SCRIPTURE Matthew 24:4-7
4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,[a]' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
OBSERVATION
We know that Jesus said, Watch out." There are so many people that claim to know the answers to our dilemmas. "The end" is not yet
Rather than answering the disciples' questions on their terms, Jesus used the occasion to teach them three important things. One, he taught them that the scenario they were asking about was much more complicated than their simplistic notions. Two, they could not know when Jesus would "come," or as we would say, "return." Three, they should worry about or "watch" their relationship with God and not worry about "watching" world or local events. Let's not be alarmed but keep ourselves close to God. If you are worrying about world events. God is saying Peace be still. Eventhough, we know that things are getting worse the best thing to do is concern yourself with your relationship with Christ. This is just the beginning of what will come.
APPLICATION
I want to be concern about my relationship with you and know that I am in right standing with you. Basically, the "sign" of Jesus' coming, as he gave it, was his coming! There is a lesson here for us. Quite simply, there is no advance sign of Jesus' coming for us to be able to predict. He comes when he comes, and the people who are then alive will know it when it happens. I do not want to get carried away with false prophets and false predictions. We need to meet with God daily rest in his presence. Do not be alarmed! Things are going to get better.
PRAYER
Lord, we know that there are so many people that have been suffering because of this economy, and we pray for them. We pray that you will help them out of this turmoil. We pray that people will come closer to you. We know that things are going to get better and that you are doing mircales in people lives. Lord, I pray that people will trust you and come closer to you. You are the only person that can save us.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The Joy of Salvation
SCRIPTURE Palms 51:10-13
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
OBSERVATION
David said this prayer after the Prophet Nathan came to him and rebuked him for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband. David had everything he wanted. He had power, prestige, wealth and all types of luxuries, but David wanted more. The times that we are living our like this. Americans want more of the world and they lust for things they can not have! Even though, we have been blessed it seems that our eyes continue to fall on things that our not ours. For those of us who have experienced moral failure, divorce, or other such life experience, it is a message of hope, healing, and restoration that reminds us that God's agenda is not to crush sinners under his feet, but to heal them and restore their relationship with Him.
APPLICATION
We love stories with perfect, happy endings, and we want sin forgiven without consequence. In reality, we can be forgiven for breaking the window, but we still have to sweep up the broken glass and repair the window. There are consequences to our actions, and like it or not, we must coexist with those consequences, just as David did. God is faithful to help us through the restoration and the process of healing. David called out to God and asked him to do the following; do not cast me from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Are we desiring his presence and Holy Spirit more than the things of the world? When it comes down to it, that's all I really have!
PRAYER
Lord, I desire you more than what this world has to offer. I desire your Holy Spirit and to be in your presence. Use me to turn people back to you as David did. Lord if you can restore David for his sins you can restore anyone. Help me not to judge people but to love them into the Kingdom. You want to create a right spirit and restore the joy of your salvation to all of us sinners.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
OBSERVATION
David said this prayer after the Prophet Nathan came to him and rebuked him for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband. David had everything he wanted. He had power, prestige, wealth and all types of luxuries, but David wanted more. The times that we are living our like this. Americans want more of the world and they lust for things they can not have! Even though, we have been blessed it seems that our eyes continue to fall on things that our not ours. For those of us who have experienced moral failure, divorce, or other such life experience, it is a message of hope, healing, and restoration that reminds us that God's agenda is not to crush sinners under his feet, but to heal them and restore their relationship with Him.
APPLICATION
We love stories with perfect, happy endings, and we want sin forgiven without consequence. In reality, we can be forgiven for breaking the window, but we still have to sweep up the broken glass and repair the window. There are consequences to our actions, and like it or not, we must coexist with those consequences, just as David did. God is faithful to help us through the restoration and the process of healing. David called out to God and asked him to do the following; do not cast me from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Are we desiring his presence and Holy Spirit more than the things of the world? When it comes down to it, that's all I really have!
PRAYER
Lord, I desire you more than what this world has to offer. I desire your Holy Spirit and to be in your presence. Use me to turn people back to you as David did. Lord if you can restore David for his sins you can restore anyone. Help me not to judge people but to love them into the Kingdom. You want to create a right spirit and restore the joy of your salvation to all of us sinners.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Help is on the way!
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 20
For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
OBSERVATION
David knew that he could always call on God! Most people get embarrassed to say that they need help. I personally, rather loose my dignity than my integrity. I have learned like David that God knows when you are in distress and he is waiting for you to call him. We do not need to hide our needs from our family especially not the father. Remember that the God of Jacob was there for him during his time of famine and during his time of plenty. Jacob's son Joseph was used to help his family make it through some very tough times. God was faithful to Jacob and helped him survive 7 years of famine.
APPLICATION
I believe that you can call out to God for any reason. Families all around the world our suffering through hard times and need help. The church is there to support these that are in need. We saw hundreds of people come to the WOW Jam to pick up a bag of groceries or get a hot dog. There are so many people that are in distress. I want to be used by God to be his right hand. Psalms 20:6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
PRAYER
Lord, I pray that you would use me to be your hands that reach out to people. I pray that I would be your feet. I want to carry the message of the gospel (good news) to people who are hurting and are in distress. I pray for people this morning that need your help, give them your provision and protection from these difficult times.
Psalm 20
For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
OBSERVATION
David knew that he could always call on God! Most people get embarrassed to say that they need help. I personally, rather loose my dignity than my integrity. I have learned like David that God knows when you are in distress and he is waiting for you to call him. We do not need to hide our needs from our family especially not the father. Remember that the God of Jacob was there for him during his time of famine and during his time of plenty. Jacob's son Joseph was used to help his family make it through some very tough times. God was faithful to Jacob and helped him survive 7 years of famine.
APPLICATION
I believe that you can call out to God for any reason. Families all around the world our suffering through hard times and need help. The church is there to support these that are in need. We saw hundreds of people come to the WOW Jam to pick up a bag of groceries or get a hot dog. There are so many people that are in distress. I want to be used by God to be his right hand. Psalms 20:6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
PRAYER
Lord, I pray that you would use me to be your hands that reach out to people. I pray that I would be your feet. I want to carry the message of the gospel (good news) to people who are hurting and are in distress. I pray for people this morning that need your help, give them your provision and protection from these difficult times.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
David's Prayer
SCRIPTURE 2 Samuel 2:18
David's Prayer 18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD ?
20 "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
OBSERVATION
I believe that David was amazed and in shock that the Almighty God would pay so much attention to him. David felt humbled and curious why God would choose him and his family to exalt. David called himself a servant and humbled himself even though he was anointed King. It doesn't matter what position we have. We need to recognize that we are very lucky to be called his servants. God is the only one that knows are future and can exalt whoever he wants to. So many times we forget that the only person in charge of our future is God almighty.
APPLICATION
Teach me to be humble like David, eventhough you have brought us to a place of leadership. People all around me, do not know that I am nothing but a servant. So many times we want to put people on their peddalstools and honor the person that God has sent, but it is God who we need to lift up. The word says that if we lift up the name of Jesus all men would be drawn unto him.
PRAYER
Lord, I pray that you will continue to recognize me as your servant and will use me to fullfill your plan. I pray that you will reveal your will and your destiny for our lives. Please help us to trust you, because you are the only one that knows our future.
David's Prayer 18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD ?
20 "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
OBSERVATION
I believe that David was amazed and in shock that the Almighty God would pay so much attention to him. David felt humbled and curious why God would choose him and his family to exalt. David called himself a servant and humbled himself even though he was anointed King. It doesn't matter what position we have. We need to recognize that we are very lucky to be called his servants. God is the only one that knows are future and can exalt whoever he wants to. So many times we forget that the only person in charge of our future is God almighty.
APPLICATION
Teach me to be humble like David, eventhough you have brought us to a place of leadership. People all around me, do not know that I am nothing but a servant. So many times we want to put people on their peddalstools and honor the person that God has sent, but it is God who we need to lift up. The word says that if we lift up the name of Jesus all men would be drawn unto him.
PRAYER
Lord, I pray that you will continue to recognize me as your servant and will use me to fullfill your plan. I pray that you will reveal your will and your destiny for our lives. Please help us to trust you, because you are the only one that knows our future.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Freedom to Worship
SCRIPTURE
2 Samuel 6:21-22a: David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.
big>OBSERVATION
Michal was upset with David because he was celebrating or worshiping God in an unusual manner. Michal rebuked David for having done so in front of these slave girls. David says, "Hey, this is for God and no one else!" (In a nutshell)
APPLICATION
I love David because he wasn't ashamed of God or afraid of what other people thought of the way he worshiped! I want to be more like this man! I want to feel free to express myself in worship however the Spirit leads me with no fear of what "Man" may think!
PRAYER
Father, give me this boldness I pray! The boldness to come excitedly before you in worship however you want me to, without worrying about what anyone thinks!
Amen.
2 Samuel 6:21-22a: David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.
big>OBSERVATION
Michal was upset with David because he was celebrating or worshiping God in an unusual manner. Michal rebuked David for having done so in front of these slave girls. David says, "Hey, this is for God and no one else!" (In a nutshell)
APPLICATION
I love David because he wasn't ashamed of God or afraid of what other people thought of the way he worshiped! I want to be more like this man! I want to feel free to express myself in worship however the Spirit leads me with no fear of what "Man" may think!
PRAYER
Father, give me this boldness I pray! The boldness to come excitedly before you in worship however you want me to, without worrying about what anyone thinks!
Amen.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Check Yo Self
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
OBSERVATION
David had it right here! He took the time to ask God to search himself, to test him and see if there was anything in him that didn't belong. David wanted nothing holding him back from the presence of God!
APPLICATION
How often do I do this? How often to I open myself up to God and say, "I'm all yours. Poke around and see what's in me that doesn't belong!" Not often enough! I want to have nothing between the Lord and I!
PRAYER
Father, Search me! If there's anything within that does not belong, reveal that to me and help me to deal accordingly with it! Amen.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
OBSERVATION
David had it right here! He took the time to ask God to search himself, to test him and see if there was anything in him that didn't belong. David wanted nothing holding him back from the presence of God!
APPLICATION
How often do I do this? How often to I open myself up to God and say, "I'm all yours. Poke around and see what's in me that doesn't belong!" Not often enough! I want to have nothing between the Lord and I!
PRAYER
Father, Search me! If there's anything within that does not belong, reveal that to me and help me to deal accordingly with it! Amen.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Unclean
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 15:11- What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean.
OBSERVATION
Jesus, once again is dealing with the legalism of the Pharisees! The Pharisees were concerned that the disciples were breaking the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating. Jesus sets them straight when he says it's not what goes in, but what comes out that makes them unclean.
APPLICATION
We need to be sure that we are watching what comes out of our mouth! The word says that the tongue is as sharp as a double edged sword. The power of life and death are in the tongue!
PRAYER
Father, I want to be clean in your eyes! Help me to watch what comes out of my mouth, that my every word may bring glory to your name.
Amen.
Matthew 15:11- What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean.
OBSERVATION
Jesus, once again is dealing with the legalism of the Pharisees! The Pharisees were concerned that the disciples were breaking the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating. Jesus sets them straight when he says it's not what goes in, but what comes out that makes them unclean.
APPLICATION
We need to be sure that we are watching what comes out of our mouth! The word says that the tongue is as sharp as a double edged sword. The power of life and death are in the tongue!
PRAYER
Father, I want to be clean in your eyes! Help me to watch what comes out of my mouth, that my every word may bring glory to your name.
Amen.
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