1 John 2:11 (NIV84)
11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
There is a darkness that can and will invade the soul. This darkness comes by us “joining” with darkness in dark activity. This particular activity is hatred (a strong dislike with the implication of aversion – or avoiding) of a fellow Christian. Yes the word could mean wanting to kill somebody or have bad things happen to them, but it doesn’t need to go that far to be hatred. When we avoid a person because we dislike them, we have hatred for them. We all know and agree that this type of attitude is wrong and should not be among us as Christians – right? There are NO exceptions!
The revelation of this verse is darkness and how it operates. Once darkness has a place in you, (in this case hatred), you begin at that point to walk around in darkness! How dark and to what extent we don’t exactly know, but what we clearly see is that the person who has accepted ANY darkness, especially hatred as defined above, does not KNOW where they are going! They are blind! Darkness affects your whole life! When we participate in the deeds of darkness, (gossip, judgmentalism, back-biting, deception…), we open our souls to being blind in many areas if not all areas of our life! We will be taken to more darkness and perhaps believe that we are doing right. Why? Because we are blind! Darkness knows no bounds and will stop for nothing but the light!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
July 30
Psalm 96:1 (NIV84)
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
This is the 2nd time this week in which the Psalmist started off with the line – “sing to the Lord a new song”. I think the Spirit is trying to tell us something.
I love new songs! In fact, I would like to introduce a new song – even 2 new songs at church every week! New songs to me give me a chance to say the same thing a different way to a different tune. I like it! There is a freshness to new songs but I am not sure that the Spirit means that exactly. Bringing that up, there will be many who like “the old songs”, ones that they know and love. I think the reason for that is because when you learned that song, or sung it at a certain time in life, it was really meaningful. (Although some just like the familiar things of life).
The Psalmist here isn’t just talking about getting the new Jesus Culture CD, but is talking about a “fresh” song to the Lord. This type of praise comes right out of our hearts and is sung to God as a great offering! It is something that we create for Him. Lest you think He is the only creator, He lives in us and has given us creative abilities – all of us! You have the capacity to create new songs to Him everyday! If His mercies are new everyday, there must be something new to sign about everyday. Whether you can create a song that has verses and a chorus or one that rhymes, it doesn’t matter! If you can’t sing well, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we sacrifice the fruit of our lips, our praises that are due to the creator who loves us and sing Him a song out of our hearts. Try it! Start with a thank you song and move on from there! Create something for Him and give it to Him as a present.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
This is the 2nd time this week in which the Psalmist started off with the line – “sing to the Lord a new song”. I think the Spirit is trying to tell us something.
I love new songs! In fact, I would like to introduce a new song – even 2 new songs at church every week! New songs to me give me a chance to say the same thing a different way to a different tune. I like it! There is a freshness to new songs but I am not sure that the Spirit means that exactly. Bringing that up, there will be many who like “the old songs”, ones that they know and love. I think the reason for that is because when you learned that song, or sung it at a certain time in life, it was really meaningful. (Although some just like the familiar things of life).
The Psalmist here isn’t just talking about getting the new Jesus Culture CD, but is talking about a “fresh” song to the Lord. This type of praise comes right out of our hearts and is sung to God as a great offering! It is something that we create for Him. Lest you think He is the only creator, He lives in us and has given us creative abilities – all of us! You have the capacity to create new songs to Him everyday! If His mercies are new everyday, there must be something new to sign about everyday. Whether you can create a song that has verses and a chorus or one that rhymes, it doesn’t matter! If you can’t sing well, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we sacrifice the fruit of our lips, our praises that are due to the creator who loves us and sing Him a song out of our hearts. Try it! Start with a thank you song and move on from there! Create something for Him and give it to Him as a present.
Friday, July 29, 2011
July 29
2 Peter 3:14 (NIV84)
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Sometimes we need a snap back to reality because we indulge a little too much. When we were young, it was our parents that gave us the “reality check”, but we are adults now. Who is there to bring us back to living like we are the people of God? That is not to say that we shouldn’t have fun or be able to have a great time, but you know what I am talking about, those boundaries that we sometimes push and know that we shouldn’t go there, but we do. At times it is about a “partying” mentality and at other times it is about letting yourself go, saying what you want, and still other times it is about ignoring what you are being ask by God to do in favor of “nothing”. It is this chapter and those like it that give us a check up because the reality of this fleeting life that will be over sooner than we think and eternity when the day of God’s redemption and wrath will come, helps us “re-adjust” our life path. Make every effort to do what you are called to do, knock out those things that are keeping you from that, those non-sense actions, and live in peace with God, which is difficult when you are pushing the boundaries of what you know to be right.
Look forward to the day when God burns up the earth and heavens to create new ones for us as in a cheerful expectation. Not only that, but look forward to it as in keep it in sight. It is helpful to keep us on the right track.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Sometimes we need a snap back to reality because we indulge a little too much. When we were young, it was our parents that gave us the “reality check”, but we are adults now. Who is there to bring us back to living like we are the people of God? That is not to say that we shouldn’t have fun or be able to have a great time, but you know what I am talking about, those boundaries that we sometimes push and know that we shouldn’t go there, but we do. At times it is about a “partying” mentality and at other times it is about letting yourself go, saying what you want, and still other times it is about ignoring what you are being ask by God to do in favor of “nothing”. It is this chapter and those like it that give us a check up because the reality of this fleeting life that will be over sooner than we think and eternity when the day of God’s redemption and wrath will come, helps us “re-adjust” our life path. Make every effort to do what you are called to do, knock out those things that are keeping you from that, those non-sense actions, and live in peace with God, which is difficult when you are pushing the boundaries of what you know to be right.
Look forward to the day when God burns up the earth and heavens to create new ones for us as in a cheerful expectation. Not only that, but look forward to it as in keep it in sight. It is helpful to keep us on the right track.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
July 28
Psalm 98:4–5 (NIV84)
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
This Psalm describes a type of worship only enjoined and enjoyed by true worshippers. You have to get past yourself in order to enter in to this type of passionate worship. Worship with a heart adoration and hands held at half mask is good, but this Psalm is describing something far beyond that. Shouting, bursting and jubilance along with music and instruments and creativity are penned here because God is WORTH it! Only when you come out of your own self and truly embrace all that God is can you release yourself into this kind of worship. This may not be the most appealing worship as viewed by the world – it may look a little over the top, but why are you worshipping and who are we considering? We worship the great lover, the great creator who has brought us a great salvation! We are His loyal people who come before Him not with pomp and circumstance, but with heartfelt, exuberant and passionate worship that exudes from a heart that is so thankful and in awe of all He is and all He has done for us!
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
This Psalm describes a type of worship only enjoined and enjoyed by true worshippers. You have to get past yourself in order to enter in to this type of passionate worship. Worship with a heart adoration and hands held at half mask is good, but this Psalm is describing something far beyond that. Shouting, bursting and jubilance along with music and instruments and creativity are penned here because God is WORTH it! Only when you come out of your own self and truly embrace all that God is can you release yourself into this kind of worship. This may not be the most appealing worship as viewed by the world – it may look a little over the top, but why are you worshipping and who are we considering? We worship the great lover, the great creator who has brought us a great salvation! We are His loyal people who come before Him not with pomp and circumstance, but with heartfelt, exuberant and passionate worship that exudes from a heart that is so thankful and in awe of all He is and all He has done for us!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
July 27
2 Peter 1:3–4 (NIV84)
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Do you have everything you need? If you are like me, without this bible verse in front of you, you may be tempted to say no I don’t. Alas, with this Word from God in front of you, you would, as I would, say absolutely yes! Isn’t it interesting that when confronted with the truth of the Word we are more disposed to answer in faith? Especially when you throw in the rich truth of these two verses! We have a divine nature in Christ to overcome anything! There are so many truths that I could preach a series sermons, but today I want to draw your attention to 3 great truths:
#1 You have everything you need
#2 It is through our knowledge of Him that we have everything we need
#3 When you read this verse your faith was encouraged to believe for more than you can see!
The Word of God is what you need to reach out and see the things that aren’t in your hands yet that you need. Without the Word you and I will stumble around “hoping” we have what it takes, but with the Word, we will confidently stride from victory to victory. I know it is not as easy as I just put it, but please understand that the Word is where we get faith from!
Romans 10:17 (NIV84)
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Do you have everything you need? If you are like me, without this bible verse in front of you, you may be tempted to say no I don’t. Alas, with this Word from God in front of you, you would, as I would, say absolutely yes! Isn’t it interesting that when confronted with the truth of the Word we are more disposed to answer in faith? Especially when you throw in the rich truth of these two verses! We have a divine nature in Christ to overcome anything! There are so many truths that I could preach a series sermons, but today I want to draw your attention to 3 great truths:
#1 You have everything you need
#2 It is through our knowledge of Him that we have everything we need
#3 When you read this verse your faith was encouraged to believe for more than you can see!
The Word of God is what you need to reach out and see the things that aren’t in your hands yet that you need. Without the Word you and I will stumble around “hoping” we have what it takes, but with the Word, we will confidently stride from victory to victory. I know it is not as easy as I just put it, but please understand that the Word is where we get faith from!
Romans 10:17 (NIV84)
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
July 26
1 Peter 5:2–3 (NIV84)
2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
I was in a conference recently and it was said that we (as shepherds) cannot strive to grow the church in order to prosper financially. In other words, I can’t have as a motivation for church growth, the church’s or my own financial security or growth in finances. There are a few poignant verses in the Word about shepherds and this is one of them. It is the motives of the heart that God is looking for – as always.
There are many people who want to be leaders, teachers and speakers in the church. This verse is written to them as well. My counsel is this, if you don’t care about the sheep when you are not with them (Sundays or Wednesdays or whenever), then you aren’t qualified to teach or lead. If you just want to “teach and run” then you are not qualified to teach. If you want to lead because you like to be in charge, you aren’t qualified. If you look out for your own interests first, you aren’t qualified to shepherd. If your ministry is about YOU, then scrap it until you get a heart for the people. God is looking for leaders who care deeply for the people who they are leading, who lead, teach and disciple because they love it and not just because “they are called”.
From one who has given his life for the sheep, it is worth it. I haven’t paid the ultimate price like Jesus did, but I have paid a price that most know nothing about. I would do it again – pay the price. I am eager to serve you when I return from vacation this week – I miss you all.
2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
I was in a conference recently and it was said that we (as shepherds) cannot strive to grow the church in order to prosper financially. In other words, I can’t have as a motivation for church growth, the church’s or my own financial security or growth in finances. There are a few poignant verses in the Word about shepherds and this is one of them. It is the motives of the heart that God is looking for – as always.
There are many people who want to be leaders, teachers and speakers in the church. This verse is written to them as well. My counsel is this, if you don’t care about the sheep when you are not with them (Sundays or Wednesdays or whenever), then you aren’t qualified to teach or lead. If you just want to “teach and run” then you are not qualified to teach. If you want to lead because you like to be in charge, you aren’t qualified. If you look out for your own interests first, you aren’t qualified to shepherd. If your ministry is about YOU, then scrap it until you get a heart for the people. God is looking for leaders who care deeply for the people who they are leading, who lead, teach and disciple because they love it and not just because “they are called”.
From one who has given his life for the sheep, it is worth it. I haven’t paid the ultimate price like Jesus did, but I have paid a price that most know nothing about. I would do it again – pay the price. I am eager to serve you when I return from vacation this week – I miss you all.
Monday, July 25, 2011
July 25
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV84)
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
As a top priority over everything that I have said or everything that you know to do, have an intense, unceasing unconditional love IN yourselves (that will obviously exude from you towards others), because that kind of love hides (puts things under a bowl) a tremendous and nearly uncountable number of sins, (both against you and character issues).
Let’s say you go to In and Out with your friend and they order and reach into their pocket and realize they forgot their wallet. You pull out yours to pay for them (because you have the payment within you) and you say something like, “don’t worry, I have got you covered”. To cap this verses meaning off, you never expect payment back, you have the money and you were happy to do it, even honored that you could.
So here is a simple thought, if you can’t overlook or rather hide someone’s sins, then you don’t have this love in you. Our judgmentalism, lack of forgiveness or critical noticing with a mental notation is a symptom of a lack of this intense and unceasing and unconditional love NOT flourishing in us. T he great thing is it IS there, but needs to be released! We as believers have the greatest lover of all living in us, we HAVE this type of love with the power to cover a multitude of sins. It is time to start allowing this love to flow and choosing to release it on others. Won’t that be awesome!
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
As a top priority over everything that I have said or everything that you know to do, have an intense, unceasing unconditional love IN yourselves (that will obviously exude from you towards others), because that kind of love hides (puts things under a bowl) a tremendous and nearly uncountable number of sins, (both against you and character issues).
Let’s say you go to In and Out with your friend and they order and reach into their pocket and realize they forgot their wallet. You pull out yours to pay for them (because you have the payment within you) and you say something like, “don’t worry, I have got you covered”. To cap this verses meaning off, you never expect payment back, you have the money and you were happy to do it, even honored that you could.
So here is a simple thought, if you can’t overlook or rather hide someone’s sins, then you don’t have this love in you. Our judgmentalism, lack of forgiveness or critical noticing with a mental notation is a symptom of a lack of this intense and unceasing and unconditional love NOT flourishing in us. T he great thing is it IS there, but needs to be released! We as believers have the greatest lover of all living in us, we HAVE this type of love with the power to cover a multitude of sins. It is time to start allowing this love to flow and choosing to release it on others. Won’t that be awesome!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
July 24
1 Peter 3:8–9 (NIV84)
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
That is a different way of thinking instead of “stand up for yourself and don’t let anybody put you down”. There is within all of us (who aren’t victims) the propensity to engage in a battle with anyone who insults us. The reason is simple; we take to heart what they just said. We allow people to define us instead of God’s Word. The only way to let insults and put downs go is to dismiss them because they are meaningless. The only way to reckon that true is to compare what they say to the Word of God.
There is something to notice at the end of verse nine; “so that you may inherit a blessing”. That is so powerful! The blessing of not letting an insult stick on you is one thing, but this is so much more than that. To not repay evil for evil and insult for insult, but to live in harmony with one another (not making a fight out of things), but being sympathetic towards one another realizing that you too are imperfect, loving one another like you live in the same house with the same parents with an attitude of lifting other people higher than yourself with the heartfelt feeling and will to see one another doing well, releases a blessing on your life! God is looking for just that person to release all the more blessing on their lives. The inheritance comes when someone dies, and in this case, it is you – your flesh. Put your flesh to death, that flesh that wants to contend with everyone who does you wrong and inherit the blessing that God can’t wait to give to you!
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
That is a different way of thinking instead of “stand up for yourself and don’t let anybody put you down”. There is within all of us (who aren’t victims) the propensity to engage in a battle with anyone who insults us. The reason is simple; we take to heart what they just said. We allow people to define us instead of God’s Word. The only way to let insults and put downs go is to dismiss them because they are meaningless. The only way to reckon that true is to compare what they say to the Word of God.
There is something to notice at the end of verse nine; “so that you may inherit a blessing”. That is so powerful! The blessing of not letting an insult stick on you is one thing, but this is so much more than that. To not repay evil for evil and insult for insult, but to live in harmony with one another (not making a fight out of things), but being sympathetic towards one another realizing that you too are imperfect, loving one another like you live in the same house with the same parents with an attitude of lifting other people higher than yourself with the heartfelt feeling and will to see one another doing well, releases a blessing on your life! God is looking for just that person to release all the more blessing on their lives. The inheritance comes when someone dies, and in this case, it is you – your flesh. Put your flesh to death, that flesh that wants to contend with everyone who does you wrong and inherit the blessing that God can’t wait to give to you!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
July 23
1 Peter 2:11 (NIV84)
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Out of all the alien movies that have come and gone, most of them want to take “humans” with them and go back to their home planet. Recently the trend is for the aliens to take over earth and settle here. Neither of these scenarios apply to us. We are aliens here because we don’t partake and act out our sinful desires. Our “home planet” is not earth per say, not because we are “from” another place, but because we are going to another place in which we long to go to. We are more like ET who wanted to “go home”, because that is the goal of our lives – to live eternally with God in heaven. We are strangers here because we are not like the people from here who have not tasted of the great salvation we have. The go after all kinds of sinful pleasures and try to outdo one another because that is all they have to live for.
There is a war that goes on and it is sinful pleasures verses our soul. Our souls were not created for sinful pleasures and they war against the very nature of our soul. When our sinful desires are carried out, our souls go through a trauma of sorts and are immediately in need of repair. That is why he – Jesus – restores our souls. Imagine that sinful desires are a flesh eating bacteria – now just do what seems logical.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Out of all the alien movies that have come and gone, most of them want to take “humans” with them and go back to their home planet. Recently the trend is for the aliens to take over earth and settle here. Neither of these scenarios apply to us. We are aliens here because we don’t partake and act out our sinful desires. Our “home planet” is not earth per say, not because we are “from” another place, but because we are going to another place in which we long to go to. We are more like ET who wanted to “go home”, because that is the goal of our lives – to live eternally with God in heaven. We are strangers here because we are not like the people from here who have not tasted of the great salvation we have. The go after all kinds of sinful pleasures and try to outdo one another because that is all they have to live for.
There is a war that goes on and it is sinful pleasures verses our soul. Our souls were not created for sinful pleasures and they war against the very nature of our soul. When our sinful desires are carried out, our souls go through a trauma of sorts and are immediately in need of repair. That is why he – Jesus – restores our souls. Imagine that sinful desires are a flesh eating bacteria – now just do what seems logical.
Friday, July 22, 2011
July 22
1 Peter 1:21 (NIV84)
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Because of Jesus we believed in God. God raised Jesus from the dead and glorified him and our faith rests in that hope. If Jesus raised from the dead then so shall we raise from the dead – make sense?
Here is the Word for today from this verse – IT ISN’T US! When we hope in our abilities, in our families help, in our government’s provision, our hope is displaced and we enter a trap! Our hope is really no hope at all because hope in God is a hope that is sure and not “I hope it happens”. The point is that we have to put our hope in Christ, in God’s ability and nothing else. We must empty ourselves of the thinking that we have what it takes if it is apart from Christ. This is actually freedom! We don’t have to provide a thing, only a focus of our faith and hope in God! That is freedom! We don’t have to perform, or be good, or be religious, we have to place our entire lives in the hands of God. That is freedom from performance!
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Because of Jesus we believed in God. God raised Jesus from the dead and glorified him and our faith rests in that hope. If Jesus raised from the dead then so shall we raise from the dead – make sense?
Here is the Word for today from this verse – IT ISN’T US! When we hope in our abilities, in our families help, in our government’s provision, our hope is displaced and we enter a trap! Our hope is really no hope at all because hope in God is a hope that is sure and not “I hope it happens”. The point is that we have to put our hope in Christ, in God’s ability and nothing else. We must empty ourselves of the thinking that we have what it takes if it is apart from Christ. This is actually freedom! We don’t have to provide a thing, only a focus of our faith and hope in God! That is freedom! We don’t have to perform, or be good, or be religious, we have to place our entire lives in the hands of God. That is freedom from performance!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
July 21
James 5:17–18 (NIV84)
17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Elijah was a man who had moments of brilliance and moments of cowardice. He was like us – human through and through. The encouragement here is that we can do the same thing as Elijah!
First he prayed that it wouldn’t rain. He knew it was God’s will and He declared it to the King. Then 3 ½ years later he knew it was God’s will for it to rain and he declared it to the King. He then went to labor in prayer until he saw (his servant saw) the fruit of his prayer. He didn’t stop until the fruit was on it’s way – rain! Don’t stop short of declaring and praying in what God wants for your life, other’s lives and our church’s life! Don’t grow weary and you will see the crop!
When the rain came from heaven, the earth produced its crops. This is a great concept to grab – rain from HEAVEN produces crops (plural) on EARTH! There is no doubt that every good thing comes from heaven – right? Then let’s stop trying to get the rain from the earth! The rain comes from heaven – and that rain comes through prayer of faith. When the rain comes, earth changes – in many ways! The blessing falls from heaven and PRODUCES blessings on earth.
17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Elijah was a man who had moments of brilliance and moments of cowardice. He was like us – human through and through. The encouragement here is that we can do the same thing as Elijah!
First he prayed that it wouldn’t rain. He knew it was God’s will and He declared it to the King. Then 3 ½ years later he knew it was God’s will for it to rain and he declared it to the King. He then went to labor in prayer until he saw (his servant saw) the fruit of his prayer. He didn’t stop until the fruit was on it’s way – rain! Don’t stop short of declaring and praying in what God wants for your life, other’s lives and our church’s life! Don’t grow weary and you will see the crop!
When the rain came from heaven, the earth produced its crops. This is a great concept to grab – rain from HEAVEN produces crops (plural) on EARTH! There is no doubt that every good thing comes from heaven – right? Then let’s stop trying to get the rain from the earth! The rain comes from heaven – and that rain comes through prayer of faith. When the rain comes, earth changes – in many ways! The blessing falls from heaven and PRODUCES blessings on earth.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
July 20
James 4:5 (NIV84)
5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
Interesting verse huh? The Spirit of God envies, in fact the Word says that God is a jealous God. Our spirits envies as well because we are created in God’s image. What we will envy and desire intensely is the question that needs to be answered. One thing for sure is that we WILL intensely desire something – we were made for that!
People in the church have for years desired all kinds of worldly things and therefore the church has become more worldly than godly. I am not saying that there are no godly churches, what I am saying is that churches and filled with stupid stuff because people are intensely desiring stupid stuff. God is jealous for us and we should have the same attitude towards Him – we can will to be jealous for God! When we have this Godly jealousy then we will desire Him so intensely that we will shut out all of our conflicting desires to attain that which we want so deeply – closeness with the King. Direct your spirit, in fact God is directing your spirit to desire deeply and intensely God and all that He is. Go with it! Shut out the desire for stuff that will kill you – that will kill all of us!
5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
Interesting verse huh? The Spirit of God envies, in fact the Word says that God is a jealous God. Our spirits envies as well because we are created in God’s image. What we will envy and desire intensely is the question that needs to be answered. One thing for sure is that we WILL intensely desire something – we were made for that!
People in the church have for years desired all kinds of worldly things and therefore the church has become more worldly than godly. I am not saying that there are no godly churches, what I am saying is that churches and filled with stupid stuff because people are intensely desiring stupid stuff. God is jealous for us and we should have the same attitude towards Him – we can will to be jealous for God! When we have this Godly jealousy then we will desire Him so intensely that we will shut out all of our conflicting desires to attain that which we want so deeply – closeness with the King. Direct your spirit, in fact God is directing your spirit to desire deeply and intensely God and all that He is. Go with it! Shut out the desire for stuff that will kill you – that will kill all of us!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
July 19
James 3:3–4 (NIV84)
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
What hope the Word of God brings today! What power God has given us within our tongues! The strength of horses and the mass of ships can be guided by a small thing, how much more can we be guided by what we say. If we could grab on to this, we would be changed forever.
One of the interesting things I see here is the phrase, “wherever the pilot wants to go”. The pilot has a will and he gets to steer the whole ship with his will. His will is the trigger and the bullet is the tongue! If we will use our will and our tongue to shoot we will go into the right direction. The problem arises when we don’t engage our will and let the “rudder” loose to do what it wants, or we have within our will envy and selfish ambition, then our will directs our “rudder” onto a course that will set our life on fire instead of bring our life into safe harbor.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
What hope the Word of God brings today! What power God has given us within our tongues! The strength of horses and the mass of ships can be guided by a small thing, how much more can we be guided by what we say. If we could grab on to this, we would be changed forever.
One of the interesting things I see here is the phrase, “wherever the pilot wants to go”. The pilot has a will and he gets to steer the whole ship with his will. His will is the trigger and the bullet is the tongue! If we will use our will and our tongue to shoot we will go into the right direction. The problem arises when we don’t engage our will and let the “rudder” loose to do what it wants, or we have within our will envy and selfish ambition, then our will directs our “rudder” onto a course that will set our life on fire instead of bring our life into safe harbor.
Monday, July 18, 2011
July 18
James 2:14 ESV
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James goes on to write that faith without works is dead. Another way to put it is that faith without action is no faith at all!
What do you believe God will do? What promise, what provision, what Word do you believe God will fulfill? Act like it! When Jesus cursed the fig tree He was NOT surprised when it was withered. The disciples were surprised! They were blown away that what Jesus said brought result that they could see.
We have a decision to make, will we be surprised when we stand on the Word of God and God performs His Word? Will we be surprised when we pray or contend for things within His will are poured out into our laps? No! We will be the people who expect and act like we expect God to do what He said He would. We will act as though we have already received what we have been promised or what we have asked for.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James goes on to write that faith without works is dead. Another way to put it is that faith without action is no faith at all!
What do you believe God will do? What promise, what provision, what Word do you believe God will fulfill? Act like it! When Jesus cursed the fig tree He was NOT surprised when it was withered. The disciples were surprised! They were blown away that what Jesus said brought result that they could see.
We have a decision to make, will we be surprised when we stand on the Word of God and God performs His Word? Will we be surprised when we pray or contend for things within His will are poured out into our laps? No! We will be the people who expect and act like we expect God to do what He said He would. We will act as though we have already received what we have been promised or what we have asked for.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
July 17
James 1:2-4 ESV
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Can't I take a vacation from trials? Sure - it is called heaven! That is the only place of trial free living that we will be, otherwise it is trial after trial! So get joyful about it (trials), because they perform an important task - completeness! If we could only remember this in the middle of being yelled at or having a flat tire or being laid off or... It will produce fruit - if you let it.
We have had 3 babies born in the last month in our church. Every one of those precious ones came forth from great trial! I haven't experienced it, but I have observed it enough to know that it is a GREAT trial to labor and deliver a child - do I hear an amen? Yet there is so much joy from the fruit of it - right? That is evident, but perseverance isn't so obvious so God in His wisdom provides us with strength and courage to not only endure trials, but to go through them with a joy in our heart in regards to His hand bringing a great outcome! It is right here in these verses!
James 1:12 ESV
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Can't I take a vacation from trials? Sure - it is called heaven! That is the only place of trial free living that we will be, otherwise it is trial after trial! So get joyful about it (trials), because they perform an important task - completeness! If we could only remember this in the middle of being yelled at or having a flat tire or being laid off or... It will produce fruit - if you let it.
We have had 3 babies born in the last month in our church. Every one of those precious ones came forth from great trial! I haven't experienced it, but I have observed it enough to know that it is a GREAT trial to labor and deliver a child - do I hear an amen? Yet there is so much joy from the fruit of it - right? That is evident, but perseverance isn't so obvious so God in His wisdom provides us with strength and courage to not only endure trials, but to go through them with a joy in our heart in regards to His hand bringing a great outcome! It is right here in these verses!
James 1:12 ESV
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
July 16
Hebrews 13:5 ESV
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Be content with all you have huh? Well that throws a monkey wrench in trying to gain more - right? Wrong! Contentment is an attitude of the heart that speaks out of gratefulness. It doesn't mean to be satisfied with less, but it does mean to be thankful for what you have. Paul knew how to live in plenty and how to be content in want. I want to be like Paul! Contentment is an inner peace that God is in control of things - like your life. It is a knowing that He who loves you so will deliver that love in whatever form it needs to be delivered. The question is - do we trust Him to bring us provision, whatever that may be? Will we rest in Him? Repeat the scripture with your lips- "I will never leave you or forsake you".
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Be content with all you have huh? Well that throws a monkey wrench in trying to gain more - right? Wrong! Contentment is an attitude of the heart that speaks out of gratefulness. It doesn't mean to be satisfied with less, but it does mean to be thankful for what you have. Paul knew how to live in plenty and how to be content in want. I want to be like Paul! Contentment is an inner peace that God is in control of things - like your life. It is a knowing that He who loves you so will deliver that love in whatever form it needs to be delivered. The question is - do we trust Him to bring us provision, whatever that may be? Will we rest in Him? Repeat the scripture with your lips- "I will never leave you or forsake you".
Friday, July 15, 2011
July 15
Heb 12:1 ESV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Sometimes you read something that is very timely for your life. This is one of those times. It isn't that I have been trapped some 10 commandment type sin, but there is a weight that is on me (us) that comes from within. That weight comes from an attitude of "I want what that I don't get". It is killing me and weighing me down and producing ungratefulness for the many blessings that I do have. The expectation of everything going smooth without problems or trials is deadly! We have got to get that out of us!
Heb 12:12-13 ESV
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
It is time to get our eyes off ourselves and strengthen ourselves with our view of Jesus. He was tough!! He was not easily shaken by trial and endured all kinds of disappointment. Scream wth me - I want to be like you Jesus!
Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Sometimes you read something that is very timely for your life. This is one of those times. It isn't that I have been trapped some 10 commandment type sin, but there is a weight that is on me (us) that comes from within. That weight comes from an attitude of "I want what that I don't get". It is killing me and weighing me down and producing ungratefulness for the many blessings that I do have. The expectation of everything going smooth without problems or trials is deadly! We have got to get that out of us!
Heb 12:12-13 ESV
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
It is time to get our eyes off ourselves and strengthen ourselves with our view of Jesus. He was tough!! He was not easily shaken by trial and endured all kinds of disappointment. Scream wth me - I want to be like you Jesus!
Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
July 14
Heb 11 - whole chapter!
I should read this chapter weekly for inspiration! I want to be in a list like this when I am dead and gone to my eternal reward. That means I have to believe-trust God in difficult circumstances. Abel offered a sacrifice to God that he needed, otherwise it wouldn't have been a sacrifice and there wouldn't be any faith involved - I want to be like that! Noah built a boat on dry land which took him years! How many people must have ridiculed him-until the floods came! I want to be like that. Abraham left everything to go... Somewhere! I want to be like that.
There is something that I read that excites me to stretch my faith and to implement.
Heb. 11:20-21 ESV
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
We can do this! Prophecy over your children and lay the blessing that God has given you to give to them! You don't have to wait until you are dying to do it, but you do have to speak with authority and faith, believing that what you say will come to pass.
I should read this chapter weekly for inspiration! I want to be in a list like this when I am dead and gone to my eternal reward. That means I have to believe-trust God in difficult circumstances. Abel offered a sacrifice to God that he needed, otherwise it wouldn't have been a sacrifice and there wouldn't be any faith involved - I want to be like that! Noah built a boat on dry land which took him years! How many people must have ridiculed him-until the floods came! I want to be like that. Abraham left everything to go... Somewhere! I want to be like that.
There is something that I read that excites me to stretch my faith and to implement.
Heb. 11:20-21 ESV
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
We can do this! Prophecy over your children and lay the blessing that God has given you to give to them! You don't have to wait until you are dying to do it, but you do have to speak with authority and faith, believing that what you say will come to pass.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
July 13
Heb 10:3-4
But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
The old covenant had a built in mechanism to be reminded of your sin. The new covenant has a built in mechanism for you to forget your sin because it has been dealt with. So why are we reminded how sinful we are? Why do we keep rehearsing our sinfulness? Why do we tell others of their faults so readily and become reminders of their sin? That is the old covenant right? It is time to tell others who they are in Christ, and to do the same to ourselves instead of singing the song of our horribleness. It is time to encourage on another and spur one another on towards good works which will come from telling people who they are in Christ and not who they act like sometimes in the flesh. Like Paul says elsewhere, you used to do these things..., but now you do these things because you are in Christ. Let's call people who Christ has destined them to be!
But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
The old covenant had a built in mechanism to be reminded of your sin. The new covenant has a built in mechanism for you to forget your sin because it has been dealt with. So why are we reminded how sinful we are? Why do we keep rehearsing our sinfulness? Why do we tell others of their faults so readily and become reminders of their sin? That is the old covenant right? It is time to tell others who they are in Christ, and to do the same to ourselves instead of singing the song of our horribleness. It is time to encourage on another and spur one another on towards good works which will come from telling people who they are in Christ and not who they act like sometimes in the flesh. Like Paul says elsewhere, you used to do these things..., but now you do these things because you are in Christ. Let's call people who Christ has destined them to be!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
July 12
Heb 9:26 ESV
for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
What sin put away sin except that it is completely been dealt with in every aspect! First it isn't on our "account" anymore. It is paid for and the punishment that is due us for our sin has been done. So there is no need for us to expect punishment from God. Secondly, our guilt has been removed! We have had our guilty conscious cleansed, so there is no need to feel guilty anymore, carrying around a depressive guilt for not measuring up. You will never measure up! That is the point of our cleansing - Jesus measured up for us. Thirdly, we aren't under its spell anymore! We need to stop acting like we can't "beat" it (whatever you struggle with). Sins mastery over us is gone! Through Christ it is possible to be victorious in all things! One could say that for us who are "in Christ" there is no more sin. We have complete dominion over it even though we drag around our carnal nature around with us. Christ's finished work has changed everything. Let's walk in that!
for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
What sin put away sin except that it is completely been dealt with in every aspect! First it isn't on our "account" anymore. It is paid for and the punishment that is due us for our sin has been done. So there is no need for us to expect punishment from God. Secondly, our guilt has been removed! We have had our guilty conscious cleansed, so there is no need to feel guilty anymore, carrying around a depressive guilt for not measuring up. You will never measure up! That is the point of our cleansing - Jesus measured up for us. Thirdly, we aren't under its spell anymore! We need to stop acting like we can't "beat" it (whatever you struggle with). Sins mastery over us is gone! Through Christ it is possible to be victorious in all things! One could say that for us who are "in Christ" there is no more sin. We have complete dominion over it even though we drag around our carnal nature around with us. Christ's finished work has changed everything. Let's walk in that!
Monday, July 11, 2011
July 11
Hebrews 8:6 (NIV84)
6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
This is an incredible verse because the old covenant had some awesome promises! It contained promises for everything in this life that anyone in that time period or our time period could hope for. Now we have most of what they had been promised (some promises were to the Jews alone, like the land of Israel) and even better promises! Can you think of the emphasis of the new covenant? How about heaven? How about complete forgiveness? How about that we are the righteousness of Christ? We can’t forget one of the most unbelievable promises ever – God lives IN us! Are you getting this? This new covenant wasn’t something that has to be worked for, it is something that has to be believed for and then IT IS!
Remember, this is COVENANT and God will keep His covenant! This isn’t a contract that if we break our end, He will break His end, this is a covenant written in blood – the blood of Jesus! This covenant isn’t dependent on us, it is dependent on Him! Live in the new covenant with all of its promises and benefits. Dig all of those promises and benefits out and claim them as yours – because they are!
6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
This is an incredible verse because the old covenant had some awesome promises! It contained promises for everything in this life that anyone in that time period or our time period could hope for. Now we have most of what they had been promised (some promises were to the Jews alone, like the land of Israel) and even better promises! Can you think of the emphasis of the new covenant? How about heaven? How about complete forgiveness? How about that we are the righteousness of Christ? We can’t forget one of the most unbelievable promises ever – God lives IN us! Are you getting this? This new covenant wasn’t something that has to be worked for, it is something that has to be believed for and then IT IS!
Remember, this is COVENANT and God will keep His covenant! This isn’t a contract that if we break our end, He will break His end, this is a covenant written in blood – the blood of Jesus! This covenant isn’t dependent on us, it is dependent on Him! Live in the new covenant with all of its promises and benefits. Dig all of those promises and benefits out and claim them as yours – because they are!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
July 10
1kings 6:14
Solomon built the temple and completed it.
Solomon purposes it in his heart to build the temple and build the temple he did. The purpose came from his father David (don't miss tMhat fathers - there is so much there) and a calling from the Lord. God had called him to be a king AND to build his temple. So he built it and completed it. I said he completed it! There is something that many of us need to grab onto - kings are completers! We start so many things, we think about starting so many things but the measurement is completion. We want to finish the race right? It took Solomon 7 years to complete it, most of the things we lay on the shelf of incomplete would take much less effort and much less time to complete. There is another rub on our souls when we see our "shelves of incomplete" we start allowing ourselves to put more things up there. Then we define ourselves by it and it becomes who we are. People of God, we are completers! We will not be defined by the past of incomplete items! We will not be in the graveyard of dreams that never happened, we are purposeful people who complete our assignments - no matter what!
Solomon built the temple and completed it.
Solomon purposes it in his heart to build the temple and build the temple he did. The purpose came from his father David (don't miss tMhat fathers - there is so much there) and a calling from the Lord. God had called him to be a king AND to build his temple. So he built it and completed it. I said he completed it! There is something that many of us need to grab onto - kings are completers! We start so many things, we think about starting so many things but the measurement is completion. We want to finish the race right? It took Solomon 7 years to complete it, most of the things we lay on the shelf of incomplete would take much less effort and much less time to complete. There is another rub on our souls when we see our "shelves of incomplete" we start allowing ourselves to put more things up there. Then we define ourselves by it and it becomes who we are. People of God, we are completers! We will not be defined by the past of incomplete items! We will not be in the graveyard of dreams that never happened, we are purposeful people who complete our assignments - no matter what!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Psalm 22:5 NIV
To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
How much do you depend on what this verse is saying? This is an incredible Word! They cried out and they trusted God to come through. They didn't hope that God would come through - they knew it! They acted like He was going to deliver them! They felt like God was going to come through. This verse is in the middle of a psalm of trouble! God had to get them through and then out of a place that was causing pain, disappointment, doubt and maybe even depression. However they remembered the Word and they cried out in faith. They remember God's character and they put their trust in Him - and he came through! God will not let you be put to shame if your trust is in Him.
To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
How much do you depend on what this verse is saying? This is an incredible Word! They cried out and they trusted God to come through. They didn't hope that God would come through - they knew it! They acted like He was going to deliver them! They felt like God was going to come through. This verse is in the middle of a psalm of trouble! God had to get them through and then out of a place that was causing pain, disappointment, doubt and maybe even depression. However they remembered the Word and they cried out in faith. They remember God's character and they put their trust in Him - and he came through! God will not let you be put to shame if your trust is in Him.
Friday, July 8, 2011
July 8
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV84)
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
This passage may well be talking about Jesus’ time in the garden, I am not sure, but this one thing I know, Jesus had need that only God could fulfill, and that influenced Him to cry out (get noisy) loudly, with tears to God. Do you see the passion? Do you see the lack of religious praying?
Our prayer lives are sometimes spent in thoughtful, almost rehearsed sounding, at times monotone or close to it, praying. Jesus knew how to “let it go” from the very core of Himself at the time of need and pray with the fitting passion that would go along with His need and the desire for it to be fulfilled. One time recently the Lord spoke to me while I was at church and said to begin to pray for the church, for me to fill this building. As I prayed it was so….regular….so emotionless. It really did need more passion to match the great importance of the prayer. The Lord then told me to stir myself up and pray with fervency, so I did. I am not talking about yelling our prayers, but about releasing the passion of God in you for what you are praying about.
Stir yourself up today. Let the river flow from within you toward your Father who delights to see your passion. Get away in a place where you CAN let it go and pray louder than usual when you ask for things or intercede for people that you are passionate about seeing God Spirit move upon.
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
This passage may well be talking about Jesus’ time in the garden, I am not sure, but this one thing I know, Jesus had need that only God could fulfill, and that influenced Him to cry out (get noisy) loudly, with tears to God. Do you see the passion? Do you see the lack of religious praying?
Our prayer lives are sometimes spent in thoughtful, almost rehearsed sounding, at times monotone or close to it, praying. Jesus knew how to “let it go” from the very core of Himself at the time of need and pray with the fitting passion that would go along with His need and the desire for it to be fulfilled. One time recently the Lord spoke to me while I was at church and said to begin to pray for the church, for me to fill this building. As I prayed it was so….regular….so emotionless. It really did need more passion to match the great importance of the prayer. The Lord then told me to stir myself up and pray with fervency, so I did. I am not talking about yelling our prayers, but about releasing the passion of God in you for what you are praying about.
Stir yourself up today. Let the river flow from within you toward your Father who delights to see your passion. Get away in a place where you CAN let it go and pray louder than usual when you ask for things or intercede for people that you are passionate about seeing God Spirit move upon.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
July 7
Hebrews 4:2 (NIV84)
2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
The Gospel or any promise in the Word of God has to be combined with faith! In fact even the specific words that God puts in our hearts for us have to be combined with faith. Faith is trusting that the word will happen! It was of “no value” means that it did not bring a benefit to them because those who heard it didn’t “combine”, or fit it together/couple it with faith. This is saying that the promises of God will not benefit us if we don’t trust the promise to be true!
If you don’t trust your brakes to work in your car, you will probably never get in the car because you don’t think the brakes will stop you. You will walk instead of drive because you don’t trust the brakes to work, so the benefit of the car as a means of transportation to you is null. It is like there is no car! Although this illustration brakes down (pardon the pun) at some point, you get what I am saying. Unless you believe that the brakes will work, the gift of transportation of the car is useless. Unless we take the promise of God and combine it with faith (trust), it WILL NOT benefit us! It is time for the people of God to apprehend all that God has for us, and we do that through counting Him worthy who has given us these great and precious promises to fulfill them. We don’t fulfill them, God does, and often times miraculously and right in the nick of time. Only believe!
2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
The Gospel or any promise in the Word of God has to be combined with faith! In fact even the specific words that God puts in our hearts for us have to be combined with faith. Faith is trusting that the word will happen! It was of “no value” means that it did not bring a benefit to them because those who heard it didn’t “combine”, or fit it together/couple it with faith. This is saying that the promises of God will not benefit us if we don’t trust the promise to be true!
If you don’t trust your brakes to work in your car, you will probably never get in the car because you don’t think the brakes will stop you. You will walk instead of drive because you don’t trust the brakes to work, so the benefit of the car as a means of transportation to you is null. It is like there is no car! Although this illustration brakes down (pardon the pun) at some point, you get what I am saying. Unless you believe that the brakes will work, the gift of transportation of the car is useless. Unless we take the promise of God and combine it with faith (trust), it WILL NOT benefit us! It is time for the people of God to apprehend all that God has for us, and we do that through counting Him worthy who has given us these great and precious promises to fulfill them. We don’t fulfill them, God does, and often times miraculously and right in the nick of time. Only believe!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
July 6
Hebrews 3:19 (NIV84)
19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Have you ever been at a crossroads in life of unbelief, doubt, fear, anxiety and upset when you think about things not happening right? Then you think about God and how he loves you and how He wants to be your supplier/provider, but you don’t SEE the supply coming in and it is coming down to the hour! That is the scary place that we see if we will believe or not. While I am not at liberty to share the details, I can tell you that I am facing this at this moment! Will God come through when He hasn’t come through yet? Can I go on vacation and rest in His faithfulness or will I worry in unbelief?
I am faced with this great verse this very morning and I have no other option but to believe! If I want to, if we want to enter into the rest, we have got to believe when it is hard to believe! We have got to get the Word of God going in our ears and our eyes and put the Word of God on our lips if we are going to believe while we look at impossible circumstances! I have decided I have no choice and I will make no contingency plans! I will stand in faith and will enter His rest and enter the promised “land” that He swore with an oath in His blood! My heart may wander from faith, but I will draw it back with the Word of God, who shall fulfill his promise to me and supply all things to me according to His riches in glory!
19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Have you ever been at a crossroads in life of unbelief, doubt, fear, anxiety and upset when you think about things not happening right? Then you think about God and how he loves you and how He wants to be your supplier/provider, but you don’t SEE the supply coming in and it is coming down to the hour! That is the scary place that we see if we will believe or not. While I am not at liberty to share the details, I can tell you that I am facing this at this moment! Will God come through when He hasn’t come through yet? Can I go on vacation and rest in His faithfulness or will I worry in unbelief?
I am faced with this great verse this very morning and I have no other option but to believe! If I want to, if we want to enter into the rest, we have got to believe when it is hard to believe! We have got to get the Word of God going in our ears and our eyes and put the Word of God on our lips if we are going to believe while we look at impossible circumstances! I have decided I have no choice and I will make no contingency plans! I will stand in faith and will enter His rest and enter the promised “land” that He swore with an oath in His blood! My heart may wander from faith, but I will draw it back with the Word of God, who shall fulfill his promise to me and supply all things to me according to His riches in glory!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
July 5
1 Chronicles 25:7 (NIV84)
7 Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD—they numbered 288.
Did you get the fact that they were “trained and skilled”? Of course this ministry is near and dear to my heart because of what it means to my heart. I am probably one of the few pastors that is conflicted between his love for leading in worshiping and his love for ministering the Word in preaching. I love both! I am made for both! Therefore I get to disciple men and women for both! For the worship leaders among us let me say this – trained and skilled. This means that they didn’t just sing and play, they honed their skills and continued to do so throughout their lives. Not only did they hone their craft, but they continued to be instructed in worship.
1 Chronicles 25:1 (NIV84)
David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
Did you happen to catch the fact the prophesying was a big part of the ministry of the worship leaders? Where has this gone? Let’s bring it back!
7 Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD—they numbered 288.
Did you get the fact that they were “trained and skilled”? Of course this ministry is near and dear to my heart because of what it means to my heart. I am probably one of the few pastors that is conflicted between his love for leading in worshiping and his love for ministering the Word in preaching. I love both! I am made for both! Therefore I get to disciple men and women for both! For the worship leaders among us let me say this – trained and skilled. This means that they didn’t just sing and play, they honed their skills and continued to do so throughout their lives. Not only did they hone their craft, but they continued to be instructed in worship.
1 Chronicles 25:1 (NIV84)
David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
Did you happen to catch the fact the prophesying was a big part of the ministry of the worship leaders? Where has this gone? Let’s bring it back!
Monday, July 4, 2011
July 4
1 Chronicles 22:14 (NIV84)
14 “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.
David had in mind and in heart to prepare his son for a great undertaking for God, so he went to “great pains” to provide the building materials for Solomon’s endeavor. Yet David expected for Solomon to add to the materials himself as well.
What are we leaving for our children to build with? In fact, what great thing are we encouraging them to do for the Lord? Do we expect them to be nice men and women who attend church, are good people and who tithe? We as parents first have to get a vision for our children’s future. Especially us fathers! Doesn’t the Word say that they are “arrows in our quivers”? If they are arrows, who does the shooting? – Us! We point them and shoot them! May it be into greatness and not smallness! May it be that we PLAN for their great exploits with “great pain”. All of us parents need to give an extraordinary supply of building materials to them with the thought of them adding to them. Of course this means something different for every child of ours, which means we had better get the Lord’s will for their life and start intentionally collecting materials for them.
14 “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.
David had in mind and in heart to prepare his son for a great undertaking for God, so he went to “great pains” to provide the building materials for Solomon’s endeavor. Yet David expected for Solomon to add to the materials himself as well.
What are we leaving for our children to build with? In fact, what great thing are we encouraging them to do for the Lord? Do we expect them to be nice men and women who attend church, are good people and who tithe? We as parents first have to get a vision for our children’s future. Especially us fathers! Doesn’t the Word say that they are “arrows in our quivers”? If they are arrows, who does the shooting? – Us! We point them and shoot them! May it be into greatness and not smallness! May it be that we PLAN for their great exploits with “great pain”. All of us parents need to give an extraordinary supply of building materials to them with the thought of them adding to them. Of course this means something different for every child of ours, which means we had better get the Lord’s will for their life and start intentionally collecting materials for them.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
July 3
Philemon 6 (NIV84)
6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
There is a key here if you can see it. You have more understanding of every good thing you have in Christ IF you actively share your faith. This is not talking about witnessing to others who don’t know Christ, the word here is “koinonia”, which if you were around in the 70’s you are familiar with. Koinonia means “an association involving close mutual relations and involvement”. There is something great about being closely involved with a group of people who share with each other about their faith in Christ. It spurs us on, it challenges us, it takes us to new heights and it develops a greater understanding of every good thing that we have in Christ!
Lest you think that it is talking about church and it ends there, let me say NOT! You can go to church and NEVER have a close mutual relationship with people. It is easy to be swayed by the large or mega church, because if it’s grand flowing services and all the wonderful things they offer (many of them really do), to attend on Sunday and think that you are fulfilling your role as a believer in fellowship – you are not. It is time that we as the people of Christ look into the face of what church has become and decide that we will not be “attenders” of a service, but partners with each other as we share our faith with one another and develop a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Then we can become fruitful and knowledgeable partners to take the message of the gospel to the world with great effectiveness!
6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
There is a key here if you can see it. You have more understanding of every good thing you have in Christ IF you actively share your faith. This is not talking about witnessing to others who don’t know Christ, the word here is “koinonia”, which if you were around in the 70’s you are familiar with. Koinonia means “an association involving close mutual relations and involvement”. There is something great about being closely involved with a group of people who share with each other about their faith in Christ. It spurs us on, it challenges us, it takes us to new heights and it develops a greater understanding of every good thing that we have in Christ!
Lest you think that it is talking about church and it ends there, let me say NOT! You can go to church and NEVER have a close mutual relationship with people. It is easy to be swayed by the large or mega church, because if it’s grand flowing services and all the wonderful things they offer (many of them really do), to attend on Sunday and think that you are fulfilling your role as a believer in fellowship – you are not. It is time that we as the people of Christ look into the face of what church has become and decide that we will not be “attenders” of a service, but partners with each other as we share our faith with one another and develop a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Then we can become fruitful and knowledgeable partners to take the message of the gospel to the world with great effectiveness!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
July 2
2 Samuel 22:38–39 (NIV84)
38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
Let me make this short and not so sweet. We have the tendency to pursue our enemies and let them off the hook with a beating. This passage is talking about a man of God who knew how to defeat his enemies – for good! It is time to look at your Goliath and decide to kill him and then cut off his head! No mercy for the enemies of our lives! Let’s kill gossip like stomping on an ant, sexual perversion like cutting off a snake’s head, fear like we are using a bazooka on a smart car, and let’s go after anxiety and stress and slit their throats and watch them die! Too gross? We had better become a little more violent with our enemies and crush them under our feet or before we know it, they will be sitting on our lap – again.
38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
Let me make this short and not so sweet. We have the tendency to pursue our enemies and let them off the hook with a beating. This passage is talking about a man of God who knew how to defeat his enemies – for good! It is time to look at your Goliath and decide to kill him and then cut off his head! No mercy for the enemies of our lives! Let’s kill gossip like stomping on an ant, sexual perversion like cutting off a snake’s head, fear like we are using a bazooka on a smart car, and let’s go after anxiety and stress and slit their throats and watch them die! Too gross? We had better become a little more violent with our enemies and crush them under our feet or before we know it, they will be sitting on our lap – again.
Friday, July 1, 2011
July 1
Titus 2:11–12 (NIV84)
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
Here is some good doctrine. The grace (favor) of God that brings salvation (deliverance) has appeared (made apparent) to all men. Why does God bring such favor on all, (meaning all) men? Because God loves all men and wants them to come to the knowledge of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:4 (NIV84)
4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Why else would the favor of God display his salvation? If it was to be able to condemn man would it be favor?
Here is what the revelation of deliverance (salvation) brings us to; it instructs us with the intent of forming proper habits – what habits? Saying no to the stuff that will kill us! It also teaches us to say yes to the things that will bring us life. This favor that shows us salvation keeps on showing us how “great a salvation” we have, and in turn that automatically teaches us to live for Christ – for life! How uncomplicated!
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
Here is some good doctrine. The grace (favor) of God that brings salvation (deliverance) has appeared (made apparent) to all men. Why does God bring such favor on all, (meaning all) men? Because God loves all men and wants them to come to the knowledge of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:4 (NIV84)
4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Why else would the favor of God display his salvation? If it was to be able to condemn man would it be favor?
Here is what the revelation of deliverance (salvation) brings us to; it instructs us with the intent of forming proper habits – what habits? Saying no to the stuff that will kill us! It also teaches us to say yes to the things that will bring us life. This favor that shows us salvation keeps on showing us how “great a salvation” we have, and in turn that automatically teaches us to live for Christ – for life! How uncomplicated!
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