PROVERBS 1:7 FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE

Passage:

Proverbs 1: 7 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Truths:

1. If we don’t fear the Lord we cannot gain the wisdom

2. Fools despise this wisdom and instruction

                     Fear of the Lord, being a believer, means to me a ‘fear out of awe’ for God. It is understanding who God is, His Character and how holy and righteous He is. This make us have a reverential fear for him. True wisdom comes only by this understanding that God is in control. The fools are the ones who do not want to understand God and shun away from him and in this way they despise wisdom and instruction. They live in their own sinful and lustful world without knowing God

Application:

•  I should fear the Lord i.e. totally surrender to Him. I need to understand that He is in control and He is the name above all names and my savior. Only through Him we are righteous. Once this understanding is in place the knowledge and wisdom falls in place.
•  I should never be like the fools, who know the truth but wish to not understand God and His power and run around happily in the world enjoying their sinful ways. They do not wish to Know God and will not understand His wisdom and instructions. Doom awaits them.

Prayer:

Abba Father, I surrender myself to you. Let the Christ in me grow bigger and let me and my thinking grow lesser. I want to understand your instructions and want to walk with your wisdom. As Solomon seek it from you Let me also seek your Godly wisdom for conducting my life so that my life in this world would be fruitful. Thank you for the many times you forgave me for being fool and turning away from your instructions. Enable me to walk in the path you desire for me and through the wisdom I gain, Enable me understand your will in my life.

In Jesus precious name I pray , AMEN

How to do Quiet Time ?

PROVERBS 1: 1-6 PROVERBS PROVIDES WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION

Passage :

Proverbs 1:1-6 New International Version (NIV)

1              The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a]
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]

Truths :

1. The proverbs was mostly written by King Solomon for gaining wisdom& instruction, understanding 

2. It is for getting instruction for prudent(wise) behavior

3. It is for doing what is right, just and fair.

4. Proverbs is intended :

For the simple : To give Prudence

For the young: Knowledge and Discretion

For the wise: Add to their learning and give guidance for understanding parables and proverbs

Application:

  The proverbs was written by King Solomon, who had asked the Lord for wisdom and it was granted to him. So these proverb should be understood for gaining the godly wisdom and for understanding the instructions of God to live a practical Christian life. The proverbs provides guidance only which is just and fair. 

In James 3:17 it says

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  

So in this way the Proverbs should be taken as the wisdom that comes from heaven and it will guide our way to reflect more of Christ character in us.

The Proverbs is for all, whether young, wise, simple etc. It touches on various topics for guiding everyone in the right path which is pleasing to God.  

Prayer:

Abba Father,

I thank you for this precious opportunity to meditate on the Book of Proverbs. Help me to gain the wisdom from it and also be guided by your instructions. I understand that your heavenly wisdom has many qualities which will lead me to be transformed into your image. Help me to hide this wisdom in my heart and apply it in my life.

In Jesus precious name I pray, AMEN

Listen to the song : 

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty

http://youtu.be/SioPQc4mNWQ

How to do Quiet Time   - Check this link

PROVERBS - NEW QUIET TIME SESSION BEGINS

Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105

         Yipeeee, I have completed Quiet Time on 2 Peter on the blog and what a wonderful experience it has been.  I thank God for this opportunity to get to know Him more and more and get closer to him.The book of 2 Peter has been very powerful and the Lord spoke to me in many wonderful ways.

      I am very excited that from today, Quiet Time is going to be from the Book of Proverbs. If you want to do Quiet Time along with me Please join in from today. If you need further details on how to do the Quiet Time, Please go to the page How to Do Quiet Time?

  Please feel free to post your Quiet Time Notes in the comment box in the blog below the post.

2 PETER 3:17-18 GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST

Passage:

2 Peter 3:17-18New International Version (NIV)

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Truths:

1. The scriptures have already forewarned about the destruction of the ungodly.

2. Therefore we need to be on guard and not get carried away by the lawless ways of the world.

3. We have a secure position in Christ and we shouldn't fall from it.

4. We need to grow in grace and knowledge of our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. 

5. All glory belongs to him forever.

Application:

     We are in the last days and we have been warned of the destruction of the ungodly and hence we need to be on the guard and not let ourselves be carried away by the selfish desires of the worldly people. We have been saved from eternal death and are a new creation in him with a renewed spirit and hence we hold a very secure position now. We should not let anything in the world make us fall from this secure position. How can we be on guard?? We can be equipped only if we are deeply rooted in the word. As my mentor put it in one of our classes " Be saturated in the word of God so that when the world comes, we do not become saturated by the world" And this deep rooting in the word can happen when we HEAR , READ, STUDY,MEMORIZE AND MEDITATE ON THE WORD.

           In this way we can grow in the grace and knowledge and our saviour(the one who saved us from eternal death) and our Lord( the one who rules our life, His will is our will) In all that we are and in all that we do, we need to give glory to Him forever.

Prayer:

Abba Father, Thank you for the secure position that I am in now - I have the assurance of my salvation and nothing in the world is more precious over this. Enable me to overcome my evil fleshly desires and let your spirit in me show to others the security that I hold in you. Help me to spend more time with you in the word since in this way I can hear your voice and your will becomes my will. Enable me to be lead by the light of your word at all times. 

In Jesus mighty name I pray

AMEN

2 PETER 3:10-16 WAIT WITH EAGERNESS FOR THE LORD'S COMING

Passage :

2 PETER 3:10-16

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Truths :

1. Day of the Lord will come like a thief.
2. Heaven will disappear,elements destroyed by fire & earth will be burned up.
3. Since we look forward to the day of his second coming we should be :Leading a holy and Godly life; we should be looking forward to His coming and eagerly wait for the Lord
4. We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.
5. We should make every effort to be Spotless, Blameless and at peace with him.(Action to Take)
6. Lord's Patience = Salvation
7. Paul had written regarding these matters in his letters, but it was not easy for the unlearned to understand and unstable people distorted the scriptures to their own destruction.

Promise of the Lord: Destruction of the ungodly and the new heaven and earth to the righteousness
Sins to Confess : Leave all the worries, sins of this world and wait patiently for His return.

 Application :

          We do not know the time when the Lord is coming back. The heaven will disappear and the earth will be destroyed. We shouldn't be caught off guard when He comes back for us. He has given us plenty of time to repent, turn back from old ways and live a new life in him.  Just like the 5 wise virgins in the Parable of the Ten virgins, we should have our extra oil ready. As I understand, This extra oil represent our lives totally committed to Christ. We are to be a new creation - crucified , buried and resurrected with Him. The new life has a counselor, the Holy Spirit to lead us to a more godly life and which will allow the fruit of the spirit to appear. The verse says 'make every effort to be found spotless' which means that we should grow more and more into His image while we are on this earth. We cannot be perfect as He is, but we become transformed by our renewed spirit. The Lord's coming is not late but we should understand that His patience is only to lead many more to Salvation. We have a purpose in this and should share the gospel to many others so that they too may have the faith that saves them. I consider the last verse as a warning that many might use scriptures to give a different meaning to what the Lord has commanded and I need to be careful of it. 

Prayer:

Abba Father, Thank you for your promising verses that the righteous will be saved and the ungodly destroyed. All the trials and difficulties we face will pass away and we will be with you when you come back for us. Help me to have the burden to pray for the salvation of many others and lead them to you. I sincerely seek your blessings to have the courage to do this mission. Help me to hold fast to my faith and wait in eagerness for you and let nothing in this world bother me or take my eyes off you Lord. I want to make you proud of me when you come back to me and seek your guidance to lead me to your will in my life.
In Jesus' precious name I pray
AMEN  

2 Peter 3:8- 9 The Lord's Perfect Timing

Passage:

2 Peter 3:8-9 New International Version (NIV)

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Truths:

1.    For the Lord, one day is like 1000 years and vice versa

2.    The lord is not slow as some people interpret slowness

3.    He is patient and doesn't want anyone to perish and want everyone to come to repentance.

Application:

 Here in these verses Peter provides an answer to the scoffers who mock of the second coming and the delay in it happening. The Lord is just on time, He will bring all His promises to reality. We mere humans cannot comprehend His thinking, plans and timing. A day is like thousand years to Him and thousand years a single day, then how can we say if He is late or not? What right do we have to mock Him asking “If your promises where true, why haven’t they happened yet?” We need to simply and clearly understand that out Lord is a merciful God and He is allowing maximum people to repent and to come to Him. He doesn't want them to Perish.

                  I need to trust in the Lord’s timing whether in His second coming or an event in my life I am waiting for. We do not need to set a deadline for the prayers we pray but present our requests to God and submit it according to His will.

Prayer:

Oh Father, How beautifully you teach in these verses that you have a perfect timing and it is not easy for humans to understand this. I trust you Lord and surrender myself to you and wait patiently for your will on my life and your second coming. I will never let anything make me doubt this and will seek you at all time. You are the Lord of my life and I offer myself totally to you. Help me to fight my doubts and cling on to your promises at all times.

In Jesus precious name I pray

Amen

2 Peter 3:5-7 THE WORD WHICH CREATED, WILL ALSO DESTROY, THE WORLD

Passage:

2 Peter 3:5-7New International Version (NIV)

5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Truths:

1. Scoffers forget that Heaven was created by God's word and earth was formed out of water.

2.  The same water was used to destroy the world at Noah's time when the world was full of sinners.

3. By the same word, the current heavens and earth are reserved for fire - judgment & destruction of ungodly.

Application:

In the last days we will come across many scoffers who will mock the promise of the second coming of the Lord. They have chosen to forget that the earth was created by God’s word. The earth was created out of water. God used the same water to destroy the evil world at the time of Noah and the current world is in the direction towards the judgment day when the ungodly will be destroyed.

                I need to be alert not to fall into the tactics of these scoffers and remind myself of the promises of the Lord. God is a faithful God and will not go against his promises. He promised his second coming and this will happen. We do not need to worry of the time as God has his own perfect time. But while we wait our motive must be stand strong on these promises and also to spread this to many others who have lost hope.

 

Prayer:

Abba Father, Thank you for the Hope that you have provided us about your return. We, believers have a stronghold event to look forward to with faith. In this hopeless world, where people are running around to fulfill their evil desires, Let us be able to stand out and have complete confidence in your promise. Let us also be able to pass this good news to many others.