Boasting

Being Boastful (in the Lord) can be found in Jeremiah 9:23-24:

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this; that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

A List of Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t boast of your:

1. Wisdom 2. Strength 3. Riches

Do boast in the Lord of your:

1. Understanding 2. Knowledge 3. Doing right a. kindness b. justice c. righteousness

Be wise today and always - boast in the Lord.

Purposeful Living

A lot of people ask me, "Do you believe that we are in the last days?" I usually answer that we are one day closer than yesterday! Until Christ returns we need to keep on doing what He has instructed. Today let's take a look at 2 Timothy 3:14: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it.

1. Continue in what you have learned (from God's Word and His Teachers)

2. You have become convinced (in Jesus' plan for your life)

3. Because you know God’s Word. Live a righteousness life, and be about His work.

Be wise today and always - live for Christ.

God First

4 Steps to take once you’re saved

1.     Identify with Christ through Baptism – Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

2.     Be Committed to Faithful Church Attendance – Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

      3.   Worship the Lord through Prayer and Bible Study – Psalm 19:9-11 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

4.    Share Your Faith – Romans 1:16-17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Verb

Today let's look at the third truth about worship.

3. Worship is a verb.

Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

It’s not a noun that describes a person, place, or thing. It’s a verb that describes an action you should do with every breath you take.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if you were working for the Lord and not for a person.” That’s worship.

 Romans 12:1 in the Message, “… Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering (an act of worship).” That’s how you worship!

Be wise today and always - worship God with all you have.

 

More Worship

The Bible says that meeting together ought to be a habit. We ought to do it every week. The second great truth about worship is:

2. God’s will is for us to gather weekly

Hebrews 10:24–25 - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Remember - “Let us not give up meeting together …”  The Bible describes a lot of positive habits that help us give God glory, but gathering for weekly worship is the primary, foundational habit, because it’s the one that resets our priorities every week, before the week begins.

Be wise today and always - woship together.

Worship

People from everywhere and every language praise God because He saved them. God deserves praise just for who He is because He’s wise and powerful and strong and eternal.

The next few days will be looking at three truths about worship:

1. We were wired for worship

•Revelation 4:11; “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” 

7:9; After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Worship is important because we are made to give glory to our Maker. The Bible says it’s good for us to meet together so that we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds. It is what we are meant to do,

Be wise today and always - worship God.

Life in Community

We continue to look this week at what God’s community looks like. David describes it Psalm 133:3 says It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Without the dew of Mt. Hermon, most plant life would die in Israel. You see it is the highest mountain in Israel and is located in the northern part of the country. It catches the moisture from the Mediterranean Sea, and provides the country a year round water source. This is needed because Israel has a very short rainy season and must have the water from Hermon the rest of the year to survive.

In other words community in God’s eyes is what gives us life and purpose in Him. It’s His desire and plan for us. People in great communal relationships tend to be happier and more contented than those doing life on their own. This attitude affects everyone around them.

Be wise today and always – live in unity.