Repentance and Humility Always Wins

 Scripture:

““Have you noticed how Ahab shows remorse before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the reign of his son.”” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭29‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Ahab, just verses before this, was described as the most wicked king ever who was led by his wife Jezebel. He was told that he would die and that dogs would eat his body and how wife’s. When Ahab heard the word of the Lord, he fasted and prayed and humbled himself before the Lord. God changed his mind and decided not to bring disaster on him, but later, during the reign of his son.

Application:

God always looks favorably on repentance and humility. He always responds and takes care of those who humble themselves before Him. As soon as God’s people turn to Him in humility and fasting and prayer, He responds by changing situations and bringing life. God always responds positively to repentance. Recently, I’ve had interactions with some people who think God as abandoned them because God hasn’t answered their prayers. In each situation, I have said that God responds more to repentance than to tears. repentance turns the heart of God.

Prayer:

Father, help me to serve You well. Help me to always be quick to repent when I get off course. Forgive my bad attitude recently and show me how to lead effectively. Teach me to follow Your ways above all else. Lead me in Your paths and show me your heart. I love You and want to reflect Your heart in all I do.

Yours,

Jeff

Supernatural Provision

 Scripture:

“She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family. The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

God had spoken to Elijah the prophet to go to Zarephath where a pair would take care of him. The he got there, she was about to eat he and her son’s last meal because they had nothing left to eat. Elijah instructed her to feed him first, then she would have enough for her and her son’s. He said there would always be food in the house. She obeyed and God blessed her. It says her jar of flour never emptied and her oil jug never ran out. 

Application:

When God says He will provide, He will provide! Sometimes God asks us to do hard things. Like give away our last meal, but when we walk in obedience, we see His blessing on our lives. We must learn to trust God’s provision and know He will take care of us when we give ourselves completely to Him. I need to trust God more in the area of finances and know He will always take care of me.

Prayer:

Father, take my trust in You deeper. Let me see the good hand of God in my life and the life of the church I pastor. Provide for every need, and let Your Kingdom be established stronger and stronger in our region. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Teach me to be a man of faith, who sees Your supernatural provision. Let me always be in step with You.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Appointing for Positions

 Scripture:

“After this happened, Jeroboam still did not change his evil ways; he continued to appoint common people as priests at the high places. Anyone who wanted the job he consecrated as a priest. This sin caused Jeroboam’s dynasty to come to an end and to be destroyed from the face of the earth.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭13‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

One of Jeroboam’s sins was that he allowed anyone who volunteered to be a priest at the high places. He didn’t do things God’s way, he did holy things in a manner that God didn’t approve of. He brought destruction on himself and his people because he was using people who were not approved by God to do work that a priest should do.

Application:

In the church, volunteers are hard to find, so we end up putting people into positions they are not ready for. We are quick to give titles that people haven’t earned. I am guilty of giving people positions they were probably not ready for, nor called to do. I need to be more cautious in this area. We shouldn’t just appoint and approve to fill positions, but we need the right people in the right places, who are called by God to be there.

Prayer:

Father, You are awesome and I love You. Thanks for the rebuke this morning. Forgive me for filling positions and empowering people who are not ready for the role or position, or not called for the place where they are serving. Help me to approve what You approve in all things. Help me not to do what is convenient, but what is right in Your eyes at all times.

Yours,

Jeff

Covenant Agreements

 Scripture:

“You must serve me with integrity and sincerity, just as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations. Then I will allow your dynasty to rule over Israel permanently, just as I promised your father David, ‘You will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This passage is God’s response to Solomon dedicating the Temple he had built and dedicated to the Lord. He had asked for the Lord’s blessing. The Lord said, “You must serve me with integrity and sincerity… Do everything I commanded and obey all my rules and regulations.” This was a covenant between God and man. He continued to say that He would allow Solomon’s dynasty to be permanent. 

Application:

God always works in covenant with His people. He always keeps His end of the agreement when we keep our end of the agreement. Many times today, people want God to love them, forgive them, and heal them, but they don’t want to live for Him completely. We must come to God His way, and not simply in a way that is convenient to us. He will fulfill His promises, but He also expects us to fulfill our part of the agreement. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk in covenant with You at all times. Teach me to follow Your words and walk in a way that honors and respects You. Let my life be a life of submission to You and Yours plans. Empower me to live the kind of life You can bless.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Wisdom From God

 Scripture:

“People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭34‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

God answered Solomon’s prayer to have wisdom for leading God’s people. People came from all nations to hear Solomon’s wisdom. God had given him such wisdom that the world saw it and wanted it. Everyone was amazed at the wisdom he led with.

Application:

Knowledge comes from study, wisdom comes from God, or a lot of experience. In Solomon’s case, it came from God. As God’s people, we should always be seeking His wisdom and want to hear His voice. When God gives His wisdom to an individual, the world takes notice. 

Prayer:

Father, increase my wisdom in every area. Teach me the things I need to know and help me to walk with the wise. I long to serve You well in my generation. You are worthy of my very best. Let my wisdom make You look good like Solomon’s did.

Yours,

Jeff

Be Strong and Become a Man

 Scripture:

““I am about to die. Be strong and become a man! Do the job the Lord your God has assigned you by following his instructions and obeying his rules, commandments, regulations, and laws as written in the law of Moses. Then you will succeed in all you do and seek to accomplish,” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

As David was about to die, he called for Solomon and spoke with him. He told him to be strong and be a man! He followed that with a commission to walk in God’s ways, obeying His commands, regulations, and laws. He closed by saying that Solomon would succeed if he did these things.

Application:

Sometimes in life we need to be told to man-up. We need to stand strong in certain areas and be manly enough to make hard decisions. We need to put Christ first in every area of our lives. I need to be a man concerning leadership and holding people accountable. I want to see the blessing of God on my life and ministry in greater measure.

Prayer:

Father, You are great and glorious. I worship You with all my heart. You are worthy of my very best. Help me to man-up and do what You have called me to do. Help me to lead well in Your kingdom. Teach me to fulfill all You have given me to do and help me to accomplish it well. I am Yours and I want to succeed in every task You set before me.

Yours,

Jeff

Trust God in Difficult Times

 Scripture:

“Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son, my very own flesh and blood, is trying to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the Lord has spoken to him. Perhaps the Lord will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse.”” ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

David was in the process of fleeing from Jerusalem because his son Absalom was prepared to take over his kingdom. While he was fleeing, another man came to him cursing him and saying all kinds of terrible things about him. Instead of having the man killed, which most kings would have done, he left it in the hands of God. He thought that maybe even God told the man to curse him. David believed that good and bad come from the hand of the Lord and that God notices our condition.

Application:

We are called on to trust God with our lives. Sometimes people say terrible things about us and even try to get us in trouble, but our hope must always be in the Lord. God sees every detail. He knows every lie told about us. He understands what is happening around us and we can trust God to fight our battles and to take care of us. He is trustworthy. We must learnt to let God fight and not take things into our own hands. God is faithful.

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You more and more each day. Even when things look bad, help me to know You are working things for my good. Teach me to walk with You and to do excavator what You call me to do. I want to live a life of faith and trust. Help me not to accuse others, but to trust You more. You are my everything. 

Yours,

Jeff