The Seek God Challenge Day 19

January 19, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

THE WORD SAVES US

READ

”8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.11 As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." -Romans 10:8-13

THINK

We see that Paul says in verse 11, “As Scripture says” we see that our very knowledge of salvation comes from the Word of God. Why do you think we don’t devote ourselves to the Word when such a life changing truth was found in it?

Where did your salvation knowledge originate? Was it at church at home? Have you thought about where did they get their information?

Have you ever desired to know more about something? Have you ever dug in and really researched something you were passionate about? If you were to seek after God in this way and dig through His word, what might be the result in your life?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Give thanks to the Lord for His salvation, and pray Psalm 96 to the Lord today

Pray that the truth of salvation would not be the end all of our searching the word, but rather a jumping off point into seeking deeper truth

DO

Time to jump out there; tell someone about the Lord’s salvation today.

Download the guide here

Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: bible, Christianity, God, Jesus, Lord, matt rothacher, OT, Paul, Religion and Spirituality, Seek, Seek God Challenge, study, Word, Word of God

The Seek God Challenge Day 18

January 18, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

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THE WORD LEADS TO DEEP COMMITMENT

READ

“32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.”

-2 Chronicles 34:32-33

THINK

We see Josiah take a kingdom from the worst condition possible, and through his seeking of God and the discovery of the word he leads them to this place of commitment. What is the difference between hearing the word and being committed to the word?

What lasting effect did the commitment of Josiah have on the people around him?

The disciplined pursuit of God that was introduced lasted “all his days”, what do you think was different than generations before?

Why do you think the people willingly pledged to serve the Lord under Josiah’s leadership? What lessons can we apply to our own lives in regards to our influence on those we encounter throughout the day?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Pray that the message of the Lord will ignite our hearts to passionately commit to following God wherever He may send us.

Pray that our deep commitment to Christ will not be something that is quick lived and fleeting, but will be something that will not only transform us but those around us.

DO

Rank your commitment level in response to the following questions:

My walk with God is a priority….

1 2 3 4 5

Not Committed at all Very Committed

My Desire to follow God is…

1 2 3 4 5

Not Committed at all Very Committed

When I read the Bible I apply it to my life…

1 2 3 4 5

Not Committed at all Very Committed

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Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: bible, Books of Chronicles, Challenge, Christ, God, Israel, Jerusalem, Josiah, Lord, matt rothacher, Seek God Challenge

The Seek God Challenge Day 17

January 17, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

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THE WORD LEADS TO DEEP CONVICTION

READ

“29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.30 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord.31 The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.” – 2 Chronicles 34:29-31

“1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.” – Nehemiah 9:1-3

THINK

At this point Josiah had already purified the land of idols, and had begun work on the temple, but the hearts of the people have no reason to change apart from a King’s order, what reason do they have now? What’s the difference in motivation of obeying God, and obeying man?

We see both personal confession (by ourselves), and corporate confession (with other believers) in this passage. How difficult would it be to participate in public confession among your Christian friends at church? Why do you think that’s the case?

The word brings conviction because it is the standard which we are called to live by, do you read the Bible this way?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Pray that the word of God will bring conviction to your life, and that the places that are not in line with God’s scripture will be clearly revealed so that we can correct them

Pray that we will welcome the discipline of God and not flee his word for fear of feeling ashamed of our sin

DO

Stop now and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the things you need to confess to the Lord today, as soon as they pop into your mind, confess them to God out loud.

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Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: bible, Books of Chronicles, Challenge, God, Holy, Israelites, Jerusalem, Jesus, Josiah, Judah, Levite, Lord, matt rothacher, OT, Seek God Challenge

The Seek God Challenge Day 16

January 16, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

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WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE WITH THE

WORD OF GOD

READ

14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses.15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord." He gave it to Shaphan.

16 Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: "Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them.17 They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers."18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant:21 "Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord's anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book."

-2 Chronicles 34:14-21

THINK

We see Josiah’s response to the reading of God’s word, why does he respond this way?

Different things in the Bible cause us to respond in different ways, what different things have you experienced as a result of the Word?

The Word should always require a response. Why do you think people either read the word and don’t respond or fail to even read the word? What about in your own life do you fall into one of those two categories(read & not respond or not even read)? Why or why not?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Pray that we will be like Josiah in that we will treat the word of the Lord as importantly as we should.

Pray that when we devote ourselves to the word that we won’t stop at simply reading but we will be moved to action in response to the word.

DO

Look at these two passages of scripture and look for the appropriate response;

Philippians 4:4

1 Thessalonians 5:18

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Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: Ahikam, bible, Books of Chronicles, Challenge, God, Hilkiah, Israel, Josiah, Lord, matt rothacher, Seek, Shaphan

The Seek God Challenge Day 15

January 15, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

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BE HOLY, SEE GOD

READ

“12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

-Hebrews 12:12-14

THINK

The author of Hebrews is encouraging us to get strong, and get right. He’s telling us that we have to get up and get going if we are to experience the holiness that is necessary to fully see God. What weaknesses do you need to overcome in your life that is keeping you from God’s holiness?

Holiness is easily discussed but is much more difficult to experience and walk in. In light of that truth, how does that make you feel knowing that without holiness “no one will see the Lord.”? What does this tell you about the commitment that God is after in your life? Is that more exciting or frustrating? Why?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Romans 12:1-2 tells us; “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.2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We see that holiness (being a living sacrifice and the renewing our minds) is a both a long term and daily process.

Pray that today God would begin the long term process of making you holy

Pray that today you will renew your mind and lay down your desires for His holiness that you might see the Lord.