Sacrificial Obedience

 Scripture:

“He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Jesus called attention to an offering time where some such people were putting a good about of money into the receptacle. He pointed out a little widow woman who put in a very small amount, but Jesus praised her because they had given out of their wealth and she had given out of her poverty. Jesus recognizes what is leftover after we have given more than how much we give.

Application:

Jesus isn’t very impressed with how much we give. He is more impressed with how much we have left after we have given. He wants to know that we are all in and will ask us at times to confirm that through our obedience. In our lives, we need to walk in surrender to the Lord in every area. We must be willing to sacrifice for the cause of Christ.

Prayer:

Father, You are worthy of it all! You have Your very best for me and You are worthy of my very best. Help me to live in a constant state of obedience. Let my life bring You honor. Let my gifts be sacrificial and my offerings be complete. Let my ears be open to Your voice and let me hear clearly what You want me to do, then give me strength to do it.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Never Give Up in Prayer

 Scripture:

“yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them?” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NET‬‬ 

Observation:

Jesus told this parable about a woman who came to a judge and continued bothering him until he ruled on her decision. She bothered him until he was worn out by her constant pleading. Finally, he gave up and gave her what she requested, not because he wanted to, but because he was tired of hearing her. At the end of the story, Jesus said, “Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” 

Application:

Sometimes, we have to continue bringing certain things to God until He answers. There are times we need to be persistent in prayer. Some things we must cry out for day and night until God answers our prayers. I don’t want to give up on anything God has prepared for me. I don’t want to miss out on anything God has for me because I quit asking too soon. First, I must pray in accordance with His word and will, then, I must stand in faith and bombard heaven until He answers.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your word. Teach me to never give up in prayer, but to continue in faith when I believe there is something You want to do. I pray this morning for the land and building our church needs. We want to go from renting to owning this year. Show me how to continue steadfast in prayer until I see the deliverance. I pray for Cheryl to be completely healed and strengthened. Restore her youth I pray. Let my sons serve You faithfully all the days of their lives. Build Your kingdom through Word of Life and Hearts for the Harvest I pray. Renew my strength as well. Heal my voice that I may declare and sing songs of praise again.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Helping Those Who Can’t Repay You

 Scripture:

“But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Jesus was teaching here about taking care of the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. He tells us that we will be blessed if we invite this group of people into our lives and our homes because they can’t repay us. He closes with the words, “you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Sometimes our reward comes immediately, sometimes it is delayed, and sometimes it will happen when we see Him, but we will be blessed for doing right things.

Application:

The poor are always on the heart of God. Throughout the entire Bible we see God’s heart and words telling us to take care of the poor. There are also promises for those who take care of the poor. He promises blessings for those who take care of the poor. When we take care of the poor, we are taking care of Jesus. We cannot look away when we see someone in need.

Prayer:

Father, help me personally to see what You see. Let me see people as You see them. Help me to not look away from the poor, but to bring them dignity and blessing. Let Word of Life do better at taking care of the poor. Help me to have a right perspective on giving to the poor.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

No Excuses, Just Yes

 Scripture:

“But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭60‬-‭62‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Two people came to Jesus saying they wanted to follow Him, but they needed to go take care of some things that would be considered important to most people. Jesus wasn’t impressed. He wanted complete and immediate responses when He invited someone to follow Him. He actually told them both that anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looks back, isn’t fit for the Kingdom of God. 

Application:

Jesus still expects complete and immediate responses from those who say they follow Him. When He speaks, we must move. Excuses don’t work in the Kingdom of God. They are not acceptable. God wants a people who will move at His command and say yes when He calls. I want to live a life of no excuses when it comes to obeying Christ. I want my answer to always be yes.

Prayer:

Lord, help me not to make excuses about why we can’t do things that You have put in my heart. Help me to be a quick and resounding yes when You speak to me. I want to serve You well in my generation. Open my ears to hear Your voice clearly and give me a heart to always answer yes.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Don’t Judge or Condemn, but Forgive

 Scripture:

““Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭37‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

These words from Jesus are powerful and practical. We receive three commands, in the midst of others from Jesus. These three come with commentary. We are told by the Master not to judge, not to condemn, and to forgive. The promises are that we will not be judged, not be condemned, and will be forgiven. The benefits of these three decisions are powerful.

Application:

As for me, I don’t want to be judged by others, condemned by others, and I want to be forgiven by others. Therefore, I have to give these three away to those around me. I will receive what I give. I want to be a person who God can bless. I want to walk in joy and peace. I want to do to others what I want them to do to me. I need God’s help to accomplish this kind of living.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to live like You want me to live. Help me not to judge, or condemn people. I want to leave that in Your hands. Help me to forgive quickly and completely, like I want to be forgiven. Teach me to walk in step with You at all times. Show me how to live this kingdom life every moment of every day. Let my life bring You glory as I endeavor to walk in Your ways.

Your Son,

Jeff

Jesus, the Baptizer

 Scripture:

“John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming – I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

John lets us know some powerful truth in this passage. People thought he was the Christ, the anointed Messiah that was coming to Israel.His reply was that he was only preparing the way for the Christ. He told them that he was only baptizing in water for repentance, but that Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire. John’s introduction of Jesus was not savior of the world, but baptizer in the Holy Spirit and fire.

Application:

Jesus did come to save the world from their sins, but at His introduction by His forerunner, He was described as baptizing people with the Holy Spirit and fire. This happened on the Day of Pentecost, but He still baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. He is still the baptizer. We should pursue, not only salvation and forgiveness of sins. We should pursue a constant in-filling of the Holy Spirit. I want to live life full of the Spirit and fire. I want to fulfill the will of Jesus in my life. I want to be fully surrendered and I want to do everything he wants me to do. 

Prayer:

Lord, I give myself to You. Baptizer me once again in Your Spirit. I hunger for Your. I thirst for You. You are my everything. Light the fire inside of me again  and let it never go out. Let me live the true Spirit-filled life. Let Your Spirit fill me and overflow onto others. Let me be fully aligned with You and Your will at all times. Let me be sensitive to Your voice and do all You speak to me. 

Your Son,

Jeff

God’s Provides Enough for us to Obey

 Scripture:

“I will command my blessing for you in the sixth year so that it may yield the produce for three years,” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭25‬:‭21‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

 In this passage, God told the Israelites to let their farmland have a Sabbath every seven years. They were told to let their land rest for one entire year. The problem is, in year seven, there is no crops to harvest and in the eighth year, you have to wait until the harvest. The land would actually go almost two years before there was another harvest. Knowing that, God told them He would provide enough in year six to last three years. What an awesome God!

Application:

If God can make land produce three years worth of vegetation in one year, He can provide whatever we need in order to obey Him. We need to see God as the all-sufficient one who supplies all our needs. I also see in this verse that if God asks you to do something, He will pay for it. God provides miraculously for those who follow Him closely and obediently. 

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your provision in my life. I ask You to provide miraculously for the church I pastor and for my family. As I diligently follow You and obey Your word and will for my life, please take care of those around me and provide for every need. Provide land and buildings for our church in one of the most expensive regions of our country. Provide the resources to build something that will be a blessing to Your and Your kingdom for many years to come.

Your Son,

Jeff