This sounds like a simple enough question.  Right?

For those who have already experienced truly walking with God by faith, the answer is a resounding, “Of course He does!”

God created us to SUCCEED…it’s His will for us!  His plans and His thoughts about us are ONLY good.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

As we think deeper about this question of success, we come to realize that real success can only be achieved when we apply ourselves to things that are righteous and in the will of God.

Yes! God wants both our short-term success AND our long-term success!  To assure us that we can achieve those two ends, God has already invested His most precious asset in us!  And, He continues to invest in us daily.

When we understand God’s agenda (i.e., His plan and His will), we are well on our way to a lasting success designed and being worked out by the Sovereign, Almighty God Himself.

One day, all the world will be offered the experience of true success.  Yes!  Success is on its way!

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Prayer plays such an important part in our relationship with God, it is important to periodically take a good inventory of how our prayer life is progressing.

Here are a few suggestions to help us all do just that!

• Realize that prayer is a great way to submit ourselves to God and to express our devotion to Him.
• Become more deeply aware of how much help, protection, and guidance God actually provides for us every day, and all the time.
• Also realize, the more we pray, the more assured we can be that God’s help, protection, and guidance are active in our lives.  The less we will be second-guessing ourselves in troublesome situations.
• Through an active prayer life, we can be sure that God is our Problem Solver as well as our Generous Provider!

We certainly want God to hear our prayers, just as the Psalmist prayed in Psalm 54:2 “Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.”

Please check out our Sermon entitled, “Prayer and Praise.”  We have provided the link for you.  We hope you will let the BIBLE SPEAK to you through this informative message.  Sermon: Prayer and Praise

Which of these has the greater authority in our lives?(1) Human philosophy (2) Reasoning (3) Tradition (4) Scientific “Fact” or (5) Biblical Truth, i.e., the Word of God?

Can we all emphatically answer that God’s Word has the greatest authority in our lives, affecting every decision we make?

The Word of God has many who twist it, mock it, malign it, hate it, and others who ignore it.  But, none of these approaches to the Word of God will ever destroy it.

It is the Word that is able to make us wise unto salvation. (2 Timothy 3:15).  It is also the Word  that lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23).

So, why are there so many people who do not believe or appreciate God’s Word? The Bible itself points us to the answer:

• Although the Word of God was written down and translated multiple times by humans, it is still the Word of God.

• God INSPIRED it (2 Peter 1:21).

• The words our Savior spoke are “spirit” and they are “life” (John 6:63).

• The “spiritual” Word of God is spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).  For someone to truly understand the Word, God must provide spiritual access.

Do we get the point?  What do we really use for our decision making authority and direction?  The Word of God must be our foundation for right knowledge, i.e., truth.

Have you noticed how many “different” Bibles are available these days?  There are Bibles “designed” for children, teenagers, women, men, business people and many other groups.  Several years ago, a “Green Bible” was printed for “conservationists” (what their detractors call “tree-huggers”).  And, while this might be an effective way to get more people to read the Bible, true disciples of Jesus Christ and serious students of the Bible need to understand what is also being done under the guise of growing interest in the Book.

Words (and whole passages) are being “spun” and sometimes even being deliberately changed to manipulate the ideas and concepts God wanted preserved in Scripture.

Here’s a Bible news flash for all those who think it’s a good thing to put a “spin” on various passages and manipulate the Word of God for their own agenda: The Word belongs to God.  He inspired it.  He preserved it. The truths contained in it will not disappear.

And, the Bible speaks of its own permanence.  It provides its own warnings for those who truly alter God’s Word and try to take advantage of the new believer or the uninformed reader.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.

You may have heard recently of the Pacific Ring of Fire.  Japan lies along this well known Ring of Fire.  A map of this area can be seen at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire and

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12710999

The recent earthquake in Japan happened on the “Japan Trench.” How does the recent earthquake affect the Ring of Fire?  Perhaps, we should take notice (i.e., WATCH!).  The floor of the Pacific Ocean is being pulled underneath Japan and towards Eurasia. Scientists speculate based on the size of the earthquake that the fault may have ruptured about 500 K.

We need to watch.   However, let us not be troubled or anxious. The Bible speaks of great earthquakes in different places.  These events are significant signs of our time.

Luke 21: 9-11 9But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

While the world is so focused on the massive tragedies occurring in Japan, the rest of the world is showing significant signs of trouble, also.  We need to be closely watching and praying.  The Bible contains some very explicit verses that contain these directives! Here are a few: Mark 13:33, Mark 14:38, Luke 21:36, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, 1 Peter 4:7.

So, what do we watch, and what do we pray about? In summary, we can say we need to “watch what’s going on!”  And, as for what to pray about, the list is possibly endless.  But, here is a great Bible instruction on where to start.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 ¹I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;²For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;⁴Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.⁵For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;⁶Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

God cares about everything that’s going on, and about everybody, even those who do not yet know Him.

Recently, I came across an article that purported to “correct”our teaching that UNLEAVENED bread should  be eaten during the Days of UNLEAVENED Bread.  The author concluded that because Jesus is the only truly UNLEAVENED human Who ever lived, we should eat LEAVENED (yes, that is what he said we are to eat) bread to show our need for His salvation.  And, of course, disciples of Jesus Christ know He truly was UNLEAVENED.  (Thank God for our miraculous salvation through Him).

Now, that kind of human “reasoning” MIGHT make some kind of “sense” if we IGNORE what the Bible tells us to do. So, what does the Bible clearly say?

In Leviticus 23:6, Moses wrote (as the Spirit of God moved him…see 2 Peter 1:21), And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

Clearly, that’s a straight forward description of what kind of bread we should be eating during the seven days of the feast of the first month.  But, let us look at a few more places (Scriptural Witnesses) to let the Bible speak for itself:

Exodus 12:15  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread….

Exodus 13:6-7 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread….Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days….

Exodus 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

Exodus 34:18 The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

Other clear Scriptural descriptions:Numbers 28:17; Deuteronomy 16:3, 8; 2 Chronicles 30:21, 2 Chronicles 35:17; Ezra 6:22; Ezekiel 45:21.

Is this sufficient to prove the point?  God knows what He is doing.  If He wanted us to eat LEAVENED bread during the holy day season of the first month, He is entirely capable of writing those words CLEARLY in HIS WORD.