A Scribe on the Wall

Several years ago now, I believe that God gave me a message, He would be telling me things and it was up to me to tell others. To me, it's much like the Watchman on the Wall as described in the Old Testament. The Watchman was told that it was on him to warn others about any approaching dangers. God's apparently gifted me with being able to type and write. So I put the old definition of a writer along with the concept of a watchman together. Jesus is coming soon...are you ready?

Saturday, May 16, 2026

To Be Revealed in Us

by David Brenneman

"For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings." Hebrews 2:10 NASB1995.

Pastor Alistair Begg's notes 2:10 "Perfect through sufferings." Christ could not be a perfect sympathizer unless he bore our suffering. He did not look at sin from the distance of heaven, but he walked and lived in the midst of it. He knows all shapes of suffering: disease, sickness, poverty, need, friendlessness, hopelessness, desertion. You cannot cast human suffering into any shape that is new to Christ. In Him there is every pang that tears the heart, every grief that forces tears from the eyes. Everything that is inevitable to flesh and blood, to hearts that break, and spirits that are depressed, Jesus knows."

We are going to go through sufferings since Jesus did. We're not going to be transformed, as Paul wrote of in Romans at the Spirit’s direction, without going through the valley of sufferings.

No human body that undergoes surgery ever does so without the ramifications of an invasive procedure, the body doesn't care to be cut into, poked, etc.

Yet our desire of our hearts still ought to be what God wants for us...to become more like Jesus Christ.

Nobody just puts on a number and wins a triathlon just because it was there to do without intense preparation.

No untrained person just walks off the street into a recruiting office and then goes out the back door all ready for combat.

Nobody just gets into a car without any training and becomes a successful judge.

We have times in which we go through colleges, universities, community colleges, technical institutions in order to learn to be more than we were in order to become more than we used to be. It's a strenuous process. Loss of sleep, hard work, much sacrifice in order to get that diploma or accreditation. Then we reap what we sowed much more than we sowed and hopefully more than we sowed in doing so. We suffered through it.

So how much more will we go through in the school lead by the Spirit of God to become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ?

There's many lessons that we might get a grasp on what it is that the Spirit is teaching. Other times we just have to trust the promise and process that He's taking us through.

We can see much of that process in the Gospels concerning Jesus's life on the Earth. Can we really be foolish enough to not expect trials and tribulations, sufferings, to not be a part of our lives until either He calls us home or the Rapture of the Church occurs?

If we are not going through such things we ought to be concerned.

Great and mighty trees only get to be that way by weathering the storms that made them.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you." 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead," Philippians 3:12-13.

And "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18.

We can and should expect to go through some rough patches in life if our desire is what He desires for us...to become more like Jesus Christ.

We can and should expect many battles in our minds over what path to take to lead a righteous life that God desires for us.

We should also note what exactly the schemes of the devil are and strive to avoid them.

We can't know what we need to know without being in prayer and the Word of God daily.

The Spirit of God is our teacher bringing to remembrance all that Jesus commanded and taught.

It's on us to submit to His plans and purpose for us, not for us to dictate what we want our lives to look like.

Nobody enters Heaven's gates without traveling the road of suffering to get there.

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5.

"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10.

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions." Colossians 1:24.

We cannot see what Jesus sees is becoming of us by His hands as they do their work in us. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.

Makes you look at that great hymn "Trust and Obey" a little bit differently doesn't it?

A student must trust their teacher if they're going to be taught.

We must travel this same road that our Savior and Lord traveled if we're going to reach the same destination.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18.

Think hard about this passage since it in fact applies or should apply to us.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Friday, May 15, 2026

Be One He Loves

by David Brenneman

"The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness." Proverbs 15:9.

Paul spoke of running the race set before him. Here we read of pursuing righteousness. Paul spoke of running in such a way as to win the prize. Here's the prize.

The chief lesson to remember about the schemes of the devil is that he will try everything he's allowed in order to cause us to stumble or to fall.

To pursue righteousness is something pleasing to God. As we have been exhorted in the Word of God so should we be encouraged in the Lord to get in the game and run with the aim of Godly success in this.

Most don't recognize the schemes of the devil due to being so busy with worldly things. Pursuing success as the world defines it. Pursuing peace, love, joy, as the world defines it. Pursuing money because of thinking that's a badge of success. Spending on a whim rather that being satisfied with what one has. Not being organized enough to prepare for what comes in life. We have not because we ask with wrong intentions only planning to spend it on ourselves. We lack the spiritual eyes to see the work of God in Christ Jesus in ourselves and those He put in our lives. We lack the spiritual vision of His purpose for us and those whom we were meant to minister to.

Do you pursue righteousness? Do you rather pursue things of the world?

Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. If you're working towards worldly values you're going to miss Godly values.

What we do in Christ is what will survive the fires of His Truth on the day we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives.

Yes this is a repeated subject and with good reason. Look even back at the early Church. Much was written in our Bibles of being found ready for the return of Jesus Christ for His Church.

I've never met, nor even seen in television or movies, where anyone was truly overjoyed at being caught unawares when someone important came to not visit but to evaluate their lives.

At the point of the Rapture of the Church...the first to be raptured will be the dead in Christ. Those who have already physically died. They have nothing to be immediately surprised about concerning this taking place. Those who are alive and remain will be right in the middle of life. Right in the middle of work, of driving vehicles, of relationship issues, of medical treatments, of everything happening right now in the world. Some will certainly be caught flat-footed.

Will you be found to be running the race set before you or will you be caught on the bench, on the ground, on anything but running the race to reach for righteousness?

Will you be found with the mind of Christ because you lived a life putting whatever the Spirit taught you as first place in your life? Will you be found in a shameful situation?

The word of God says that we do not know the day nor the hour of Jesus's return. We ARE to seriously consider that if the owner of the house had known what time he was going to be robbed that he would have prepared for the robber.

Lesson being that we should always be prepared for that moment we step into eternity.

Be "Rapture Ready" and while being that, being on our spiritual feet running the race set before us. Pleasing the Lord that we are pursuing righteousness found only in Christ Jesus.

It's never going to matter what accolades we achieve in this world in light of eternity.

It's never going to matter what places we went to, spending thousands to go see and experience.

It's not going to matter what famous people we met if those people aren't going to be an encouragement in Christ to us and others.

It's not going to matter how nice a house, how nice a car or anything we can accumulate.

It's not going to matter how much we sacrificed for our kids to give them everything except the teaching to pursue the Lord with their everything.

Pursue righteousness. Pursue what pleases our Lord Jesus Christ. Bring Him joy in our pursuit of what pleases Him.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Thursday, May 14, 2026

The Checks and Balances of the Christian Life

by David Brenneman

"In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there." Mark 1:35.

Intimacy with God is one of the most essential elements of the

Christian life. A profound, abiding relationship with Him is the key to a lifelong journey filled with joy contentment, significance, and fruitfulness. Of course, learning to love the Lord takes time, diligence, and willingness This is why Jesus

demonstrated the importance of being alone with the Father by consistently rising early and going to a solitary place where He could pray without interruption.

Do you need a place where you can find refuge, hope, strength,

and a greater love than anything this world has to offer? If so, your soul is longing for God's presence. Thankfully, He is always available to you. He gives you profound wisdom, unfailing strength, and unshakable hope for even the toughest situations,

But as complicated as your life is, how do you start-especially

if you've never scheduled regular time to be alone with God? Begin

this very minute, close your eyes and sit for a moment without

saying anything. Simply focus your heart on the Lord and the fact

that He loves you unconditionally. Then pray, asking Him for the desire to know Him better. That's a prayer He loves to answer.

Jesus, teach me to draw closer to You in every way. Amen.

- Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley.

How personal is your relationship with Jesus?

Your answer and mine is THE answer in the checks and balances of our lives.

Not to lift "Trusting God with Today" too high on a pedestal, but there's just some days the short devotional seems to be written with me in mind. So much so that I have bought copies for my Mom and 2 friends.

In our society we measure things in order to determine gains or losses. We measure to determine repeatability. We measure to determine health. We measure to determine duration of time. Measure, measure, measure.

A thing that is certainly different about a life in Christ is what is shown to be important to measure and what all the Bible says to stop measuring. We are to examine, aka measure, ourselves to see if we are in Christ. We are to examine, measure, our hearts to see if there be any hurtful way in them. We are to be looking to see if we are indeed growing in Christ or if we've deceived ourselves and have been backsliding...again through measuring.

I have countless ways to measure physical things. Innumerable rulers, gages, tape measures, yard sticks, folding rulers, calipers. Yet the only standard of measurement for the heart is Christ Himself. The only set of standards to follow are Christ Himself and what He did, what He said, and what He's done.

We start down the path of Intimacy with God by the very measuring stick of the Scriptures...Jesus. Scripture says that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We'll start with Truth.

We must be truthful with Jesus in order to start an intimate relationship with Jesus. There can be no falsehoods, no egos, nothing but the truth. An we must listen to Him in truth. He's not going to lie to us. He WILL tell us, show us, lead us, through what appears to be difficult, different, hard, complicated, times in our lives.

It's on us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

It's on us to pray for ourselves to be more like Jesus Christ. An for us to look, aka measure, our lives to see if we're making choices that uplift that path.

If we're uplifting anyone or anything else, the measurement is off.

We begin with honesty and truth. We stay in that. We then must make the choice to do what must be thought, said and done that is right in God's eyes, according to God's Word. Only then will the results show a path of righteousness that aligns with Jesus Christ.

Where is your intimacy with Jesus these days? Do you 'find time' to read, to pray, to think about God's Word or are you intentional about meeting with Him as with your most intimate friend?

Do you neglect to do any of these things? If so then for sure your measurements are going to be off.

You will not measure up to your calling in Christ Jesus.

You can make appointments to watch television or streaming or video games.

You can make appointments to be places and meet with people.

An you then and only then try to squeeze in a few moments with the One who saved you?

See how those priorities are wholly backwards?

Check your priorities.

Realign your ways.

Start measuring with Godly measurements...the Word of God, which: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

And think about "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25.

Because remember: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22:12-13.

How intimate, how close are you with Jesus?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Get into It

by David Brenneman

"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers." Psalms 1:1-3.

How often do really consider the ramifications of your actions in light of God's calling for you and your purpose in His plan for mankind? My Dear Reader, if indeed you are saved, you are on the clock concerning your part in God's plan for humanity. You were gifted with a gift or more from the Spirit of God upon coming to Christ for salvation. Do you take whatever you're called to be and do seriously?

The small phrase "meditates night and day" only appears twice in the NASB Bible. Here and in Joshua chapter 1.

It's going to mean not doing other things in order to create a new, good, wholesome, habit of being in the Word of God daily.

It's also our privilege to do so!

He who called you has not left you alone to figure it out or to fight the good fight by yourself. There's to be your desire to live a life pleasing, approved, of by God in Christ Jesus.

Our world puts every effort into trying to get people to put selfish desires first and foremost in life.

To put off perceived 'unpleasant' things. Especially to make spending time in your Bible as something either for those 'closer to God' or for when you can 'squeeze it in'.

Our happiness, our joy, should be found in Christ. Should be in doing what pleased Him to give to us to be doing.

We're not going to know if we're not in His Word to find out are we?

Do you not want to live a life pleasing to Jesus who bled and died for you? His obedience to His Father meant our salvation, so should we not make every effort to live in Christ in a way that shows it?

It may mean not pursuing certain things and in turn pursuing something we never considered. It may mean choices we never thought we would make. It's not about our personal comfort.

Sanctification is what our lives are rooted in.

Doing everything necessary to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Doing everything in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

The light of Jesus Christ in us should never be hidden or silenced.

Are you giving your best effort towards living for Jesus or have you been trying to skate by because you don't want to give up something or someone? Be very careful about what you hold on too tightly to. Sooner or later it will turn to ashes. If it's in the way of your life in Christ as He intended, it ought to go.

7 plus years and I am daily amazed at what God's doing with this blog. I pray over it, He does the global distribution. Remaining faithful is when we see the power of God in even the little things.

Are you like Isaiah and are eagerly wanting to serve and be who you are to be in Christ or are you going with a mistaken notion that if you don't raise your hand that maybe God won't notice you and volunteer you for anything? All who are in Christ are going to have things to go through in life in order to grow in Christ. It's never going to be all sunshine and rainbows.

Start with a set time, daily-not skipping days-and a set place. A chapter a day is a good pace. Be consistent. Pray before you start that the Spirit would talk to you about it. You have to start somewhere.

Personally I was afraid to read it at first many decades ago. An one day came where I realized that there would indeed be a day to stand before Jesus to give an account of my life and how was I going to explain never having read my Bible?

Today, I can't recall how many times I have read my entire Bible. Every time something new pops up from a page.

You need to start somewhere. Do YOU really want to explain your lack of being in your Bible?

Start today.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Obedience Starts with a Single Step

by David Brenneman

"Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 2 Kings 5:13.

Sometimes our greatest acts of faith will come through small steps of obedience. This was certainly true for the highly respected captain of the Syrian army named Naaman. He traveled to Israel and sought the prophet Elisha to be cured of his leprosy. However, Naaman felt insulted when Elisha sent a lowly servant to

instruct him to wash in the Jordan seven times.

Naaman was so outraged that he refused to perform the one act

that would save him from his very painful disease. Thankfully, his

servants confronted him in his pride and pointed out that the Lord had promised healing through that small step of faith. Naaman

realized that if he refused to humble himself before God, it could cost him his life. So he obeyed, and his flesh was made whole.

You may not pay attention to the little things God calls you to

do because they seem insignificant. However, you don't know the amazing way He may want to work through your obedience. Say yes to the Lord regardless of how small, mundane, dull, or inferior the task seems He will reward your humble steps of faith.

Jesus, whatever You command is great and worthy of my obedience, I will do as You ask, Amen.

Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley.

Many, many...many times in life we go forward in perseverance only by the taking of a single step.

We don't know what that single step will accomplish but when that step is for us to do because the Spirit says to take it...then you take it.

I can tell you all about what the day looked like when I was outside of my last employer. What's more important was that step outside was a step towards something not away from something. A step towards what was to be a time of growth in Christ that couldn't come any other way.

We can and will get confused by some of or maybe most of the steps that the Spirit directs us to take.

I can tell you most emphatically...do the right thing and respond with a heart of obedience to God regardless of how it appears to the world.

For many months leading up to that step into an unknown future, the passage that the Spirit brought time and time again was "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Each day after June 12th was a day of just asking God what was there for me to be doing. Whether or not I had an earthly employer or not all my work was to be done as unto the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24.

For you my Dear Reader it's never for you nor I to stand still in our walk with Jesus. Re-read Psalms 23. He leads, we follow. Where He says to rest, we rest. When He says it's time to move, we move.

We are to walk by faith and not by sight. Trusting God with all your heart. Not trusting what we perceive of our circumstances. There's no circumstances we can be in that God was ever unaware of.

We can choose to either trust Him and take whatever steps He's directing us to take or we choose to live with the consequences.

There's always consequences for obedience and consequences for disobedience. We reap what we sow more than we sow and much later than we sow. We either reap the benefits of God in our obedience or more lessons from God until we do.

The size of the step makes no difference. Just trust and obey.

Just do and be thankful.

My Dear Reader you're going to go through even a solid life in Christ and yet will spend eternity having what was really happening with you and others explained to you. In this here this now we can't comprehend it.

I found myself either just doing housework or fixing things. Found myself cleaning and organizing. Found myself working for people. Found myself resting. Found myself in various circumstances that otherwise I never would have had the chance to be in had I been employed. Found myself strengthening relationships. Found myself starting a few new ones. Found joy in just doing little things for strangers when out and about the city.

God's not going to lead you in some way that's not going to be in your best interests. He allows many things in order to grow us in Christ. Storms, not fairweather days, cause deep roots for a tree.

It's the storms that turn a man into a sailor and not just someone who can steer a ship. It's the battlefield that makes all the training given make sense to the soldier.

Listen and obey the Spirit of God when He tells you or takes you in the way you should go. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Walking by faith and not by sight.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

Listen and obey. Don't let your feelings get in the way. Truth is your feelings are responsible for many a failure of living out what Jesus wants for you. Look at the Disciples and how often they missed out because they let their feelings dictate their actions.

Pray, listen, obey. Repeat.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Monday, May 11, 2026

What is Your Desire of Your Heart?

by David Brenneman

"Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing." Psalms 37:4-8.

"Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3

"The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9.

What is the desire of your heart? Is it things, or people or perhaps experiences? What do you spend your time with thinking or doing?

What do you spend your money on?

These will give clues as to what your heart is preoccupied with.

How much of your time do you spend desiring to obey God?

How much of your time do you spend that has nothing to do with obeying God?

You're going to be intentional about one or the other.

These thoughts come on the heels of reading in Deuteronomy this morning. Moses was instructed in what to write for the current and future generations of the children of Israel. He was also told, and they heard in hearing it themselves, that not soon after they would enter into the Promised land that they would be enticed to turn away from the Lord and would indeed fall away from God. The desires of their hearts would be for anything and everything that was before their eyes. Various gods of the nations they were sent to destroy would become the desire of their hearts.

In our world idols and false gods are everywhere. Christians are not immune to the siren songs of these.

This is particularly why Paul, Peter, James, the writer of Hebrews, all point people to being steadfast in the Lord. Standing firm in the Lord.

Living a life of diligence, perseverance, in the Lord.

Moses entreated the children of Israel to not do what was foretold they would do. What we also see in those closing chapters of Deuteronomy were what the prophet Daniel saw of how and what to pray after the days of the 70 years were completed.

You, my Dear Reader, have before you both life and death. Living what the Bible teaches as a true life in Christ and that of living for self.

You, my Dear Reader, will give an account of your life before Jesus.

Of how you either lived for Him or lived for you.

Nothing in that account will be sugar coated. There will be no grading on a curve. There will be nothing but the truth of what our hearts were desiring while in our bodies.

We will see how we were deceived and how we deceived ourselves. In that moment we will see everything from the light of His truth.

There will be nothing hidden anymore.

We only think we get away with the lies we tell ourselves and tell others. We only think that there's no consequences.

Examine your desires. Examine your heart. Ask the Spirit of God to reveal the truth that we aren't telling ourselves.

Yes it keeps coming back to that. Our lying to ourselves.

“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds." Jeremiah 17:9-10.

"He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered." Proverbs 28:26.

Pray for:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalms 51:10.

At the end of the day we cannot trust ourselves but we can trust Him with whom we have to do.

Our lives are to reflect Christ to the world. If we're so wrapped up in fulfilling our desires for us the world will never see Jesus.

Think about that.

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’" Matthew 6:9-13.

"Lord, empty me of me, and fill me with more of you."

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Obedience by Being In God's Word

by David Brenneman

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

When we come to Christ for salvation there's a work began in us by our Savior Jesus Christ. We become his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.

We are given tasks and assignments that are for us to do that are going to both exercise and grow our faith.

The man of God...read that well if you, my Dear Reader happen to be a born again man. This isn't directed towards those Dear Readers who are born again women. As we read in his letters to Timothy and to Titus and can find in his many other letters...men are called to lead in the Church. Men are supposed to be the Godly teachers of the Word of God. Both in the home and in the Church. In his letter to Timothy Paul explains why.

So the thoughts to you, the men reading this this morning...what are you doing to live up to this God-given responsibility?

Are you striving to make what He wants of you your highest priority?

Are you intentional about learning from the Word of God so that you may be adequate, equipped for every good work?

Are you studying the Word of God to show yourself approved by Jesus?

The men of God are supposed to be at the heart of the growing Church.

We're not to be bench warmers.

We're not to leave it to others.

We're not to ever abdicate our role and responsibility that has been given to us in Christ.

Are you seeking to know and to understand God's Word? We read all of its benefits in that it is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;".

In reading verse 17 read it slowly. Note what it isn't saying. It's not referring specifically to Pastors or Elders. The man of God. The men of God.

We're to invest in the Word of God as if not only our lives but the lives we will encounter depend on our efforts.

If other extra-curricular activities are in your way then you really are not putting God first in your life.

All things that we put in higher importance than our relationship with Jesus can be removed by Him in an instant if we persist in them.

A Life Principle of Dr. Stanley's is that anything we hold too tightly to will turn to ashes.

The Spirit promises to teach us men if we commit the time and effort to learn.

Women aren't entirely left out of the learning. Women, as Paul wrote, are to teach other women as well as children...and only those two groups of people.

They too, by being in the Word of God daily, can grow with respect to their salvation and be prepared to teach other women and children.

We seem to, as you look at humanity as a whole, have no difficulty in committing to anything that we allow ourselves to desire.

In the life of a Christian our commitment ought to always be in obedience to God's Word.

Those who try to uphold any doctrines other than what is upheld by Scripture are, according to God's Word, cursed. Let them be accursed it says. These accursed people will be those whom Jesus says to "depart from Me for I never knew you".

The twisting of the doctrine of the Scriptures, the destruction of God's intention for marriage, family, and individuals is what Satan and his minions are all about.

We must be in the Word of God to learn how to live out our salvation in Christ and to be able to refute such lies with the Word of God.

Get with God's plan and purpose for you. Quit running from it if you have been. Do all that you do as unto the Lord as we read in these same life giving Scriptures.

Seek to be found obedient to God's Word and not be among the disobedient.

Do you want to be giving an account of your life whereby Jesus says "Well done!" or will you hear of how your ways were not what He wanted of you? That you wasted your lifetime of opportunities to do what you were called to be doing?

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. First, not after you get what you want.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." Psalms 32:8.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

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