Most of us eat every day, some of us too much because yesterday's food
is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do some
of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manna, the word of God to keep
us through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change all
of that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need to
live healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to your Daily Portion with your host,
author speaker, Elle David Harris. Good morning, Good morning, Good morning.
It is Monday, November thirteen, twenty twenty three. Hello, my
name is El David Harris. I am your host, and this is your
Daily Portion where we give you God's Word every single day, and today is
no exception. We are continuing in our Lesson study series. God's Mission,
My Mission. Our caption for today is Jesus's Method and Response. Jesus's Method
and Response. We'll get into that in just a moment, but first I'd
like to say welcome to you and ask you to go over to your Daily
Portion dot com, join our online community, pick up your Daily Portion book,
and also please let us know where you are in the world. There's
a little form there that says where are you in the world, And that
way we can continue to build faith and fellowship at your daily portion dot com.
Let's go ahead and pray and then we will get underway. Father in
Heaven, thank you for giving us this new day and for the privilege you
have entrusted to us to open up your word. And I'm asking you to
please fill us with your holy spirit. Teach us Jesus's method and mindset today
in Jesus name, I pray, Amen and a man again Jesus's method and
response. And of course there are people right now who are a part of
my saying faith fellowship, who are listening and hearing in their own minds.
Right in your minds, I know you're doing. It is from the book
Ministry of Healing, about Christ's method alone which will bring true success. That
is true, but that's not the quote that we're going with today. It's
a different discussion. Now. The Bible tells us that the lawyer, Remember
we were talking about it yesterday, the lawyer came to test Jesus right,
and so we talked about eternal life. We talked about some other things,
but he came to test Jesus. But Jesus knew what his intentions were.
So this is what we're talking about today. There are times that people will
be very inquisitive. There will be people who are philosophical, really religious,
like people who want to maybe sometimes and attempt to spiritually entrap you. I've
met with. I've encountered some people standing outside of churches and I'm like,
wow, why are you here? People who say that they worship God,
standing outside of churches while worship is happening, and trying to try people up
with all kinds of crazy inquisitive questions and have all sorts of books tucked up
under their arms that are not the Bible, and their arguments are really not
worship centric, but they're people centric, right, you know, those kinds
of people. Continuing in the lesson, it says, Indeed, God knows
the longings and desires of our hearts more than we ourselves do, and we
certainly do not know the heart and motives of those who question us, do
we. Now this is very important because many times I have been conducting Bible
classes and somebody will raise their hand and say, whatever how they reach you
know, however they call me, whatever name they use, and then they
say, so, if somebody asks this, then what is my response?
What should my response be? And I'm like, well, really and truly
I'm what people call the Bible guy, right, And yeah, I could
bury you with a long story of about what's true concerning the subject of the
question. But many times, well all the time, we need to first
pray and say, God, what would you have me to say? Right?
Because sometimes we're so quick to answer a question because we think it's just
a question. Right. What day is the Sabbath? The Bible says that
the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord died God. Okay, good?
What happens when people die? The Bible says that the dead know not
anything you know? And then we go down this sort of checklist of responses
based on the question. And what God wants us to do is rely on
him because sometimes the people who are asking questions don't even really know what they're
after. If they're trying to be you know, quirky and like the person
I described a little earlier, or if they have a longing deep in their
soul and they just really don't know how to communicate it. And so when
you pray. Somebody may ask one of those seemingly simple questions, and then
God, let you know in your spirit that wait a minute, this person
has this need, and here is the answer for that need. And it
may not have anything to do with the question. Not trying to overcomplicate it.
What I'm trying to do is simplified and say that God knows the longings
of our hearts, and our responses should be connected to what God would have
us to say or not to say. Okay, and so let's get some
action steps here based on the lesson study. Today, let's read from the
Book of Acts, chapter seventeen and verse eleven. This is describing a set
of people that we should really model our lives after. Just to be frank
and the Bible reads these individuals. These were the bareans, right, these
individuals, These were more noble than those in Thessalonaika in that they reset receive
the Word with all readiness of heart and mind. So this is what set
these individuals apart. These people receive the Word with thankfulness. These people receive
the Word with readiness of mind. Despite what the word was doing. Was
it correcting, was it instructing, was it chiding? Was it showing love
like? Depending on what the situation was, they still received all with readiness
of heart and mind. And this is what they also did, and searched
the scriptures daily whether those things were so. So. They didn't just take
the teachings that they were getting at face value. They didn't just say Okay,
because you said it, I believe it. No, they were searching
the scriptures and asking God, like, what is it that you would have
me to do? Is it that this person that I keep seeing on my
little phone every day yelling into the microphone on your daily portion is telling the
truth? Yes or no? And if yes, how do I apply it?
If no, I should shut it? I could shut I should shut
it off. I should shut it off, okay. And so the action
really is to approach the Bible with an open heart and an open mind,
ready to seek and find the truth daily. Yesterday's understanding is not good enough
for today. Stale and rotten food from three days ago or four days ago
is not good for today's meal. And I'm not saying that the word is
stale. That's never stale. It's always quick and sharper than any two edged
sword, which is why we get fresh understanding of the same word every single
day. But the way that we applied it yesterday to our lives may not
be sufficient for today, which is why we wake up every day with a
prayer on our minds and our hearts to say, Lord, please give us
your holy give me your holy spe spirit. Please teach me your word and
your way for my life today. So we examine the scriptures and have an
open mind to God for how to live and apply. Okay, the next
one comes from the Book of Two Timothy, chapter three and verse sixteen,
and it's familiar to many, and it's one of my favorites. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and it's profitable for doctrine or reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness. And then the next verse actually gives
more, but it will just pause right there. We need to trust God's
word as a true as the true foundation. Yes, when you hear a
voice saying this is the way, walk ye in it. If the way
points to the way that the scriptures say, then you know it's the voice
of God. Huh. You hear or experience some I don't know. I
don't want to really get too mystical here, but sometimes people have encounters.
Yeah, and when you have these encounters, measure it a against the Word.
Does this align with what God has already revealed? Yes? Or no.
If the answer is no, then you know it is not from God.
If the answer is yes in all points, then you move forward in
faith. Okay, And here are two two more one from the Book of
Psalms, chapter one hundred and nineteen, verse one oh five. Your word
is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Know that
the Word of God will guide us into light and to truth. So apply,
apply the biblical teachings, and then of course seek the Gospel truth with
everything that you have and everything that you are. I hope you have a
wonderful day. See you tomorrow. Peace. Thanks for joining us listening.
Friends. Always remember we cannot live by bread alone, but by every word
that comes from the mouth of God. This has been your daily portion with
l David Harris. Make it a great day. Yeah,