SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
OBSERVATION
There are stongholds, and arguments and pretensions that actually set themselves against "the knowledge of God." Satan distorts the truth about God, he doesen't want us to "know" God. When we really "know" God, Satan cannot gain any strongholds in our lives. A stronghold in the mind is a collection of thoughts in agreement with Satan- thoughts that are lies against what God has revealed about Himself.
APPLICATION
This is one important reason why we must spend time in God's Word. He reveals Himself in the scriptures. When thoughts come in our minds, it could be just a little thought, "God can't love me." If you begin to agree with that thought, it will be just a matter of time before Satan gets a stronghold in your life that can keep you out of the intimate relationship you really have with God your Father through His Son Jesus Christ. I might have the thought but I don't have to agree with it, because it is Satan's lie. God has revealed exactly how He feels about me in His word. We have to take our thoughts captive and bring them into obedience
PRAYER
Lord, the truth about who you really are, the "knowing" you is so sweet. Keep my mind set on the truths I know about you and may I "know" you more and more!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 9: 6-11 & 14
OBSERVATION
"because of the surpassing grace God has given you" Here is this talk again about this "grace" given by God. We're given this "grace" so we can be givers, generous on every occasion.
APPLICATION
There are a lot of ways to walk in this "grace of giving" It might be spending some of our time with lonely people, it could be as simple as opening our homes, it might require our finances or be inconveinent. Its always about our heart but God provides the grace.
PRAYER
Sweet, Holy, Father-my daddy, let your grace abound in me, make me a giver.
2 Corinthians 9: 6-11 & 14
OBSERVATION
"because of the surpassing grace God has given you" Here is this talk again about this "grace" given by God. We're given this "grace" so we can be givers, generous on every occasion.
APPLICATION
There are a lot of ways to walk in this "grace of giving" It might be spending some of our time with lonely people, it could be as simple as opening our homes, it might require our finances or be inconveinent. Its always about our heart but God provides the grace.
PRAYER
Sweet, Holy, Father-my daddy, let your grace abound in me, make me a giver.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Disney's Gift at Reinvention
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<div style="padding:5px 0; text-align:center; width:480px;">Watch <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1906578">Disney Templates</a> and more <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/videos">funny videos</a> on <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/">CollegeHumor</a></div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 8: 7 & 10 But just as you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. vs 10; you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
OBSERVATION
Paul encourages us to "excel" in the grace of giving and then in verse 10 he sees even deeper than just the act of giving but recognizes they were the "first" to give but also to have the "desire" to do so.
APPLICATION
So many times I think about the people at Koinonia who give their time in service to others. I know they do it because they love kids, or they genuinely care that people are welcomed, or they have a heart to help others experience worship. Whatever passion motivates their service, they are so many times the "first" to give. They do seemingly small things, like this Easter many of them will be giving up their seats with their families and serve multiple services, just because they have put "others first" and most amazingly, they do it with the "desire" Paul writes about.
PRAYER
Father, increase this "grace of giving" in me, help me be one of the "first" to give and grow the "desire" to do so, in my heart. Thank you for all those on my team who are teaching me.
2 Corinthians 8: 7 & 10 But just as you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. vs 10; you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
OBSERVATION
Paul encourages us to "excel" in the grace of giving and then in verse 10 he sees even deeper than just the act of giving but recognizes they were the "first" to give but also to have the "desire" to do so.
APPLICATION
So many times I think about the people at Koinonia who give their time in service to others. I know they do it because they love kids, or they genuinely care that people are welcomed, or they have a heart to help others experience worship. Whatever passion motivates their service, they are so many times the "first" to give. They do seemingly small things, like this Easter many of them will be giving up their seats with their families and serve multiple services, just because they have put "others first" and most amazingly, they do it with the "desire" Paul writes about.
PRAYER
Father, increase this "grace of giving" in me, help me be one of the "first" to give and grow the "desire" to do so, in my heart. Thank you for all those on my team who are teaching me.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Hope of all the ends of the earth
Scripture:
Psalm 65:3-5 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgresssions. O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth.
Observation:
Overwhelmed and Hope, are directly opposed to each other. Exact opposites. Overwhelmed is defined as: to submerge; surge over; engulf; to defeat completely and decisively; to affect deeply. I'm reminded of the weight of utter hopelessness apart from God.
Application:
Even though its been 34 years since the gulf between me and God was closed...I remember the hopelessness and its overwhelming weight and its exactly the weight our old enemy Satan wants us to live under BUT you gotta love when the Scripture breaks through! "when we were....you forgave our transgressions", WOW! The Psalmist cries out..."You are the hope of all the ends of the earth!
Prayer:
My heart is filled with thankfullness and great joy, Lord for the freedom from the power of sin, I know in you! But I am increasingly aware of all those who don't know you yet and the forgiveness of sins and the overwhelming weights they carry. Let your forgiveness come in like a flood! You are the Hope of the earth! and I love you!
Psalm 65:3-5 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgresssions. O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth.
Observation:
Overwhelmed and Hope, are directly opposed to each other. Exact opposites. Overwhelmed is defined as: to submerge; surge over; engulf; to defeat completely and decisively; to affect deeply. I'm reminded of the weight of utter hopelessness apart from God.
Application:
Even though its been 34 years since the gulf between me and God was closed...I remember the hopelessness and its overwhelming weight and its exactly the weight our old enemy Satan wants us to live under BUT you gotta love when the Scripture breaks through! "when we were....you forgave our transgressions", WOW! The Psalmist cries out..."You are the hope of all the ends of the earth!
Prayer:
My heart is filled with thankfullness and great joy, Lord for the freedom from the power of sin, I know in you! But I am increasingly aware of all those who don't know you yet and the forgiveness of sins and the overwhelming weights they carry. Let your forgiveness come in like a flood! You are the Hope of the earth! and I love you!
Godly Sorrow
SCRIPTURE
2Cor. 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
OBSERVATION
When people hurt they often cry. Even though tears can be the product of great joy - sorrow in some form is more often the source. I can’t speak for you but when I see a person crying, I want to stop, listen and help them wipe away the tears. The problem, however, is the very tears that come from sorrow become the spring that waters repentance. If sorrow turns us from sin and helps us to follow Jesus more closely, then sorrow and tears becomes our friend.
APPLICATION
Before I seek to wipe away tears from the eyes of people, I will seek to discover the source. If God is using the tears to water the fruit of His Spirit in their lives and turn them around, I will not do anything to abort the work God is doing.
PRAYER
O Lord, help us to have a sorrow that leads to repentance.
2Cor. 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
OBSERVATION
When people hurt they often cry. Even though tears can be the product of great joy - sorrow in some form is more often the source. I can’t speak for you but when I see a person crying, I want to stop, listen and help them wipe away the tears. The problem, however, is the very tears that come from sorrow become the spring that waters repentance. If sorrow turns us from sin and helps us to follow Jesus more closely, then sorrow and tears becomes our friend.
APPLICATION
Before I seek to wipe away tears from the eyes of people, I will seek to discover the source. If God is using the tears to water the fruit of His Spirit in their lives and turn them around, I will not do anything to abort the work God is doing.
PRAYER
O Lord, help us to have a sorrow that leads to repentance.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Come Out
SCRIPTURE
2Cor. 6:17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.
OBSERVATION
Living in the world and not being a part of the world is the challenge set before every Christian. We aren’t called to retreat to some mountain in order to remove ourselves from society but to live a Spirit filled life while integrated with the current culture.
APPLICATION
Francis Schaeffer wrote a book called: How then shall we live.
That question must be answered. I think verse 7 gives us a clue when we are told to have weapons of righteousness in both hands. We must keep our eyes on God and our hands involved in doing right things. As our eyes are focused on Jesus and our hands extended to help people in His name, we can live the Spirit Led life.
PRAYER
Lord, please show us how to be an influence in the world rather than being influenced by the world.
2Cor. 6:17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.
OBSERVATION
Living in the world and not being a part of the world is the challenge set before every Christian. We aren’t called to retreat to some mountain in order to remove ourselves from society but to live a Spirit filled life while integrated with the current culture.
APPLICATION
Francis Schaeffer wrote a book called: How then shall we live.
That question must be answered. I think verse 7 gives us a clue when we are told to have weapons of righteousness in both hands. We must keep our eyes on God and our hands involved in doing right things. As our eyes are focused on Jesus and our hands extended to help people in His name, we can live the Spirit Led life.
PRAYER
Lord, please show us how to be an influence in the world rather than being influenced by the world.
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