Who doesn’t love the story of Joseph! God had His way and saved many people though His life was difficult. Does that sound like anyone else? Joseph left his home, his very brothers wanted to kill him, went through extraordinary things, but God had a plan! Jesus lived a life of difficulty and did die (at the hands of his brothers) to save mankind. Joseph was spared to save many people from death and then was reconciled with his brothers. Jesus death brought salvation to many (available to all) and reconciliation to his people who would reconcile. Beautiful picture isn’t it?
Genesis 45:24 (NIV)
24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”
That is an interesting thing to say isn’t it? Joseph was a wise man and he knew that the blame game would be played on the way home. That very blame game could stop the very thing that God had already brought – reconciliation! It does the same thing to us! Quarreling and fractioning with each other works AGAINST one of the goals of the blood of Jesus – our reconciliation! Stop quarreling and dividing! Remember, you have the choice to be on God’s construction crew or Satan’s destruction crew. What will you choose?
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
February 13
Acts 20:9 (NIV)
9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.
It is time for a little humor! First of all, nobody can preach long and not put people to sleep. I have put a few to sleep in my day, but I didn’t go on all night! The lesson here for me is don’t ever let anyone sit in a 3rd story window while I preach! I can just imagine Paul’s face when they told him the man was dead! Paul knew he bored him to death! Come on, that’s kinda’ funny! This whole seen is a funny one with the power of God on display by a preacher that went too long! Maybe I should try that!
O.K., enough of the joking. There was a serious miracle here. A man was raised from the dead! He died because Paul the preacher wanted to give everything he could in the time he had left with this group. An accident caused death (seemingly instant) in someone and God through Paul raised him from the dead. There was so much power resident in this great apostle that he hugged the guy and proclaimed that he wasn’t dead. That is what I am talking about! The glory of God showed up and raised him from the dead. The scenario may have some humor, but this is a great miracle that we need to stop and consider it. Raising people from the dead is our commission! To advance the Kingdom is to bring It’s life into every situation – especially a spirit that is “dead in trespasses and sins”. (Eph. 2:1) We carry life people! We are life to this world! Don’t sell the power of that life short!
9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.
It is time for a little humor! First of all, nobody can preach long and not put people to sleep. I have put a few to sleep in my day, but I didn’t go on all night! The lesson here for me is don’t ever let anyone sit in a 3rd story window while I preach! I can just imagine Paul’s face when they told him the man was dead! Paul knew he bored him to death! Come on, that’s kinda’ funny! This whole seen is a funny one with the power of God on display by a preacher that went too long! Maybe I should try that!
O.K., enough of the joking. There was a serious miracle here. A man was raised from the dead! He died because Paul the preacher wanted to give everything he could in the time he had left with this group. An accident caused death (seemingly instant) in someone and God through Paul raised him from the dead. There was so much power resident in this great apostle that he hugged the guy and proclaimed that he wasn’t dead. That is what I am talking about! The glory of God showed up and raised him from the dead. The scenario may have some humor, but this is a great miracle that we need to stop and consider it. Raising people from the dead is our commission! To advance the Kingdom is to bring It’s life into every situation – especially a spirit that is “dead in trespasses and sins”. (Eph. 2:1) We carry life people! We are life to this world! Don’t sell the power of that life short!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
February 12
Acts 19:2 (NIV)
2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.
It is so significant that we see that the first question Paul asked these believers was about the filling or baptism with the Holy Spirit. The significance is this – Paul wanted to make sure that they were properly equipped to be a witness. Paul was a veteran missionary and minister of the gospel and he knew well the great importance of the “power” that comes with the Holy Spirit’s filling. Should we just leave that to pastors and missionaries? NO! This has got to be a question that we ask as well. There is no doubt that you will need to get your theology straight so you can answer any questions, but what needs to get straight is priority! Get saved and get baptized with the Holy Spirit! That is what happened here (along with speaking of tongues) and that is how we should operate as believers as well. Don’t leave this for professionals – you are priests of the Most High God. You have what it takes!
I must include this; Have you received the Holy Spirit? If you are saved you have the Holy Spirit living inside you as the disciples did (John 20:22), previous to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Jesus baptizing them with the Holy Spirit – Acts 2). If you have not received that baptism, then ask for it and begin to praise and thank Jesus for giving you the fullness of the Spirit! Claim the promise!
2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.
It is so significant that we see that the first question Paul asked these believers was about the filling or baptism with the Holy Spirit. The significance is this – Paul wanted to make sure that they were properly equipped to be a witness. Paul was a veteran missionary and minister of the gospel and he knew well the great importance of the “power” that comes with the Holy Spirit’s filling. Should we just leave that to pastors and missionaries? NO! This has got to be a question that we ask as well. There is no doubt that you will need to get your theology straight so you can answer any questions, but what needs to get straight is priority! Get saved and get baptized with the Holy Spirit! That is what happened here (along with speaking of tongues) and that is how we should operate as believers as well. Don’t leave this for professionals – you are priests of the Most High God. You have what it takes!
I must include this; Have you received the Holy Spirit? If you are saved you have the Holy Spirit living inside you as the disciples did (John 20:22), previous to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Jesus baptizing them with the Holy Spirit – Acts 2). If you have not received that baptism, then ask for it and begin to praise and thank Jesus for giving you the fullness of the Spirit! Claim the promise!
Friday, February 11, 2011
February 11
Genesis 39:3 (NIV)
3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,
Genesis 39:23 (NIV)
23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
The Lord was WITH Joseph. Is the Lord with us? If God is for us, who can be against us? US! What I mean is that we are the ones who can foil the blessing of God on us and in us. God is with us, He lives IN us, He has certainly given us His blessing, a blessing that even Joseph didn’t know! We have a greater blessing! It is time to start believing it! If Joseph was so blessed then why can’t we? Answer: We can and we are and it is time to start standing on our blessing and refusing to be denied!
Psalm 1:3 (NIV)
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 128:1-2 (NIV)
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Believe it! Stand on it! Refuse to have any other mindset except that God is with you and His blessing abides on you and in you!
3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,
Genesis 39:23 (NIV)
23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
The Lord was WITH Joseph. Is the Lord with us? If God is for us, who can be against us? US! What I mean is that we are the ones who can foil the blessing of God on us and in us. God is with us, He lives IN us, He has certainly given us His blessing, a blessing that even Joseph didn’t know! We have a greater blessing! It is time to start believing it! If Joseph was so blessed then why can’t we? Answer: We can and we are and it is time to start standing on our blessing and refusing to be denied!
Psalm 1:3 (NIV)
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 128:1-2 (NIV)
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Believe it! Stand on it! Refuse to have any other mindset except that God is with you and His blessing abides on you and in you!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
February 10
Acts 17:21 (NIV)
21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Jesus was a doer. He talked much about the Kingdom of God and did what He talked about. When He sent the disciples out in Luke 9 and 10 He told them to preach the Kingdom and do the Kingdom. In Acts 1 Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promised Holy Spirit (that he would baptize them with) so they could be “able” (with power) doers (witnesses). There needs to be plenty of teaching on our identity, who God is and what the Kingdom is about. However if it doesn’t lead us to DO then what is the point? We are like the Athenians and foreigners who spent their time talking about things and listening to others talk. That is not who we are. We are not people who talk about worship, we worship! We don’t talk about sharing Christ, we share Christ with others, we don’t talk about healing, we invoke the healing power of Jesus over people! We will not be held back the false picture of the Bereans who searched the scripture to see if what Paul said was true and then acted on it. Some have made Bereans out to be people whose life is study or who are the watch dogs of Christianity. (Not watchmen but watchdogs who bark at everything!) They, like the other believers, were willing to be persecuted and rejected by others to serve Christ. They were doers and so are we!
Paul = Doer
Silas = Doer
Athenian = Talker
Us = Doer
21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Jesus was a doer. He talked much about the Kingdom of God and did what He talked about. When He sent the disciples out in Luke 9 and 10 He told them to preach the Kingdom and do the Kingdom. In Acts 1 Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promised Holy Spirit (that he would baptize them with) so they could be “able” (with power) doers (witnesses). There needs to be plenty of teaching on our identity, who God is and what the Kingdom is about. However if it doesn’t lead us to DO then what is the point? We are like the Athenians and foreigners who spent their time talking about things and listening to others talk. That is not who we are. We are not people who talk about worship, we worship! We don’t talk about sharing Christ, we share Christ with others, we don’t talk about healing, we invoke the healing power of Jesus over people! We will not be held back the false picture of the Bereans who searched the scripture to see if what Paul said was true and then acted on it. Some have made Bereans out to be people whose life is study or who are the watch dogs of Christianity. (Not watchmen but watchdogs who bark at everything!) They, like the other believers, were willing to be persecuted and rejected by others to serve Christ. They were doers and so are we!
Paul = Doer
Silas = Doer
Athenian = Talker
Us = Doer
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
February 9
Acts 16:6-7 (NIV)
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
We are on a mission from God! Therefore it His prerogative to send us anywhere He wants, which means that He can stop us from going other places. Does this make sense? Sometimes God doesn’t want us to talk to this person because He has another person for us to talk to. It goes beyond that as well. If God wants us involved in a certain ministry, then we won’t be able to be involved in this ministry, or this sports club or this activity. We have a mission. It is difficult to be focused on ______________ (you fill in the blank with whatever would seem natural or is easy for you to do) and do what God has asked you to do. We are a busy people who wear the badge of busy like it is a gold medal. God wants us to be busy about His business. Plus, maybe you will get around to such and such like Paul eventually preached to all of Asia minor through His ministry at Ephesus. It just wasn’t the right time for it yet.
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
We are on a mission from God! Therefore it His prerogative to send us anywhere He wants, which means that He can stop us from going other places. Does this make sense? Sometimes God doesn’t want us to talk to this person because He has another person for us to talk to. It goes beyond that as well. If God wants us involved in a certain ministry, then we won’t be able to be involved in this ministry, or this sports club or this activity. We have a mission. It is difficult to be focused on ______________ (you fill in the blank with whatever would seem natural or is easy for you to do) and do what God has asked you to do. We are a busy people who wear the badge of busy like it is a gold medal. God wants us to be busy about His business. Plus, maybe you will get around to such and such like Paul eventually preached to all of Asia minor through His ministry at Ephesus. It just wasn’t the right time for it yet.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
February 8
Acts 15:39 (NIV)
39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
I don’t know if you think this is as crazy as I do, but I can barely believe that this is in the Biblical account. So this appears to be the first missionary organization split. Why not leave this little ugliness out? Hmmm….
Because the Spirit of God wanted us to see it, that is why it is there! If you read the end of the story you will see that there was a make-up of sorts, but the issue at hand is what do you do when you can’t agree? Advance the Kingdom! We have got to get this – Paul and Barnabas both went and preached the Word of God, and strengthened the disciples in different places. They didn’t go to the same place and compete, they went their separate ways and did the same thing, advanced the Kingdom of God.
There will certainly be disagreements within any family as there was here. The question for us is, what we will do when that happens? The one thing for sure is that we will advance the Kingdom in the way we handle it. There will be no competition for supremacy, just a willingness to be unified in our end goal. Please notice that nowhere in this passage does it say, “the Spirit said to them”, or “the Spirit sent them…”, is says that Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement. This was not from the Lord and neither is it from the Lord that we in the body of Christ have such a sharp disagreement that we have to leave one another. However, because of the weakness of our flesh God graciously can use even our disagreements for His Kingdom – if we let Him.
39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
I don’t know if you think this is as crazy as I do, but I can barely believe that this is in the Biblical account. So this appears to be the first missionary organization split. Why not leave this little ugliness out? Hmmm….
Because the Spirit of God wanted us to see it, that is why it is there! If you read the end of the story you will see that there was a make-up of sorts, but the issue at hand is what do you do when you can’t agree? Advance the Kingdom! We have got to get this – Paul and Barnabas both went and preached the Word of God, and strengthened the disciples in different places. They didn’t go to the same place and compete, they went their separate ways and did the same thing, advanced the Kingdom of God.
There will certainly be disagreements within any family as there was here. The question for us is, what we will do when that happens? The one thing for sure is that we will advance the Kingdom in the way we handle it. There will be no competition for supremacy, just a willingness to be unified in our end goal. Please notice that nowhere in this passage does it say, “the Spirit said to them”, or “the Spirit sent them…”, is says that Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement. This was not from the Lord and neither is it from the Lord that we in the body of Christ have such a sharp disagreement that we have to leave one another. However, because of the weakness of our flesh God graciously can use even our disagreements for His Kingdom – if we let Him.
Monday, February 7, 2011
February 7
Acts 14:9 (NIV)
9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed
Many have spoken about faith like it is the key ingredient in anything God does. Others have recoiled from the emphasis put on faith to make faith something akin to leaven! Is there a balance? !
The scripture is true. This man had faith to be healed. It takes some level of faith to be healed. It takes faith to believe in and please God. That should be a settled issue. (Heb. 11) The question is how much faith does it take to be healed and where did Paul look to see that this guy had enough? There is another nagging question for many; if you don’t get healed is it because of your lack of faith. The answers to these questions are only found in Christ! We are afraid to tell someone that they lack faith but Jesus did. That fact is that we lack faith for many things including healing, however, that doesn’t translate into if someone isn’t healed then they lack faith. We have got to get away from the simplistic equations that aren’t found in the Word of God and see what Paul saw – he saw into the man’s soul or spirit. He saw the fruit was just dangling from the tree and just needed to be shaken. We are NOT suppose to judge people who don’t have faith, we are supposed to bolster their faith! So condemning someone who isn’t healed or whatever because of a lack of faith is counterproductive! We must encourage their faith and stand with them in their trail! There may be several different reasons why people don’t get healed or see prayers answered besides a lack of faith. Who knows all things except God? The one thing I get is this, Paul was preaching the Word of God and saw that this guy did have the faith for healing, so he acted. Instead of trying to figure out why this one and not that one, let’s preach the Word, ask God for vision beyond the physical realm and do the stuff.
9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed
Many have spoken about faith like it is the key ingredient in anything God does. Others have recoiled from the emphasis put on faith to make faith something akin to leaven! Is there a balance? !
The scripture is true. This man had faith to be healed. It takes some level of faith to be healed. It takes faith to believe in and please God. That should be a settled issue. (Heb. 11) The question is how much faith does it take to be healed and where did Paul look to see that this guy had enough? There is another nagging question for many; if you don’t get healed is it because of your lack of faith. The answers to these questions are only found in Christ! We are afraid to tell someone that they lack faith but Jesus did. That fact is that we lack faith for many things including healing, however, that doesn’t translate into if someone isn’t healed then they lack faith. We have got to get away from the simplistic equations that aren’t found in the Word of God and see what Paul saw – he saw into the man’s soul or spirit. He saw the fruit was just dangling from the tree and just needed to be shaken. We are NOT suppose to judge people who don’t have faith, we are supposed to bolster their faith! So condemning someone who isn’t healed or whatever because of a lack of faith is counterproductive! We must encourage their faith and stand with them in their trail! There may be several different reasons why people don’t get healed or see prayers answered besides a lack of faith. Who knows all things except God? The one thing I get is this, Paul was preaching the Word of God and saw that this guy did have the faith for healing, so he acted. Instead of trying to figure out why this one and not that one, let’s preach the Word, ask God for vision beyond the physical realm and do the stuff.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
February 6
Acts 13:4 (NIV)
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
First they were set apart for some ministry during a prayer meeting.
Acts 13:2 (NIV)
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Now they are “sent on their way” by the Spirit of God who evidentially told them to go to Seleucia and Cyprus. So many lessons in one day of a blog!
•They had a prayer meeting.
•There were prophets and teachers at the prayer meeting.
•They had a prayer meeting that they allowed the Spirit to speak.
•Paul and Barnabas received their mission from the Spirit at the prayer meeting.
•They left for their mission – were sent off by the people of Antioch after the call came to go.
•When they left the Spirit directed them where to go.
That is so awesome…ly…. Scary! I wonder if they knew where they would go first or where they would end up? They were being sent by the Spirit of God. It wasn’t an act of their will, it happened to them. Is this why we don’t have more prayer meetings? Maybe this is why we don’t have many prophets? Scary stuff happens like, leave here and go there – now! I have read ahead. They changed the world! God used them mightily! What a wonderful life of adventure! Live – Pray – Be Sent!
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
First they were set apart for some ministry during a prayer meeting.
Acts 13:2 (NIV)
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Now they are “sent on their way” by the Spirit of God who evidentially told them to go to Seleucia and Cyprus. So many lessons in one day of a blog!
•They had a prayer meeting.
•There were prophets and teachers at the prayer meeting.
•They had a prayer meeting that they allowed the Spirit to speak.
•Paul and Barnabas received their mission from the Spirit at the prayer meeting.
•They left for their mission – were sent off by the people of Antioch after the call came to go.
•When they left the Spirit directed them where to go.
That is so awesome…ly…. Scary! I wonder if they knew where they would go first or where they would end up? They were being sent by the Spirit of God. It wasn’t an act of their will, it happened to them. Is this why we don’t have more prayer meetings? Maybe this is why we don’t have many prophets? Scary stuff happens like, leave here and go there – now! I have read ahead. They changed the world! God used them mightily! What a wonderful life of adventure! Live – Pray – Be Sent!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
February 5
Genesis 29:25 (NIV)
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?”
Funny how things work out huh? Jacob was extremely blessed by the Lord. He was under a covenant with Abraham and his father Isaac, but it couldn’t help keep his own sin to come and roost in his own lap. He was a trickster and now he was being tricked. Jesus teaches this principle in the Sermon on the Mount and other places and it is still true today! There is plenty of reason to live a holy and clean hearted life and this is one of them. If we think that the enemy won’t be empowered by our own choice to do evil, we are incorrect! Why do you think that God’s Word over and over again calls us to live “rightly”? Because God knows what happens when we don’t and he hates to see that happen to the people He loves.
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?”
Funny how things work out huh? Jacob was extremely blessed by the Lord. He was under a covenant with Abraham and his father Isaac, but it couldn’t help keep his own sin to come and roost in his own lap. He was a trickster and now he was being tricked. Jesus teaches this principle in the Sermon on the Mount and other places and it is still true today! There is plenty of reason to live a holy and clean hearted life and this is one of them. If we think that the enemy won’t be empowered by our own choice to do evil, we are incorrect! Why do you think that God’s Word over and over again calls us to live “rightly”? Because God knows what happens when we don’t and he hates to see that happen to the people He loves.
Friday, February 4, 2011
February 4
That was a great day of reading! What lessons! What a story! Don’t you just love days like this where the Word is so full of richness – obvious richness, that you can’t decide what to write on?
Acts 10:38 (NIV)
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Please notice the last 5 words, “because God was with Him”. What we have to ask ourselves is, if God is with us, could we do what Jesus did – all of it! Well, there is John 14:12 “…greater things you shall do…”, and then there is Mark 9:23 “…all things are possible…”, so what will you believe? I will believe this, “If God is for me, then who can be against me?” In other words, there may be people against me but nobody can match up to God! The key as we see in those last 5 words is God has to be with us. Jesus however only went where He saw the Father going and only did what He saw the Father doing, so it wasn’t like the Father went wherever Jesus went, but Jesus went wherever the Father went. Did you get that? If we are asking God to go with and bless our lives, bless our plans and so on, we are taking the wrong approach! Let God drive and then you are always with Him AND He is always with you! That is how to live in God’s presence – you be with him! One of the answers to the question, “why don’t we see more miracles and …” is this, because we aren’t keeping God “before” us. Which not only means staying in His presence, (going where He goes) but keeping Him in front of us – leading us.
Acts 10:38 (NIV)
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Please notice the last 5 words, “because God was with Him”. What we have to ask ourselves is, if God is with us, could we do what Jesus did – all of it! Well, there is John 14:12 “…greater things you shall do…”, and then there is Mark 9:23 “…all things are possible…”, so what will you believe? I will believe this, “If God is for me, then who can be against me?” In other words, there may be people against me but nobody can match up to God! The key as we see in those last 5 words is God has to be with us. Jesus however only went where He saw the Father going and only did what He saw the Father doing, so it wasn’t like the Father went wherever Jesus went, but Jesus went wherever the Father went. Did you get that? If we are asking God to go with and bless our lives, bless our plans and so on, we are taking the wrong approach! Let God drive and then you are always with Him AND He is always with you! That is how to live in God’s presence – you be with him! One of the answers to the question, “why don’t we see more miracles and …” is this, because we aren’t keeping God “before” us. Which not only means staying in His presence, (going where He goes) but keeping Him in front of us – leading us.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
February 3
Genesis 25:34 (NIV)
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
We can look at Esau and criticize him but let’s look at ourselves instead. Isn’t it easier to read this account and then say, “I would never do that!” For the most part I think that is pride on our behalf. How many of us have sold our birthright for a relationship with friends or the opposite sex, or maybe just some sex? How many of us have sold our birthright for comfort or alcohol and partying? We have such an incredible birthright as children of God! We are co-heirs with Christ which means we have everything that he inherited! Have we sold the birthright of healing and miracles, of peace or joy? Those things and many others are ours to have, do we possess them? Do we claim them as ours or have we given them away because of faulty thinking? At least Esau got some food and drink for his birthright, I think there have been times in my life that I haven’t gotten anything in return except trouble! Are you hearing me?
The reason he gave away his birthright so easily was because he “despised” it in the first place or didn’t value it. He didn’t think it was that valuable! (Until his father died). We must have the right perspective of our birthright as King’s kids. We have so much at our disposal! We are like Isaac who prospered wherever he went, it was obvious to all (except for maybe Esau, who saw the blessing, but didn’t reckon it to himself) and they feared him even though he knew nothing of war. He was like a “tree planted by the water who bears its fruit in season, whose leaf doesn’t wither, whatever he does prospers”. (Psalm 1) Recognize you have a birthright and claim it. Learn what your birthright is and stand on it. Realize who gave you this birthright and what it cost, and don’t let it go to waste!
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
We can look at Esau and criticize him but let’s look at ourselves instead. Isn’t it easier to read this account and then say, “I would never do that!” For the most part I think that is pride on our behalf. How many of us have sold our birthright for a relationship with friends or the opposite sex, or maybe just some sex? How many of us have sold our birthright for comfort or alcohol and partying? We have such an incredible birthright as children of God! We are co-heirs with Christ which means we have everything that he inherited! Have we sold the birthright of healing and miracles, of peace or joy? Those things and many others are ours to have, do we possess them? Do we claim them as ours or have we given them away because of faulty thinking? At least Esau got some food and drink for his birthright, I think there have been times in my life that I haven’t gotten anything in return except trouble! Are you hearing me?
The reason he gave away his birthright so easily was because he “despised” it in the first place or didn’t value it. He didn’t think it was that valuable! (Until his father died). We must have the right perspective of our birthright as King’s kids. We have so much at our disposal! We are like Isaac who prospered wherever he went, it was obvious to all (except for maybe Esau, who saw the blessing, but didn’t reckon it to himself) and they feared him even though he knew nothing of war. He was like a “tree planted by the water who bears its fruit in season, whose leaf doesn’t wither, whatever he does prospers”. (Psalm 1) Recognize you have a birthright and claim it. Learn what your birthright is and stand on it. Realize who gave you this birthright and what it cost, and don’t let it go to waste!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
February 2
How much do you love the book of Acts?! What encouragement! First a fierce opponent of the gospel gets hit by “light” and knocked to the ground. Then a believer prays for his healing and he is healed, and then Paul twice had to escape people who wanted to kill him. What lessons! Then Peter raises up a paralytic and then raises a dead person. I know that this isn’t a “day” in the life, but it does seem to be normal. Visions, healings, raising from the dead, those are the things that happened and I say to us today, happen (in the present tense). Forget about can happen (possibility), but do happen all around the world! Why don’t we hear about it? The same reason most of us don’t that the government has approved genetically altered food and it is really not good for us. If we would read a bit more and expand our life context from being the people that we can see or the people that we know, we would read about modern day miracles that happen regularly. However, even if we don’t have any other reports, it is enough that we have the Word of God! This tells us what is normal and natural for the believer. Let’s look at it again:
• Bright light appears out of nowhere
• Being knocked to the ground
• Blindness in order for a more excellent revelation
• Jesus audibly speaking to a chosen person in a group
• Visions with interactions with Jesus
• Salvation of an ardent adversary of Christ
• Baptism in the Holy Spirit
• Healing blind eyes
• People wanting to kill the messenger
• Divine protection and wisdom
• A completely changed life
• Healing of radical maladies
• Putting mourners outside in order to pray with faith
• Raising people from the dead
• Many people believing in Christ because of miracles with evangelism
These are just a few observations, they are NORMAL Christian living. Our normal living (in this country) has been reduced to living moral and helping people. It is that and so much more! Start renewing your mind right now – this stuff in normal!
• Bright light appears out of nowhere
• Being knocked to the ground
• Blindness in order for a more excellent revelation
• Jesus audibly speaking to a chosen person in a group
• Visions with interactions with Jesus
• Salvation of an ardent adversary of Christ
• Baptism in the Holy Spirit
• Healing blind eyes
• People wanting to kill the messenger
• Divine protection and wisdom
• A completely changed life
• Healing of radical maladies
• Putting mourners outside in order to pray with faith
• Raising people from the dead
• Many people believing in Christ because of miracles with evangelism
These are just a few observations, they are NORMAL Christian living. Our normal living (in this country) has been reduced to living moral and helping people. It is that and so much more! Start renewing your mind right now – this stuff in normal!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
February 1
Acts 8:39-40 (NIV)
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
What is it that can’t happen? Nothing I would tell you! Here Philip is somehow taken in the spirit and placed in another city, without the use of a road! This was a spirit realm thing – a Holy Spirit happening that can’t be explained! Again my question is what is it that the Spirit of God cannot do? He could make a car appear in your driveway, He could overwhelm you with peace in a time of trouble, He can heal your cancer so much that the doctors will never find a trace of it! This shouldn’t be that hard to accept if we believe that we have been saved, which is an incredible miracle! I think this is included in the Biblical account to make us stop and think about the greatness and limitlessness of God. His children don’t live under the “normal” laws of physics alone, but we have another law of the Spirit that we live under – limitlessness! If we begin to look for these types of things in the Word, we will see them, but if we stay focused on “how to live”, which has great merit, we will miss the awesomeness of God and the FACT that we can live on a different level. How is all this accessed, by faith and faith alone. Consider this;
Acts 8:18-19 (NIV)
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
You cannot get the gift of the Spirit or anything else in the Spirit by money or any human effort or will! God will not be bought with our good works. All things in Him from salvation to healing to dreams and visions are attained through faith. All things are possible for him who believes (trusts or has faith).
Let’s redefine what normal Christians are! Let’s take it from being nice moral people who people are generally liked (notwithstanding all of the criticisms) to people of intense dedication to the full gospel, who love deeply, perform signs and wonders, and are limitless in what can happen through them!
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
What is it that can’t happen? Nothing I would tell you! Here Philip is somehow taken in the spirit and placed in another city, without the use of a road! This was a spirit realm thing – a Holy Spirit happening that can’t be explained! Again my question is what is it that the Spirit of God cannot do? He could make a car appear in your driveway, He could overwhelm you with peace in a time of trouble, He can heal your cancer so much that the doctors will never find a trace of it! This shouldn’t be that hard to accept if we believe that we have been saved, which is an incredible miracle! I think this is included in the Biblical account to make us stop and think about the greatness and limitlessness of God. His children don’t live under the “normal” laws of physics alone, but we have another law of the Spirit that we live under – limitlessness! If we begin to look for these types of things in the Word, we will see them, but if we stay focused on “how to live”, which has great merit, we will miss the awesomeness of God and the FACT that we can live on a different level. How is all this accessed, by faith and faith alone. Consider this;
Acts 8:18-19 (NIV)
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
You cannot get the gift of the Spirit or anything else in the Spirit by money or any human effort or will! God will not be bought with our good works. All things in Him from salvation to healing to dreams and visions are attained through faith. All things are possible for him who believes (trusts or has faith).
Let’s redefine what normal Christians are! Let’s take it from being nice moral people who people are generally liked (notwithstanding all of the criticisms) to people of intense dedication to the full gospel, who love deeply, perform signs and wonders, and are limitless in what can happen through them!
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