SCRIPTURE
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.  Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

John 7:37-39

OBSERVATION
During the Feast of the Tabernacle, Jesus makes this interesting claim.  He says that anyone can come to him and drink and that streams of living water will flow from those that believe in him.  I can only attempt to image what those who were listening to Jesus were thinking.  What does he mean?  How can my thirst be quenched by this man?  What is living water?  How can living water flow from me?  While they did not fully understand the promise given, one thing was clear, Jesus was central.

APPLICATION
Water is key for life.  Everything that lives requires it.  And Jesus makes a claim that he, like water, is needed.  Jesus tells us that he is central to life.  But he doesn't leave it there,  he invites us to come and receive from him.  To drink of the "living water."  What a great reminder!  Jesus is constantly inviting us to come to him, the one thing that is truly needed.

PRAYER
Jesus, you are the one thing that is needed.  Help me to remember this.  Help me to pursue you.  Give me a sensitivity to the spiritual thirst within.  Help me to look to you to quench that thirst!

Living Hope

SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 1:3: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead


OBSERVATION
Because of God's mercy, he gave us new birth into a LIVING hope through Christ's resurrection.


APPLICATION
People place hope in all sorts of things. We place hope in the fact that the economy will turn around, that our car will get us to work in the morning, etc. Hope in objects are dead! Because of Christ's death and resurrection we have hope...Living hope! Heb 6:19 says that the hope we have in Christ is an anchor for our soul!

PRAYER
Father, thank you! Thank you for the living hope we have in Christ as an anchor for our soul!
Amen

SCRIPTURE
James 5:13-14: 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.


OBSERVATION
The scripture says that if you are in trouble (or having trouble) that you should pray, but if you're sick, then call for the elders.


APPLICATION
It's funny how many people will come for prayer because of their "Troubles", yet if you ask them if they have prayed about it, they will tell you no. We need to be sure that we're in line with the scriptures in all that we do. If you're in trouble, pray. If you're sick, call for the elders to lay hands on you!

PRAYER
Father, help me to dig into your word more. Help me to know what the Bible says about my situation(s) and to act on the word.
Amen

Submit & Resist

SCRIPTURE
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.


OBSERVATION
Two actions are required...Submitting to God, and resisting the devil. When these actions have taken place, there's no ground for the devil to stick around.


APPLICATION
The application is simple, submit to God fully. Submit to his Lordship, his commandments, his will, etc; and resist the devil. Someones first actions when dealing with the harassment of the devil, must be to resist! The Word says that if you resist him he MUST flee. Must does not imply that he has a choice, but rather, he has no option in the matter.

PRAYER
Father,
help me to fully submit to you and give me the strength that it takes to resist the devil and his schemes.
Amen

The Writings

SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 30:8
Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.

OBSERVATION
There is only one Holy Scriptures and the Bible was written by God through men that he chose. He wrote it down for us. There is power whenever we record something on paper. If it is a contract with another person, we are responsible for the agreement. If it is a diary, we are reminded of what has gone on. If it’s a journal entry those who read it will know what God has been doing in your life.

APPLICATION
You will benefit greatly if you take time to journal your thoughts and encounters with God on a daily basis. It will be a witness to others and a remembrance for you.

PRAYER
O God, help me with those disciplines that will help me grow in you

He Isn't Silent

SCRIPTURE
Job 33:15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbers upon the bed;16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

OBSERVATION
God guides us even when we are asleep. When we face major decisions and face a myriad of distractions it is good to know that God will find a way to communicate. Often it is when things quiet down and we are still before God that He begins to talk. The Bible says: Stand still and know that I am God.

APPLICATION
Are you willing to trust God to provide you with guidance and direction while you are sound asleep? He can speak in dreams, visions, when we are awake or when we are asleep. When you have a major decision to make, maybe you ought to sleep on it!

PRAYER
As we sleep and slumber, Please watch over our ways O God.

You Lose

SCRIPTURE
Rom. 16:20 ¶ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. ¶ The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

OBSERVATION
The two key words here are: Crush and Shortly. One tells us how thoroughly powerless our enemy has been made since his defeat at the Cross and the other word indicates that we do not have long to wait.
In the original Great text, the word translated CRUSH is a verb meaning to shatter; to pulverize, break in pieces or pulverize. The enemy is no match for our God.

APPLICATION
What a great promise God has given us. The enemy will ultimately be defeated and it will take place SHORTLY. This word in the original meant ‘as soon as possible.’ If you are in the midst of warfare, be encouraged today. SOON, God will defeat your opponent. Keep seeking God because He is working in the dark and will bring all things to the Light.

PRAYER
Lord, I rejoice in your power today and your love toward us. Strengthen us to day to stand against the enemy, knowing that you are reigning over our enemy even though he is ruling in this season of time.