Mouth!!

Well the next body part we are going to take a look at is the mouth! It can also be referred to in the bible as tongue and talk. This may hurt some of us! lol God is very clear though in that we are to give Him control of our mouths and be very careful in what comes out of them! So let's start this off with this verse:

Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

I would say this is a good summary of what God is expecting us to do with our mouths. I want all of us to think very hard about ourselves on this verse. Don't do as many do and think so and so needs to hear this verse! Let us look into our own hearts and evaluate ourselves. God's Word here tells us let NO corrupt talk come out of our mouths! Ouch! Gossip, running someone down that God created in His image, cussing, dirty jokes, sexually suggestive talk, slander, lies, and the list goes on. Remember the Word says no corrupt talk. So how are we doing on that? I think we can take it even a step further and say if God doesn't want it coming out of our mouths then He does not want it going in our ears if we have control over it! God is Holy and wants us to be Holy!

What does God want to come out of our mouths? Words that build up! Well thats pretty simple isn't it? I believe I need some work here because everything that comes out of my mouth does not build up! How about you. I think I have made some progress over the years but I have a long way to go! Does everything that comes out of our mouths build up? Wow just think about that for a bit.

God gives us so much grace and that is what He expects us to pass onto others. We are example setters to others don't forget that. Somebody is watching you especially if you clim to be a follower of Jesus or you are a a parent. Are you representing Jesus well? Does our talk want others to look into our faith or push them away? Let grace and mercy flow from our lips dear Lord to draw others to You!

God's Word has so much to say about our mouths! So let us soak it all in, and then apply it to our lives for the glory of the Father!

Tom

Eyes #10

Today we will wrap up our look at our eyes and what our focus needs to be on. It has been clear we must keep our focus on Jesus not the world. We also looked at somethings God sees through His eyes. So let's jump into our last lesson of the eyes:

1 John 1:1-3

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Now this was one of the disciples (John) letting us know that God, Jesus, and the gospel are true. He had witnessed it with his own eyes as well as others. John wants us to know it is true!!!! Now as followers of Jesus, we can see with our eyes the fellowship we have with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now we are to let others know what we have seen! The goodness and mercy of God!

Let's finish this look at the eyes with a look again at the eyes of God:

Hebrews 4:13

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

God sees all my brothers and sisters, let us never forget that in our day to day life. His eyes are upon us! The good, the bad, and the ugly. May we keep our focus on Jesus and on that day when we stand face to face with our maker he will say these words to us:

Matthew 25:21
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Tom

Eyes #9

I think it is safe to say as we have been looking at the eyes, God expects us to keep out focus on Him and not the world. Here is another verse that says just that:

1 John 2:16
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

The devil sure is good at providing things of the world to draw out attention off of God. The sad thing is so many of us fall for his tricks! 3 key points of warning here:

1. desire of the flesh- sex (all forms outside marriage defined by God), drugs, alcohol, addictions, appearance, etc. Our fleshy desires are badddddd! One of our big problems here is marketing firms attack us from all angles because of our problem with this and we fall for it!!!

2. desires of the eyes- we want what we see!!!! Food, beautiful sexy people, cars, houses, cell phones, all kinds of material things we want, want, want. These things may not be bad themselves but when we put them before God they become sin. All of us are in danger of this if we are not very careful!!! Desire of the eyes has been a problem from the very beginning:

Genesis 3:6
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Covet is another word for desire, here is a warning about covet:

Luke 12:15
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

3. pride of life-bragging on what we do have. Every good thing we have is from God:

James 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

The only thing we can brag about in life is Jesus!!! He deserves all our praise, honor, and glory. Everything else is on loan to us from God and we had better keep that in proper perspective because:

Job 1:21
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

So once again this morning we see from God's Word that what our flesh desires, what our eyes desire, and our pride must be kept in check by keeping our focus on Jesus. If He is in constant focus, the others will not happen!

Tom

Eyes #8

As we continue our look at the eyes and what they focus on....check out this statement from God's Word:

Romans 3:18

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Wow! I hope this is not describing you or me! This statement tells me one thing...if we are found in this state before God we have no knowledge of God! Look what the bible says here:

Proverbs 1:7

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We are fools who in our eyes do not fear the Lord. How many today feel like the Word of God is burden some and will not receive His instruction? Look around it don't take long to figure out. God knows whats best for us, and His Word lighten our burdens, the devil is the one who tries to make us think following Jesus is no fun. Following Jesus is the ultimate life!

Here is more description of those whose eyes do not fear the Lord:

2 Peter 2:14

14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!

This sounds just like day to day lives in the USA and around the world don't it?

Not good! Keep those eyes focused on Jesus and fear the Lord it is good for the soul!

Tom

Eyes #7

Mark 8:17-19

17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.”

We have been talking about the importance of protecting our eyes from the ways of the world, but we also need to have our eyes open to the blessings and goodness of God! Why is is so easy to focus of the things of the world but completely miss what God has already done and continues to do in the lives of those who follow Him?

In the Mark verses above the disciples are worried about not having food. Jesus reminds them He has already provided before so why are they worried!!!! Now relate that to our own lives, has there ever been a time God has not met our needs? I can't think of one time! There have been times I thought so but down the road I come to find out God did what needed to be done and was best for me! 

Keep those eyes open and don't miss the daily blessings from God....a bird singing, rain on a dry crop, food on your table, heat, air, children, moms, dads, grandparents, freedom, roof over your head, brothers, sisters, salvation, A God who covets our prayers and worship, church family, and list goes on and on! 

Are your eyes open to these?

Tom

Eyes #6

Let's get back to our study on the eyes. How important is it to protect our eyes from the ways of the world? Well let's see what Jesus says:

Matthew 18:9

9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Well now, can Jesus be any clearer that that? I don't think so! If we can't keep from sinning by the desire of our eyes then we need to get rid of our eyes! Wow!!! For it is better to get to heaven blind, where our sight will be restored one day, than to go to hell because of our eyes causing us to sin against our Holy God. 

So let's get back to thinking about what we allow into our eyes...through movies, television, magazines, and day to day life. Are you doing all you can to protect what you allow into your eyes, which goes to your brain, and then to your heart, and then acted upon with the rest of your body???? Obviously it is of utmost importance!

Sit back and chew on this while today. If changes need to be made....do it now! 

Tom

What does God want for me (us) in 2015?

I was thinking this morning about how blessed I was in 2014! Thank you Jesus. I then switched my thoughts to what does God want from me(us) in 2015? This is what God showed me:

1. Matthew 6:9-10

Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

A. Lift God's name up through my life!

B. Do God's will in my life every second of every day! The bible reveals God's will for us, it is not hard to figure out!

2. Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

A. Seek God not my own selfish desires. Bible study, prayer, church, and fellowship with the saints will reveal what God desires for me to do for Him. All are needed! Are you seeking Him?

B. God will take care of me when I obey Him. He always has! Jesus has never failed me and never will!

We can choose right now what we will do in 2015, what will you choose in 2015.....self or Jesus?

Joshua 24:15d
15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Tom