Preparation before Presence

 Scripture:

“The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and make them wash their clothes and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

God spoke to Moses in this passage, telling him to sanctify the people because in three days He was going to come down on Mt Sinai in front of all of them. The people had to prepare for God’s presence. God knew He was going to come down so He warned the people to prepare themselves through sanctification. 

Application:

When God is going to move in power or manifest Himself, there is always a season of preparation. Preparation comes before presences. Many of us long for the presence of the Lord to come and touch lives. If we were to hear His voice clearly, it may be saying, “purify and sanctify yourselves because I am about to do some things.” Preparation and cleansing tells God you are serious with Him and ready for Him to come down in power. We should always walk in a spirit of sanctification, being set apart for the Lord and His purposes. 

Prayer:

Father, cleanse me. Purify my life. Show me the things I need to stop and the things I need to start. I long for Your presence. I long to see You move in the earth in greater ways. I long to see Your goodness revealed to the multitudes. Come Holy Spirit and show us Your glory. Help me to live a sanctification life that is ready for all You want to do.

Yours,

Jeff

Too Much

 Scripture:

“You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself.”  ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses saw how Moses was judging the people all day long every day and confronted him about how to lead people. In this verse, Moses received the mentorship of his father-in-law who told him, “you are not able to do it by yourself.” Jethro saw what Moses was doing and realized quickly that what he was doing was not sustainable.

Application:

There comes a time in life and leadership when we must realize that we cannot do it all by ourselves. Sometimes in ministry I get worn out because I don’t share the responsibility. It becomes what Jethro said, “too heavy a burden.” I know I need to delegate more and more, especially as I get older and have more doors of opportunity opening around me. I need to trust the people around me more and more.

Prayer:

Father, help me to get rid of a savior complex and to release ministry and leadership to others. Help me to share the weight and responsibility with those around me. Teach me to be effective at raising sons and daughters who can help carry the load of ministry. Lead me Holy Spirit into the most effective years of my life. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Bless Me Also

 Scripture:

“Also, take your flocks and your herds, just as you have requested, and leave. But bless me also.”” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭32‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Pharaoh had seen all the plagues come against his country because he wouldn’t let God’s people go and worship Him in the wilderness. He had just witnessed the final plague, the death of every firstborn son in Egypt. His own son died along with every firstborn son in his nation. The sons of the Israelites were fine, so he told Moses and Aaron, to do everything they had requested, but he also asked that they would bless him when they did it. He didn’t want to be under God’s judgment one more day. He finally understood that God is all-powerful and he wanted to be on God’s good side from that point on.

Application:

Even skeptics and enemies of God, when they see His awesome deeds, will ask for His blessing. There comes a time in people’s lives who have struggled with God, when they will finally surrender to Him and desire His blessing instead of the results of their disobedience. Our place is to continue to declare truth to them, while waiting and watching God work to soften their hearts. Our prayer is always for those who don’t know Christ, to have an encounter with Him and ask for His blessing.

Prayer:

Lord, continue to work in those I love but that are not serving You. Do what is necessary to bring them to You. Let them see Your awesomeness and ask for Your blessing. Help me to represent You well as I speak to them. Help me to be a mouthpiece for God to those who are far from God. Let me speak what You are speaking and do what You are doing. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Declare His Name

 Scripture:

“For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth. But for this purpose I have caused you to stand: to show you my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

The Lord speaks in this passage through Moses and Aaron. He tells Pharaoh that He could have destroyed him by this time, but allowed him to stand for one purpose, “to show my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth.” God allowed Pharaoh to live and see His mighty miracles, not to entertain Moses, but that His name would be declared in all the earth.

Application:

God’s intention, in every situation, is that His name be proclaimed to the whole world. His desire has always been that the whole world would be His people and He would be their God. If God wants His name proclaimed in all the world, I want to be part of doing what He wants. I want to be a voice for God in all the earth. I want to proclaim His goodness to people near and far. I want the world to know Jesus.

Prayer:

Father, help me to serve You well in my generation. Teach me to declare Your goodness in Loudoun County, VA and in the nations of the world. Thank you for letting me be part of Your plan in the earth in every nation. Empower me to do more for You and Your kingdom so You name may be praised in all the earth and that You may have sons and daughters all over the world.

Yours,

Jeff

Say Yes to God

 Scripture:

“But Moses said, “O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!”” Exodus‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Moses understood that he was not a good communicator and that he would probably make Israel look bad if he spoke before Pharaoh. God was asking him to do the one thing he always struggled with, but was asking him to speak to the most powerful man in the world at that time. Moses asked the Lord to please send anyone else but him. In the end, Moses went and did incredible signs. His feeling of insufficiency caused it to be even more of a miracle.

Application:

God usually tells us to do things that are impossible without Him. He demonstrates His power in our weakness. He gets glory when we understand that we don’t have what it takes to accomplish what He tells us to do. God never lets us stay in our comfort zone. He always challenges us to do things we feel incapable of. Our job is to respond in faith and do what He speaks. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to always say yes to You. Help me never make excuses for not doing what You are asking me. Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Let my life bring You glory. Use me for Your purposes. Help me to never be confident in the flesh, but to lean on You at all times knowing what Jesus said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.”

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Multiplication in the Midst of Oppression

 Scripture:

“But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread. As a result the Egyptians loathed the Israelites,” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage you see that God’s people, the Israelites, were severely oppressed by the Egyptians. Even in their oppression, the Lord was with them and they multiplied and spread. You would think that in oppressive times, they would stop multiplying, but with God you can be blessed in the middle of your oppression.

Application:

In our weakest times, God has the power and potential to strengthen us and let His blessing come upon our lives. When we feel we are helpless and hopeless, God will give us all we need to multiply in the midst of difficult times. We must put our faith and trust in the God who turns troubled times into triumphant times. We can get stronger in the midst of our pain.

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You more and to know You deeper. When I feel weak, teach me to remember what You did for the Israelites. When I feel like things are not going well, help me to be encouraged because I serve the God who can bless me in the midst of what seems to be oppressive times. You are faithful and I love You more each day.

Yours,

Jeff

Hearing God Through Unlikely People

 Scripture:

“As he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man; I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream about him today.”” Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭19‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

While Pilate was dealing with the people concerning Jesus’ fate, his wife sent a message to him telling him not to have anything to do with Jesus because He was innocent. She told him she had not been able to sleep because of terrible dreams about him. She warned her husband and told him not to do anything to Jesus because He was innocent. 

Application:

God can use anyone to accomplish His purposes. God could have sent Elijah or Moses to speak to  Pilate, but God showed some tormenting dreams about Jesus to Pilate’s wife, who was not a believer, nor a Jew. Pilate ended up washing his hands to declare his innocence, but still allowed the crucifixion to go on. People shouldn’t have to pass our religious test for God to deliver a word through them. He can use anyone He wants, saved or unsaved, to accomplish His purposes. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to never judge the vessel, but to listen for Your voice in their voice. Help me not to miss a word from You because it came through a person that wasn’t godly. Teach me to hear Your voice spoken through any and all people. Open my ears to hear Your voice and help me to obey completely. 

Your Son,

Jeff