April 1, 1973 Jud. 11-12, Ps. 50, 2 Cor. 1

Judges 11 = Important lesson: when we make a promise to God, we must carry it out—no matter how it hurts. 

Jephthah – he conquered because “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.”

Ps. 5):2,3 – “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me. And to him who orders his way aright, I shall show the salvation of God.”

2 Cor. 1:19,20 – Really hit me today! “For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes.”

This is neat! Because of all that Jesus was, has done, and is, all of God’s promises work! They are “yes in Him.” Jesus Himself gives us the power to claim the riches of God and use them for His glory. This backs up what Harry Greenwood has been saying.

+ I’ve got to begin acting on the promises.

April 2, 1973 Jud. 13-16, 2 Cor. 2

“The angel of the Lord+ — is this Jesus? (See Judges 13:18, 22). 

 *The birth of Samson. Samson’s first mistake: he based his first man/woman relationship on “looks”—physical. Am I doing this too?

*God the Holy Spirit gave superhuman power to Samson when he needed it.

+ Samson’s next mistake: sexual looseness (Jud. 16:1).

*This verse struck me about C. (Judges 16:5). “how can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me. In Samson’s story, God always wins.

2 Cor. 2:11 – It is important that we understand how Satan works so that we can deal with him.

+ 2 Cor. 2:14 – “But thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ and manifest through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in ever place.”

April 3, 1973 Jud. 17-18, Ps. 89, 2 Cor. 3

“Do not delay to go and enter, to possess the land” (Judges 18:9). Is this a confirmation of us going home?

+ Psalm 89:34 – “My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.” God will not change His Word. He keeps His promises.

2 Cor. 3:3 – “you are a letter of Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.”

+Memorize 2 Cor. 3:5,6.

What a neat chapter! I want to memorize the whole thing! “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” I feel so much more free now. And we are powerful and complete in Jesus. “Our adequacy is from God.” The New Covenant – “the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.”

*I’m so happy that I’ve begun a new level of existence with the Holy Spirit.

April 4, 1973 Jud. 19-21, 2 Cor. 4

Judges 19 – the sin of Gibeah – sexual abuse of a girl after demanding homosexual acts. God hates sex sin! This is so ugly—We’ve got to tell people: “Consider it, take counsel and speak up” (v. 30).

Israel fights herself—Israel versus Benjamin. The side that “sought the Lord” prevailed. Judges ends with the people “doing their own thing” (Judges 21:25).

2 Cor. 4:5 – “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.” 

2 Cor. 4:13 – “But having the same spirit of faith. According to what is written, ‘I believed therefore I spoke,’ we also believe–therefore we speak.”

*I’ve got to get new “eyes”—to live by faith in the unseen—have eternal vision. Paul says that even he cannot begin to comprehend “the weight of glory” that we are to receive in heaven.

+ Ron Boehme – “Develop the eyes of faith that you may be a man of goodness and willingness to live for Me.”

April 5, 1973 Ruth 1-2, Ps. 53,61, 2 Cor. 5

Ruth 1-2 – this is appropriate for today. I felt like this was my story…Naomi returns home, and that’s where we’re going—home.

Psalm 61:2 – “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” This verse really hits me—Thank you, Lord Jesus, for humbling me last night. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

2 Cor. 5-7 – “for we walk by faith and not by sight.” (Verses 14-15) – “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one who died, died for all–therefore all died. And He died for all that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”

+ No longer live for themselves…No longer live for themselves…No longer live for themselves.

*We are ambassadors for Christ!!! We start flying today—let’s fly as ambassadors all the way!!

Honolulu, Hawaii

April 6, 1973 Ruth 3-4, Ps. 64-65, 2 Cor. 6

Psalm 65:4 – “How blessed is the one that Thou dost choose and bring near to Thee.”

+ It’s neat to be CHOSEN by God. Verse seven could be a prophecy of Jesus when he calmed the seas.

*Ps. 65:9-13 – The weather is not just a mechanical thing. God cause these things to happen as He wills.

2 Cor. 6:14-18 – Here’s a word from God about me coming home. God wants me to stick to the ideals and beliefs that He has given me and not to compromise them in any way. He wants me to GO and tell people about Him, but to keep clean from the infection of sin.

“What fellowship has light with darkness?” (verse 14). “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord” (verse 17). 

+ I’ve got to stand firmly against all my old ways when I go home again. Thank you, Jesus.

April 7, 1973 1 Sam. 1-2, Ps. 66, 2 Cor. 7

The story of the birth of Samuel. I keep thinking of giving: When Hannah made a vow to give Samuel to God, He gave her back 3 sons and 2 daughters.

*Ps. 66 – The Lord is really speaking to me. I made him a vow in New Zealand, and I didn’t keep it. I will when I get home. I owe Him $50.

2 Cor. 7 – This is such a neat, personal chapter. Even Paul gets down…depressed, and in this case. Titus renewed his spirit and gave word about the goings on in the Corinthian Church.

+ Our only sorrow is REPENTANCE. This is so key. It is repentance that leads to salvation. This really hits home.

+ The Lord is preparing us for home. It’s going to be very hard—challenging to stand. I, too, need refreshing and rest. Thank you, Lord for this beautiful spot and for Yourself.

April 8, 1973 1 Sam. 3-5, Ps. 77, 2 Cor. 8

I Sam. – I like Samuel’s calling (3:1-19). And I sure wish this could be said of me, “Thus Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fail” (1 Samuel 3:19).

*But that is a selfish prayer, I just pray that God will be able to use me to bring Him children.

Prayer is a wonderful thing that I need to develop: “My voice rises to God and I will cry aloud. My voice rises to God and He will hear me.”

2 Cor. 8:7 – “But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also” (GIVING).

This is all I get. I will spend time in prayer.

April 9, 1973 1 Sam. 6-7, Ps. 72, 2 Cor. 9

People’s heart-changes are the demands of God. He wants our hearts (1 Sam. 7:3).

1 Cor. 9:6 – “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. And he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

1 Cor. 9:10 – “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for the food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”

+ We never need to worry about finances and things int eh Christian life. The more we give (sow) the more God will give us (reap). It’s a whole new dynamic—GIVING yields RECEIVING more abundance.

*This is really an area of my life that God needs to work on. I want to be a “cheerful giver” to my Lord. It’s coming, too.

April 10, 1973 1 Sam. 8-10, 2 Cor. 10

1 Sam. 8 – I bet God must have really felt bad when the people rejected Him and asked for a king. He warned them of the consequences—but they still refused Him.

*1 Sam. 10:6, 7 – These are God’s words for me for the day. The Holy Spirit will come upon me and make me a “new man.” A man who can love…and feel… (v7). And today, “I must do what the occasion requires.” God is with us.

+ 1 Sam. 10:9 – God changed his heart. He can change mine to too.

2 Cor. 10: 1 – “GENTLENESS AND MEEKNESS”

*These are what the Lord wants me to be. Within a spirit of love, He wants me to pray through these qualities of the Spirit into my life—I must find out what they are, and by the power of the Holy Spirit begin to radiate them in my life. 

Lord, I am utterly dependent on you. Thank you…

April 11. 1973 1 Sam. 11-12, 1 Chr. 1-2, 2 Cor. 11

1 Sam. 11:6 – The Spirit of God coming upon a person can produce a “holy anger.” And this confidence brought a battle victory to Israel through Saul.

+ God wants our hearts (1 Sam. 12:20,24). God’s people never should have had a king. God is our King.

2 Cor. 11:2 – There is a “godly jealousy” which is also not a sin.

+ We are to strive for the “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3).

This is really a personal letter. Paul must really have been an intense and sensitive person (2 Cor. 11:29). He really felt what other people felt—and was with them.

*Two verses to memorize: 

2 Cor. 11:3 – “But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his own craftiness your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” 

2 Cor. 11:14 – And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

April 12, 1973 1 Sam. 13, 1 Chr.1-2, 2 Cor. 12

Saul would have been the promised king, but he did not wait for Samuel. He was impatient. We must WAIT for the Lord (Ps. 27:14).

We’re going through the phone book again in Chronicles. This must be for a reason. The Holy Spirit does things for a reason.

2 Cor. 12:6 – “For if I do wish to boast I shall not be foolish…but I refrain from this so that no one may credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.”

2 Cor. 12:9 – “I must learn to boast of my weaknesses, not my strengths!

2 Cor. 12:12 – “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles”

Power accompanies the man of God. When I begin to see this and long to bring glory to Jesus, this power will be available.

April 13, 1973 1 Sam. 14, 1 Chr. 4, 2 Cor. 13

1 Sam. 14:37 – This strikes me—Saul questions God before he moves. Do I do that all the time?

*The episode of Jonathan. He trusted God to do what he did, and because he did, (led by the Spirit), even Saul’s curse of him was worthless. Jonathan was enjoying freedom (at the honey). I think this is a parallel to the Spirit-filled life.

2 Cor. 13:5 – This is a real word for me today. “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith, examine yourselves!” 2 Cor. 13:11 – “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”:

+ No. 1 – REJOICE – Be happy in God. Everything else follows our joy in the Lord.

2 Cor. 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

*Do I have all three of these? I believe I am lacking more on the love of God than anything else (1 Cor. 13:1).

April 14, 1973 1 Sam. 15-16, 1 Chr. 5, Matt. 1

1 Sam. 15:22 – “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” God was displeased with Saul because he didn’t obey him.

1 Sam. 16:7 – “For God does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.”

*God is concerned with our hearts. Selecting David—The Holy Spirit comes upon him.

Baffling: 1 Sam. 16:14 – “An evil spirit from God.” What is this?

1 Chr. 5 – God uses nations to achieve his purposes (v. 26). It was He who motivated the Assyrian king to take Israel into exile.

Matt. 1 – God is very careful to trace Jesus’ birth from Abraham—Jesus is of the kingly line. 

*Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18-20). Later He was FILLED with the Spirit before He began His ministry. It works the same way with us. At conversion we are BORN of the Spirit (John 1:13), but we need to be FILLED.

+ “He called his Name Jesus.” I love this name more and more all the time.

April 15, 1973 1 Sam. 17, Ps. 9, Matt. 2

David’s authority in being able to meet Goliath was “the name of the Lord of hosts.” In the Name…There is power in the NAME. (Acts 3 – Peter and John).

Reading Matthew is a good lesson in how to use the O.T. prophets as relating to Jesus in N.T. events. Matthew is really proving his Messiah Jesus by quoting the O.T.

Ephesians 1:18,19 – “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know, what is the hope of His calling.  What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints—and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”

This is my meat for the day. Today is the Lord’s Day. “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).

April 16, 1973 1 Sam. 18, 1 Chr. 6, Ps. 11, Matt. 3

The conflict begins with David and Saul because “the Lord was with him and had departed from Saul” (18:12).

“For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness. The upright shall behold His face” (Psalm 11:7). 

+ It’s going to be neat to see God face-to face.

Matt. 3:1-6 – John the Baptist was leading the way for the new “birth.” He was showing people their need for repentance, and then Jesus would come and fill the void.

Matt. 3, 7-10 – Real repentance will produce “fruit” in people’s lives. The Pharisees and Sadducees who came to John were phonies—they didn’t repent.

Jesus is baptized in water and baptized with the Spirit. He is our example. This is the way He began His ministry.

*My verse for today: (Matt. 3:8) p “Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance.”

April 17, 1973 1 Sam.19, 1 Chr. 7, Ps. 59, Mat. 4

1 Sam. 19 – This is very freaky! I still don’t understand about the evil spirit from God, and now this encounter the Holy Spirit where everyone prophesies.

Ps. 59 – Here I/m feeling kind of bummed out this morning and yet David is running for his life and praising the Lord, “But as for me, I shall sing of Thy strength. Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Thy lovingkindness in the morning…O my strength, I will sing praises to Thee” (Ps. 59:16,17).

Matt. 4:3 – Satan is called the “tempter.” God disciplines us. Satan tempts us.

Jesus refutes Satan—IT IS WRITTEN—the sword of the Spirit.

Matt. 4:17 – “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

*Jesus ministry was just as much healing as it was preaching the gospel. I believe this is what He wants us to do, too, by His power and authority.

April 18, 1973 1 Sam. 20-21, Ps. 34, Mat. 5

1 Sam. 20 – What a friendship! David and Jonathan. They really loved each other. It’s neat to love a guy like that.

1 Sam 21—Weird.

Psalm 34:2 – “My soul shall make its boast in the Lord. The humble shall hear and be glad. Sometimes it bugs me to hear people praise the Lord—and here’s the answer. If I was humble, it wouldn’t.

*Psalm 34: 10 – “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger. But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.”

Matt. 5:5 – The man of God is gentle, because God is his power. Matt. 5:17-19 – Jesus came to FULFILL the law—to fill us full of it through the Holy Spirit.

Matt. 5- Jesus is TOUGH. He expands the law to its finest details. What keeps coming of it: 1) Our motives must be right from the heart, and 2) the loving spirit we should have.

*I kind of don’t understand. Help me, Lord Jesus, to fit this together.

April 19-20, 1973 1 Sam. 22-23, Ps. 17,35,31,54, Matt. 6-7

*Today is the day that we go home. Our trip is over, our lives are beginning…

+ Neat thing here: These people in Samuel always “inquire of the Lord” before they do something and that is a good principle for me to do. David did it and God answered him (1 Sam. 24:3): “I pray, tell they servant” (23:11). Another example. I can really claim this example when asking the Lord for guidance.

Saul is really “after” David. All this because they rejected God (1 Sam. 8:7). 

David knew that he had eternal life (Ps. 17:15).

+ A thought about prayer: (Ps. 35). We do not just bind the enemy in our praying, but we also call the Lord out into action for us. I must think on this.

*My verse for today: Psalm 31:3 – TO TAKE HOME: “For Thou art my rock and my fortress. For Thy Name’s sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.”

+ All the songs of dependence on God and prayers for deliverance really make me sense the conflict I’m about to enter, and the attitude and trust in God that I will need. Thank you, Jesus.

The Lord’s Message: Ps. 31:3, Matt. 6:33, Matt. 7:16

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things will be added unto you.” “For Thou O Lord are my rock and my fortress. For Thy Name’s sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.” “You will know them by their fruits.”

Port Orchard, Washington

April 21-23, 1973 1 Sam. 24-27, Ps. 57,58,63,41, 1 Chr. 8-9, Matt. 8-10

David practiced what Jesus preached—he “loved his enemies” (he could have killed Saul here in 1 Sam. 24).

*1 Sam. 25:28 – Am I fighting the battles of the Lord?

Saul may have been bad, but he knew one secret: He could admit he was wrong (1 Sam. 26:21). 

Ps. 57:2 – “I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.”

+ This is me here at home: Ps 63: 1- “O God Thou art my God. I shall seek Thee earnestly. My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

Matt. 8 – God is WILLING to heal our diseases. Jesus told the leper, “I am willing, be cleansed” (8:3) and the centurion concerning his sick servant, “I will come and heal him” (8:7).

+ Our faith puts Him into action.

*Matt. 8:13 – “And Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way. Let it be done to you as you have believed.’”

+ This really speaks to me – about the summer and next year – and C. As I go my way in faith, these things I believe will come to pass. .

JESUS WAS POWERFUL!! Wow–read Matthew 8, 9 and you see miracle after miracle. Jesus came for the whole man.

Matt. 10 – There is so much here—I think the thing that strikes me most is the love and allegiance that Jesus demands (esp. Matt. 10:37-39). Being a Christian costs you everything! This is quite a chapter. Thank you, Jesus.

April 24, 25, 1973 1 Sam. 28-31, Ps. 109, 1 Chr. 10, Matt. 11-12

1 Sam. 28 – the medium and talking to the dead. Weird…

*1 Sam. 30:6 – “But David strengthened Himself int eh Lord His God.” David knew the secret to success. He communed with the Holy Spirit and was rejuvenated.

+ 1 Sam. 30: 18 – This is guidance for me, but I’m not sure what. Maybe later….

The death of Saul—very tragic. He disobeyed God and never returned. I wonder where he is today… 1 Chr. 10:13, 14 say that Saul died of disobedience for consulting a medium. Says God killed him. Does God purposefully remove some people?

“O, God of my praise, do not be silent” (Psalm 109:1).

Being a Christian is rest…complete rest (inside) (Matt. 11:28-30). Matt. 11:20 – the importance of repentance.

*Matt. 12:29 – In praying for things and people we must bind Satan first.

“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Mt. 12:34)/

+ I don’t feel anything really gripping today. I know the Lord is about to reveal His plans for me and I am just going to praise Him and wait. He has promised me that He will not be silent. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

April 26, 1973  2 Sam. 1, Ps. 140, Matt. 13

I was going to say that David does seem to feel too badly about the death of Saul and Jonathan, but then he said how much he loved Jonathan. What a godly love they had. Neat relationship.

Ps. 140 – David continually offers a prayer for protection and judgment on the wicked. This is another one.

Matt. 13 – Jesus knew all along that He would be rejected by His people (Mat. 13L13-15).

THE SOWER – heavy parable (13:3-8, 18-23). Every person’s reaction to the Gospel is summed up here. Tares of the field – (13:24-30, 37-43). *To Jesus, the coming judgment day was a very REAL thing. It should be to us too.

+ Matt. 13 – The Kingdom of Heaven chapter.

Jesus couldn’t do “many” miracles in Nazareth because the townsfolk didn’t believe in Him—He was limited by their unbelief.

*Lord, I still need some answers. I will wait for you. Give me peace of mind today.

April 27, 1973 2 Sam. 2, 1 Chr. 11, Ps. 142, Matt. 14

*2 Sam. 2:1 – The Lord is giving me a direction here. I must go to C. today.

1 Chr. 11 – David is anointed king and makes Jerusalem his capital, hence, Zion, the city of David. Talks about David’s mighty band of warriors. He had quite an army.

Ps. 142 – The is talking: “I pour out my complaint before Him. I declare my troubles before Him” (Ps. 142:2).

*(v. 7) – “He brought my soul out of prison that I might praise His name!”

+ The Lord is very near. I really feel good about tonight.

Matt. 14 – I’m really seeing Jesus’ heart in this chapter. After hearing about John’s death, he went away to be alone. After feeding the 5000, He went away to be by Himself and pray. His heart was so big. He cared so much.

+ I need the heart of Jesus.

April 28, 1973 2 Sam. 3, 1 Chr.12, Matt. 15

I don’t understand this chapter in Samuel too well. It would be neat to really study sometime a lot of the Hebrew customs and rites in depth.

1 Chr. 12 – It’s neat to see the Spirit of God coming upon people (v. 18).

*Man–was an army gathering on David’s side (v. 22). It must have really been something.

+ (v. 23) – When God speaks it comes to pass. (v. 32) – Am I am man who “understands the times with knowledge?” This is a neat chapter…There was joy indeed in Israel.

Matt. 15:8, 9 – Am I doing this? I had breakfast with Gary Bannister this morning and is he doing this? [man-made teachings]

I don’t understand Matt. 15:24. Jesus sounds like He didn’t come to save us too. This verse, by itself, from face value, has always bothered me. Lord, I need a little light here.

Lord, I need wisdom today. I’m doing a lot of thinking about things and I’m being tested a bit.

April 29, 1973 2 Sam. 4-5, Ps. 139, Matt. 16

David was a good, just man. He didn’t kill for the sake of killing. I like his attitude.

2 Sam. 5:17-25 – David ran by prayer. He always consulted the Lord before he did anything, and the Lord answered him. He was dependent on the Person he knew to be His Source. Good lesson here.

Ps. 139 – This psalm is beautiful. God knows us and cares for us so intimately. What really strikes me, though, are verses 19-22. We are to really hate evil! Holy anger. Love people but despise the devil in them. How do I put this into practice?

Matt. 16 – Lord, I want to be a disciple and to share that joy with others. I want to be a yielded vessel, not working my way to You, but allowing You to use me. Yielded…Willing…Free…and in love with Jesus. It’s the secret to victory and power. I know it! Lord, help me share it, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

April 30, 1973 2 Sam. 6, 1 Chr. 13, Ps. 68, Matt. 17

“David and all the house of Israel were celebrating… (2 Sam. 6:5) CELEBRATION.

That’s knowing God. “David was dancing…” He really knew how to worship.

+ His wife Michal typifies the conservative church’s attitude today toward “being free in the Spirit” and excited in worship. I say with David, “I will celebrate before the Lord” (2 Sam. 6:21).

“Blessed be the Lord who daily bears my burdens” (Ps. 68:19). 

Matt. 17:8 – The Transfiguration. “And liftin gup their eyes they saw no one but Jesus alone.” OUR FOCAL POINT—OUR TARGET SIGHT—Jesus alone.

A neat teaching here on faith. Jesus even seems perturbed at the smallness of their faith. The disciples could have cast out the demons, they just didn’t BELIEVE. “Because of the littleness of your faith” (Matt. 17:20). 

+ Jesus paid his taxes too, and God provided the money in a miraculous way (Matt. 17:27). He will do the same for us too.