.  

    Yet when I am going THROUGH IT and by “through it” I mean THROUGH IT, it is hard to understand what God is doing and it is hard to TRUST Him.  And I don’t think I am alone in saying there are times it is just hard to have God’s perspective on the circumstances and situations we find ourselves “GOING THROUGH IT.”

    The apostle Paul reveals in 2 Corinthians 12 that he is GOING THROUGH IT as he tells that starting in verse 7 “lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”

    While we don’t know exactly what the thorn in the flesh was (and will not take time to speculate here) we do know it brought much pain and discomfort to Paul and it was to a level that he v. 8  “pleaded with the Lord THREE times concerning this thing THAT IT might depart from him.”

    Now it is very possible for us to think that when the Apostle Paul prayed he most certainly received what he requested.  After all, this is the Apostle Paul!  However, the Apostle Paul tells us that God did not grant his request but rather informed him about the perspective he should have as HE IS GOING THROUGH IT.  And what is that perspective?

    2 Corinthians 12:9a “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

    We are going to get the Apostle Paul’s response to this as the verse immediately continues with “therefore…”  I do have to wonder though how QUICK it took Paul to truly respond. Was his response immediate?  Did he need to go for a long walk?  Did he need a couple of days?  This was not the answer Paul was looking for as he had requested THREE times for this THORN IN THE FLESH to be removed.  I just wonder how quick he was to EMBRACE the GREAT ANSWER GOD GAVE.

    And God did give a great answer, was it not?  He told Paul that He had enough GRACE to help him THROUGH IT and that with the thorn in his flesh that made him WEAKER God’s strength would come out and be used and ultimately Paul is going to be STRONGER because of God’s strength. 

    Whether immediately or after a week the Apostle Paul writes “THEREFORE.”  He has what I like to call a THEREFORE MOMENT. The “THEREFORE MOMENT” is a decisive moment.  Peter had one when Jesus told him to fish when fishermen knew it was the wrong time to fish.  Peter said nevertheless (THEREFORE) at Your Word I will do what You said. (Luke 5:7)

    What does follow the “therefore” is massive!  It is a Mount Rushmore type statement.  Paul embraces what God has him going THROUGH with a new perspective, with God’s perspective.  He writes “most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Continuing in verse 10 he writes another THEREFORE saying, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  

    I can’t answer with certainty WHY you are “GOING THROUGH IT” but I have come to understand that some of the “I am GOING THROUGH IT” moments are so God can humble me and bring me to a new place of DEPENDENCE on Him which then allows God to do more in me and through me and He gets all the GLORY!  

    Are you “GOING THROUGH IT” right now?  Hear your heavenly Father say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”   

    Now comes the challenging part as you are now at your THEREFORE MOMENT.  In your “THEREFORE MOMENT” what will your THEREFORE statement be?

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

    Continue Strong trusting His perspective,
    And remember to DATE the Word.
    www.datetheword.com

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 8 (12/8) is Proverbs 12:8

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 8 (12/8) is Proverbs 12:8
    Proverbs 12:8 says, “A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
    But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised. 
    Decisions can bring PROMOTION or DEMOTION

    Proverbs 12:8 tells of how a person’s decision to acquire and apply wisdom can bring praise and commendation, yes, PROMOTION. In contrast, the decisions of another person to practice perversity can bring disgust and be literally despised, yes, face demotion.  Proverbs is so good at reminding us that our choices have consequences, both for good and for bad. 

    We must know that we make our choices and then our choices make us.  

    Acquiring and applying wisdom brings many advantages.  Throughout Proverbs, you will find “THE WISE” being described by actions along with at times the advantages.  For instance, the WISE will receive (accept as opposed to rejecting) what God commands.
    Proverbs 10:8  “The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.”
    The WISE will store up wisdom today for tomorrow
    Proverbs 10:14  “Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.”
    The WISE know how to keep their tongue from getting them into trouble.
    Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
    The WISE will choose carefully their friends and associates and companions!
    Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise [men] will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
    The WISE will respond to a rebuke by listening and learning from it:
    Proverbs 9:8  Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
    Proverbs 9:9  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
    These are but a few examples of what the WISE DO.  Just these few actions show how they will be commended and promoted. 

    The perverse heart is totally different. 
    First off we learn from Proverbs 3:32 that “The perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,”
    Proverbs 6:12 reveals that “A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;”
    From Proverbs 16:28 we see that “A perverse man sows strife,”
    Proverbs 28:18 compares the advantages of the blameless with the perverse telling us. “Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.”
    One of the most important revelations of how this perverse person acts comes from Proverbs 14:2.  Proverbs 14:2 says, “He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.”  

    “But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him” tells us so very much about this man,  The perverse are crooked and wicked.  They do not want God to tell them anything.  So if they are not willing to listen to God why would you ever think they would listen to a boss or to any other authority?   No wonder they are despised.

    Are you a wise person?  If you are you know that you don’t know all you need to know and you, therefore, seek to acquire more wisdom so that you might apply it to your life.  When this is happening, you will be commended!  

    Are you a perverse person whose heart is filled with filth and crooked actions?  Do you find that you despise what God has to say?  If you live this way expect to be despised.

    Friends, your choices have consequences!

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 8 (12/8) is Proverbs 12:8. It says, “A man will be commended according to his wisdom, But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

    The wise bring delight and are promoted while the perverse are despised and demoted.

    Continue Strong by acquiring and applying WISDOM,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 7 (12/7) is 1 Samuel 12:7

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 7 (12/7) is I Samuel 12:7
    I Samuel 12:7 says “Now stand here quietly before the LORD as I remind you of all the great things the LORD has done for you and your ancestors.” 
    A DAY TO REMEMBER

    On a historical note, I would think that most of us know that December 7th is a very important date in history going back to December 7, 1941.  President Franklin Roosevelt said that December 7, 1941, would be a day that would live “in infamy as the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”   81 years later there are still very special moments of remembrance.  As President Roosevelt predicted Dec. 7, 1941, continues to live on. 

    Considering our verse to DATE on December 7 (12/7) we have in 1 Samuel 12:7 a day in which God’s people were to PAUSE and be reminded of all the GREAT things the LORD had done.  In I Samuel 12 the Prophet Samuel called God’s people together for a “family talk.”  As part of the family talk, he took them down memory lane by REMINDING them of all the GREAT THINGS God had done.  He wanted them to CONSIDER God’s great and miraculous actions that had been done on their behalf!  

    Taking them down memory lane he reminded them of what God had done in the PAST. Wouldn’t it have been awesome to stand there and hear this prophet, this man of God retell the stories of how God worked in individual lives and in the life of the nation of Israel?   Makes your wonder what stories he told!

    He reminded them of what God was doing in the PRESENT! It is important to tell of God’s working in the past but it is VERY important to be telling what God is doing in the present, the here and now!  God is the God of the past but we need to know that He is WORKING right now! 

    Every now and then it is good to sit quietly and reflect on the GREAT THINGS the LORD has done for you and others!!  It is good to review the past, bringing up precious memories and it is good to reflect on the present, staying aware of what God is doing today!

    BTW – Our calendar here in America provides this by offering us at the end of November a day to reflect and give thanks.  Then we have Christmas and New Year’s Day.   I have found that the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a great time to sit quietly and reflect and give thanks for all that God has done over the past year.  Of course, it is a great time to write out resolutions and dreams for the coming year but it should be a time to look back over the past year before looking forward to a new year.  I recommend that this is both personal and with family. 

    Maybe it is possible that today you look ahead and schedule some time for a “family talk” before the end of the year!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 7 (12/7) is I Samuel 12:7. It says “Now stand here quietly before the LORD as I remind you of all the great things the LORD has done for you and your ancestors.”

    Continue Strong by remembering the GREAT things God has done and is doing!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 6 (12/6) is Psalm 12:6

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 6 (12/6) is Psalms 12:6
    Psalms 12:6 says, “The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.” 
    Trustworthy WORDS

    We live in a day of “FAKE NEWS.” Who do we trust? What do we trust?  What can we believe?  What can we rely on?  And let us be really honest here that there is some information that we need absolute truth such as is there God, and has He said anything, and can I know Him personally.  We need the truth about our condition before God and the truth of what it takes to have a relationship with God.  We need truth concerning eternity and how one can spend eternity with God in His heaven.  We need the truth regarding how God would want us to live. We need the truth regarding what is right and what is wrong.  

    One of the greatest gifts to the WORLD is the WORD of God which is called the Bible or as I grew up was called the Holy Bible.  Written over 1600 years with 40 different writers, it gives the ANSWERS to life’s most difficult questions.  It was said by Dr. Harold Wilmington, Dean of the Liberty Home Bible Institute and author of Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible that the Bible can be summed up with two words.  Those two words are CREATION and REDEMPTION.  After the story of CREATION comes the story of REDEMPTION.  From the pages of the Bible, Dr. W. A. Criswell said there is a scarlet thread through the Bible telling of the REDEEMER who will come and the REDEEMER who came and the REDEEMER who will come again!  

    But is the Bible true?  Is the message it gives trustworthy?  Interestingly there will be times when the Bible will itself answer these questions.  Our verse to DATE is one of those times. Psalm 12:6 says “The words of the LORD are pure words.”  They are FLAWLESS.  

    To convey the pureness of God’s Word a human, earthly illustration is given as the psalmist writes LIKE silver that will be purified so it is pure so is God’s Word pure.  The silver goes through the fire over and over to burn away every impurity that is there.  God’s Word is LIKE that. LIKE THAT!!  When God speaks it is pure.  It is truth.  It does not need to be purified.  But so we understand how pure it is God’s Word is like silver put through the fire seven times.  

    What is God’s Word conveying?  You can TRUST His Words.  There is nothing FAKE about it. There is God, God who created the world and created man and woman. Man has a sinful condition that needs redemption.  God sent His only Son to REDEEM us.  He died on a cruel cross, dying for every human being, His precious blood poured out.  He then rose again on the third day and today offers the gift of eternal life to whoever will call upon Him for salvation.  Only those who call on Him will have eternal life in heaven as there is NO other name under heaven whereby men may be saved.  

    We have TRUTHFUL news!  Truthful news that you can trust your entire eternity on.  Proverbs 8:8 says, “All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.”

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 6 (12/6) is Psalms 12:6. It says, “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” 

    Make sure you know the TRUTH and make sure to read some TRUTHFUL NEWS today!

    Continue Strong with full confidence in the purity of God’s Word
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 5 (12/5) is Acts 12:5

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 5 (12/5) is Acts 12:5
    Acts 12:5 says “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”
     
    The POWER OF PRAYER

    Acts 12 tells of the RISE of persecution by King Herod.  For the context of our verse to DATE notice Acts 12:1-4. Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2  Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3  And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4  So when King Herod had arrested Peter, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.”

    The scene is FRIGHTENING.  James is dead, the first disciple to be a martyr. Peter has been arrested and is in prison so that soon he can be executed.  Church leaders and members have to be asking what should and can we do.  There are numerous answers that we might consider.  For the early church, the answer was PRAYER!  The answer to the problem was PRAYER! And Acts 12:5 tells us that as Peter is kept in prison the church is in constant prayer!

    I have to tell you that Acts 12:5 is one of my favorite verses on the subject of prayer.  As a college student, I read The Power of Prayer by R. A. Torrey and he had a whole chapter on Acts 12:5.  In Acts 12:5 you find 12 powerful words about prayer.  BUT  CONSTANT  PRAYER  WAS  OFFERED  TO  GOD  FOR  HIM  BY  THE  CHURCH.  

    Now R. A. Torrey wrote a full chapter in a book on those 12 words.  I will not attempt to do so here. I do however want you to consider WHAT was done here.  There was PRAYER.  Someone said PRAYER is POWER RELEASE AT YOUR EARNEST REQUEST.  

    Not only notice the WHAT was done here but WHO DID THE WHAT.  The CHURCH prayed.  The PEOPLE of God took the problem of Peter in prison to God in prayer!   

    May I ask you if you are part of a PRAYING church?  I am in agreement with a quote from Dr. Jerry Falwell in which he said, “NOTHING OF ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE EVER HAPPENS APART FROM PRAYER.”  Are you a part of a church that when there is a problem the first thought is let’s take this to God in prayer?  I hope so but if not then you should lead the charge to prayer!

    Notice also who the prayer was OFFERED TO.  It was offered to GOD!  It was offered to the One and only who could do the miraculous!  

    Where do you go for help?  My go-to is the LORD based on Psalm 121:1-2 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? 2  My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”  Don’t you love how David added the part about the Lord making heaven and earth?  What a reminder that there is NOT ONE THING you will bring to God that He will be unable of handling!  Friend, your help is the LORD!

    12 words tell the response to a crisis.  God’s power was released, and Peter was miraculously delivered out of prison.  The answer was so powerful that it was shocking to the level of unbelief for when he showed up at the prayer meeting Rhoda could not believe it out of excitement and when she told the prayer warriors he was at the door they could not believe it.  Now don’t get upset with this group because I am sure you have had prayers answered that you responded with “I just can’t believe it.”  The bottom line is the church prayed to God and God answered in a mighty way!

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 5 (12/5) is Acts 12:5.  It says “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”

    With Peter in danger, the church believed in the POWER OF PRAYER!

    Continue Strong by taking EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 4 (12/4) is Isaiah 12:4

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 4 (12/4) is Isaiah 12:4
    Isaiah 12:4 says, “And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, and I will call upon His name;  I will make known His deeds among the peoples, declaring that His name is exalted.
    Worshipping the Lord and Witnessing about the Lord

    In considering Isaiah 12:4 we find actions that are celebratory!  This verse can speak of Judah’s victory over the invading Assyria army, and it can speak of the victory at the end of the tribulation and God’s people will then be celebrating in the Millennial kingdom.  Whether it refers to a celebration of the past or a celebration of the future we see two actions for us as believers. 

    First, there is the WORSHIP of the Lord seen in PRAISE THE LORD.  Praising the Lord is an adoration of WHO GOD IS!!! Whether He ever does anything for us He is WORTHY of praise just because of WHO HE IS!  The worship continues by calling on His name.  This phrase takes us back to Abraham in Genesis 12:8b “there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.”  The idea of calling on the Lord is the acknowledgment that there is only one God and that one has no other gods!  

    Secondly, there is WITNESSING ABOUT THE LORD!  As one experiencing the WORKING of God, they cannot help but WITNESS or testify about WHAT GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.  This, if you will, bragging about the Lord is to point others to the Lord with the heartfelt desire that they EXALT God’s name!  

    Not long ago a friend of mine had the opportunity to share Christ at an event that his brother attended.  As his brother drove home he came under tremendous conviction of his need to be saved.  So he pulled his car onto the side of the road and asked the Lord to save him.  He then called my friend and told him that he had gotten saved.  My friend was filled with joy.  Over the next few weeks, he told any and everyone how God had SAVED his brother!!  My friend was witnessing how the LORD WORKS!!

    Day after day our lives should be filled with giving WORSHIP to the Lord and WITNESSING for and about the Lord! 

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 4 (12/4) is Isaiah 12:4. It says, “And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, and I will call upon His name; I will make known His deeds among the peoples, declaring that His name is exalted.”

    Today tell the Lord that you love Him!  And today tell someone that the Lord loves them.  Worship Him and witness for Him!

    Continue strong,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD