DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

1) I Kings 13:8-26 -
    We must fully obey God's Word, and not allow others deceive us with so called words of the Lord.
2) I Kings 17:1-5 & 19:1-5
    There is a time to hide, flee, protect yourself when you have received a Word from the Lord, but
    it is not good when it is a result of doubt and fear.
3) Mark 6:45-52
    There are storms in life, but God sees you in the storm, and He will come to you in the storm,
    most often in the last hour.
4) Proverbs 3:1-12 - The keys to success, healing and fulfillment.
    1. Heed wisdom, Godly teaching, and live by them.
    2. Let love and faithfulness never leave you.
    3.Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways  
    submit to him.
    4. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
    5. Honor the Lord with your wealth.
    6. Do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke.
5)  II Kings 18:4 -
     The people worship the object of their deliverance, instead of the deliverer. Sometimes God's
     methods of working becoma a stumbling block, because our focus is on the method, and in the end
     becomes an idol.
6) II Kings 3:11-12 -
    Servant hood before service (ministry), and before promotion. 
7) 2 Kings 5:11 - God does not always work as we expect as with Naaman being healed by dipping in the Jordan river.
8) 2 Kings 22:11 - Does the Word of God impact us as it did king Josiah who tore his clothes and repented.
9) I Chronicles 4:9-10 - Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. 
10) I Chronicles 15:1-3 - "David learned his lesson. There is an order to worshiping God. Good intentions is not enough. v.13
11) I Chronicles 17:16 - "Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?"
12) II Chronicles 25:6 - I imagine that there was worship in the temple all the time. 
13) I Chronicles 29:1-9 - David led by example in his giving, and brought attention to his generosity to motivate others.
14)  2 Chronicle 15, we see Azariah calls on the people of Israel to seek the Lord. As result the people of Judah repents and king Asa brings in a great spiritual awakening and 15 years of peace. God tells them to be strong; don't be discouraged, for your work has a reward.
15) 2 Chronciles 16:1-9 - We are to depend on God and no other. God shows himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His. 
16) 2 Chronicles 16:12 - In times of illness, we are to seek the Lord's healing before the physician.
17) 2 Chronicles 17:3-6 - God establishes those who walk in His way. 
18) 2 Cronicles 17:9 - Jehoshaphat sent teachers throughout Judah, instructing them in them in the Law of God.
19) 2 Chronicles 20:37 - We are not to form alliances with unbelievers. (see also 19:1-3) 
20) 2 Chroniucles 26:5 - Uzziah was successful during the time he sought God. God made him very powerful, and prospered the nation. (vs.8)
21) 2 Chronicles 26:16 - When Uzziah became strong, he grew arrogant and it led to his own destruction.
22) 2 Chronicles 26:17 - We must stand against sin, and speak against the unholy actions of others.
23) 2 Chronicles 26:19 -  God will protect His servants, and His holy name.
24) Ezra chapter 6 - God even uses the unsaved to bless His people.
25)  Nehemiah chapter 4 - Keys to success in the midst of opposition.
       1) Call out to God.  v.4,9
       2) A willingness to keep working. v.6
       3) Encourage the people. v.14
       4) Always be on guard against attacks or things that might derail you. v.13,16-18,23
       5) Unity and mutual support.
26. Nehemiah chapter 5 - Sometimes we must stand up boldly against injustices and demand change.
27. Nehemiah 8:9-12 - How do we react to God's Word. It should move us to mourning. praise & worship.
28. Job 1:12 - The only authority Satan has over us is what God allows or when we give Satan a foothold in our lives. (Ephesians 4:27)
29. Job 1:16,19 - Satan has power over nature to use it for his purpose.
30. Job 2:3 - Job remained faithful to God when all was going wrong.
31. Job 2:10 - We are to accept whatever God allows without being bitter or resentful.
32. Job 2:13 - Sometimes the bast thing we can do for those who are suffering is just quietly be there for them.
33. Job 5:17 - Do not reject the discipline of the almighty.
34. Job 8:21 - Our pain and suffering will not last forever, God will deliver you in the end.
35. Job 9:3, 4 - God is more powerful and wise than we could ever be.
36. Job 11:7 - We can't fathom the depths of God.
37. Job 12:10 - The life of all things are in God's hands.
38. Job 13:15 - We are to never lose hope.
39. Job 16:4 - We are to put ourselves in others shoes and not be quick to judge.
40. Ps. 5:3 - When we pray, we are to expectantly wait for the answer. 
41. Ps. 16:11; 17:15 -  There is no greater pleasure and satisfaction than being in the presence of God.
42. Proverbs chapter 2 - Wisdom, knowledge and satisfaction all come from God.
      - They will guard you from:
         evil and perverse things.
         the crooked and devious.
         a forbidden woman or a woman who is immoral.
43. God created the universe so that He could lavish His love on something.
44. Satan wants us to question God's judgement and goodness. Genesis 3:1-6
45. Eve had pure motive and desire, but obtained it in the wrong way through disobedience to God and in her own wisdom and strength. Genesis 3:5-6
46. Sinners like others to accompany them in their sin. Genesis 3:6
47. When we sin, do not hide from God or suppress your guilt, but come to Him and repent.
48. Genesis 4:3-4 - Not all offerings are acceptable. 
49. In Genesis chapter 4 we have only heard about 4 people. How was Cain worried about others killing him? Also, where did he get his wife?
50. Exodus 20:20 - The fear of the Lord keeps you from sinning, but is easily lost or forgotten.
51. Exodus 21:14-17 - The penalty of death for the following things - murder, attacks parents, kidnapping, and cursing parents.
52. Exodus 22:2 - Killing someone who breaks into your house after dark is not sin.
53. Exodus 22:16 - God commanded us to marry any virgin we seduce who is not already pledged to be married to someone else, and pay the bride price.
54. Exodus 23:5 - Help those who hate you.
55. Exodus 23:12 - Every seventh day, all are to rest.
56. Exodus 23:19 - Give God your best.
57. Exodus 31:14-15 - Observe the Sabbath, it is a sign, a day of rest, and holy to the Lord. You must not work avery seventh day without exceptions. (Ex. 34:21)
58. Exodus 32:9-12 - A true leader intercedes before God on behalf of his people.
59. Exodus 34:6 - The Lord is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
60. Exodus 34:20 - No one is to go to the house of the Lord empty handed. 
61. Exodus 36:7 - The people were restrained from giving more because they had given so much.
62. Exodus 6:1-5 - The Bible teaches making restitution for stolen, damaged, or lost things
63. Leviticus 7:22-27 - Eating blood and fat were prohibited.
64. Leviticus 18:25 - Our sins can bring judgement on the land. 
65. Leviticus 18 - Various Laws
      1. Respect Father and mother.
      2. No idol worship.
      3. Make a proper sacrifice.
      4. Care for the poor.
      5. Do not steal lie or decieve.
      6. Do not mistreat your laborers.
      7. Do not mistreat the handicapped.
      8. Do not pervert justice.
      9. Do not spread slander.
      10. Do not do anything that might endanger another persons life.
      11. Do not hate or take revenge.
      12. Do not practice divintation or sorcery.
      13. Do not cut our bodies or tattoo them for the dead.
      14. Ministers are not to marry ex-prostitutes or those divorced, but virgins.
      15. Every seventh year is to be a Sabbath to the Lord.
      16. Every fifth year is 50th year is a year of Jubilee - a sabbath for the land and returning of  
       property.
66. Leviticus 25:44 - God did not condemn slavery, but stipulated whom might be slaves.
67. Leviticus chapter 26 - Blessings for those who obey God, and cursed are those who do not obey God.
68. Leviticus 27:30 - A tithe of everything belongs to the Lord.
69. Numbers 5:5-10 - When a person has wronged another in any way, he must confess his sin and make full restitution.
70. Numbers 11:17,25 We are to choose leaders under God's direction, and He will give them authority and power to lead.
71. Numbers 11:23 - The Lord's arm is not to short. 
72. Numbers 11:27 - We msut not be jealous of God's work & use of other leaders. 
73. Numbers 12:7 - Moses was faithful and had a special relationship with God.
74. Numbers 14:5-9 - Doubts bring disobedience and even rebellion.
75. Numbers 14:11 - How quickly we forget God's mighty works.
76. Numbers 14:13-19 - A true leader intercedes for those who follow them, and seek God's glory above all.
77. Numbers 14:24 - Do we have a different spirit than the world, and follow God with all our heart?
78. Numbers 14 - Truth can't be solely measured by the majority. It often stand opposed to the majority.
79. Numbers 14 - Caleb was not so much a man of great faith, as a man of faith in a great God.  
80. Numbers 15:30-31 - There is unintentional sin an intentional sin. God judges intentional sin more harshly.
81.   Numbers 16:47-48 - When God sent judgement on the people, Aaron made atonement for them and stood between the living and the dead.
82. Numbers 17:7 - Our calling is a gift from God, not merited.
83. Numbers 22:18 - We are to do exactly as the Lord commands
84. Numbers 22:38 - We are only to speak what God tells us to speak.
85. God does not lie or change is mind. Numbers 23:18, I Sam. 15:29, Mal. 3:6, James 1:17
86. Numbers 25:12 - Phineas was zealous for the honor of God.
87. Deuteronomy 1:32-33 -  The Lord carries us and guides us in the way we should go.
88. Deuteronomy 2:7 - Although God judged or disciplined the people of Israel, He never abandoned them. They were still His people. In the midst of their trial, God was with them and they lacked nothing those 40 years in the desert.
89. Deuteronomy 4:12 - Condition for obtaining the promises of God is obedience.
90. Deuteronomy 4:6 - There is wisdom in obeying God's commands, and others will see this.
91. Matthew 5:17-20 - To presume to make changes in God's la is to assume a position of authority over God.
92. Deuteronomy 5:9-10; Exodus 34:6-7 -  God punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the 4th generation, but shows love to a thousand generations os those who love Him.
93. Deuteronomy 5:29 - When we obey God's commands, it will go well with us and our children forever.
94. Deuteronomy 6:6 - God's commands are to be on our hearts, and we are to impress them on our children's hearts. They are to be in our conversations and daily life.
95. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - God has chosen us as His treasured possession, and delivered us from being enslaved to Satan, but not becasue of who we are.
96. Deuteronomy 8:16 - Do not let pity get in the way of what God has asked you to do.



 

Faith walked out in obedience upon the mountain of the Lord.

In Geneses chapter 22 we see the story of Abraham, where he willingly puts his son on the alter as a sacrifice unto God. Abraham's faith and obedience is being tested by God and he passes with an A +.

There are two questions we need to ask ourselves.

1) Have you heard from the Lord?

2) Have you stepped out in faith and obeyed the Lord, even if it may cost you greatly?

There are several lessons that can be drawn from this story.

1) We must hear from the Lord.

2) We must put God first above family, and everything else. We must be willing to lay down our dreams and hopes, if asked to by God.

3) We must obey the Lord, and it may require great sacrifice. Obedience is always the result of faith. Faith without action is not faith at all. Also, faith is always based or rooted in the Word of the Lord.

4) Abraham believed (hoped) God was going to provide the lamb, but willing to slay his son, even if God did not come through for him.

5) When God provided a lamb for the sacrifice, minutes before he was going to kill his only son, the promised son, Abraham declared, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided".

6) When God asks us to do something, He always makes provision. We find this provision as we are on the mountain of the Lord, in His presence.

Finally, it is not about the sacrifice. It is about faith walked out in obedience. Do not boast in your great sacrifice, nor put your self down because your sacrifice pales next to the other persons. All God looks at is your faith and obedience to His Holy Spirit and His Word. God rejoices over every step of faith, great or small. He rewards those who live this way.

Thoughts from No More Free Samples by Harry Vellekoop

The Psalmist says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good". The Holy Spirit wets our appetite for the things of God. As it were, He gives us free samples. There are things in our life that He will allow for a hile, but eventually there is a price to pay for continuing on in the blessing and truth that He is offering us.

Christian can deceive themselves by assuming that because they have experienced an encounter of some kind with God that they are now the possessors of that experience - that it is no part of their life - when in actuality they may have enjoyed a free sample.

It is often from our human perspective that it seems that growing in Christ costs us anything. In retrospect, we can always see that the cost would have been not to allow God to deal with our lives in order for us to progress in Him. (Philippians 3:7-9)

How could anybody consider changing corruptible for incorruptible as a cost?

We must not be satisfied with free samples of God's presence. We must not be satisfied with visiting the presence of God, but rather continually be in the presence of God and as result impact this world for His Kingdom.

Moves of God always have something spectacular associated with them, and during those times is seems so easy to "follow after God." The problem arises when we no longer are motivated to continue in God's transformation processes when the spectacular ceases.

God hates willfull hypocrites.

Jesus speaks out against the hypocritical teachers very strongly in Matthew chapter 23. It is clear that God hates hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is when our inside doesn't line up with our outside. It is when we declare what is true and right. Then we yourselves do not apply what we have declared as true and right. Even worse, we condemn what other do and think while we are no different. Hypocrites are usually proud while pretending to be humble. Hypocrites love the praise of people more than the praise of God.

There are two kinds of hypocrites. There are intentional hypocrites who know full well what they are doing and have no remorse. There is unintentional hypocrites who because of weakness do not match up inside and out.

We the church need to speak out against those who are hypocrites. Hypocrites who know full well what they are doing, but no desire to repent. Jesus says, we are not to have any fellowship or relationship with this kind of hypocrite.

Yet, those who are weak in the faith and walk with Jesus, we must gently speak to them and encourage them to turn away from their sinful way.

SEVEN STEPS TO CHANGING THE FUTURE (by Michael Cavanaugh)

I. Get the power to change.

Acts 1:7 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

     A. Power to believe.

Matthew 17:20 - "He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

    B. Power to live righteous lives.

James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

    C. Power to defeat Satan.

Luke 10:19-20 - " I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

II. Pray God's will.

1 John 5:14-15 - "
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

To know God's will we must know the Word of God and seek Him.
  
Matthew 7:7 - " Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Acts 17:27 - " God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us."

III. Proclaim God's will.

Mark 11:23-24 - “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

IV. Plan for the future God has shown you.

Proverbs 21:5 - " The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

     A.  Invite God to give you His plans.

Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

    B. Seek Godly advice.

Proverbs 15:22 - "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."

    C. Take steps of action.

V. Persevere through short term pain.

Psalms 105:17-19 - "and he sent a man before them— Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true."

Vision keeps leaders empowered and thorns keep leaders authentic. 

VI. Praise God for the future.

    A. Joshua and the people of Israel praised God until the walls fell down.
    B. Paul & Silas praised God, and the prison doors were opened.

In conclusion:

"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, then to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much or suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat."  (Theodore Roosevelt)

 



 

WHAT HAVE YOU LOST UNAWARE

Sometimes we lose things unaware that we lost them until later. This is what happened to Samson.

Judges 15:14-15 - "As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men."

Here we see Samson empowered by the Spirit of the Lord kill 1,000 Philistines.

Judges 16:20-21 - "Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison."

Here Samson thinking that he would go out in the power of the Spirit once again to destroy the enemies of God which he had done so many times in the past. Yet, he was unaware that the Spirit of God had left him because Delilah had cut his hair while sleeping which broke the Nazirite vow he had made.

What have you might of lost unaware in your relationship with the Father?

You may have lost hope and faith. Maybe you have lost your first love and zeal for God. 

 

Revelation 2:4-5 - "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.  Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

 

Maybe you have lost your integrity and holiness. Possibly you have lost that intimacy you once had with the Father.

We must seek those things that we have lost and reclaim them for ourselves that we may continue to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Just because God used you in the past does not mean that he will automatically use you now. 

 

Our power in Christ is dependent on us remaining in Him and He remaining in us. It is dependent on a right relationship with God.

In Numbers 14:37-45, we see the people of Isreal refused ot go into the promise land because of the negative report of the spies. Therefore, God judges the spies. Then the people recognized their sin and decided to go up and take the land of Canaan despite God forbidding them to do so. Therefore, they went up to battle without the presence of the Lord and were defeated.

 

Never take for granted that past victories will bring you future victories. Never take the Holy Spirit for granted.

GOD WANTS US TO BE FRUIT BEARERS

John 15:8 - "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

When we bear fruit it brings glory to the Father and shows that you are Christ's disciple. 

There are 2 types of fruit. There is nonspiritual and spiritual. Nonspiritual fruit is produced by man himself whether good or evil.  Spiritual fruit is produced by the Spirit of God which produces righteousness and good works.

God desires us to produce much fruit as we yield to the Holy Spirit's power. Bearing fruit is a natural out working of our relationship with God. The first key to bearing much fruit is being connected to the source of nourishment which is Christ himself. 

John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

I must hold onto God and He will hold onto me. A couple of keys to holding on to Christ is desire, yielding, and obedience.

The second key to producing much fruit is being pruned.

John 15:2 - "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

We are unable to prune ourselves. It is the work of the Gardner.  Yet, we must yield to the pruning and learn from the pruning in order to bear much fruit. 

There is warning to the branch and a promise to the branch. The warning is that if we do not remain in Him, we will but cut off and thrown into the fire. The promise is that are able to ask whatever we wish, and it will be done for us.