That Is, That You And I May Be Mutually Encouraged By Each Other’s Faith

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Romans 1; Romans 2; Romans 3; Romans 4

That Is,

That You And I 

May Be Mutually Encouraged By Each Other’s Faith

Scripture

Romans 1

¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Observation

As I was reading my Bible this morning I received a phone call from a friend who wanted to thank me because of something I said in a sermon in 2008. She said that she was having her quiet time and came across what I said (I guess in her spiritual journal or in the margin of her Bible) that prompted her to call and thank Kathy and I for being an encouragement to her.

What she probably didn’t realize when she made the phone call was that she was actually going to be an encouragement to us. Her phone conversation with us was an example of what Paul was talking about in verse 12; we were mutually encouraged by each other’s faith!

 Application

I will pray about who needs a phone call and a word of encouragement.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Christian friends. Thank You for their encouragement. Help me to be an encouragement to someone today. Don’t let me miss an opportunity. I pray for our Mission Conference that begins tomorrow. I pray that the missionaries that speak will touch the lives of many that hear their stories. I pray that You would call someone from within our church to go to the mission field as a result of this conference. Speak through each missionary in a powerful way. Use them to encourage us to be more involved in reaching Your world with the Gospel. 

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Always Be Joyful. Never Stop Praying. Be Thankful In All Circumstances, For This Is God’s Will For You Who Belong To Christ Jesus.

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1 Thessalonians 4; 1 Thessalonians 5; 2 Thessalonians 1; 2 Thessalonians 2; 2 Thessalonians 3

Always Be Joyful. Never Stop Praying.

Be Thankful In All Circumstances, 

For This Is God’s Will For You Who Belong To Christ Jesus. 

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Observation

 Three words that in a marriage relationship you usually do not want to use when talking to your spouse, “Always, Never, All”.

“You always say that”, “You never do that”; You say or do that “all” the time!

But Paul uses these 3 words to exhort us towards more godly lives. These are great verses to put up on the refrigerator or on a mirror in your house or car!

Great verses to read on the day after Thanksgiving! After a holiday as big as Thanksgiving there is “always” the chance we might slide into a little depression on black Friday!

Application

 I will be joyful as I go through this day.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for a day like yesterday when our family came together to give You thanks. Thank You for how You have blessed our family. Now I pray for the Mission’s Conference that starts this Sunday. I pray that it will help our church to be even more outwardly focused and that it causes our people to be even more aware of the world around them.

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We Always Thank God For All Of You And Pray For You Constantly

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Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 1; 1 Thessalonians 2; 1 Thessalonians 3

We Always 

Thank God 

For All Of You And Pray For You Constantly

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 1

² We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. ³ As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation

Friends! Are we rich in friends?

God has blessed Kathy and I with so many wonderful friends.  I thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly!

When it comes down to it there is nothing in life that compares with having “a close friend”. Nothing!

Today on Thanksgiving I give thanks to God for His goodness. I thank God for bringing you into our lives.

Application

I will thank God for family and friends all day today. How about you?

Prayer

A psalm of thanksgiving.

    Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! 

        [2] Worship the Lord with gladness.

        Come before him, singing with joy. 

    [3] Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

        He made us, and we are his.

        We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

    [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

        go into his courts with praise.

        Give thanks to him and bless his name. 

    [5] For the Lord is good.

        His unfailing love continues forever,

        and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:1-5 

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Those Who Trust In The LORD Are As Secure As Mount Zion

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Psalm 125; Matthew 26; Matthew 27

Those Who Trust 

In The LORD

Are As Secure As Mount Zion

Scripture

Psalm 125

¹ Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
    they will not be defeated but will endure forever.

Observation

In a world of insecurity you and I can be very secure if we trust in the LORD.  Open up the morning newspaper and you will instantly read a thousand reasons to be insecure … that is why I don’t read the newspaper before I read my Bible.  

God’s Word is where I am reminded daily that I am as secure as Mount Zion and that I will endure forever. The last time I heard, “forever” is a very long time!

Are you feeling insecure this morning? Maybe you haven’t taken time to read God’s Word!

Application

I will trust in what God says about my future.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, 

I have peace in You. In this world I will have many trials and sorrows. But I will take heart, because You have overcome the world. John 16:33 Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so You surround me, both now and forever. Psalm 125:2

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For Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen

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Matthew 20; Matthew 21; Matthew 22

For Many

Are Called,

But Few Are Chosen

Scripture

Matthew 22

¹⁴ “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Observation

I am getting ready to head to Mission Tampa in few minutes. Kathy and I will have the opportunity to share the Gospel with all that come today to receive temporary food from this ministry. The physical food that we give out to them will not last long but the spiritual food we offer will last forever.

As we invite them to embrace the Good News of Jesus Christ and become Christ followers the invitation is for each and every one of them to trust Christ, but only those that hear and respond to the Gospel are the chosen. 

We don’t know who they will be! 

God saves. God chooses. He adopts. We have the responsibility to share. 

 Application

I will share the Gospel this morning and pray for God to give those that hear spiritually understanding.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us share the Gospel clearly so people can understand. I pray that You give all that hear the Good News today the ability to grasp it. I pray for people to be saved. Thank You for Richard that understood the Gospel yesterday and gave His life to You. Thank You for giving me eternal life. Use our church to bring more and more people into Your Kingdom. 

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You Are Seeing Things Merely From A Human Point Of View, Not From God’s

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Matthew 14; Matthew 15; Matthew 16

You Are Seeing Things

Merely From A Human Point Of View,

Not From God’s

Scripture

Matthew 16

23b … You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.

Observation

Jesus rebukes Simon Peter. Why? Peter didn’t want Jesus to go to Jerusalem where Jesus had just told His disciples that He would be put to death. Peter was being selfish. He was only seeing the situation from his point of view and not God’s.

I catch myself reacting to things so many times in a negative way because I am selfish. I am looking at things from my point of view and not God’s.

Pastor Bruce has repeatedly told the leadership team to look at things from a 30,000 feet perspective to be able to see the big picture.

God’s plan is God’s plan. He has a reason and a purpose. It may not fit in with our plans. Guess who needs to adjust their plans. 

When we can’t see or understand what God is doing … trust His Heart!

Application

I will try to see this week’s activities from God’s point of view!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me not to be so selfish. Help me to see things from Your point of view and be willing to adjust my perspective. When I can’t see the big picture help me to trust Your Heart.

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Come To Me, All Of You Who Are Weary And Carry Heavy Burdens, And I Will Give You Rest.

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Matthew 11; Matthew 12; Matthew 13

Come To Me,

All Of You Who Are Weary And Carry Heavy Burdens,

And I Will Give You Rest.

Scripture

Matthew 11

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Observation

Are you and I weary this Friday and burdened down? Here is the solution if we are willing to respond to Jesus and find rest today for your soul. 

Here are a few great verses that are great to remember at the end of the week:

 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Psalm 55:22

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. 1 Peter 5:7

   The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
    The Lord loves the godly. Psalm 146:8

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Matthew 6:27

Application

I will give my burdens to the Lord today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, when I think about all of these scriptures I am reminded that nothing is too hard for You. So many things are too hard for me, but not one of them gives You the slightest concern. Your Word is my strength today. My help comes from You Lord. You made heaven and earth.

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So Pray To The Lord Who Is In Charge Of The Harvest; Ask Him To Send More Workers Into His Fields

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Matthew 8; Matthew 9; Matthew 10

So Pray To The Lord

Who Is In Charge Of The Harvest;

Ask Him To Send More Workers Into His Fields

Scripture

Matthew 9

³⁸ So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Observation

Every time I read Matthew 9 I am reminded that there is nothing wrong with the harvest. It is the shortage of workers that prevents more people from coming into the Kingdom and not a lack of people ready to respond. 

Would you join me in praying for workers today for God’s harvest? 

 http://www.joshuaproject.net/index.php

Application

I am praying today for the Darginian peoples of Russia.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I don’t know anything about the Darginian people but You know every one of them. I pray that they would have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. I pray for workers to be sent to share the Gospel with them. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to pray for those who are on Your heart. Thank You for calling out laborers for Your Harvest.

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That Is Why I Tell You Not To Worry About Everyday Life …

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Matthew 5; Matthew 6; Matthew 7

That Is Why

I Tell You

Not To Worry About Everyday Life … 

Scripture

Matthew 6

²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life …

³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Observation

Do you have Matthew 6:33 memorized? We should. 

The Sermon on the Mount takes about 15 minutes to read, but it takes a lifetime to live out. I could have picked a lot of different things out of Jesus’ message to talk about this morning, but since I tend to worry I will focus on Matthew 6:33.

Worry! I am sure that you don’t worry, but I find myself spending time thinking and thinking about something and I am sure that God would define what I do as worrying. 

This passage has always brought me back to why I don’t need to worry about anything! If I put into practice Matthew 6:33 then God has my back and I don’t have to worry about anything. 

In fact, worry is a total lack of faith, a lack of trust in what God said He would do. Over and over and over again in God’s word He tells me that I don’t need to worry. In fact, He tells me that all of my worrying is not going to do one bit of good.

Application

 So I will think about Matthew 6:33 as I go about this day and I will meditate on Philippians 4:6-7 today instead of worrying.

Philip. 4:6-7 

    Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

 Prayer

Heavenly Father, today I will not worry about anything; instead, I will pray about everything. I will tell You what I need, and I will thank You for all that You have done. I want to experience Your peace, which is far more wonderful than my human mind can understand. Your peace will guard my heart and my mind as I live in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7 personalized)

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Come, Follow Me, And I Will Show You How To Fish For People!

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Matthew 1; Matthew 2; Matthew 3; Matthew 4

Come, Follow Me, 

And I Will Show You

How To Fish For People!

Scripture

Matthew 4

¹⁸ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.

¹⁹ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ²⁰ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Observation

Yesterday Pastor Bruce spent most of our leadership meeting talking to us about how as a church we can do better at fishing for people. I can tell you that our lead team is very intentional about fishing for people.

It is so exciting to be in a church where “fishing for people” is the main thing! It is so easy for a church to get sidetracked into doing lots of good things that aren’t related to fishing for people.

I love to fish! I am so glad that Jesus used this illustration to talk about evangelism and not something else like hunting (no offense to all you hunters out there)!

We have to be intentional and use strategy when it comes to fishing. And we have to be very intentional and use strategy when it comes to fishing for people.

Application

I will fish for people this week.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be a fisher of men. Don’t let me slack off. Keep me focused on the main task. Help our lead team and Pastor Bruce stay focused on reaching more and more people for Christ. Use us to reach our city one person at a time! Thank You for the leadership that You have brought to our church. I am so thankful each and every one of them. Use them for Your Honor and for Your Glory to bring many people into Your Kingdom. 

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I Close My Letter With These Last Words: Be Joyful. Grow To Maturity. Encourage Each Other. Live In Harmony And Peace.

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Psalm 124; 2 Corinthians 11; 2 Corinthians 12; 2 Corinthians 13

I Close My Letter With These Last Words:

Be Joyful. Grow To Maturity. Encourage Each Other. 

Live In Harmony And Peace.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 13

⁹ We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.

¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Observation

Paul’s prayer for the Corinthian believers was that they become mature. My prayer for the Christians that God has brought into my life is the same. I pray that they become mature. 

Being a mature follower of Christ should be the goal of every one of us. The church, the body of Christ, needs to have a core group of mature believers. 

We especially need a large core group of men that are totally committed to Christ that will disciple other men and help them to grow strong in the Lord. 

These are great words from the Apostle Paul as we start out this week. 

Application

I will be joyful. I will strive to grow in maturity. I will encourage others today. I will work hard to live in harmony and peace with those around me.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, my help comes from You who made heaven and earth. Help me to be joyful today. Help me to continue to grow in maturity. Help me to encourage others. Help me to keep the peace with those around me today. You are Awesome. You are Worthy to be Praised!


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We Live In Such A Way That No One Will Stumble Because Of Us

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2 Corinthians 3; 2 Corinthians 4; 2 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 6

We Live In Such A Way

That No One

Will Stumble Because Of Us

Scripture

2 Corinthians 6

³ We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.

¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness?

How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
    and walk among them.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
    and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
    and I will welcome you.

Observation

Take time this morning to read and reread 2 Corinthians chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6. Wow! So powerful!

What a challenge Paul gives for us to live godly lives!

Take time to read those chapters this morning. I am going to reread them right now.

Can you and I say that 2 Corinthians 6:3 reflects our lives in Christ? Can people imitate us? Are you and I living in such a way that no one will stumble because of us?

Pastor Bruce and Pastor Larry are calling on the men in our church to step up and be the men that God has called us to be. Are you and I ready to step up? Are we ready to “man up”?

Application

I will memorize and strive to live out 2 Corinthians 6:3. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to live in such a way that no one will stumble because of me, and no one will find fault with my ministry. Help the men of our church to do the same. 

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And You Are Helping Us By Praying For Us

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Job 41; Job 42; 2 Corinthians 1; 2 Corinthians 2 

And You Are Helping Us

By Praying 

For Us

Scripture

2 Corinthians 1

³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. ⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

¹¹ And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

Observation

The best thing about yesterday and my heart procedure was not that they didn’t find any new blockage in the major arteries of my heart. The best thing about yesterday was knowing that so many people were praying for Kathy and I. 

I give all praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for each person that lifted up a prayer to God for us. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends. 

I was of course hoping that the doctor would have found something that he could have fixed and that by repairing it I would be free of the chest pain / or angina as they call it in medical terms. 

But I do believe the results from yesterday’s test are good news. The chest pain is something I will have to deal with but it is not something that is going to kill me so that is good news. My doctors already suspected that the pain was because I had micro vascular disease or small vessel disease and medicine is about the only way to relieve the chest pain. 

The good news is that it is not likely that all those small vessels are going to close up at the same time and cause a heart attack! They are just going to keep me humble!

Application

I will praise God today for taking such good care of me and I will praise Him for giving me such great friends.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, all praise to You, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are my merciful Father and the source of all comfort. You comfort me in all my troubles so that I can comfort others. When they are troubled, You will be able to give them the same comfort You have given me. Thanks You for giving us such great friends who are helping us by praying for us. 

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“Then, When Our Dying Bodies Have Been Transformed Into Bodies That Will Never Die.”

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Psalm 149; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Corinthians 16

“Then, When Our Dying Bodies

Have Been Transformed Into 

Bodies That Will Never Die.”

Scripture

1 Corinthians 15

⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

⁵⁴ Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.

⁵⁵ O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

⁵⁶ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. ⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation

These earth suits that we walk around in are not made to last forever. They are wearing out. We are dying, all of us. Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die. 

This is a great passage to read right before I go for a heart Cath procedure. It really is, no kidding! 

Am I worried about dying - Not one bit!

I am way more concerned about living a godly life today than holding on to my life. 

I love how Paul finishes up this chapter, “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

Application

I will look for opportunities at the hospital to share Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have told me this morning in Your Word to “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” Help me to do that as I go through this day. May this day be filled with Your Glory and Your Power and be all about You.

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Some Parts Of The Body That Seem Weakest And Least Important Are Actually The Most Necessary.

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Job 37; Job 38; 1 Corinthians 12

Some Parts Of The Body

That Seem Weakest And Least Important

Are Actually The Most Necessary.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12

¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.

²² In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

²⁶ If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

²⁷ All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

Observation

This is so true. People in our church that make up the body of Christ most of them are not up on the platform leading us in worship. Most of those who serve week after week for the most part go unnoticed, but if they were not serving our church could not function. In fact, it is because they are functioning so well that people are attracted to our church.

When the body of Christ functions like the body of Christ should you can’t keep people away from their church! When the church (the body of Christ) loves on people like the body of Christ should then our church buildings won’t be able to hold the people that want to attend.

How is your church functioning as the body of Christ?

How am I doing at loving the people that God brings into my life?

Application

I will thank someone this week that works faithfully at our church but for the most part his or her work and service go unnoticed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, there are so many people in our church that do so many important things who need to be thanked. Help me to know who needs a word of encouragement.  Show me who to write and thank. Let me know who I need to call. They are all so important. Thank You for bringing so many people to our church who want to serve the body of Christ. They are a joy!

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I Don’t Just Do What Is Best For Me; I Do What Is Best For Others So That Many May Be Saved.

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Psalm 122; 1 Corinthians 9; 1 Corinthians 10; 1 Corinthians 11

I Don’t Just Do What Is Best For Me;

I Do

What Is Best For Others So That Many May Be Saved. 

Scripture

1 Corinthians 9

²² When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.

1 Corinthians 10

³³ I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

Observation

Life is not all about “me” and life is also not all about “you”.

You and I need to live for others. We need to find “common ground” with them so they have the chance to come to Christ through our witness.

Paul said that he was willing to do what was best for other people so they could be saved.

What sacrifice do I need to make this week so someone else can hear about Jesus?

Application

I will look for some common ground this week with some of my friends that need Jesus. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know you are always bringing people into my life that need to be saved. Help me be ready and willing to find common ground with them so they can hear the Good News. Slow me down this week so I don’t miss the opportunities that come my way. Help me to be salt and light to someone this week. Thank You for what You are doing in our church. Thank You for the lives that are being changed. 

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So I Urge You To Imitate Me.

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Job 34; 1 Corinthians 4; 1 Corinthians 5; 1 Corinthians 6

So 

I Urge You

To Imitate Me.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 4

¹⁶ So I urge you to imitate me.

Observation

My goal in life should be to live life in such a way that others could imitate me! I would love to be able to say like the Apostle Paul, “Imitate me.”

The Apostle Paul was not perfect. He was still a sinner yet he could say, “So I urge you to imitate me.”

I look up to quite a few people. Some of our faithful 80 year olds who have invested their lives in our church are my heroes. I admire them for their faith. I admire how they support our pastoral leadership no matter what we change on them.

Some of our newest Christians at church amaze me with their faith and their zeal for the Lord. They are so excited about their faith! They are so excited about Jesus and their relationship with Him.

But these new Christians need someone to look up to that can help them in the areas where they are still struggling. You and I if we are living godly lives can be the folks that these new Christians can imitate.

People are watching us! Are we living in such a way that by imitating us they are drawn closer to Jesus Christ?

Application

I will ask God to take away anything in my life that is a distraction from following Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me be able to live a godly life so that I can say to those in our church, “So I urge you to imitate me.” Don’t let me do stupid sins that would cause me to lose my testimony and my influence for You. Protect me and help me be the example that You want me to be. I pray for those who need to run from sexual sin. Give them the strength to be able to turn from sin and turn to You. 

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“No Eye Has Seen, No Ear Has Heard, And No Mind Has Imagined What God Has Prepared For Those Who Love Him.”

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Job 33; 1 Corinthians 1; 1 Corinthians 2; 1 Corinthians 3

“No Eye Has Seen, No Ear Has Heard, And No Mind Has Imagined

What God

Has Prepared For Those Who Love Him.”

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2

9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.”

Observation

We don’t think very much about what it is going to be like when we are in the presence of God, at least I don’t.

Maybe one reason we don’t is that our minds can’t even begin to comprehend how good it is going to be. If we knew exactly how good it was going to be when we stand in the presence of our Heavenly Father it might cause us to be discouraged and more depressed with all the trouble we have to deal with here on planet earth.

God has provided so many things here on earth for us to enjoy, but none of even the best things here on earth can compare with what we have in store for us when we stand before God.

I heard this week on the news that scientists now think that there are over 6 billion other planets in the universe like planet earth that could support life! What a great God we serve! Who knows maybe we will be given the task of reigning over all of them!

I tell you that we can’t even begin to imagine what God has prepared for us in the future!

Application

 I will enjoy this day. This is the day which the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined
what You have prepared for all of us who love You.

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I Made A Covenant With My Eyes Not To Look With Lust At A Young Woman.

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Job 31; Job 32; Galatians 5; Galatians 6

I Made 

A Covenant With My Eyes

Not To Look With Lust At A Young Woman.

Scripture

Job 31

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes
    not to look with lust at a young woman.

Observation

This is great godly advice from one of the oldest books in the Bible!
Have you made that Covenant with your eyes yet? If not then today is a great time to make that Covenant and stay pure. 

Satan wants to destroy us. He wants to wreck our marriages. He wants to destroy our relationships. Don’t give him a foothold. 

Be smart … make a covenant with your eyes!

As you look too long at the attractive woman walking by or if you’re a woman taking too long to look at the handsome man walking by, Job 31:1 is a great verse to have memorized so the Holy Spirit can remind you of the verse and you will have the strength to resist the temptation. 

Set boundaries for your life. 

Make a Covenant with your eyes. So you don’t do something stupid. 

Application

I will keep reminding men to make a covenant with their eyes so they don’t sin. I will maintain and keep the boundaries I have established for my life so I don’t do something stupid. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me guard my eyes so that I don’t sin against You. Bring to my memory Job 31:1 when I look too long at someone who is not my wife. You are worthy of Praise. You are Awesome. Thank You for our beautiful new granddaughter Amelie Beva! Thank You for her safe delivery into this world. She is a gift from You. 

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I Feel As If I’m Going Through Labor Pains For You Again, And They Will Continue Until Christ Is Fully Developed In Your Lives

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Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3; Galatians 4

I Feel As If I’m Going Through Labor Pains For You Again,

And They Will Continue

Until Christ Is Fully Developed In Your Lives

Scripture

Galatians 4

19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.

Observation

I know that this passage caught my eye this morning because my daughter Debby has been having contractions and the arrival of baby Amelie is now a few days past the due date.

The Apostle Paul is grieving over the spiritual condition of the believers in Galatia. It pains him like someone going through child birth that they are not able to grasp all that they have and all that they are in Christ Jesus.

These believers were his spiritual children. He had led them to the Lord. Now they are being pulled away by the false doctrine of some so called “teachers”.

I want people to experience everything that I have in Christ. If those close to me would just live for Christ their lives would be so radically changed. They would be so blessed. So I will continue to grieve for them. I will not stop praying for them. I hurt for them. Do you understand what I am saying?

Do you have people in your life that just can’t see the riches of living for Jesus Christ?

Who are you concerned about today? Are you agonizing over their spiritual condition?

Application

 I will continue to hurt and grieve over those close to me that need a relationship with Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me a heart like the Apostle Paul’s for those I care about. I pray for the new believers in our church. I pray that they have the opportunity to experience all of Christ. I pray that they are not sidetracked by the false teaching of false teachers that would rob them of the joy of the Christian life. I pray for Debby and Kedar today and baby Amelie. I pray for a safe arrival. I pray that she would grow up to know Christ and that she would bring You much glory and honor.

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If Keeping The Law Could Make Us Right With God, Then There Was No Need For Christ To Die.

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 Job 28; Job 29; Galatians 1; Galatians 2

 
 If Keeping The Law Could Make Us Right With God,

Then

There Was No Need For Christ To Die.

Scripture

²⁰ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. 

For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Observation

 When I talk to people at Mission Tampa about their relationship with God and I ask them this question, “If you were to stand before God at Heaven’s gate and God asked you why He should let you into Heaven?” Do you know how most of them respond? 

They almost always respond with a “keeping the law” answer. Even if they go to church every Sunday they respond with a “works” answer and almost never mention having a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

If being good or keeping rules could have saved us then there was no need for Christ to die. We could have saved ourselves.

Are you trying to be right with God by keeping some set of rules or by being good? If you are … sorry … it will never happen. 

Unless your old self has been crucified with Christ you don’t have eternal life. Unless you are trusting in the Son of God and what He did on the cross for your salvation then you are depending on the wrong thing. 

If we asked everyone in our church or in your church what it takes for a person to go to Heaven I think we would be shocked to find out how many are depending on their good works to get them into Heaven.

Application

 I will keep asking people about their relationship with God and I will listen carefully to their answers to hear what they say about Jesus!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  You showed Your great love for me by sending Christ to die for me while I was still a sinner.  (Galatians 2:20)(Romans 5:8)

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Then The Soldiers Nailed Him To The Cross …

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Job 26; Job 27; Mark 15; Mark 16

Then 

The Soldiers 

Nailed Him To The Cross …

Scripture

Mark 15

²⁴ Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross …

Observation

As I read about the crucifixion of Christ this morning I was reminded that it was my sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. It was your sin too!

    But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

  A few weeks ago during our prayer time at one of our morning worship services a young man asked me to pray that he would not yield to temptation that he was struggling with and fall back into some of his old sins. I told him that when he was being tempted for him to visualize Christ on the cross and for him to say to himself, “Jesus died on the cross for that sin.”

When I do this at the moment that I am being tempted it helps me to turn away from the temptation. 

Application

When I am tempted this week I will remind myself that Jesus died for that sin.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules.  I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9,11 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 

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You Must Love The LORD Your God With All Your Heart, All Your Soul, All Your Mind, And All Your Strength. … And Love Your Neighbor As Yourself.

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Job 23; Job 24; Mark 11; Mark 12

You Must Love The LORD Your God

With All Your Heart, All Your Soul, All Your Mind, And All Your Strength.

… And Love Your Neighbor As Yourself.

Scripture

Mark 12

The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. ³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Observation

    So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34

    And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21

This past week our Wednesday life group listened to part of an Andy Stanley message in a series called “Staying In Love”. It was a powerful and convicting message about how the word “love” needs to be a verb in our lives and not simply a noun.

Anybody with a pulse can fall in love, but staying in love requires putting the other person’s needs above our own. It requires a mutual submitting to one another.

To love someone as yourself you have to place that person’s well being above your own. Jesus commands us to put love into action. It is not a just a warm and fuzzy feeling. It is action. It is work!

Marriages are a mess both in church and out of church because couples don’t have John 13:34 / Ephesians 5:21 relationships.

Marriage is not all about you. It is not all about “me”. It takes a lot of work and sacrifice to make it the best!

Application

I will put Kathy’s needs and desires above my own today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are the One and only Lord.   I love You with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength.   Help me to love my wife and the others around me as much as I love myself. I know that there is no other commandment that is greater than these. Help me to serve others and put their needs above my own. 

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