The Lord's Promises

Scripture:

Psalm 12:6 "The Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over".

Observation:

In the context of this passage, the Psalmist is talking about why the wicked prosper and don't get judged. He has spent several chapters talking about God getting revenge on his enemies. In the middle of this ranting and raving about his enemies, David declares the word of the Lord. He says that God has seen what is happening and that His promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace seven times over.

Application:

If God said it, you can take it to the bank! The Psalmist understood that God's word never fails and does not lie. We need to come to the place where the Lord's promises are treated as something of value. Instead of throwing around a silver plate that has been purified seven times, you would take great care of it because of its value. God's promises must be taken great care of. They are valuable to us. They are pure and will come to pass in his timing. If something silver has been purified seven times in the fire, it is valuable. It is also beautiful. We must treasure God's promises, written and Rhema.

Prayer:

Father, let me honor Your promises. Help me to esteem your promises as silver refined seven times. Teach me to love your promises and trust them completely. I want to understand each promise and esteem them highly in my life. Your promises are pure, help me to see them as such.

I Love You,

Jeff

Authority

Scripture:

Psalm 8:6 "You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority".

Observation:

The Psalmist David is talking here about mankind, created by God. Speaking to the Lord he says, "You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority". The Psalmist understood man. He understood God's plan for mankind. The original plan of God was that Adam and Eve would have dominion over all of His creation. God wanted man to reign and rule on this earth.

Application:

Jesus is called the second Adam in the NT. After the sin of Adam and Eve, man was separated from God and no longer had dominion because of sin. Jesus, the second Adam, came to restore that authority and dominion. He paid the price for sin so that we could have access into the heavenlies. We need to get back to God's original intent of having authority over God's beautiful creation. We must understand that God created us to rule and reign, not to just accept whatever comes along. We must take our place and walk in the authority that Jesus died to give us.

Prayer:

Father, teach me Your original intention for man. Show me more. I want to understand more fully and completely. I want to walk in the authority you have given us and have dominion as You would want me to. I don't want to just accept things in the earth that are not right, but to change them. Help me take my authority.

Yours,

Jeff

The Lord will Answer

Scripture:

Psalm 4:3 "You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for Himself. The Lord will answer when I call on Him".

Observation:

This is a Psalm of David. He lets us know that we can be sure of two things. 1. God set the godly apart for Himself. He also lets us know that the Lord will answer when I call on Him. These are things the Psalmist tells us we can be sure of. We can stake our lives on these two things.

Application:

We must become as confident in our walk with God as David was. He was totally confident that God had set Him apart and that God would answer when he called. Our lives would be so much different if we actually believed that when we called, God would answer. We would finally learn to walk by faith and not by sight. If we really believed that when we called on Him, He would answer, I believe we would call on Him more and expect results more.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to walk in confident assurance that when I call on You, that You will answer. I have have some needs right now that I have been calling on You for. Help me walk by faith and trust that You have heard and that you are responding. I love You Lord and want to walk by faith more and more.

Your Son,
Jeff

Enjoying Life

Scripture:

Job 33:30 "He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life".

Observation:

Elihu is the youngest of Job's friends and has been silent until this point because culturally it would be considered wrong for a younger person to council an older person. Finally he feels like he must say some things and begin to tell him what he thinks Job's problem is. In the course of it he makes this comment about God, "He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life".

Application:

Job's friend wasn't perfect theologically, but he did have something good to say here. God does rescue us from the grave so we can enjoy the light of life. Are we enjoying what Jesus came and died for? We must learn to enjoy the life that Christ died to give us. Too many of us are walking around down and discouraged with no light and life in us. This is not God's problem, it is ours! Our NT life is a life of faith. We walk by faith, not by sight. We will enjoy life and light when we learn to be controlled by our faith and not controlled by our emotions.

Prayer:

Father, I want to enjoy life. I want to walk in the light as you are in the light. You paid the ultimate price so that I could have abundant and eternal life. I want to live that kind of life. Help me keep my focus on You and Your will. Show me the areas I need to change and help me to walk by faith and not by sight.

Yours,

jeff

Wisdom

Scripture:

Job 28:17 "Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold".

Observation:

Job was a very wise man who had great understanding. He has just talked about being able to mine gold, silver, copper, etc. He said that we know how to do these things, but do we know how to mine wisdom and understanding?

Application:

We must ask God to give us godly wisdom in every area of life. Wise people prosper and don't make the same mistakes as others. They see the warning signs and don't go there. They see ahead and notice dangers on the horizon. Wisdom is extremely valuable because it can guide us into making right decisions. We need to ask god for wisdom and seek for it diligently.

Prayer:

Help me to gain wisdom in my life. I want to be a wise person who is able to make right choices and decisions. I want my life to bring your glory and a life of wisdom makes you look good. Teach me to seek out wisdom and to use it in every part of my life. You said if anyone lacked wisdom we could ask God and He would give it. Lord, today I ask for wisdom. I desperately need it in my life right now.

Jeff

Job's Vow

Scripture:

Job 27:3-4 "As long as I live, while I have breath from God, my lips will speak no evil, and my tongue will speak no lies".

Observation:

Job is responding to his "friends" who have told him that he is hiding some sin somewhere or he wouldn't be in this situation. He vows to his friends that as long as he lives his lips will speak no evil and his tongue will not tell a lie. Job had already endured incredible suffering and has declared his innocence. Here he is letting them know that he is not lying about this or any other situation.

Application:

Our mouths can get us into so much trouble. Things we say can and do hurt people and cause much pain. The same tongues we say we love God with are used to curse people. We need to make a vow to god that our mouths will utter nothing evil and will speak no lies. As we do our best to fulfill this commitment, God will do the rest. He has given us His Holy Spirit to help us live according to His will. We must fix our speech problems.

Prayer:

Father, I want to walk in purity before you. My tongue has a way of getting me in trouble at times and causing problems in my life. Purify my speech and let it be used to bring You glory and help others. Help me to speak the positive and be an encourager. Have a great day!

Jeff

Jesus Christ My Mediator

Scripture:

Job 9:33 "If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment".

Observation:

Job felt that God was punishing him unjustly. He felt that he should take God to court and prove his innocence, but he realized that could never happen and that God was so perfect and so powerful that He could never lose. He realized he was a sinner and God was perfect. All he could ask for was a mediator who could bring him and God together and make Go stop beating him.

Application:

Job cried out for a mediator who would turn away God's punishment for whatever he had done. He longed for someone who could bring Him and God together. Jesus is the mediator that Job cried out for. He took our punishment and turned God's wrath away from us, therefore we don't have to live in fear and terror of God like Job did. Our mediator has come and his name is Jesus. Job wanted someone to bring him and God together. Jesus died to do exactly that. He brought us together with God.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for sending your son to die in my place, to take my punishment, and to bring us together. Thank you for accepting and loving me. Thank you for bridging the gap between You and me. You are truly amazing and your grace is incredible. You're the best! Thank you for calling me son.

Jeff

Confidence and Hope

Scripture:

Job 4:6 "Doesn't your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn't your life of integrity give you hope?"

Observation:

Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, comes to him when he has lost everything and had sores all over his body with a message. Job really just wants to die and his friend comes by with some good words. He ssys, "Doesn't your reverence for God give you confidence and your life of integrity give you hope?" He has seen Job's life and knows that Job is a man of integrity. He also knows that a man of integrity usually feels confidence and hope because he knows he is living right and that God is with him.

Application:

Our right living and integrity should give us confidence and hope when thigns are difficult for us. We should have an inner peace knowing God is our father and we are in His hands of mercy and grace. Right living produces confidence and hope. When you are doing right and living the way God wants you to, you have hope because you know your relationshi with God is strong. This doesn't guarantee, as in Job's case, that nothing will go wrong, but it shuold help us as we go through tough times.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to live a life that is pleasing to You. I want to know that our relationship is great and receive confidence and hope as a result. Help me live in integrity and be the man you want me to be. You are amazing!

Jeff

IS God Santa Clause?

Scripture:

Job 2:10 "But Job replied, 'You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?' So in all this Job said nothing wrong".

Observation:

Job was and extremely wealthy man. God allowed Satan to take away all of his earthly possessions including all his children, his livestock and everything he owned. Satan then attacks Job with boils from head to foot until he was absolutely miserable and in terrible pain. His wife had just told him to curse God and die, thinking it would be easier than the life he was living. His response to her was amazing. He asks her if they are only to receive good things from God and never bad. He was committed to God enough that he was willing to accept the bad with the good and still serve Him.

Application:

Sometimes we think of God as Santa Clause who only brings us all of the gifts we ask for. We want Him to bring us everything we need in life and a little more. We even make list of things we want Him to do for us. We expect Him to only bring good gifts and never anything bad. Suffering is the greatest way to build character and if we never have to go through anything negative, our lives become weak. God is still God when things are good and when things are bad. We should love and worship Him when things are wonderful and when things are terrible. He is God!

Prayer:

Father, teach me to accept all of Your gifts, the good and the bad. The blessings and the tough times. Tough times help me grow in You and depend more strongly on You. Make me strong in You. You are not Santa Clause, but the master of the universe. You know what I need better than I do and I trust You to be fully in control.

Yours Forever,
Jeff

Conquering Evil

Scripture:

Romans 12:21 "Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good".

Observation:

Paul is speaking to the Romans about how to live peaceably with each other. He talks about love and then moves into talking about not repaying evil for evil. As he closes this thought, he makes one simple statement, "don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good". Sometimes we fight the darkness so hard, when all we have to do is turn on the light. Doing good will conquer evil every time.

Application:

Many times we fight, rebuke, do spiritual warfare, etc. against the evil of our day. Paul tells us that we can conquer evil by doing good. Spiritual warfare is a reality and needs to be waged, but many times our battles just need for us to be men and women enough to do good, and let God be God. As we listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, He will show us how to win every battle. Darkness is really just the absence of light. Evil is really just the absence of good. Doing good can conquer any foe.

Prayer:

Lord, let me see You hand at work in my life. I want to see You high and lifted up and every enemy defeated. teach me to live a simple life of doing good, living right and watching You defeat every enemy that tries to raise it's ugly head against me. You are my protection, my fortress and my defender.

Thanks,
Jeff

Spirit Empowered Living

Scripture:

Romans 8:9 "But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled be the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you".

Observation:

This passage is in the middle of a lengthy discourse about the power of sin and death compared to the power of the Spirit. We are all born with a sin nature. The Law helped us see that sin nature. Through Christ, the old nature died and our new nature is that of our father. We have died to sin and its power over our lives. When we live by the Spirit, we will have victory over sin. The Spirit will lead us to do the right thing for the right purpose and will give us everything we need to walk in victory over sin. "We are not controlled by our sinful nature". We have power over it, it doesn't have power over us.

Application:

We must understand this principle if we are ever gong to live the way God intended us to live. He wants us to be free from the power of sin in our lives. Jesus has already paid the price for sin's power to be broken in our lives, yet we continue to give in to the sinful nature. The power of sin is broken and the Spirit causes us to walk in victory over sin. We must live Spirit empowered lives. We must walk with the Spirit and receive the power to live a life that is not controlled by sin or anything else except the master.

Prayer:

Father, you sent your son and your spirit to help us get free from this power called sin. You have done everything necessary to free us from it's power, yet Your people walk powerless. Help me communicate your truth in ways that people can grasp and that will set them free from this sin nature. let the love of God fall fresh in my life and let me filled to overflow with your Spirit. I want to know you more each day and live a life that makes You pleased.

Love,
Jeff

Divine Reversals

Scripture:

Esther 8:15 "The Mordecai left the king's presence, wearing the royal robe of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer cloak of fine linen and purple. And the people of Susa celebrated the decree".

Observation:

God is the God of divine reversals. He can turn any situation around when his people fast and pray. Here, Mordecai was suppose to be impaled, but his enemy ended up being impaled and his enemy's royal position was given to Mordecai. He went from being on death row to being one of the most powerful people in the land. This is how God works on behalf of His people when they seek His face and call on His name.

Application:

Sometimes we spend too much time worrying about what could happen instead of fasting and praying and asking God to turn things around. If God is our father and we truly believe He will take care of us, why do we stress and worry? He is truly in control! Seek the Lord while He may be found. Cry out to Him, He is near to those who call out to Him. Divine reversals still happen today for those who seek the Lord with fasting and prayer.

Prayer:

Lord, You are my Father and my God. I look to You as my healer, deliverer, friend, and the one who knows my situations. You are the God of divine reversals! I ask you to turn some things around in my life. Turn WOL around and let it begin to grow. Let us impact our region for eternity. Let there be breakthroughs in every area. Let the lost find Christ and let this region see a revival of unprecedented proportions. You are able, help me believe.

The Power of Fasting

Scripture:

Esther 4:16 "Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same".

Observation:

Esther was about to come boldly to the king and ask him to spare the Jews. It was against the law for her to approach him without being invited, but she knew if the Jews were going to be saved, she must speak with him. Knowing this was extremely dangerous, she asked everyone to fast and pray. On the third day, she went for it, risking her very life, and God gave her favor with the king.

Application:

Prayer and fasting is powerful in the life of a believer. There is something really special and powerful about prayer with fasting. Prayer is emphasized very much in the church today and there is a movement of fasting that is coming. When we fast, we are telling God that He is more important to us than food or anything else. It is saying that He is more important than even the food that sustains us. When you can't seem to get a breakthrough, couple prayer with fasting and see what the Lord does.

Prayer:

Father, I have been feeling Your Spirit telling me to fast and I have put it off. I begin a fast this morning. Help me to complete it with joy. I need a breakthrough in so many areas right now. Our church, Hearts for the Harvest, and my family all need a major breakthrough right now. I look to You with prayer and fasting. You are my source, my hope and my deliverer.

Love,
Jeff

God's Fantastic Favor

Scripture:

Esther 2:9 "Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments".

Observation:

Many beautiful young women from all over the kingdom were brought the king's palace to take place in a beauty contest. The one that the king desired would become the queen. This was a huge event! There were many, many women and the king cold choose whichever one he wanted. God had His hand on Esther's life. He had a plan and needed her to win so He gave her favor with those in charge of the contest. The other thing I see here is that God was working this plan a long time before trouble arose so that she would be in the right position when she needed to be. God is never surprised, rather, He knows what is coming and prepares for it.

Application:

This story lets me know two things. God will give me favor and place me where He needs me for His plans to be accomplished in my life. Also, He knows the future and is always working out His plan. Esther received favor from the Lord and the king. God will give favor to you to get you where He needs you for His purposes. It really is all about Him and not us. The favor that comes to us is for God's purposes, not our own. God knows tomorrow and has me where He needs me today so that tomorrow will work out for His purposes.

Prayer:

Father, let me be led by Your Spirit and live a life of obedience to You. Lead me into Your destiny for my life. Teach me your ways and let me grow in You. I yield my life to Your plans and purposes. Use me to advance Your kingdom in whatever way YOU see fit. Keep me on YOUR plan for my life and let me finish well.

I Love You Lord,

Jeff