Are you getting the picture that everything needs to be consecrated and made holy (set apart) for God. There were different ways of doing that, but the constant is that this was done to everything that would be used, and everyone that would be used for God.
I just bought a new used car. One of the first things I did was to ask God’s blessing on the car. Maybe I should anoint it with fresh oil (or armor all), but it was prayer that consecrated my car. The Lord wants everything in my life consecrated and set apart for Him. Everything we are, everything we own, everything we use is to be holy (set apart) for God. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it, Aaron and his sons enjoyed the breast and thighs of the one ram, it is that we can enjoy it only with God’s blessing.
Everything that was consecrated and made holy, when anything else touched it, it was made holy. Wow! God wants to use me to affect people! I have been made holy by the blood of Christ. If I will touch them, they will be changed somehow. I am not saying that they will be holy (set apart), but there is a spiritual law here that I can’t pass up. God in ME affects everything that I touch – if I am consecrated. The consecration is in this equation somehow and frankly I haven’t got it figured out completely, but this one thing I know – I am a powerful minister of God and I have the ability to change things because God works in and through me. That’s a blessing!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Jan 29 - Ex. 25-28
“Bring an offering of whatever your heart prompts you to give.” God was giving people a chance to supply the material for the tabernacle and the priestly garments. After all, the Egyptians gave them a bunch of cloth and precious metals. Yet, right before God gives the details, and I mean details of the tabernacle and how it is to be fashioned, He says to the people – “bring what you want.”
In my life I get to bring what I want. (Of course this is over and above the tithe that is God’s) I can give according to my heart, but here is the kicker – there are only certain things that God wants. If you brought some pine or some black cloth, your gift wasn’t going to be accepted. Ponder that for a moment.
Then there was the ephod, the decision breast piece and the turban with “Holy To The Lord” on it that Aaron had to wear, (as well as the undergarment). You had to have everything on to appear before the Lord OR you were guilty and would die. I recall that this is the physical view of what is spiritual or in the spiritual realm. It is the same for us NOW in our day. There is a seal on our head and a garment that we wear. There is a breastplate and a decision making breast piece that we should have on. We don’t die if we appear before God without them, however if we apply it spiritually we can see what the scriptures are saying to us. Our priestly duties are serious and we need to have the spiritual garments on in order to carry them out. (To find out about our priestly duties, ask someone who was at the Thursday night Bible Study 3 weeks ago). The glib, “I got it covered” type attitude with God will bring a pride which will in turn bring a type of death to our ministry as priests. We have an open throne, a wonderful Father, a gracious Savior, and we can approach them boldly and even just “hang out” with them, however to forget who they are (not on our same level) and how we get to approach them, (not by anything we have done), is to encounter a spirit of pride that can only bring death to our ministry and our very lives.
In my life I get to bring what I want. (Of course this is over and above the tithe that is God’s) I can give according to my heart, but here is the kicker – there are only certain things that God wants. If you brought some pine or some black cloth, your gift wasn’t going to be accepted. Ponder that for a moment.
Then there was the ephod, the decision breast piece and the turban with “Holy To The Lord” on it that Aaron had to wear, (as well as the undergarment). You had to have everything on to appear before the Lord OR you were guilty and would die. I recall that this is the physical view of what is spiritual or in the spiritual realm. It is the same for us NOW in our day. There is a seal on our head and a garment that we wear. There is a breastplate and a decision making breast piece that we should have on. We don’t die if we appear before God without them, however if we apply it spiritually we can see what the scriptures are saying to us. Our priestly duties are serious and we need to have the spiritual garments on in order to carry them out. (To find out about our priestly duties, ask someone who was at the Thursday night Bible Study 3 weeks ago). The glib, “I got it covered” type attitude with God will bring a pride which will in turn bring a type of death to our ministry as priests. We have an open throne, a wonderful Father, a gracious Savior, and we can approach them boldly and even just “hang out” with them, however to forget who they are (not on our same level) and how we get to approach them, (not by anything we have done), is to encounter a spirit of pride that can only bring death to our ministry and our very lives.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Jan 28 - Ex. 18-24
I could say this for the next month, so this will be the first time I say it – “man I’m glad I am a child of the New Covenant!” Just to kinda’ meet with God and see some crazy stuff caused by His presence and to hear Him talk, you had to wash your garments, wash your body, abstain from sexual relations and consecrate yourselves to the Lord – OR ELSE! Then if you got too close you would die. Only a few were able to come up to the Lord and then only Moses and Joshua were able to ascend the mountain. It took them 6 days to get to the place to meet with God or it took God 6 days to reveal Himself and fellowship with them. Whatever the case it was days of seeking or climbing to reach God.
Although we can see some parallels in our time and our life about washing, being sprinkled with blood, being consecrated, I have got to appreciate what Jesus did to open up the way to God.
Hebrews 4:14,16 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God…Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
The wonderful access to the Father is amazing! The relationship we are able to have is incredible. It shouldn’t be without a fearful respect coupled with awe and admiration, yet we are so blessed to live in the time that we have such free (because the cost was paid by Jesus), access. I am so thankful for the cross and every benefit. Being secure that you are right with God is a wonderful thing.
Although we can see some parallels in our time and our life about washing, being sprinkled with blood, being consecrated, I have got to appreciate what Jesus did to open up the way to God.
Hebrews 4:14,16 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God…Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
The wonderful access to the Father is amazing! The relationship we are able to have is incredible. It shouldn’t be without a fearful respect coupled with awe and admiration, yet we are so blessed to live in the time that we have such free (because the cost was paid by Jesus), access. I am so thankful for the cross and every benefit. Being secure that you are right with God is a wonderful thing.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Jan 27 - Ex. 15-18
Sometimes you read about someone, or in this case a group, and you think; “I don’t want to be like that”. That is what is going through my head today. Without any judgment, my heart says that I don’t want to be like that. Maybe that means that I am a little like that – I don’t know – but I hope not and I am determined in the future to NOT be a grumbler and doubter.
Every time the Lord put them to the test they grumbled. They said on several occasions, “Did you bring us into the desert to die?” I don’t want to be like that. In fact I am putting a spiritual foot down and commanding my soul not to whine, grumble and doubt. When something difficult is in my way I want to call on His name to save me at the very least. More than that, I want to stand in faith and pray the provision into my life!
Furthermore, I don’t want to direct my grumbling (if I had any) towards the man God has chosen to lead me. I want to talk with God about it and not complain about someone. God is my supplier, and so far God himself has named himself The Healer and The Banner. I am staying under His banner and believing, how about you?
Every time the Lord put them to the test they grumbled. They said on several occasions, “Did you bring us into the desert to die?” I don’t want to be like that. In fact I am putting a spiritual foot down and commanding my soul not to whine, grumble and doubt. When something difficult is in my way I want to call on His name to save me at the very least. More than that, I want to stand in faith and pray the provision into my life!
Furthermore, I don’t want to direct my grumbling (if I had any) towards the man God has chosen to lead me. I want to talk with God about it and not complain about someone. God is my supplier, and so far God himself has named himself The Healer and The Banner. I am staying under His banner and believing, how about you?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
jan 26 - Ex. 13-15
Where do I start? The fear of the Israelites, the great deliverance, the song of Moses or dancing of the women? My heart is touched by the fact that God positioned his people to be chased, cornered and delivered.
God told Moses to have the Israelites to turn back to look like they were wandering. He hardened Pharaoh and his official’s heart and off they went after Israel. God put them in harm’s way on purpose – by design! Why? So He himself, (God) could deliver them – AGAIN! As if once wasn’t enough for them to trust Him – which, evidently it wasn’t - because they started whining at the site of the Egyptian army. (I digress)
The reality is that God puts me right in harm’s way, right in the place of difficulty, right in the middle of a trial so I learn to trust Him. There will be difficult times that come all by themselves or by the hand of my enemy, and God wants me to have this trust in Him. How do you develop trust but go through times where God comes through. Reading it and experiencing it is totally different. I need the experience to quicken the Word and I need the Word to quicken the experience. I do want to be careful here not to say that I rely on experiences, because I don’t. But as we see here, God uses this and the previous experiences, along with His Word which was spoken through Moses, to win the trust of Israel. Did He need to win their trust? Did He need to win yours or did and do you trust naturally?
God told Moses to have the Israelites to turn back to look like they were wandering. He hardened Pharaoh and his official’s heart and off they went after Israel. God put them in harm’s way on purpose – by design! Why? So He himself, (God) could deliver them – AGAIN! As if once wasn’t enough for them to trust Him – which, evidently it wasn’t - because they started whining at the site of the Egyptian army. (I digress)
The reality is that God puts me right in harm’s way, right in the place of difficulty, right in the middle of a trial so I learn to trust Him. There will be difficult times that come all by themselves or by the hand of my enemy, and God wants me to have this trust in Him. How do you develop trust but go through times where God comes through. Reading it and experiencing it is totally different. I need the experience to quicken the Word and I need the Word to quicken the experience. I do want to be careful here not to say that I rely on experiences, because I don’t. But as we see here, God uses this and the previous experiences, along with His Word which was spoken through Moses, to win the trust of Israel. Did He need to win their trust? Did He need to win yours or did and do you trust naturally?
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Jan 23 - Ex. 5-8
Exodus 5:9 (NIV)
“Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”
Wow! Did I hear that with a thunderous clang! I haven’t even finished the reading yet because this point is where I live so often. I think the biggest weapon the enemy has in my life is busy – “get’em busy”. He makes my work harder so I have no energy to be devoted to God’s word of promise. He makes my work longer so I have no time for God’s word of promise and deliverance. He keeps my mind busy enough to stress out and DOUBT God’s ability to rescue me in the situation. In fact, he loads my plate to the breaking point so all I will think about is what he has to do.
Discouraged, distressed and depressed I sit, unless I look to the King of Kings and realize that I have been caught in slavery and He wants me out. Sometimes – most of the time – it gets worse before it gets better. Then we get mad at God or the person God has sent to work through to deliver us. Hold on! Your deliverance is right around the corner! Do as I do – tell your taskmaster to stuff it and spend MORE time with the Lord to see exactly what He wants you to do! Do no more, and think no more about what you are doing no more! Whenever I am stressed out by work load increase and I begin to put in more hours at church and more hours working on the house, and more hours working on my cars… The key for me is to spend MORE time with God and He tells me exactly what to do that day. Sometimes I get more than a day, but usually when I am stressed out, I go day by day.
“Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”
Wow! Did I hear that with a thunderous clang! I haven’t even finished the reading yet because this point is where I live so often. I think the biggest weapon the enemy has in my life is busy – “get’em busy”. He makes my work harder so I have no energy to be devoted to God’s word of promise. He makes my work longer so I have no time for God’s word of promise and deliverance. He keeps my mind busy enough to stress out and DOUBT God’s ability to rescue me in the situation. In fact, he loads my plate to the breaking point so all I will think about is what he has to do.
Discouraged, distressed and depressed I sit, unless I look to the King of Kings and realize that I have been caught in slavery and He wants me out. Sometimes – most of the time – it gets worse before it gets better. Then we get mad at God or the person God has sent to work through to deliver us. Hold on! Your deliverance is right around the corner! Do as I do – tell your taskmaster to stuff it and spend MORE time with the Lord to see exactly what He wants you to do! Do no more, and think no more about what you are doing no more! Whenever I am stressed out by work load increase and I begin to put in more hours at church and more hours working on the house, and more hours working on my cars… The key for me is to spend MORE time with God and He tells me exactly what to do that day. Sometimes I get more than a day, but usually when I am stressed out, I go day by day.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Jan 22 - Ex. 1-3
Our enemy(s), when afraid of us and our unified power, defeats us when they put us into slavery. My enemy wants me to be enslaved so I can’t function fully free. He will use food or alcohol, fear or anxiety, TV or computers to put me into a bondage that handcuffs me somehow. After that handcuffing he is hoping that I become fully surrendered and ineffective because of my bondage, or that my bondage grows and becomes many bondages and that I am basically a slave. I am ineffective when I forget who I am and the power that I have, especially when bonded with my brothers and sisters to fight. I must walk circumspect and not let anything entrap me. I will have no master but God.
When I (we) are caught in a bondage, most often God sends a deliverer – a person. God doesn’t need a deliverer (person) because he is THE deliverer. Yet God chooses to use people (most of the time) to work through. I think, I can do this on my own. I can get over __________ (stressing out or whatever). Maybe so, but maybe God wants to use someone to help me – to lead me out of that bondage. Am I ready to receive help from another flawed human being? Am I ready to help another? I am ready to be used as the deliverer? Or even after an encounter with God will I continue to make excuses of why I shouldn’t be used?
God, keep me from bondage, keep me humble and use me as your instrument of deliverance.
When I (we) are caught in a bondage, most often God sends a deliverer – a person. God doesn’t need a deliverer (person) because he is THE deliverer. Yet God chooses to use people (most of the time) to work through. I think, I can do this on my own. I can get over __________ (stressing out or whatever). Maybe so, but maybe God wants to use someone to help me – to lead me out of that bondage. Am I ready to receive help from another flawed human being? Am I ready to help another? I am ready to be used as the deliverer? Or even after an encounter with God will I continue to make excuses of why I shouldn’t be used?
God, keep me from bondage, keep me humble and use me as your instrument of deliverance.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Jan 21 - Gen. 48-50
Those were deaths with dignity. That is the type of death that I want, full of years, full of blessing to give, full of mental capacity and maybe like Moses, if I am not asking too much, full of strength. It is the blessings that have made me pause. This is now the 3rd generation that did that blessing thing right before they died.
Of course we want to pass down blessing to our children. We want them to have our wisdom and we want to help them navigate life and make the most of the life that God has given them, but I am struck by the prophetic and deeply spiritual nature of the blessings that have come. Thinking about Jacob’s blessing, a couple of kids didn’t get much of a “blessing”. They got a prophetic word! Will I prophetically speak into my children’s lives? That is the question the Lord is asking me. Not just at my death, but certainly then if I am blessed with the chance. Could I, would I dare to pronounce the future on my children? A resounding yes comes from my spirit! But the timing for such things. Hmmm…
I pray that I will see my children’s children’s children and will pronounce blessing on everyone of them throughout life. Every baby I hold I pronounce blessing on. I believe it holds incredible spiritual power. Power to move the future because I said it! I believe, Lord, that I am a patriarch of many and my place is to render blessing – and pronounce words of warning as well. Guard my mouth Lord, help me to guard it! What power it has. Let me not wait for some future to speak into my children’s lives blessing and things of a prophetic nature. My life is a mere breath, here today and gone tomorrow.
Of course we want to pass down blessing to our children. We want them to have our wisdom and we want to help them navigate life and make the most of the life that God has given them, but I am struck by the prophetic and deeply spiritual nature of the blessings that have come. Thinking about Jacob’s blessing, a couple of kids didn’t get much of a “blessing”. They got a prophetic word! Will I prophetically speak into my children’s lives? That is the question the Lord is asking me. Not just at my death, but certainly then if I am blessed with the chance. Could I, would I dare to pronounce the future on my children? A resounding yes comes from my spirit! But the timing for such things. Hmmm…
I pray that I will see my children’s children’s children and will pronounce blessing on everyone of them throughout life. Every baby I hold I pronounce blessing on. I believe it holds incredible spiritual power. Power to move the future because I said it! I believe, Lord, that I am a patriarch of many and my place is to render blessing – and pronounce words of warning as well. Guard my mouth Lord, help me to guard it! What power it has. Let me not wait for some future to speak into my children’s lives blessing and things of a prophetic nature. My life is a mere breath, here today and gone tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Jan 20, Gen. 46-47
I was questioned by God, my Lord, as I read today’s portion. I was reading how the people gave themselves in servitude to Pharaoh in order to get food. The said if they didn’t get food, they would die and what would be the point. What they meant was that they could either die and “own” their own lives, or they could live and serve another. They had no other options for they had come to the end of their own resources.
The question to me was when are you going to give all of your life? My heart fell but I knew what God was asking me. It is easy to live in your own strength and “do” life with your own wisdom, but it always ends badly. One month the Spirit is guiding me step by step and the next month and I am in a hurry to complete everything with the Spirit’s help.
“Oh God, I don’t need your help to accomplish great or small things, I am your servant – your slave – tell me what to do and I will do it. Speak clearly to me and correct me quickly if I hear you inaccurately. I hate spinning my wheels and getting stressed out, forgive me for sliding back to live life with you and not for you. Be my strength and my song, my rock and my joy, and I will live for you.”
The question to me was when are you going to give all of your life? My heart fell but I knew what God was asking me. It is easy to live in your own strength and “do” life with your own wisdom, but it always ends badly. One month the Spirit is guiding me step by step and the next month and I am in a hurry to complete everything with the Spirit’s help.
“Oh God, I don’t need your help to accomplish great or small things, I am your servant – your slave – tell me what to do and I will do it. Speak clearly to me and correct me quickly if I hear you inaccurately. I hate spinning my wheels and getting stressed out, forgive me for sliding back to live life with you and not for you. Be my strength and my song, my rock and my joy, and I will live for you.”
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Jan 19 - Gen 42-45
Go no further than the first 2 verses of the today's reading. There, hidden away is the power of God. The Lord gave Joseph a wild and crazy dream - in fact 2 dreams. Those dreams were craziness to his brothers and his father (and probably everyone else in the household). Decades later - decades! Something happened! IT happened! The dream that everyone else thought was crazy! The dream that got him into trouble! The dream that nobody believed - came to pass! His brothers were bowing. There is one more to bow and that is his father, but that will happen shortly.
When no one else believes, when nobody else can see it, when the dream or vision comes, I must believe. I must believe it and cling to the hope it brings me. One day, without my help, God will bring it to pass. Joseph just lived life and honored God the best he could and God brought it to pass. He used the gift that God gave him to interpret dreams and look what it got him. Two more years in the dungeon! Ahh..., but then, decades as the #2 in Egypt. More than that though... he was used by God to keep the patriarchs of the Jews alive.
I live for Him - God fulfills His Word.
When no one else believes, when nobody else can see it, when the dream or vision comes, I must believe. I must believe it and cling to the hope it brings me. One day, without my help, God will bring it to pass. Joseph just lived life and honored God the best he could and God brought it to pass. He used the gift that God gave him to interpret dreams and look what it got him. Two more years in the dungeon! Ahh..., but then, decades as the #2 in Egypt. More than that though... he was used by God to keep the patriarchs of the Jews alive.
I live for Him - God fulfills His Word.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Jan 16 - Gen. 36
The histories of Esau’s descendants are filled with names that will both become extinct and will become a thorn in the people of Israel’s side. It was interesting that there were “chiefs” which seems fairly normal that people would need leaders to organize and galvanize people, but then there were kings. This is a great contrast to the people of Israel, who after being ruled for 400 years in Egypt would have God as there king for decades. BUT – then they too wanted a king. Why wasn’t a king good? Because God was the King of the Earth, Edom, Canaan, Egypt and beyond!
Carnal people want to be ruled by a king. People walking in the Spirit want to be ruled by God. Kings were looked to for strength, wisdom and protection – isn’t that God’s place? Let’s break it down to our lives. Do we want a king? Do we want the government to take care of us, or have we anointed ourselves as king? I hear the Spirit saying, “Terry, you need no one else but God. In Him is your living, breathing and being.”
Carnal people want to be ruled by a king. People walking in the Spirit want to be ruled by God. Kings were looked to for strength, wisdom and protection – isn’t that God’s place? Let’s break it down to our lives. Do we want a king? Do we want the government to take care of us, or have we anointed ourselves as king? I hear the Spirit saying, “Terry, you need no one else but God. In Him is your living, breathing and being.”
Jan 15 - Gen. 34-35
Building an altar seems to be a reoccurring thing so far. God drew me to this concept many years ago, and now He refreshes me in this concept of spiritual action.
Altars represent a place of worship – which is a place of meeting. Jacob met with God at Bethel. Noah, Abraham and Isaac also built altars to God in the places where they stayed. There are many ramifications in this lesson, but God spoke to me about having an altar of worship where I stay, primarily my home, but not limited to that. In fact, it is my practice to pray and worship when I arrive at any place I would stay overnight, whether hotel room or campsite and “build an altar” there for my God.
At home is where the real struggle comes at times. It is an altar of worship and meeting with God that goes up against some other altars that are unknowingly (without thought) and accidentally (without planning) built at my house. Since worship is coming toward God, whatever things pull us away from God are altars of a sort that compete with God. My job is not only to tear down those idols, (anger, carnal frustration, worry, strife, TV…), but it is to constantly build the altar of worship to God. How? Worship Him, sing to Him, love on Him, exalt Him and put His presence in slot #1 of your priority as a family.
Altars represent a place of worship – which is a place of meeting. Jacob met with God at Bethel. Noah, Abraham and Isaac also built altars to God in the places where they stayed. There are many ramifications in this lesson, but God spoke to me about having an altar of worship where I stay, primarily my home, but not limited to that. In fact, it is my practice to pray and worship when I arrive at any place I would stay overnight, whether hotel room or campsite and “build an altar” there for my God.
At home is where the real struggle comes at times. It is an altar of worship and meeting with God that goes up against some other altars that are unknowingly (without thought) and accidentally (without planning) built at my house. Since worship is coming toward God, whatever things pull us away from God are altars of a sort that compete with God. My job is not only to tear down those idols, (anger, carnal frustration, worry, strife, TV…), but it is to constantly build the altar of worship to God. How? Worship Him, sing to Him, love on Him, exalt Him and put His presence in slot #1 of your priority as a family.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Jan 14 - Gen. 31-33
Wow! What history! There are so many lessons as you read. Remember that this blog and your reading is not just for history’s sake, although it is very interesting, it is for God to speak to us through His word every day. There are pearls that are intended for each of us. Dig – dive – do whatever it takes to hear God speak to your heart in the passage.
I had to dig a little myself today to find meaning for me. I found it! Why did the man wrestle with Jacob? AND, if He was an Angel of the Lord (remember Jacob said that He wrestled with God), why didn’t He (God) prevail?
Jacob was not a man of war. He was fleeing from Laban and was scared to death of Esau. God had protected Jacob from harm through His providence and not through battle. Jacob needed to battle! He needed to be battle hardened! Maybe God wanted to show him that he didn’t need to deceive and swindle anymore – I don’t know. What I do know is that if God wanted to overcome him with one swift move, He could have, but He didn’t. Jacob needed to battle and win. He needed to wrestle with himself and overcome something in order to become Israel.
God knows what I need, and sometimes it is battle. Jacob didn’t start the fight, the man came to him, and neither do I need to look for a fight. When the fight comes, whether physical, mental or spiritual, I have to fight – all night if need be – not giving up – expecting a blessing. Only then will I be ready for my future – and it’s a great future!
I had to dig a little myself today to find meaning for me. I found it! Why did the man wrestle with Jacob? AND, if He was an Angel of the Lord (remember Jacob said that He wrestled with God), why didn’t He (God) prevail?
Jacob was not a man of war. He was fleeing from Laban and was scared to death of Esau. God had protected Jacob from harm through His providence and not through battle. Jacob needed to battle! He needed to be battle hardened! Maybe God wanted to show him that he didn’t need to deceive and swindle anymore – I don’t know. What I do know is that if God wanted to overcome him with one swift move, He could have, but He didn’t. Jacob needed to battle and win. He needed to wrestle with himself and overcome something in order to become Israel.
God knows what I need, and sometimes it is battle. Jacob didn’t start the fight, the man came to him, and neither do I need to look for a fight. When the fight comes, whether physical, mental or spiritual, I have to fight – all night if need be – not giving up – expecting a blessing. Only then will I be ready for my future – and it’s a great future!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Jan 13 - Gen 29-30
Jacob was hired with mandrakes?! What is that about? What about all the jealousy? Of course we look back at it now and say how could God build the 12 tribes of Israel through 2 wives and 2 handmaids? Well He did! In spite of what we think is a little (or a lot) wacky, God still works! His purposes will come and He will use the imperfect to bring them. That gives me such hope and courage to believe that God will use me powerfully!
The other thing is that I would like to question God about this. I mean it looks a little odd and “out of order” of what we know to be God’s revealed will. God will not be questioned by me or anyone else. He is God and will use who He will use. What does He say to Job, “who are you to…” (fill in the blank). This is history, and if we let it, it will teach us wonderful lessons about God and His dealings with humans, especially His grace with our weaknesses.
He will use us if we are willing and sometimes even when we are not!
The other thing is that I would like to question God about this. I mean it looks a little odd and “out of order” of what we know to be God’s revealed will. God will not be questioned by me or anyone else. He is God and will use who He will use. What does He say to Job, “who are you to…” (fill in the blank). This is history, and if we let it, it will teach us wonderful lessons about God and His dealings with humans, especially His grace with our weaknesses.
He will use us if we are willing and sometimes even when we are not!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Jan 12 - Gen 26-38
The first thing about this passage that stands out is that Rebekah and Jacob are swindlers – or at least deceivers. I asked God how He could let this happen and His response was to dig deeper.
The deeper truth is the power of blessing – WOW! When Isaac spoke heaven moved! Esau asked if he (Isaac) had any leftover blessing – it wasn’t much and it wasn’t all blessing. I am reminded to watch my words, which is hard for a guy who likes to talk. “In a multitude of words, sin doesn’t lack.” The bigger lesson is that I have such power of blessing! It is more than encouraging people, it is prophesying into their lives. God wants to use us – He won’t do some things without us! Give the blessing – give the time to pass down what you have been given.
Back to Jacob. Maybe, just maybe it was less about Esau giving his birthright away for soup and more about Jacob being the chosen one from the beginning. Maybe the thought of that day was to give the blessing to the eldest, but God had chosen the younger one to do this work. Don’t be afraid to do things God’s way.
The deeper truth is the power of blessing – WOW! When Isaac spoke heaven moved! Esau asked if he (Isaac) had any leftover blessing – it wasn’t much and it wasn’t all blessing. I am reminded to watch my words, which is hard for a guy who likes to talk. “In a multitude of words, sin doesn’t lack.” The bigger lesson is that I have such power of blessing! It is more than encouraging people, it is prophesying into their lives. God wants to use us – He won’t do some things without us! Give the blessing – give the time to pass down what you have been given.
Back to Jacob. Maybe, just maybe it was less about Esau giving his birthright away for soup and more about Jacob being the chosen one from the beginning. Maybe the thought of that day was to give the blessing to the eldest, but God had chosen the younger one to do this work. Don’t be afraid to do things God’s way.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Jan 9, Gen 22-23
I read the first verse of today’s reading and knew what God was speaking to me. As I have been reading about Abraham I have taken many lessons from him, including his and my destination of greatness. They are different destinations for sure, but if God is great and I am to imitate God, then I am destined for greatness. My greatness will be great for ME and not according to anyone but God and me. (I digress) From Genesis 12 until now Abraham is becoming great and the lessons of how to get there are plentiful. Now comes the difficult road.
Without addressing what God asked him to do, the point God made to me is that if you want to be great this will happen. What you say? Testing happens!
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
In most contexts nāsâ (testing) has the idea of testing or proving the quality of someone or something, often through adversity or hardship. Wow – there it is! God is going to prove my quality through adversity that is from Him! Peter says to “not think it strange”, James says to “count it all joy”, my soul says, “get away from these things and avoid them at all cost!” Yet I am learning to accept the trails and let them do their work. Many of them are from God, and they are all preparing me for my greatness.
David killed a lion and a bear with his own hands while he was guarding the sheep. I think those animals were sent by God to prepare him to take on Goliath, which prepared him for… Don’t despise the provings of the Lord Terry. It is your path to greatness. (To bring Him glory!)
Without addressing what God asked him to do, the point God made to me is that if you want to be great this will happen. What you say? Testing happens!
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
In most contexts nāsâ (testing) has the idea of testing or proving the quality of someone or something, often through adversity or hardship. Wow – there it is! God is going to prove my quality through adversity that is from Him! Peter says to “not think it strange”, James says to “count it all joy”, my soul says, “get away from these things and avoid them at all cost!” Yet I am learning to accept the trails and let them do their work. Many of them are from God, and they are all preparing me for my greatness.
David killed a lion and a bear with his own hands while he was guarding the sheep. I think those animals were sent by God to prepare him to take on Goliath, which prepared him for… Don’t despise the provings of the Lord Terry. It is your path to greatness. (To bring Him glory!)
Friday, January 8, 2010
Jan 8 - Gen. 19-21
The flesh wants to accomplish what we believe God can’t accomplish without our intervention. Our flesh in this instance can be thought of as our efforts apart from God’s direction. Lot’s daughter’s offspring and Hagar’s offspring became a thorn in the descendents of Isaac’s (children of promise) side. All God wanted from Abram (now Abraham) was for him to continue having relations with his wife and to wait with faith.
The arm of my effort can NEVER bring about God’s promise or His provision. In fact when I try to supply my own need by my own effort without God, many times that effort will be a complete waste or work against me! It seems that whenever I worked 7 days a week to “get ahead” I always got behind somehow. It never worked out, and I am glad it didn’t. It has taught me to rely on God. God doesn’t need me to come to the rescue, He needs me to cooperate with Him and do only what He tells me to do – and believe.
“Send the slave woman away with her offspring.” In order to have offspring you have to have relations, you have to unify, you have to bond. Break the bonds you have with your own efforts (and your pride), to get things done – the way you do things, whether it has been “for” God or for your own satisfaction. Break with the ways that put you at odds with God’s way of releasing the promise and get rid of the offspring – they may (will) grow up to be your enemy.
By the way – in spite of Abraham, his lying about Sarah, his sleeping with Hagar, the promise was fulfilled. That is because God made it! Listen to His promise and be assured of the outcome.
The arm of my effort can NEVER bring about God’s promise or His provision. In fact when I try to supply my own need by my own effort without God, many times that effort will be a complete waste or work against me! It seems that whenever I worked 7 days a week to “get ahead” I always got behind somehow. It never worked out, and I am glad it didn’t. It has taught me to rely on God. God doesn’t need me to come to the rescue, He needs me to cooperate with Him and do only what He tells me to do – and believe.
“Send the slave woman away with her offspring.” In order to have offspring you have to have relations, you have to unify, you have to bond. Break the bonds you have with your own efforts (and your pride), to get things done – the way you do things, whether it has been “for” God or for your own satisfaction. Break with the ways that put you at odds with God’s way of releasing the promise and get rid of the offspring – they may (will) grow up to be your enemy.
By the way – in spite of Abraham, his lying about Sarah, his sleeping with Hagar, the promise was fulfilled. That is because God made it! Listen to His promise and be assured of the outcome.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Jan 7 - Gen. 18-19
Six times the Lord heard from Abraham in regards to not destroying the region of Sodom and Gomorrah. (These readings are so packed with lessons, but I am endeavoring to comment on the life God gives to me through them.) How patient and wonderful is God? (this is called a theophany for those of you who would like to study it, (Abraham is talking to God), it is thought that this is an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ). Back to my life lesson. God didn't get all mad or ask Abraham how many more "what ifs" he was going to give him, He just answered him.
To me this detracts from the "God in the sky who doesn't want to hear from you" image that I constantly have to fight against. Today it is much clearer to me, but the old tapes play and every time they do I just delete them - again and again. This is a perfect passage to remind me of God's forbearance, His love and His great desire to talk to me. God wants to talk to me, AND even tell me what He is about to do! That meal that Abraham had prepared took hours. They were just cutting it up during all of that - with God!
Briefly let me also say that I should get myself up and take care of my guests. Greet them warmly, fuss over them and make them feel at home. Abraham was like a king and he did, and so did Lot. "If you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me".
To me this detracts from the "God in the sky who doesn't want to hear from you" image that I constantly have to fight against. Today it is much clearer to me, but the old tapes play and every time they do I just delete them - again and again. This is a perfect passage to remind me of God's forbearance, His love and His great desire to talk to me. God wants to talk to me, AND even tell me what He is about to do! That meal that Abraham had prepared took hours. They were just cutting it up during all of that - with God!
Briefly let me also say that I should get myself up and take care of my guests. Greet them warmly, fuss over them and make them feel at home. Abraham was like a king and he did, and so did Lot. "If you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me".
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Jan 6, Gen. 15-17
It hit me that Ishmael was going to be blessed and be made into a great nation and have many offspring, but the rest of that prophecy to Hagar wasn’t very promising. I think God wants to be straight with me about bad outcomes or hard things and my western mindset of “sola benedict” “only blessing, doesn’t like to accept it. Whatever my lot is from the Lord, hard work, tough times, trials of all sorts including sickness and death of loved ones, I must remain confident that nothing can stop me from my destiny except myself.
Abraham laughed at God. It didn’t seem to insult God though. That gives me such comfort. Although Abram was a man of faith and believed God, he tried to escape trouble by passing off Sarai as his sister. Deception to get to the promise that God gave him – hmm… Then he had relations with Hagar to fulfill the promise. Looks like a lot of confidence in the flesh. Then he laughed at God when God told him it was with Sarai that he would conceive Isaac. God is so patient, so forgiving, so loving and so forebearing with me! If my heart remains toward Him, I think He will forgive and wait for me to come around. He will fulfill His promise to me. I love my Daddy.
Abraham laughed at God. It didn’t seem to insult God though. That gives me such comfort. Although Abram was a man of faith and believed God, he tried to escape trouble by passing off Sarai as his sister. Deception to get to the promise that God gave him – hmm… Then he had relations with Hagar to fulfill the promise. Looks like a lot of confidence in the flesh. Then he laughed at God when God told him it was with Sarai that he would conceive Isaac. God is so patient, so forgiving, so loving and so forebearing with me! If my heart remains toward Him, I think He will forgive and wait for me to come around. He will fulfill His promise to me. I love my Daddy.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Jan 5, Gen. 12-14
In the beginning of chapter 12, God asks Abram to do a radical thing – leave everything familiar and go somewhere. The destination was unknown! God wants me to leave it all for Him, even when He doesn’t tell me where I am going. This is a pre-requisite for becoming great! I know people who are great in ministry, great in finances, great in status, but God doesn’t compare me to them. If I am going to attain my greatest greatness, I must leave all for Him. Isn’t that the gospel? Give me your life and I will give you mine. It is scary to leave familiar and ordinary, but not when you know who is leading you. I want greatness – as great as I can be for my God!
The other stand out stoppage, (where God tells me to stop and think about it and listen to Him) is Gen. 13:17 “Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” God is giving me the “keys to the Kingdom”! In other words He is giving me the Kingdom. My task is to walk through it all! Not just what is comfortable and familiar, but to strike out to unknown territory and experience all of it.
One of the ways to do that is what we are doing this year – reading through the Word of God! What is contained within the pages of the Word of God is the life and inheritance of the Kingdom of God that He has given you and me! Open it up every day and walk it!
The other stand out stoppage, (where God tells me to stop and think about it and listen to Him) is Gen. 13:17 “Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” God is giving me the “keys to the Kingdom”! In other words He is giving me the Kingdom. My task is to walk through it all! Not just what is comfortable and familiar, but to strike out to unknown territory and experience all of it.
One of the ways to do that is what we are doing this year – reading through the Word of God! What is contained within the pages of the Word of God is the life and inheritance of the Kingdom of God that He has given you and me! Open it up every day and walk it!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Jan 2, Gen. 4-5
God is showing me that doing wrong – thinking wrong doesn’t “dis”-accept me from God (Gen. 4:6-7). It puts me face to face with an enemy that wants to control me. When we do wrong we are still loved and accepted because of the blood of Jesus and it being applied to our “account”. That “account” is the punishment for our sin because we have chosen to be jealous and angry (as in this case). So God’s acceptance of me and His relationship with me never change with my acting out against his will except for my tendency to be ruled by whatever “sin” I may be doing. In my mind at times, I become the problem, or God is the problem, when all along it is the sin that is the problem. If I would realize that sin is the one attacking me, I would fight it as an enemy and my relationship with God and myself would remain unharmed. Paul talks about this in Romans 7. It is not as if I am absolving myself from responsibility, because I am the one who is allowing sin to “master me”. However, I am not the enemy! God is not the enemy! Nothing can ever separate me from God’s love (Rom. 8:39), not even sin! Sin separates me from what God wants me to have – the most unhindered life possible! Freedom from anger, jealousy, bitterness…, toward others, towards myself, or even towards Him!
Sin is crouching (sneaking-trying not to be detected) at my door. I will be like Enoch, who in Gen. 5 is the only one who is written about as; one who walked with God. I will walk with God and kick the sin that is crouching at my door in the teeth, and I will never fear abandonment from my Father in Heaven.
Sin is crouching (sneaking-trying not to be detected) at my door. I will be like Enoch, who in Gen. 5 is the only one who is written about as; one who walked with God. I will walk with God and kick the sin that is crouching at my door in the teeth, and I will never fear abandonment from my Father in Heaven.
Jan 1, Gen. 1-3
First, the word “blessed” stood out to me. Although it was absent with the creatures on the earth, it is found both with the birds and fish (Day 5 of creation) and mankind (Day 6). What strikes me is when the command of being fruitful and multiplying is given, the blessing is given. Whenever God gives us a task, He gives us His blessing to engage in and complete that task. When it feels like there is no blessing in what we are doing, maybe there isn’t. We should stop and check to see if the task is what God gave us to do or if it was taken on without Him.
The prominent lesson for me is that God said man needed a helper and that He would make one for him. Then God parades all the animal kingdom before man and has him name them. They could have been some great helpers. Oxen could plow fields, birds could seed the fields, horses could transport him places and on it goes. There was a connection that ADAM needed to realize HE NEEDED! At the end of the parade God said that no suitable helper was found. God knew there wouldn’t be, BUT Adam needed to come to that realization! There is my main lesson. Things are happening in my life for ME to discover that I need HIS provision for my life. It could be what is right in front of me, but many times it can’t be seen and must be trusted for.
Faith - Faith in His provision - Faith in His ability to create something just for me and faith in His great love for me. Even though Adam was perfect, He still needed help from his creator.
The prominent lesson for me is that God said man needed a helper and that He would make one for him. Then God parades all the animal kingdom before man and has him name them. They could have been some great helpers. Oxen could plow fields, birds could seed the fields, horses could transport him places and on it goes. There was a connection that ADAM needed to realize HE NEEDED! At the end of the parade God said that no suitable helper was found. God knew there wouldn’t be, BUT Adam needed to come to that realization! There is my main lesson. Things are happening in my life for ME to discover that I need HIS provision for my life. It could be what is right in front of me, but many times it can’t be seen and must be trusted for.
Faith - Faith in His provision - Faith in His ability to create something just for me and faith in His great love for me. Even though Adam was perfect, He still needed help from his creator.
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