Wisdom and Discernment

 Scripture:

“Now give me wisdom and discernment so I can effectively lead this nation. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Solomon had the opportunity to ask God for anything he wanted. Given that opportunity, he asked God to give him wisdom and discernment so he could lead the nation effectively. Because of his heart in this matter, the Lord said He would give Solomon treasures untold and God’s blessing would be upon him. He asked right, and God have the rest.

Application:

Our heart should never be in pursuit of things. We should not be after more money, wealth, items, etc. we should want God first, then for Him to give us wisdom and guidance for our lives and the lives of those around us. More than more money, I need more wisdom and discernment to lead God’s people well. More than more staff, I need wisdom on how to lead God’s people well. We must pursue the right things.

Prayer:

Father, I look to You this morning. Give me wisdom and discernment. Give me an understanding heart that knows what to do each day. Show me how to interact with people. Teach me to lead well. Show me how to walk with You and lead others. I need Your insight. Let me hear Your voice clearly.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

When God Promotes

 Scripture:

“The Lord greatly magnified Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him greater majesty than any king of Israel before him.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭29‬:‭25‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

David was a great kind of Israel who accomplished incredible things, but this verse says his sons and relatives Solomon was greatly magnified by the Lord before Israel and that God gave him greater majesty than anyone king before him. It’s hard to outdo David, but in God’s eyes, Solomon was more blessed than David. When God lifts a person up, it is powerful!

Application:

It is God who lifts up and who puts down people. It is God who promotes and who demotes. We should live our lives, not seeking promotion, but seeking God. When we seek Him first and foremost, the blessing follows. We must always walk humbly before our God because He can cause things to happen in our lives that we never could. He is awesome!

Prayer:

Father, you bestowed incredible favor and blessing on Solomon. You caused him to be blessed beyond measure. Help me to live a life that You can bless. Teach me how to operate according to Your ways. Are my life apart for Your glory and let me fulfill Your will in all things. Help me to serve You well and to make Your name great in all the earth.

Yours,

Jeff

Training Faithful Men

 Scripture:

“All these were the descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were respected men, capable of doing their responsibilities. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭26‬:‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

The home of Obed-Edom was known in the Bible as the only place besides the Tabernacle or Temple that housed the ark of the covenant without it causing some problems. He was blessed powerfully for housing the Ark of God’s Presence, apparently in a manner that God honored and appreciated. This verse tells a little more of the story. His sons and relatives were respected me who could do their responsibilities. 

Application:

When a man lives a life that God can bless, his generations are also blessed. Faithful men raise faithful men. I want to live a life God can bless and see my generations blessed because of my obedience. I want to set an example others can follow and demonstrate a way that works for becoming a man of God.

Prayer:

Father, help me to follow You completely. Teach me Your ways and Your heart. I want to serve You well in my generation and leave a legacy and inheritance for the next generation. Help me to follow You completely and to raise up faithful men who will teach others. Let a strong group of godly men arise that can be trusted with the riches of Your kingdom.

Yours,

Jeff

Insight, Understanding, and Obedience

 Scripture:

“Only may the Lord give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obey the law of the Lord your God. Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic!” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭22‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

As David was preparing to hand off his kingdom to his son Solomon, he told Solomon how to lead God’s people. He asked God to give Solomon insight and understanding so he would obey the law of the Lord. He added a promise, “then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses.” Success comes from insight, understanding, and obedience. David then told Solomon to be strong, brave, and not to be afraid. 

Application:

To lead God’s people well, we need insight, understanding, and obedience to the things of God. When we do that, we have nothing to fear and we can be brave and strong. Submission to God and His ways is if they to effective leadership and walking in God’s blessing. We need to humble ourselves before Him and do things His ways, with His insight and understanding because He knows all.

Prayer:

Father, let me lead with insight, understanding, and obedience to You always. Teach me to hear Your voice and give me the wisdom to follow it. I long to walk in step with You at all times. I strongly desire to be filled with Your Spirit in greater measure. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God Raises Up and God Puts Down

 Scripture:

““So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord who commands armies says: “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you a leader of my people Israel.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

God spoke through Nathan the prophet into King David’s life. God told David, “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you a leader of my people Israel.” God was in the entire process, even though the process wasn’t easy. It is God who raises up and God who puts down. 

Application:

We must realize that we are not in the positions we are in because we are good people or because we deserve it, but because God has a plan. David went through some terrible days after being anointed, but God let him know that He was with him all the way through and made him king of Israel. We must live our lives surrendered to the Lord in all things and trust that He will put us where He wants us and use us how He wants to use us. Our job is to remain humble and responsive when the Lord calls.

Prayer:

Father, help me to live humbly before You and to take every step You invite me to take. Teach me to walk in obedience every day and to finish the work You have given me to do. Help me to lean more on You and less on myself. I need You Lord. 

Yours,

Jeff

Speak to God First

 Scripture:

“David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!” So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, “Using me as his instrument, God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So that place is called Baal Perazim.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

David was smart enough not to trust his own decisions, but asked the Lord what to do. He knew it was God who fought his battles and therefore wanted to make sure he wasn’t going ahead of God. Once he heard from God, he marched, and God defeated his enemies. He declared that God used him as His instrument to burst out against his enemies.

Application:

We can be used by God to destroy the works of the enemy when we first hear His voice and do what He is doing. We can’t ask God to anoint us to do our will. We can only ask God to anoint us to do His will. The greatest place we can be is in the place of full surrender to God and His will for our lives. When we work with God, great things happen. When we work in our flesh, disaster usually comes. We must speak to God before we attack enemies.

Prayer:

Father, help me not to rush into battle, but to wait for You to dictate my steps. I want to be doing what You want me to be doing with my life. Help me to follow You well and anoint me to accomplish Your plans, not my plans, for my life. My life is in Your hands. Use me for Your glory and open the right doors at the right moment. I want to live a surrendered life.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

His Presence is Everything

 Scripture:

“David’s power steadily grew, for the Lord who commands armies was with him.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Throughout the Old Testament, we are told about people of whom it would say, “and the Lord was with them.” Those people always prospered. Those people always won battles. Those people always lived very blessed lives that had a supernatural element to them. Here it says David’s power steadily grew because God was with him.

Application:

The greatest thing you can have in your life on this earth is God’s presence and power on your life. When God is with you, things go well for you and He opens doors for you that nobody can shut. He makes things prosper in ways we could never do alone. As for me, I know God is with me because He lives within me, but I also love when He manifests His presence and lets me know He is there. We should continually seek God’s presence in our lives and pursue Him with all our hearts.

Prayer:

Father, You are the best! You are my everything and I love You with all my heart. Help me to walk humbly before You. I want Your presence to be evident in my life. I want You to smile upon me and let Your supernatural favor and grace be upon me. Set me apart for Your purposes and let my life bring You glory and honor. I am Yours. Let my life count for Your kingdom. Bless our events this weekend with Your presence. Come Holy Spirit.

Yours,

Jeff