Abba's Glory

Day 58, 02/10/2010, True Teachers, James 3:13-18

 

 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

NIV

 

When I was a young Christian I was visiting churches trying to find one that I would feel at home in. Wow, what a headache! I had read the Bible many times in my early years as a Christian because I was so hungry for Him and wanted to please Him and learn of Him and His ways. I did not come to the Lord in Church and was not raised in a Church.  I did however actually read the Bible and what I saw there is what I expected when I went to church.

 

The passage above is one that helped me find a church home among all of the not so perfect options I had to pick from. It showed me how to find a place where the transforming power of Jesus was at work and where I could be at home among other imperfect people.

Thank God for His transforming power and mercy!

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Day 56, 02/08/2010, Discerning Our Teachers, Romans 12:2

 

Discerning Our Teachers

 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2

 

As Dallas Willard observes in The Divine Conspiracy, we are all somebody’s disciples.⁶  At different times in our lives we are the students of our parents, our playmates, our teachers, and our peers.  These apprenticeships are necessary, so that we can learn about the world and our place in it, how to act and talk and treat one another.  Whether we mean to or not, we also apprentice ourselves to books, magazines, TV shows, and movies.  When we spend a lot of time with particular people, books or TV shows, their habits, ideas, and behavior patterns start to become ingrained in us.  That is why it matters who and what we surround ourselves with.  God wants to renew us from the inside out, transforming our minds, so that we become ever more like God as revealed in Jesus Christ.  But if we are spending time with things or people not of God, we will find ourselves changing in ways we may not intend.

 

Within the next ten days, take a block of time to consider the central influences in your life.  Jot down a time line of your life, dividing it into stages (such as childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, marriage, parenthood, etc.) or organizing it by another system of your choice (such as places you have lived or jobs you have had).  Think about the teachers and influences that were most important at each time.  Focus particularly on the present.

• Ø  Ask yourself who your teachers are and what they are teaching you.  Scripture tells us that we can know who has been inwardly transformed by God by the fruit they produce.

• Ø Ask God to show you if there are people or influences you should minimize in your life.

• Ø Then ask God about what new ways you can learn.

• Ø Is God calling you toward more frequent study of Scripture?

• Ø Are there particular people or books God is urging you to learn from?

• Ø Finally, ask yourself who is learning from you and what you are teaching them.

 

^{6 Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy:  Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (San Francisco:  HarperSanFrancisco, 1998), pp. 271-72.}

^{The material avove is from Richard Foster's A Year With God and begins a new area of our study.}

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Day 55, 03/07/2010, Treasuring God’s Word, Psalm 119:9-16

 

How can young people keep their way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

10 With my whole heart I seek you;

do not let me stray from your commandments.

11 I treasure your word in my heart,

so that I may not sin against you.

12 Blessed are you, O LORD;

teach me your statutes.

13 With my lips I declare

all the ordinances of your mouth.

14 I delight in the way of your decrees

as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on your precepts,

and fix my eyes on your ways.

16 I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

NRSV

 

It has been said that you can measure what you treasure by how much time, energy and resources you put into something.

How much time energy and resources are you putting into God’s word?

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Day 54, 02/06/2010, Eating God’s Word, Ezekiel 3:1-3

 

Ezek 3:1-3

3:1 HE SAID to me, Son of man, eat what you find [in this book]; eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.

2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat the scroll.

3 And He said to me, Son of man, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

AMP

 

This portrait is designed to get us to both pay attention and to obey what it is picturing! Ezek 3:1

(This is a paraphrase of Adam Clark’s commentary of this verse)

Receive my word-let it enter into inner man, meditate on it so that it will nourish you. Let it be your spiritual meat and drink so that you may do the will of your Father who is in heaven.

 

We should continually internally absorb the Word of God so that it becomes a part of our being and can guide us, guard us and protect us. These happened as we take in the Word and meditate on it, and then nurture it with worship and prayer.

 

Continue to focus on your extended passage of scripture so that this process can be applied to it.

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Day 53, 02/05/2010, The People of the Book, Nehemiah 8:1-10

 

And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. 2 Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, " Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. 8 They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

 

9 "This Day Is Holy"

Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, " This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."NASU

 

I would be thrilled if we were so zealous for God’s word!

 

Our author says that this point on Israel was known as the people of the book!

 

Are you a person of the book? Does it transform you into His image daily? Do you urgently seek opportunity to read it, meditate on it? Do you seek it out for answers to life’s issues?

If we say we love God should we not be desperate for hid Word that we might know Him intimately and in the full measure of who He is and how he operates?

If you really want to scare the devil Read the Word, drink it in deeply and live or walk according to all that it teaches!

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 Day 52, 03/04/2010, Saturated With Scripture, Nehemiah 1:5-11

 

4 When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments; 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned. 7 We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.' 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!" At the time, I was cupbearer to the king. NRSV

When we make God’s Word a priority in our lives by reading, hearing and obeying it God’s ways become our ways and this gives us the wisdom to pray according to His will and His heart and not our own. When you pray are you praying according to God’s Heart?
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Dr Richard Foster comments from A Year With God are below.

This prayer, which Nehemiah offered after learning that the people of Jerusalem were in great trouble, reflects his thorough knowledge of scripture. Almost every phrase in the prayer is derived from the sacred text.(see Deut 7:9, 21;10:17; 1Kings 8:52;Psalm 130:; Deut 34:5;4:27;30:1-4;9:29). Nehemiah was so saturated with Scripture that the words of Scripture had become the thoughts of Nehemiah. In the prayer life of Jesus, as well as the Church, the Bible has often served as a resource for addressing God.

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Day 51, 03/03/2010, Setting Our Hearts to Study, Ezra 7:6-10

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. 7 Some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. NASU

Summary of Comments from Dr Richard Foster author of A Year With God (our devotional text)

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem determined to accomplish three things.
1. He desired to study God’s Word
2. He committed himself to practice what he learned.
3. He taught others what he had learned

Hebrews 4:12 says
12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. AMP

Today would you join me in asking God to give us a renewed passion to allow His living and active word to access to our lives so that He might continue the transformation process within us, that we might be transformed into the full measure of Messiah’s maturity?

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Day 50, 03/02/2010, Knowledge of God, Colossians 1:9-10

 

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 

Paul’s prayer continues so that the purpose of knowledge and power of God are made clear.

 

11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

NASU

 

Many seek the knowledge of God as if were a trophy to be attained for personal enlargement of their egos.

Others seek the power of God so that they see or do great works or the miraculous.

 

But God here shows Paul, that the primary purpose of His knowledge and power is the transformation of those who believe in and receive him. Miracles, signs and wonders have a role today and how God works among people.

The danger is that we become so consumed with the manifestations of God presence that we fail to be transformed by the knowledge and power of God.

 

This does not mean that we should not seek Him in all His splendor and majesty, but that in seeking we seek His heart and purpose for ourselves and those we touch in life.

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Day 49, 03/01/2010, Our Teacher, Matthew 23:1-4, 6-7

 

3:1 THEN JESUS said to the multitudes and to His disciples,

2 The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat [of authority].

3 So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach, but do not practice.

4 They tie up heavy loads, hard to bear, and place them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to help bear them.

5 They do all their works to be seen of men; for they make wide their phylacteries ( small cases enclosing certain Scripture passages, worn during prayer on the left arm and forehead) and make long their fringes [worn by all male Israelites, according to the command]. [Ex 13:9; Num 15:38; Deut 6:8.] 

6 And they take pleasure in and [thus] love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,

7 And to be greeted with honor in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi.

AMP

 

Lessons we must learn and practice.

1.  Be learners (disciples)of the Word both written and living

2.  Be doers of the Word both written and living

3.  Do NOT use the Word to put burdens of guilt or shame, or inflict harm on the image of Christ in His people.

4.  Be joyful in all that God gives us knowing His ways are pure and that we are bearers of His undeserved favor.

5.  Memorizing, quoting God’s word is meant to bring life not bondage.

 

He has not given us the spirit of bondage but of life and an inheritance in Jesus the messiah.

John 10:10,

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  NASU

 

1 Peter 1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. NASU

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Day 48, 02/28/2010, Obeying God’s Law, Deuteronomy 30:10-14

 

10 if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

11 "For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. 12 "It is not in heaven, that you should say, ' Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' 13 "Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' 14 "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it. NASU

 

Some use Matt 5:17-20, as an excuse to not obey or study what we call the Old Covenant. We must study it if we expect to know the whole counsel of God and His wisdom for us today.

 

17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.  18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  19 "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

 

Today reread Deuteronomy 30:10-14 and put your name where it says you and put your name in possessive form where it says your, (your = Wayne’s).

Then go through and read it substituting I or me as appropriate, for you.  ‘If I obey’, etc. or ‘For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for me.’

 

Now ask God to give you the faith to apply it, remember it and think on it throughout the day.

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Day 47, 02/27/2010, Directions for Living, Deuteronomy 17:18-20

 

18 When he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence of the levitical priests. 19 It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left, so that he and his descendants may reign long over his kingdom in Israel. NRSV

 

God laid out His law and ordinances to the people of Israel to cover every area of life. Not everyone had printed copies of the law and therefore it was necessary for them to memorize it and keep it in their hearts.

 

The king was an exception to this rule and when he first became king was to copy the law into a book of his own and to read it, consult it and submit to it daily. The king had greater knowledge and therefore both by authority and responsibility was required to be in God’s word daily. He was to obey it in spirit and in letter and was to be God’s representative before the people of someone who lived according to all its precepts. His life was to be a living example of someone who walked with God in all his ways.

 

Today, ask yourself how you can be a living example of someone who walks according to God’s Word.

 

Before you read your extended passage today pray Ps 119:105

05 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. [Prov 6:23.] 

AMP

Artwork: Sword of the Spirit by Jeff Haynie

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Day 46, 02/26/2010, Learning From Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

6 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action),

 

17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. AMP

 

Our author challenges us to pick a longer passage of scripture and read it every day for the next 10 days. You might even pick a short book. Try this sequence if you have time. (Paraphrased from the author)

Days 1-2 Read it

Day 3-4  Read it out loud

Day 5-6  Seek to memorize key passages or verses.

Day 7-8  Ask yourself what are God’s instructions or promises in these verses

Day 9-10 Ask yourself how to apply these verses to your life.

 

Then I want depart from the author’s comments and remind us the renewal and transformation of our minds and all of our lives comes as we read God’s Word and allow His ways to become our ways, His thoughts to become our thoughts and His word to become our way of life.

Artwork: Sword of the Spirit by Jeff Haynie

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Our Next Area of Study is Studying God's Word. This study will begin 02/26/2010

 

Study

 

The intentional process of engaging the mind with the written and spoken Word of God and the world God has created in such a way that the mind takes on an order conforming to the order upon which it concentrates.

 

When God made his covenant with the Israelites, he established the books of the Law, which laid out in detail the way God’s people were to live.  From that point forward, study became an important part of life with God.  Now in addition to the Law, we have the other books of the Old Testament and the revelation in Jesus Christ.  Scripture is an expansive gift that shows how God has been with us throughout history.

Accordingly, one of the best ways we can learn more about and grow closer to God is to study the written word.  Scripture is the foundation of all of the disciplines.  We know Jesus studied the Torah.  Luke 2 tells us that Jesus went to the Temple as a young boy and spent time with the teachers there, asking questions.  Indeed, he knew the Torah backwards and forwards, quoting from it time and time again.  We too are well served by studying and, yes, even memorizing large pieces of Scripture.

For our purposes, study refers to an analytical process of learning as opposed to the more devotional practice of meditation.  It is appropriate for the study to come first.  Before we get to the devotional stage, in which we meditate upon what a certain passage means to us specifically, we must first seek to understand the passage.  But this is not to say that study has no effect on us.  Indeed, the opposite is true.  What we study, what we concentrate on, becomes ingrained in us.  Study transforms us from the inside out.

 

Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.—Psalm 111:2

 

Day 46    ~     Spiritual Practice:  Learning from Scripture

Day 47                        Directions for Living

Day 48                        Obeying God’s Law

Day 49                        One Teacher

Day 50                        Knowledge of God

Day 51                        Setting Our Hearts to Study

Day 52                        Saturated with Scripture

Day 53                        The People of the Book

Day 54                        Eating God’s Word

Day 55                        Treasuring God’s Word

Day 56    ~     Spiritual Practice:  Discerning Our Teachers

Day 57                        Delighting in the Law of the Lord

Day 58                        True Teachers

Day 59                        False Prophets

Day 60                        Observing One Another

Day 61                        Remember Jesus Christ

Day 62                        Learning in Community

Day 63                        Learning from Creation

Day 64                        Studying God’s Ways

Day 65                        Transformed into the Image of Jesus Christ

 

Artwork: Sword of the Spirit by Jeff Haynie

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Day 45, 02/24/2010, Prayers in Eternity, Revelation 5:6-8, 8:3-4

Rev 5:6-8

6 Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

NRSV

 

Rev 8:3-5

3 Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. NRSV

 

This is simply awesome! Here we see the prayers of God’s people being brought before God by angels. I not sure if that messes with your theology or not, but here at least during the period of time represented in Revelation 5 and 8 this is what is occurring.

 

Elsewhere in scripture it is evident that God hears our prayers and responds. It is also evident that we need no go betweens but that we come to the father through Jesus Christ and that the angels seem to have no role in the process.

 

For me the points here are:     

  1.   God hears our prayers and answers

  2.       That at times He even uses the angelic host to have the prayers of His people brought before Him from the hand of these angels.

A caution here is needed. We are never told to pray to the angels that they would bring our prayers before God.

 

In fact we see Jesus interceding before the father for us.

Heb 9:24

4 For Christ (the Messiah) has not entered into a sanctuary made with [human] hands, only a copy and pattern and type of the true one, but [He has entered] into heaven itself, now to appear in the [very] presence of God on our behalf.

AMP

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Day 43, 02/23/2010, Reconciling Ourselves to God's Will, Mark 14:32-39

 

They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."  33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake."  35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want."  37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour?  38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.

NRSV

 

How many times have we heard people ask for God’s will to be done only to hear them complain when what happens is not what they truly wanted in their heart?

 

Let us all seek God’s will while also being honest about what we would want to happen. There is the working out of God’s plan in ways we do not always know.

 

There are also times when we must stand and fight for what God has birthed in us.

So we must seek the Lord and His plan and be willing to fight for it while also being willing to allow Him as our King to rule and reign.

 

Chose you this day whom you will serve, God or yourself.

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Day 42, 02/22/2010, Negotiating With God,Genesis 18:17-32

 

Then the men set out from there, and they looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?   19 No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; so that the LORD may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." 20 Then the LORD said, "How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! 21 I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know."

 

22 So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the LORD.   23 Then Abraham came near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" 26 And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake." 27 Abraham answered, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." 29 Again he spoke to him, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." 30 Then he said, "Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 31 He said, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." 32 Then he said, "Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."

NRSV

 

Will God not hear the plea of the His children to turn away wrath? One of the interesting things in this passage is God’s willingness to allow Abraham to negotiate for the lives of his kinsman.

Acts 16:31

They said, " Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household .

NASU

Your passionate pleas for the salvation of your family are in agreement with the will of God

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Day 41, 02/21/2010, Complaining to God, Jer 12:1-4

 

"LORD, if I argued my case with you,

you would prove to be right.

Yet I must question you about matters of justice.

Why are wicked men so prosperous?

Why do dishonest men succeed?

2 You plant them, and they take root;

they grow and bear fruit.

They always speak well of you,

yet they do not really care about you.

3 But, LORD, you know me;

you see what I do

and how I love you.

Drag these evil men away like sheep to be butchered;

guard them until it is time for them to be slaughtered.

4 How long will our land be dry,

and the grass in every field be withered?

Animals and birds are dying

because of the wickedness of our people,

people who say, 'God doesn't see what we are doing.' " 

TEV

 

I am thankful that the Holy Spirit gives us this honest encounter of Jeremiah with the Lord. Many times we are fearful to really state what is in our hearts before God. While we want to be respectful of God we also have the privilege of being His children through the shed blood of Jesus. God who is a loving father listens to the complaints of His child and with wisdom and love treats us with honor not anger. This honor allows God to show us the truth in some matters and at other times He is merciful to us as we walk out the situation that is causing such frustration within us.

 

Today I challenge you to be honest with God and allow Him to direct you through the storm and its resulting frustrations.

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Day 40, 02/20/2010, Petitioning God, Isaiah 38:1-6

 

38:1 IN THOSE days King Hezekiah of Judah became ill and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said, Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live. [2 Kings 20:1-11; 2 Chron 32:24-26.] 

2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord

3 And said, Remember [earnestly] now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in faithfulness and in truth, with a whole heart [absolutely devoted to You], and have done what is good in Your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,

5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add to your life fifteen years.

6 And I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city [Jerusalem]. AMP

 

Wow, talk about being honest with God! Hezekiah bold reminds God that he has been faithful in the things that God counts as good. He did not list his giving, his accomplishments in building buildings, etc. He says’ I have done what is good in your sight’ He also says he has walked before God in faithfulness and truth with all of his heart, a heart totally devoted to God!

 

Would you pray with me today that it would be so in our lives?

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Day 39, 02/19/2010, Praying Earnestly, 1 Samuel 1:1-20

 

10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. 11 She made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."

12 Now it came about, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 14 Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you." 15 But Hannah replied, "No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 "Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation." 17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him." 18 She said, " Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 

19Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, " Because I have asked him of the LORD.

NASU

 

I will pray like Hannah prayed! Really, would you? Under what circumstances would you pray like she prayed? Hannah’s unrestrained honesty and transparency in prayer is almost scary to some of us. Yet, we often deny ourselves the joy of unburdening our hearts in private and in public because we will not go all out for God and what is on our hearts.

 

Do you need to practice honest transparent prayer? Start with the small things and practice complete honesty in fact and emotion with God in prayer.

 

 

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Day 38, 02/18/2010, Our Eyes Are On You, 2 Chronicles 20:5-12

 

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD before the new court, 6 and he said, "O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. 7 "Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 "They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, 9' Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.' 10 "Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), 11 see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance. 12 "O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You."

NASU

 

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer sounds like one I have prayed at times in life.

For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

 

The believer today who is acquainted with the Word knows that though Jesus our Messiah that we are more than conquers. In that time of crises we also know that our anointing, wisdom, influence and power will not be enough, BUT the Lord our God is able and willing.

 

The army of God that surrounds us is more than the army of the enemy. 2 Kings 6:8-22.

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Day 37, 02/17/2010, Praying for Everyone, I Timothy 2:1-8

 

FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,

2 For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.

3 For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,

4 Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.

5 For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

6 Who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right and proper time.

7 And of this matter I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (special messenger) — I am speaking the truth in Christ, I do not falsify [when I say this] — a teacher of the Gentiles in [the realm of] faith and truth.

8 I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands.

AMP

 

What a great privilege we have as the bride of Christ to be able to ask of Him on behalf of others as well as our selves. We need not fear or wait for a special occasion to inquire of Him for he desires to have an ongoing conversation with us throughout the day and yes even during the night if we are not asleep.

 

Read today’s scriptures and ask yourself how you might become a more effective in your prayers in light of these verses. Perhaps you might start a prayer journal where you can write down and date your request and leave space for the date when God answered this request.

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Day 36, 02/16/2010, Asking God, Luke 18:1-8

The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge

 

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.  3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.'  4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone,  5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'"  6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.  7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?  8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 

NRSV

 

Do you ask God for all the needs in your life? Mark 11:24

24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  NRSV

 

God care so much about us that He wants us to seek Him for all our needs.

Today and over the next 10 days spend some time talking with God about those things that are on your heart. No item is too small or too large.

He is our heavenly Father and is concerned about every part of our lives.

 

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Day 35, Out to the Mountain to Pray, Luke 6:12-13

 

It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles:

NASU

 

I believe that one of the things we are lacking in as believers is the practice of really seeking God for His direction, wisdom and provision.

 

In these verses we see Jesus in prayer all night so that He might pick the 12 men God would have him to pick to be His apostles.

 

Practicing a life of prayer starts with those everyday conversations with God, but must include those times of seeking and waiting for answers that establish the way forward.

 

Do you talk with Him throughout the day?

Do you press in for an extended time when the future is at stake?

 

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Day 34, 02/14/2010, Praying For Your Enemies, Luke 6:27-28

 

27 But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred,

 

28 Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you]. AMP

 

It is not easy to pray for those who misuse us, or hurt us or treat us unfairly. There is a time to cry out for the righteous judgment of God against our enemies and a time to pray for God’s mercy on their lives.

 

I can relate to this right now. I was just let go from my job as a manager for Family Christian Stores. I have had great success as a retail manager, pastor and college dean in the past and being a fierce competitor, I hate to lose a battle. Despite my best efforts and lots of extra hours of working and seeking to accomplish the goals that were set before me, I did not accomplish all that was required.

 

The first thing I will do is to get some rest and then seek God diligently for what is next. Are there circumstances and personalities that made it hard to accomplish the goals? Yes, but my responsibility is to communicate them in an honest and constructive way and then move on to what God has next.

 

Many people both famous and unknown have failed to accomplish what was required at various things in their lives and gone on to great success and to enjoy life.

 

One of their secrets is to leave unforgiveness and bitterness behind and move on to what God has next.

Choose this day whom you will serve. We can choose to forgive and pray for them or we can choose to sit in the seat of the scornful and let bitterness overtake us.

Which will we choose?

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Day 33, 02/13/2010, Returning to God, Jeremiah 29:11-14

 

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.

13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. [Deut 4:29-30.] 

14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive. AMP

 

 

The people of God were carried into captivity and some were looking to false prophets for their answers. God wanted them to realize that He holds their times and seasons in His hand and He will hear and answer them when they seek Him with their whole hearts.

It is tempting when things are tough to look to people instead of God for our answers, provision and deliverance. God however is the source of all true prophecies, so we should seek Him and not His messengers first.

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Day 31, 02/11/2010, Taking All Our Needs to God. Nehemiah 4:4-5

 

4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their taunt back on their own heads, and give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.

5 Do not cover their guilt, and do not let their sin be blotted out from your sight; for they have hurled insults in the face of the builders.

NRSV

 

The enemies of God's People are the Enemies of God.

Notice how Nehemiah ask God to deal with them and their unrighteousness.

He does not seek to take action but seeks God for His wisdom and direction in the matter.

 

When we are doing the father's business we can expect opposition.

We must however be wise and seek God for His plan, timing and resources to accomplish His will in any specific matter.

 

God’s power, authority and gifts may rest on us but they should only be used at His direction and not ours.

 

Are you seeking His face so that His will is accomplished in His time, His way and with His resources?

 

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Day 30, 02/10/2010, Praying in the Spirit, Romans 8:22-27

 

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

 26 Our Victory in Christ

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  NASU

 

Praying in the Spirit is mentioned three times in Scripture. First Corinthians 14:15 says, “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Jude 20 says, “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”

 

The Greek word translated “pray in” can have several different meanings. It can mean “by means of,” “with the help of,” “in the sphere of,” and “in connection to.”

 

What does it mean to pray in the Spirit?

Have you experienced this type of prayer?

What difference did it make in your day to day life?

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Day 29, 02/09/2010, All Times, All Prayer, Ephesians 6:18

 

18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). AMP

 

This verse can stand on its own strength, but it is actually a part of the previous verses concerning the armor of God. For when we have put on the full armor we may enter the realm of spiritual warfare and prayer equipped to do the work of God for all the saints, concerning all things at all times and we can expect the God who answers to do His wonders in our lives, families and our complete sphere of influence. Read again

Eph 6:10-17 and understand this 18^th verse in its context. Then ask your self is anything to hard for God?

 

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

11 Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

13 Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. [Isa 52:7.] 

16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

AMP

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Day 28, 02/08/2010, Making Prayer a Habit, Daniel 6:3-6, 9-11

 

3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. 4 Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, "We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God."

6 Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: "King Darius, live forever!

 

Dan 6:9-12

9 Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.

NASU

 

“Daniel’s enemies attacked him precisely at the point of his reliability- his prayer practice. Daniel’s prayer life is exemplified in a few brief phrases. It was private (in the house), yet public (with the windows open). He prays several times a day. Though in exile and under watch, he continues to praise God. Most important, Daniel is steadfast in prayer, doing “as he had done previously’.”

 

Plan on using your simple pray technique three times today at set time as well as any spontaneous opportunities you have.

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Day 27, 02/07/10, How To Pray, Luke 11:1-4

 

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." 2 And He said to them, " When you pray, say:

 

' Father, hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come. 

3'Give us each day our daily bread. 

4'And forgive us our sins,

For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.'" 

NASU

 

The prayer Jesus taught us to pray helps us establish God's pattern of thinking, His desires for our life. there is no room here for self centered proclamations, only God honoring interactions will accomplish what the Father wants to accomplish in us.

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The prayer Jesus taught us to pray helps us establish God's pattern of thinking, His desires for our life. there is no room here for self centered proclamations, only God honoring interactions will accomplish what the Father wants to accomplish in us.

Day 26, 02/06/2010, Simple Prayer, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today is the beginning of a New Spiritual Discipline, 'Prayer'

16 Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);
17 Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];
18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. AMP

Today is the beginning of a New Spiritual Discipline, That of 'Prayer'
"What does it mean to pray without ceasing? Is it even possible? A good starting place is what Richard Foster calls,"simple prayer" He goes on to define it as , "Bring ourselves and all of our needs and circumstances to God in prayer, even if our concerns feel petty and selfish and ordinary. It means telling God how frustrated we are when when we cannot find a parking space or when our co-worker interrupts us yet again in a meeting. It means sharing our our joys and small pleasures with God in thanks. We just share all, the good and the bad. When we look at the pages of the Bible, we see that this is the way most of the people in it pray. they complain and celebrate, gloat and weep."

 

For the next ten days try to engage in simple prayer, sharing with God all the events in your life and your feelings about them-your hopes, desires frustrations and anger. just share honestly with God!

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Day 25, 02/05/2010, The Lord God Will Be Our Light, Revelation 22:1-5

 

The River and Tree of Life

22:1 THEN HE showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb

2 Through the middle of the Broadway of the city; also, on either side of the river was the tree of life with its twelve varieties of fruit, yielding each month its fresh crop; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing and the restoration of the nations. [Gen 2:9.]

3 There shall no longer exist there anything that is accursed (detestable, foul, offensive, impure, hateful, or horrible). But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall worship Him [pay divine honors to Him and do Him holy service]. [Zech 14:21.]

4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. [Ps 17:15.]

5 And there shall be no more night; they have no need for lamplight or sunlight, for the Lord God will illuminate them and be their light, and they shall reign [as kings] forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities). AMP

What is this marvelous plan that He has for us, whom He has chosen, by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony as to His greatness and His mercy.

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Day 24, 02/04/2010, Christ: Lord and Reconciler, Colossians 1:15,-23a

 

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created,both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities —  all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say,  whether things on earth or things in heaven.

21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach —  23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
NASU

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Day 23, 02/03/2010, Be Strong in the Lord, Ephesians 6:10-17

 Eph 6:10-17 The Whole Armor of God

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. NRSV

 

"The spiritual Life begins, is sustained, and ends by the power of God.

 

Read 2 Kings 6:8-22 it reveals to us that the armies of heaven are working on our behalf in this war that has gone on since Lucifer's rebellion described in Isa 14:12-17 and Ezek 28:12-19

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Day 22, 02/02/2010, The Gifts God Gives, Ephesians 4:11-13

 

Eph 4:11-13

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

NIV

 

The unique person God has made us to be when combined with the purpose of God and the gifting of His Spirit also require the five-fold ministry gifts in our lives for us as a part of the body of Christ to flourish.

The giftings mentioned here are designed to equip us to fulfill the purpose and plan of God. They are also designed to allow us to accomplish the work of His Kingdom as we move forward trained and equipped to be what He has created us to be in Him.

If you want to know more about the gifting that motivates you get a copy of Discover Your God-Given Gifts by Don & Katie Fortune.

 

 

1. What are you doing today to be available for God?

2. Will you let Him work in and through you no matter how little or great you think His gifts in you are?

3. Does God desire your fame or lack of it, perhaps he desire you all of you and the trust to let Him do with you what He will

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Day 21, 02/01/2010, Power Made Perfect in Weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10

 

7 And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ( a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted. [Job 2:6.] 

 

8 Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me;

 

9 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

AMP

 

I have discovered that having supernatural God authority and using it requires me to think and act differently than my flesh or the world would have me to act. On the football field you have to use your strength and rage to physically defeat your enemy.

On the Spiritual battle field we must learn to consult the Lord before every engagement for His plan or we risk becoming like Israel after Jericho and go up to AI and get defeated.

 

What model of exercising power and authority do you follow?

 

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Day 20, 01/31/2010, You Will Live, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

 

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. NASB

 

Paul, is so transparent here. This is not exactly a confession of faith as much as it is a statement of facts that He trust God to work out on His behalf according to God’s Word.

 

What faith, to know the circumstantial facts and still trust God to work, to use even our human weakness as a  blessing as we go through this life both in celebration and in mourning. It is the faith of the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace.

So, what is your faith doing in light of God’s Word and your circumstances?

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Day 19, 01/30/2010, Testifying About Jesus, Acts 10:34-43

 

34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons,

35 But in every nation he who venerates and has a reverential fear for God, treating Him with worshipful obedience and living uprightly, is acceptable to Him and  sure of being received and welcomed [by Him].

36 You know the contents of the message which He sent to Israel, announcing the good news (Gospel) of peace by Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all — 

37 The [same] message which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee after the baptism preached by John — 

38 How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.

39 And we are [eye and ear] witnesses of everything that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And [yet] they put Him out of the way (murdered Him) by hanging Him on a tree;

40 But God raised Him to life on the third day and caused Him to be manifest (to be plainly seen),

41 Not by all the people but to us who were chosen (designated) beforehand by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

42 And He charged us to preach to the people and to bear solemn testimony that He is the God-appointed and God-ordained Judge of the living and the dead.

43 To Him all the prophets testify (bear witness) that everyone who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him, giving himself up to Him] receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

AMP

 

The Book of Acts demonstrates and documents the activity of the Holy Spirit as God worked through those who believed in Jesus by His Spirit to continue all that Jesus began to do and teach.

This requires a community of believers (the body of Christ) who will work together as directed and empowered by God through His Spirit to accomplish His purposes as proclaimed by Jesus the Messiah and in accordance with God’s Word in both the old and the new covenant. Jesus is the fulfillment of the covenant to both the Jew and the gentile, who are grafted in through the Lamb of God, Jesus.

With the new covenant there is need of a new community made up of both Jew and Gentile joined through the blood of the Lamb

This community is to be composed of both in person relationships and can also include online relational aspects in a Facebook group as well.

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Day 18, 01/29/2010, I am With You Always, Matt 28:16-20

Before you start today's devotion I have a few questions.
1. How many of you have the devotional A Year With God?
2. How many of you are willing to consistently participate in the discussions?
3. How many of you would like additional material available?


Matt 28:16-20

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed and made appointment with them.
17 And when they saw Him, they fell down and worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days ( perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).
AMP

 

What does it mean “Make disciples of all nations?

How do we effectively teach believers to do all that Jesus taught?

Do we actually believe that jesus is with us and if so what would that do for our confidence?