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

When God Fights Your Battles

 Scripture:

“The Lord routed them before Israel. Israel thoroughly defeated them at Gibeon. They chased them up the road to the pass of Beth Horon and struck them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled from Israel on the slope leading down from Beth Horon, the Lord threw down on them large hailstones from the sky, all the way to Azekah. They died – in fact, more died from the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬ 

Observation:

Notice in the first verse that the Lord routed them before Israel. There was no doubt that it was the Lord and not Israel who defeated their enemies. The people of Israel battled, but the Lord brought the victory. The Lord worked with them. He provided hail stones that killed more enemies than the army killed. When God fights your battles, the warfare isn’t fair.

Application:

When we are aligned with the Lord and doing His will, we can trust the He will enable us to do what we cannot do. When we are walking with Him, no enemy is too big to conquer and no giant is too big to kill. He uses unfair tactics for those who serve Him diligently. When we are attacked, we must remember that the same God who threw hailstones at Israel’s enemies, has our backs and will use unique warfare to destroy our enemies. 

Prayer:

Father, You are good and I worship You. Help me to live a life of faith, conquering territories for You and Your kingdom. I want to know You more. I want to hear Your heart and walk closely with You. Work on my behalf as I serve You wholeheartedly. I am Yours.

Your Son,

Jeff

The Lord’s Advice

 Scripture:

“The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the Lord’s advice. Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Joshua and God’s people had just crossed the Jordan River, destroyed Jericho, and Ai. The people of the region were terrified of Israel and her God. The Gibeonites acted like they had come from very far away and asked for a treaty with Israel. Joshua eventually realized that they lived close by and were lying about where they lived. This verse tells us how this happened, “they failed to ask the Lord’s advice.” They didn’t or ask God about Their treaty with the Gibeonites.

Application:

As a leader, I need to always consult God on everything I do and every decision I make. Sometimes what seems like the right thing, or a no-brainer, may be a set up by the enemy. We need to consult with God about everything we do, especially when it is in His name. I want to represent the Lord well. Therefore, I need to know His will and seek His face, not just do what seems right in my own eyes.

Prayer:

Father, help me not to take the Holy Spirit for granted. Help me to walk humbly before You all the days of my life. Teach me to follow Your voice and not just do what everyone else does. Help me not to simply do what is easy, but to take Your road. Help me to make right and godly decisions. Show me how to lead your people well.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Recognize the Lord’s Power

 Scripture:

“He has done this so all the nations of the earth might recognize the Lord’s power and so you might always obey the Lord your God.”” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭4‬:‭24‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

God had just caused the waters of the Jordan River to stop flowing and allowed His people to walk into the Promised Land on dry ground. He told them to  set up 12 stones so their kids would be reminded about what the Lord had done for them. One of God’s purposes in this was to so that the surrounding nations would recognize God’s power and that His people would always obey the Lord.

Application:

We should stand in awe of the God who can do the impossible. We should never say no when God speaks to us. We should honor Him more than we do. God set reminders for His people so they would always remember what He was capable of and so they would obey Him. We need to walk humbly before our God and fear Him. He is awesome!

Prayer:

Father, help me to follow You well. Teach me to tremble at Your word. Let my answer always be yes! Help me to respond to You as I should. You are incredible and it is an honor to serve You. You have taken such good care of me all these years. You are faithful and I love You with all my heart.

Yours,

 Jeff

Empowered, Sent, and filled with Peace

 Scripture:

“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

After the resurrection, Jesus met His disciples and spoke with them. First He spoke peace over them because He knew they were struggling with everything that had happened. Second, He sent them, just like the Father had sent Him. Third, He breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit. He sent them, empowered them, and gave them the peace they would need to fulfill His mission.

Application:

Jesus doesn’t send out His people unprepared. He gives us everything we need in order to fulfill His mission. Sometimes we struggle with feeling like God has truly empowered us with His Spirit to fulfill His mission. He has literally taken away every excuse before He even sent us. We must walk in confidence and boldness as we complete His mission. 

Prayer:

Father, You are my peace! You are my strength. You are my rock! You are everything I need to fulfill Your purposes in my life. Help me to stay attuned to Your voice and to finish every assignment You send me on. Help me to live as one who is sent at all times, not just on Sundays in the pulpit. Let my life reflect You every day and in every way. 

Yours,

Jeff

Set Apart and Sent

 Scripture:

“Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.” ‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Jesus is praying to the Father. He says that He sent His disciples into the world just like the Father sent Him. He then said, “I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.” Set apart is where we get the word “sanctified.” Jesus sanctified us, or set us apart, so we could be sent. 

Application:

We must come to the realization that Jesus set us apart and sent us into the world for God’s purposes. As He was sent, He sent us. As He was set apart, we are set apart. When a person is sent, they have a mission. Their mission is not of their own choosing. A sent one’s mission is the mission of the one who sent them. We must realize that Jesus chose us to separate us and send us as His ambassadors in the world. We must live for His purposes and fulfill His mission. We cannot live unto ourselves.

Prayer:

Father, You set me apart many, many years ago. You sent me on Your mission many years ago and I want to fulfill every assignment You have for my life. Help me to live life on Your mission and not my own. Teach me to walk with You and be confident that I have been set apart and sent to live a life on mission for God.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Love One Another

 Scripture:

“My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭12‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Many times Jesus said things like, “If you love me, keep my commands.” In this passage He gives his commandment to His disciples, “Love one another just as I have loved you.” Jesus always had a beautiful way of narrowing down the teachings to the main things. He actually boiled it all down in another place to, love God with everything you’ve got and love your neighbor as yourself. The big command of Jesus is to love one another. 

Application:

The heart of the Good News is to love one another. Jesus wants us to live in His love and to work from that place. Jesus loved people. He loved imperfect people. He loved people with issues. We should learn to love like Jesus loved. One of His own disciples was going to betray him, yet Jesus, knowing it, loved him right to the very end. I need to love like Jesus loved.

Prayer:

Father, fill me with Your love. Let Your love flow through my life and teach me to demonstrate it well. You are my everything and I want to represent You well. Teach me Your ways and let me walk in Your Spirit. Let Your love flow through my life.

Yours Forever,

Jeff