Seeking and Sending

 Scripture:

“While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

The church at Antioch is a great New Testament church model. They were Spirit sensitive and were a sending church. In this passage, the leaders were serving the Lord and fasting when the Holy Spirit told them to set apart Barnabus and Saul for the work they were to do. They fasted, prayed, and sent them to do what God was calling them to do. 

Application:

I want the church I pastor to be like the church of Antioch. I want us to be a seeking church and a sending church. I want our leadership to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit clearly and to send out those who are called into their destinies. I want to be a leader who sees callings and gifting, calls them out, and sends them when the Holy Spirit says it is time. 

Prayer:

Father, make me sensitive to Your voice. Help me to clear away all the other voices and to focus on Yours. Teach me to walk in obedience and to fulfill Your will in the earth. Help me to empower others and send them like the church of Antioch. Help me. Resource me. Empower me. I want to send sons and daughters into Your service.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

The Word of God Can’t Be Stopped

 Scripture:

“Immediately an angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God kept on increasing and multiplying.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Herod had just sent away the guards who were supposed to be watching Peter in prison. Because Peter had escaped, the guards were being taken to be executed. At that time, people were worshiping Herod and he died from being eaten by worms, “but the word of God kept on increasing and multiplying.” Those opposing the Gospel were being dealt with, but God’s people were multiplying. 

Application:

Even when the world is in turmoil for their bad actions, God can still increase and multiply His church. Anywhere Christians are persecuted, there is also expansion and multiplication of God’s kingdom. Because of this, our thinking ahold be different. We don’t runaway from difficult things, we watch God expand His kingdom in the midst of difficult things. God blesses His people, even when they are being persecuted. This is the God I serve.

Prayer:

Father, You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. Let the word of God increase and multiply here and around the world. Let Your Word go forth in these last days. Help me to do my part in finishing the Great Commission. Let me understand Your kingdom more each day. Show me things to come. Give me strength to follow You completely and wholeheartedly. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Obedience Isn’t Always Easy

 Scripture:

“So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Ananias was a great person who walked in obedience to the Holy Spirit. He obeyed when obedience didn’t make sense. He went to the one who had been killing God’s people. He was sent there according his own words, “so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Saul was murdering Christians, but Ananias took a risk because God had spoken to him. 

Application:

Sometimes we have to walk in obedience, even when it doesn’t make sense and doesn’t appear to be safe. There are times when God will ask us to do things that are difficult. He may ask us to go places that are dangerous according to our own understanding. Our job is to walk in obedience. Just like Ananias, God may call us to do things that seem dangerous or risky. We are called to obedience, not only when that is comfortable.

Prayer:

Father, let my life be used for Your glory. Let my answer always be YES. Help me to say yes when yes is difficult and makes no sense. My life is in Your hands. Show me Your ways and let my life be an instrument You can work through because You know my answer before You ask. Let me fulfill every plan and purpose of my life. I want to be completely Yours.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

They Were ALL Being Healed

 Scripture:

“A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

There were several times when it was said of Jesus that “they were all being healed.” Here, it is being said about the apostles after Jesus ascended to heaven and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. When God is as work, people are healed. It is apparent in the life of Jesus and the life of the early Church. Healing and deliverance is a very real part of the Gospel message.

Application:

I long to see God’s kingdom come in greater and greater measure. I long to see more people healed by the power of God. It was the norm in the early church for people to be healed and it should be the norm for people today. The kingdom hasn’t changed. We have. As for me, I want to see God restore healing and deliverance to the Church. We see it sometimes, but I want to see the day when, “They were all being healed.” 

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, remove from me whatever hinders You from working through me in healing and deliverance. Let my life be aligned well with You. Let Your kingdom come in stronger and greater dimensions. Let Your will be done in and through my life. Help me to accurately proclaim Your message and to demonstrate Your message as well with sign of following.

Yours,

Jeff

The Gift of the Spirit

 Scripture:

“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

When the Holy Spirit was poured out in Jerusalem, a crowd gathered and they all heard the 120 praising God in their many languages. Some thought they were drunk, and others were just amazed. Peter, trying to explain what had happened, stood up and explained to them from the book of Joel what was happening. He went on to tell them to repent and be baptized, then they would received the gift of the Holy Spirit. He continued by saying that this promise of the Spirit was for them, their children, and all who the Lord calls.

Application:

This promise continues today. God is still pouring out His Spirit on those who repent and are baptized. He still baptizes in the Spirit. As God’s people, we should continually be seeking Him and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to miss out on anything God has promised us. I want everything He has promised to give us. I want to see more people baptized in the Spirit than ever before. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to align myself with You and Your purposes. Pour out Your Spirit and baptize people once again. Let us see a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit. Help me to hear and follow Your voice and do what You speak. Let Your word be confirmed with signs and wonders. Awaken our hearts to the power of Your Spirit.

Yours,

Jeff

Don’t Put It Off

 Scripture:

“So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long do you intend to put off occupying the land the Lord God of your ancestors has given you?” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭18‬:‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this verse we see that several of the tribes had not inherited and laid claim on their land. They had all gone in a fought for the territory, but these had still not truly occupied the land and divided it among the tribes. Joshua asked them this question, “How long to you intend to put off occupying the land the Lord God of your ancestors has given you?” God gave them the land, they just had to divide it among themselves and occupy it. 

Application:

There are times in my life when I need a word like this from the Lord. I know there are some things right now on my “to do” list that I feel the Lord wants me to do, but I haven’t done yet. As I was reading this morning, those words really struck me. How long do I intend to put off occupying what God has already said would happen? God does His part, then we have to do some things as well. I need to quit putting off what I know I need to do.

Prayer:

Father, help me to stop procrastinating on things I know You have given me to do. Help me to stop putting off things that I know need done. Empower me to live by faith and obedience. There are some things I need to step into and begin working on. Help me to occupy everything You have given me to do and not settle until they are done.

Yours,

Jeff

Faith That Remains

Scripture:

“Now, assign me this hill country which the Lord promised me at that time! No doubt you heard at that time that the Anakites live there in large, fortified cities. But, assuming the Lord is with me, I will conquer them, as the Lord promised.”” … “Caleb drove out from there three Anakites – Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬, 15:14 ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Caleb tells Joshua that 45 years earlier, when he was 40, he was promised the land of Hebron. At 85, he approached Joshua and  told him that it was time to inherit what he was promised. He had just fought many battles, helping Israel defeat all its enemies in the Promised Land. He still believed in the promise of God and wanted to possess it. He knew there were giants in the land, but still wanted to fight for it. In chapter 15 we see that he drove out three giants from the land at 85 years of age.

Application:

When God makes a promise, He will give you what you need to accomplish what He is calling you to do. We can’t limit God with our own minds. We must believe that God can still use us, even if we’re 85 and most people would have quit. Faith doesn’t retire, it continues to land for Jesus and extends His kingdom. As we get older, our bodies may fail, but our God will never fail. May we walk in giant killing faith all the days of our lives.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are great and glorious. Help me to never diminish what You are able to do in and through my life. Help me to walk in faith and not by sight at all times. I want to serve You well and finish all You have given me to do. Let my life be marked by supernatural faith and the results of that faith. Teach me to fully You well all the days of my life. May I never limit You because of my limited thinking. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff