339 1 Chronicles 1 – 5; Revelation 2.1 – 2.17
It is in these chapters we find the prayer that was published and became a national best seller. It was astounding that the prayer of Jabez would cause such a stir. Here is the prayer that is recorded in I Chronicles, "Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: ' " Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection---don't let evil hurt me."’ What is the next sentence after that prayer? It may surprise you that it says, "God gave him what he asked." Perhaps today you could pray that the Lord bless you. The Lord in Christ has already blessed you in so many ways. Yet, have you prayed that the Lord would bless you? Wouldn't you want your Father in heaven to pray a blessing over you? Go ahead--Jabez did.
The Lord's first order of business is to speak to the churches in Asia minor. The first church Christ addresses is that of Ephesus. This is a local church located in Ephesus. First, it is praise for all their hard work and their stand against false teachings. Then Jesus rebukes them for losing their first love. It is easy to do the work and even protect the church from false teachings and lose the love for Christ in the middle of that good stuff. The church is to turn back and recover their early love. Where are you? Are you working hard for the Lord, while losing sight of Christ? It is easy to do.
The next church is in Smyrna and the Lord knows their poverty and pain. Jesus also knows the pretenders and lets the church know that he knows. He tells them to tough it out even when they are thrown in jail. He addresses the issue of dying by reminding them he has a crown of Life for them. It is the tangible verses the intangible. Don't give up even if it costs you your life--why? I have a crown of Life for you.
The last church for today is that of Pergamum. Already Antipas has lost his life for staying true to Christ. This church is in a tough location with Jesus talking about being on Satan's turf. But, Christ is fed up with them (Satan's crowd) and is promising to come to even the odds or tip the odds. The last promise for staying true is that each one will get a smooth stone with their new secret name inscribed on it. Jesus not only knows your name He knows your secret name.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
338 Friday, December 4, 2009
338 Nehemiah 10 – 13; Revelation 1
What a scene to behold. The ones who are leading the people, who have influence with and over the people are joining in on a binding oath to follow the Word of God. They had agreed to separate themselves from their neighbors and to follow God. The neighbors had religions that put other gods ahead of Yahweh. These neighbors pushed their religion and expected whoever married their daughters to let her continue to worship her way. This separation was key in Israelites life to keep them on the straight and narrow. Notice the first two items that they are agreeing to carry out has to do with marriage to foreigners and secondly not buying or selling on the Sabbath (money). You could summarize that it has to do with sex and money. Really things have not changed that much over the years. Notice when they dedicated the wall that they brought in the Levites and the singers. Celebration usually included music and in this case in a big way.
The book we have all been waiting for, Revelation. The opening sentence has to be remembered throughout your reading or you get lost in the apocalyptic language in this book. The opening words are, "A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah." It is just a few paragraphs into the book that John describes his meeting Jesus. Christ is a little different this time around. What an awesome picture of our Savior. John evidently faints and Jesus pulls him up. It is then that Jesus speaks to reassure John to not be afraid. Christ also identifies himself as the first and the last, the one who was dead and is now alive. Christ is making sure John knows who he is dealing with--it is the Christ the Messiah. John had recorded these words in his Gospel, "My sheep know my voice." These words were spoken by Christ.
When has Christ spoken to you? Did you recognize His voice?
What a scene to behold. The ones who are leading the people, who have influence with and over the people are joining in on a binding oath to follow the Word of God. They had agreed to separate themselves from their neighbors and to follow God. The neighbors had religions that put other gods ahead of Yahweh. These neighbors pushed their religion and expected whoever married their daughters to let her continue to worship her way. This separation was key in Israelites life to keep them on the straight and narrow. Notice the first two items that they are agreeing to carry out has to do with marriage to foreigners and secondly not buying or selling on the Sabbath (money). You could summarize that it has to do with sex and money. Really things have not changed that much over the years. Notice when they dedicated the wall that they brought in the Levites and the singers. Celebration usually included music and in this case in a big way.
The book we have all been waiting for, Revelation. The opening sentence has to be remembered throughout your reading or you get lost in the apocalyptic language in this book. The opening words are, "A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah." It is just a few paragraphs into the book that John describes his meeting Jesus. Christ is a little different this time around. What an awesome picture of our Savior. John evidently faints and Jesus pulls him up. It is then that Jesus speaks to reassure John to not be afraid. Christ also identifies himself as the first and the last, the one who was dead and is now alive. Christ is making sure John knows who he is dealing with--it is the Christ the Messiah. John had recorded these words in his Gospel, "My sheep know my voice." These words were spoken by Christ.
When has Christ spoken to you? Did you recognize His voice?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
337 Thursday, December 3, 2009
337 Nehemiah 7 – 9; Jude 1
The walls were rebuilt before the houses were rebuilt. That was a priority that was so right and practical. The wall was their protection from the enemy. The first order of business is to find out who is there. Seven months later they all gathered as one person. Ezra read from the book of Moses to all the people. He stood on a platform, read, and explained the Word to the people. It was not only Ezra explaining it, he had small group Bible study leaders out with the people helping out as well. People were burdened by the Word read that day. The leaders also were trying to get them to celebrate what the Lord has done. This is where the phrase came from, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Even when God's Word is convicting us we need His strength.
Fight for the faith. We have lost some of that ‘call to arms’, to be a defender of the faith. We need to be on guard against thinking it wrong to defend the faith. It is unpopular, but oh so necessary in a society that wants everyone to be right. Lies are truth, truth are lies--shhhhh, don't say anything. You can fight for your team, for your politics, but in the faith arena just be quiet and let it be. Jude says no--souls are at stake. The stakes are higher in the faith arena than in any other area. No wonder they want us to just shut up. Speak up for God and His truth.
The walls were rebuilt before the houses were rebuilt. That was a priority that was so right and practical. The wall was their protection from the enemy. The first order of business is to find out who is there. Seven months later they all gathered as one person. Ezra read from the book of Moses to all the people. He stood on a platform, read, and explained the Word to the people. It was not only Ezra explaining it, he had small group Bible study leaders out with the people helping out as well. People were burdened by the Word read that day. The leaders also were trying to get them to celebrate what the Lord has done. This is where the phrase came from, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Even when God's Word is convicting us we need His strength.
Fight for the faith. We have lost some of that ‘call to arms’, to be a defender of the faith. We need to be on guard against thinking it wrong to defend the faith. It is unpopular, but oh so necessary in a society that wants everyone to be right. Lies are truth, truth are lies--shhhhh, don't say anything. You can fight for your team, for your politics, but in the faith arena just be quiet and let it be. Jude says no--souls are at stake. The stakes are higher in the faith arena than in any other area. No wonder they want us to just shut up. Speak up for God and His truth.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
335 Tuesday, December 1, 2009
335 Nehemiah 4 – 6; 3 John 1
More trouble because the work of God is going forward. More times than not when you are going forward with the work of God, there will be opposition. Nehemiah countered with prayer and he set guards. They used to say in the revolutionary war, "Trust God, but keep your powder dry." It usually is prayer and action. Sometimes it is prayer while acting, but it is always served up with prayer. The work is being attacked from the outside and next attack comes from within. The Jewish people were very hungry and they are selling off their children to pay the bills. Nehemiah calls the nobles together and rebukes them for gouging the people. He then calls a big meeting and stirs everyone up.
They were charging obscene interest rates and then taking the property etc.. The nobles promised to stop and to give it all back. Prayer and action are a powerful force. What is God asking you to pray about and do?
John gets to the real practical side of Christian love--hospitality. He exhorts them to keep Christian travelers overnight, even if you do not know them. Then John the Gospel writer of love calls out a brother by the name of Diotrephes. Who would not listen to John's counsel? On top of that, he is spreading vicious rumors about John. This guy is looking for trouble. Is there a person that you need to call out? Is there someone who needs an accountability check? It is rare that anyone ever does anything like this. If you do it be careful--pray and then act.
More trouble because the work of God is going forward. More times than not when you are going forward with the work of God, there will be opposition. Nehemiah countered with prayer and he set guards. They used to say in the revolutionary war, "Trust God, but keep your powder dry." It usually is prayer and action. Sometimes it is prayer while acting, but it is always served up with prayer. The work is being attacked from the outside and next attack comes from within. The Jewish people were very hungry and they are selling off their children to pay the bills. Nehemiah calls the nobles together and rebukes them for gouging the people. He then calls a big meeting and stirs everyone up.
They were charging obscene interest rates and then taking the property etc.. The nobles promised to stop and to give it all back. Prayer and action are a powerful force. What is God asking you to pray about and do?
John gets to the real practical side of Christian love--hospitality. He exhorts them to keep Christian travelers overnight, even if you do not know them. Then John the Gospel writer of love calls out a brother by the name of Diotrephes. Who would not listen to John's counsel? On top of that, he is spreading vicious rumors about John. This guy is looking for trouble. Is there a person that you need to call out? Is there someone who needs an accountability check? It is rare that anyone ever does anything like this. If you do it be careful--pray and then act.
Monday, November 30, 2009
334 Monday, November 30, 2009
334 Nehemiah 1 – 3; 2 John 1
Nehemiah wept before God because he saw the real needs of the people. Ezra did the same thing when he realized the people had not separated themselves from sin. Do we see the real need of people? Do we take the time to assess the real need? Once we see the real need what do we do with it? Ezra and Nehemiah took it before God. They prayed about the situation. Real men and women pray. Real men and women know that without God the real need will not be met. Nehemiah heard through his messenger that the people were suffering in Jerusalem and the walls and the gates were in rubbles. "When I heard this, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God-of-Heaven." Every good thing that happens in the kingdom of God begins with prayer. Ezra and Nehemiah both took action! It is prayer with feet, not just knees.
John is telling us we must love one another and that has not changed. Then he goes and calls people deceivers. Where is the love John? John knew that if the truth of Jesus was compromised (especially the truth about Jesus himself) the love would go out the door as well. There is no higher calling than to defend the Gospel. The sad part is that many today who say they are protecting the Gospel are destroying the Gospel. They want everyone to conform to their lifestyle--what you wear, where you go, the length of your hair--on and on it goes. Notice John was saying these people were teaching that Jesus was just a human, that Jesus was not divine. That is the time to pick up arms and go on the march. May we first protect the Gospel by living it out loud in our lives.
Nehemiah wept before God because he saw the real needs of the people. Ezra did the same thing when he realized the people had not separated themselves from sin. Do we see the real need of people? Do we take the time to assess the real need? Once we see the real need what do we do with it? Ezra and Nehemiah took it before God. They prayed about the situation. Real men and women pray. Real men and women know that without God the real need will not be met. Nehemiah heard through his messenger that the people were suffering in Jerusalem and the walls and the gates were in rubbles. "When I heard this, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God-of-Heaven." Every good thing that happens in the kingdom of God begins with prayer. Ezra and Nehemiah both took action! It is prayer with feet, not just knees.
John is telling us we must love one another and that has not changed. Then he goes and calls people deceivers. Where is the love John? John knew that if the truth of Jesus was compromised (especially the truth about Jesus himself) the love would go out the door as well. There is no higher calling than to defend the Gospel. The sad part is that many today who say they are protecting the Gospel are destroying the Gospel. They want everyone to conform to their lifestyle--what you wear, where you go, the length of your hair--on and on it goes. Notice John was saying these people were teaching that Jesus was just a human, that Jesus was not divine. That is the time to pick up arms and go on the march. May we first protect the Gospel by living it out loud in our lives.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
333 Sunday, November 29, 2009
333 Ezra 7 – 10; 1 John 6
Because God's hand was upon him the king did so and so for Ezra. Because God's hand is upon him is that which we should covet. What Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, David, yes what they had was the hand of God upon them. Now we come upon Ezra and his success is attributed to God being with him. In all these cases and many more this phrase the "hand of God is upon him" or an equal wording, it is in context of doing the purposes of God. God wants us to join Him in His work here on earth. God will empower us to that end, just look at Ezra. God had the most powerful King on earth roll out the red carpet for him and the people of God. Why? The hand of God was upon him. Make that your prayer today and everyday. Amen
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, that is the degree to which God wants us to know that we are His. This testimony is from above and has to do with His Spirit working in our lives as to whether or not we have the Son. The Lord above has made this time the Son's time. Faith in God is not enough. Not enough--no it's not because the Lord above has said put your faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who have the Son, have life and those without the Son do not have life. Cut and dry that is how the Lord above rolls. Either you are in or you are out. Simple! We should do everything we can do to help people understand this truth and especially now during His birthday celebration.
Because God's hand was upon him the king did so and so for Ezra. Because God's hand is upon him is that which we should covet. What Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, David, yes what they had was the hand of God upon them. Now we come upon Ezra and his success is attributed to God being with him. In all these cases and many more this phrase the "hand of God is upon him" or an equal wording, it is in context of doing the purposes of God. God wants us to join Him in His work here on earth. God will empower us to that end, just look at Ezra. God had the most powerful King on earth roll out the red carpet for him and the people of God. Why? The hand of God was upon him. Make that your prayer today and everyday. Amen
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, that is the degree to which God wants us to know that we are His. This testimony is from above and has to do with His Spirit working in our lives as to whether or not we have the Son. The Lord above has made this time the Son's time. Faith in God is not enough. Not enough--no it's not because the Lord above has said put your faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who have the Son, have life and those without the Son do not have life. Cut and dry that is how the Lord above rolls. Either you are in or you are out. Simple! We should do everything we can do to help people understand this truth and especially now during His birthday celebration.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
