Partial Obedience Equals Rebellion

Scripture:

I Samuel 15:23 "Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshipping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king".

Observation:

God had spoken to Saul and told him to totally destroy the Amalakites. He was to kill every living thing and every living person among them. He had the opportunity, but decided to bring the King back and to bring back the best of the cattle so he could sacrifice them to the Lord. This was simply not God's instruction. He partially obeyed and God was not happy. God spoke of this partial obedience as rebellion and stubbornness. Saul was rejected from being king because he partially obeyed the Lord. He even had good intentions about what he was going to do with the cattle. He was going to offer it all to the Lord, but this was not what God had told him to do.

Application:

We tend to look at partial obedience as giving something a good try. If we do part of what God told us to do we feel like at least we tried. We feel good about ourselves for trying to do what God asks us. We need to realize that God sees partial obedience as rebellion and stubbornness. What we feel good about, God is not impressed with. He is impressed with total obedience! We must stop feeling good about our wimpy attempts to obey God and do all that He has told us to do, then we will see the blessing of God in our lives. What we see as a good try, God sees as rebellion! We must get this through our heads and into our hearts. Complete obedience is what he wants from us.

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for the undone things You have asked me to do. Forgive me for partially obeying the things I know You have called me to do. Forgive me for feeling like a partial try and a simple attempt at something is doing what you have spoken. Help me to obey You fully and completely. I want to hear the words, "Well done good and faithful servant" when I see you face to face. Help me to get there.

Your Son,
Jeff

When you have messed up

Scripture:

I Samuel 12:20 "'Don't be afraid,' Samuel reassured them. 'You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don't turn your back on Him.'"

Observation:

Israel had just sinned against the Lord by wanting a king to rule over them. They wanted a king to rule them instead of God and god was not happy. He always wanted to be their king. God allowed them to appoint a king and even helped them do it through Samuel. The people knew that God and Samuel were not happy. Samuel tells them what to do when you have messed up on god's best for your life. He says to 1. Admit you have done wrong 2. worship God with all your heart 3. don't turn your back on Him.

Application:

Just as Israel had chosen to follow their own desires instead of doing that God wanted them to do, so we also have the same tendencies. We like to do things our way and not God's. The encouragement Samuel gave Israel was really good. When you know you have messed up you must admit it, worship God with all your heart and don't turn your back on Him. oftentimes when we blow it, we feel like we will never be able to please God and I have seen many turn their back when they messed up feeling they would never be able to serve God correctly. When you have messed us, admit it, get back on track, worship God and run to Him, not away.

Prayer:

Father, You are the best! I love you and want you to truly be Lord of my life. I know I have messed up many times, yet I want to serve you with all my heart. I want to follow You to the end of my days. Help me not be entranced by the American Dream and getting what I want out of life, but to live a life pleasing to you.

Yours,

Jeff

Give Us A King

Scripture:

I Samuel 8:5 "'Look,' they told him, 'you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have'".

Observation:

From the beginning, Israel was to be a theocracy. God wanted to be the leader of Israel! He was an incredible leader. When He led them, they defeated every enemy and lived in the realm of the supernatural. They saw miracles, signs and wonders, but still had a longing to be like everyone else.

Application:

Throughout history, people never change. Human nature has always been the same. Somehow in fallen man, there is a desire to be like everyone else. We don't like to be different. We don't want others to think we are weird, strange, or different than them. God can work incredibly in someone's life, but there is something inside that will still want to be like everyone else. We must resist this as believers. We are not to be like the rest of the world. We are to be different! Our lives should not be similar to the people around us. We should march to the beat of a different drum. This has always been God's desire, let's be the generation that fully follows Him!

Prayer:

Lord, You have called me to be different. Help me to follow Your voice closely and not turn to the left or the right, doing things that seem "right" to me. I want to fully and wholeheartedly follow Your lead. I want You to rule over my life. Direct my steps and help me to be the man of God your desire me to become.

I Love You Lord,

Jeff

Preaching Under Arrest

Scripture:

Acts 28:30 "For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him".

Observation:

Paul was near the end of his life and ministry. He was awaiting a trial before Caesar for things he was accused by the Jews of doing. He was completely innocent of the charges and was now spending two years in Rome waiting for his trial. During this time, he didn't complain and get bitter against God and his accusers. he used the time to boldly proclaim the Kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Application:

If most of us had to go through what Paul did we would be bitter towards God and everyone else. He had been through incredibly difficult times and was on house arrest for two years, waiting on his trial. It is not what happens to us, but our reaction to what happens to us that determines our level of faith and trust in the Lord. If we really trust God, we are able to walk through extremely difficult circumstances and still have a good attitude and still preach Jesus. We need to grow into the place that we are serving and preaching Jesus no matter what is going on around us and no matter if God has delivered us from our present bad situations or not. I'm sure many that came to him said, "if your god is so great, why has he left you in here?" "Didn't he open prison doors for Peter?"

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to react to adversity with grace and gentleness. Teach me to trust You enough that I know You are in control, even when things look bad in my life. Strengthen my faith so that when I don't see the miraculous, I still believe, preach and trust You. You are my rock and my fortress!

I Love You Lord,

Jeff

The Reason I Live

Scripture:

Acts 26:18 "Yes I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for the sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me".

Observation:

Paul is on trial before King Agrippa. He is giving an explanation of why he is doing the things he is doing. At this point he is giving his personal testimony of how Jesus appeared to him and called him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He tells king Agrippa that Jesus sent him to "open their eyes", "see them turn from darkness to light", to see them turn from the power of Satan to the power of God", so they can have forgiveness of sins and a place with God's people.

Application:

The reason I live is to see people set free from the power of Satan and given access as a child of God. I want to see people move from darkness to light. I want to see people who nobody wanted, accepted into the family of God and given a hope and a future. Paul was sent by Jesus to speak to the Gentiles. I wish all who heard me speak of Jesus would have an encounter with Jesus at the level that Paul did. This guy had a dramatic encounter with the resurrected Christ and nobody could take it away from him. No amount of persecution or problems can take away a personal encounter with Jesus. I want to see more and more people have a personal encounter with my Lord.

Prayer:

Lord, I live to see you turn people's hearts. I want to see Your name glorified in all the earth. I ask you this morning to confirm the preaching of your word with signs following. I ask you to turn people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the power of God. Let people once again have an encounter with you that can never be denied or questioned. Paul told his testimony to everyone, everywhere and never worried that they might not believe him. He did this because it was so real to him that it could never be taken away. Do it again in my generation Lord!

I Love You,
Jeff

Stir Up a Riot

Scripture:

Acts 24:5 "We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes".

Observation:

Paul is being tried because he was falsely accused of speaking badly of the temple and bringing Gentiles into the temple. He is dragged from one trial to another like Jesus was and ends up before a governor names Felix. The attorney says the above stated verse about Paul. He says that Paul was a troublemaker who stirred up riots and he was a ringleader. Though he was innocent of these things, it is interesting that he is seen this way.

Application:

When I read the book of Acts and the Gospels I wonder what has happened to the American church. In the beginning, the followers of Jesus were constantly accused of "turning the world upside down with their teaching", "stirring up riots" etc. They were impacting their culture to a level that is shook up things around them and made people mad. I wonder how many Christians today have stirred up a riot because of their faith. I wonder how many today have been accused of turning their world upside down. In the Gospels and Acts great joy would fill the city and riots would break out. Those who accepted the message of Christ were filled with joy, the others were filled with hate. We need some people to live a life that stirs up some riots because the enemy feels threatened.

Prayer:

Lord, give us boldness to preach Your name and proclaim your message to the ends of the earth. Teach us to follow you fully and completely. As for me Lord, i want to stir up some riots and make an eternal impact in my city. I want to see Ashburn Virginia saved and following Jesus. Help us Lord, to so your will and finish your work.

Love,

Jeff

Who Are You?

Scripture:

Acts 19:15 "But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, 'I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?'".

Observation:

The seven sons of Sceva were attempting to cast out demons using the name of Jesus. The demons replied to them men and told them that they knew Jesus and Paul, but who were they? The spirits then filled the possessed man and he jumped on them and violently attacked them. They ended up fleeing naked and battered. What an incredible time of embarrassment! These guys were not recognized as a spiritual authority who could kick them out and they were beat up[ by the devil.

Application:

Who are you? Those words are powerful and truly will determine your level of spiritual authority. Jesus name was recognized. Paul's name was recognized, but who were these other guys using Jesus' name? Does Satan know your name? Has he ever felt threatened around you? As a believer, your name is recorded in heaven, but is your name on file in hell as one with true spiritual authority? We must seek the Lord with all our heart, soul mind and strength and give Him complete control of our lives. We must walk with Him and talk with Him and listen to His voice and obey Him. This is where spiritual authority comes from. It is not in a formula, but in a relationship.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. I want to walk in divine authority and truly see the captive set free. Help me to become the person You can use to cast out devils, heal the sick and raise the dead. Show me the way. Jesus lead on, I will follow!

I Love you Lord,

Jeff

Wherever

Scripture:

Acts 8:4 "But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went".

Observation:

Stephen had just became the first martyr of the early church and persecution was beginning for the new Christians. In the midst of the persecution where they were fleeing for their lives, they continued to preach the gospel everywhere they went. These people preached the Good News of Jesus when their lives were on the line for it. You couldn't make them stop! They were gladly telling others about Jesus and establishing His kingdom.

Application:

The church of Jesus Christ has become lazy in the US. We don't share our faith as we should. Probably 90% of all Christians in the US have never led someone to Christ. This is a real shame. In the book of Acts, all the believers were constantly sharing their new found faith everywhere they went, even in the midst of being persecuted for it. We must move past being ashamed of the Gospel and begin sharing Christ "Wherever" they went.

Prayer:

Lord, let your church begin to be bold again. Let the church rise up and begin to share their faith "wherever" they go. As we go out into this world for work, daily routines, and special events, let us become people who share Christ "wherever" as the early church did. Infuse the body of Christ with holy boldness as they go out wherever you lead them and they have to go for their every day lives.

Yours Completely,

Jeff

City Wide Impact

Scripture:

Acts 5:28 "'Didn't we tell you never again to teach in this man's name?' he demanded. 'Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about Him, and you want to make us responsible for His death'".

Observation:

The disciples had walked with Jesus for 3-1/2 years. They had seen Him heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out devils. They were eyewitnesses to the resurrection. At this point Jesus was risen and had ascended to heaven to be at the right hand of the Father. The disciples had been filled with the Holy Spirit and they had received boldness beyond belief. They were not ashamed of the gospel. The only thing they feared was God. The accusation against them in a short period after the resurrection of Christ was that they had filled the city with teaching about Christ.

Application:

Oh that we would fill cities once again with the teachings of Christ. I want to see the day when the body of Christ is so empowered that they are filling cities with the message of Christ. I believe we need another Pentecost to get the church on fire again. We need to seek God until we see city-wide revivals. May they say of us one day, "these are the ones that have filled Ashburn with teaching about Christ".

Prayer:

Lord, make us bold believers who are not afraid of what anyone thinks. Teach me to be more bold in my witness. Help me to fill Ashburn with the good news of Jesus Christ. I need Your anointing on my life. I ask you to guide me to those who need Christ most and are ready to receive Him. I want to see city-wide impact!

Jeff

Pierced Hearts

Scripture:

Acts 2:37 "Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, 'brothers, what should we do?'"

Observation:

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit had just taken place and Peter was addressing the crowd who had heard everything going on. They heard people speaking languages they had never learned, heard the sound of a rushing mighty wind and possibly saw tongues of fire on the heads of the people gathered together. Peter is preaching to them about what had happened to Jesus and his message pierced their hearts. They wanted to know what they must do to become followers of Jesus.

Application:

I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is amazing and that He will confirm what we say to those listening. I believe there is a ministry of preaching that is so anointed people are pierced to the heart. I have a strong desire to see this kind of anointing in my life again. So often people are moved, touched, etc, but I want to see hearts so pierced that they are never the same again and come away ready to lay their lives down for Jesus Christ. I want to see the day when preachers are so anointed that hearts are pierced and lives are changed. We need another baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Lord, you know my heart. You know my strengths and my weaknesses. You know I long to see people's lives changed and for my messages to pierce the heart. I don't want to preach without your anointing for life change present. I want to see true conviction fall on your church again. I want to see hearts so pierced that they walk away from sin and never return. Let the convicting power of the Holy Spirit hit our churches again. We need an outpouring!

I Love You Lord,

Jeff

Children are a Blessing

Scripture:

Ruth 4:12 "And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah".

Observation:

All through the Bible we see that one of the main reasons for getting married was to produce godly children who would carry on the family. In this verse, and in many others, when the people heard a wedding was going to take place, the first thing they talk about is the marriage producing children. God has always been interested in a godly man and a godly woman producing godly offspring. In the beginning He told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

Application:

I believe we are on dangerous grounds when we call a curse a blessing and a blessing a curse. Children are a blessing! Many times today people get upset when they find out they are pregnant because it wasn't in their plans. many couples don't want chldren because it will mess up their lifestyle. Having and raising children is not something to be avoided, but something to be excited about. It is a blessing of the Lord. We need to change the way we think about it.

Prayer:

Lord, teach us to see things as You see them. Help me to never call a blessing a curse or a curse a blessing. Keep my eyes on You and help me to have Your priorities. Some of the priorities in our lives are so messed up biblically speaking. Let my priorities come in line with your priorities.

Jeff

Don't Ask Me To Turn back

Scripture:

Ruth 1:16 "But Ruth replied, 'Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God'".

Observation:

Ruth had just become a widow, which put her in a very difficult place as a woman. The best and easiest thing to do would be to go home to her mom and dad and mourn. The normal person would have gone back to what was familiar instead of following a woman who was also a widow and saying she would serve a God she didn't know. Evidently she had seen something in this family while she was a daughter in law that made her know that the God they served was awesome. Naomi had told her to go back to her people and to her god, but she refused.

Application:

When the pressure is on, most people go back to what is familiar to them. If they are a drug user, pressure will cause them to go back. I an alcoholic, pressure will cause them to take a drink. When pressure is applied, most people turn back toward what they are most familiar with. As believers, we must turn to God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We must never look back. As Ruth had stepped over the line and said she would never go back, we must say the same. No matter what pressure comes in to my life, I will serve God.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to see souls saved. I want you to use my life to populate heaven. I want to see souls saved to the point that they never turn away from You. Lead me into seeing true repentance and conversion of people so they would have a relationship with You that they could never turn back from.

Love,
Jeff

God Can Use Anyone

Scripture:

Judges 6:15 "But lord, Gideon replied, How can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family".

Observation:

The Lord was calling Gideon to rescue Israel from the hands of the Midianites. God had just told him, "Go in this strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites". Gideon felt like God was calling the wrong person because he was the least likely to rescue anybody, let alone an entire nation. He felt like the least, but God will take the least likely, put his Spirit on him or her, and use them mightily for His glory. God receives all the glory when the person involved knows that there is no way they could have done the job alone.

Application:

A poor self image is nothing to be desired, but a person of humility is a powerful weapon in God's hand. When we realize that we can do nothing without God's help, we are in the position of victory. As long as we think we know what to do and that we are strong enough to defeat the enemies of our lives, we are not completely depending on God. God chose Gideon because he knew that Gideon would have to depend on God and not on himself. As we humble ourselves before the Lord, God will raise us up. As we depend less on self and more on the Lord, He will work mightily on our behalf. Stay in the place of utter dependence on Him.

Prayer:

Help me to depend on You more and myself less. You are in control of the universe and surely You know how to work out the details of my life. Teach me to release control of my life into your hands and to trust you. Help me to have a healthy self image, but remain totally dependent on You. You are the center of my life and I want to trust You more every day. Fight my battles and help me today I pray.

Jeff

Cry Out to the Lord

Scripture:

Judges 3:9 "But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother".

Observation:

Judges is a sad book in the Bible because it describes Israel after its great leaders Moses and Joshua. It is a time where every man did right in his own eyes, which is a very scary place to live. Israel continued over an over to forsake the Lord and follow other gods. Even when they were totally messed up and serving other gods, when Israel would cry out to God for help, He would rescue them from their enemies.

Application:

When God's people cry out to Him, He responds! He is a rescuer of those who call on Him and turn to Him with all their heart. God is compared to a father many times. Even when a child messes up majorly, when a parent hears the cry of their child, they will respond quickly and compassionately. It is a built in function of raising children. We must learn to "Cry Out" to the Lord, when things are good and when things are bad.

Prayer:

Father, I thank you for speaking with me. You are my rock and my fortress. Me deliverer in whom I trust. Thank you for being a loving and merciful father who looks over the messes we make with our lives when we call on your name. Thank you for not giving us what we deserve, rather you rescue us from our own choices. Thank you for allowing us to call out to You, knowing you will respond and rescue your children. Help me live a life that won't require me to call out in my messes, but to whisper your name as we walk close together.

I Love You Lord,

Jeff

How Long Are You Going to Wait?

Scripture:

Joshua 18:3 "Then Joshua asked them, 'How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?'"

Observation:

Joshua was giving out each tribe's allotment of land from the Lord. After a while of telling them who would get what pieces of land and what the boundaries were going to be, he asks them how long they were going to wait before they take possession of the remaining land God had given them.

Application:

This morning, these words jumped off the page to me. I feel like God is asking me how long I am going to wait on some things He has given me to do. Sometimes we wait for the best opportunity, convenience, or for everything to be perfectly ready for the next step. God wants His people to take possession of what He already gave His Son to pay for. He wants us to take possession of His promises. If His word says something, Why are we waiting to take possession of it? Now is the time to step out by faith into the possession of the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord, make me bold enough to go after the things I know You have called me to do. Help me overcome insecurity and anything else that causes me to not walk by faith. Give me the strength to go after, with all my heart, the promises You have given me. I want to take possession of the land, help me do it!

Thanks for speaking to me today,

Jeff

Never Give Up!

Scripture:

Joshua 14:12 "So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said".

Observation:

Caleb is asking for the land the Lord promised him 45 years earlier. At 85, he is asking for his land, which evidently still had giants living in it. The sons of Anak were giants. There were walled cities to conquer and he says, "If the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said". His faith was so great that at 85, 45 years after the promise, he realized that what God promises, He provides.

Application:

Many times in life we give up far too early. We stand on the promises of God for a little while, then figure it must not be meant for me. The word tell us very clearly that we must not grow weary in doing good. "In due season, we will reap". God sometimes promises us things that are in the distant future. We think it should happen today or tomorrow or we are giving up. We must learn to hold onto the promises of God and not rush things, nor get ahead of God.

Prayer:

Lord, thanks for reminding me today that Your promises never fail, we simply give up on them too early. Give me the heart of a Caleb, who I learned this week was probably not even an Israelite. Teach me to never give up on things too early, but to wait for the promise of God and still be ready to fight for it years later. With faith and patience we inherit the promises. Help me on the patience part.

Your Son,
Jeff

When God Fights Your battles

Scripture:

Joshua 10:42 "Joshua conquered all these kings and their land in a single campaign for the Lord, the God of Israel, was fighting for His people".

Observation:

After Joshua dealt with the sin of Achan and Israel was clean before God, fully obeying His words, God began to give them victory over every one of their enemies. Joshua was instructed what to do and when he did what God said, God would fight for him. They literally defeated 31 kings in a row without a defeat. I also notice that God fought for them as long as they lived in total obedience. It would have been easier for Joshua to make treaties with other kings, but he obeyed exactly what the Lord said.

Application:

Obedience always brings blessings. I tell my children this all the time. When Joshua obeyed the Lord, Israel was unstop able and their enemies were totally afraid of them. When you are walking in total obedience to the Lord, He will fight your battles for you and when He fights your battles, you win every time. We must do our best to live a fully surrendered life to the Lord. We must do what He leads us to do, then He will fight our battles. When He fights your battles, you can never fail.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to walk in total obedience to You. I want to walk with You and talk with you. I want you to direct my steps. I know there are some things you have spoken to me that I need to do. Forgive me for not walking in total obedience. Sometimes I feel like what you are leading me to do is too difficult, but when I look at Joshua I understand that it will bring your name glory.

You're the Best!

Jeff

God's Word

Scripture:

Joshua 8:35 "Every word of every command that Moses has ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them".

Observation:

Israel was on a roll. They had come over the Jordan river into the promised land. They defeated Jericho. Now they came a little city called Ai and were defeated in what should have been an easy battle. There was sin in the camp and God wanted it dealt with. Once the sin was dealt with and the city was defeated, Joshua had every command Moses had ever commanded read to everyone in Israel.

Application:

The Word of God is precious. It brings life, truth and peace to us when we read an obey it.I am thankful for every word in the word of God. This is why I love our daily wash so much. We read the entire thing, every word of it. I believe this is important so we are sure we are reading things in context and that we get the whole picture.

Prayer:

Lord, keep me in Your word. When I live by Your word, I prosper and am in health. When I live according to your word, life is better. Your word is amazing and reaches into my soul and brings me strength. Thank you for giving us your word. It is awesome!

Your Son,
Jeff