Titus 1:9 (NIV84)
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Hold on and don’t let go of the trustworthy message that has been taught so the he has the ability (dunimas) to encourage people who need it - with the Word – with the sound doctrine that you already know – or he can refute and correct people who have bad doctrine. In order to refute people with bad doctrine you have to know the proper and true doctrine of the Word. We have to know our doctrine! We can’t just read for fun or personal benefit, we must study the Word to properly grasp the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation and so on. We have to know what is right in order to detect what is wrong, otherwise we will go off what we “think”.
Then we come to the encouragement. The most powerful encouragement is right from the Word of God! When I am struggling I need to hear the Word and not how cute I am! (Based on the assumption that I am cute – at least to my wife). People, learn the Word so that you possess sound doctrine and can give the greatest encouragement of all! Knowing the Word give you the POWER (ability) to encourage and refute. The Word is powerful stuff!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
June 29
2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV84)
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul of course was talking about much more severe attacks that you and I face. He was beaten, put in prison, stoned…, but that doesn’t negate the truth and comfort of this verse. Whether there is the physical, in other words something that has happened in the natural realm, attack or persecution, or there is an evil assignment that is hovering over you and trying their best to depress and discourage you by seeding your thoughts with negativity, there is hope in this verse! There is hope in the Lord.
If I am honest, I am a little overwhelmed right now. Deadlines tend to do that to me and I have a BIG deadline ahead of me. When that happens then the enemy steps up his attack and things seem to start going wrong or lagging behind a little more than usual. Then the thoughts come in like a faucet that can’t be turned off. Things like, it will never get done, there is too much, you can’t do it, you blew it, nobody will help you, you are all alone, God has even abandoned you, if you would have just…., then it would have worked but you didn’t so now look at your failure! Are any of those familiar to you? Then cling to this verse like I am!
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack! He is with me and in me and will rescue me with a provided way out or the strength to endure the battle until I win! The comfort is that the battle on this earth is only so long. There is eternity in our hearts – a longing for heaven – especially when you are in an acute battle. He will rescue us while we live here on earth and one day, the final rescuing will take place – our heavenly home.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul of course was talking about much more severe attacks that you and I face. He was beaten, put in prison, stoned…, but that doesn’t negate the truth and comfort of this verse. Whether there is the physical, in other words something that has happened in the natural realm, attack or persecution, or there is an evil assignment that is hovering over you and trying their best to depress and discourage you by seeding your thoughts with negativity, there is hope in this verse! There is hope in the Lord.
If I am honest, I am a little overwhelmed right now. Deadlines tend to do that to me and I have a BIG deadline ahead of me. When that happens then the enemy steps up his attack and things seem to start going wrong or lagging behind a little more than usual. Then the thoughts come in like a faucet that can’t be turned off. Things like, it will never get done, there is too much, you can’t do it, you blew it, nobody will help you, you are all alone, God has even abandoned you, if you would have just…., then it would have worked but you didn’t so now look at your failure! Are any of those familiar to you? Then cling to this verse like I am!
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack! He is with me and in me and will rescue me with a provided way out or the strength to endure the battle until I win! The comfort is that the battle on this earth is only so long. There is eternity in our hearts – a longing for heaven – especially when you are in an acute battle. He will rescue us while we live here on earth and one day, the final rescuing will take place – our heavenly home.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
June 28
2 Samuel 13:14–15 (NIV84)
14 But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.
15 Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!”
So Amnon lusted after his half-sister Tamar. He had watched Tamar and thought about touching her so much that he looked bedraggled! He had such an intense desire to have sex with her that a plan was devised to get what he wanted. As you have read the account you will notice that Tamar was not opposed to Amnon having sex with her, but she wanted to do it under a marriage covenant and not in a wicked way, but Amnon, who had waited and lusted and plotted couldn’t wait! He had to get what he wanted and take it he did. Here is the interesting point: After he got what he wanted, after he had sex with Tamar, he hated Tamar! That is kinda’ kooky isn’t it? Isn’t that what he wanted?
As it turned out with Amnon it turns out with all of us. When we go outside of God’s provision to satisfy our longings, we hate ----- ourselves! Yes Amnon hated Tamar, but really he hated himself and he focused that hatred on Tamar. The same thing happens to us! When we do things that we know are evil to satiate ourselves, after we do it we are sickened by our sin. Oftentimes we turn this hatred on ourselves in the form of abuse. We abuse food, we spend ourselves into oblivion, we drink ourselves silly, we torpedo our success because we have come to believe that we are despicable. Give this some thought for a moment.
Learning this will help us not to go forward with our evil desires, however we may not stop ourselves from our indulgence. How do you get yourself out of the self-hatred? Receive God’s forgiveness and love. It is simple, yet difficult to do, I know. The blood of Christ is supposed to cleanse us from a guilty conscious so we can be free to LIVE righteous! People, we have to be cleansed! The problem with most people who have addictions and destructive behavior of all kinds is that they are acting out who they think they are and giving themselves what they deserve! This ought not to be so for a King’s Kid! Come to the King and be cleansed! Let Him point out your sin so He can cleanse you from it, and then and only then, can you begin to experience His love and mercy so you can stop killing yourself over and over again.
14 But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.
15 Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!”
So Amnon lusted after his half-sister Tamar. He had watched Tamar and thought about touching her so much that he looked bedraggled! He had such an intense desire to have sex with her that a plan was devised to get what he wanted. As you have read the account you will notice that Tamar was not opposed to Amnon having sex with her, but she wanted to do it under a marriage covenant and not in a wicked way, but Amnon, who had waited and lusted and plotted couldn’t wait! He had to get what he wanted and take it he did. Here is the interesting point: After he got what he wanted, after he had sex with Tamar, he hated Tamar! That is kinda’ kooky isn’t it? Isn’t that what he wanted?
As it turned out with Amnon it turns out with all of us. When we go outside of God’s provision to satisfy our longings, we hate ----- ourselves! Yes Amnon hated Tamar, but really he hated himself and he focused that hatred on Tamar. The same thing happens to us! When we do things that we know are evil to satiate ourselves, after we do it we are sickened by our sin. Oftentimes we turn this hatred on ourselves in the form of abuse. We abuse food, we spend ourselves into oblivion, we drink ourselves silly, we torpedo our success because we have come to believe that we are despicable. Give this some thought for a moment.
Learning this will help us not to go forward with our evil desires, however we may not stop ourselves from our indulgence. How do you get yourself out of the self-hatred? Receive God’s forgiveness and love. It is simple, yet difficult to do, I know. The blood of Christ is supposed to cleanse us from a guilty conscious so we can be free to LIVE righteous! People, we have to be cleansed! The problem with most people who have addictions and destructive behavior of all kinds is that they are acting out who they think they are and giving themselves what they deserve! This ought not to be so for a King’s Kid! Come to the King and be cleansed! Let Him point out your sin so He can cleanse you from it, and then and only then, can you begin to experience His love and mercy so you can stop killing yourself over and over again.
Monday, June 27, 2011
June 27
2 Timothy 2:23–24 (NIV84)
23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
When I was a young man in Christ, I sought arguments out. I loved to argue – ah… I mean debate. It was fun! Sometimes I would even argue what I didn’t believe just to enjoy a spirited argu---debate. It sounds so much better if we call things like that a debate. It sounds scholastic! (How about a discussion?!) The reality of this is that arguments produce quarrels. Quarrels have no place in the body! We can have a theological difference or even a practical difference of opinion, but to enter into a bitter dispute about it is carnal. It produces a fleshliness within one or both of the parties. I am sure that there are some people who can handle a discussion about differences of opinion, and Paul is not talking about that, but that discussion has to be done in love and with the care of the other person in the forefront of your mind. That is not just to say I care about them being so wrong and I am trying to straighten them out, but a lovingness in the way we go about it. With kindness and gentleness we are to instruct people who oppose us, and not just oppose us, but even those who are in the wrong so much that they have been taken captive! That means that we can’t look to “whip” someone in an argument or “set people straight” with the truth. There is here, as there is elsewhere in the Word of God, and undercurrent of love, kindness and care that we MUST display towards others, even when they oppose us and are in the wrong.
23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
When I was a young man in Christ, I sought arguments out. I loved to argue – ah… I mean debate. It was fun! Sometimes I would even argue what I didn’t believe just to enjoy a spirited argu---debate. It sounds so much better if we call things like that a debate. It sounds scholastic! (How about a discussion?!) The reality of this is that arguments produce quarrels. Quarrels have no place in the body! We can have a theological difference or even a practical difference of opinion, but to enter into a bitter dispute about it is carnal. It produces a fleshliness within one or both of the parties. I am sure that there are some people who can handle a discussion about differences of opinion, and Paul is not talking about that, but that discussion has to be done in love and with the care of the other person in the forefront of your mind. That is not just to say I care about them being so wrong and I am trying to straighten them out, but a lovingness in the way we go about it. With kindness and gentleness we are to instruct people who oppose us, and not just oppose us, but even those who are in the wrong so much that they have been taken captive! That means that we can’t look to “whip” someone in an argument or “set people straight” with the truth. There is here, as there is elsewhere in the Word of God, and undercurrent of love, kindness and care that we MUST display towards others, even when they oppose us and are in the wrong.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
June 26
2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV84)
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Have we forgotten this wonderful benefit of being a child of God? There is, within the body of Christ, the “laying on of hands”, which has significance in different areas of Christian life. This area, installing a gift of God, is often forgotten and rarely talked about. It is one of our privileges as members of the church! It may be only found in Pentecostal traditions, but evidentially it started long ago. Let’s bring this wonderful gift back into operation! God surely is the giver of gifts as well as the dispenser of them, however it seems clear to me that we AGAIN get to partner with God and through the laying on of hands (and prayer with prophetic invocation) release gifts to people. How cool is that!
There is something else we need to catch here. After we have received a gift from God, we are responsible for fanning it into flame! We are told to “reactivate” the gift. Timothy must have let something slip away into non use and Paul is saying – “start er’ up again”. The gift is IN Timothy! The gifts that God has given us are IN us – they are ours to use! Have you shelved any of your gifts? If so, reactivate it (or them) and let’s use them for His glory!
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV84)
7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Have we forgotten this wonderful benefit of being a child of God? There is, within the body of Christ, the “laying on of hands”, which has significance in different areas of Christian life. This area, installing a gift of God, is often forgotten and rarely talked about. It is one of our privileges as members of the church! It may be only found in Pentecostal traditions, but evidentially it started long ago. Let’s bring this wonderful gift back into operation! God surely is the giver of gifts as well as the dispenser of them, however it seems clear to me that we AGAIN get to partner with God and through the laying on of hands (and prayer with prophetic invocation) release gifts to people. How cool is that!
There is something else we need to catch here. After we have received a gift from God, we are responsible for fanning it into flame! We are told to “reactivate” the gift. Timothy must have let something slip away into non use and Paul is saying – “start er’ up again”. The gift is IN Timothy! The gifts that God has given us are IN us – they are ours to use! Have you shelved any of your gifts? If so, reactivate it (or them) and let’s use them for His glory!
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV84)
7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
June 25
1 Timothy 6:9 (NIV84)
9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
Ahh the lust after money! Who of us hasn’t dreamed of winning the lottery? OK, if I won 4 million I would give half to the church. Well, the government would take 40%, so that would leave me only 10%, so I would give half of the 60% to the church which would be 1.2 million and then live off 1.2 million --- which isn’t that much--- so maybe I would give a couple hundred thousand to the church and pay off my house…. And so it goes. Our big dream is for us to have the wealth so we can do what we want. Not all of what we would do is bad, some would be for God, no doubt, yet when that money comes into our hands…
The Word says that when we dream of that, or of building some kind of empire so we can have “more than the average” we fall into a place that endeavors for us to sin and we get trapped and eventually it ruins and destroys us. Did you get that – it ruins us! Not the money itself, but the desire to be rich!
1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV84)
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s.
There are many grief’s that go along with the desire and I would say the process of fulfilling that desire. This is not limited to people who make a lot of money. This is a broad spectrum tidbit of wisdom that begs us not to go after money and riches. People who work their tails off to try to get rich experience many emotional anxieties that they don’t have to – they are unnecessary!
Psalm 60:12 (NIV84)
12With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.
The Lord will lead us to financial and every other victory! We will trample on poverty and lack through the strength of the Almighty. He has promised to take care of us and pour into our lap and ever increasing supply for His distribution and our enjoyment! The Kingdom Key is to not desire it, but work as unto the Lord, get a vision from Him, stand in faith for that vision, and speaking the promises of God, lay claim to what He said He would give you. That transfers the desire for riches to the desires of God for our lives – and all of those are accessed by faith!
9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
Ahh the lust after money! Who of us hasn’t dreamed of winning the lottery? OK, if I won 4 million I would give half to the church. Well, the government would take 40%, so that would leave me only 10%, so I would give half of the 60% to the church which would be 1.2 million and then live off 1.2 million --- which isn’t that much--- so maybe I would give a couple hundred thousand to the church and pay off my house…. And so it goes. Our big dream is for us to have the wealth so we can do what we want. Not all of what we would do is bad, some would be for God, no doubt, yet when that money comes into our hands…
The Word says that when we dream of that, or of building some kind of empire so we can have “more than the average” we fall into a place that endeavors for us to sin and we get trapped and eventually it ruins and destroys us. Did you get that – it ruins us! Not the money itself, but the desire to be rich!
1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV84)
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s.
There are many grief’s that go along with the desire and I would say the process of fulfilling that desire. This is not limited to people who make a lot of money. This is a broad spectrum tidbit of wisdom that begs us not to go after money and riches. People who work their tails off to try to get rich experience many emotional anxieties that they don’t have to – they are unnecessary!
Psalm 60:12 (NIV84)
12With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.
The Lord will lead us to financial and every other victory! We will trample on poverty and lack through the strength of the Almighty. He has promised to take care of us and pour into our lap and ever increasing supply for His distribution and our enjoyment! The Kingdom Key is to not desire it, but work as unto the Lord, get a vision from Him, stand in faith for that vision, and speaking the promises of God, lay claim to what He said He would give you. That transfers the desire for riches to the desires of God for our lives – and all of those are accessed by faith!
Friday, June 24, 2011
June 24
1 Timothy 5:1–2 (NIV84)
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
The ABC’s of treating one another are found here. Doesn’t it just make sense? If you are going to bring a problem to someone older than you, or I might even say older in the Lord than you, do it like he was your father, and you have a good, respectful and honoring relationship with him. The word “rebuke” can me “to strike” or to strongly disapprove as a form of punishment. Do I need to say that you shouldn’t do that behind his back to others? Expressing a strong disapproval about something someone did to another IS punishing and needs to be avoided.
Then the Spirit goes on to talk about peers and older women and younger women. With the younger He throws in the phrase “with purity” which means with no moral defect. Obviously this is talking about treating young women with propriety and not as a sexual object to gratify our eyes or flesh. Young men (and old) are supposed to guard the honor of young women and not exploit it. This means that (hold on to your seats), that casual dating may in fact have a direct challenge from the Word of God. If you are supposed to treat the younger women as sisters and with moral uprightness, this question must be asked; would you casually date your sister and kiss her good night or more?
I know, I know, I am taking the Bible too literal. I am just like that. I think that when the Bible talks about salvation or heaven or healing or supply, it is literal – just shoot me! We need to be real careful not to pick and choose the scriptures that we will obey. There is life in every one of them and I would submit to all of us that verses 1 and 2 of 1 Timothy are inspired by God and came directly from His Spirit. If so, then we all need to submit to His instructions – because that is who we have become.
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
The ABC’s of treating one another are found here. Doesn’t it just make sense? If you are going to bring a problem to someone older than you, or I might even say older in the Lord than you, do it like he was your father, and you have a good, respectful and honoring relationship with him. The word “rebuke” can me “to strike” or to strongly disapprove as a form of punishment. Do I need to say that you shouldn’t do that behind his back to others? Expressing a strong disapproval about something someone did to another IS punishing and needs to be avoided.
Then the Spirit goes on to talk about peers and older women and younger women. With the younger He throws in the phrase “with purity” which means with no moral defect. Obviously this is talking about treating young women with propriety and not as a sexual object to gratify our eyes or flesh. Young men (and old) are supposed to guard the honor of young women and not exploit it. This means that (hold on to your seats), that casual dating may in fact have a direct challenge from the Word of God. If you are supposed to treat the younger women as sisters and with moral uprightness, this question must be asked; would you casually date your sister and kiss her good night or more?
I know, I know, I am taking the Bible too literal. I am just like that. I think that when the Bible talks about salvation or heaven or healing or supply, it is literal – just shoot me! We need to be real careful not to pick and choose the scriptures that we will obey. There is life in every one of them and I would submit to all of us that verses 1 and 2 of 1 Timothy are inspired by God and came directly from His Spirit. If so, then we all need to submit to His instructions – because that is who we have become.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
June 23
Sometimes I want to write about things like:
Psalm 35:27 (NIV84)
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
Yet God is my instructor and He chooses the verse that I write about. So be encouraged with the Psalm, but it is 1 Timothy that we will dive into.
1 Timothy 4:1 (NIV84)
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
There is, within Christianity, and I suppose will always be, a current of law and rule. Clearly stated here in verse 1 it talks about abandoning faith (trust in God) and following things taught be demons which are rules, regulations, yokes, laws, handcuffs, slavery and every other adjective you can name. Paul names a few here (forbidding to marry, abstaining from certain foods), but the list goes on. The point is that people will follow demonic doctrines not because they like demons, but because they feel more “comfortable” or they seem more “meaningful” than does standing in faith (trust) with the blood of Jesus and the finished work of the cross.
There have always been prohibitions in the church and it will never cease because people LIKE them. It makes them FEEL more holy and righteous if they attain a certain level of rule keeping which they would call holiness. However, the reality is that we are not called to keep ANY rules, but to walk in the Spirit! That seems so subjective (until you understand the Word of God) so people would rather make stuff up. The only problem with that is that many times, even well meaning rules, come from the pit of hell. I am not, and neither is Paul talking about standards of conduct, otherwise we would throw out chapter 3 of 1 Timothy. What this is talking about is a righteousness that comes from conduct, and right standing with God that is earned! Some of the rules are obviously off the chart, and have nothing to do with godliness, but the other ones are so subtle that they will creep into our lives until we start trusting in our own righteousness instead of faith in God.
If you are in that trap right now, open it up and get out of it! I fall into this trap from time to time, thinking I am free until someone does something that I don’t agree with. Then I see my doctrine close up and repent. If you are not in the trap right now – be careful of the way you believe – keep it according to the Word of God and not what “seems” or “feels” right.
Proverbs 14:12 (NIV84)
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
Psalm 35:27 (NIV84)
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
Yet God is my instructor and He chooses the verse that I write about. So be encouraged with the Psalm, but it is 1 Timothy that we will dive into.
1 Timothy 4:1 (NIV84)
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
There is, within Christianity, and I suppose will always be, a current of law and rule. Clearly stated here in verse 1 it talks about abandoning faith (trust in God) and following things taught be demons which are rules, regulations, yokes, laws, handcuffs, slavery and every other adjective you can name. Paul names a few here (forbidding to marry, abstaining from certain foods), but the list goes on. The point is that people will follow demonic doctrines not because they like demons, but because they feel more “comfortable” or they seem more “meaningful” than does standing in faith (trust) with the blood of Jesus and the finished work of the cross.
There have always been prohibitions in the church and it will never cease because people LIKE them. It makes them FEEL more holy and righteous if they attain a certain level of rule keeping which they would call holiness. However, the reality is that we are not called to keep ANY rules, but to walk in the Spirit! That seems so subjective (until you understand the Word of God) so people would rather make stuff up. The only problem with that is that many times, even well meaning rules, come from the pit of hell. I am not, and neither is Paul talking about standards of conduct, otherwise we would throw out chapter 3 of 1 Timothy. What this is talking about is a righteousness that comes from conduct, and right standing with God that is earned! Some of the rules are obviously off the chart, and have nothing to do with godliness, but the other ones are so subtle that they will creep into our lives until we start trusting in our own righteousness instead of faith in God.
If you are in that trap right now, open it up and get out of it! I fall into this trap from time to time, thinking I am free until someone does something that I don’t agree with. Then I see my doctrine close up and repent. If you are not in the trap right now – be careful of the way you believe – keep it according to the Word of God and not what “seems” or “feels” right.
Proverbs 14:12 (NIV84)
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
June 22
1 Timothy 3:1 (NIV84)
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
There is something about this saying – that’s what Paul is saying. This is “super” true. That says to me that someone may have doubted the following statement. Some people have set their hearts or have a desire to be an overseer. There is something within them that wants to “oversee”. That’s not a crazy thing – it is an awesome thing!
An overseer is an “office” of leadership and service. When Judas was died, Peter said that someone should take his “place”. (Same word.) I think our English word doesn’t do the Greek justice because we think of someone who is a manager rather than a leader/servant. An overseer definitely has a position of authority, but as Jesus did, an overseer uses his authority to be a blessing and servant of all.
The church needs people to step up into this role, we need “episcopes”! We need people, with the right heart of service, to lead others in the ways of God. This is not an event coordinator, this is a disciple and teacher. These are people who, according to the requirements, have learned how to live in the Spirit and are serious about advancing the Kingdom. Will you desire to be an overseer? Count the cost of this chapter and see that your life is demanded of you. There is no room for self anything but self sacrifice. The body of Christ needs people to step up, to desire, to live a life of servant hood – will you?
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
There is something about this saying – that’s what Paul is saying. This is “super” true. That says to me that someone may have doubted the following statement. Some people have set their hearts or have a desire to be an overseer. There is something within them that wants to “oversee”. That’s not a crazy thing – it is an awesome thing!
An overseer is an “office” of leadership and service. When Judas was died, Peter said that someone should take his “place”. (Same word.) I think our English word doesn’t do the Greek justice because we think of someone who is a manager rather than a leader/servant. An overseer definitely has a position of authority, but as Jesus did, an overseer uses his authority to be a blessing and servant of all.
The church needs people to step up into this role, we need “episcopes”! We need people, with the right heart of service, to lead others in the ways of God. This is not an event coordinator, this is a disciple and teacher. These are people who, according to the requirements, have learned how to live in the Spirit and are serious about advancing the Kingdom. Will you desire to be an overseer? Count the cost of this chapter and see that your life is demanded of you. There is no room for self anything but self sacrifice. The body of Christ needs people to step up, to desire, to live a life of servant hood – will you?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
June 21
2 Samuel 6:14–15 (NIV84)
14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
As tongue and cheek as this might be interpreted (what I am about to say), this is the roots of Pentecostal worship! It is obvious that the presence of God and His blessing needs to be celebrated! The propriety needs to be tossed away for another occasion! This is propriety! Thirty-thousand men and David and who knows how many women were dancing, playing music, worshipping and shouting with all their might! There it is, right from the Bible, evidence of off the charts worship!
2 Samuel 6:22 (NIV84)
22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”
This was said after David was reviled by one of his wives. I wonder if David was being called, “out of order” because of his extravagant worship? If so, he said I will get crazier than this – undignified! He wanted to dance himself to humility!
I have a question: If God is giving us something that we don’t delight in and maybe don’t want as a replacement for our mourning, will be continue in our mourning?
Psalm 30:11–12 (NIV84)
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
As tongue and cheek as this might be interpreted (what I am about to say), this is the roots of Pentecostal worship! It is obvious that the presence of God and His blessing needs to be celebrated! The propriety needs to be tossed away for another occasion! This is propriety! Thirty-thousand men and David and who knows how many women were dancing, playing music, worshipping and shouting with all their might! There it is, right from the Bible, evidence of off the charts worship!
2 Samuel 6:22 (NIV84)
22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”
This was said after David was reviled by one of his wives. I wonder if David was being called, “out of order” because of his extravagant worship? If so, he said I will get crazier than this – undignified! He wanted to dance himself to humility!
I have a question: If God is giving us something that we don’t delight in and maybe don’t want as a replacement for our mourning, will be continue in our mourning?
Psalm 30:11–12 (NIV84)
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Monday, June 20, 2011
June 20
1 Chronicles 13:3 (NIV84)
3 Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.”
The Ark of God is where the presence of God dwelt. Now we know that God’s presence fills the earth, but there was a “special presence” that dwelt between the cherubim. During the time of Saul they didn’t inquire of the Lord in His presence. They had the law and they had the prophets, but they didn’t get into the presence of the Lord to inquire of Him.
I believe that the church is in a season in which we are being taught to “get into the Presence” of the Lord. Yes we have the Bible, and it is His powerful and effective Word which should NOT be diminished whatsoever by the concept and action of getting into the presence. We also know that God is everywhere, but there is a “special presence” that “shows up” in our lives when we seek His presence and when we gather. I believe that God wants us to dwell with Him – in His presence! Not merely knowing Him from His Word – which is a way He gave us to know Him – but knowing Him by spending time in His presence.
1 Chronicles 13:14 (NIV84)
14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had.
Enough said – get in the presence of God
3 Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.”
The Ark of God is where the presence of God dwelt. Now we know that God’s presence fills the earth, but there was a “special presence” that dwelt between the cherubim. During the time of Saul they didn’t inquire of the Lord in His presence. They had the law and they had the prophets, but they didn’t get into the presence of the Lord to inquire of Him.
I believe that the church is in a season in which we are being taught to “get into the Presence” of the Lord. Yes we have the Bible, and it is His powerful and effective Word which should NOT be diminished whatsoever by the concept and action of getting into the presence. We also know that God is everywhere, but there is a “special presence” that “shows up” in our lives when we seek His presence and when we gather. I believe that God wants us to dwell with Him – in His presence! Not merely knowing Him from His Word – which is a way He gave us to know Him – but knowing Him by spending time in His presence.
1 Chronicles 13:14 (NIV84)
14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had.
Enough said – get in the presence of God
Sunday, June 19, 2011
June 19
Matthew 27:3
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
Isn't this what happens to us? We are seized with remorse when we betray Christ. Maybe you think that you have never betrayed Him - think again - we all have! None of us are guiltless, we all have betrayed the Lord one way or another. I think Judas has the proper response - remorse and getting rid of what he gained from the betrayal.
While it is true that none of us have handed Jesus over to be crucified, it is also true that we have to deal with our sin. It worries me when I am not remorseful. Something is wrong when Judas reacts with more godliness than us when we realize we have done wrong. There is, within us all, the Spirit of God who will bring us to the place of remorse, release and restoration. Judas had no release and no restoration. He died in remorse! Thank God for the Spirit of God in us! Even though we have the promise of release and restoration, we only get there by remorse. We don't have to act remorseful we have to BE remorseful, which should come natural when we offend God.
May we allow the Spirit of God to move in us so that we will be released and restored when we need it.
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
Isn't this what happens to us? We are seized with remorse when we betray Christ. Maybe you think that you have never betrayed Him - think again - we all have! None of us are guiltless, we all have betrayed the Lord one way or another. I think Judas has the proper response - remorse and getting rid of what he gained from the betrayal.
While it is true that none of us have handed Jesus over to be crucified, it is also true that we have to deal with our sin. It worries me when I am not remorseful. Something is wrong when Judas reacts with more godliness than us when we realize we have done wrong. There is, within us all, the Spirit of God who will bring us to the place of remorse, release and restoration. Judas had no release and no restoration. He died in remorse! Thank God for the Spirit of God in us! Even though we have the promise of release and restoration, we only get there by remorse. We don't have to act remorseful we have to BE remorseful, which should come natural when we offend God.
May we allow the Spirit of God to move in us so that we will be released and restored when we need it.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
June 18
2 Samuel 3:1 (ESV)
There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
In our microwave society that has made fast food available in our kitchens in our restaurants and even in our cars, I think we have taken this attitude and expectation to the spirit realm and spiritual warfare. Some “bind” satan and expect him to stop doing what he is doing. I am not saying that we don’t have spiritual authority, we do, but it isn’t always as easy as a 30 second flare prayer.
David was anointed and confirmed by God to be King – right? Then why did he have to fight? For that matter, Israel had been given the land of Canaan by God but they had to fight, and it didn’t end in a few days! In fact it went on for years and the Bible gives us a clue into why. It basically says that Israel couldn’t handle it if the Lord gave them the land all at once. I think the same is true for David. David had to “cut his teeth” and this long war with a challenging and opposing king and commander, helped David become who he became, the greatest King that Israel ever knew.
The longer the battle went on, the stronger David got! Notice that is says his opponent got weaker, but he got stronger! The battle is not suppose to weary us, it is suppose to strengthen us! If we are getting weak, then either we are opposing God or we are forgetting God. Our tendency is to fight and then rest before the battle is finished – friends – it is a long war and it never ends! Each battle we fight will have a conclusion, but our war with our own flesh, the worldly system and the principalities and powers and rulers in darkness will never end! Don’t lose heart! Keep fighting! God is with you - you have the anointing! He has crowned you and purposed you to win! You WILL grow stronger and stronger in battle, while your opponents will grow weaker and weaker. Look back at some of your old battles, see how your opponents are weak and you have triumphed? It will be the same for your future! Stand and fight!
There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
In our microwave society that has made fast food available in our kitchens in our restaurants and even in our cars, I think we have taken this attitude and expectation to the spirit realm and spiritual warfare. Some “bind” satan and expect him to stop doing what he is doing. I am not saying that we don’t have spiritual authority, we do, but it isn’t always as easy as a 30 second flare prayer.
David was anointed and confirmed by God to be King – right? Then why did he have to fight? For that matter, Israel had been given the land of Canaan by God but they had to fight, and it didn’t end in a few days! In fact it went on for years and the Bible gives us a clue into why. It basically says that Israel couldn’t handle it if the Lord gave them the land all at once. I think the same is true for David. David had to “cut his teeth” and this long war with a challenging and opposing king and commander, helped David become who he became, the greatest King that Israel ever knew.
The longer the battle went on, the stronger David got! Notice that is says his opponent got weaker, but he got stronger! The battle is not suppose to weary us, it is suppose to strengthen us! If we are getting weak, then either we are opposing God or we are forgetting God. Our tendency is to fight and then rest before the battle is finished – friends – it is a long war and it never ends! Each battle we fight will have a conclusion, but our war with our own flesh, the worldly system and the principalities and powers and rulers in darkness will never end! Don’t lose heart! Keep fighting! God is with you - you have the anointing! He has crowned you and purposed you to win! You WILL grow stronger and stronger in battle, while your opponents will grow weaker and weaker. Look back at some of your old battles, see how your opponents are weak and you have triumphed? It will be the same for your future! Stand and fight!
Friday, June 17, 2011
June 17
Matthew 25:15 (ESV)
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
When God gives us “talents” (which was equivalent to 20 years of laborer wages), He gives them according to our ability. There are 2 things that this tells me:
#1 God gives different people different amounts
#2 God gives the different amount according to what people can appropriately handle with their God given abilities
Firstly, why are we jealous of others when it is God who gave them the talents? Some people are up front people and some of those earn a lot of money – why be jealous? It is God who promotes? Instead of asking why we aren’t up there doing such and such and getting all mad about it, why don’t we concentrate on what we have since we are really upset at God?
Secondly, further on in the parable Jesus illustrates a principle of the Kingdom – if you manage what you have well, you will be given more! The enemy wants us to focus on what other people have been given and envy instead of focusing on the gracious gifts we have been given and multiplying them. If we multiply them (please notice that they can be multiplied which will give us as much other people who got more in the first place), then we will be given more! Do you want more? Then steward what you have with precision and never look at another gifts and envy.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
When God gives us “talents” (which was equivalent to 20 years of laborer wages), He gives them according to our ability. There are 2 things that this tells me:
#1 God gives different people different amounts
#2 God gives the different amount according to what people can appropriately handle with their God given abilities
Firstly, why are we jealous of others when it is God who gave them the talents? Some people are up front people and some of those earn a lot of money – why be jealous? It is God who promotes? Instead of asking why we aren’t up there doing such and such and getting all mad about it, why don’t we concentrate on what we have since we are really upset at God?
Secondly, further on in the parable Jesus illustrates a principle of the Kingdom – if you manage what you have well, you will be given more! The enemy wants us to focus on what other people have been given and envy instead of focusing on the gracious gifts we have been given and multiplying them. If we multiply them (please notice that they can be multiplied which will give us as much other people who got more in the first place), then we will be given more! Do you want more? Then steward what you have with precision and never look at another gifts and envy.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
June 16
Matthew 24:42 (NIV)
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
I have never much cared for the whole rapture – end of the world teaching or debating. It just hasn’t interested me nor have I thought (in the past) that it has been effective in bringing people to, or preparing people from meeting Christ. However, in light of recent events, I must admit that I have changed my tune a bit. I see the value in this message being preached more than ever. There have been times in history when it would seem like things were being “ramped up” for things to be brought to a final culmination, but now it does seem like it is very close to the end. Having said that it may be another 100 years before the end comes. The point, in my opinion, is the urgency in which we conduct our lives.
The verse above speaks directly to that and gives us a clue to why Jesus talked about indicators at all. Throughout history people have believed that the “signs” have indicated that Jesus return was close. Did you ever think that was on purpose? There is something about the Word of God that is urging us to stay urgent! It is our task to live as though Jesus would return tomorrow, or as the popular church campaign put it, live like you have “one month to live”. It is our task to remain watchful, alert, eyes wide open so we don’t get “hoodwinked” into thinking that it is o.k. to live life like the world – for ourselves. We constantly have to be on guard against the insidious and pervasive evil of this world working it’s way into our life. It happens so subtly at times that we don’t even realize it, and before we know it, we are a carnal as a person who doesn’t know Christ. May it never be! May our lives reflect the urgency in which Jesus himself dropped into our hearts. Live life like you will meet him later tonight – and take some people with you to the meeting!
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
I have never much cared for the whole rapture – end of the world teaching or debating. It just hasn’t interested me nor have I thought (in the past) that it has been effective in bringing people to, or preparing people from meeting Christ. However, in light of recent events, I must admit that I have changed my tune a bit. I see the value in this message being preached more than ever. There have been times in history when it would seem like things were being “ramped up” for things to be brought to a final culmination, but now it does seem like it is very close to the end. Having said that it may be another 100 years before the end comes. The point, in my opinion, is the urgency in which we conduct our lives.
The verse above speaks directly to that and gives us a clue to why Jesus talked about indicators at all. Throughout history people have believed that the “signs” have indicated that Jesus return was close. Did you ever think that was on purpose? There is something about the Word of God that is urging us to stay urgent! It is our task to live as though Jesus would return tomorrow, or as the popular church campaign put it, live like you have “one month to live”. It is our task to remain watchful, alert, eyes wide open so we don’t get “hoodwinked” into thinking that it is o.k. to live life like the world – for ourselves. We constantly have to be on guard against the insidious and pervasive evil of this world working it’s way into our life. It happens so subtly at times that we don’t even realize it, and before we know it, we are a carnal as a person who doesn’t know Christ. May it never be! May our lives reflect the urgency in which Jesus himself dropped into our hearts. Live life like you will meet him later tonight – and take some people with you to the meeting!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
June 15
1 Chronicles 9:22–23 (NIV)
22 Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. 23 They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the tent of meeting.
The gatekeepers did other things besides guard the tent of meeting as outlined in the following verses and elsewhere. They were in charge of protecting and taking care of the dwelling of God. I think we need some gatekeepers today.
Ephesians 1:22–23 (NIV)
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
The church is more than a building - it is a "gathering" an "assembly". Somebody needs to be a gatekeeper for the church! The church is His body - which means you and I together represent Christ on the earth! Crazy! We need some gatekeepers who will position themselves to guard the dignity of the church and its unity. Without unity we can't function properly! Will you become a guard of Hope Chapel OC AND the church abroad? Will you stop the thieves who want to steal, kill and destroy the church? In the day and age of people hopping from one church to another to fit their fancy, we need gatekeepers who wouldn't dream of leaving their assignment. How about it?
22 Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. 23 They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the tent of meeting.
The gatekeepers did other things besides guard the tent of meeting as outlined in the following verses and elsewhere. They were in charge of protecting and taking care of the dwelling of God. I think we need some gatekeepers today.
Ephesians 1:22–23 (NIV)
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
The church is more than a building - it is a "gathering" an "assembly". Somebody needs to be a gatekeeper for the church! The church is His body - which means you and I together represent Christ on the earth! Crazy! We need some gatekeepers who will position themselves to guard the dignity of the church and its unity. Without unity we can't function properly! Will you become a guard of Hope Chapel OC AND the church abroad? Will you stop the thieves who want to steal, kill and destroy the church? In the day and age of people hopping from one church to another to fit their fancy, we need gatekeepers who wouldn't dream of leaving their assignment. How about it?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
June 14
Matthew 22:3 (NIV)
3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
Maybe you have, like me, been so taken with the story of the wedding feast and the guests that refused to come that you missed a simple fact. He sent his servants to those who had been invited. That’s us! God is sending us to go tell people that the King is ready for them to come to His table. It is our task, our role, our partnership and our pleasure to tell others that God wants them to eat at His table. That has so much meaning! He wants to relate to them, He wants to feed them, He wants to bring them security and the list goes on. He doesn’t want to be their butler, but He does want to be their provider! It is ours to tell them.
It isn’t ours to convince them. Many of those who were invited and summoned didn’t come, but the King didn’t get mad at the servants, He just told them to go get more people. If people reject God’s offer, that is on them. It is our responsibility and privilege to invite people – to tell them that God wants to be their friend, King and forgiver. It is our task to tell people that there is hope in Christ, healing in Christ, salvation in Christ alone. It is our role to tell them that Jesus has the power to set them free from their addictions and vices and everything else that holds them back.
I am challenged today. I hope you are too.
3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
Maybe you have, like me, been so taken with the story of the wedding feast and the guests that refused to come that you missed a simple fact. He sent his servants to those who had been invited. That’s us! God is sending us to go tell people that the King is ready for them to come to His table. It is our task, our role, our partnership and our pleasure to tell others that God wants them to eat at His table. That has so much meaning! He wants to relate to them, He wants to feed them, He wants to bring them security and the list goes on. He doesn’t want to be their butler, but He does want to be their provider! It is ours to tell them.
It isn’t ours to convince them. Many of those who were invited and summoned didn’t come, but the King didn’t get mad at the servants, He just told them to go get more people. If people reject God’s offer, that is on them. It is our responsibility and privilege to invite people – to tell them that God wants to be their friend, King and forgiver. It is our task to tell people that there is hope in Christ, healing in Christ, salvation in Christ alone. It is our role to tell them that Jesus has the power to set them free from their addictions and vices and everything else that holds them back.
I am challenged today. I hope you are too.
Monday, June 13, 2011
June 13
Matthew 21:41 (NIV)
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
This is within the parable of the vineyard owner and tenants. The thing that stood out to me was the last half of this verse; “who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time”. We realize that Jesus is talking about giving salvation to the Gentiles because the Jews are going to kill Him, but then there is this part of giving him his share. That is what interests me.
It was the practice of the Jews to give their tithes. I am sure that Jesus is talking about more than that although that is part of it. We know in Malachi that God is indicting the Jews for not tithing, so it makes sense that money may well be included in this meaning, but I think it goes far beyond money – it goes to ALL the fruit of the vineyard!
We don’t want to be the like people who killed the prophets and Jesus, right? However their attitudes were to KEEP God’s share. They wanted it all! God is asking us for a “share” or a portion of the fruit, which I think is talking about our offerings. Yet there is more because it is God’s vineyard! We are tenants and He deserves more than just an offering or tithe, He deserves all of the vineyard! Every fruit of the Kingdom of God in our lives belongs to God. Why not just surrender all of it and whenever God wants something, give it to Him? It is the least we can do for Him who purchased, built and planted.
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
This is within the parable of the vineyard owner and tenants. The thing that stood out to me was the last half of this verse; “who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time”. We realize that Jesus is talking about giving salvation to the Gentiles because the Jews are going to kill Him, but then there is this part of giving him his share. That is what interests me.
It was the practice of the Jews to give their tithes. I am sure that Jesus is talking about more than that although that is part of it. We know in Malachi that God is indicting the Jews for not tithing, so it makes sense that money may well be included in this meaning, but I think it goes far beyond money – it goes to ALL the fruit of the vineyard!
We don’t want to be the like people who killed the prophets and Jesus, right? However their attitudes were to KEEP God’s share. They wanted it all! God is asking us for a “share” or a portion of the fruit, which I think is talking about our offerings. Yet there is more because it is God’s vineyard! We are tenants and He deserves more than just an offering or tithe, He deserves all of the vineyard! Every fruit of the Kingdom of God in our lives belongs to God. Why not just surrender all of it and whenever God wants something, give it to Him? It is the least we can do for Him who purchased, built and planted.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
June 12
Matthew 20:31 (NIV)
31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd looked down on these men. I would imagine it was because they were blind and because they were loud. They were blind, which meant in that culture that they were kinda’ cursed of God. They were the down and outers of society – the low lifes. They were crying out for a hand up. Not only would did they want their blindness to be healed, but they wanted Jesus to care about them. They got both!
Why did they get both? Because they persisted and they did it loudly. The crowd wanted them to shut up, but they wouldn’t be denied. They had an attitude that all of us need in life – an “I won’t be denied attitude.” We give up too easy! The Messiah was right there – within ear shot of them – and they weren’t going to waste that opportunity! So they cried out until they were heard and then plainly told Jesus what they wanted – their sight. They got it! May we tell the world to shut up while we continue to cry out to God – He is near! He asks us the same thing – “what do you want?”
31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd looked down on these men. I would imagine it was because they were blind and because they were loud. They were blind, which meant in that culture that they were kinda’ cursed of God. They were the down and outers of society – the low lifes. They were crying out for a hand up. Not only would did they want their blindness to be healed, but they wanted Jesus to care about them. They got both!
Why did they get both? Because they persisted and they did it loudly. The crowd wanted them to shut up, but they wouldn’t be denied. They had an attitude that all of us need in life – an “I won’t be denied attitude.” We give up too easy! The Messiah was right there – within ear shot of them – and they weren’t going to waste that opportunity! So they cried out until they were heard and then plainly told Jesus what they wanted – their sight. They got it! May we tell the world to shut up while we continue to cry out to God – He is near! He asks us the same thing – “what do you want?”
Saturday, June 11, 2011
June 11
Matthew 19:21 (NIV)
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
This is the context verse for the Word of the day that I will get to. Jesus had just busted the righteous bubble of this man who thought he was all that and a bag of chips. He had done all the righteous things from his youth but his heart still had some ugly stuff. Jesus told him what is quoted above and the man went away sad. Then there ensued a conversation about the difficulty of rich people to enter heaven. It is super hard because of what riches do to the heart. He didn’t ask him to become poor, he told him to give to the poor. Hmmm… Here is our verse for the day:
Matthew 19:26 (NIV)
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Memorize this and put it on your tongue often! Although the context is about people coming to Christ, this verse can be applied in all of life. It is a universal principle and key of the Kingdom. Maybe it seems like it is too obvious, but I would contend that if we had it in the forefront of our minds as we navigate life, we would be filled with faith!
Mark 9:23 (NIV)
23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
First we get the principle that God can do what man cannot do, which although it is obvious it is still a life changing principle when applied to life. Then we get the opinion that we are able to access the possibility for everything through faith. We are able to transverse and overcome every impossible situation as God does – through faith (trust) in God’s ability to overcome. We have living within us the very Spirit of God who is able to make the impossible possible and we access that ability through trust (faith). We have to believe that “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of a man he should change His mind that he will do what he says and fulfill his promises”. (Num. 23:19)
What are the impossible things that you face or are facing now? Put these words on your lips and get them into your heart. You have no barriers! God is well able to overcome the impossibilities in your life, and the ones you have yet to face. Start saying it and believing; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – everything is possible for me because I do believe God can make every impossibility or improbability a sure thing for me.
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
This is the context verse for the Word of the day that I will get to. Jesus had just busted the righteous bubble of this man who thought he was all that and a bag of chips. He had done all the righteous things from his youth but his heart still had some ugly stuff. Jesus told him what is quoted above and the man went away sad. Then there ensued a conversation about the difficulty of rich people to enter heaven. It is super hard because of what riches do to the heart. He didn’t ask him to become poor, he told him to give to the poor. Hmmm… Here is our verse for the day:
Matthew 19:26 (NIV)
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Memorize this and put it on your tongue often! Although the context is about people coming to Christ, this verse can be applied in all of life. It is a universal principle and key of the Kingdom. Maybe it seems like it is too obvious, but I would contend that if we had it in the forefront of our minds as we navigate life, we would be filled with faith!
Mark 9:23 (NIV)
23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
First we get the principle that God can do what man cannot do, which although it is obvious it is still a life changing principle when applied to life. Then we get the opinion that we are able to access the possibility for everything through faith. We are able to transverse and overcome every impossible situation as God does – through faith (trust) in God’s ability to overcome. We have living within us the very Spirit of God who is able to make the impossible possible and we access that ability through trust (faith). We have to believe that “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of a man he should change His mind that he will do what he says and fulfill his promises”. (Num. 23:19)
What are the impossible things that you face or are facing now? Put these words on your lips and get them into your heart. You have no barriers! God is well able to overcome the impossibilities in your life, and the ones you have yet to face. Start saying it and believing; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – everything is possible for me because I do believe God can make every impossibility or improbability a sure thing for me.
Friday, June 10, 2011
June 10
Matthew 18:21–22 (NIV)
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. It is a bitter pill that will infect other relationships in your life, even between you and God. There is another relationship that it will affect as well, and that is the one you have with yourself. Unforgiveness turns into bitterness which is a root that will “defile many”. Jesus tells us to “forgive” infinitely. It’s like having a Teflon offense shield! But what does forgiveness mean?
The number one meaning in the New Testament is to “let go” or “send away”. Other meanings of the word (aphiemi – translated forgiveness), are to release from legal or moral consequence, to pardon, to move away with the idea of separation, to divorce, to leave… Are you getting the idea? We are to divorce the offense from our lives and release the person from consequence. You might be saying, hey, that’s not fair and that’s too hard! It doesn’t matter how we think or feel about it. Is that too blunt? We have an opportunity to be like Jesus by forgiving people and releasing them from our little prison cell and to restore them to rightful relationship with us and ACT like we told Jesus we wanted to act, like Him.
Some will worry that we will be taken advantage of and hurt again and again. That will happen from time to time, but it will happen at our decision. We are nobody’s victim and we are not to let people victimize us. Releasing someone’s guilt does not mean we need to let them abuse us – far from it. Jesus was never victimized by anybody and neither should we be.
This is not too tough because we have Jesus living in us – His Spirit – the Spirit of forgiveness is living in us – release Him and release those who have sinned against you! Not only will they be free, but you will be free.
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. It is a bitter pill that will infect other relationships in your life, even between you and God. There is another relationship that it will affect as well, and that is the one you have with yourself. Unforgiveness turns into bitterness which is a root that will “defile many”. Jesus tells us to “forgive” infinitely. It’s like having a Teflon offense shield! But what does forgiveness mean?
The number one meaning in the New Testament is to “let go” or “send away”. Other meanings of the word (aphiemi – translated forgiveness), are to release from legal or moral consequence, to pardon, to move away with the idea of separation, to divorce, to leave… Are you getting the idea? We are to divorce the offense from our lives and release the person from consequence. You might be saying, hey, that’s not fair and that’s too hard! It doesn’t matter how we think or feel about it. Is that too blunt? We have an opportunity to be like Jesus by forgiving people and releasing them from our little prison cell and to restore them to rightful relationship with us and ACT like we told Jesus we wanted to act, like Him.
Some will worry that we will be taken advantage of and hurt again and again. That will happen from time to time, but it will happen at our decision. We are nobody’s victim and we are not to let people victimize us. Releasing someone’s guilt does not mean we need to let them abuse us – far from it. Jesus was never victimized by anybody and neither should we be.
This is not too tough because we have Jesus living in us – His Spirit – the Spirit of forgiveness is living in us – release Him and release those who have sinned against you! Not only will they be free, but you will be free.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
June 9
Matthew 17:6–7 (NIV)
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
What were they afraid of? God hadn’t come to judge them or harm them. In fact God’s presence had come to testify of His great love for His son, but it did include the command to “listen to Him”. That doesn’t sound very scary to me.
When the manifest presence of God shows up – in any way – it can be a very scary thing. There is this tension within me to have a close and intimate relationship with the Father, hanging out with Him and talking to Him casually, yet if He revealed Himself, His full presence to me, I would die – literally! It would be too much for me according to the scripture. So it goes to figure that His presence would cause one to fall on their face – terrified! It would be both wonderful and horrible because of the grand magnitude of the effect of His presence. I think we need to never lose site of the fact that the Father is the creator of all and is so grand we can’t conceive of His fullness. In other words, we need to keep the tension there, not allowing ourselves to become so casual with Him that we cease to honor His awesomeness.
So what does Jesus do? His says, “get up, don’t be afraid.” Easy for you to say! Think about it, he came and touched them and told them not be afraid. We are not suppose to be terrified of the Father as in He wants to hurt us. Jesus shows us the Father, who loves mercy and wants relationship with us. We approach Him boldly because of our confidence in the work of Christ. So go to the Father – run to Him – embrace Him and don’t be terrified of Him. Enjoy your relationship with Him and never forget who He is.
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
What were they afraid of? God hadn’t come to judge them or harm them. In fact God’s presence had come to testify of His great love for His son, but it did include the command to “listen to Him”. That doesn’t sound very scary to me.
When the manifest presence of God shows up – in any way – it can be a very scary thing. There is this tension within me to have a close and intimate relationship with the Father, hanging out with Him and talking to Him casually, yet if He revealed Himself, His full presence to me, I would die – literally! It would be too much for me according to the scripture. So it goes to figure that His presence would cause one to fall on their face – terrified! It would be both wonderful and horrible because of the grand magnitude of the effect of His presence. I think we need to never lose site of the fact that the Father is the creator of all and is so grand we can’t conceive of His fullness. In other words, we need to keep the tension there, not allowing ourselves to become so casual with Him that we cease to honor His awesomeness.
So what does Jesus do? His says, “get up, don’t be afraid.” Easy for you to say! Think about it, he came and touched them and told them not be afraid. We are not suppose to be terrified of the Father as in He wants to hurt us. Jesus shows us the Father, who loves mercy and wants relationship with us. We approach Him boldly because of our confidence in the work of Christ. So go to the Father – run to Him – embrace Him and don’t be terrified of Him. Enjoy your relationship with Him and never forget who He is.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
June 8
Matthew 16:23 (NIV)
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
At first when I read this verse I was thinking that Jesus was talking to Peter because of the last phrase, “but merely human concerns”, but on closer examination I see that the addressing of the enemy is continued by “alla” in Greek (but) which is a word of contrast. This makes it even more interesting. Satan “ponders” or “considers” or “carefully weighs” the concerns or issues of mankind.
All of satan’s tricks can be summed up in getting us to be concerned about mankind’s issues. C.S. Lewis in the Screwtape Letters does a marvelous job of illustrating this when Uncle Screwtape, (a senior demon) advices his nephew Wormwood, (a junior demon) to not allow his subject (a person who God is trying to save) to argue right and wrong with Christians. He tells him to have him think about how hungry he is, to get him to dwell on a human appetite that needs fulfillment. When we are thinking about all of our concerns which are human, not even evil but human, we CANNOT think about God’s concerns. Doesn’t the scripture say to put the Kingdom first – to seek it – to think about it and pursue it and all the human concerns will be added (given in addition to the things you are pursuing (Kingdom concerns)) to you! Is it any wonder that the battle is in our mind? It is the thoughts and imaginations that must be cast down in order for us to operate in a freedom that allows us to focus ALL of our efforts on the Kingdom of God. That doesn’t mean we don’t work or clean the house, but it does mean that we work and clean the house for the sake of the Kingdom! Whatever you find your hands to do, do it unto the Lord and for His sake.
The way to NOT think about something (human concerns) is to think about something else (God’s affairs). You can’t have two thoughts running through your head at once. When you are anxious, worried, depressed or anything else, start thinking (anyway you can – worship music, reading the Word, listening to teaching…) about the God and His Kingdom.
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
At first when I read this verse I was thinking that Jesus was talking to Peter because of the last phrase, “but merely human concerns”, but on closer examination I see that the addressing of the enemy is continued by “alla” in Greek (but) which is a word of contrast. This makes it even more interesting. Satan “ponders” or “considers” or “carefully weighs” the concerns or issues of mankind.
All of satan’s tricks can be summed up in getting us to be concerned about mankind’s issues. C.S. Lewis in the Screwtape Letters does a marvelous job of illustrating this when Uncle Screwtape, (a senior demon) advices his nephew Wormwood, (a junior demon) to not allow his subject (a person who God is trying to save) to argue right and wrong with Christians. He tells him to have him think about how hungry he is, to get him to dwell on a human appetite that needs fulfillment. When we are thinking about all of our concerns which are human, not even evil but human, we CANNOT think about God’s concerns. Doesn’t the scripture say to put the Kingdom first – to seek it – to think about it and pursue it and all the human concerns will be added (given in addition to the things you are pursuing (Kingdom concerns)) to you! Is it any wonder that the battle is in our mind? It is the thoughts and imaginations that must be cast down in order for us to operate in a freedom that allows us to focus ALL of our efforts on the Kingdom of God. That doesn’t mean we don’t work or clean the house, but it does mean that we work and clean the house for the sake of the Kingdom! Whatever you find your hands to do, do it unto the Lord and for His sake.
The way to NOT think about something (human concerns) is to think about something else (God’s affairs). You can’t have two thoughts running through your head at once. When you are anxious, worried, depressed or anything else, start thinking (anyway you can – worship music, reading the Word, listening to teaching…) about the God and His Kingdom.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
June 7
Matthew 15:36 (NIV)
36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.
Notice how this went. Jesus broke the bread down and gave it to the disciples. Then the disciples gave it to the people. Where the miracle of multiplication took place we are not told, but there is a pattern here that we need to see. Jesus did the blessing. Lest we think that we don’t have a blessing, Jesus said that we do! The Spirit lives in us so when we bless, things multiply! Then Jesus gave the broken down bread to the disciples. We are the ones with the bread in our hands, not Jesus! He gives it to us to give to the world. Sometimes we act like we get it all for ourselves. That is consumerism Christianity! We are given, so we can give – period! (By the way, they disciples got the left over, and there was plenty!)
This happened before, this multiplication of things. I believe that the Kingdom multiplies, it doesn’t add! That is because the Kingdom is miraculous! However, we will never see the multiplication until we start serving the world the Bread of Life. Ask God for a place to serve up some hot Bread today! If God knows you will serve it up, He will bring someone who needs it.
36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.
Notice how this went. Jesus broke the bread down and gave it to the disciples. Then the disciples gave it to the people. Where the miracle of multiplication took place we are not told, but there is a pattern here that we need to see. Jesus did the blessing. Lest we think that we don’t have a blessing, Jesus said that we do! The Spirit lives in us so when we bless, things multiply! Then Jesus gave the broken down bread to the disciples. We are the ones with the bread in our hands, not Jesus! He gives it to us to give to the world. Sometimes we act like we get it all for ourselves. That is consumerism Christianity! We are given, so we can give – period! (By the way, they disciples got the left over, and there was plenty!)
This happened before, this multiplication of things. I believe that the Kingdom multiplies, it doesn’t add! That is because the Kingdom is miraculous! However, we will never see the multiplication until we start serving the world the Bread of Life. Ask God for a place to serve up some hot Bread today! If God knows you will serve it up, He will bring someone who needs it.
Monday, June 6, 2011
June 6
1 Samuel 24:4 (NIV)
4 The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
There has been much said about this verse:
1 Samuel 24:10 (NIV)
10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’
I would like to draw our attention to what David called Saul – his lord. Yes because Saul was God’s anointed David didn’t kill him when he had the chance but there is more than that here. The Lord surely delivered Saul into David’s hands. David had the choice to get rid of his enemy who is pursuing him all over the land, who has killed the priests of God and who knows how many others to find David, but he CHOSE not to. Many have used this verse, and I think properly, to say that we shouldn’t mess with the Lord’s anointed. As I read this today I see that David still thought of Saul as his lord, his king and he was subservient to him. As much as it was about not killing “the Lord’s anointed”, it was about not killing his commander, his king and Jonathan’s dad. He dealt with him how he wished, he proved that he had no hatred or angst against him, but good will. He took a big risk in coming out of the cave and talking to him because if Saul wanted to attack, David was stuck. David trusted in the Lord and thought that God would take care of Saul without him. He didn’t think that he was God’s chosen instrument of judgment and destruction.
In our lives we have the opportunity to “kill” people with the words that we speak. We would all agree that God would have us speak life and not death. There is something here from David that is within the heart of men and women of God. It is the simple yearning for the good of our leaders and the respect and honor that moves us to never harm them. Even when our leaders are doing an evil thing, we CAN choose to not harm them.
4 The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
There has been much said about this verse:
1 Samuel 24:10 (NIV)
10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’
I would like to draw our attention to what David called Saul – his lord. Yes because Saul was God’s anointed David didn’t kill him when he had the chance but there is more than that here. The Lord surely delivered Saul into David’s hands. David had the choice to get rid of his enemy who is pursuing him all over the land, who has killed the priests of God and who knows how many others to find David, but he CHOSE not to. Many have used this verse, and I think properly, to say that we shouldn’t mess with the Lord’s anointed. As I read this today I see that David still thought of Saul as his lord, his king and he was subservient to him. As much as it was about not killing “the Lord’s anointed”, it was about not killing his commander, his king and Jonathan’s dad. He dealt with him how he wished, he proved that he had no hatred or angst against him, but good will. He took a big risk in coming out of the cave and talking to him because if Saul wanted to attack, David was stuck. David trusted in the Lord and thought that God would take care of Saul without him. He didn’t think that he was God’s chosen instrument of judgment and destruction.
In our lives we have the opportunity to “kill” people with the words that we speak. We would all agree that God would have us speak life and not death. There is something here from David that is within the heart of men and women of God. It is the simple yearning for the good of our leaders and the respect and honor that moves us to never harm them. Even when our leaders are doing an evil thing, we CAN choose to not harm them.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
June 5
Matthew 13:15 (NIV)
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
What an incredible revelation! There is so much here. The people became unable to have a spiritual sensitivity (they became “thick” or callous). It happened to them (passive). Isn’t that the truth! By the way we live spiritual insensitivity happens to us! They are not able to hear (listen to the Word of God) and not able to see (see the spiritual realities) because of the “thickening” heart. Otherwise they might see and hear and be able – with their HEART – to understand spiritually! If they did understand then they would change their manner of life and go towards God. If they did that, they would be healed, changed and renewed!
Isn’t that what we want? We want to be healed, changed and renewed! When we are in desperate need we turn to God and ask Him what is taking so long. Maybe the answer is us! We operate our lives in such a way that dulls us. Let’s stop that! Let’s open our eyes to the spirit realm, our authority and the fantastic love God has toward us! Let’s open our ears to the Words of God so our heart can understand. Then we can get what we long for!
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
What an incredible revelation! There is so much here. The people became unable to have a spiritual sensitivity (they became “thick” or callous). It happened to them (passive). Isn’t that the truth! By the way we live spiritual insensitivity happens to us! They are not able to hear (listen to the Word of God) and not able to see (see the spiritual realities) because of the “thickening” heart. Otherwise they might see and hear and be able – with their HEART – to understand spiritually! If they did understand then they would change their manner of life and go towards God. If they did that, they would be healed, changed and renewed!
Isn’t that what we want? We want to be healed, changed and renewed! When we are in desperate need we turn to God and ask Him what is taking so long. Maybe the answer is us! We operate our lives in such a way that dulls us. Let’s stop that! Let’s open our eyes to the spirit realm, our authority and the fantastic love God has toward us! Let’s open our ears to the Words of God so our heart can understand. Then we can get what we long for!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
June 4
Matthew 12:1 (NIV)
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.
This struck me. It wasn’t Jesus who was picking the grain, it was His disciples. Some of His disciples were “unlearned” guys, but all of them knew what was right and what was wrong to do on the Sabbath. Nobody was in the dark in all of Israel on what was permitted to do on the Sabbath, yet here they were picking grain, which was unlawful on the Sabbath. So where did they get the idea that this was o.k. to do?
Jesus of course! Although Jesus was a Rabbi and very skilled in the knowledge of the law and all the traditions of the “church fathers”, He set the example of what was o.k. and what was not o.k. to do – especially on the Sabbath. The disciples learned from Jesus what permissible. That is why the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked Him why the disciples were picking grain. He was responsible for their actions because of His manner of life and His teaching. (Not all of their actions, but certainly this one).
What do people learn from you? They are learning whether you are teaching them with lessons or just with example – they are learning. You have disciples, lead them to life.
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.
This struck me. It wasn’t Jesus who was picking the grain, it was His disciples. Some of His disciples were “unlearned” guys, but all of them knew what was right and what was wrong to do on the Sabbath. Nobody was in the dark in all of Israel on what was permitted to do on the Sabbath, yet here they were picking grain, which was unlawful on the Sabbath. So where did they get the idea that this was o.k. to do?
Jesus of course! Although Jesus was a Rabbi and very skilled in the knowledge of the law and all the traditions of the “church fathers”, He set the example of what was o.k. and what was not o.k. to do – especially on the Sabbath. The disciples learned from Jesus what permissible. That is why the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked Him why the disciples were picking grain. He was responsible for their actions because of His manner of life and His teaching. (Not all of their actions, but certainly this one).
What do people learn from you? They are learning whether you are teaching them with lessons or just with example – they are learning. You have disciples, lead them to life.
Friday, June 3, 2011
June 3
Psalm 81:11–12 (NIV)
11 “But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
God so wants to “fill out mouths” if we would open them and confess His Word, His worth, our trust in Him and nothing else. What does God give us but ourselves. Have you ever known a bitter 35 year old? They are more bitter at 55! God gives us over to what we have refused to give to Him. What else can He do? Somehow we want God to take over, but never give him the driver’s seat.
Psalm 81:13–14 (NIV)
13 “If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
The heart of God is to be on our side, to save us, to show His love for us, to give us mercy which triumphs over judgment. If we would just listen and follow, then… What wouldn’t He give us? Listen and follow.
11 “But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
God so wants to “fill out mouths” if we would open them and confess His Word, His worth, our trust in Him and nothing else. What does God give us but ourselves. Have you ever known a bitter 35 year old? They are more bitter at 55! God gives us over to what we have refused to give to Him. What else can He do? Somehow we want God to take over, but never give him the driver’s seat.
Psalm 81:13–14 (NIV)
13 “If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
The heart of God is to be on our side, to save us, to show His love for us, to give us mercy which triumphs over judgment. If we would just listen and follow, then… What wouldn’t He give us? Listen and follow.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
June 2
Matthew 10:5–6 (NIV)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
It wasn’t that the Gentiles or Samaritans wouldn’t receive the ministry of God, nor was it that Jesus wouldn’t interact with them or go through regions of Samaria or Gentile territories, this was an assignment, plain and simple. This is where Jesus wanted the disciples to go and this is where they were going to be anointed and blessed to carry out the things listed in the following verses.
It is too often that we are taken down life’s river at will of the river. Although some of us are not carried anywhere, we go places ourselves. For me this passage brings up the difference between seeing the need and ministering to it, and ministering with laser like focus on what God wants us to do. There are so many ministries, so much need, but what has God called us to? That obviously doesn’t mean that if we aren’t the janitor, that we wouldn’t pick up a piece of paper or dump a full trash can, but it does mean that we have to be intentional and focused about putting our resources (time, energy/effort, money) into our assignment. Distraction is one of the greatest enemies or our success and obedience. Minimize your distractions and get your assignment from the Lord – then do it with all your might!
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
It wasn’t that the Gentiles or Samaritans wouldn’t receive the ministry of God, nor was it that Jesus wouldn’t interact with them or go through regions of Samaria or Gentile territories, this was an assignment, plain and simple. This is where Jesus wanted the disciples to go and this is where they were going to be anointed and blessed to carry out the things listed in the following verses.
It is too often that we are taken down life’s river at will of the river. Although some of us are not carried anywhere, we go places ourselves. For me this passage brings up the difference between seeing the need and ministering to it, and ministering with laser like focus on what God wants us to do. There are so many ministries, so much need, but what has God called us to? That obviously doesn’t mean that if we aren’t the janitor, that we wouldn’t pick up a piece of paper or dump a full trash can, but it does mean that we have to be intentional and focused about putting our resources (time, energy/effort, money) into our assignment. Distraction is one of the greatest enemies or our success and obedience. Minimize your distractions and get your assignment from the Lord – then do it with all your might!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
June 1
Psalm 144:1–2 (NIV)
1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
2 He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
It is God who trains our hands for WAR. We do not fight against flesh and blood anymore, but against principalities… We battle against thoughts and belief systems and the demons that teach them. We are a people who must be engaged in battle! This isn’t some walk in the park – we all know that full well. Life is tough, even in the west! We are a people who have to fight, yet we resist engaging so much that we are overcome while we are trying to call a truce! We are fighters, trained to fight against rulers in dark places and the thoughts that come against the very Word of God. Those negative arrows that cause unbelief will be brought to submission. They will be brought low and trampled on – why – because we are trained for battle – that is what we do!
Psalm 144:12–14 (NIV)
12 Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars
carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled
with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;
14 our oxen will draw heavy loads.
There will be no breaching of walls,
no going into captivity,
no cry of distress in our streets.
Who doesn’t want that for their lives? It only comes through battle! If you are going to attain the promises of God, you have to FIGHT for them! The Goliaths in life will taunt you, but you have to kill them and cut their heads off in order to attain what we have been rightfully given and inwardly desire. Do you want to live a life of prosperity? Fight for it! The battle is the Lord’s to be sure, but it was David who cut Goliath’s head off!
1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
2 He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
It is God who trains our hands for WAR. We do not fight against flesh and blood anymore, but against principalities… We battle against thoughts and belief systems and the demons that teach them. We are a people who must be engaged in battle! This isn’t some walk in the park – we all know that full well. Life is tough, even in the west! We are a people who have to fight, yet we resist engaging so much that we are overcome while we are trying to call a truce! We are fighters, trained to fight against rulers in dark places and the thoughts that come against the very Word of God. Those negative arrows that cause unbelief will be brought to submission. They will be brought low and trampled on – why – because we are trained for battle – that is what we do!
Psalm 144:12–14 (NIV)
12 Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars
carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled
with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;
14 our oxen will draw heavy loads.
There will be no breaching of walls,
no going into captivity,
no cry of distress in our streets.
Who doesn’t want that for their lives? It only comes through battle! If you are going to attain the promises of God, you have to FIGHT for them! The Goliaths in life will taunt you, but you have to kill them and cut their heads off in order to attain what we have been rightfully given and inwardly desire. Do you want to live a life of prosperity? Fight for it! The battle is the Lord’s to be sure, but it was David who cut Goliath’s head off!
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