Haggai is a small book that has changed many lives. It asks us to consider our ways and shows how we can have a relationship with God that will be deep and meaningful or we can look at the book or remain unchanged. One man named Handley Moule was searching for the same vibrant relationship that D.L. Moody had and heard Christian businessman William Stone preach on Haggai 1:6. 5 "Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." 7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. He explained that self sufficiency would never lead to a victorious Christian life. That could only come through absolute surrender to God's sanctifying work. Suddenly Moule realized that he had been attempting to do what only God could do in his life. He surrendered his life completely to Christ. For the next 36 years he would enjoy a dynamic international ministry. (The Blackaby Study Bible)
In Haggai 2 we see where God promises to make King Zerubbabel like a signet ring. 23 " 'On that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD Almighty."
God had removed his grandfather Jehoiachin as a signet ring (Jer. 22:24). A signet ring had the King's emblem on it and was used to seal documents. God chooses servants to be able to establish His ways and seal them in our lives. Being chosen as a servant is a special assignment and our faithful response will result in God establishing us for His work and purposes.
In Luke 14 we see this in the parable of the great banquet. Those too busy were left out and never tasted the banquet. " 12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Esther 9-10; Luke 13:23-35 (The Message)
In Esther 9 King Xerxes makes good on his promise to let the people of God defend themselves. He also justified His people in the face of their opposition. Then the king sent an order to eliminate the sons of Haman because he failed to honor God. He also rejected His word which could have helped him. Gen 12:3 says "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." God's covenants are everlasting and will not be rescinded by humans and He is faithful to keep His promises to His people. The calling and gifts God gives us are forever. Rom 11:29 "for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." One of God's gifts are salvation Eph 2:8 tells us For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. God calls us and establishes us where He pleases and it is permanent. Satan's works are evil and temporary. In Esther 10 we are told: 3 "Mordecai the Jew ranked second in command to King Xerxes. He was popular among the Jews and greatly respected by them. He worked hard for the good of his people; he cared for the peace and prosperity of his race. Haman was removed by God from his place of service to the king and Mordecai replaced him and God kept him there."
In Luke 13 we see a similar theme when Jesus says "Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention." (the Message) When the Pharisees asked Jesus to run from King Herod Jesus said: "Tell that fox that I've no time for him right now. Today and tomorrow I'm busy clearing out the demons and healing the sick; the third day I'm wrapping things up. Besides, it's not proper for a prophet to come to a bad end outside Jerusalem."
Jesus knew what was about to take place and had much to do. As we do the work of the father don't let things distract you that would keep us from accomplishing the father's work. Keep doing what the Lord has placed us here to do and work together without arduing or complaining so that others may see Jesus in us. " 'Blessed is he
who comes in the name of God.'" (Vs. 35 the Message)
In Luke 13 we see a similar theme when Jesus says "Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention." (the Message) When the Pharisees asked Jesus to run from King Herod Jesus said: "Tell that fox that I've no time for him right now. Today and tomorrow I'm busy clearing out the demons and healing the sick; the third day I'm wrapping things up. Besides, it's not proper for a prophet to come to a bad end outside Jerusalem."
Jesus knew what was about to take place and had much to do. As we do the work of the father don't let things distract you that would keep us from accomplishing the father's work. Keep doing what the Lord has placed us here to do and work together without arduing or complaining so that others may see Jesus in us. " 'Blessed is he
who comes in the name of God.'" (Vs. 35 the Message)
Friday, December 4, 2009
2nd Chronicles 32-33; Luke 11:1-28
In 2nd Chronicles 32 we see king Hezekiah being threatened By the Assyrian king Sennacherib. He was trying to intimidate him saying "on what are you basing your confidence that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? 11 When Hezekiah says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,' he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst. 12 Did not Hezekiah himself remove this god's high places and altars, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, 'You must worship before one altar and burn sacrifices on it'?
13 "Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? 14 Who of all the gods of these nations that my fathers destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? 15 Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand!"
God did deliver king Hezekiah after he summoned the prophet Isaiah and they prayed and trusted God and the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword.
31 "But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart." Sometimes we will pray and we will not get the answer we want because God knows what choice we are going to make if we do not get our wish. He tests us to teach us about us. One of Hezekiah's sins was pride. When we pray for something and God does not answer knowing what what our response will be we should look deep inside and see if God is testing our faithfulness during this time. Be willing to look and see if pride may be in the way. One way to detect this is if we are only going to be content if our prayer is answered our way. When we get to the point where we can be fine with the answer even if it does not grant our request we are getting closer to servanthood than we were before. God does not serve us, we serve Him.
In Luke 11 Jesus is answering a question on how we should pray. In the Lord's prayer we see praise to God,desire for His Kingdom to come and some manuscripts say for your will to be done. We see petition and request for forgiveness which is tied to our willingness to forgive, and a request not to lead us into evil and some manuscripts ask for deliverance from evil. Many times how we pray and what we ask for reveals where we are with the Lord. Many people in jail only pray for their deliverance. Then after they grow some they pray for their families. Later they can get to the point where the Kingdom is as important as all of that to them. When the Kingdom becomes more important than anything else then we can be used in ways other than before. We do not neglect our families, but God knows when they are more important than Him to us. They are a gift from God and He is to be worshiped as the giver of the gift. When we get the order right, there is order in our family and our spiritual life.
13 "Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? 14 Who of all the gods of these nations that my fathers destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? 15 Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand!"
God did deliver king Hezekiah after he summoned the prophet Isaiah and they prayed and trusted God and the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword.
31 "But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart." Sometimes we will pray and we will not get the answer we want because God knows what choice we are going to make if we do not get our wish. He tests us to teach us about us. One of Hezekiah's sins was pride. When we pray for something and God does not answer knowing what what our response will be we should look deep inside and see if God is testing our faithfulness during this time. Be willing to look and see if pride may be in the way. One way to detect this is if we are only going to be content if our prayer is answered our way. When we get to the point where we can be fine with the answer even if it does not grant our request we are getting closer to servanthood than we were before. God does not serve us, we serve Him.
In Luke 11 Jesus is answering a question on how we should pray. In the Lord's prayer we see praise to God,desire for His Kingdom to come and some manuscripts say for your will to be done. We see petition and request for forgiveness which is tied to our willingness to forgive, and a request not to lead us into evil and some manuscripts ask for deliverance from evil. Many times how we pray and what we ask for reveals where we are with the Lord. Many people in jail only pray for their deliverance. Then after they grow some they pray for their families. Later they can get to the point where the Kingdom is as important as all of that to them. When the Kingdom becomes more important than anything else then we can be used in ways other than before. We do not neglect our families, but God knows when they are more important than Him to us. They are a gift from God and He is to be worshiped as the giver of the gift. When we get the order right, there is order in our family and our spiritual life.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Ezekiel 33-34; John 16 (The Message)
In the first part of Ezekiel 33 God reveals again to Ezekiel that He is a watchman for the people of God. a watchman is to warn them of coming war and danger. A pastor's job is similar in that we are to seek the Lord and relay the message to the flock or individual of impending spiritual danger. It is sometimes easier to be delivering a message of cheer than the one the Lord reveals. It is a very dangerous position to be in to deliver a message that is not from the Lord. As a member of a local body of believers we must decide what message we would rather hear. The Lord will never reveal something that is not necessary and ultimately beneficial to His children. The people of Jerusalem decided to remain in their evil ways and count on being a descendant of Abraham to save them. 29 "They'll realize that I am God when I devastate the country because of all the obscenities they've practiced."
Another thing that concerned the Lord was the people were eager to hear the message of God and then it did not affect their lives in any way. They went on and did exactly what they had were doing before. 30-32 "As for you, son of man, you've become quite the talk of the town. Your people meet on street corners and in front of their houses and say, 'Let's go hear the latest news from God.' They show up, as people tend to do, and sit in your company. They listen to you speak, but don't do a thing you say. They flatter you with compliments, but all they care about is making money and getting ahead. To them you're merely entertainment—a country singer of sad love songs, playing a guitar. They love to hear you talk, but nothing comes of it.
33 "But when all this happens—and it is going to happen!—they'll realize that a prophet was among them."
Ezekiel 34 tells us about the shepherds over the people of God that do not do their job. It shows how God will intervene in order to shepherd His sheep and protect them from shepherds that prey on His flock. 28-29 "'No longer will they be exploited by outsiders and ravaged by fierce beasts. They'll live safe and sound, fearless and free. I'll give them rich gardens, lavish in vegetables—no more living half-starved, no longer taunted by outsiders." He says He will replace them and His servant David will shepherd. That is pointing to Christ the Good Shepherd who is the shepherd of the churches. The pastor's role is that of an undershepherd under Christ's authority and direction, and that always puts things in the proper order.
1-4 "I've told you these things to prepare you for rough times ahead. They are going to throw you out of the meeting places. There will even come a time when anyone who kills you will think he's doing God a favor. They will do these things because they never really understood the Father. I've told you these things so that when the time comes and they start in on you, you'll be well-warned and ready for them."
We are living in a day when people will think they are actually doing god a favor by getting radical people out of public places. We witness young men getting thrown out of christian schools for speaking truth and telling people of all religions and denominations you must be born again.
33 "I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."
Another thing that concerned the Lord was the people were eager to hear the message of God and then it did not affect their lives in any way. They went on and did exactly what they had were doing before. 30-32 "As for you, son of man, you've become quite the talk of the town. Your people meet on street corners and in front of their houses and say, 'Let's go hear the latest news from God.' They show up, as people tend to do, and sit in your company. They listen to you speak, but don't do a thing you say. They flatter you with compliments, but all they care about is making money and getting ahead. To them you're merely entertainment—a country singer of sad love songs, playing a guitar. They love to hear you talk, but nothing comes of it.
33 "But when all this happens—and it is going to happen!—they'll realize that a prophet was among them."
Ezekiel 34 tells us about the shepherds over the people of God that do not do their job. It shows how God will intervene in order to shepherd His sheep and protect them from shepherds that prey on His flock. 28-29 "'No longer will they be exploited by outsiders and ravaged by fierce beasts. They'll live safe and sound, fearless and free. I'll give them rich gardens, lavish in vegetables—no more living half-starved, no longer taunted by outsiders." He says He will replace them and His servant David will shepherd. That is pointing to Christ the Good Shepherd who is the shepherd of the churches. The pastor's role is that of an undershepherd under Christ's authority and direction, and that always puts things in the proper order.
1-4 "I've told you these things to prepare you for rough times ahead. They are going to throw you out of the meeting places. There will even come a time when anyone who kills you will think he's doing God a favor. They will do these things because they never really understood the Father. I've told you these things so that when the time comes and they start in on you, you'll be well-warned and ready for them."
We are living in a day when people will think they are actually doing god a favor by getting radical people out of public places. We witness young men getting thrown out of christian schools for speaking truth and telling people of all religions and denominations you must be born again.
33 "I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."
Monday, September 28, 2009
Ezekiel 22-23; John 13:1-20 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
In Ezekiel 22 the people of God were deeply involved in all sorts of immorality and lewd acts of hatred even murder for bribes. God spoke through Ezekiel in an attempt to bring His chosen people into obedience before He decided to act and purge the uncleanliness (vs.15). God's mercy is what keeps His wrath at bay. He called them the dross of silver. Dross is the impurities that are poured off of precious metals melted in the fire. 30"I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall (AE) and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, (AF) but I found no one. 31 So I have poured out My indignation on them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their actions down on their own heads." (AG) [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD." Who is God bringing into your life to stand in the gap for? Christ is doing that for us and wants you to be ambassadors of reconciliation for Him. 2Co 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
2Corinthians 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (NIV)... More later
2Corinthians 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (NIV)... More later
Friday, September 25, 2009
Ezekiel 14-15; John 11:1-29 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
In Ezekiel 14 verse 1: "Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3 "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and have put sinful stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I be consulted by them at all?" 4 "Therefore, speak to them and tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: When anyone from the house of Israel sets up idols in his heart, puts a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I, the LORD, will answer him appropriately. [I will answer him] according to his many idols, 5 so that I may take hold of the house of Israel by their hearts, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols."
What were they setting up as idols in their hearts? Idols can come in may forms. They can be anything from lust to other God's. It stems from a desire for something we do not have or for something we think we need. Israel became involved in different sins and did not consider or recognize them to be a problem. Discontent with the parameters God had established in their life and a desire for what others were involved in set God's face against them. Here is what the Lord says:
6 "Therefore, say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: Repent and turn away (E) from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7 For when anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside in Israel separates himself from Me, setting up idols in his heart and putting a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, [b] I, the LORD, will answer him Myself. 8 I will turn against that one and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
9 "But if the prophet is deceived and speaks a message, it was I, the LORD, who deceived that prophet. I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the one who inquires will be the same as that of the prophet— 11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from following Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD .
The Lord's ways are always for restoration and reconciliation. He will stretch out his hand and bring judgment against an entire nation until we return to Him. The righteous will be spared vs 14 "even [if] these three men —Noah, Daniel, and Job —were in it, they would deliver [only] themselves by their righteousness." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD." In this case the four judgments are hunger, Dangerous animals, the sword (other people and nations rising up against us) or plague. Do we see signs of these today?
Ezekiel 15 tells us about the wood of the useless vine. It is not able to be used for anything productive so it is cut down and thrown into the fire as fuel. 6 "Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire as fuel, so I will give up the residents of Jerusalem. 7 I will turn against them. They may have escaped from the fire, but it will [still] consume them. And you will know that I am the LORD when I turn against them. 8 I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD ."
God wants our life to be useful to Him and for His desires. If we have given our life to Him we are to follow the Lord daily and He will guide our path. It is a life of servanthood that begins with obedience and includes all the promises and blessings God has throughuot scripture. At times we may expect to reap the promises of God without the the obedience of a servant. As we remain faithfully in Him and are content with where He has us, we have the peace that comes with obedience and the blessings of servanthood.
In John 11 we see a picture of this servanthood. Jesus is told of Lazarus' death (He was nearly stoned last time they were in Judea). He waited two days and said I'm going. vs. 16 Then Thomas (called "Twin") said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go so that we may die with Him." This is a real twist from when he said I will not believe unless I put my hand in His side. The difference is the first time He could see the Lord at work among them and the second time He was discouraged and grieving. He demanded to use sight instead of faith. This is so easy for any believer to do regardless of our closeness to the Savior. Lazareth's sister Martha is struggling with her belief in the Lord in this. 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?" Jesus does this for the glory of the father. Lets do something today to glorify the father.
What were they setting up as idols in their hearts? Idols can come in may forms. They can be anything from lust to other God's. It stems from a desire for something we do not have or for something we think we need. Israel became involved in different sins and did not consider or recognize them to be a problem. Discontent with the parameters God had established in their life and a desire for what others were involved in set God's face against them. Here is what the Lord says:
6 "Therefore, say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: Repent and turn away (E) from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7 For when anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside in Israel separates himself from Me, setting up idols in his heart and putting a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, [b] I, the LORD, will answer him Myself. 8 I will turn against that one and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
9 "But if the prophet is deceived and speaks a message, it was I, the LORD, who deceived that prophet. I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the one who inquires will be the same as that of the prophet— 11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from following Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD .
The Lord's ways are always for restoration and reconciliation. He will stretch out his hand and bring judgment against an entire nation until we return to Him. The righteous will be spared vs 14 "even [if] these three men —Noah, Daniel, and Job —were in it, they would deliver [only] themselves by their righteousness." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD." In this case the four judgments are hunger, Dangerous animals, the sword (other people and nations rising up against us) or plague. Do we see signs of these today?
Ezekiel 15 tells us about the wood of the useless vine. It is not able to be used for anything productive so it is cut down and thrown into the fire as fuel. 6 "Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire as fuel, so I will give up the residents of Jerusalem. 7 I will turn against them. They may have escaped from the fire, but it will [still] consume them. And you will know that I am the LORD when I turn against them. 8 I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD ."
God wants our life to be useful to Him and for His desires. If we have given our life to Him we are to follow the Lord daily and He will guide our path. It is a life of servanthood that begins with obedience and includes all the promises and blessings God has throughuot scripture. At times we may expect to reap the promises of God without the the obedience of a servant. As we remain faithfully in Him and are content with where He has us, we have the peace that comes with obedience and the blessings of servanthood.
In John 11 we see a picture of this servanthood. Jesus is told of Lazarus' death (He was nearly stoned last time they were in Judea). He waited two days and said I'm going. vs. 16 Then Thomas (called "Twin") said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go so that we may die with Him." This is a real twist from when he said I will not believe unless I put my hand in His side. The difference is the first time He could see the Lord at work among them and the second time He was discouraged and grieving. He demanded to use sight instead of faith. This is so easy for any believer to do regardless of our closeness to the Savior. Lazareth's sister Martha is struggling with her belief in the Lord in this. 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?" Jesus does this for the glory of the father. Lets do something today to glorify the father.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Ezekiel 3-4; John 9:1-23
Ezekiel 3
1 And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3 Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
4 He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel- 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house."
10 And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen."
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound—May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!- 13 the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days-overwhelmed.
Warning to Israel
16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."
22 The hand of the LORD was upon me there, and he said to me, "Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you." 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 4
Siege of Jerusalem Symbolized
1 "Now, son of man, take a clay tablet, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. 2 Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. 3 Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.
4 "Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. [b] You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. 5 I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel.
6 "After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. 7 Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. 8 I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
9 "Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. 10 Weigh out twenty shekels [c] of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. 11 Also measure out a sixth of a hin [d] of water and drink it at set times. 12 Eat the food as you would a barley cake; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel." 13 The LORD said, "In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them."
14 Then I said, "Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."
15 "Very well," he said, "I will let you bake your bread over cow manure instead of human excrement."
16 He then said to me: "Son of man, I will cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, 17 for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of [e] their sin.
Footnotes:
1. Ezekiel 3:18 Or in ; also in verses 19 and 20
2. Ezekiel 4:4 Or your side
3. Ezekiel 4:10 That is, about 8 ounces (about 0.2 kilogram)
4. Ezekiel 4:11 That is, about 2/3 quart (about 0.6 liter)
5. Ezekiel 4:17 Or away in
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
John 9:1-23
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9Some claimed that he was.
Others said, "No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted, "I am the man."
10"How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
11He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."
12"Where is this man?" they asked him.
"I don't know," he said.
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see."
16Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."
But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.
17Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened."
The man replied, "He is a prophet."
18The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19"Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?"
20"We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
Tomorrow's intended reading: Ezekiel 5-7; John 9:24-41
1 And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3 Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
4 He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel- 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house."
10 And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen."
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound—May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!- 13 the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days-overwhelmed.
Warning to Israel
16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."
22 The hand of the LORD was upon me there, and he said to me, "Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you." 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 4
Siege of Jerusalem Symbolized
1 "Now, son of man, take a clay tablet, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. 2 Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. 3 Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.
4 "Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. [b] You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. 5 I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel.
6 "After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. 7 Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. 8 I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
9 "Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. 10 Weigh out twenty shekels [c] of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. 11 Also measure out a sixth of a hin [d] of water and drink it at set times. 12 Eat the food as you would a barley cake; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel." 13 The LORD said, "In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them."
14 Then I said, "Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."
15 "Very well," he said, "I will let you bake your bread over cow manure instead of human excrement."
16 He then said to me: "Son of man, I will cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, 17 for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of [e] their sin.
Footnotes:
1. Ezekiel 3:18 Or in ; also in verses 19 and 20
2. Ezekiel 4:4 Or your side
3. Ezekiel 4:10 That is, about 8 ounces (about 0.2 kilogram)
4. Ezekiel 4:11 That is, about 2/3 quart (about 0.6 liter)
5. Ezekiel 4:17 Or away in
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
John 9:1-23
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9Some claimed that he was.
Others said, "No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted, "I am the man."
10"How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
11He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."
12"Where is this man?" they asked him.
"I don't know," he said.
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see."
16Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."
But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.
17Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened."
The man replied, "He is a prophet."
18The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19"Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?"
20"We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
Tomorrow's intended reading: Ezekiel 5-7; John 9:24-41
Friday, September 18, 2009
Amos 4-6; John 7:28-53
4:13 "He is here: the One who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man, the One who makes the dawn out of darkness and strides on the heights of the earth. Yahweh, the God of Hosts, is His name."(HCSB) The people of Israel had forsaken God. They were offering sacrifices and offerings for the wrong reasons (personal recognition). In Amos 4 God is pursuing them, doing all kinds of things to get their attention to bring them back to Him. Take a look at the spiritual condition of our lives and the spiritual condition of the nations from God’s perspective. What is God doing to bring me personally to Him and what is He doing to bring His people back?
5:4 "For the LORD says to the house of Israel: Seek Me and live!"(HCSB) In Christ there is life. Apart from Him there are consequences of sin. When we wander He intercedes for us to the father to keep God's wrath from taking us out before the Holy Spirit has a chance to convict us and bring us back to the Lord. God is good and has provided the incredible provision of restoration in this way. The intent is always to bring us back to the Lord before we go too far. Seek Him and He will bring you back home to His loving arms. There is no better place to be!
Amos six starts out with the complacency we are apt to fall into. Please do not get caught up in this. It is so easy to fall into and not be who the Lord wants us to be. We are to often do a spiritual inventory to assure we are living out what we believe and make necessary adjustments so we can look forward to any encounter we will have with the Lord.
John 7; Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him."
Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us and give us overflowing joy and fullness in life. We are to share that joy as He has left us keys to living water in other lives. Let's introduce them to our Lord and He will do the same for them.
Posted by Dan Holley at 8:42 AM
5:4 "For the LORD says to the house of Israel: Seek Me and live!"(HCSB) In Christ there is life. Apart from Him there are consequences of sin. When we wander He intercedes for us to the father to keep God's wrath from taking us out before the Holy Spirit has a chance to convict us and bring us back to the Lord. God is good and has provided the incredible provision of restoration in this way. The intent is always to bring us back to the Lord before we go too far. Seek Him and He will bring you back home to His loving arms. There is no better place to be!
Amos six starts out with the complacency we are apt to fall into. Please do not get caught up in this. It is so easy to fall into and not be who the Lord wants us to be. We are to often do a spiritual inventory to assure we are living out what we believe and make necessary adjustments so we can look forward to any encounter we will have with the Lord.
John 7; Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him."
Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us and give us overflowing joy and fullness in life. We are to share that joy as He has left us keys to living water in other lives. Let's introduce them to our Lord and He will do the same for them.
Posted by Dan Holley at 8:42 AM
Friday, September 11, 2009
Judges 11-12; John 4:31-54
In Judges 11 Jephthah is driven out of the land by his brothers because his mother was a prostitute. Then they later came to him and asked him to save them from the Ammonites. It shows us how God chooses the most unlikely people to use as His servant. And later we may have to take back some of the things we have thought or said as we understand who the Lord is using and chooses to lead us. God chooses whom He will for his purposes and when He lays His hand on them they can accomplish more than many under their own strength. 32 "Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands." The Lord used Jephthah to deliver the Israelites. How does the Lord intend to use you? Seek Him and put His plan before yours and He will make it plain.
In chapter 12 the men of Ephraim were upset at the way things happened. It was done without their input because they had not responded when called to help. Their discontent at the way things were handled pitted them against their brothers, drew them into war and were defeated. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. Discontent at the way God chooses to accomplish His purposes has a great cost. Trusting Him in times our spirit is troubled is the biggest test of faith we may have. God's plan is always best. Let's all seek to put our plans aside and join Him in His plan. We will see life's struggles soon get easier.
In John 4 we see Jesus talking to His disciples about spiritual food. 32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."... 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work...I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
We are all workers in the Lord's harvest. Many times we get caught up being concerned about personal needs and we get into a never-ending cycle that becomes concentrated on us. In Matt. 6:33 Jesus says: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
I encourage you to concentrate on meeting the assignment of bringing in the harvest and the Lord promises our needs will be met in every way.
In chapter 12 the men of Ephraim were upset at the way things happened. It was done without their input because they had not responded when called to help. Their discontent at the way things were handled pitted them against their brothers, drew them into war and were defeated. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. Discontent at the way God chooses to accomplish His purposes has a great cost. Trusting Him in times our spirit is troubled is the biggest test of faith we may have. God's plan is always best. Let's all seek to put our plans aside and join Him in His plan. We will see life's struggles soon get easier.
In John 4 we see Jesus talking to His disciples about spiritual food. 32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."... 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work...I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
We are all workers in the Lord's harvest. Many times we get caught up being concerned about personal needs and we get into a never-ending cycle that becomes concentrated on us. In Matt. 6:33 Jesus says: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
I encourage you to concentrate on meeting the assignment of bringing in the harvest and the Lord promises our needs will be met in every way.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Psalm 140-142; 2 Corinthians 12
In Psalm 140 David is again asking for protection from those who would mean evil. It is something we should pray for. The Lord does hear our prayer and understands what we are going through. Cast your concerns on Him and let the Lord fight your battles and deliver you from the big and small things.
In Psalm 141 David asks the Lord to hear when He calls. Then He asks to "set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. 5 Let a righteous man [a] strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it..."
He then goes on to pray that his heart would be open to the rebuke of a righteous man and be ready to accept it. It is important that we are always open to growing close to the Lord no matter what form the Lord brings it in.
In Psalms 142 David who is the most Loved and powerful king says he is desperate for deliverance. He needs the Lords help from the daily pressures He is facing. He feels like life has him trapped. "7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name." Has life made you feel penned in? 7b "Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me." Ask and the Lord will send his loved ones to minister to you.
More later
In Psalm 141 David asks the Lord to hear when He calls. Then He asks to "set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. 5 Let a righteous man [a] strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it..."
He then goes on to pray that his heart would be open to the rebuke of a righteous man and be ready to accept it. It is important that we are always open to growing close to the Lord no matter what form the Lord brings it in.
In Psalms 142 David who is the most Loved and powerful king says he is desperate for deliverance. He needs the Lords help from the daily pressures He is facing. He feels like life has him trapped. "7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name." Has life made you feel penned in? 7b "Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me." Ask and the Lord will send his loved ones to minister to you.
More later
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Psalm 135-136; 2nd Corinthians 11:1-15
Psalm 120-134 are "Psalms of Ascent" that were recited either on the annual journey as they ascended to Jerusalem or as they climbed the temple steps (there were 15 steps). 135:2 talks about standing in the courts of the Lord. This supports that view. We are part of the descendants of Jacob and all the blessings apply to the believers in Christ through the covenant of our Lord with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4).
Psalm 136 talks of the mercy of God. How can we fully understand His mercy? He remembers us in our low estate, He defends us daily to our opposition, He moves obstacles out of our way and has made every good thing for our daily provision. Spiritually we should get to the place where we spontaneously give thanks for the great things He has done.
2nd Corinthians 11 is a very difficult passage to relate, but it must be done. The Lord warns us to watch out for deception and things that have the appearance to be harmless and genuine on the surface, but like many things that we have encountered, they are not. Paul establishes the relationship set in place by the Lord. Others came in with another message that was dividing the fellowship and putting different ideas in their heads. This is an old tactic by Satan to cause strife among believers. Some are false apostles, deceitful workers who pose as workers of the Lord. Vs14 "That comes as no surprise. Even Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light. 15 So it doesn't surprise us that those who serve Satan pretend to be serving God. They will finally get exactly what they should." Many times we sin by doubting or trying to second-guess the Lord by letting the deceiver speak discontent to our hearts, and at times even a sense of exhaustion and helplessness. Sometimes, these feelings will come to us through "well meaning,” caring believers who may be trying to justify their own apathy or agenda. God's plan is to establish and grow loving relationships within the body of believers He has built as a church. Let's not let anything get in the way of what Christ intends to accomplish in His bride. Take comfort in the fact that our “Heavenly Father knows best!”
Psalm 136 talks of the mercy of God. How can we fully understand His mercy? He remembers us in our low estate, He defends us daily to our opposition, He moves obstacles out of our way and has made every good thing for our daily provision. Spiritually we should get to the place where we spontaneously give thanks for the great things He has done.
2nd Corinthians 11 is a very difficult passage to relate, but it must be done. The Lord warns us to watch out for deception and things that have the appearance to be harmless and genuine on the surface, but like many things that we have encountered, they are not. Paul establishes the relationship set in place by the Lord. Others came in with another message that was dividing the fellowship and putting different ideas in their heads. This is an old tactic by Satan to cause strife among believers. Some are false apostles, deceitful workers who pose as workers of the Lord. Vs14 "That comes as no surprise. Even Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light. 15 So it doesn't surprise us that those who serve Satan pretend to be serving God. They will finally get exactly what they should." Many times we sin by doubting or trying to second-guess the Lord by letting the deceiver speak discontent to our hearts, and at times even a sense of exhaustion and helplessness. Sometimes, these feelings will come to us through "well meaning,” caring believers who may be trying to justify their own apathy or agenda. God's plan is to establish and grow loving relationships within the body of believers He has built as a church. Let's not let anything get in the way of what Christ intends to accomplish in His bride. Take comfort in the fact that our “Heavenly Father knows best!”
Monday, August 31, 2009
Psalm 132-134; 2nd Corinthians 10
In Psalm 132 we are reminded of David's resolve to build a temple of the Lord and His willingness to sacrifice rest and sleep to accomplish the task. Though David was not allowed to build the temple, He made plans, gathered materials, and passed on the specific instructions to his son Solomon. David was a man after God's own heart because of His willingness to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. God put the desire in His heart and He responded in a way that pleased Him. Are we willing to serve on God's terms, to do what the Lord allows and stop when He says your assignment is complete?
David's service on God's terms brought blessings to all of His descendants.
Psalm 133 speaks of unity. 1 "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!..3b For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." Here we can see where this is pleasing to God and ties unity hand in hand with blessings and even life in the Lord.
In Psalm 134 we are told to praise the Lord. As we minister we must never take lightly praising our Lord. We are to do this as an act of obedience even as servants of the "maker of heaven and earth."
2nd Corinthians 10:2"I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." When Christ sends someone or comes Himself, what will our spiritual life be like? What will we be found doing or being involved in?
will it be an activity directed by Him or us?
15b "Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you." Let's continue to be caught up in the activity of God and walk together with Him as we overcome strongholds together as the Lord would have us do.
Tomorrow I intend to read Psalms 135-136; 2nd Corinthians 11:1-15
David's service on God's terms brought blessings to all of His descendants.
Psalm 133 speaks of unity. 1 "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!..3b For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." Here we can see where this is pleasing to God and ties unity hand in hand with blessings and even life in the Lord.
In Psalm 134 we are told to praise the Lord. As we minister we must never take lightly praising our Lord. We are to do this as an act of obedience even as servants of the "maker of heaven and earth."
2nd Corinthians 10:2"I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." When Christ sends someone or comes Himself, what will our spiritual life be like? What will we be found doing or being involved in?
will it be an activity directed by Him or us?
15b "Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you." Let's continue to be caught up in the activity of God and walk together with Him as we overcome strongholds together as the Lord would have us do.
Tomorrow I intend to read Psalms 135-136; 2nd Corinthians 11:1-15
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Psalm 126-128; 2 Corinthians 8
Psalm 126 reminds me of the old hymn we will come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves. Do you have someone out there being held captive by the enemy? Don't worry, continue to pray until the Lord brings them back from that far away place. He knows them and knows what He is doing. God is faithful to answer prayers. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them...5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. "
Psalm 127 says 1 "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." We are to build a foundation on the Lord and let Him be our security and watch over the completion of His promised blessings in our life. Building it our way many times brings about human results and we end up with consequences instead of blessings. God has plans to do more that we can even think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Trust Him and watch it unfold.
Psalm 128 says 1 "Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways."
Healthy fear and trembling and awe in God's presence are the earmarks of an understanding of the proper relationship with God. The blessings come to those who understand that and stand in the presence of God and say Isaiah 6:5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
2 Corinthians 8 tells us that giving out of poverty. We are comfortable giving when we understand the provision. Giving trusting for God's provision is just as necessary and challenging. We are challenged in this area: 8"I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." Lets earnestly petition the Lord here Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Trust the Lord God in each of these areas and see what He will do next.
"The LORD has done great things for them...5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. "
Psalm 127 says 1 "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." We are to build a foundation on the Lord and let Him be our security and watch over the completion of His promised blessings in our life. Building it our way many times brings about human results and we end up with consequences instead of blessings. God has plans to do more that we can even think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Trust Him and watch it unfold.
Psalm 128 says 1 "Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways."
Healthy fear and trembling and awe in God's presence are the earmarks of an understanding of the proper relationship with God. The blessings come to those who understand that and stand in the presence of God and say Isaiah 6:5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
2 Corinthians 8 tells us that giving out of poverty. We are comfortable giving when we understand the provision. Giving trusting for God's provision is just as necessary and challenging. We are challenged in this area: 8"I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." Lets earnestly petition the Lord here Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Trust the Lord God in each of these areas and see what He will do next.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Psalm 123-125; 2 Corinthians 7
In Psalm 123 we are encouraged to look to the Lord for deliverance and mercy in the life of the people of God. Who are we looking for for guidance? Who do we turn to first in time of need? The Lord wants to have that rightful place in our life.
In Psalm 124 we are to acknowledge who has delivered us from our strife and turmoil. 8 "Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." After we are rescued whom do we give the credit to?
In Psalm 125 the Lord is our unshakable mountain. 2 "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore." We can rest assured knowing the Lord is with us now and forever.
In 2 Corinthians 7 we see Paul is working through some hard things he had addressed in their first letter. It had made them sorrowful. This is sometimes necessary for repentance. 10"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." God knows where we are with Him and what adjustments He intends to make. He also knows what it will take to get our attention. Stay closely connected to Him so we can be sensitive to the Holy Spirit during these times. Then we can be willing for Him to make these without the pain involved after we go our own way.
In Psalm 124 we are to acknowledge who has delivered us from our strife and turmoil. 8 "Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." After we are rescued whom do we give the credit to?
In Psalm 125 the Lord is our unshakable mountain. 2 "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore." We can rest assured knowing the Lord is with us now and forever.
In 2 Corinthians 7 we see Paul is working through some hard things he had addressed in their first letter. It had made them sorrowful. This is sometimes necessary for repentance. 10"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." God knows where we are with Him and what adjustments He intends to make. He also knows what it will take to get our attention. Stay closely connected to Him so we can be sensitive to the Holy Spirit during these times. Then we can be willing for Him to make these without the pain involved after we go our own way.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Psalm 120-122; 2 Corinthians 6
The Psalmist tells us in 120 that when we call to the Lord He answers in our distress. Also when we ask for lying tongue to be removed He does that whether it's our own we are battling or others around us. He has the power to both overcome personally and deliver us from our oppressors. Ask and He will save you.
In Psalm 121 we see the Lord being our help when we lift our eyes to the hills. Put your eyes on Him and He will not let you slip. 5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Do you ask for help with the little things?
Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." We are to rejoice and go into God's house. Bring someone with you and both of you will be glad you did. Then we see prayer for the city of God and for peace security for His people. When is the last time you prayed for your town and the people in it? I believe prayer is the foundation of the work of God. As we connect closely to Him, He prompts us to pray for the things He is concerned with and the people who are crying out to Him. Pray for them and see what God does next.
In 2 Corinthians 6 we are asked not to receive God's grace in vain. A great price has been paid by many to praise His name and follow Him publicly. Many have given their lives to translate His word into our language and be able to give it to another person without fear. Do whatever you have to do to tell others about our Lord and you will see Him work in an incredible way through your life. As we love God and love His people we will see what He does to empower us to follow Him in that task.
It also talks about being unequally yoked with unbelievers. When we marry or partner with an unbeliever we many times are doing that under our own direction and not the Lord's. We must make sure our endeavors are with like-minded people. How are we going to do that? We are to pray seeking God's direction above our own selfish desires. If you are already in a relationship or married to a non-believer, pray for God's guidance there that you can be a light and an example not by what you say, but how you live your life. A famous person said the greatest sermon is not preached but is a life lived out through faith.
In Psalm 121 we see the Lord being our help when we lift our eyes to the hills. Put your eyes on Him and He will not let you slip. 5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Do you ask for help with the little things?
Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." We are to rejoice and go into God's house. Bring someone with you and both of you will be glad you did. Then we see prayer for the city of God and for peace security for His people. When is the last time you prayed for your town and the people in it? I believe prayer is the foundation of the work of God. As we connect closely to Him, He prompts us to pray for the things He is concerned with and the people who are crying out to Him. Pray for them and see what God does next.
In 2 Corinthians 6 we are asked not to receive God's grace in vain. A great price has been paid by many to praise His name and follow Him publicly. Many have given their lives to translate His word into our language and be able to give it to another person without fear. Do whatever you have to do to tell others about our Lord and you will see Him work in an incredible way through your life. As we love God and love His people we will see what He does to empower us to follow Him in that task.
It also talks about being unequally yoked with unbelievers. When we marry or partner with an unbeliever we many times are doing that under our own direction and not the Lord's. We must make sure our endeavors are with like-minded people. How are we going to do that? We are to pray seeking God's direction above our own selfish desires. If you are already in a relationship or married to a non-believer, pray for God's guidance there that you can be a light and an example not by what you say, but how you live your life. A famous person said the greatest sermon is not preached but is a life lived out through faith.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Psalm 119:89-176; 2nd Corinthians 5
I have strung together some verses from Psalm 119 to show us how God changes our heart and draws us to desire Him and His word. 105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path...120 My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws....124 Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees. 125 I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes...133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. 134 Redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may obey your precepts...140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. 173 May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts...176 I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands." (NIV)
The psalm tells us of God's endurance and how we can have assurance of His steadfast love through the way He has provided stability in the earth and meeting our physical needs. Are we trembling in awe of a holy, righteous God? Do we delight in His word or are we offended? Do we try to change the meaning to fit what we are comfortable with? You can see here how the Lord changes our heart and our desires as we trust and follow Him. Even when we wander the Good Shepherd continues to pursue us and restore us to Him and His people.
In 2nd Corinthians 5 Paul describes this hope we have in Christ as a building from God an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. We long for the day we will be with the Lord and those faithful who have gone before us. 14"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again...17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!..20b We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Christ's love compels us to take up our cross daily as a servant to our Master. His love gives us the strength to carry out the task with hopeful expectation that we will be useful in His plan to reconcile His people to Him. Do you view yourself as someone whom God can accomplish this through? Christ tells us that through Him nothing is impossible. Trust HIM and watch as HE accomplishes the impossible through your life today.
Posted by Dan Holley at 7:49 AM
The psalm tells us of God's endurance and how we can have assurance of His steadfast love through the way He has provided stability in the earth and meeting our physical needs. Are we trembling in awe of a holy, righteous God? Do we delight in His word or are we offended? Do we try to change the meaning to fit what we are comfortable with? You can see here how the Lord changes our heart and our desires as we trust and follow Him. Even when we wander the Good Shepherd continues to pursue us and restore us to Him and His people.
In 2nd Corinthians 5 Paul describes this hope we have in Christ as a building from God an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. We long for the day we will be with the Lord and those faithful who have gone before us. 14"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again...17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!..20b We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Christ's love compels us to take up our cross daily as a servant to our Master. His love gives us the strength to carry out the task with hopeful expectation that we will be useful in His plan to reconcile His people to Him. Do you view yourself as someone whom God can accomplish this through? Christ tells us that through Him nothing is impossible. Trust HIM and watch as HE accomplishes the impossible through your life today.
Posted by Dan Holley at 7:49 AM
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Psalm 105-106; Galatians 5
Psalms 105 is a recollection of God's powerful deliverance. We should remember how the Lord brings us out of bondage with an inheritance that is to be used by Him in our lives. He will do this in a miraculous way to bring others into an understanding of God's incredible love and presence in the lives of His people. Where are you today? What mountain do you need moved? Trust in the Lord and give it to Him in prayer knowing and believing He will answer and you will see God bring you from where you are to where you never imagined you could be.
Psalms 106 continues the story of the people of God. They knew the ways of God, but kept walking in disobedience until He was ready to pour out His wrath upon His people. 23 "So he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them." (NIV)
Who has God chosen you to stand in the gap for? I believe if we stand in the gap in prayer and go to those He has placed in our lives with the message He has given us, the consequences of their behavior will be forgiven. James 5:16b "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
Who is the Lord prompting you to pray for today? Pray believing God will do this and see what He will do.
Galatians 5 tells us we are to live in the and we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Legalism causes us to live in the flesh and not in the spirit where there is victory over the sinful nature. When we live by the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law we can truly find freedom in Christ. If the law was sufficient then Christ died for nothing. God is just and loving and would not send His Son without good reason. He knew the consequences of life apart from Him and Jesus willingly took on the task. Where are you today with the Lord? He knows and you know. He wants you to come back to where He tells us we should be and remain in Him.
Psalms 106 continues the story of the people of God. They knew the ways of God, but kept walking in disobedience until He was ready to pour out His wrath upon His people. 23 "So he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them." (NIV)
Who has God chosen you to stand in the gap for? I believe if we stand in the gap in prayer and go to those He has placed in our lives with the message He has given us, the consequences of their behavior will be forgiven. James 5:16b "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
Who is the Lord prompting you to pray for today? Pray believing God will do this and see what He will do.
Galatians 5 tells us we are to live in the and we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Legalism causes us to live in the flesh and not in the spirit where there is victory over the sinful nature. When we live by the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law we can truly find freedom in Christ. If the law was sufficient then Christ died for nothing. God is just and loving and would not send His Son without good reason. He knew the consequences of life apart from Him and Jesus willingly took on the task. Where are you today with the Lord? He knows and you know. He wants you to come back to where He tells us we should be and remain in Him.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Psalm 100-102; Galatians 3
Psalm 100 says shout joy to the Lord all the earth. We are to worship the Lord with gladness and come before Him with joyful song. This is a command. When we do this as an act of obedience the Lord fills us with His presence. 3 "Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Psalm 101 says we are to set before our eyes no vile thing. Covetousness is the last commandment and it is a secret sin that the Lord knows will ruin us as quickly as anything else. That is why He told the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and follow Him. We are to get these things out of the Lord's rightful place in our lives so we can truly experience worship.
In Psalms 102 Jesus is prophesied to be our deliverer. He is our life and we are to tell others the good news of Christ and the life He brings. 19 "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, 20 to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." Without Him we are all condemned but with Him we have life forever.
In Galatians 3 we see we are justified by faith in Christ as Abraham's seed. We are sons of the promise through the seed of Abraham which is Christ Jesus. 13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14 "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit...27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." We are all one in Christ.
It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Psalm 101 says we are to set before our eyes no vile thing. Covetousness is the last commandment and it is a secret sin that the Lord knows will ruin us as quickly as anything else. That is why He told the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and follow Him. We are to get these things out of the Lord's rightful place in our lives so we can truly experience worship.
In Psalms 102 Jesus is prophesied to be our deliverer. He is our life and we are to tell others the good news of Christ and the life He brings. 19 "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, 20 to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." Without Him we are all condemned but with Him we have life forever.
In Galatians 3 we see we are justified by faith in Christ as Abraham's seed. We are sons of the promise through the seed of Abraham which is Christ Jesus. 13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14 "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit...27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." We are all one in Christ.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Psalm 91-93; 1 Peter 5 (New International Version)
Psalm 91
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
Psalm 92
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green...
Psalm 92
1 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty
and is armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.
!st Peter 5
5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."[a] 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (NIV)
Not a lot of time to comment today. Meditate and pray some of these verses today and see how the Lord will minister to you. Know I am praying for you.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
Psalm 92
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green...
Psalm 92
1 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty
and is armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.
!st Peter 5
5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."[a] 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (NIV)
Not a lot of time to comment today. Meditate and pray some of these verses today and see how the Lord will minister to you. Know I am praying for you.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Psalm 87-88; 1 Peter 3
Psalm 87 is prophecy of Christ being established through the family of David who is the foundation of our relationship with God. It is to go down in history that God decreed that Jerusalem be the city of God and that His son would be coming through the descendants of the city. God is establishing foundations in our lives and families as well. We are to understand Him through our relationship with Christ who will lay a foundation and establish the effective worship in families for generations to come.
In Psalm 88 we read that God is bringing us to an understanding of what it will be like to have all of our friends view us as repulsive and to be close to death. We may be there some day and if thing happen in our life as in Job’s life then what are to we to do? The Lord wants us to cry out to Him, and He will pull us out of the pit of depression, despair, hopelessness, drug addiction, or alcoholism and deliver us to a saving secure relationship with Him for our hope and daily rock to lean on.
1st Peter 3 talks about our daily example to our husband, wife or others around us. Our spirit ministers to others louder than our words. The work God has done in us should build strong relationships that will speak to the soul of our associates, family and friends. Husbands should treat wives with respect and wives should lead a life that would draw husbands to the Lord. 1Pe 3:8 “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”
In Psalm 88 we read that God is bringing us to an understanding of what it will be like to have all of our friends view us as repulsive and to be close to death. We may be there some day and if thing happen in our life as in Job’s life then what are to we to do? The Lord wants us to cry out to Him, and He will pull us out of the pit of depression, despair, hopelessness, drug addiction, or alcoholism and deliver us to a saving secure relationship with Him for our hope and daily rock to lean on.
1st Peter 3 talks about our daily example to our husband, wife or others around us. Our spirit ministers to others louder than our words. The work God has done in us should build strong relationships that will speak to the soul of our associates, family and friends. Husbands should treat wives with respect and wives should lead a life that would draw husbands to the Lord. 1Pe 3:8 “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Psalm 81-83; 1 Peter 1
In Psalm 81 the Lord is our strength and sets a decree for us that tells us He removes the burdens from our shoulders and sets free our hands. When we call upon Him out of our distress, He answers us. He does not spare us from the distress because He grow our spiritual strength during times when we struggle for the answer only He can provide. He wants us to rely on His strength, not ours. 13 "If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways...16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." Many times we miss the blessings the Lord has stored up for us because we do not call out to Him in our distress.
In Psalms 82 God is the only God who is alive and involved in the daily life of His people. It is nice to know we have a God that will reign forever for all generations and they can call to Him a hundred years from now and He will answer.
In Psalm 83 the Lord is the Most High God. 18 "Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD — that you alone are the Most High over all the earth."
In 1st Peter 1 the Lord tells us that we are to praise the Lord who sets us apart, makes us holy and gives us life. 6"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls... 22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." We are to love each other as an act of obedience. When we genuinely do that He gives us a harvest of faith that will not fade away. 24"For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
In Psalms 82 God is the only God who is alive and involved in the daily life of His people. It is nice to know we have a God that will reign forever for all generations and they can call to Him a hundred years from now and He will answer.
In Psalm 83 the Lord is the Most High God. 18 "Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD — that you alone are the Most High over all the earth."
In 1st Peter 1 the Lord tells us that we are to praise the Lord who sets us apart, makes us holy and gives us life. 6"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls... 22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." We are to love each other as an act of obedience. When we genuinely do that He gives us a harvest of faith that will not fade away. 24"For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Psalms 74-76; Acts 27:1-26
In Psalm 74 the people of God are experiencing a time when God's discipline has allowed them to go into captivity. They then look back and remember the wondrous things God has done and ask Him to defeat their enemies. 11 "Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!" They understand the power of God and are asking Him to retaliate now. He will do that after they have been through the consequences of their sin and have truly repented. If God rescues us every time we ask without any consequences we get cheated out of the growth involves in the discipline. He loves us too much to allow us to remain spiritual children. This growth is sometimes painful, but it is so worth it.
In psalms 75 the Lord chooses the appointed time to judge uprightly, to exalt people or bring them down. It is God who holds the pillars of the earth firm when it quakes. When our world is rocking if we put trust the Lord He will deliver us.
In Psalms 76 God is great and His name known in the nation. 11 "Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared." 12 He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth." We know God is great and understanding His awesome power and holiness should bring us in reverent awe with a humble, yet healthy fear of His majesty and power.
In Acts 27 Paul is being transferred to Rome to appeal to Caesar. A few days into their journey the sailing became difficult and while anchored at the port in Fair Havens Paul warned them 10"Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." 11But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest. Do we listen to the majority when the sailing gets rough or do we call on the Lord and listen to Him for direction? God gives direction to those leaders and His children to keep us sailing on His course. Trust Him for guidance and the destination will be reached while walking in His presence and trusting in Him for the right route and the desired outcome along the way.
In psalms 75 the Lord chooses the appointed time to judge uprightly, to exalt people or bring them down. It is God who holds the pillars of the earth firm when it quakes. When our world is rocking if we put trust the Lord He will deliver us.
In Psalms 76 God is great and His name known in the nation. 11 "Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared." 12 He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth." We know God is great and understanding His awesome power and holiness should bring us in reverent awe with a humble, yet healthy fear of His majesty and power.
In Acts 27 Paul is being transferred to Rome to appeal to Caesar. A few days into their journey the sailing became difficult and while anchored at the port in Fair Havens Paul warned them 10"Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." 11But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest. Do we listen to the majority when the sailing gets rough or do we call on the Lord and listen to Him for direction? God gives direction to those leaders and His children to keep us sailing on His course. Trust Him for guidance and the destination will be reached while walking in His presence and trusting in Him for the right route and the desired outcome along the way.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Psalm 72-73; Acts 26
Psalms 72 asks for God to endow the King with His justice. We can always count on that character in God. "The desert tribes will bow before Him". That at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and we will all bow at His holy name. 18 "Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen." This is a prayer of David, as we pray scripture God will dwell in our midst.
In Psalms 73 we see how easy it is to get dismayed at those who seem to be doing evil and getting ahead.
16 "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny."
When life gets us down and we enter God's sanctuary we get hope, security and strength for what we are facing. He encourages us and gives us understanding as He asks. Understanding our final destiny is key to turning our world right side up.
24 "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
The psalmist says He has made the Lord his refuge and will tell of all His deeds.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
In Acts 26 we see Paul testifying to King Agrippa. He gives his testimony.
20"First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds...27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 29Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." He ends his testimony in an appeal to king Agrippa and Festus and everyone present to become as him and give their life to Christ. We should be prepared to give our testimony of this life in us that transforms hearts and gives life to all who receive Him.
In Psalms 73 we see how easy it is to get dismayed at those who seem to be doing evil and getting ahead.
16 "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny."
When life gets us down and we enter God's sanctuary we get hope, security and strength for what we are facing. He encourages us and gives us understanding as He asks. Understanding our final destiny is key to turning our world right side up.
24 "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
The psalmist says He has made the Lord his refuge and will tell of all His deeds.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
In Acts 26 we see Paul testifying to King Agrippa. He gives his testimony.
20"First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds...27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 29Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." He ends his testimony in an appeal to king Agrippa and Festus and everyone present to become as him and give their life to Christ. We should be prepared to give our testimony of this life in us that transforms hearts and gives life to all who receive Him.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Psalm 70-71; Acts 25
Psalm 70 starts saying: 1 "Hasten, O God, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me." The Lord God wants us to turn to Him in times of despair and trouble. Many times we tend to trust in ourselves and our own understanding. He wants us to depend on what He can do instead of what we can do.
In Psalm 71 we see God as our rock. 3 "Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress." Our enemies may claim God has forsaken us, but as we rely on Him they will be defeated. 23 "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have redeemed 24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion." Are you able to tell others what great things God has done in your life? Not what great things we have done for Him, but what great things HE has done. Many people today are mesmerized by the TV news. The true living God that is deeply involved in the life of His people really is the good news the world is seeking. He is the hope of the world.
In Acts 25 we see another plot the Jews had to kill Paul. They asked Festus to send him to Jerusalem to be tried by them with a secret scheme to kill him along the way. Paul asked to be heard by Caesar. This brings King Agrippa into the picture and Paul will be heard by him. What platform is God giving you to tell the story of the things He is doing in your life? What may appear as a trial may be a blessing to others as they see the Lord at work in your daily life of service to our King.
In Psalm 71 we see God as our rock. 3 "Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress." Our enemies may claim God has forsaken us, but as we rely on Him they will be defeated. 23 "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have redeemed 24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion." Are you able to tell others what great things God has done in your life? Not what great things we have done for Him, but what great things HE has done. Many people today are mesmerized by the TV news. The true living God that is deeply involved in the life of His people really is the good news the world is seeking. He is the hope of the world.
In Acts 25 we see another plot the Jews had to kill Paul. They asked Festus to send him to Jerusalem to be tried by them with a secret scheme to kill him along the way. Paul asked to be heard by Caesar. This brings King Agrippa into the picture and Paul will be heard by him. What platform is God giving you to tell the story of the things He is doing in your life? What may appear as a trial may be a blessing to others as they see the Lord at work in your daily life of service to our King.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Psalms 68 - 69; Acts 24
Dan Holley
Subject: Today's blog
Psalm 68 prompts us to sing praise to the Lord. He is worthy of our praise. He is our deliverer and defender concerning our enemies. In Genesis 12:3 He says it this way: I will bless those who bless you and I will curse him who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. This holds true to those called to be His children. Then we see that God is more awesome than His sanctuary (holy places) and it is He who gives His people power and strength. Trust in the Lord cast your cares on Him and He will strengthen and deliver you daily. He knows what you need before you ask.
In chapter 69 we see David fasting, praying and asking for deliverance. He will be our answer when we seek Him no matter what we are facing God is bigger than our present need. He loves us and always provides His children what we need.
In Acts 24 Paul faces his accusers in court. Felix delayed judgment and Paul testified later to him and His wife. He could not bear to continue after Paul spoke of righteousness, self control and the coming judgment. Paul was not afraid to speak as the Lord had prompted. We must seek the Lord on what to say and what He may be saying to us through His servants. It is may be hard to hear but it is so essential for our growth to seek the answer which God is faithful to provide. Whatever you may be facing seek the Lord with a "not my will but yours" heart and see what God will do.
Dan
Dan and Emily Holley
Austin Oaks Baptist Church
Subject: Today's blog
Psalm 68 prompts us to sing praise to the Lord. He is worthy of our praise. He is our deliverer and defender concerning our enemies. In Genesis 12:3 He says it this way: I will bless those who bless you and I will curse him who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. This holds true to those called to be His children. Then we see that God is more awesome than His sanctuary (holy places) and it is He who gives His people power and strength. Trust in the Lord cast your cares on Him and He will strengthen and deliver you daily. He knows what you need before you ask.
In chapter 69 we see David fasting, praying and asking for deliverance. He will be our answer when we seek Him no matter what we are facing God is bigger than our present need. He loves us and always provides His children what we need.
In Acts 24 Paul faces his accusers in court. Felix delayed judgment and Paul testified later to him and His wife. He could not bear to continue after Paul spoke of righteousness, self control and the coming judgment. Paul was not afraid to speak as the Lord had prompted. We must seek the Lord on what to say and what He may be saying to us through His servants. It is may be hard to hear but it is so essential for our growth to seek the answer which God is faithful to provide. Whatever you may be facing seek the Lord with a "not my will but yours" heart and see what God will do.
Dan
Dan and Emily Holley
Austin Oaks Baptist Church
Friday, July 31, 2009
Psalm 54-56; Acts 21:1-17
In Psalm 54 God is our deliverer. He always brings us through what we are facing and walks with us through every situation. What are you facing today? Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In Psalm 55 we see Davids condition. He is in anguish over facing His enemies (terrors of death), distraught, fear and trembling has overwhelmed him. This is part of what he faced in His assignment as King. This was an assignment from God and David was God's choice and His favorite king. Many assignments we would not have chosen. That's why He is God. He places us to serve where He wants us. We would never be capable of carrying out these things on our own. If you are overwhelmed in the assignment facing you take it ti the Lord in prayer and ask Him to bring you through. 22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
In Psalms 56 David faced the probability of death from the Philistines. God was faithful to sustain him and deliver David from his enemies. In the midst of this Davis says: 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise- 11 in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
In Acts 21 we get a glimpse of Paul's intense understanding of his assignment. He was determined to go to Jerusalem even as the disciples "through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem." Then the prophet Agabus came down and said: "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles." 12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." In verses that followed we see those committed to the Lord continue with Paul to Jerusalem. No one abandoned him even though they didn't agree or like what was facing them in Jerusalem. We may not face death but we will have challenges as we carry out our assignment. Only through prayer and dedication can we continue when things seem dire looking through human eyes. Our spiritual eyes give us the ability to see through the fear and truly follow Him. The human side of us stops and counts the cost. Paul choice was to be obedient at any cost. I encourage you to embrace where the Lord has placed you and choose obedience rather than to go the easy more popular path. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13 I encourage you to stay on the path that the Lord has placed you. He will show you His way.
In Psalm 55 we see Davids condition. He is in anguish over facing His enemies (terrors of death), distraught, fear and trembling has overwhelmed him. This is part of what he faced in His assignment as King. This was an assignment from God and David was God's choice and His favorite king. Many assignments we would not have chosen. That's why He is God. He places us to serve where He wants us. We would never be capable of carrying out these things on our own. If you are overwhelmed in the assignment facing you take it ti the Lord in prayer and ask Him to bring you through. 22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
In Psalms 56 David faced the probability of death from the Philistines. God was faithful to sustain him and deliver David from his enemies. In the midst of this Davis says: 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise- 11 in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
In Acts 21 we get a glimpse of Paul's intense understanding of his assignment. He was determined to go to Jerusalem even as the disciples "through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem." Then the prophet Agabus came down and said: "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles." 12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." In verses that followed we see those committed to the Lord continue with Paul to Jerusalem. No one abandoned him even though they didn't agree or like what was facing them in Jerusalem. We may not face death but we will have challenges as we carry out our assignment. Only through prayer and dedication can we continue when things seem dire looking through human eyes. Our spiritual eyes give us the ability to see through the fear and truly follow Him. The human side of us stops and counts the cost. Paul choice was to be obedient at any cost. I encourage you to embrace where the Lord has placed you and choose obedience rather than to go the easy more popular path. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13 I encourage you to stay on the path that the Lord has placed you. He will show you His way.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Psalm 51-53; Acts 20:17-38
Psalms 51 starts with David's confession of sin after having been confronted by the prophet Nathan concerning his sin with Bathsheba. David confessed his sin and was restored. We should all desire a pure heart and confess our sin. Asking for mercy and compassion during these times is key. It is one of the hardest yet most cleansing things we can do. I have done this today. The hard part sometimes is turning away from what we want to do and let God have complete control of our spiritual life. That means getting the sin out and being wholeheartedly devoted to Him and following Him through the difficult times. This truly gets us off our track and keep us on God's track. Asking for mercy and compassion during these times is key. We are faithful to pray for ourselves and our needs. We should also pray for each other as the Lord has a way of strengthening each other as we pray in order to edify (build up) the body of Christ.
In psalms 52 and 53 the spiritual condition of God's people was one the Lord was deeply concerned with. We see the warnings and consequences of disobedience. The faithful continue to grow in the Lord. 52:8 "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever."
In Acts 20 Paul calls the Elders in and compels them to be keep watch over the flock which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers and teach the church members to be faithful to the flock. "Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." Paul knew how we as sheep have a tendency to follow the grass and before we know it we are led into places other than where the Holy Spirit has led. Men will come even from inside to draw away disciples after them not wanting to give away their true motives. Shepherds are given spiritual authority and discernment from God in these matters and understand the consequences of wandering into dangerous pastures where illusion is present. Understanding and being in a constant state of submitting to that authority and ultimately God's authority is challenging as we fight the battle of our will. We are to pray for each other as I pray for all of you that we not be deceived and can understand and be content with where God has placed us to serve that we may all be encouraged and the flock will have unity in Christ. Embracing where He has placed us will allow us to serve wholeheartedly bringing others where God has saved and placed us.
Tomorrow's reading is Psalms 54-56;Acts 21:1-17
In psalms 52 and 53 the spiritual condition of God's people was one the Lord was deeply concerned with. We see the warnings and consequences of disobedience. The faithful continue to grow in the Lord. 52:8 "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever."
In Acts 20 Paul calls the Elders in and compels them to be keep watch over the flock which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers and teach the church members to be faithful to the flock. "Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." Paul knew how we as sheep have a tendency to follow the grass and before we know it we are led into places other than where the Holy Spirit has led. Men will come even from inside to draw away disciples after them not wanting to give away their true motives. Shepherds are given spiritual authority and discernment from God in these matters and understand the consequences of wandering into dangerous pastures where illusion is present. Understanding and being in a constant state of submitting to that authority and ultimately God's authority is challenging as we fight the battle of our will. We are to pray for each other as I pray for all of you that we not be deceived and can understand and be content with where God has placed us to serve that we may all be encouraged and the flock will have unity in Christ. Embracing where He has placed us will allow us to serve wholeheartedly bringing others where God has saved and placed us.
Tomorrow's reading is Psalms 54-56;Acts 21:1-17
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Psalm 49-50; Acts 20:1-16
Psalm 49 is important to know that even though the wealthy seem to prosper their understanding will be their demise. They will trust in themselves put or their security in possessions and not possess the one they truly need for eternity. Life in Christ takes the place of those things.
In Psalm 50 the Lord tells us He summons the heavens and earth and calls His consecrated ones to Him. He says He doesn't need our sacrifices because the earth is His and everything in it. He has every animal including the cattle on a thousand hills. Then He clarifies this when He identifies the evil as the ones who speak the words of God and then: 19 "You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. 20 You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son." The Lord asks us to repent and turn to Him because He has held back what He has in store for those who continue such behavior. 23 "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."
In Acts 20 we see many people joining Paul on his journey. The Lord continues to draw those to assist in completing His assignment. Then Paul speaks in Troas and at midnight a young man falls out of the window who Paul heals, goes back upstairs and continues speaking until morning. Then He leaves and walks to Asos wile the others go in the ship. We see His urgency to deliver God's word and disciple the people of God. I have a feeling He needed some time alone with the Lord. He must have been tired as He went about his task but never seemed to let that slow him down. Continue serving God and labor till the master calls us home so we can rejoice with Him in the harvest.
In Psalm 50 the Lord tells us He summons the heavens and earth and calls His consecrated ones to Him. He says He doesn't need our sacrifices because the earth is His and everything in it. He has every animal including the cattle on a thousand hills. Then He clarifies this when He identifies the evil as the ones who speak the words of God and then: 19 "You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. 20 You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son." The Lord asks us to repent and turn to Him because He has held back what He has in store for those who continue such behavior. 23 "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."
In Acts 20 we see many people joining Paul on his journey. The Lord continues to draw those to assist in completing His assignment. Then Paul speaks in Troas and at midnight a young man falls out of the window who Paul heals, goes back upstairs and continues speaking until morning. Then He leaves and walks to Asos wile the others go in the ship. We see His urgency to deliver God's word and disciple the people of God. I have a feeling He needed some time alone with the Lord. He must have been tired as He went about his task but never seemed to let that slow him down. Continue serving God and labor till the master calls us home so we can rejoice with Him in the harvest.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Psalm 46-48; Acts 19:21-41
These verses in Psalms 46 always bring comfort to me.
1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea... vs.10 "Be still, and know that I am God..." Take a few minutes today to be still and experience His presence in silence. There is peace in His presence.
Then in chapter 47 we see we are to praise Him for His position of ruler over the earth as we picture Him seated at His holy throne. In chapter 48 He gives victory in our battles over nations. God is our security and our strength and He is worthy of our praise.
In acts 19 we see Paul retuning through Ephesus. Artemis the silversmith stirred people up because He was losing money making idols. The church had started growing and they had understood the false idols were not gods at all. Satan had lost ground in his deception and he didn't waste time rallying his troops. The city clerk wisely calmed the crowd and said the craftsmen could press charges in the courts. The crowd disbanded and returned home. When God is working Satan tries to stop Him. We are not to worry or fear as the Lord is faithful to see us through. Continue to praise Him and watch the promises of God become reality in your life. Every time He delivers it will encourage you and your life may be encouragement to others He becomes a reality in them.
1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea... vs.10 "Be still, and know that I am God..." Take a few minutes today to be still and experience His presence in silence. There is peace in His presence.
Then in chapter 47 we see we are to praise Him for His position of ruler over the earth as we picture Him seated at His holy throne. In chapter 48 He gives victory in our battles over nations. God is our security and our strength and He is worthy of our praise.
In acts 19 we see Paul retuning through Ephesus. Artemis the silversmith stirred people up because He was losing money making idols. The church had started growing and they had understood the false idols were not gods at all. Satan had lost ground in his deception and he didn't waste time rallying his troops. The city clerk wisely calmed the crowd and said the craftsmen could press charges in the courts. The crowd disbanded and returned home. When God is working Satan tries to stop Him. We are not to worry or fear as the Lord is faithful to see us through. Continue to praise Him and watch the promises of God become reality in your life. Every time He delivers it will encourage you and your life may be encouragement to others He becomes a reality in them.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Psalm 35-36; Acts 17:1-15
Psalms 36 gives a few words of encouragement today.
5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find [d] refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
In Acts 17 Paul and Silas and Timothy go to Thessalonica where they are run out of town and to Berea where they they received them because of a more noble character. This was all in Macedonia and God started churches in each town regardless what happened to them. The price was great, but the work was of the Lord and it spread the word. They spoke to crowds of women in the previous chapter and Lydia and her family are the only women recorded accepting Christ. But the early church met in Her home for prayer. God has a plan to use each of us. That's why He saved us and He will use us as He sees fit. Live like you believe Him and He will use you in Mighty ways.
5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find [d] refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
In Acts 17 Paul and Silas and Timothy go to Thessalonica where they are run out of town and to Berea where they they received them because of a more noble character. This was all in Macedonia and God started churches in each town regardless what happened to them. The price was great, but the work was of the Lord and it spread the word. They spoke to crowds of women in the previous chapter and Lydia and her family are the only women recorded accepting Christ. But the early church met in Her home for prayer. God has a plan to use each of us. That's why He saved us and He will use us as He sees fit. Live like you believe Him and He will use you in Mighty ways.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Psalm 33-34; Acts 16:22-40
Psalms 33 starts put praising the Lord.
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does. (NIV)
Let's rejoice in all the Lord has done in our lives. We are challenged to praise Him no matter what is going on. God has brought it and allowed it for His purposes and glory. It's not all about us, it's all about Him. We are to be in holy awe of God and have a healthy fear and respect for Him. As we trust Him we will see what He is doing. Being a servant means we are here to bring glory to the father. As we concentrate on that we will be blessed.
Psalm 34 says: 1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together. (NIV)
The Lord wants us to encourage each other praising His name together in corporate worship. He delivers the faithful.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing. (NIV)
In our circumstances we are to remain faithful and let God fight our battles.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all...22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. (NIV)
In Acts 16 we see Paul, Silas and Timothy responding to the vision the Lord had given Paul. They were to take the gospel to Macedonia. Lydia and Her family accepted Christ and then Paul Silas and Timothy were severely flogged and ended up in prison. They easily could have said "surely God must be punishing us or this is too much, I can't handle it. Instead 25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
How we handle persecution will make a huge difference as we praise the Lord in all things and trust God for the outcome. Instead of being overwhelmed, praise Him.
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does. (NIV)
Let's rejoice in all the Lord has done in our lives. We are challenged to praise Him no matter what is going on. God has brought it and allowed it for His purposes and glory. It's not all about us, it's all about Him. We are to be in holy awe of God and have a healthy fear and respect for Him. As we trust Him we will see what He is doing. Being a servant means we are here to bring glory to the father. As we concentrate on that we will be blessed.
Psalm 34 says: 1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together. (NIV)
The Lord wants us to encourage each other praising His name together in corporate worship. He delivers the faithful.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing. (NIV)
In our circumstances we are to remain faithful and let God fight our battles.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all...22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. (NIV)
In Acts 16 we see Paul, Silas and Timothy responding to the vision the Lord had given Paul. They were to take the gospel to Macedonia. Lydia and Her family accepted Christ and then Paul Silas and Timothy were severely flogged and ended up in prison. They easily could have said "surely God must be punishing us or this is too much, I can't handle it. Instead 25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
How we handle persecution will make a huge difference as we praise the Lord in all things and trust God for the outcome. Instead of being overwhelmed, praise Him.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Jeremiah 46-47; Matthew 28
Jeremiah tells Israel to be ready to be delivered. The Lord will come and bring them home. He will defeat their captors and take them home where they will be his children and He will be their God. Then He says He will discipline them but only with justice. Our God loves us and wants to bring us home. Aren't you ready to come home? The Lord is there with open arms ready to receive you into His loving, tender care. He says come home. He will be there and peace and comfort are in His house. Come and reside with the Lord your father. Bring Him your cares and burdens and come into His rest.
In Mathew 28 Christ has risen and that is our hope. We have seen His glory and we are to go and be witnesses of Jesus to our world. Are your co-workers troubled? They need Jesus. Does your family have thoughts that concern you? Jesus has the answer. He overcame the world. Is a loved one suffering? Christ is our hope and will be there in time of need. We are to bring them to Jesus He is the door to the path leading home. Bring them to Him where there is freedom from the trouble this world brings. Rejoice for He has risen. He has risen indeed and has overcome the world!
In Mathew 28 Christ has risen and that is our hope. We have seen His glory and we are to go and be witnesses of Jesus to our world. Are your co-workers troubled? They need Jesus. Does your family have thoughts that concern you? Jesus has the answer. He overcame the world. Is a loved one suffering? Christ is our hope and will be there in time of need. We are to bring them to Jesus He is the door to the path leading home. Bring them to Him where there is freedom from the trouble this world brings. Rejoice for He has risen. He has risen indeed and has overcome the world!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Jeremiah 12-14; Matthew 22:23-46
Jeremiah starts with a petition to the Lord. The people of God have wandered. Jeremiah says 2b "You are always on their lips but far from their hearts." We all have to be careful of this. They were fine in their own eyes, but God saw their real condition. God says: 7 "I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies." God waits as long as He can before He brings judgment on His people. He always is petitioning for us to return to Him and waiting for us to turn from our rebellion and come back home. Pride and stubbornness had kept God's people from walking in His ways. We are God's people and we are to respond to Him as our Lord. We belong to Him and He is the master of our life. When we get our hearts right, He then can truly reign and will start answering our prayers and talking to us personally. We will have that close intimate fellowship that He designed us to desire. 14:22b "Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this."
In Matthew Jesus fields some questions from religious leaders. Questions about the resurrection from the group that does not believe in the resurrection. Questions about the Greatest commandment from those who worshiped the law rather that our Lord. Then Jesus dazzles them with two questions. "Whose son is the Christ?" "The son of David," they replied. 43He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44" 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. 45If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"
Sometimes we will be faced with questions from those who doubt our Lord and our faith in Him. The more we know Him and His word the more they will understand as we bring them pure truth from God's word. Knowing Him is just as important as knowing His word so we can be a picture of Christ by being a living breathing witness of His power and love. That will change hearts as we fish for men.
In Matthew Jesus fields some questions from religious leaders. Questions about the resurrection from the group that does not believe in the resurrection. Questions about the Greatest commandment from those who worshiped the law rather that our Lord. Then Jesus dazzles them with two questions. "Whose son is the Christ?" "The son of David," they replied. 43He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44" 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. 45If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"
Sometimes we will be faced with questions from those who doubt our Lord and our faith in Him. The more we know Him and His word the more they will understand as we bring them pure truth from God's word. Knowing Him is just as important as knowing His word so we can be a picture of Christ by being a living breathing witness of His power and love. That will change hearts as we fish for men.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Jeremiah 9-11; Matthew 22:1-22
In Jeremiah the Lord is grieving over the spiritual condition of His people. They practice deception and are boasting about all the wrong things. He would like to see us boast about our relationship with Him and His children. It was not their living conditions as much as it was the condition of their heart that concerned God. They sought direction from wooden idols and feared a statue made of gold, not the God that created the universe. God then appeals to them to return to Him and His covenants and He will restore them. Gods first desire is always restoration. He will restore if we will return to Him. Israel waited too late and God had to demonstrate His power to get them to repent. There is always consequences when we reject the Lord's call to return. Let's be a people of God that does not repeat that cycle. God's plan will bring peace and healing into our lives. Open that door and He will come in and dwell in our hearts and lives.
In Matthew Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a wedding banquet. The king invited guests for His son's wedding and they refused to come. They even killed those who brought the news. Their town was destroyed and the king sent the servants out to the highways and hedges. They were to bring those who the king did not know. There was an open invitation to the wedding feast. Then we see one man get thrown out because he did not wear wedding clothes. The clothes he had on showed he did not honor the things he had been included in. All are invited into the kingdom, and we should honor that gift and reside in the kingdom as God would require. We sometimes come to Christ and want to make our own rules and do things in our own understanding. It is His Kingdom and the Lord reigns here not us.
Then we see them trying to trap Jesus about paying tax to Caesar. "19Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
When that they understood they were created in God's image and belonged to Him. They should give their life back to their creator. God created us to have fellowship with Him. We will find happiness there.
In Matthew Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a wedding banquet. The king invited guests for His son's wedding and they refused to come. They even killed those who brought the news. Their town was destroyed and the king sent the servants out to the highways and hedges. They were to bring those who the king did not know. There was an open invitation to the wedding feast. Then we see one man get thrown out because he did not wear wedding clothes. The clothes he had on showed he did not honor the things he had been included in. All are invited into the kingdom, and we should honor that gift and reside in the kingdom as God would require. We sometimes come to Christ and want to make our own rules and do things in our own understanding. It is His Kingdom and the Lord reigns here not us.
Then we see them trying to trap Jesus about paying tax to Caesar. "19Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
When that they understood they were created in God's image and belonged to Him. They should give their life back to their creator. God created us to have fellowship with Him. We will find happiness there.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Hosea 12-14; Matthew 20:1-16
Hosea 12 starts with an appeal for Israel to return to the Lord. They have relied on the things of this world (idols, riches, and human understanding.) 6 "But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always." Even though God sent prophets to deliver them with signs and wonder they still fell back to their evil ways and angered God. 13:4 "But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. 5 I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. 6 When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me."
Many times we become content with the wrong things and seek satisfaction in things that cannot bring happiness.
14:9 "Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." God's plan is always best. Seek Him and He will bring and peace.
In Matthew 20 we see the Lord rewards those who serve Him. He gives His promised reward as He sees fit. It is His kingdom and He rules. The ones who serve longer may get the same reward as those who are called last. Our God reigns and He is always protecting and providing as we serve Him. When we truly develop a servants heart the joy will be in serving the Master, not the expected promise of something we view as important. The whole time they served they enjoyed fellowship with the owner of the vineyard. The relationship grows deeper and sweeter as we spend time with the father. The song comes to mind "The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows."
Many times we become content with the wrong things and seek satisfaction in things that cannot bring happiness.
14:9 "Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." God's plan is always best. Seek Him and He will bring and peace.
In Matthew 20 we see the Lord rewards those who serve Him. He gives His promised reward as He sees fit. It is His kingdom and He rules. The ones who serve longer may get the same reward as those who are called last. Our God reigns and He is always protecting and providing as we serve Him. When we truly develop a servants heart the joy will be in serving the Master, not the expected promise of something we view as important. The whole time they served they enjoyed fellowship with the owner of the vineyard. The relationship grows deeper and sweeter as we spend time with the father. The song comes to mind "The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Hosea 5-8; Matthew 18:21-25
Today we take a look at some verses from Hosea and we can see the condition of God's people. They were not aware of how sin had done a number on them so great that they did not understand how deep they were in their sin.
5:4 "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. 5 Israel's arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them. 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. 7:13b I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me. 14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me. 8:5 Throw out your calf-idol, O Samaria! My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of purity?"
God's desire is always to deliver us and restore us because He knows the consequences of our rebellious mind. God really does desire mercy and truth in our lives. When we get sin out of the way He can change our hearts and minds to desire purity and holiness. We then stop chasing the wrong things and start pursuing Him. We are not capable of those things on our own. When we cry out from a pure heart He hears and restores everything the locusts have eaten during the years away from Him.
In Matthew we experience God's forgiveness. 21 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." The king decided it was time to settle accounts. He had the ability to sell them or throw them into prison, but was merciful to the servant's cries and forgave the debt. The servant then turned around and had the man that owed him thrown into prison. 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Sometimes we forgive in words but not from our heart. True forgiveness does not worry about the cost of the debt or the pain of the hurt we experienced. True love overcomes all pain. True forgiveness reunites us with those who truly love us. That is the Father's plan for loving relationships. God loves it when we do this at His prompting before the Master decides it's time to settle accounts.
5:4 "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. 5 Israel's arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them. 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. 7:13b I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me. 14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me. 8:5 Throw out your calf-idol, O Samaria! My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of purity?"
God's desire is always to deliver us and restore us because He knows the consequences of our rebellious mind. God really does desire mercy and truth in our lives. When we get sin out of the way He can change our hearts and minds to desire purity and holiness. We then stop chasing the wrong things and start pursuing Him. We are not capable of those things on our own. When we cry out from a pure heart He hears and restores everything the locusts have eaten during the years away from Him.
In Matthew we experience God's forgiveness. 21 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." The king decided it was time to settle accounts. He had the ability to sell them or throw them into prison, but was merciful to the servant's cries and forgave the debt. The servant then turned around and had the man that owed him thrown into prison. 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Sometimes we forgive in words but not from our heart. True forgiveness does not worry about the cost of the debt or the pain of the hurt we experienced. True love overcomes all pain. True forgiveness reunites us with those who truly love us. That is the Father's plan for loving relationships. God loves it when we do this at His prompting before the Master decides it's time to settle accounts.
Friday, May 22, 2009
2 Kings 1-3; Matthew 12:1-23
In Second Kings Ahaziah the king of Israel seeking advice from a false God. The real God sends Elijah to speak truth. Elijah had a way of commanding fire to consume men and even dividing water and walking across on dry land. When God is on our side nothing is impossible. Even when called to explain the message to the king, God protected Elijah. He was sent with a message: you will not survive-one a king does not want to hear. God removed the king because his reign had deeply affected the true worship of God's people. Who do we consult when we need help? When we need help what we do next will be a testimony to all around us.
In Matthew we see Jesus being Lord of the Sabbath. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." They did not understand how God has placed Him here to be Lord of all. He is Lord of all. do we ask Him to be Lord of everything in our lives? We have to give Him permission to do that or we are just saying and not really doing. When He has permission to do that, He reigns and is able to make progress in every area of our lives.
In Matthew we see Jesus being Lord of the Sabbath. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." They did not understand how God has placed Him here to be Lord of all. He is Lord of all. do we ask Him to be Lord of everything in our lives? We have to give Him permission to do that or we are just saying and not really doing. When He has permission to do that, He reigns and is able to make progress in every area of our lives.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
1 Kings 19-20; Matthew 10:21-42
In 1st kings we see the faithfulness of Elijah. He ran for his life and the Lord came to him and brought him back with a new assignment. Many times we will run and the Lord always finds us to bring us back to complete the rest of our assignment. We see the Lord say there were a few faithful in Israel. 19:18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."(NIV) He will always send someone to rescue the faithful. Wherever we go He pursues us to bring us home for the next assignment. That is His faithfulness to His sheep. No matter what the odds are against us, they are outnumbered with the lord on our side.
Matthew 10 tells us to be faithful to the end. The Lord can tell when our hearts are fully devoted to Him and the evidence will be losing our life and finding it in Him. When we receive a righteous man and a prophet we receive the Lord. Receiving the assignment (picking up our cross) the Lord has for us and is sending into our lives is the key to being able to take up our cross and follow His Lordship in our life.
Matthew 10 tells us to be faithful to the end. The Lord can tell when our hearts are fully devoted to Him and the evidence will be losing our life and finding it in Him. When we receive a righteous man and a prophet we receive the Lord. Receiving the assignment (picking up our cross) the Lord has for us and is sending into our lives is the key to being able to take up our cross and follow His Lordship in our life.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
1 Kings 16-18; Matthew 10:1-20
In 1st Kings we see Israel going through many leaders because they would not listen to the Lord. There were factions that rose up and many kings overthrown. The people were electing leaders by popularity or power rather than by guidance from the Lord. In spite of warnings from the Lord there was turmoil and strife and their evil practices became worse with each king. Any time we turn from the Lord and go our own way our house eventually becomes one of chaos and strife. Then we see Elijah the prophet stand up to King Ahab and tell Him the "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word." That came to pass and Ahab was facing a real dilemma. Follow my wife Jezebel and worship Baal and have famine or believe and be obedient to God? The Lord had to do some bind boggling things to get Israel's attention. We all have those choices to make. The Lord will lead us if we will take His instruction. We see God providing during that time to the obedient and faithful. We see throughout scripture where God always takes care of those committed to Him through times of strife and judgment on the land.
In Matthew we see Jesus sending out the twelve for ministry. They were just made apostles and they were sent right out to serve. Where the Lord calls us to serve is where He has sheep that need to see Him involved in their lives. He said "Freely you have received, freely give"(vs. 8). We are to go and tell the good news to others as God sent His servants to us. 19 "...do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Let's leave the house today looking for those the Lord sends and let's be on mission with the Lord telling them the good news that was brought to us. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:9 (NIV)
In Matthew we see Jesus sending out the twelve for ministry. They were just made apostles and they were sent right out to serve. Where the Lord calls us to serve is where He has sheep that need to see Him involved in their lives. He said "Freely you have received, freely give"(vs. 8). We are to go and tell the good news to others as God sent His servants to us. 19 "...do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Let's leave the house today looking for those the Lord sends and let's be on mission with the Lord telling them the good news that was brought to us. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:9 (NIV)
Monday, May 18, 2009
1 Kings 14-15; Matthew 9:18-38
In 1st Kings we see how the Lord put two kings reigning over the tribes of Israel. The kingdom was divided because of their father's sins. Judah and Benjamin were called the House of Judah, and the other ten tribes called the House of Israel. Severe pain and judgment were experienced by both. This was caused by them putting the Lord behind them and walking in the ways of their fathers and allowing things that were opposed from what God wanted in their lives. The Lord tried to tell them but they would not listen to Him. They listened to and relied on each other rather than Him and "the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites." Then they had to make things that happened appear normal as they were not under the Lord's protection. King Rehoboam even made brass symbols to mimic the gold ones that were taken when Shishak King of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and carried off all the temple treasures.
The different houses of Israel fought each other. God was wanting them to rely on Him to give them strength and victory, but instead they relied on treaties with other nations (in 2nd Chronicles 16:1-10 King Asa partnered with them instead of their God). This always displeases our Lord and consequences always follow unconfessed sin. This is the Lord's way of bringing us back to Him. Let's always partner with God and lead others in His path.
In Matthew we see Jesus doing tremendous miracles raising the dead and healing many people. It seemed everywhere He went there were more coming for healing. He was always on mission, always about the father's business, preaching, teaching and bringing them to faith in God. 35"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Has the Lord brought sheep under you care or in your life? If you are a teacher, a ministry leader or serving in any capacity you have sheep. If you're married to someone serving then you have sheep as the "two become one" in God's sovereign plan. Let's pray about the sheep God is placing in our life and join Him in the harvest.
The different houses of Israel fought each other. God was wanting them to rely on Him to give them strength and victory, but instead they relied on treaties with other nations (in 2nd Chronicles 16:1-10 King Asa partnered with them instead of their God). This always displeases our Lord and consequences always follow unconfessed sin. This is the Lord's way of bringing us back to Him. Let's always partner with God and lead others in His path.
In Matthew we see Jesus doing tremendous miracles raising the dead and healing many people. It seemed everywhere He went there were more coming for healing. He was always on mission, always about the father's business, preaching, teaching and bringing them to faith in God. 35"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Has the Lord brought sheep under you care or in your life? If you are a teacher, a ministry leader or serving in any capacity you have sheep. If you're married to someone serving then you have sheep as the "two become one" in God's sovereign plan. Let's pray about the sheep God is placing in our life and join Him in the harvest.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
1 Kings 12-13; Matthew 9:1-17
In 1st Kings we see fulfilling of prophecies that God had set into motion because of the acts of Solomon. His son Rehoboam was now reigning and did not take the advice of the elders he took the advice of young men he consulted. Ten tribes in Israel tore away and formed their own kingdom with Jeroboam. Ahijah had prophesied these earlier and Jeroboam fled to Egypt until Solomon's death. Jeroboam formed an army of one hundred eighty thousand fighting men and God spoke through Shemaiah the prophet and said: 24 'This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.' "So they obeyed the word of the LORD and went home again, as the LORD had ordered.'
Many difficult things happen at times and we must consult the Lord before we move forward. When we listen to the wrong people instead of those sent from the Lord the consequences can be devastating for everyone entrusted to us. As we accept what seems to be a difficult message from the Lord we see His plan unfold and our faith is made stronger. Sometimes it's easier to have the brothers fight and defend our ground. We also see here where there will be false prophets who claim to be from God and really confuse us. How do we know which way to take? The true message will always agree with scripture. Knowing God's word will give us needed discernment. Then God will confirm that through prayer. Using this process will always keep us on the right path and in the center of God's plan.
In Matthew 9 we see them bringing people to Jesus for healing. He also forgave their sins. This offended the teachers of the law. They then questioned Jesus practice of going to the home of sinners and eating with them. They knew the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law. They wanted to use scripture to condemn. In John 8 they tried to do that with the woman caught in prostitution. The law called for her to be stoned. When they asked Jesus he said "Let the one without sin cast the first stone." And they all left. God's revelation of sin in our life is always to redeem and restore us to Him. Scripture is the standard for our behavior and relationship. He always pursues us to bring us back not to condemn. The Holy s Spirit’s job is to convict us of our sin and prompt repentance. Jesus then restores us and reconciles us to the father. This is why we must season our spirit with prayer to be able see where the Lord is really working and how we should react to Him. He will give the answer as we take time to ask.
Many difficult things happen at times and we must consult the Lord before we move forward. When we listen to the wrong people instead of those sent from the Lord the consequences can be devastating for everyone entrusted to us. As we accept what seems to be a difficult message from the Lord we see His plan unfold and our faith is made stronger. Sometimes it's easier to have the brothers fight and defend our ground. We also see here where there will be false prophets who claim to be from God and really confuse us. How do we know which way to take? The true message will always agree with scripture. Knowing God's word will give us needed discernment. Then God will confirm that through prayer. Using this process will always keep us on the right path and in the center of God's plan.
In Matthew 9 we see them bringing people to Jesus for healing. He also forgave their sins. This offended the teachers of the law. They then questioned Jesus practice of going to the home of sinners and eating with them. They knew the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law. They wanted to use scripture to condemn. In John 8 they tried to do that with the woman caught in prostitution. The law called for her to be stoned. When they asked Jesus he said "Let the one without sin cast the first stone." And they all left. God's revelation of sin in our life is always to redeem and restore us to Him. Scripture is the standard for our behavior and relationship. He always pursues us to bring us back not to condemn. The Holy s Spirit’s job is to convict us of our sin and prompt repentance. Jesus then restores us and reconciles us to the father. This is why we must season our spirit with prayer to be able see where the Lord is really working and how we should react to Him. He will give the answer as we take time to ask.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
1 Kings 10-11; Matthew 8:18-34
In 1st Kings word of Solomon's wisdom has spread and the queen of Sheba sets out to test his wisdom. She asks many questions and He answers them with ease. When she witnessed all Solomon was able to accomplish in a few years of reign (construction of the Lord's temple and his palace) she responded by giving Solomon gifts. He also received yearly shipments of gold and revenues from merchants. 23 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 24 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 25 Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.
Then we see Solomon stray from the Lord. He married foreign wives and built altars and worshiped their gods. Israel had been forbidden from marrying foreign wives for this reason. Moses had a foreign wife approved by God, but He had lived in her country and had not worshiped her gods. Solomon’s attitude and actions prompted God to set things into motion. He rose up adversaries and would radically change what his descendants would reign over. If we see adversaries rising up we should examine our life and see if we are walking in our own understanding. We can always repent and turn to the Lord and He will turn our adversaries away. He is looking for those who will be good stewards of the things He treasures.
In Matthew 8 Jesus starts weeding out those who would count the cost of following Him. Jesus always gives the command "follow me" as He did to the disciples and they left their boats, family and equipment and followed Him. It's not that they didn't love these other things - they loved Jesus more. They then saw Him calm the storm and cast demons out of possessed men. Let's faithfully follow Jesus so we can experience Him at work in a real and encouraging walk of life. Then we can be a living testimony to others.
Then we see Solomon stray from the Lord. He married foreign wives and built altars and worshiped their gods. Israel had been forbidden from marrying foreign wives for this reason. Moses had a foreign wife approved by God, but He had lived in her country and had not worshiped her gods. Solomon’s attitude and actions prompted God to set things into motion. He rose up adversaries and would radically change what his descendants would reign over. If we see adversaries rising up we should examine our life and see if we are walking in our own understanding. We can always repent and turn to the Lord and He will turn our adversaries away. He is looking for those who will be good stewards of the things He treasures.
In Matthew 8 Jesus starts weeding out those who would count the cost of following Him. Jesus always gives the command "follow me" as He did to the disciples and they left their boats, family and equipment and followed Him. It's not that they didn't love these other things - they loved Jesus more. They then saw Him calm the storm and cast demons out of possessed men. Let's faithfully follow Jesus so we can experience Him at work in a real and encouraging walk of life. Then we can be a living testimony to others.
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