Isaiah 55:11 Message So are the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Message Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another--showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way.

Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

2 Peter 1:19-21 Message We couldn't be more sure of what we saw and heard--God's glory, God's voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You'll do well to keep focusing on it. It's the one light you have in the dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts.

The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophesy of Scripture is a mater of Private opinion.

And Why? Because it's not something concocted in the human heart. Prophesy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God's Word.

How to hear and understand the Gospel

GOD Confronts Job

Have You Gotten to the Bottom of Things?

Job 38:1-2 And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:

"Why do you confuse the issue? Why do you talk without knowing what you're talking about?

God's Second Set of Questions

I want Straight Answers

Job 40:6-7 GOD addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said;

"I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers.

Job 42:4-7 I admit it, I was the one, I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head.

You told me,"Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.

I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand-- from my own eyes and ears! I'm sorry--forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise! I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor."

GOD Restores Job I will accept his Prayer

After GOD had finished addressing Job, he turned to Eliphaz the Temanite and said, "I've had it with you and your two friends. I've fed up! You have not been honest either with me or about me--not the way my friend Job has.

Romans 10:14-17 But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust, if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them?

And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That's why Scripture exclaims, A sight to take your breath away! Grand processions of people telling all the good things of God!

But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another; "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?"

The point is; Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to.

Acts 26:17-18 "'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God.

I'm sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.'

Here is Today's Message

Romans 15:1 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us.

Nothing But the Cross

Galatians 6:1-2 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into
sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out.
Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law.

Galatians 6:4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others.

Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

God Is Kind, But Not Soft

Romans 2:1-11 Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you
think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors.

But God isn't so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you've done.

You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing you finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?

Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.

You're not getting by with anything, Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it's going to blaze hot and high. God's fiery and righteous judgment.

Make no mistake; in the end you get what's coming to you--Real Life for those who work on God's side, but on those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire!

If you go against the grain, you get splinters, regardless of which neighborhood you're from, what your parents taught you, what schools you attended.

But if you embrace the way God does things, there are wonderful payoffs, again without regard to where you are from or how you were brought up.

Being a Jew won't give you an automatic stamp of approval. God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up his own mind.

Ephesians 4:25-28 What this adds up to, then, is this; no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all.

When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.

Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry--but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry.

Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs.

And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.