2 Samuel 7 - Key

v18

Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who [am] I, O Lord GOD? and what [is] my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

When we seek the Lord and He answers us, we shouldn't take that for granted. Instead of just seeking the Lord long and hard for what we want, we should return and praise and thank Him for His response.

Interesting Note: I may be wrong, but this is the only place in the Bible where I noticed that it talks about somebody praying to the Lord, sitting down.

2 Samuel 6 - Key

v9

And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

We should have a correct understanding of the fear of the Lord: We should fear the Lord in such a way that we respect Him and take Him very seriously, and that we go away from sinning. However, we should not be afraid of the Lord in such a way that we don't receive Him and His ways into our lives. Otherwise, we will miss out on His blessings, like David did for a while here.

1 Corinthians 6 - Key

v11

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

We should remember that we have been forgiven of so much unrighteousness, and we should be thankful for it.

Application

I'll praise the Lord daily, as well as weekly, this week.

• Printer-Friendly Version

1 Corinthians 6 - Outline

v1-8

the need for believers to judge the issues of this life among themselves instead of looking to the world's courts

v9-10

the things in this list are truly unrighteous, and unrighteousness truly disqualifies us from inheriting God's kingdom

v11

we don't need to be that way any more

v12-20

flee fornication

Matthew 20:1-16 - Outline

v1

the comparison

v2

the agreement

v3-5

more workers came later

v6-7

why stay idle?

v8-10

expecting what was never promised

v11-16

God has enough mercy that more for others doesn't mean less for us

men of activity

Genesis 47

v6

The land of Egypt [is] before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest [any] men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

The Egyptians despised shepherds, but Joseph actually advised his brothers to be open with Pharaoh about who they were, in order to gain an advantage. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I should be pursuing activities of Christ (such as prayer, Bible study, and publishing the good news). Even if people around us generally look down upon people who do such things, some authorities of the world have respect for people who are actively engaged in some kind of organized activity. . .no matter what that activity is. That means that sometimes we can even win support and authority, from worldly authorities, by honestly and openly pursuing activities that are according to what we believe.

2 Samuel 5 - Key

v23

And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; [but] fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

Instead of just assuming that we should do the same thing every time, we should continue to inquire of the Lord about what to do. In order to be successful, we may need to alter our plans sometimes.

2 Samuel 4 - Application

v10

When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who [thought] that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

I'll think before I speak, to avoid telling a joke or saying something that I think I'll get something good out of... when it might actually be wrong to say it, and might end up making people mad.

1 Corinthians 5 - Summary

Outline

v1

immorality that unbelievers wouldn't even speak of, was well-known to be going on among believers

v2

adding insult to injury

v3-5

allowing physical loss for ultimate spiritual well-being

v6-8

unchecked sin spreads to other people

v9-11

issues of fellowship

v12-13

the need for some judgment in the Church

Key v6

Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

We should take sin seriously, realizing it's terrifying consequences.

Application

When it is the right time and the right way to do it, I'll be willing to talk to certain other people and ask they how they are doing with their issues.

• Printer-Friendly Version

Matthew 19:16-30 - Outline

v16-20

merely keeping the commandments was not sufficient

v21-22

the rich man's lack

v23-26

people too big and important to fit through the narrow gate

v27-30

the amazing promise that if we forsake these things to follow Christ, we will receive 100 times as much and more

2 Samuel 1 - Outline

v1-5

David waited to extract the details

v6-10

the Amalekite's story

v11-12

David and his men mourned and wept and fasted

v13-16

David had one of his men kill the Amalekite for saying he had slain the Lord's anointed

v17-27

David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan

1 Corinthians 4 - Key

v16

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

If somebody questions the authority of the writtings of Paul, in the Bible, here is a verse that begs us to follow him. Paul's writtings in the Bible are Scripture (2 Peter 3:15,16), and Scripture was spoken as the Holy Spirit moved holy men of God (2 Peter 1:20,21).

Application

v3

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

If a servant of the Lord comes to me with a message from the Lord, instead of trying to judge the messenger before I listen to the message, I'll make sure to judge myself. For the time being, at least, I can leave the judgment of those other perceived problems in the Lord's servant's life, to the Lord.

• Printer-Friendly Version

1 Corinthians 4 - Outline

v1-5

since Paul is like the Lord's accountant, then he is going to get a greater judgement from the Lord Himself, than any judgment that we might give him

v6-7

we shouldn't think we're better than other people, because we only have what has been given to us

v8

believers who are complacent in their prosperity, should consider the apostles

v9-13

the apostles aren't supposed to be like our rock-stars; they're supposed to be like our parents

v14-16

the apostles have sacrificed all of the good things in their lives, including their reputations, for our benefit; so, instead of arguing about which one of them is cooler, we should actually listen to them

v17

remember Paul's ways in Christ, that he teaches

v18-21

nobody wants there to be a need for chastisement, so we need to change our emphasis from cool-sounding words, into actions of the true power of holiness

like Joseph forgave his brothers

Genesis 45

v5

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

Joseph forgave his brothers so thoroughly, that he was more concerned about the harm that may come from them being grieved and angry with themselves! We too, should have great forgiveness for others--especially brothers.

1 Samuel 31 - Key

v4

Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

Saul's ultimate demise was that he gave up. There is this idea that some people seem to have, that God predestined Saul to be doomed to failure no matter what he did... and that, if we are not careful, the same thing could happen to us. But that is not what we see in this chapter; What we do see, is that God kept giving Saul opportunities to be saved, even right up to the end. It was God's mercy that Saul was only injured (though he was seriously injured) and not killed. He still could have repented at that point. The only reason that Saul was doomed and didn't repent, was because he stubbornly kept refusing to repent, all the way to the end.

Application

No matter who around him tried to help him (like David), or refused to cooperate with him harming himself (like his armor bearer), Saul kept following the paths of sin. He fought as hard as he could against the very people who could have saved him. Driven by presumptuous fears, and addicted to self-deception, Saul sinned yet again: Saul, (though it it true that he was injured by enemies), fell ultimately, by none other than his own hand. What you really need to make sure of, is that you don't become your own worst enemy, like Saul did. Don't listen to the lies from the enemy that life is hopeless and that we are doomed. Forget about the paranoia and dread that something terrible is inevitably going to happen to you...that is not from Christ, and it will only be true if you let it become a self-fulfilling prophesy. As long as you still have breath, take every chance that you can, to turn to Christ and repent. Never give up.

• Printer-Friendly Version

1 Samuel 31 - Outline

v1-3

the Philistines were winning

v4-6

ultimately, Saul destroyed himself

v7

when Israel saw that Saul and his sons died, they ran away and let the enemy take over

v8-10

when the enemies saw, they gloated

v11-13

when the valiant men heard, they honored their king.

1 Corinthians 3 - Key

v9

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

This last time through, I saw this with a new perspective: that we build others' lives, not just our own. We will suffer loss or be rewarded depending on what we build into the lives of other people.

Application

This makes me want to disciple other people better, feeling an amount of responsibility for the lives of other people that I encourage in Christ.

• Printer-Friendly Version

1 Corinthians 3 - Outline

v1-4

spiritual immaturity like strife, etc., keeps us from being able to learn greater things

v5-8

some people start the work, others help it along, but it is God's work

v9-15

we will suffer loss or receive a reward, depending on what we build into believers' lives

v16-17

we are the temple of God, so it would be the same as defiling the temple, if we defile ourselves

v18-20

it is better to be thought a fool by this world, and to have the wisdom of God, than to have the wisdom of this world and be a fool to God

v21-23

don't be arrogant about mere human people; because, the whole world is ultimately ours, but we belong to Christ

Matthew 18:21-35 - Outline

v21

Peter's question about how many times to forgive

v22

Jesus answered to forgive seventy times seven times

v23-25

a huge debt that the servant could not pay

v26-27

the effective method of intreaty for mercy, including worshiping the Lord

v28-30

the hypocrisy of us withodling forgiveness from others

v31

it will be found out

v32-33

we should forgive others as God has forgiven us

v34-35

if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us either

Judah's good example of intercession to Joseph

Genesis 44

v33

Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

We should be humble and willing to give and sacrifice of our own comfort and well-being to help and serve others.

1 Samuel 30 - Outline

v1-6

David was greatly distressed, but he encouraged himself in the Lord his God

v7-8

David inquired at the Lord, and the Lord answered him

v9-10

only two thirds of David's men were even strong enough to continue, but David continued to pursue

v11-15

what happens when people neglect somebody who seems unimportant, and what happens when people take good care of somebody who might seem unimportant

v16-19

the Amalekites got overconfident and were not prepared to deal with the consequences for what they had done

v20-25

David gave freely because he realized that the Lord had given them what they had (See v23)

v26-31

it is more blessed to give than to receive