Love is…not lust

Numbers 24; Numbers 25; Numbers 26; Numbers 27; 1 Corinthians 13
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Scripture

1 Corinthians 13

Love Is the Greatest

1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.
11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Observation

God is Love. God’s love is called Agape love. Agape love is the kind of love that God tells us that we should have for other people. There are other kinds of love described in the Bible and we use the word “love” to describe how we feel about many things. I love pizza would be a good example. There is a romantic kind of love that God uses to help us be drawn to a person of the opposite sex to help us discover our wife or our husband. There is a brotherly love mentioned in scripture.

The highest kind of love we can have for someone is God’s love that is described in I Corinthians 13. It is a self-less love. It is the kind of love that God has for us. When someone says, “I love this woman and I no longer love my wife” they are not talking about Agape love. They are using the word love to describe “lust” and they have perverted God’s intention for the erotic type of love.

When you married your spouse you made a commitment or promise to God to “Agape” love your wife or husband. Your wedding vows are a promise to “Agape” loves your spouse, to love him or her with 1 Corinthians kind of love. The erotic love that draws a couple together may change with time, but the “Agape” love will continue to grow if we are growing in our relationship with Christ.

When someone comes to me and says, “I don’t love him or her anymore” my response to them is too bad. You made a commitment to God. You made a promise to God to love them. And usually when someone tells me that it is because they are lusting after someone else. Love for someone outside of your marriage is not love it is lust. It is selfish not self-less. It is wrong. It is not love. It is not God’s love.


Application

I will continue to establish and maintain boundaries between women and myself so that I am not drawn into sin.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me love Kathy with Agape love. May she always be my only love. Keep our love for each other strong. Help us model the kind of love that others should have for each other. May she always be the number #2 person in my life. Help me keep you as #1. I pray for our people that they understand this love relationship. I pray for them to be pure and not to violate their marriage vows. I pray that they would not yield to the temptation of lust. In Jesus Name Amen.

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It Came From Within…

Numbers 21; Numbers 22; Numbers 23; Mark 6; Mark 7
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Scripture

Mark 7

14 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. 15 It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”
17 Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used. 18 “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? 19 Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)
20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Observation

If you have not had a chance to listen to Andy Stanley sermon series, “It Came From Within” you need to go to his website and get it today. One of our small groups in our church is doing the small group curriculum that was created from the series right now. It is powerful and everyone in your church needs to go through the small group study. The church today in the United States is being attacked from within by issues of the heart as never before. Technologies of today like the Internet make it so easy for us to take garbage into our lives

Application

I will preach on this passage this Sunday.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me lead our church to a place of purity. Help me be the person of integrity that they can trust. Help me to guard my eyes and help me monitor what is being allowed to take up residence in my heart. Show me anything in my life that is not pleasing to you. In Jesus Name… Amen.

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The Mean, The Smelly, The Ugly, The Crazy

Numbers 19; Numbers 20; Psalm 28; Mark 5
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Scripture

Mark 5

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

1 So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. 3 This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.
6 When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7 With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”
9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” 10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”
13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 16 Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17 And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

Observation

Do you like to walk around in cemeteries and check out what is written on tombstones? Our family on my mom’s side has an old family cemetery that has some really neat tombstones. In the daytime I don’t mind walking around in it, but you wouldn’t catch me in there at night…no way…it is too spooky to be in a cemetery at night.

I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the cemetery where Jesus met this demon filled man even in the daytime. This guy was wild and crazy. He was wild and crazy until Jesus took time to go into that cemetery to set him free. When Jesus left him the guy was clothed and in his right mind. He left the cemetery a missionary. In fact, I believe that he is probably the first missionary to be sent out.

The people from the village weren’t worried about the man being healed they were only worried about the pigs that were lost. They turned away the Savior. How very sad.

There are walking dead people all around us today. Spiritually speaking most of the folks we will encounter today are dead people walking. The majority of the people around us are living crazy lives, lives of sin, lives on a downward spiral of destruction and despair and you and I have Jesus and only Jesus can set them free. We are their only hope.

Application

I will try my best to witness to the ugly, crazy, damaged people that God brings into my life today and I will do my best to steer them to Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, the ugly, the crazy, the mean, the dirty, the smelly, I know that they all need you. Help me to see past all of that like you did with this demon-possessed man to be able to see the person inside of them that you love. Help our leadership team in Celebrate Recovery to see through the hurts, hang-ups, and habits of people to the person inside. Give them strength today. Help me love people that are difficult for me to even like much less love. In Jesus Name...Amen.

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Why Storms?

Numbers 17; Numbers 18; Psalm 29; Mark 4
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Scripture

Jesus Calms the Storm

Mark 4

35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Observation

Have you ever wondered why we have to have hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or tsunamis? Have you ever wondered why God allows so many storms to come into your personal life? Why do we have to put up with storms? When the disciples woke Jesus up in the midst of the storm they asked the question that you and I are probably thinking when we go through the storms of life. God don’t you care about us?

Yes, He cares about us and that is why He allows the storms. It is in the storms that we learn that we can trust Him and it is in the storms of life that we learn that He cares about us and yes it is in the storms where our faith grows.

Are you in the midst of a storm today? Thank God for the storm and look around at what He is trying to teach you. Look around at how He has been taking care of you. Just because we may be going through a storm don’t expect to find God all anxious and upset about it.

I am amazed that Jesus was able to stay asleep with the high waves dumping water into the boat, with the noise of the wind and the excitement of a bunch of frightened disciples, during all of the commotion He had his head on a pillow fast asleep.

I love to watch storms, the lightening, the thunder, the wind, the power, I like to watch it all from a comfortable distance. I don’t like storms when I am in a small boat with water pouring in and it looks like I am getting ready to sink!

Application

Perspective is everything.

I will try to quit asking God “why” and I will begin asking Him the more important question about the squalls in my life, “What are you trying to teach me?” How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Psalm 29 is my prayer to you this morning. Thank you for keeping me safe and secure in the storms of life. “1 Honor the LORD, you heavenly beings; honor the LORD for his glory and strength. 2 Honor the LORD for the glory of his name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

3 The voice of the LORD echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The LORD thunders over the mighty sea.

4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. 5 The voice of the LORD splits the mighty cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf; he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD strikes with bolts of lightning. 8 The voice of the LORD makes the barren wilderness quake; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the LORD twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” 10 The LORD rules over the floodwaters. The LORD reigns as king forever. 11 The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace. (Psalm 29) Amen.

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The Danger of the “Hardening” of the Heart

Numbers 14; Numbers 15; Numbers 16; Mark 3
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Scripture

Numbers 16

27 So all the people stood back from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Then Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents, together with their wives and children and little ones.
28 And Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things that I have done—for I have not done them on my own. 29 If these men die a natural death, or if nothing unusual happens, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the LORD.”
31 He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. 33 So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel. 34 All the people around them fled when they heard their screams. “The earth will swallow us, too!” they cried. 35 Then fire blazed forth from the LORD and burned up the 250 men who were offering incense.
36 And the LORD said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to pull all the incense burners from the fire, for they are holy. Also tell him to scatter the burning coals. 38 Take the incense burners of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, and hammer the metal into a thin sheet to overlay the altar. Since these burners were used in the LORD’s presence, they have become holy. Let them serve as a warning to the people of Israel.”
39 So Eleazar the priest collected the 250 bronze incense burners that had been used by the men who died in the fire, and he hammered them into a thin sheet to overlay the altar. 40 This would warn the Israelites that no unauthorized person—no one who was not a descendant of Aaron—should ever enter the LORD’s presence to burn incense. If anyone did, the same thing would happen to him as happened to Korah and his followers. So the LORD’s instructions to Moses were carried out.
41 But the very next morning the whole community of Israel began muttering again against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the LORD’s people!” 42 As the community gathered to protest against Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tabernacle and saw that the cloud had covered it, and the glorious presence of the LORD appeared.
43 Moses and Aaron came and stood in front of the Tabernacle, 44 and the LORD said to Moses, 45 “Get away from all these people so that I can instantly destroy them!” But Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground.
46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Quick, take an incense burner and place burning coals on it from the altar. Lay incense on it, and carry it out among the people to purify them and make them right with the LORD. The LORD’s anger is blazing against them—the plague has already begun.”
47 Aaron did as Moses told him and ran out among the people. The plague had already begun to strike down the people, but Aaron burned the incense and purified the people. 48 He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped. 49 But 14,700 people died in that plague, in addition to those who had died in the affair involving Korah. 50 Then because the plague had stopped, Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

Observation

In chapter 14 we find the Hebrew children rebelling against Moses and Aaron and wanting to stone Caleb and Joshua. Remember that the 12 spies had gone to scout out the Promised Land and after hearing the ten spies negative report the people decided to rebel against God and they listened to the ten rather than to God. God was going to destroy them all but Moses prayed for them and God spared them.

In Chapter 16 we find the amazing story of leaders rebelling against God and against Moses. Moses gets angry and God gets angry and once again God wants to destroy all of them but Moses and Aaron fall face down and once again ask God to spare the people. God destroys the rebellious leaders by having the ground open up and devour them and fire came down from heaven and destroyed another 250 followers of these rebellious leaders.

But here is the sad part of this story and it is found in chapter 16 verse 41 “But the very next morning the whole community of Israel began muttering again against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the LORD’s people!” Hard hearts can’t see the hand of God even when God acts so powerfully.

Hard hearts rob God’s people of experiencing God’s blessings!

In today’s reading in Mark chapter 3:4-5 Jesus asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him. He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts.

Application

I will intercede for folks that have allowed their hearts to become hard.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, protect us from people that have hard hearts and that only want to cause harm. I pray that you soften their hearts and I pray that they will hear and listen to your voice today. Don’t allow my heart to become harden. I want to be teachable. I want to hear your voice today. You are a powerful God. I pray that you do a miraculous work in our church today. I pray for our leaders today. I pray that they come to church excited, filled with your Holy Spirit, and ready to lead our people. I pray for our staff today. I pray that they would be men and women of integrity. I pray that we would lead with integrity of heart and that you would bless our people today. Amen.

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Humility = Greatness

Numbers 12; Numbers 13; Psalm 90; Mark 2
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Scripture

Numbers 12

3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

Observation

Moses was a humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. That is quite a statement I wonder what kind of statement people would use for you and me.

It would be nice if they would say something like that about us wouldn’t it.

Moses learned humility by living 40 years on the backside of a desert. Humility is learned through a life of brokenness. And that is what God desires from us a broken and contrite heart.

Application

2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yes, if anyone wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus they will suffer persecution.” Life is tough but it is through a life of hard knocks where we learn humility. Difficult situations we experience are character builders. They prepare us for things that God has planned for us in the future.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be like Moses. Humility is something that I desire to have dominate my life. I pray for the men that will be attending the Men’s training event at Bell Shoals today. I pray for our men that they grow strong and take places of leadership. I pray that that you use our men to reach other men this week. I pray for revival within our church. Amen.


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Got People Problems – Re-Direct Your Focus Towards a Mighty God!

Numbers 10; Numbers 11; Psalm 27; Mark 1
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Scripture

Numbers 11

1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down. 3 So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the LORD had burned among them.

4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"

21 But Moses said, "Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!' 22 Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?"
23 The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you."
31 Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a day's walk in any direction. 32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp. 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

Observation

Have you ever felt like Moses? Take time to read this entire chapter I just put in selected parts of the chapter to give you a little background to what Moses was up against. Moses had to deal with about 2 million complainers and he even had some really bad complainers called “the rabble”. The name “rabble” or “riffraff” (word used in the Message version) must have been a title given to the worst complainers! Every generation has them and every church has them. If the church is infected too much by their influence then it is no fun going to church. They are joy robbers! They destroy fellowships if left unchecked.

Application

I will hold on to God’s word to Moses in verse 23 The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." God is long enough and powerful enough to take care of problem people in your life and my life. Just don’t become one is what God is saying to me this morning!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me deal with the rabble and the complainers without losing sight of your awesome power. Your arm is not too short to help me today. Nothing is too hard for you. Don’t let me become one. Don’t let me act like them. Help my focus always stay on you and not on them. Help them to become people of faith. Psalms 27:1 Light, space, zest— that's GOD! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. 6 God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I'm headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I'm singing God-songs; I'm making music to GOD. 11 Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.12 Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence.13 Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.14 Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Amen.

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How Would You Like to Have Been This Soldier?

Numbers 8; Numbers 9; Acts 28
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Scripture

Acts 28

16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation

Can you imagine being the soldier that had the job to guard the Apostle Paul? I think that it didn’t take him long to find out all about the way to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I would have loved to be around Paul. How about you? God put that soldier close to Paul for a purpose and that purpose was for that soldier to have the opportunity to have a personal relationship with him. Who has He put close to you and who has God put close to me? Who needs Jesus that is close to us?

Application

I will look for the person that God is bringing close to me that needs to hear about Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open my eyes Lord to those around me. Give me your heart; give me your eyes so I can see people as you see them. Help me today. I need the Wisdom of Solomon for the things I face today. Help me to make wise decisions. Thank you that you hear me and that you will give me everything that I need to be able to make it through difficult days. Thank you for your Word. You alone are worthy to be Praised. Amen.

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Majority of ONE

Numbers 7; Psalm 23; Acts 27
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Scripture

Acts 27

23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.'

Observation

Paul is on a ship heading to Rome where he will go on trial and eventually meet his death. This trip was all part of God’s plan for the life of Paul. God had told Paul that he must go to Rome and stand before Caesar.

Paul warned them earlier in this chapter not to sail because if they did they would face disaster, but the scriptures say that the majority on the ship decided not to listen to Paul’s advice and they sailed anyway. After being in hurricane force winds for fourteen days the 276 men aboard the ship had given up all hope of being saved. This is when Paul reminded them of what he had told them earlier about not sailing and he reminded them that they refused to listen to him. This time he had their attention and they listened.

The majority is not always right. When the Majority of ONE speaks that is who we need to listen to. For some reason we tend to think that the church should be guided by a majority vote on this and a majority vote on that, but instead we need to be guided by the Majority vote of ONE. We need to hear His Voice.

I love verse 24 where it says that God graciously gave Paul the lives of those that sailed with him. God saved the lives of the 275 other men on the ship because of one man.

One man or woman totally sold out to God has unbelievable influence and power from God and God blesses those that surround him or her.

Application

I will listen for His Voice in the situations that face me today. I will seek His face.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us the privilege of knowing you in a personal way. You are so wonderful. I pray today for clarity on issues that I must face and I need to hear your voice. So help me filter out the voices of so many to focus on you and you alone. Give me wisdom today. Give me discernment. Help me act wisely today. Protect me from the evil one and do not allow him to get a foothold in my life or in the lives of those within our church. Help me to be a godly influence like Paul was to the people around him and may I live my life where the people around me are blessed. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that lives and works in my life and gives me strength to make it through difficult situations like those I face today. Amen.

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May The Lord Make His Face Shine Upon You

Numbers 5; Numbers 6; Psalm 22; Acts 26
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Scripture

Numbers 6

24 " ' "The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '

Observation

As you get ready to go out the door in the morning on your way to work what blessing do you pray for your wife as you give her that good bye kiss? Men, yes I am talking to you!

I was challenged to do this at a Family Life Seminar 2 years ago and I only wish that someone had challenged me to do this when I had first gotten married. Now I try to stop and pray a short blessing on Kathy before I give her that goodbye going out the door kiss each morning.

I think sometimes that it probably does more for me than it does Kathy, but no that is not true because God does honor our blessings that we pray for people.

Why not try praying a blessing on your wife today? And if you have children still in your home why not pray blessings on them too. God will answer and He will bless them.

Application

I will continue praying a blessing on Kathy everyday before leaving the house for work.

Prayer

Heavenly Father may your face shine on Kathy today. I pray that you bless her and keep her. I pray that you turn your face toward her and give her your peace. I pray a blessing on my children and my grandchildren today. Bless them Lord. Draw them close to you. You are an Awesome Awesome God. Amen.


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The Danger of Half Hearted Worship

Numbers 3; Numbers 4; Acts 25
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Scripture

Numbers 3

4 Nadab and Abihu, however, fell dead before the LORD when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.

Observation

What happened to Nadab and Abihu is first mentioned in Leviticus 10:1 and should serve as a warning to us about how we should serve the Lord. The two sons of Aaron disobeyed God by trying to present an offering to God in their own way disregarding what God had instructed them to do. And God struck them down with fire from Heaven.

This same kind of swift judgment happened in the New Testament to Ananias and Sapphira.

In scripture God tells us how He wants to be worshipped and when we choose to disregard His instruction and do things our own way then it is not worship at all. I think some of what we do on Sunday morning might fall into this category.

Application

I will worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:2

Psalm 100: 1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me not to do things out of ritual and habit. It is my desire to truly worship you with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength. Show me where we need to make changes at church to help our people focus more on you. It is so easy to forget that Sunday is all about you and it is not about us. Thank you for what you are doing in the lives of so many that make up our church. You are an Awesome God. Help me to worship you this week with gladness. Amen.

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Are You a Follower of the Way?

Numbers 1; Numbers 2; Acts 24
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Scripture

Acts 24

14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect.

Observation

Jesus said, I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by me. Unless you are a Christ-Follower you will never find the way to Heaven. Heaven has many gates but it only has one Way, one Door and that Door has a Name – Jesus!

Paul was on trial. He had been falsely accused, but because of the false charges he was able to preach the Good News in Rome. Paul had always wanted to travel to Rome to preach the Gospel, but he didn’t know that he would make it to Rome as his final earthly destination!

Are you a Christ-Follower? Can you say this morning that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior? Are you a follower of the Way?

Application

Sharing the Gospel is the most important task I have so I will look for opportunities to share this Good News today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for the men that I witnessed to this week. I pray that they will be in worship today. I pray for those that shared with me that they were going to attend Celebrate Recovery I pray that they will listen to your Voice and not the voice of the evil one. I pray that our congregation will break out today in Revival. I pray that your Holy Spirit would speak and move in every heart of those in worship. Speak to my heart today Lord. Be glorified and lifted up by the followers of the Way today through out your entire world, you are worthy of Praise! Amen.

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If you will …then…I will

Leviticus 26; Leviticus 27; Acts 23
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Scripture

Leviticus 26

3 " 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
6 " 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
9 " 'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.

Observation

Do you want your life to be different? Do you want to live under God’s favor? Do you want to be blessed? The answer to those three questions is all wrapped up in this four-letter word – OBEY!

The New Testament is full of verses that talk about the importance of obedience. The children of Israel had it made in the promise land while they lived lives of obedience. Jesus said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."Luke 11:28 And In 1 John 3:22 John says, “and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.” And look at what God promised in De 28:2 “All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”

It seems so clear and so simple yet we choose to disobey Christ on a daily basis.

Hello…what is wrong with us?

Application

It is my desire to live in obedience to God. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that today I will be given opportunities to disobey you. Help me obey. Give me strength to say “no” to sin and “no” to the temptations that will come at me today. I want to honor you today by obeying you. Guide me today. May my thoughts and my actions please you. Amen.

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My Hope is in You

Leviticus 25; Psalm 25; Psalm 26; Acts 22
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Scripture

Psalm 25

5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

Observation

Yesterday I had a man come to my office very discouraged about life. He had just been released from a five day stay in the hospital the exact place where I had met him a year before. I had not heard from him during the year except for the one time when I tried to visit him at his home and he really wasn’t very interested in a visit from a preacher. But yesterday this man sadly told me that he didn’t have anything to live for and that it would be better for his family if he were dead because at least then they would have the life insurance money to live on. He said, “I don’t see much reason to continue to live.”

He was out of work and I shared with him that anytime a man does not have a job it is going to impact his self worth. God has put into every man the desire to provide for his family and a man’s self worth is wrapped up in his job.

I was able share with him that his big issue was not his loss of work as important as that was but his big issue was his relationship with God. Actually his big problem was that he didn’t have a personal relationship with God. I told him that Jesus came to this earth to give him purpose and meaning and until he put his faith and trust in Christ that he would never live and abundant life. He would only exist. He would go to work (when he found a job) to make money to eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep, work, and a life cycle like what I just described is a life without hope.

I am grateful that this week God sent two men to my office for me to talk to them about their relationship with him. God is working in these men’s lives. God is powerful. We can put our trust, our faith, and our hope in him all day long!

Application

I will be ready today to talk to more men about the Hope that lives in me. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for these two men. I ask you to save them. Draw them into a church where they can grow spiritually. Thank you that this week one of the men in our church led a co-worker to Christ. I praise you for using our men to reach other men. Give us boldness to share with everyone that you bring across our paths. Give me discernment to know how to handle issues that I have to deal with today. I love you. You are my Hope and my Strength! Amen.

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Who is this King of glory?

Leviticus 23; Leviticus 24; Psalm 24; Acts 21
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Scripture

Psalm 24

1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;

2 for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.

5 He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory. Selah


Observation

I love this Psalm of Praise, “who is this King of Glory?” The LORD strong and mighty! David starts out this Psalm by saying “the earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

We belong to Him. Everything around us belongs to Him.

I am so glad that I am a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I have a personal relationship with the Creator God through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Do you feel David’s joy and excitement in this chapter? This Sunday I am going to have our church read this chapter as part of our worship service. The message this Sunday is the third I Am of Christ, “I AM The Gate” found in John 10:9. I just love saying, “who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – he is the King of glory. Selah”

Application

I will meditate on this Psalm today and pray it back to the Lord.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, the earth is yours, and everything in it and I am yours too. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of knowing you personally. I am filled with your joy today. You are so powerful. You are so mighty. You are the King of Glory. You are strong and mighty. Amen.

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It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Leviticus 20; Leviticus 21; Leviticus 22; Acts 20
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Scripture

Acts 20

32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

Observation

I think of the widow that Jesus says gave more than anyone else gave that day because she gave everything that she had. I think of the story of the Good Samaritan that gave to make sure a complete stranger was taken care of. Yesterday one of our church members came by the church to take a man that needed some help to get some clothes and some food. These are all stories of people giving of themselves and Jesus says that these people the generous folks will be the ones that are blessed.

Giving is better than receiving isn’t it. Then why don’t we do more of it? Buying someone lunch or some groceries, helping someone go to a conference, or helping someone go on a mission trip, maybe helping them get their car fixed, or fixing something broken in a home of a senior adult. Jesus says that the one doing the giving is the one that is blessed. Who needs a blessing from you today?

Application

I will look for someone to help today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am so blessed. So many people have helped us. If we bought people lunch every Sunday from now until we die I don’t think we could ever catch up to the amount of help that we have received. God we have been so blessed by others. Help us to be a blessing to those around us. Let me know when I should give to help someone and when I should not. Give me discernment Lord, but also give me a more generous heart. Make me sensitive to the real needs of those around me. Amen.

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Respect Them!

Leviticus 18; Leviticus 19; Psalm 13; Acts 19
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Scripture

Leviticus 19

32 " 'Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.

Observation

Our culture has no respect for the elderly. Have you visited a nursing home lately? There are many left in nursing homes by their family and then the family members don’t even bother to come see them.

In our churches this works two ways: 1. Some people think that when they reach retirement age that they should just let go of responsibilities at church and be free to just do fun stuff. They pull back from areas of leadership and responsibility. 2. The congregation buys into the culture’s idea that younger is somehow better and fails to honor those that are older in the church.

My associate pastor, Rapley Armstrong is 80 years old. He is very wise. I have tremendous respect for him. He is a man of character and worthy of being honored as this verse commands us to do. He is very young at heart too. I am amazed at how flexible he is about so many things. He hasn’t allowed age to make him critical or mean. He loves music. He loves contemporary praise and worship music as well as the wonderful old hymns. I hope that when I get to be even close to his age I will act as young he does right now. My spiritual Dad, Dr. Waylon Moore is also 80 years old, but when he preaches you would never know that he is that old because he preaches with the force and power of a young man. Both of the guys deserve our honor and our respect.

Application

I will show respect and honor for the older members of our congregation.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me honor you by honoring the elderly in our church. They are beautiful people. So many of them are struggling with health issues right now. I pray that you will be their strength. Help them sense your presence and your love today. Thank you for allowing me to know them and love them. They have been so good to me. They have honored me as their pastor so now help me honor and respect them as my elders. Give me wisdom and show me ways to honor and respect them. We are blessed because they are part of our church. Amen.

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Importance of Being a Mentor

Leviticus 15; Leviticus 16; Leviticus 17; Acts 18
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Scripture

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

Acts 18

18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Observation

Paul was a mentor. A mentor is someone that invests his or her life in someone else. Have you ever gone through the New Testament and made a list of all the people that Paul mentored. Paul was all about making disciples. Look at the time that he invested in guys like Timothy, Philemon, Onesimus, Titus, Priscilla and Aquila, Mark, Silas, Barnabas, and many more.

Priscilla and Aquila then mentored Apollos. I try to spend one on one time with one or two men each week to help them grow. My hope is that in the future they will do the same thing with other men. It is God’s desire that all of us mentor someone? Who could you start mentoring? Why not start mentoring someone this week?

Application

I will begin to look for an “Apollos” that needs some encouragement.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me help someone know you better. Help me help them become all that you want them to be. Thank you for bringing mentors into my life to help me guys like Waylon Moore, Charles Hartwig, and Hugh Roberts. I owe my life to them. Bless each one of these guys in a special way today. Amen.

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More Noble in Character

Leviticus 13; Leviticus 14; Acts 17
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Scripture

In Berea

Acts 17

10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

Observation

I think it is interesting that from one city to another the people were more open to the Gospel. The Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians. They were eager to dig into the Word of God. I wonder what made the difference. I remember too that the Thessalonians received letters from Paul about their misunderstanding the scriptures and/or his instructions about the return of Christ. Some of them had quit working because they reasoned that if Christ was going to return any day then why work and Paul had to rebuke them for this wild notion.

Do you dig into God’s Word for yourself or do you depend on being spoon fed on Sunday mornings?

Application

I will be eager this week to examine God’s Word.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me a hunger for your Word. Help me to feed myself on the riches of your Word. Give me a desire to be in your Word everyday. Show me neat things from it this week that I have never seen before. I pray that when I talk about your Word to others that they will be able to sense the excitement and that they will have a thirst and hunger to be in your Word. As Job says in Job 23:12b “I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food” Lord, help me be able to say the same thing. Amen.

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Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Leviticus 10; Leviticus 11; Leviticus 12; Acts 16
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Scripture

Acts 16

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

Observation

I love this passage don’t you? Paul and Silas had just been severely flogged and thrown into the darkest most secure part of the prison. It was midnight and we find Paul and Silas having a worship service to a captive audience. The jailer must have heard them singing and praying and knew that there was something different about these guys.

The prisoners also must have sensed the presence of God that night in the prison because when the earthquake opened up all the doors to the prison and the prisoners could have escaped they stayed in their unlocked cells. I would have liked to have been there when the jailer came rushing into the cell of Paul and Silas and fell down trembling at their feet.

The jailer knew that he was good as dead. He knew that he was a wicked man and Paul and Silas had done nothing to be so mistreated. He knew that the God that had the power to rescue Paul and Silas surely had the power to destroy his life. So trembling the jailer came and fell at their feet begging for his life, “What must I do to be saved?”

I don’t know what he thought their answer would be to his question, but we know that he embraced their response. The scriptures say that they said to him, “"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." The jailer took them out of the jail to his house and everyone in his house heard the word of God explained to them. The jailer washed their wounds and fed them. The jailer and his entire family were then baptized. And then Paul and Silas were taken back to the jail. I bet they got the best room in the place when they got back and I bet their jail cell was not even locked.

Why did Paul and Silas have to go through getting severely beaten and thrown into a prison that night? I know one of the reasons don’t you? The jailer and his family and all those prisoners needed to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Think about this, the earthquake and the jail cell doors all swinging open and everyone’s chains falling off was not so the prisoners could escape, but to show the jailer that chains and prison doors couldn’t hold men of God. And it was just as incredible that Paul somehow knew that the open doors and broken chains were not done for him or Silas to escape. Amazing!

Application

I will look for God’s hand at work in my life and realize that circumstances are not always what they appear to be. Open prison doors and broken chains seemed to logically indicate that God was rescuing Paul and Silas but that was not case.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to look to you and not to my circumstances. I love this story about Paul and Silas and the jailer. It shows me your awesome power and your extreme love for all people. You save the most unlikely people Lord. Help me to see people like you see them. I don’t want to miss an experience like Paul and Silas had in that jail cell. Help me to be completely obedient to you no matter what my circumstances are. You are an Awesome God. I pray that you guide me and direct my thoughts, my attitudes, and my actions. Amen.

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Marvelous Grace!

Leviticus 7; Leviticus 8; Leviticus 9; Acts 15
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Scripture

Acts 15

8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Observation

It is interesting to me that even today we have a few people in our churches that always want to add something to God’s Grace. Have you noticed that too? The truth is though that salvation is not something we can earn. The word Grace means receiving something that is completely undeserved. There are so many verses that we can go to in God’s Word that talk about His Marvelous Grace. I will just list a few: Romans 5:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8,9. The word “grace” is mentioned 107 times in the New Testament alone.

Grace is a gift and so salvation is a gift from God not gained by works or by something we have done. I have someone that always yes Grace is a gift, but… and this guy immediately launches into how you have to live a life for the Lord to keep your salvation. This person thinks that yes salvation is free but you have to work to keep it. In our heads we might think that God should operate that way, but He doesn’t. Salvation is free. Salvation, once we have it, it is ours forever and nothing we do can cause us to lose it. That’s Grace!

Application

I will give thanks today for the salvation that has been so freely given to me and I will look for a chance to share that Good News with someone today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you today for saving me. I realize that my salvation is not because I am such a good guy because you know very well that I am not. Thank you that you have given me the privilege of sharing the Good News about your wonderful gift of Grace. I love it when people understand the message of salvation and the light is turned on. It is so exciting to see people saved. I pray for people to be saved this week through the ministry of our people. Use them to touch lives. Help me to be a witness for you today. Thank you for your Marvelous Gift of Grace. Amen.


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Poisoned!

Leviticus 4; Leviticus 5; Leviticus 6; Acts 14
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Scripture

Acts 14

1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

Observation

Have you ever been poisoned? Not poisoned by food or anything like that but have you ever been poisoned by the words of someone? Negative, critical comments about someone can have a negative impact on the way you feel about that person.

One time many years ago a friend of mine had become very negative about the pastor of our church and every time I was around the person, all I would hear is his negative critique of this man of God. I began believing what this person was saying and I began to also have negative feelings toward the pastor. Thank goodness, I came to realize that the poison that I was receiving from my negative friend was messing me up. I had to avoid getting caught out in the foyer by this guy and I refused to listen to any more of his negative gripes. This negative/critical guy doesn't go to church anymore.

Poison spreads quickly and leaves a wake of destruction in its path. Pastors of great churches have men that are strong that protect their pastor and staff members from these vicious attacks. I thank God for the men of our church that defend me, stick up for me, and stick up for the rest of our staff.


Application

I will build up and not tear down people this week.



Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the positive people that you have placed in my life. Thank you that most people are positive and most are helpful. I pray that you protect us from the few that might want to poison people to be against our leadership. Help me to be positive even when I want to be critical. Guard my heart and my mouth today. Amen.



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Excitement in Sharing The Good News!

Leviticus 1; Leviticus 2; Leviticus 3; Acts 13
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Scripture

Acts 13

46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
"I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."

Observation

I am so glad that salvation was extended to the Gentiles since I am one! Now it is my job and your job if you are a Christ-Follower to keep extending the Good News to the ends of the earth. It is the reason why God leaves us here on earth and doesn’t just beam us up once we have accepted Christ. It is so easy to forget that this is our main purpose for living and the reason we tend to forget is because our lives are so busy doing the stuff of life. It is so easy to put on the back burner taking the Good News to the ends of the earth, being a light to the rest of the world, being a light to our neighbor, co-worker, to the person we know that is dealing with a terminal disease.

Application

Today I will get back on track and focus on being a light to those around me. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I sense the excitement in the lives of Paul and Barnabas and in those new Christ-followers surrounding them because they were fulfilling the Great Commission. Lord, direct my path today and help me share the Good News with someone. I pray for our missionary friends today that are working in difficult places. May they sense that same excitement today and help them be fruitful as they serve you. Help them to see people come to know you through their witness. Protect them from the evil one. Thank you that you are constantly working in the lives of the people I love to bring them into a personal relationship with yourself. Thank you that you don’t grow tired and weary with our stubbornness but you are so patient. Give me your patience and your heart so I can love them like you do. Amen.


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“…But the Church Was Earnestly Praying to God for Him”

Exodus 39; Exodus 40; Psalm 15; Acts 12
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Scripture

Acts 12

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
8 Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"
15 "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.

Observation

I love this story! Peter has been arrested and we find the church earnestly praying for him. God sends an Angel and the Angel walks Peter right out of that prison right past the prison guards, right through unlocked prison doors. Peter thinks at first that he is dreaming then it dawns on him that it is no dream.

God responded to the prayers of his church. I think it is funny that when Peter knocked on the door of the house of Mary that they couldn’t believe it was Peter even though they were inside the house praying for his release.

We prayed at church a few weeks back for God to heal one of our men that had a mass at the base of his brain. I had the man come forward and I asked everyone in the church that could come forward to come and lay hands on him. We prayed and when he went back to the doctor the doctor couldn’t find the mass. It was gone. My immediate response was, “no way!.” Wow! What an awesome God we serve!

God doesn’t always heal people when we pray for them neither does he rescue everyone from prison like He did for Peter. I am sure that the church earnestly prayed for James when he was arrested just like they did for Peter, but James was executed by Herod with a sword. He was not set free! God had a different plan for the life of James.

I love to see God heal. I love to see God set people free from hurts, hang ups, and habits. My heart is heavy today over people close to me that continue to live bound by their addictions and ungodly living. I continue to pray that God will set them free.


Application

I will continue to pray for those close to me that are living ungodly lives and are imprisoned by their hurts, hang ups, and destructive habits.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you that you are a God that loves to set people free. Father, I want to see more people set free from their ungodly way of living. The devil has them in his grasp and I pray that you snatch them away from him. Thank you for those in our church that lead our Celebrate Recovery ministry. Give them strength today. Give them your heart for the people you have brought into this ministry. Help me to love those that aren’t lovely. Help me to see past their ungodly lifestyles to see them as you see them. I pray for them today. Set them free. Amen.


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