Focus & Meditate--December
We have started this segment to encourage you to read and study God's Word more and also meditate on the key thoughts of our recent articles. We pray this will encourage and assist you as you grow in the Kingdom.
December--Week Fifty-Two
Article: Glorify the King By Leading with His Word
If you claim that you love the Lord Jesus, you will want to obey His Word and then He will give you His gift. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17 NKJV
It is impossible for you to love the Lord God and His Word and not love His Son. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5 NKJV
The brick and mortar building isn't where the Lord God lives. It is your body in which the Holy Spirit resides. Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 13-14: The ministry of Paul and Barnabas.
We pray that 2019 will be a prosperous and productive year for you and your family.
‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor
and give you His peace.’
Numbers 6:24-26 NLT
Keep seeking the Kingdom!
It is impossible for you to love the Lord God and His Word and not love His Son. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5 NKJV
The brick and mortar building isn't where the Lord God lives. It is your body in which the Holy Spirit resides. Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 13-14: The ministry of Paul and Barnabas.
We pray that 2019 will be a prosperous and productive year for you and your family.
‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor
and give you His peace.’
Numbers 6:24-26 NLT
Keep seeking the Kingdom!
December--Week Fifty-One
Article: Mankind, the Glory of His Creation
The Lord God's love for mankind came at a great price: For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
If you truly believe in and obey His Word, He will give you power to overcome this world. Keep in mind, true belief and obedience comes from the foundation of love. “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:15-17
The Governor (Holy Spirit) will give you the power to overcome the evil one in this world. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
Scriptures all NLT unless noted
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 11-12: Peter's ministry and imprisonment. The church at Antioch. James is killed by King Herod Agrippa; then an angel strikes him with sickness and is eaten by worms and dies.
Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
If you truly believe in and obey His Word, He will give you power to overcome this world. Keep in mind, true belief and obedience comes from the foundation of love. “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:15-17
The Governor (Holy Spirit) will give you the power to overcome the evil one in this world. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
Scriptures all NLT unless noted
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 11-12: Peter's ministry and imprisonment. The church at Antioch. James is killed by King Herod Agrippa; then an angel strikes him with sickness and is eaten by worms and dies.
Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
December--Week Fifty
Article: A Citizen's Responsibility
Our responsibility should first and foremost be to follow our King's example while He was here on earth. For God is pleased when, conscious of His will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. I Peter 2:19-21
We shouldn't do anything without the guidance of the Governor, meaning the Holy Spirit. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26
Keep in mind that your first priority is to embrace the Kingdom. Everything else comes after that. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:25-34
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 9-10: Saul's conversion. Saul's and Peter's ministries.
Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. I Peter 2:19-21
We shouldn't do anything without the guidance of the Governor, meaning the Holy Spirit. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26
Keep in mind that your first priority is to embrace the Kingdom. Everything else comes after that. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:25-34
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 9-10: Saul's conversion. Saul's and Peter's ministries.
Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
December--Week Forty-Nine
Article: Obedience and Faith are Keys to Your Potential
There are many people who consider themselves working for the King of glory, but will never be chosen. They think that through their works, done in their own strength for a long time, they will gain access to the Kingdom of God and be first when it comes to being blessed. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’" Matthew 7:21-23
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:16
Many people have the potential to accomplish the assignment that the Lord God has for them but they fail to obey His Word. “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Your faith should never be in your potential, but in the Lord God's Word. Mankind didn't create mankind. Your Creator, God, did. Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 7-8: Stephen address the council, Philip's ministry and persecution scatters believers.
Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:16
Many people have the potential to accomplish the assignment that the Lord God has for them but they fail to obey His Word. “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Your faith should never be in your potential, but in the Lord God's Word. Mankind didn't create mankind. Your Creator, God, did. Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 7-8: Stephen address the council, Philip's ministry and persecution scatters believers.
Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
December--Week Forty-Eight
Article: Kingdom Knowledge: Giving and Baptism in the Kingdom
In the Kingdom, citizens share with one another so that every need is supplied. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. Acts 4:34-35 NLT
A citizen of the Kingdom realizes that all they have belongs to the King. All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32 NLT
Baptism was never about a religion, but was about which teaching you embraced and followed. It is about spiritual death and rebirth. The "old carnal man" is washed away and you come up a "new man" in Christ. For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:4 NLT For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. Colossians 2:12
The most powerful baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NLT
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 5-6: Lying to the Holy Spirit (Ananias and Sapphira), the Apostles' ministry and opposition.
Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
A citizen of the Kingdom realizes that all they have belongs to the King. All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32 NLT
Baptism was never about a religion, but was about which teaching you embraced and followed. It is about spiritual death and rebirth. The "old carnal man" is washed away and you come up a "new man" in Christ. For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:4 NLT For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. Colossians 2:12
The most powerful baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NLT
Finishing the Year in Acts:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom) highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week read and meditate on Acts 5-6: Lying to the Holy Spirit (Ananias and Sapphira), the Apostles' ministry and opposition.
Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
