Purpose of the gifts

1 Corinthians 14:4-6

4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 

5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?

1 Corinthians 14:12 

So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:17 

You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

1 Corinthians 14:24 

But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all,

1 Corinthians 14:26 

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

1 Corinthians 14:31 

For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

Romans 12:3 

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Hebrews 13:20-21

20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 

21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Thoughts on Today's Verse....

A good shepherd equips his sheep to face the trials of life. But as Psalm 23 reminds us, no shepherd equips his sheep quite like the ultimate Shepherd. Let's unleash his power in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ by specifically praying for God to equip them with everything they need to do his good work!

Ways of Dealing with Sin

What is sin?	Romans 14:12-23
Transgressions of the Law	1 John 1:3-4
Thought  of foolishness	Proverbs 24:9
Whatsoever is not faith	Romans 14:23
2) The harvest of sin	Galatians 6:6-10
3) Confessing sin	1 John1:5-10
4) Cleansing from sin	Isaiah 1:16-20
5) The Blessedness for forgiveness	Psalm 32:1-7
New creatures in Christ	2 Corinthians 5:14-19

Small Prayers

Repeat these Prayers.

Father, I confess that I have let my own over-sensitive self be wounded and have reacted with pettiness when my brothers and sisters in Christ have not treated me as I felt I deserved. I know Jesus was treated so rudely and shamefully by those he created and so I shouldn't be surprised when things don't always go well for me. But Father, please help me to know when to challenge those who wound me with a loving confrontation and when to just ignore the barb and find a way to minister to them because of some deeper wound has crippled them in their life. Father, let me be an instrument of your peace, harmony, grace, and unity. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Almighty Creator, Majestic Architect and Eternal Engineer, it absolutely bewilders and delights me to know that you care for me. With all the things of such vast importance, I find your desire to know and love me humbling and assuring. Today I will worship, work, and witness, aware of your presence and care. Thank you, dear Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Father, please strengthen me through your Spirit so that I may gain better control of my passions, my speech, my example, and my habits. Help me put to death the things that would rob me of my spiritual passion and my influence for good to those who do not know Jesus. Make my faith stronger as I try to lovingly treat others and persevere in faith through difficult times. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Almighty God, I want you to truly be God in my life. I renounce any attempt on my part to try to manipulate or use your grace and kindness for my benefit. I submit my will to yours. But Holy Father, I confess that I struggle at times with my own selfish and evil desires that lead me astray. Please forgive me when my heart is cold and my ears are deaf to your will. Please, take control of my life today. Through Jesus my Lord, and in his name, I ask you to assert your will as God in my life. Amen.

Holy Lord, conform my heart, my words, my life, my ministry, and my actions to those of Jesus. I want him to be my Lord, not just in my words but also in my life. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.

Overcoming pride

Psalms 131:1-3 

1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.

Mark 9:33-37 

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 

34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 

37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Luke 14:7-11 

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 

8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 

9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 

10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Old Age, Attainment Of

Genesis 5:5 

Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

Genesis 9:29 

Altogether, Noah lived 950 years, and then he died.

Genesis 6:3 

Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

Genesis 11:10-25 

10 This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. 

11 And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

12 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. 

13 And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber. 

15 And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg. 

17 And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu. 

19 And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug. 

21 And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. 

23 And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. 

25 And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:7-8 

7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.

Things Men Can Do

Forsake the covenant

Deuteronomy 29:25  

And the answer will be: “It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt.

Forsake God

Deuteronomy 32:15  

Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior.

Judges 10:10  

Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”

1 Kings 11:33  

I will do this because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molech the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in my ways, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my statutes and laws as David, Solomon's father, did.

2 Kings 22:17  

Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’

2 Chronicles 12:5  

Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.’”

Isaiah 1:4  

Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

Forsake commandments 

1 Kings 18:18  

“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the LORD's commands and have followed the Baals.

Events after the Millennium

Luke 20:42-47 

42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand

43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 

46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 

47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

John 12:48 

There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.

Acts 17:31 

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

1 Corinthians 3:17 

If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 4:5 

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

1 Corinthians 6:13 

“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Galatians 6:7 

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Galatians 6:9 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Colossians 3:25 

Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Some Special Readings for Special Days

New Year’s Dad - Colossians 3:5-17

Epiphany - Matthew 2:1-12

Martin Luther Kings, Jr. Day - Exodus 3:1-22

Valentine’s Day - 1 Cor. 13, 1 John 4:7-21

Ash Wednesday - Psalm 51, Joel 2:12-19, Matthew 6:1-6, James 1:12-18

Palm Sunday - Mark 11:1-11, John 12:12-19

Holy (Maundy) Thursday - John 13:1-17, 34. Psalms 116, Matthew 26:26-30

Good Friday - John 18:1-19, 42. Psalms 22 Isaiah 52:13, 53:12

Easter - Matthew 28 Luke 24, John 20, Acts 10:34-43, Psalms 33

Passover - Exodus 12

Mother’s Day - 1 Samuel 1:1-28, Proverbs 23:22-25, 31:10-31, Luke 1:25-26

Pentecost - Acts 2:1-11

Father’s Day - Proverbs 4, 20:7, Luke 15:11-32

Independence Day - Psalms 33

Labor Day - Genesis 1:26-2:4

Grandparents Day - Psalm 28

World Communion Sunday - John 10:1-16

All Saints Day - Hebrews 11

Stewardship Day - Matthew 25:14-29, 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Election Day - 1 Peter 2:13-17

Veterans Day - Isaiah 2:1-5

Bible Sunday - 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Thanksgiving Day - Deuteronomy 8:1-10, Psalms 65, 67

First Sunday in Advent - Matthew 24:36-44, Luke 21:25-36, Psalm 25

Second Sunday in Advent - Malachi 3:1-5, Matthew 3:1-2, Psalm 85

Third Sunday in Advent - Isaiah 12:1-6, Matthew 11:2-19, Luke 3:7-18, Philippians 4:4-9  

Fourth Sunday in Advent - Isaiah 7:10-17, Micah 5:2-5, Luke 1:26-56, Psalm 89:1-18

Christmas Day - Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25, John 1:1-18, Titus 3:4-7

Personal Birthday - Psalm 139 & 145.