On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding (Proverbs 10:13).
Those who are wise are discerning.
Wisdom — Proverbs 10:13
Reply
Category Archives: Devotional Life
18 Facets of Importune Prayer
Here, in summary, are eighteen facets of importune prayer that I have written about in my book Principles of Prayer. Importune prayer…
- is an appeal to the friendship of God for our friends.
- goes beyond friendship.
- keeps asking with a shameless boldness.
- keeps increasing in intensity.
- is never discouraged.
- is prayer that would wear out and trouble any person of this earth.
- is prayer at all times, even in difficult times.
- is prayer that cries out in desperation for an urgent need.
- persists in asking even when God seems distant.
- is always with great faith.
- is prayers that is made out of a genuine concern for its object.
- is prayer that has a concern for righteousness and for God’s reputation.
- is prayer with a fearless boldness.
- is motivated out of a fear of God’s wrath.
- has a sacrificial passion and love for people.
- is prayer that has an…
View original post 59 more words
Persistent Prayer: Demonstrated In the Parable of the Persistent Widow – Luke 18:1-8
Luke 18:1-8
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son…
View original post 434 more words
Wisdom — Proverbs 9:10-12
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it (Prov. 9:10-12).
Wisdom begins by fearing the Lord and by knowing Him. If you acquire wisdom you will have long life.
Hope for the Persecuted
We are living in a time–right now–when many are being persecuted for dong what is right (you know what that is). Jesus said that they (we) are blessed, and we are to rejoice and be glad–because we have a great reward in heaven.
Matt 5:10-12
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Icicle Fingers
What do you see? I see an ice hand with three fingers.
Here’s another three fingered ice hand. Oh, that’s my truck in the background.
Here’s a very odd looking icicle with a growth on the side.
Wonderful icicles. They are all different. No one is the same. God smiles.
Wisdom — Proverbs 8:24-36
“When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25 “Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was brought forth;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27 “When He established the heavens, I was there,
When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became fixed,
29 When He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
30 Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having my delight in the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,
For blessed are they who keep my ways.
33 “Heed instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34 “Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35 “For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord.
36 “But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death” (Prov. 8:24-36).
Wisdom was a master workman when God created the universe. She was daily God’s delight, who rejoiced always before Him.
Importunity in Prayer Demonstrated In the Parable of the Importunate Friend – from Luke 11:5-10
The simplest definition of importunity is persistent and urgent asking. Importune prayer then is persistent and urgent; it is prayer that pleads with God and asks Him repeatedly for the things we need.
This kind of praying may seem selfish and perhaps childish, but it really isn’t because it is prayer in the will of God and is usually for others instead of self. In fact, the source of this kind of prayer is right from the heart of God. It is how the Holy Spirit pleads and prays for us (Rom. 8:26). It is how God persistently and urgently seeks us out, speaks to us, and constantly seeks to help us and love us (Jer. 31:3, Jn. 6:44). Thus, when I pray with importunity, I pray for myself and for others the same way and with the same heart as the Holy Spirit does. I follow after His prayers. …
View original post 860 more words
Armageddon – A Great Earthquake
It seems to me, according to Revelation 16:16 and following, that sometime after the gathering of the armies of the world, this great shaking will begin, followed by all the results of it. I suppose we can’t be certain when exactly it will begin, but I would guess that it will be sometime around the beginning of the Armageddon war and will continue at least until Christ appears in the sky (Matt. 24:30). For just before He appears, verse 29 tells us that “the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
I don’t think we can be absolutely sure that this so called “great earthquake” is in fact what we know of as an earthquake. The Greek word seimos, translated in verse 18 as “earthquake,” literally means “a shaking.” And when “great” is added it means “a great shaking,” or a great shaking of the earth.
But what else could it be besides an earthquake? Well, Hal Lindsey said that this shaking could be the result of “a fullscale nuclear exchange.” He said, “I believe that when these powers [of the world armies] lock forces here, there will be a fullscale exchange of nuclear weapons, and it’s at this time that ‘the cities of the nation’s fall.’”1
Now we can’t be sure that there will be nuclear weapons used; however, I think it is more likely than not that they will be used. And it is my guess that they will use them earlier rather than later. In fact, why would they shoot nuclear rockets at each other if they are going to battle anyway. Hence, it would make more sense to use them before they gather for a battle. Also, I have a feeling that it is likely that a nuclear attack will trigger an earthquake—the large earthquake mentioned in verse 18. And then, as the Scripture indicates, the cause of it will be the destruction of all cities (and all buildings), and the shifting of the land masses, so that all islands and mountains will plunge beneath the earth.
And while this destruction is happening, there will be thunder and lightning and hail like people have never seen before—hail about three feet in diameter, weighing up to one hundred pounds each. My question is: how in the world will the military forces be able to manage battling each other with all of this commotion and destruction all around them?
1 Hal Lindsey, There’s A New World Coming, p. 214.
Wisdom — Proverbs 8:12-23
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, hate.
14 “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
15 “By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 “By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 “I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 “Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.
20 “I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 “From everlasting I was established,
From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth (Prov. 8:12-23).
In summary,
Wisdom is to be prudent;
It acts with knowledge, discretion, and understanding.
By wisdom kings and princes rule and reign.
All who seek her will find her.
Wisdom has a wonderful reward;
It is better than gold and silver.
To know wisdom is to know the way of the Lord.
Stephen Nielsen 