June 1-2, 1973 Prov. 19-24, Rom. 13,14

Prov. 20:27 – “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being.”

Solomon says a lot about discipline. It is a neat and very worthwhile thing. I’ve always thought so, especially in athletics.

*Prov. 23:15,16 – “my son if your heart is wise, my own heart will be glad, and my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.”

*My verse: Prov. 23:26 – “Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.”

Rom. 13:8-1 0 – Love is the fulfillment of the law. Rom. 14:23 – “Whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Lord, thank you that Wally and Steve are coming over today. May we glorify you and make the day Yours—especially tonight.

June 3, 1973 Prov. 25-27, Rom. 15

Prov. 25:21,22 – about loving your enemies—is the same as Jesus says in Matt. 5:42-48.

*Prov. 26:18,19 – I must be so careful about joking around—here is a real stern warning.

Prov. 27: 5 – “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed.

+ Romans 15:4 – This is encouragement for me for my Bible study: “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Paul talks a lot about the power of the Holy Spirit in this chapter. I praise and thank God for His Spirit in my life.

June 6, 1973 Eccl. 1-3, Ps. 4, 5, Eph. 2

*Will men find happiness in pure selfish pleasures (Eccl. 2:1)? I don’t think so.

This is really an experience in this book. It is so pointedly a natural man’s pessimistic and apathetic view of things. There is no mention of heaven, eternity, or even the soul of man. This is really thought provoking…

Psalm 45.

Eph. 2: 2 – A penetrating, non-personal evil “spirit” or influence lays over the world.

*As far as guidance goes, the only thing that really hit me today was Proverbs 28:1 – “But the righteous are as bold as a lion.” I think this is a confirmation about holding our street meeting. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

June 7, 1973 Eccl. 4-6, Ps. 18, Eph. 3

Ecclesiastes seems so much like a 20^th century life textbook. I can’t believe how relevant and modern it seems. Life never changes—at the core.

Eccl 5:4 – When you make a vow to God, don’t be late in paying for it for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!”

+ What in my life is “futility (vanity) and striving after wind?” What parts of my life ae being done in vain?

“Blameless” – Ps. 14:23 – complete or perfect – Matt. 5:48.

Lord, I have some things on my mind. I think I may have taken on too much this summer. I need your inspiration and help with the kids. I want them to know and love You. And Lord, I am so confused with C. I just don’t know how to act anymore and that is having such an effect on everything I do. Please give me a new heart for her and my calling for You and how they both fit together. Otherwise, I’d rather come to be with you.

June 8, 1973 Eccl. 7-9, Eph. 4

Eccl. 7: 20 – “Indeed there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and never sins.”

Eccl. 9: 9 – “Enjoy life with the woman who you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun. For this is your reward in life, and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.”

*Eccl.9:10 – This is for me—about the open-air and the kids: “Whatever you hand finds to do, verily do it with all your might.”

Eph. 4 – The thing that strikes me here is verse 23 – “and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” The holy Spirit is guiding me by the controls of my mind by impressions and ideas. He’s writing God’s aw upon my heart and mind” (Heb. 10:16).

+That’s where my drive and inspiration are coming from.

June 9, 1973 Eccl. 10-12, Ps. 94, Eph.5

This is a good description of our days. People are “following the impulses of their hearts and the desires of their eyes.”

Ecclesiastes is a strange book. Some of it seems right and some of it is wrong.

Lord, this is a verse that needs to be real to me: Ps. 94:19 – When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delight my soul.”: 

Eph. 5:16 – “making the most of your.” I’ve got to use my time wisely.

Lord, C. and I really need you to work a miracle between us. How and when I don’t know. This is my verse—Ps. 16:5.

June 10, 1973 Song of Sol 1-4, Eph. 6

This bride of Solomon’s was black. This was a racial mixture.

Love is such a beautiful thing. This descriptive song is just moving and wonderful. It is really neat to love somebody and tonight I really feel in love. I can really relate to the excitement and expectation that these two are feeling. Marriage is going to be such a beautiful thing.

Eph. 6:10 – “Finally be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might” (v. 20). “I am an ambassador in chains that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.”

+ The Lord is giving me all the verses about boldness and confidence in speaking for Him. I think this is a real confirmation of Him okaying the work I’m doing and giving the okay for the meeting and what follows.

*Thank you, Lord, for answering already my prayers yesterday about C.

June 11, 1973 Song of Sol. 5-8, Phil. 1

Songs of Songs 6:9 – “But my dove, my perfect one, is unique.”

God has chosen for us who we are to marry, a mate that is beautiful and unique in our eyes. That special person—that only one that will do.

Song of Songs 8: 7 – “Many waters cannot quench love. Nor will rivers overflow it.” (1 Cor. 13:8). 

June 12, 1973 1 Kings 12, 2 Chr. 10-11, Phil.2

1 Kings 12:1 5 – “a turn of events from the Lord that He might establish His Word… God never fails His Word.

Phil. 2.

June 13, 1973 1 Kings 13, 14, 2 Chr. 12, Phil. 3

1 Kings 13 – The encounter with the “man of God” and “the prophet.” One thing stuck out to me: God’s Word is never contradictory. We make it seems at odds by lying or other means.

“Male cult prostitutes” (1 Kings 14:24). Do times change?

I think the Lord really loves us to humble ourselves. Here the people of Judah repented and “humbled themselves” and the Lord took back his curses.

2 Chr. 12:8 – “But they will become his slaves, so they may learn the difference between my service and the service of the kingdoms of the nations.

Phil 3. “That I may know Him” (Phil 3:10). I must memorize Phil. 3: 8-10.

June 18, 1973 1 Kings 22, 2 Chr. 18-19, Col. 4

I Kings 22 – I learn something from Jehoshaphat. Before you do anything, especially anything big, ask the Lord first and go by the answer, whether it is good or bad (22:5). I think of C. and her feelings about the U.W. from this. I don’t know if she has done right.

*Col. 4:2,3 – Beautiful confirmation of what we are doing for open-air, really praying and going through that “open door.”

+ On my job: Col. 3: 24 – “It is the Lord Jesus whom you serve.”

Ron – Be Humble, Be Loving. I need these Lord desperately.

June 19, 1973 2 Kings 1-3, Ps. 82, 1 Tim. 1

2 Kings 2:9 – “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” That was Elisha’s Request of Elijah. I want to make the same request to God.

Elisha doesn’t seem like a very loving person. Here he curses 42 boys for calling him names and they are killed. These events are very mysterious to me—Lord, I need understanding.

Ps. 82.

1 Tim. 1:4 – God doesn’t want us to speculate or imagine. He wants us to lean on facts and act on them in faith.

1 Tim. 1:1 5- “It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Lord – Give me more time for this needed and beautiful part of my day. I just haven’t been able to sit in quietude and listen to you. Please slow me down and speak to your servant.

June 20, 1973 – 2 Kings 4, 5, Ps. 83, 1 Tim. 2

2 Kings 4 – Amazing chapter! The hand of the Lord was really on Elisha. He even raised a boy from the dead. And over and over they keep calling him the “man of God.” What a name to have – God’s Man.

Elisha had the gift of the word of knowledge. This power of the Lord still seems to be so unloving.

Ps. 83:1 – “O God, do not remain quiet. Do not be silent, and, O God, do not be still.”

+ I thought of the coming year when I read this. It’s my prayer.

1 Tim. 2:8 – “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without wrath and dissension.”

Hey, we’re TOLD to raise our hands. I have been looking for this verse for a while. I think I’ll share this tonight.

June 21-22, 1973 1 Kings 6-9, 2 Chr. 20-21, 1 Tim. 3-4

Elisha was really a man of prayer and the Lord granted his requests.

*1Kings 7 (the plundering of the Syrian camp). God doesn’t always drop manna from heaven, but he works through what seems like natural circumstances to take care of His people. Some really ugly things are happening here—bloodshed, war, cannibalism—the downward spiral of sin.

Question: 2 Chr. N20:33 – “The high places, however, were not removed. The people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers. What does this mean?

1 Tim. 4:7 – “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness,” (godliness) “holds promise for the present life and the life to come.

*This is a confirmation of what Finney said to me yesterday.

+ The Lord wants me to be an example to those around and not neglect my spiritual gift (1 Tim.4:13,14). This is His Word for me today.

June 23, 1973 2 Kings 10, 2 Chr. 22-23, 1 Tim. 5

Man, there is a lot of bloodshed and killing here. Today was about King Jehu who wiped out the Baals. Jehu “was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart” (2 King 10:31).

God does not and cannot tolerate sin. All these stories are ones of judgment concerning the kings of Israel and the people.

1 Tim. 5: 8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his own and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.”

*Today is a turning point for me. Today I give my love and allegiance and will to you, Lord Jesus, solely for your use and affections. Strengthen me by your Holy Spirit and keep my eyes trained steadily on your beauty and call. 

June 24-25, 1973 2 Kings 11-12, 2 Chr. 24, Joel 1-3, 1 Tim. 6, 2 Tim. 1

I’m reading and absorbing quickly. With Open-Air this weekend and the different Bible studies, I’m really pressed for time. Lord – still teach me.

June 26, 1973 Jonah 1-4, 2 Tim. 2

The Lord and His divine appointments! He appoints even a fish, a plant, and a worm.

This is really a neat story. All kinds of types and comparisons.

*When I share with others all that God has shown me, I must be “able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition.”

This is really for me. I must be really careful how I talk to people.

June 27, 1973 2 Kings 13,14, 2 Chr. 25, 2 Tim. 3

2 Kings 13:23 – “But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them from His presence until now.” Oh, the love and grace of God! It is truly unbelievable.

Here, Israel seems to be getting the best of Judah. I though that it was the other way around?

*For some reason: (2 Chr. 25:9) – “The Lord has much more to give you than this.”

+ 2 Tim. 3:12 – This is my verse for the day: “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Abuse must be good. We’re supposed to have it. Will strengthen us…

June 28, 1973 Amos 1-3, Ps. 80, 2 Tim. 4

Amos – Here is an interesting verse: Amos 3: 7 – “Surely the Lord does nothing unless he reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.”

Amos, too, is predicting by the Holy Ghost the impending exiles of both Israel and Judah. Why? (Amos 2:4-8).

Ps. 80:18b – “Revive us and we will call upon your Name.:

2 Tim. 4:1 – The judgment is for everybody.

++ 2 Tim. 4:5 – But you be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

This verse really hit my heart. Thank you, Lord, for continuing to encourage me into your work. I thought about my future when I read this—and my future means you…

June 29-30,1973 I read through these.

With the Open-Air meetings this week, I’ve just really neglected my time with the Lord.