DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS MONDAY - VERSES: Acts 5:41; James 5:11 PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, help me to count my blessings from you and recognize the things that are true blessings. TUESDAY - VERSES: Luke 12:7; Hebrews 3:3 PRAYER THOUGHT: Giver of Life, help me to count my life and the lives of others the way you count them. WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Hebrews 10:29; 1 Timothy 1:12; 5:17 PRAYER THOUGHT: Master, help me to count obedience as you count it and not to justify disobedience. THURSDAY - VERSES: 1 Samuel 1:16; Job 19:11; 33:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:5 PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord and Savior, help me to understand the way you count those saved. FRIDAY - VERSES: Acts 19:19; Isaiah 40:15-17 PRAYER THOUGHT: God, help me to count my time and possessions the way you want me to and to use what I have for you. SATURDAY - VERSES: Luke 14:28-35; Philippians 3:7 PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, help me to count the cost of following you and compare it with the cost of disobedience. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ASSIGNMENTS 1. Once a day read over this material and read or sing the songs. 2. Keep the scripture where you will see it often each day. 3. Think of times in your life when you have counted something in a different way than God counts and determine that you will do better. 4. Write down ways you were able to change how you were counting something. 5. Plan to tell the class about the way you have changed your way of counting. #1 $2 3% #4 $5 6% #7 $8 9% #10 $11 12% #13 $14 15% #16 $17 We have to remember that with God it is not just how many of something we count, but what we are counting that makes the difference. If we are counting how many dollars we put in the plate while He is counting how many times we inwardly wished to have them back, then we are not counting like Him. If we count the number of times we came to church while He counts the number of times our heart and soul were not there even though our bodies were, then we are not counting like Him. Are you counting like God? SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 83 COUNTING - 3-9-14 to 3-15-14 SCRIPTURE - Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, COMMENT – It is always amazing to me to see different people look at the same numbers and come to opposite decisions about what they mean. Many times when this happens it is because they are counting differently and someone is counting wrong. We need to be sure that we are counting the same things that God counts. We, also, need to be sure that we are counting the same way He counts. SONG - COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS 1) When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Chorus: Count your (many) blessings, name them one by one; Count your (many) blessings, see what God has done; Count your many blessings, name them one by one; Count your many blessings, see what God has done. 2) Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by. 3) When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings, money cannot buy Your reward in Heaven, nor your home on high. 4) So, amid the conflict, whether great or small, do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. THOUGHTS COUNTING IN POLISH TO A HUNDRED Then there is the true story of Madame Modjeska, the Polish tragedienne, who was a guest at an evening party. The admiring company pressed her for a recitation from some play. She at first declined on the ground that memory might not server her without the accustomed stage settings, lights, etc. However, the guests insisted so insistently that she finally acquiesced, announcing she would recite in her native tongue. Her hearers sat listening to her, spellbound. Some who were there were even moved to tears. When she finished she was asked the name of the touching story she had related. She smiled and said, "I counted in Polish to one hundred." % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % I counted all my dollars while God counted crosses; I counted gains while he counted losses; I counted my worth by the things gained in store, But he sized me up by the scars that I bore. I coveted honors and sought for degrees; He wept as He counted the hours on my knees. I never knew till one day by a grave How vain Are the things that we spend life to save. I did not know till a friend went above That richest is he who is rich in God's love. -- Author unknown $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. - Reflection 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 CHARLES IV AND NUMBER FOUR BY ROBERT RIPLEY The German Emperor Charles IV lived up to the numeral in his name. He ate 4 meals daily, inhabited 4 palaces of 4 rooms each. Each room had 4 doors, 4 tables and 4 chandeliers. His crown had 4 branches, his dress 4 colors. He spoke 4 languages, was married 4 times. The imperial coach was drawn by 4 horses. His meals consisted of 4 courses with 4 kinds of wine. He divided his empire into 4 parts and his army into 4 corps. He created 4 dukes, 4 margraves, 4 generals and 4 captains. He resided in 4 capitals, presided over by 4 grand marshals. There were 4 doctors at his bedside when he died at 4 minutes past 4 in 1378 - after saying good-bye 4 times. Maybe he just couldn't count past four? 78463271649023758932657236149326498231749126472364926715 INTERESTING DATA Books of Old Testament - 39 Books of New Testament - 27 Total number of books - 66 Chapters in Old Testament - 929 Chapters in New Testament - 260 Total number chapters - 1,189 Verses in Old Testament - 33,214 Verses in New Testament - 7,959 Total number of verses - 41,173 Words in Old Testament - 593,393 Words in New Testament - 181, 253 Total number of words - 774,746 Letters in Old Testament - 2,738,100 Letters in New Testament - 838,380 Total number of letters - 3,566,480 The shortest chapter is Psalm 117. Ezra 7:21 contains all the letters of the alphabet except "j". Ester 8:9 is the longest verse. John 11:35 is the shortest verse. There is no word of more than six syllables in the Bible. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # But how many are 100 billion? If we were to count 250 a minute - day and night - it would take us about 1,000 years to count to 100 billion. Multiply this by a few trillion, the probable number of galaxies, and perhaps we have better understanding of Christ's words: "All power is given unto me." 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25 WHO CAN TELL THE MEANING OF THE FOLLOWING? O T T F F S S E N T 012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 THE C_________ OF FOLLOWING JESUS SCRIPTURE - LUKE 14:26-30 I. C________________ - ROMANS 12:1; MATTHEW 4:10 II. O_______________ - HEBREWS 5:9; 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5 III. S________-__________ - MATTHEW 16:24; PHILIP. 2:21 IV. T________ UP C__________ - MATT. 16:24; LUKE 14:27 CONSIDER THE COST OF "NOT" FOLLOWING JESUS! I. C__________________ - JOHN 3:18; ROMANS 8:1 II. O________ D____________ - MATTHEW 25:30; 22:13 III. S_______________ FROM G___ - 2 THES. 1:9; MATT. 25:41 IV. T____________ IN H______ - MATT. 25:46; LUKE 16:22-23 CONCLUSION - HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST? THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS SCRIPTURE - (Luke 14:26-30) "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. {27} "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. {28} "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it; {29} "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, {30} "saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' I. COMMITMENT A. Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. B. (Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. C. (Mat 4:10) Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" II. OBEDIENCE A. (Heb 5:9) And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, B. (2 Cor 10:5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, III. SELF-DENIAL A. Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. B. (Phil 2:21) For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus IV. TAKE UP CROSS A. (Mat 16:24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. B. (Luke 14:27) "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. TRANSITION - If the Cost of Following Jesus Seems Too High…Consider The Cost Of "Not" Following Him! I. CONDEMNATION A. (John 3:18) "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. B. (Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. II. OUTER DARKNESS A. (Mat 25:30) 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' B. (Mat 22:13) "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' III. SEPARATION FROM GOD A. (2 Th 1:9) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, B. (Mat 25:41) "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: IV. TORMENT IN HELL A. (Mat 25:46) "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." B. (Luke 16:22-23) "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. {23} "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. CONCLUSION - HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST? A. The Cost of Following Jesus 1. Commitment 2. Obedience 3. Self-denial 4. Take up cross B. The Cost of "Not" Following Jesus 1. Condemnation 2. Outer Darkness 3. Separation from God 4. Torment in Hell C. If we have counted the cost accurately we will decide as Paul did. Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, COUNTING LIKE GOD INTRODUCTION: A. A CHILD HAS TO LEARN TO COUNT B. GOD'S WAYS ARE NOT THE SAME AS OURS L.S. - THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY MEN AND GOD COUNT . . . I. THE COST OF FAITHFULNESS II. LIFE III. POSSESSIONS IV. TIME V. RIGHTEOUSNESS VI. FRIENDSHIP VII. THE SAVED CONCLUSION: A. SUMMARY B. INVITATION (Numbers 23:10) Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! (1 Samuel 1:16) Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. (Job 19:15) They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. (Job 31:4) Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? (Psalms 87:6) The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. (Psalms 139:18) If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. (Psalms 139:22) I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. (Micah 6:11) Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? (Acts 20:24) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Philippians 3:8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (2 Thessalonians 1:11) Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: (2 Thessalonians 3:15) Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (1 Timothy 6:1) Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. (Philemon 1:17) If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. (James 1:2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (James 5:11) Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (2 Peter 2:13) And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; (2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (Revelation 13:18) Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Genesis 15:6) And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 30:33) So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. (Genesis 31:15) Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. (Exodus 38:21) This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest. (Leviticus 25:31) But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubilee. (Numbers 18:30) Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress. (Joshua 13:3) From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: (1 Kings 1:21) Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. (1 Kings 3:8) And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. (1 Chronicles 21:6) But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab. (1 Chronicles 23:24) These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward. (Nehemiah 13:13) And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. (Job 18:3) Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight? (Job 41:29) Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. (Psalms 44:22) Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. (Psalms 88:4) I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: (Psalms 106:31) And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations forevermore. (Proverbs 17:28) Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. (Proverbs 27:14) He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. (Isaiah 5:28) Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hooves shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind: (Isaiah 32:15) Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. (Isaiah 33:18) Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? (Isaiah 40:15) Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. (Isaiah 40:17) All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. (Hosea 8:12) I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. (Matthew 14:5) And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. (Mark 11:32) But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. (Acts 5:41) And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (Acts 19:19) Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. (Romans 2:26) Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? (Romans 4:3) For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 9:8) That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (Philippians 3:7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:5) Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: (1 Timothy 1:12) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; (1 Timothy 5:17) Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. (Hebrews 3:3) For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. (Hebrews 7:6) But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. (Hebrews 10:29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Ecclesiastes 7:27) Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: (Job 19:11) He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. (Job 33:10) Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, (Luke 14:28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (Matthew 10:30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (Mark 15:28) And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. (Luke 12:7) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Acts 1:17) For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. (Acts 1:26) And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.