Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 13:1–34, Mark 8:11–9:1, Prov 3:13–22

Today’s Theme: The Danger of Unbelief

Today’s theme looks at the great danger of Unbelief and disobedience. This pitfall saw the tragic death of the young prophet and Jesus has to take a man out of the place of u belief to heal hi and warn him to not return.

We must believe Gods word, with our minds set on him which is the pathway to wisdom, understanding and the resulting riches and long life (which is fully expressed in eternal life)

1 Kings 13:1–34

Actual prophecy

And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’ ”(1 Kings 13:2, ESV)

This is an amazing prophecy because this is what actually happened

Reprobation and Apostasy

And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” And the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as it was before.(1 Kings 13:6, ESV)

Jeroboam is a true apostate, notice he says ask your God not our God, he is truly on the other side. What deception because he also knows that the false gods can not help him

Gods word trumps visions

for it was said to me by the word of the Lord, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.’ ”(1 Kings 13:17, ESV)

The Word of God trumps any supernatural encounter we can trust the word of God more than dream, angels and visions

The sin of disobedience

So he went back with him and ate bread in his house and drank water.(1 Kings 13:19, ESV)

This is a very important verse, it is here that the young prophet disobeys God and displays a type of Unbelief

Direct judgement

And he went and found his body thrown in the road, and the donkey and the lion standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body or torn the donkey.(1 Kings 13:28, ESV)

A sign that this was direct judgement

Disobedience weakens the message

After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places.(1 Kings 13:33, ESV)

maybe if the man of God was obedient to the word of the Lord the message and signs would have had a greater impact

Mark 8:11–9:1

The weakest type of faith

And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”(Mark 8:12, ESV)

Those seeking a sign have the worst sort of unbelief at worst and very weak faith at best, we were called to preach the gospel, not to put on a circus

Beware false ideologies

And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”(Mark 8:15, ESV)

Jesus wants us to beware of being sucked in by false ideologies whether political or religious

Don’t live in unbelief

And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”(Mark 8:23, ESV)

As Pastor Dennis has always taught us, Jesus had to lead the man out of the place of unbelief

Don’t go back to a place of unbelief

And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”(Mark 8:26, ESV)

Do not go back to the place of unbelief

Who is Jesus?

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”(Mark 8:29, ESV)

This is a crucial question for all mankind. The scriptures are clear, Jesus is the Messiah.

Set your mind on the things of God

But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”(Mark 8:33, ESV)

We must keep our minds set on things above, the eternal things of Gods kingdom, not the temporal things of this life

The call to discipleship

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.(Mark 8:34, ESV)

This is the call to discipleship, we need to deny ourselves, acknowledge and take up our burden and set about following Jesus. The easy Christian life is not in the bible.

Nothing

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?(Mark 8:36, ESV)

The answer to this question is nothing

What will you exchange

For what can a man give in return for his soul?(Mark 8:37, ESV)

Mankind has given many things in exchange for his soul, these include: honour amongst men, riches, comfort, pleasure

Stand

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”(Mark 8:38, ESV)
We must be bold in our stand for Jesus

Proverbs 3:13–22

Wisdom, more valuable than money

for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.(Proverbs 3:14, ESV)

Wisdom and understanding are better profit for our lives than money

Understanding is precious

She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.(Proverbs 3:15, ESV)

Wisdom and understanding are precious, we should hold them dear

The path to prosperity

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.(Proverbs 3:16, ESV)

Wisdom will bring long life and riches, so get wisdom and riches and health will come in some way too and are clearly gained through the promise of eternal life in the world to come.

God’s scientific brilliance

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;(Proverbs 3:19, ESV)

When God created the earth he did it with scientific brilliance which is why true science will cause men to glorify God

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 11:9–12:33, Mark 7:14–8:10, Prov 3:6–12

Today’s Theme: Our Biggest Problem

Today’s theme points to our biggest problem, which is the self deception, pride and evil of our own hearts. We should listen to our elders, walk in honesty and work hard, not in the pride and the selfishness of the human heart.

God doesn’t want us to be religious about superficial things like food, he wants us to live before him in joy and holiness as he brings us true satisfaction through the new nature (heart) he gives us by the Holy Spirit.

1 Kings 11:9–12:33

Don’t turn from the Lord

And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice(1 Kings 11:9, ESV)

If we turn away from the Lord in our hearts, he will be angry with us, and justly so because he deserves our worship

God’s judgement

Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.(1 Kings 11:11, ESV)

The split kingdom was a judgement from God. We should remember this when we consider the splitting and forming of nations.

Jerusalem a special place

However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.”(1 Kings 11:13, ESV)

Jerusalem is a very special place it is called the city that God choose. Places matter.

Don’t forsake the Lord

because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did.(1 Kings 11:33, ESV)

We will suffer loss and punishment if we forsake the Lord

God keeps covenant

Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name.(1 Kings 11:36, ESV)

God would not forsake his covenant with David, it was an important one connected to Jesus himself

A conditional promise

And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.(1 Kings 11:38, ESV)

Another conditional promise, it was Jeroboam’s for the taking. Live a life that meets the conditions

Serve well

And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.”(1 Kings 12:7, ESV)

These older men knew the best way to win the hearts of men is to serve them well

Don’t throw away the wisdom of your elders

But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.(1 Kings 12:8, ESV)

It is as if he considered it and then threw it away

Lord help us to listen to the wisdom of our elders and not our peers

The Sovereignty of God

So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfill his word, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.(1 Kings 12:15, ESV)

God was sovereignly and providentially at work

God’s plan

‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’ ” So they listened to the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord.(1 Kings 12:24, ESV)

The divided kingdom was in Gods plan, we should not fight against what God has ordained.

Ungodly pragmatism

So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”(1 Kings 12:28, ESV)

The spiritual death and destruction wrought by ungodly pragmatism

Dangerous false ministers

He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites.(1 Kings 12:31, ESV)

The danger of false ministry and false ministers

Holy days?

He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings.(1 Kings 12:33, ESV)

He literally made this date up as a holy day, this is the way of all world religions with their holy days and festivals.

Mark 7:14–8:10

It’s not about food

There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”(Mark 7:15, ESV)

Our words and actions coming from our own hearts defile us before God not the food we eat or don’t eat that was just a sign and good healthy eating

All food is permissible

since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)(Mark 7:19, ESV)

Yes we can eat pork and shellfish now, that still doesn’t make them the healthiest options

Our biggest problem

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”(Mark 7:21–23, ESV)

This is mans biggest problem, not demons, but the evil of his own heart

Testing your humility

And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.”(Mark 7:29, ESV)

I believe Jesus calling her a dog was a test of her humility which she passed. What insults or slights come your way which are really a test of your humility and meekness.

Jesus is Awesome

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”(Mark 7:37, ESV)

Jesus is AWESOME!! These has never been and will never be anyone quite like him.

The Church is loved

“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.(Mark 8:2, ESV)

Jesus loves the church, these is a lot of talk against the church today but Jesus loves the church and died for the church (all those who would trust and believe in Jesus for salvation)

Jesus satisfies

And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.(Mark 8:8, ESV)

Jesus seeks to satisfy his people, you can find ultimate satisfaction in Jesus

Proverbs 3:6–12

Always acknowledge God

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.(Proverbs 3:6, ESV)

We need to acknowledge God in everything, even simple things like eating, driving or catching a train

Turn from evil

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.(Proverbs 3:7, ESV)

Lord please keep us form this self deception

Every man is responsible for tuning way from evil

The healthy life

It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.(Proverbs 3:8, ESV)

Fearing God and walking in repentance will literally make you healthier, it makes sense because you will not indulge in sins that rot the bones and the mind

Your wealth!

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;(Proverbs 3:9, ESV)

All our money belongs to the Lord we must honour him with offering and gifts as well as good stewardship and investment

Don’t be weary of correction

for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.(Proverbs 3:12, ESV)

We must not be weary of correction we need it to grow and be safe, God reproves us in love.

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 10:1–11:8, Mark 6:45–7:13, Prov 3:1–5

Today’s Theme: God vs Lust and Pride

Today’s themes are varied but there is a running theme of God vs the Lust of the flesh and the pride and deceitfulness of man. We will either worship man or God. The worship of man can be manifest is sexual sin, pride in our own ideas and trusting in ourselves and not God.

1 Kings 10:1–11:8

Supernatural wisdom

And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.(1 Kings 10:3, ESV)

The wisdom God gave to Solomon was supernatural. When we ask God for wisdom know that he will give you supernatural wisdom, available no where else.

Bountiful riches

the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.(1 Kings 10:5, ESV)

Solomon’s wealth was breathtaking, this spoke of Gods bountiful resources for our lives and his glory

To the praise and glory of his name

Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.”(1 Kings 10:9, ESV)

The wisdom and prosperity God gave Solomon, caused the queen to give praise to God, may it be the same in our lives

The wealth of Solomon

All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.(1 Kings 10:21, ESV)

This is an indication of just how rich Solomon was

The presence of Christ

And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.(1 Kings 10:24, ESV)

This prefigured Christ, one day the earth will seek the presence of the king who will reign from Jerusalem

Compromise, lust and idolatry

from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.(1 Kings 11:2, ESV)

Solomon clung to all these women in lust and replaced God with his idolatry towards them and himself, it all started with a pragmatic compromise

Sex as a god

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.(1 Kings 11:4, ESV)

Sex and intimate relationship has always been connected to worship and devotion. This is why the enemy has invested so much in drawing people into the false promise and trap of sexual lust, it is all about worship and idolatry, sexual sin becomes a substitute for God.

Jesus over family

And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.(1 Kings 11:8, ESV)

When we compromise for “loved ones” we are turning our back on God, Jesus said we should love him more than family

Mark 6:45–7:13

Jesus worked hardest

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.(Mark 6:45, ESV)

This is no small point, Jesus took on the lions share of the work as a real servant

Pull on the word of God

And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.(Mark 6:56, ESV)

The fringe represents the promises and covenant thus the word of God

Where is your heart

And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;(Mark 7:6, ESV)

Other religions and the new age movement teach that regardless of a mans life, sin or relationship to Go, that they can tap into principles and command the forces of the universe, this is not true. God is very much a conscious person who makes actual responses.

We can not pull the wool over Gods eyes, he know where our hearts are despite our words and prayers, so we need to ensure our hearts are close to God

The traditions of men

You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”(Mark 7:8, ESV)

Lord keep us for this error, the Roman Catholic church went down this road hundreds of years ago when they exalted church traction over the word of God

The priority of God’s word

thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”(Mark 7:13, ESV)

Gods word should always trump our traditions and ideas

Proverbs 3:1–5

Long life

for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.(Proverbs 3:2, ESV)

Obeying Gods word will help us live a long life, which is a typical shadow of eternal life in the NT

Faithful and steadfast

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.(Proverbs 3:3, ESV)

As people we must learn to be faithful and steadfast in our love and devotion, Solomon learned this the hard way.

Trust the Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.(Proverbs 3:5, ESV)

A major theme in scripture, we must trust in The Lord.

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 8:54–9:28, Mark 6:7–44, Prov 2:16–22

Today’s Theme: Teaching and Miracles

The ministry of Jesus was defined by two activities, teaching the truths about God / the kingdom and performing miracles.

As his ambassadors our lives should be defined by his teaching and our faith in his supernatural power to perform miracles today to the glory of God.

1 Kings 8:54–9:28

God backs his talk

“Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant.(1 Kings 8:56, ESV)

God is ultimately able to come good on his word like no one else can on theirs

May God incline your heart

that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.(1 Kings 8:58, ESV)

We need God to incline our hearts to him so that we walk in his ways

The Lord is God

that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.(1 Kings 8:60, ESV)

One of Gods great ultimate purposes is that he alone is God

Be wholly true

Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”(1 Kings 8:61, ESV)

Not a superficial show of obedience but heartfelt passion for God with singular devotion

Mark 6:7–44

Authority over unclean spirits

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.(Mark 6:7, ESV)

Authority over unclean spirits comes from Jesus directly

Gospel proclamation

So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.(Mark 6:12, ESV)

Their primary job was Gospel proclamation

Hear and change

for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.(Mark 6:20, ESV)

Lord save us from being like Herod, hearing your word and being perplexed by what we hear, hearing it gladly even enjoying the oratory but not changing

Rest is important

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.(Mark 6:31, ESV)

After successful ministry must come rest

The priority of teaching

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.(Mark 6:34, ESV)

Jesus always began with teaching, not with miracles. Miracles without the clear teaching of God truth will not ultimately help anyone.

Don’t be limited by human thinking

But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”(Mark 6:37, ESV)

The question betrays the fact that we so often think with our own human limitations. God is able to do the supernatural

Pass it on

And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.(Mark 6:41, ESV)

This miracle appears to be a parallel to the sending out of the disciples to teach what Christ had taught them. You should share what the Lord has I trusted to you.

An astounding miracle

And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.(Mark 6:44, ESV)

This was a huge miracle, we can become so familiar with these account so just stop and think about how great a miracle this was

Proverbs 2:16–22

Escape adultery

So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words,(Proverbs 2:16, ESV)

It seems without the wisdom God supplies it is difficult to escape adultery. In the spiritual sense of the forbidden woman of sin and adultery in fake worship…  It is impossible to escape without Gods wisdom which is manifest in Jesus

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 8:1–53, Mark 5:21–6:6, Prov 2:1–15

Today’s Theme: Treasure Hunters

Today theme is about finding our supreme, most precious and prized treasure in God himself and the deep, rich truth of his word as recorded in the bible.

Choose to be a treasure hunter today.

1 Kings 8:1–53

Worship without measure

And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.(1 Kings 8:5, ESV)

This is how our sacrifice and worship should be before The Lord… Without measure

The weight of God’s presence

And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.(1 Kings 8:10–11, ESV)

The cloud of Gods glory and presence is so powerful that normal religious service can not continue

Gods hands

And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying,(1 Kings 8:15, ESV)

God can use men as his hands to fulfil the promise he has spoken

God the unique

and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart;(1 Kings 8:23, ESV)

God is unique and is no robot, he does not just keep covenant, but with those who meet the conditions outlined here.

Confirmation

Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.(1 Kings 8:26, ESV)

God word is confirmed in it coming to pass

Temple Symbolism

that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.(1 Kings 8:29, ESV)

Solomon understood that God would not actually be in the temple other than in manifest presence.

The house was a symbol for the Israelites to focus their prayers on God and a point of remembrance for God to look to and hear the prayers of the faithful

Walk in righteousness

then hear in heaven and act and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.(1 Kings 8:32, ESV)

There is a reward to be had for walking in righteousness

God is active, not automatic

then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),(1 Kings 8:39, ESV)

No one can demand automated blessing, we need to realise that God is very actively involved in answering prayers and responds to hearts and ways in truth and love

Global evangelism

hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.(1 Kings 8:43, ESV)

Global evangelism was on Gods mandate for Israel, the rabbinic teaching that the Gentiles were less than dogs is nowhere found in scripture.

Repentance is still needed

if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,(1 Kings 8:48, ESV)

What is concerning about the 1948 return is that many were not repentant because they reject the son of God and many are now secular Zionists. We must continue to pray and be witnesses into Jesus that more and more Jews will accept Yeshua as Messiah.

The root of Anti Semitism

For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.”(1 Kings 8:53, ESV)

The world hates this truth… Hence anti semitism because the Jewish people stand as a testimony to God and the bible.

Mark 5:21–6:6

Make God famous

She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.(Mark 5:27, ESV)

The benefit of the spread of his fame and glory is that people will hear our reports about Jesus and reach out to him by Gods grace.

Reach out in faith

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”(Mark 5:34, ESV)
When we reach out to The Lord we must do so in faith

Believe that Jesus can deliver

But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”(Mark 5:36, ESV)

Or don’t be afraid concerning your daughter, instead believe that I can deliver, out of context this has fuelled the easy believism (just believe without repentance) ideas

The importance of teaching

And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?(Mark 6:2, ESV)

One of the main things Jesus did was teach, so the teaching we submit to and any teaching we ever give is a very important thing.

The problem of familiarity

And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”(Mark 6:4, ESV)

Be encouraged by this, those familiar with you and your gift or call may not appreciate it, don’t allow that to deter you, continue to use your gifts and operating in your calling to the glory of God.

Proverbs 2:1–15

Treasure God’s word

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,(Proverbs 2:1, ESV)

Do we do this, do we actually treasure, like a precious possession the commands of Gods word? We should this is where true joy is found.

Having a good hearing appetite

making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;(Proverbs 2:2, ESV)

We must make our ears tuned in and attentive to the wisdom that God has for us, when we treasure his imperatives and commands we will naturally have ears which have a taste for wisdom.

The greatest treasures

yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,(Proverbs 2:3, ESV)

There ought to be a yearning and seeking for insight and understanding, we should study and ask questions and seek God with fervent hunger, that we might gain the greatest treasures of all, wisdom, understanding and knowledge

Hunt for treasure

yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,(Proverbs 2:3, ESV)

We should be treasure hunters, not tourists

God, our source

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;(Proverbs 2:6, ESV)
We should no doubt seek this from the ultimate source, God himself

God, our shield

he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,(Proverbs 2:7, ESV)

Yes lord be a shield to me and my family

God, our carer

guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.(Proverbs 2:8, ESV)

Gods providential care

What is your appetite

for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;(Proverbs 2:10, ESV)

Test your appetite… Where are you… Be honest and make changes if you feel the conviction to.