SCRIPTURE
Acts 20:24a - "But none of these things move me. . ."
OBSERVATION
Paul had faced, and would continue to face, many hardships in his life. In fact, he was being warned prophetically about some of them in this instance, and this is what provokes his comments. Yet he has a heavenly perspective with regards to suffering and sacrifice and refuses to be moved from a place of trust and obedience to God's path for his life.
APPLICATION
How easy it is for us to let difficulties, sufferings, even small, uncomfortable things move us in our emotions, our decisions - those are the things that cause us to waver from God's path and God's best. We must learn to say "but none of these things move me" and continue to press forward with confidence, obedience, and trust in the Lord's plan for us.
PRAYER
God, when the difficulties come, help us not to be moved, but to be unwavering in our commitment to live for You and serve You with all of our hearts. Help us to recognize our tendencies to be "moved" by adversity out of Your perfect will for our lives.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Holy Spirit
SCRIPTURE
Acts 19:6 - "And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied".
OBSERVATION
This was a very special experience in these believers' lives that God had ordained for them - releasing them into the prophetic ministry of the Holy Spirit. It came as somewhat of a surprise, because they weren't expecting or even aware of it. How awesome that God, in His love for them, chose to surprise them and show them that there was even more in their Christian experience than they knew about, or had planned on.
APPLICATION
God has incredible supernatural moments for all of us as His children and sometimes they come when we least expect it. Our perceptions of God are so limited, and as we continue to walk with Him, He will surprise us with supernatural interruptions of His Spirit that are designed to strengthen, encourage, and empower us in our lives and relationships with Him.
PRAYER
God, help us to be open to Your divine interruptions in our lives- things we may not be expecting, things we may not be prepared for - but things that You have purposed for our lives to grow us in our relationship with You, and to make us stronger witnesses for Your Kingdom. May every purpose of Yours be established in our lives!
Acts 19:6 - "And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied".
OBSERVATION
This was a very special experience in these believers' lives that God had ordained for them - releasing them into the prophetic ministry of the Holy Spirit. It came as somewhat of a surprise, because they weren't expecting or even aware of it. How awesome that God, in His love for them, chose to surprise them and show them that there was even more in their Christian experience than they knew about, or had planned on.
APPLICATION
God has incredible supernatural moments for all of us as His children and sometimes they come when we least expect it. Our perceptions of God are so limited, and as we continue to walk with Him, He will surprise us with supernatural interruptions of His Spirit that are designed to strengthen, encourage, and empower us in our lives and relationships with Him.
PRAYER
God, help us to be open to Your divine interruptions in our lives- things we may not be expecting, things we may not be prepared for - but things that You have purposed for our lives to grow us in our relationship with You, and to make us stronger witnesses for Your Kingdom. May every purpose of Yours be established in our lives!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Sharing Christ with Others
SCRIPTURE
Acts 18:9-10 - "Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city".
OBSERVATION
God promised Paul many people in the city that God had sent him to. Perhaps Paul was struggling with fear issues, because God reassured him and told him not to be afraid. He encouraged Paul, promising him that there were many people in that city that would come to know Christ because of Paul's obedience to share the message of salvation and witness.
APPLICATION
This scripture is a direct confirmation to us as a church after the message that Roger spoke yesterday. God is speaking to us that as we take steps of faith and obedience and share Christ with others, that He does have many people in this city that will come into His Kingdom. He is reassuring us not to be afraid, ut to speak in obedience to Him.
PRAYER
God, help us to be willing to take steps of faith to share Christ with those who are in our lives who don't know You. May we be instruments in them coming to know Christ as their Savior. Direct our steps and put people in our paths that we can share with, and help us to overcome fear and be obedient to speak out for You. Sensitize our spirits to Your Holy Spirit. We make a commitment to be obedient and speak as You provide the opportunity.
Acts 18:9-10 - "Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city".
OBSERVATION
God promised Paul many people in the city that God had sent him to. Perhaps Paul was struggling with fear issues, because God reassured him and told him not to be afraid. He encouraged Paul, promising him that there were many people in that city that would come to know Christ because of Paul's obedience to share the message of salvation and witness.
APPLICATION
This scripture is a direct confirmation to us as a church after the message that Roger spoke yesterday. God is speaking to us that as we take steps of faith and obedience and share Christ with others, that He does have many people in this city that will come into His Kingdom. He is reassuring us not to be afraid, ut to speak in obedience to Him.
PRAYER
God, help us to be willing to take steps of faith to share Christ with those who are in our lives who don't know You. May we be instruments in them coming to know Christ as their Savior. Direct our steps and put people in our paths that we can share with, and help us to overcome fear and be obedient to speak out for You. Sensitize our spirits to Your Holy Spirit. We make a commitment to be obedient and speak as You provide the opportunity.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Ready or Not...
SCRIPTURE
Leviticus 9:3-4 (New International Version)
3 Then say to the Israelites: 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox [a] and a ram for a fellowship offering [b] to sacrifice before the LORD, together with a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.' "
OBSERVATION
In this scripture, Aaron and his sons, in the first part of their ministry as priests, address the people of Israel and prepare them for a visitation from the Lord. Moses told Aaron that the Lord would visit them. Because they knew that the presence of the Lord was comming, they made preperation. They had the Israelites prepare offerings to make atonement for sin, offerings of grain, and offerings for fellowship. They knew the day that the Lord was comming, and made sure they were ready.
APPLICATION
There are 2 significant applications that can be learned from this scripture. First of all, in order to come into the presence of the Lord, I need to make sure that I am ready! I need to be prepared by seeking the Lord's forgiveness and seeking to humbly enter his presence. This can be applied if I'm just spending my quiet time with Him, or entering into corporate worship. The second thing thing that I noticed was that Aaron told the Israelites that God was going to visit them that day, to make themselves ready. There's a time comming, which no one knows, but the Lord himself. A time when the Lord is comming back to take his bride. There's not going to be anyone to tell me, "The Lord is comming THIS day." I won't have the chance to make myself right. I need to be sure, that every day, I live like it's my last. Everything I do and say, needs to bring glory to the Lord!
PRAYER
Father, I pray that you would help me in my daily walk with you! Help me to realize that if I am having trouble entering in to your presence, that it's most likley my fault and I need to seek forgiveness and open the path beteween us. God I want to be ready when that final day comes, I want to live a life that is surrendured wholly and completely to you. Help me to do what I can't do without you! In Jesus name.
Amen.
Leviticus 9:3-4 (New International Version)
3 Then say to the Israelites: 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox [a] and a ram for a fellowship offering [b] to sacrifice before the LORD, together with a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.' "
OBSERVATION
In this scripture, Aaron and his sons, in the first part of their ministry as priests, address the people of Israel and prepare them for a visitation from the Lord. Moses told Aaron that the Lord would visit them. Because they knew that the presence of the Lord was comming, they made preperation. They had the Israelites prepare offerings to make atonement for sin, offerings of grain, and offerings for fellowship. They knew the day that the Lord was comming, and made sure they were ready.
APPLICATION
There are 2 significant applications that can be learned from this scripture. First of all, in order to come into the presence of the Lord, I need to make sure that I am ready! I need to be prepared by seeking the Lord's forgiveness and seeking to humbly enter his presence. This can be applied if I'm just spending my quiet time with Him, or entering into corporate worship. The second thing thing that I noticed was that Aaron told the Israelites that God was going to visit them that day, to make themselves ready. There's a time comming, which no one knows, but the Lord himself. A time when the Lord is comming back to take his bride. There's not going to be anyone to tell me, "The Lord is comming THIS day." I won't have the chance to make myself right. I need to be sure, that every day, I live like it's my last. Everything I do and say, needs to bring glory to the Lord!
PRAYER
Father, I pray that you would help me in my daily walk with you! Help me to realize that if I am having trouble entering in to your presence, that it's most likley my fault and I need to seek forgiveness and open the path beteween us. God I want to be ready when that final day comes, I want to live a life that is surrendured wholly and completely to you. Help me to do what I can't do without you! In Jesus name.
Amen.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Dirrect Access
SCRIPTURE
Leviticus 6:7 (New International Version)
7 In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for any of these things he did that made him guilty."
OBSERVATION
God was giving instructions to Moses about making atonement for sin. Here, The Lord is giving specific instructions in regards to what sacrifices are to be brought to the Priest (acting on God's behalf) to make atonement for sin. This section is speaking specifically on the "Guilt Sin". After the Priest has taken the sacrifice and made atonement before the Lord, the particular person will be forgiven for whatever they did that made them guilty.
APPLICATION
Atonement: The reconciliation of God and humans brought about by the redemptive life and death of Jesus. This was one of the definitions listed at Education.yahoo.com. It's amazing. In the Old Testament, people use to have to rely on a Priest to make atonement for their sins. Animals were sacrificed and that blood offering covered the sin and an atonement was made. Thank God that he sent his son, the savior of the world, to shead his blood and be the everlasting sacrifice and atonement. We no longer have to seek out a priest, or bring these animals to sacrifice. We don't have to wait for a certin time that the priest is availible, or wait in line while he's making the atonement for someone else. Because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we can come boldly into the presence of the Lord and ask him for forgiveness face to face, any time, 24-7! Thank you God!
PRAYER
Father, I feel so undeserving of your forgiveness, but I am a sinner, and I need the atonement that you have paid on the cross! Thank you for that sacrifice! Thank you for the cross! Thank you that I have access to the presence of the Lord and don't have to wait for someone else to make atonement for me. Father, even now, I ask for your forgiveness and pray that you would guide me on a daily basis and strengthen me that I may stand firm against temptation.
Amen.
Leviticus 6:7 (New International Version)
7 In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for any of these things he did that made him guilty."
OBSERVATION
God was giving instructions to Moses about making atonement for sin. Here, The Lord is giving specific instructions in regards to what sacrifices are to be brought to the Priest (acting on God's behalf) to make atonement for sin. This section is speaking specifically on the "Guilt Sin". After the Priest has taken the sacrifice and made atonement before the Lord, the particular person will be forgiven for whatever they did that made them guilty.
APPLICATION
Atonement: The reconciliation of God and humans brought about by the redemptive life and death of Jesus. This was one of the definitions listed at Education.yahoo.com. It's amazing. In the Old Testament, people use to have to rely on a Priest to make atonement for their sins. Animals were sacrificed and that blood offering covered the sin and an atonement was made. Thank God that he sent his son, the savior of the world, to shead his blood and be the everlasting sacrifice and atonement. We no longer have to seek out a priest, or bring these animals to sacrifice. We don't have to wait for a certin time that the priest is availible, or wait in line while he's making the atonement for someone else. Because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we can come boldly into the presence of the Lord and ask him for forgiveness face to face, any time, 24-7! Thank you God!
PRAYER
Father, I feel so undeserving of your forgiveness, but I am a sinner, and I need the atonement that you have paid on the cross! Thank you for that sacrifice! Thank you for the cross! Thank you that I have access to the presence of the Lord and don't have to wait for someone else to make atonement for me. Father, even now, I ask for your forgiveness and pray that you would guide me on a daily basis and strengthen me that I may stand firm against temptation.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Boldness By The Spirit
SCRIPTURE
Acts 13:8-11 (Amplified Bible)
Amplified Bible (AMP)
8But Elymas [a]the wise man--for that is the translation of his name [[b]which he had given himself]--opposed them, seeking to keep the proconsul from accepting the faith.
9But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit, looked steadily at [Elymas]
10And said, You master in every form of deception and recklessness, unscrupulousness, and wickedness, you son of the devil, you enemy of everything that is upright and good, will you never stop perverting and making crooked the straight paths of the Lord and plotting against His saving purposes?(A)
11And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, [so blind that you will be] unable to see the sun for a time. Instantly there fell upon him a mist and a darkness, and he groped about seeking persons who would lead him by the hand.
OBSERVATION
Barnabas and Saul/Paul were sent out by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word of God. After preaching in the Synagogues, they set out again and came into contact with a wise man (or sorcerer depending on the translation) in Paphos. Barnabas and Saul/Paul were about to share the Word of God with the Procouncil but were met with opposition by this "Wise Man", Elymas, who tried to keep the Procouncil from believing. Saul/Paul, because he was full of and being lead by the Holy Spirit, was able to deal with the opposition of Elymas and the works of the enemy.
APPLICATION
When you're full of (and lead by) the Holy Spirit and "In Tune" with the Heavenly Father, there's nothing that the enemy can throw in your way that you can't handle. The Holy Spirit flowing through you will give you a boldness to confront the enemy face to face, and the ability to discern what you're fighting against!
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
PRAYER
God, I pray that you would help me to be "In Tune" with you. I want to be lead by the Holy Spirit and to be able to better discern what truly lies behind the battles that I face. Father, give me the boldness that it takes to confront the enemy and help me to be the willing vessel that I need to be in order for the Holy Spirit to lead me, and better flow through me.
Acts 13:8-11 (Amplified Bible)
Amplified Bible (AMP)
8But Elymas [a]the wise man--for that is the translation of his name [[b]which he had given himself]--opposed them, seeking to keep the proconsul from accepting the faith.
9But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit, looked steadily at [Elymas]
10And said, You master in every form of deception and recklessness, unscrupulousness, and wickedness, you son of the devil, you enemy of everything that is upright and good, will you never stop perverting and making crooked the straight paths of the Lord and plotting against His saving purposes?(A)
11And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, [so blind that you will be] unable to see the sun for a time. Instantly there fell upon him a mist and a darkness, and he groped about seeking persons who would lead him by the hand.
OBSERVATION
Barnabas and Saul/Paul were sent out by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word of God. After preaching in the Synagogues, they set out again and came into contact with a wise man (or sorcerer depending on the translation) in Paphos. Barnabas and Saul/Paul were about to share the Word of God with the Procouncil but were met with opposition by this "Wise Man", Elymas, who tried to keep the Procouncil from believing. Saul/Paul, because he was full of and being lead by the Holy Spirit, was able to deal with the opposition of Elymas and the works of the enemy.
APPLICATION
When you're full of (and lead by) the Holy Spirit and "In Tune" with the Heavenly Father, there's nothing that the enemy can throw in your way that you can't handle. The Holy Spirit flowing through you will give you a boldness to confront the enemy face to face, and the ability to discern what you're fighting against!
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
PRAYER
God, I pray that you would help me to be "In Tune" with you. I want to be lead by the Holy Spirit and to be able to better discern what truly lies behind the battles that I face. Father, give me the boldness that it takes to confront the enemy and help me to be the willing vessel that I need to be in order for the Holy Spirit to lead me, and better flow through me.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Live Life in the Cloud
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 40:34-38
34Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.
OBSERVATION
According to verses 36-38, the Israelites never went without the presence of the Lord. It says, "whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted." They always looked to the presence of the Lord in the cloud by day, and fire in the cloud by night.
APPLICATION
Wow, in previous readings of this scripture, this never stuck out so much to me. It is encouraging because in everything, I want to be sure that I am under the covering of the presence of the Lord! In my commings and goings, my decision making, and in everyday life, I always want to be in the presence of the Lord. The awesome thing is, because of the cross, that gap was bridged that lets me enter into the presence of the Lord fully, whenever I so choose. I want to choose to LIVE in his presence.
PRAYER
Father I need you. I want to remain in your presence always. Help me to be ever mindful of you and to invite you into every aspect of my daily life. I don't want to have to run to you when something is wrong or to struggle to enter into your presence after a tough day, I want to be able to say, "I'm already in your presnece, lets talk!" Father forgive me for taking your presence for grantid at times and help me to live life in the cloud of your presence!
Amen.
Exodus 40:34-38
34Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.
OBSERVATION
According to verses 36-38, the Israelites never went without the presence of the Lord. It says, "whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted." They always looked to the presence of the Lord in the cloud by day, and fire in the cloud by night.
APPLICATION
Wow, in previous readings of this scripture, this never stuck out so much to me. It is encouraging because in everything, I want to be sure that I am under the covering of the presence of the Lord! In my commings and goings, my decision making, and in everyday life, I always want to be in the presence of the Lord. The awesome thing is, because of the cross, that gap was bridged that lets me enter into the presence of the Lord fully, whenever I so choose. I want to choose to LIVE in his presence.
PRAYER
Father I need you. I want to remain in your presence always. Help me to be ever mindful of you and to invite you into every aspect of my daily life. I don't want to have to run to you when something is wrong or to struggle to enter into your presence after a tough day, I want to be able to say, "I'm already in your presnece, lets talk!" Father forgive me for taking your presence for grantid at times and help me to live life in the cloud of your presence!
Amen.
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