SCRIPTURE
(Revelation 3:15 & 16) "I know your deeds, that your are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."
OBSERVATION
Another one of the churches that had compromised their walk with God was the church at Laodicea. These Christians had become lukewarm or complacent in their worship and service. God's desire is that they were either sold out for Him or not a follower at all. Their half-way commitment makes God sick, so to speak, to the point that he vomits them out of his mouth.
APPLICATION
Partial commitment is the seed bed for discontentment in any relationship. Setting conditions for our worship is not worship at all but a contractual agreement based on reciprical benefits. We must either serve God whole heartedly with no reservations, or not at all because God won't take second place in our life. That makes Him Sick!
PRAYER
Lord, I will serve You, and have no other god's before You. With all that I am I will give praise to You. I give You first place in my life.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Have You Lost The Way?
SCRIPTURE
(Revelation 2:2-4) "I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love."
OBSERVATION
John is writing this exhortation and addresses it to the church in Ephesus. He says they have endured alot, but they left their first love. Paul makes the point in I Cor. 13, that without love we amount to nothing. John warns the church that if they don't repent and return to His love, He will remove them.
APPLICATION
Paul writing to Timothy says all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching and training. I believe the contemporary church is guilty of leaving its first love and pursuing that which is politically correct. We must return to our first love and zeal for the cause of Christ or stand in judgement of being removed. Have we lost our way?
PRAYER
Lord, I repent of my overconcern for momentary security. Help me to be aware of the opportunities to love others for Your sake. Restore my first love of You!
(Revelation 2:2-4) "I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love."
OBSERVATION
John is writing this exhortation and addresses it to the church in Ephesus. He says they have endured alot, but they left their first love. Paul makes the point in I Cor. 13, that without love we amount to nothing. John warns the church that if they don't repent and return to His love, He will remove them.
APPLICATION
Paul writing to Timothy says all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching and training. I believe the contemporary church is guilty of leaving its first love and pursuing that which is politically correct. We must return to our first love and zeal for the cause of Christ or stand in judgement of being removed. Have we lost our way?
PRAYER
Lord, I repent of my overconcern for momentary security. Help me to be aware of the opportunities to love others for Your sake. Restore my first love of You!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Are You Listening?
SCRIPTURE
(Revelation 1:3) "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near."
OBSERVATION
John has been instructed to chronicle a prophetic vision for the seven churches scattered throught Asia. Inherant in the reading and application of these words is a blessing. The obvious blessing in John's life is the fulfillment of the Great Commission. As with most prophetic words with a judgement content, it is difficult to personally apply. John was not writing it to tickle the ears of his readers, but out of obedience.
APPLICATION
It is not enough to hear the prophetic words from God, they must be applied. That has never changed! Many people want to receive words of monetary gain or physical health, but there is a tendency to resist words that require personal sacrifice or a lifestyle change. Revelation literally means "the unveiling." God is about to expose what is, and what is to come. Are you listening?
PRAYER
God, cause my spirit to hear Your Spirit and give me understanding. Give disclosure of deeper insight into Your will for my life and how You want me to invest my life in others as time as we know it draws to its close.
(Revelation 1:3) "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near."
OBSERVATION
John has been instructed to chronicle a prophetic vision for the seven churches scattered throught Asia. Inherant in the reading and application of these words is a blessing. The obvious blessing in John's life is the fulfillment of the Great Commission. As with most prophetic words with a judgement content, it is difficult to personally apply. John was not writing it to tickle the ears of his readers, but out of obedience.
APPLICATION
It is not enough to hear the prophetic words from God, they must be applied. That has never changed! Many people want to receive words of monetary gain or physical health, but there is a tendency to resist words that require personal sacrifice or a lifestyle change. Revelation literally means "the unveiling." God is about to expose what is, and what is to come. Are you listening?
PRAYER
God, cause my spirit to hear Your Spirit and give me understanding. Give disclosure of deeper insight into Your will for my life and how You want me to invest my life in others as time as we know it draws to its close.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Influence of Pride
SCRIPTURE
(IIIJohn 9&10) "I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and he forbids those who desire to do so, and puts them out of the church."
OBSERVATION
Believe it or not, there are those who have self-advancing motivations in the church. If you do not follow their direction you may stand the risk of verbal assault or excommunication. In this case, John says he will expose the deeds and identify the false accusations when he comes to them.
APPLICATION
It is important to weigh the words of a man with the truth of God's Word, and his love for God and the church. When there is a great focus on the leader or significant people within the church, the seeds of pride will begin to flourish. Pride comes before destruction.
PRAYER
God, keep my focus on You. May those who hear my audible words, sense the spiritual realm of Your kingdom.
(IIIJohn 9&10) "I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and he forbids those who desire to do so, and puts them out of the church."
OBSERVATION
Believe it or not, there are those who have self-advancing motivations in the church. If you do not follow their direction you may stand the risk of verbal assault or excommunication. In this case, John says he will expose the deeds and identify the false accusations when he comes to them.
APPLICATION
It is important to weigh the words of a man with the truth of God's Word, and his love for God and the church. When there is a great focus on the leader or significant people within the church, the seeds of pride will begin to flourish. Pride comes before destruction.
PRAYER
God, keep my focus on You. May those who hear my audible words, sense the spiritual realm of Your kingdom.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Sit Up and Listen to Your Teacher
SCRIPTURE
(IIJohn 9) "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son."
OBSERVATION
John is warning his readers about those who appear to be believers but deny the diety of Christ and the supremecy of His teachings. To abide in something means to live in it and it in you. The teachings of Jesus have the power of eternal life, but are difficult to impliment in the natural man.
APPLICATION
It is possible to go to far by not keeping the teachings of Christ, or simply compromising or denying the power there of. If we deny or chose not to apply the teachings of Jesus, we deny relationship with God the Father. Refusing to apply the lessons taught by "the teacher" will cost you more than detention after school. We all need to sit up and listen to the teacher.
PRAYER
Lord, let Your teachings motivate my actions, and Your Spirit empower my emotions.
(IIJohn 9) "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son."
OBSERVATION
John is warning his readers about those who appear to be believers but deny the diety of Christ and the supremecy of His teachings. To abide in something means to live in it and it in you. The teachings of Jesus have the power of eternal life, but are difficult to impliment in the natural man.
APPLICATION
It is possible to go to far by not keeping the teachings of Christ, or simply compromising or denying the power there of. If we deny or chose not to apply the teachings of Jesus, we deny relationship with God the Father. Refusing to apply the lessons taught by "the teacher" will cost you more than detention after school. We all need to sit up and listen to the teacher.
PRAYER
Lord, let Your teachings motivate my actions, and Your Spirit empower my emotions.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Plans to Prosper You . . .
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 29:11-14 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."
OBSERVATION
Of course, everyone loves Jeremiah 29:11. We claim it because we all want to prosper and have hope and a future and not be harmed. However, we sometimes fail to continue on, to Jeremiah 12 and beyond. This is a conditional promise. We, first, must seek Him with all of our heart. We must call upon Him and pray to Him and He will listen to us. God promises that when we seek Him with all of our heart, He will be found, and He will bring us back.
When we step out of line of God's will for us; when we are knowingly disobedient, how can we expect God to prosper us? He is a loving Father who wants the very best for us. Sometimes the things we desire are not the very best for us. Sometimes the paths we choose, without first seeking His direction, are not the paths He would choose for us. There is a definite order to be learned here. "Call upon me", "come and pray to me", "I will listen to you", and "I will be found by you", and "I will bring you back".
APPLICATION
I'm going to memorize these verses in a different order, starting with verse 13 and 14, then proceeding to verse 11. Because I don't ever want to take God's promise for granted if I am living outside of his will or making decisions without first consulting Him. Now, when I need the comfort of Jeremiah 29:11, I will first ask myself if I'm living up to my end.
PRAYER
Lord above, thank you for the reminder to seek You; to call out to You; and to do it with all of my heart. Thank you for always having my best interest at heart. Let me not ever forget to make all choices that would line up with Your will for my life and the lives of my family. Amen.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."
OBSERVATION
Of course, everyone loves Jeremiah 29:11. We claim it because we all want to prosper and have hope and a future and not be harmed. However, we sometimes fail to continue on, to Jeremiah 12 and beyond. This is a conditional promise. We, first, must seek Him with all of our heart. We must call upon Him and pray to Him and He will listen to us. God promises that when we seek Him with all of our heart, He will be found, and He will bring us back.
When we step out of line of God's will for us; when we are knowingly disobedient, how can we expect God to prosper us? He is a loving Father who wants the very best for us. Sometimes the things we desire are not the very best for us. Sometimes the paths we choose, without first seeking His direction, are not the paths He would choose for us. There is a definite order to be learned here. "Call upon me", "come and pray to me", "I will listen to you", and "I will be found by you", and "I will bring you back".
APPLICATION
I'm going to memorize these verses in a different order, starting with verse 13 and 14, then proceeding to verse 11. Because I don't ever want to take God's promise for granted if I am living outside of his will or making decisions without first consulting Him. Now, when I need the comfort of Jeremiah 29:11, I will first ask myself if I'm living up to my end.
PRAYER
Lord above, thank you for the reminder to seek You; to call out to You; and to do it with all of my heart. Thank you for always having my best interest at heart. Let me not ever forget to make all choices that would line up with Your will for my life and the lives of my family. Amen.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Walking in the Light
SCRIPTURE
1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
OBSERVATION
John is sharing some of what the disciples learned from Jesus while He was with them. He contrasts the light, which is goodness against darkness, which is evil. Of course, God is the light. There is no evil whatsoever in Him. God is truth and holiness and purity.
John warns us against saying that we have fellowship with Jesus and and then living a life that does not practice it by walking in the darkness (i.e. living a life that contains evil).
As I think about God's light - His goodness, His holiness, His purity - it makes everything of this world seem dirty and ugly. Naturally, that is not the case however, I can use His holiness to weigh the things in my life that fall short of an existence filled with light. I can evaluate choices, people, situations, issues and decisions based on what would fall in line with God's light. If every decision I make is evaluated through these lenses, most should be very clear and meet with His approval.
APPLICATION
I need to base my thoughts, words and actions on whether or not they fall into the "light" or "darkness" category. Although the phrase WWJD (What would Jesus do?) is cliche and overused, it does apply. I prefer to think about how I would think, look and act if I were standing in the presence of God. My choices need to be pure enough to meet with His scrutiny at all times.
PRAYER
Father, I thank you for your Word. I will continue to pour your guidance and wisdom into my life and into the lives of my children. We will continue to seek Your "light" and eliminate any areas of darkness that may come our way. Please continue to remind us and convict us when we begin to go astray. Amen.
1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
OBSERVATION
John is sharing some of what the disciples learned from Jesus while He was with them. He contrasts the light, which is goodness against darkness, which is evil. Of course, God is the light. There is no evil whatsoever in Him. God is truth and holiness and purity.
John warns us against saying that we have fellowship with Jesus and and then living a life that does not practice it by walking in the darkness (i.e. living a life that contains evil).
As I think about God's light - His goodness, His holiness, His purity - it makes everything of this world seem dirty and ugly. Naturally, that is not the case however, I can use His holiness to weigh the things in my life that fall short of an existence filled with light. I can evaluate choices, people, situations, issues and decisions based on what would fall in line with God's light. If every decision I make is evaluated through these lenses, most should be very clear and meet with His approval.
APPLICATION
I need to base my thoughts, words and actions on whether or not they fall into the "light" or "darkness" category. Although the phrase WWJD (What would Jesus do?) is cliche and overused, it does apply. I prefer to think about how I would think, look and act if I were standing in the presence of God. My choices need to be pure enough to meet with His scrutiny at all times.
PRAYER
Father, I thank you for your Word. I will continue to pour your guidance and wisdom into my life and into the lives of my children. We will continue to seek Your "light" and eliminate any areas of darkness that may come our way. Please continue to remind us and convict us when we begin to go astray. Amen.
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