October 1, 1973 Zech. 10-12, Ps. 126, Luke 14

This verse in Zechariah bring out the personalities of the Godhead (Zech. 10:12). God the Father, or God the Holy Spirit is here talking about Jesus, I believe.

*Wow – Zech. 11 I feel like God is talking directly about the problem of leadership and union that we are having in Young Life. Lord, I’m still kind of vague about what to do…

Zech. 12:10 – Neat prophecy about both Jesus and the Comforter. 

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting” (Ps. 126:5).

Luke 14:33 – “So therefore no one of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his possessions.” This verse really stings, and for some reason I don’t want to compromise it in my mind.

+ I believe there is going to come a time in my life when I will be free to stand obediently on this verse.

October 2, 1973 Zech. 13-14, Ps. 147,134, Luke 15

Some neat prophecies here. Zech. 13:1 is about the Holy Spirit, “the fountain,” and vs. 7-9 are about the master plan of salvation through the death of Jesus.

Zechariah was a very hard book for me to understand.

+ PRAISE I such a wonderful thing! It’s even fun to do!! I am so happy and strong now that I am FREE to praise the Lord.

Psalm 134:2 – “Lord up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the Lord.”

Luke 15. This really is the “love chapter” of Luke, the discourse by Jesus on the great love that the Father has for us expressed in the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son.

*This is my last week of work and then I can study again. I’m very excited, Lord. You and me. It’ll be so wonderful. I’m just falling in love with your Word.

October 3, 1973 Ez. 5-6, Ps. 138, Luke 16

The Jews finish the rebuilding of the Temple because God was on their side influencing the powers (Ps. 127:1).

*Luke 16:11 – “If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous Mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you.” I have SO much to learn about the use of money. God wants me to consider Him in every use of my financial resources.

Luke 16:19-31 is a good parable about the reality of heaven and of hell, and of the “great chasm” (v. 26) between them.

+ Lord, I feel convicted this morning about the use of money and some of the principles that are involved in finances in your Word. Teach me please to be at real ease about money. Teach me to GIVE regardless of what I have. And teach me to be totally dependent on You to meet my needs.

October 4, 1973 Esther 1-2, Ps. 150, Luke 17

Esther is just like a Grimm’s fairy tale or something. I wonder why the Lord included it in the Bible?

Luke 17:6-10 – There’s a great truth here about service that is connected verse 6 about having the faith of a mustard seed. When you use faith, we MUST see the result purely by the chain of authority. Boy, there’s a lot I don’t understand here, especially verse 37.

+ I’m really learning something which kind of hurts. I’m learning that I don’t know everything that I thought I did.

October 5, 1973 Esther 3-6, Luke 18

Here is an interesting phrase, “their laws are different from those of other people” (Es. 3:8). We Christians are different. We just are not like other peoples in pleasures and desires.

Luke 18:1-8 – God has been doing so much speaking to me about the necessity of faith and here is a beautiful parable of Jesus that brings it out again. The Lord wants us to really strive with Him in prayer, but to always offer the prayer in FAITH.

Luke 18:14 – “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” + I hear you, Lord…All week.

October 6, 1973 Es. 7-10, Luke 19

Es. 8:17 says that many people “became Jews” in Babylon. *One is not a Jew by birth, but my choice–same as being a Christian.

Luke 19:44 – “the time of your visitation.” Wow. What profound words these are. God Himself had visited the planet Earth and they did not receive Him.

Lord, I feel kind of blah. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.

October 7, 1973 Ezra 7-8, Luke 20

The testimony of Ezra I pray will be my testimony – Ezra 7:10 – “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel.”

*I really want to be a student and servant of Your word, Lord Jesus.

Ezra and his returning party fasted and prayed for a safe journey before they set out for Jerusalem (Ezra 8:21-25). Neat principles of humility and dependence here.

Luke 20:34-46 – there will be no marriages in heaven. Luke 20:38 – “Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to Him.”

October 8, 1973 Ez. 9-10, Ps. 131, Luke 21

Ezra prays a real beautiful prayer here to God and the thing that stands out about it to me is the real HONESTY that he portrays. He doesn’t work around the fact that the people have sinned but admits and remains in his guilt. 

+We’ve got to be honest in prayer before God.

Luke 21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that her desolation is at hand.”

*War broke out in the Middle East on Saturday.

I really like this chapter in Luke, a dissertation by Jesus on the signs that will accompany His return. As for my role is concerned, I see these things:

1. He wants me to testify for Him by the immediate utterance of the Holy Spirit (vs. 13-15).
2. He wants me to remain strong, seeing Him through to glory (v. 19),
3. He wants me to be a man of prayer (v. 36).

Oct. 9, 1973 Nehemiah 1-2, Ps. 133, Luke 22

Neh. 1: 5 – God wants our love. Neh. 2:4 – the quick prayer. Nehemiah, on the spot, prays to God for guidance. Here’s a neat verse about the way God guides us (Neh. 2:12): “I did not tell anyone what my God had put into my mind.”

*God leads us by impression.

Ps. 133 – what a neat little song. Boy does this remind me of the wonderful year that Steve, Dave, Wally and I had last year.

Luke 22 – So much came to me as I read this chapter. I think these verses of encouragement strike me the most: Luke 22:31 – “Ron, Ron, behold Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Oct.10, 1973 Neh. 3-4, Luke 23

A lot of heavy things on my mind are preventing me from enjoying these chapters, especially Luke 23.

+ Lord, you’ve got to give me a new peace of mind about C. I just can’t take the rejection anymore. I just can’t bear it, not being able to give myself like I long to do…even this minute. But Lord, bless her where she is right now. Tell her how much you love her and how much I do too. Either that or change my heart. Please Lord.

Oct.11, 1973 Neh. 4-6, Ps. 146, Luke 24

Nehemiah was a very kind and wise leader of the people. Makes me wonder about our government and the scandals that are being exposed to the eyes of the nation [Watergate]

I’ve been thinking lately about the “spirit” of man and here’s a verse: (Ps. 146:4) – “His spirit departs, he returns to the earth” (about the unsaved man).

Luke 24 – the resurrection of Jesus. Verse 27 & 45 tell about a couple of Bible studies I would have loved to have been in! This whole chapter seems very mysterious, shrouded with mystery. *God really wants to see our faith, doesn’t He?

Oct. 12-13, 1973 Neh. 7-10, Acts 1-2

Neh. 8:6 – “The Ezra blessed the Lord the Great God. And all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen,’ while lifting up their hands.” It’s very Scriptural to raise your hands up to God in prayer – “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). *So that’s where the song comes from.

Neh. 8:18 – “And he read from the book of the law of the Lord daily.” *A quiet time with God is so important every day.

In Neh. 10 here, all the people made a promise with God to do what He says and to obey his laws. Kind of neat the way they did it. They “separated themselves.” I really think God wants us in action and in thought to come out of the world’s ideas and follow His Word. I know it.

Out of these magnificent opening chapters of Acts, 42-47 of chapter 2 really impressed me. Here was the picture of God’s original body:

1. They received great teaching and enjoyed great fellowship with each other.
2. They remembered the Lord’s Supper often, even in their private homes.
3. They were real prayer people.
4. They shared all their worldly possessions in common, according to the need.
5. They ate their meals together. 
6. They had one mind about things. 
7. They were very happy, thanking and praising God.
8. *They didn’t turn anybody off. They had favor with the people.
9. People were being saved every day.
10. Mighty miracles and signs were taking place.

Lord, I long to see this type of unity and togetherness and power. Why couldn’t we be the same way today [as I experienced three months later in Hurlach, Germany].

Oct. 14, 1973 Neh. 11-12, Ps. 1, Acts 3

*Here’s a lesson in faith from Acts 3. Peter and John encounter a crippled man in the temple, and without him asking for healing, or the evidence of any faith on his part, in the NAME OF JESUS and by the faith of Peter and John, the man is made completely whole.

Acts 3:16 explains that the faith that healed this man was the faith of Jesus, through Peter and John. 

Here’s a neat salvation verse to memorize: “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

Lord, I’m kind of tired tonight, but I get to speak for you, so I pray You will REFRESH me.

Oct. 15, 1973 Neh. 13, Mal.1-2, Acts. 4

Nehemiah was very strict, keeping diligently to the standard of holiness that God had ordained through the law. Nehemiah was very concerned with PURITY of the people. He’s a good example for me here.

Mal. 1 – what a personal chapter on the wholeheartedness and sincerity of mind that God wants from His people—not ritual. The testimony of Levi (Ma. 2:6) – “True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness and he turned many away from iniquity.”

*If we walk by the Spirit, we will not be unfaithful (Ma. 2:15, compare to Rom. 8:14).

Acts 4 – Reading these accounts of the Early Church just overwhelms me.

+ I long so desperately to see the power of the Holy Spirit here in Port Orchard, amongst us, where every need would be met (Acts. 4:34).

Oct. 16, 1973 Mal. 3-4, Ps. 148, Acts 5

“For I the Lord do not change” (Heb. 13:8 and Mal. 3:6).

“But for you who fear My Name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go forth and skip like claves from the stall” (Mal.4:2).

*Acts 5:20 – “Go your way. Stand and continue to speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” Lord, I believe this is your word of encouragement for me to stay in Young Life right now. I believe you want me to speak also. If so, Lord, please break some chains that are holding me back.

The early disciples had a house-to-house ministry. I wonder if we should go door-to-door with tracts on Halloween. Is this an encouragement, Lord? I know we’ve got to do more of this. I’ll throw it out to the group.

Lord, help me today to organize myself into a schedule for the next couple of months. I’m doing it for You. Please guide me.

Oct. 17, 1973 Job1-2, Acts. 6-7

God allowed Satan to test Job here, but I wonder if He doesn’t do this anymore under the new covenant? I don’t think so. *Job is an awesome example of FAITH.

Stephen must have been quite a guy. He was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit,” and “full of grace and power.” He was full of grace—I’ve never thought about this.

What a beautiful short history of the Jews Stephen gives, ending it by declaring the activity of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus, that they are now rejecting.

“However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands” (Acts 7:48). And “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).

+ Lord Holy Spirit – May I not resist You but be a channel of your glory for Jesus.

Oct. 18, 1973 Job 3, 4, Acts. 8,9

Job reflects here that the babies due at birth or are miscarried go to be “at rest.” *Child death means comfort in God’s kingdom.  Here in chapter 4, I think the Holy Spirit passes by Job—he has a quiet encounter with God Himself. 

*Acts 8:6 – “And the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip as they heard and saw the signs that he was performing (John 10:37,38).

+ Lord, make these wonderful accounts of your men and women real in my ministry.

Peter here heals a paralytic and raises a woman from the dead. Lord, I don’t know what it’s going to take and why, but I’m beginning to see the power you want each of your people to have to accomplish your work on this earth. All we need to do is use the FAITH that you have given us. May I start today.

October 19, 1973 Job 5, Ps. 108, Acts 10-11

Eliphaz the Temanite says that God has “reproved” Job and is disciplining him, but that’s not true. It was Satan who has afflicted him.

Job 5:24 – “And you will know that your tent is secure.” *Why do I fear things when I really know that I live on the rock of Christ?

Ps. 108:1 – My heart is steadfast, O God. I will sing, I will sing praises even with my soul.”

Acts 10:38 – “You know of Jesus of Nazareth how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” *Memorize.

Nothing else fresh here. I have some things on my mind now, but I’ll wait for your answers, Lord.

October 20, 1973 Job 6-8, Acts. 12

Right now, Lord, I feel at a real low ebb spiritually. I’m uncertain about the past, confused about the present and disillusioned about the future. People in my life and my own calling are bringing me down. I’m just down…and I know in my heart that I shouldn’t be.

“Restore unto me, O Lord, the joy of your salvation, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:12).

Job—I’m reading an appropriate book (6:10) – “But it is still mu consolation and I rejoice in unsparing pain that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.” *I must cling to my confession of faith.

*Job 8:21 – This is for me! “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting.” 

Prayer is so mysteriously important. Most of the time it seems to me like it does no good, but I know that’s not true. Look here what it did for Peter.

*Acts 12:15 – Do each of us really have an angel (guardian angel)? This here seems to imply something to that effect.

October 21, 1973 Job 9-10, Acts. 13-14

Job is really confused. He thinks God has done this whole thing to him to the point where his faith is dwindling. He’s starting now to even doubt the justice of God, saying, “He destroys the guiltless and the wicked,” not realizing his foe, the devil. Sounds like he doesn’t even know about Satan when he declares, “If it is not Him, then who is it? (Job 9:24).

Job relates well the battle I sometimes experience—that of not wanting to make a mistake and being worried about it. *BUT IN JESUS CHRIST we are set FREE from this!! Hallelujah!

God destroyed seven nations in bringing His people into Canaan. Seven nations of giants?

Acts 24:9 – Seems to indicate here that a diseased person must have faith to be healed, not just the faith of the disciple.

*A few interesting things:

1. They pray a lot with fasting (13:3, 14:23).

2.  Elders appointed in each church.

      3. The importance of continuing faith.

Oct. 22, 1973 Job 11-12, Acts. 15-16

Job 11:13-19 – This is for me! Thank you, Jesus, for helping me decide to clean up my moral life: *“If you would direct your heart right, lift up your face without moral defect, then your light would be brighter than noon day, and you would look around rest securely.”

This sound like the political mess we’re in today. “He deprives of intelligence the chiefs of the earth’s people and makes them wander in pathless waste. They grope in darkness with no light, and He makes them stagger like a drunken man.”

Acts 15 – Jerusalem Council. (v. 11) – “But we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus. Paul and Silas were very sensitive to the leadings and followings of the Holy Spirit. This is something I must learn to do, to be constantly under the guidance and revelation of the Spirit of Christ. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of the Lord, these shall be sons of God” (Rom. 8:14).

Oct. 23,1973 Job13-14, Acts 17-18

Job 13:15 – “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.”

God has determined how long each of us is to live. He knows our allotted months (14:5). Job seems very bitter, but he always returns to his position of faith.

*Acts 17:1-3 – I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea that God works in different ways in different places. There are no allusions to Paul doing any miracles here, just using reasoning and dialogue.

+ Our Message: Why Jesus died and rose from the dead.

In God we “live, move, and exist” (17:28).

Apollos must have been quite a guy. He was “fervent in spirit,” but he was open to learn and be a disciple. Lord, help me get through today and all that I need to accomplish. I need the “rest” and strengthening of your Holy Spirit. Thank you that He’s with me.

Oct. 24, 1973 Job 15, Act. 19-20

Eliphaz knows who is afflicting Job, for he says, “While at peace, the destroyer comes upon him” (15:21).

Two things I believe God wants to share with me about this passage. First, it is very important for a person to acknowledge the counsel of those around him, realizing the limits of his own perception. Second, it is of utmost importance for the man of God to control his tongue—his speech.

Acts. 19:18, 19 – So important for us as Christians to make a clean break with the dirty parts of our lives as the early Christians were doing here.

+Acts 20:7 – They gathered together on the first day of the week to break bread.

What a beautiful passage is the concluding portion of Acts 20! (vs. 17-38) – “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified.”

Oct.25, 1973 Job 16, Acts 21-23

Job says, “Even now behold my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.”

+ I, too, have two advocates before the Father—the Lord Jesus Himself and the Comforter (Rom. 8:26, 27,34). Praise the Lord!!

Acts 21 – Paul begins to disobey the guidance of the Holy Spirit through others. *(v. 4) – “through the Spirit” means “impressions made by the Spirit.”

Paul tells his conversion experience a lot. I think this is the third time here already and I know of one more in Acts 26. Good example.

Acts 23:1 – Can I say this? “I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” I have one more thing to do and that’s to apologize to Rev. Carlson. Thank you, Lord, for guiding me to make things right with my aunt and uncle last night.

Oct.26, 1973 Job 17, Acts 24-26

Job 17:6 – This is a prophecy of the Lord Jesus! Even in Job, there are glimpses of the work of Christ.

Paul (in Acts 24) would talk to Felix the governor and share with him about the Lord. These three distinct things are mentioned that he talked about: righteousness. Self-control, and the judgment to come. I’ve talked about righteousness and judgment before, but not self-control.

Paul again shares his testimony before a banquet honoring King Agrippa and his wife.

*Father, I have some real requests that I need answers to about important decisions coming up. First, I need a real confirmation about going to Germany after Christmas since I’m really beginning to feel a part of the work here. And along that line, would you please let me know if I should accept the money from Elim for my youth work, and if so, where should it go.

Thank you, Lord, for your perfect guidance.

Oct. 27, 1973 Job 18, Ps. 114, Acts 27-28

Here’s an interesting verse: Job 18:13 – “His skin is devoured by disease–the first-born of death devours his limbs.”  Disease. Sickness. “The first born of death.”

Paul, even when he was ship-wrecked on Malta, healed the sick there, sharing the strength and power of God. He also fulfilled the words of Jesus by being bit by a snake and not dying (mk. 16:18).  “They will pick up serpents…”

Lord, I will wait for your answers to some of those things I’m really wondering about.

“Wait for the Lord” (Ps. 27:14).

October 28. 1973 Job 19, Mark 1-2

Job 19:25,26 – And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on earth, even after my skin is flayed and without my flesh I shall see God.”

Mk. 1:12 – “The Spirit impelled Him…” The Holy Spirit is our leader…everywhere.

*The gospel: REPENT and BELIEVE (Mk. 1:15).

The motive for Jesus helping and healing was compassion—love (Mk. 1:41). Our motive must be deep-seated love for others.

Mark 2:27-28 – Jesus is talking about the Sabbath here, but I believe you can expand his words to mean that everything God has created He made for use to use and enjoy—meeting all of our needs abundantly.

+ I’ll keep waiting…

October 29, 1973 Job 20, Mk. 3-4

“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless momentary” (Job 20:5). What an ugly picture of fate for the man who turns away from God. It is “decreed to him by God.”

+ Jesus had so much love…Here he heals a man on the Sabbath after being “grieved” at the callousness and hardness of heart of the religious leaders.

*Mk. 3:14-15 – “And He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons.” Lord, you’re speaking loud and clear. You want me to move into this ministry. Go before me I pray.

Mark seems so ALIVE today. I can just see Jesus. Mark 4 – The parable of the sower. This is so true.

Lord, I still need some real direction about my role here and my next step.

Oct. 30, 1973 Job 21, Mark 5-6

Mark 5:7-8 – Jesus Himself had been commanding the demon to come out and he didn’t right away. Sometimes it takes time…even with the Master. *It’s not the words—it’s the faithfulness of conviction.

Mark 6:5 – “And he could do no miracle there except that He laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them.”

No message…Well, if You’re teaching me something, Lord, maybe it’s that I cannot put you in a box and have You do or say what I want You to. I’m just going to pray now and ask for the direction of Your Holy Spirit and move out on that. Thank you for being so patient with my limited understanding.

Oct. 31, 1973 Job 22, Mk. 7-8

“Please receive instruction from my mouth and establish His words in your heart” (Jer. 22:22).  This is the advice of Job’s three “friends” which seems to be so good and yet they are so wrong. Job has done nothing wrong except fear.

+ Mark 7:1-3 – We must be so careful that we don’t get hung up in tradition. He gives an example about loving our parents too, and I’ve been guilty of this. Mark 7:15-23 – the principle of our inner man being our source of filth—not food, clothes, or anything outside.

*I feel like Jesus is saying this to me: “Do you not yet understand” (Mk. 8:21). I never need to be in need.

We are so TEMPORARY oriented. It is so hard to fathom the thoughts of eternity with God and His splendor.