Humility Pays Off

Scripture:

II Chronicles 12:12  "Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed.  Indeed, there was some good in Judah".

Observation:

God had determined to destroy Rehoboam and his kingdom because Rehoboam did not follow the Lord completely and he served other gods.  He was not faithful to the Lord, the God of his fathers and God had determined to wipe Judah off the map.  When Rehoboam realized what he had done and was confronted with his lifestyle, he humbled himself before God and God gave him mercy.

Application:

What was it that turned away God's anger from Rehoboam?  Simply an act of humility.  God loves humility and turning to Him in bad situations.  He is quick to forgive a humble person, but works against the proud.  As God's people we must learn the lesson of humility.  When we get it, our relationship with God will develop and we will see the good hand of God revealed in our lives more and more.

Prayer:

Father, help me walk in true humility before you.  I look to You as my everything.  Without You, I can do nothing.  Without You I can't make it.  I need You desperately in my life.  You are the king of all kings and the Lord of all Lords.  You are awesome and I love you.

Yours,
Jeff

Wisdom From God

Scripture:

II Chronicles 9:7  "How happy your people must be!  How happy your officials, who continually hear your wisdom!"

Observation:

Solomon was given wisdom by God.  His wisdom exceeded the wisdom of everyone before him and even after him.  The above verse shows the effect of a person who walks in God's wisdom.  Wisdom made those around Solomon happy.

Application:

When we walk with God, His and seek Him, His wisdom will begin to fill us.  As we seek His face concerning our lives and the things we should do, those around us should see God's wisdom in us and it should make them happy!  God is all-knowing and has all wisdom.  The wisdom of the ages resides in us.  We need to seek Him and His wisdom.  When we do, those around us will rejoice as they see how God works in our lives.

Prayer:

Lord, give me Your wisdom today.  Let every decision I make be led by You.  You are the wisest of the wise.  Fill me with your wisdom and let me not be led by my own mind, but by your Spirit.  Let my decisions and my leadership be filled with your wisdom and let it bring joy to those around me.

Yours,
Jeff

Arise Lord God

Scripture:

II Chronicles 6:41  "Now arise Lord God, and come to Your resting place, you and the ark of your might.  May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness".

Observation:

Solomon is dedicating the incredible temple he had built for the Lord.  In his dedication, he prayed this beautiful prayer.  He asked the Lord to arise and come to his resting place.  He had prepared a place for the Lord to rest.  He asked God to let the priests be clothed with salvation and God's people to be rejoicing in his goodness.

Application:

As New Covenant believers, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  We are his temple.  May we ask like Solomon for God to arise and rest upon us.  May His presence be upon us and since we are a kingdom of priests, may we be clothed with salvation and rejoice in his goodness.

Prayer:

Father, rest on my life.  Let your presence rest on me.  I want to be a carrier of your glory to the ends of the earth.  Clothe me with salvation and let me and my people rejoice in your goodness.  I want to see you work strongly in my generation.  I believe revival is coming.  Come and move upon your people.

Because Our God is Great

Scripture:

II Chronicles 2:5  "The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all others gods".

Observation:

Solomon had taken over as king of Israel.  David had desired to build God a temple, but God told him no because he had shed too much blood, but that his son would build the temple.  As Solomon began preparations to build God a temple as a place of worship, he said, "The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods".  He wanted to build God something great because that is how he saw God.  Nothing short of great would do.

Application:

I am reminded of the seeing some of the incredible cathedrals in Europe.  When you walk into them, you are amazed at the architecture and the fact surrounding these great structures.  They always built God the best building in the city because He is awesome.  We should remember that God doesn't dwell in temple made by hands any more, but in His people.  Whatever we do, we should do to reflect His greatness.  Our lives should reflect the greatness of our God.

Prayer:

Father, let You name be glorified in my and through my life.  Let my life be a temple that brings You glory.  Let me live in such a way that people are blown away at who You are.

Yours, Forever,

Jeff

We Fight, God Does the Work

Scripture:

I Chronicles 19:13  "Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God.  The Lord will do what is good in his sight".

Observation:

Joab, David's military man in charge, was talking to his troops about the Ammonites and the army they were about to go up against.  His advice when they were going into battle was to tell them to fight hard and be brave for God and his people.  Then he lets them know that it is really the Lord who is doing the fighting.  He finishes with, "The Lord will do what is good in his sight".

Application:

Some people simply resign in life to, "God's will is going to be done, so why should I fight or try anything?"  David's army had the right idea.  They knew God was with them, but they also knew that they must fight some battles, lose some of the troops, and possible give their lives.  We must be people who are willing to fight to defend what is ours, while knowing God is going to work with us to accomplish His will.

Prayer:

Lord, give me a heart of tenacity that doesn't give up too easily.  A heart that fights for what  it wants.  You know I want what You want for my life.  All I desire is for your will to be done in my life.  Help me to learn to fight for your will in my life.

Yours,
Jeff

God Doesn't Forget his Promises

Scripture:

I Chronicles 16:15  "He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations".

Observation:

God doesn't forget.  David was telling the priests how he wanted God to be worshiped.  While he is giving a demonstration of the type of songs he wants sung and how, he throws in this little verse, "He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations".

Application:

When God promises something... It will come to pass!  God is faithful and can be trusted to do His part of the covenant.  When He makes a covenant, it is eternal.  When he makes a promise, it is good for a thousand generations.  We must stand on verses like this when we are disgusted with life and fell like God is not coming through for us when we want Him to.  His promises may not come when we want them to, but they will come as sure are the morning high tide.

Prayer:

Father, I love you.  You are faithful forever and your promises are yes and amen forever.  You never forget what You promise and the covenants you make.  Thank You for being trustworthy.  Help me to trust you more, even when I don't see what You are doing.

Yours,
Jeff Jacob

Unfaithful to the Lord

Scripture:

I Chronicles 10:13-14  "Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord.  So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse".

Observation:

When Saul, the king of Israel, died, it says he was unfaithful to the Lord.  It then goes on to list what exactly it was that made him unfaithful to the Lord.  First it says he did not keep the word of the Lord.  Second it says he consulted a medium.  Lastly it says he did not inquire of the Lord.  He received death because of these things.  God sees these things as extremely important in our lives.

Application:

The bottom line of what Saul died for was the fact that he did not seek the Lord's guidance and sought guidance from a medium.  God wants us to look to Him for guidance first and foremost.  He wants us to seek His counsel.  He wants us to look to Him as our provider, teacher, guide and friend.  Faithfulness to God, in this context, simply means having God at the center of our lives and seeking His input on everything we do.

Prayer:

Lord, I look to You.  I want your leadership in my life.  I want to be led by You.  I want to hear Your voice and follow it completely.  I want to accomplish Your will with my life and not my own.  Help me to live a life that pleases You more each day.

Your Son,
Jeff

Priests: Able Men

Scripture:

I Chronicles 9:13  "The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760.  They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God".

Observation:

As Chronicles is giving a long list of genealogies, it sticks in this little comment on the priests.  It says "They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God".  "Able" would mean they were prepared, ready, well-trained, etc.  They had to be born in the right family, but they also had to be able men who could handle their responsibilities.  They were responsible for ministering in the house of the Lord.

Application:

Sometimes people feel "called" into ministry and jump in, plant a church, and then struggle for a long time.  They have the right heart, the right passion, the right prayer life, etc., but maybe were not able or responsible.  Able comes from the same root as ability.  Sometimes we have to develop our abilities so that we are able.  God gives the passion, heart, desire, etc., but we have to develop the abilities and strengthen them and be responsible for them.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to be a better leader.  Help me develop the skills necessary to lead Your people better.  Help me carry my responsibilities well.  Help me hone my leadership skills to become more effective for your kingdom.

Yours,
Jeff

Crying Out to God During the Battle

Scripture:

I Chronicles 5:20  "They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered them Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle".

Observation:

In this verse we see that God's people were in battle and they cried out to the Lord.  All through the Old Testament we see things like this recorded.  People were in battle and they cried out to the Lord and He won the victory for them.  God is an incredible deliverer, but He wants His children to cry out to Him.

Application:

God gives His children the victory. but victory only comes through battles fought.  Sometimes we feel like we shouldn't ever have a battle to fight if we have enough faith and if God is for us.  The issue isn't really about whether we will have battles or not.  The issue is whether we will cry out to God in the midst of the battle or just try to fight through it on our own.  He responds when His people cry out to Him, but as long as we wage war on our own, He will stand by and watch.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to cry out to You early in the battle instead of waiting for the last stand.  Teach me to lean on You completely every day.  Thank you for being a God who doesn't judge us for getting into the battle, but delivers us when we cry out to You.

Your Son,
Jeff

A Marriage Command From the Lord

Scripture:

I Corinthians 7:10-11  "To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.  But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.  And a husband must not divorce his wife."

Observation:

This is written by Paul to the church of Corinth.  He very clearly spelled out that this was not his command, bu the command of the Lord for them, and for us today as well.  The Lord spoke through Paul that wives should not separate from their husbands and, if they do, they must remain unmarried.  Husbands are not to divorce their wives.  He called this a "command" and said it was not from him, but from the Lord.  A command is not optional.

Application:

There is way too much separation and divorce in the church today.  When people don't feel good, they say, "God wouldn't want me to feel this way because He loves me".  Therefore they take commands like this and throw them away instead of learning to love, forgive, and heal relationships with their spouses.  When separation happens, according to Paul, there should not be remarriage.  These are hard words that we usually ignore because "surely a loving God wouldn't want me lonely the rest of my life".  He doesn't want us lonely... He wants us to heal our relationships with our spouses and to make them last for a lifetime.

Prayer:

Father, work in marriages today.  Heal broken hearts and restore love to homes.  Teach people to forgive, love and walk in humility of spirit.  Help the church to see your commands as commands and not options.  Show us truth and let us walk in it.

Yours,
Jeff

God Uses Foolishness

Scripture:

I Corinthians 1:27  "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong".

Observation:

Paul is telling the Corinthians not to have pride and arguing among them.  They apparently were arguing over following Paul, Apolos or Christ and pride usually shows up in an argument.  He tells them to remember that before Christ not many of them were wise, noble, powerful, etc.  Then he tells them that God uses the weak to confound the strong and the foolish to shame the wise.

Application:

Often today we hear phrases like, "knowledge is power".  I would say, "knowledge of God is powerful".  God has a way of using and blessing people who are not wise and powerful to make the wise and powerful know it is Him and not us.  When we feel foolish and weak, we are right where God likes us to be, then He can get the glory for all He does in our lives.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to see You as wise and powerful and myself as your servant.  My area is very wise and influential.  I want to see You confound them.  I want to see You work in such powerful ways through simple people, that the powerful can't deny You.

Yours Forever,
Jeff

Heartfelt Humility Before the Lord

Scripture:

II Kings 22:19  "Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people - that they would become a curse and be laid to waste - and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord".

Observation:

When the book of the Law was found and Josiah read it, he humbled himself before the Lord in repentance and brokenness.  He tore his royal robes and cried out to God and wept before the Lord.  When he did, the Lord said he was heard by the Lord.

Application:

God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.  He loves when His people come to Him weeping and crying out to Him.  He blesses those who come to Him in humility, declaring how much they need Him.  We must be people who continually look to the Lord and cry out to Him.  He loves it when we acknowledge our need of Him.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, I worship You this morning.  You are amazing!  Help me walk in humility before you all the days of my life.  I need You and want You to work in my life to bring about Your will above all else.  I want to know You more.

Your Son,

Jeff

God's Incredible Power

Scripture:

II Kings 20:11  "Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz".

Observation:

Hezekiah had been calling of the Lord and doing what the Lord had asked of him.  He had asked the Lord to heal him and the Lord added fifteen years to his life.  As a sign that the Lord would heal him, God asked him if he wanted the shadow to go forward ten steps or backward.  Hezekiah said backward, and the shadow on the ground went backward ten steps.

Application:

God is incredibly powerful.  He moved the sun or earth in order to make this happen and it was simply a confirmation to one man that He had healed the man.  God's power is far beyond what we can ask, think or even imagine.  He can literally do whatever He wants to do at any time He chooses to do it.  Nothing is beyond Him and nothing is beyond hope.

Prayer:

Father, let me see Your power demonstrated in my generation.  Teach me to believe You and to walk with You in the miraculous.  I believe our generation needs to see Your power again.  I want to see You work in the church in the miraculous again.  You are amazing!

Yours,
Jeff

If We Could Only See

Scripture:

II Kings 7:16-17  "'Don't be afraid', the prophet answered.  'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them'.  And Elisha prayed, 'Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.'  Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha".

Observation:

Elisha and his servant were being followed by an army of men who wanted to to kill them.  It looked hopeless and like they would surely die quickly and the servant was scared.  Elisha told him not to be afraid because there was more for them than against them.  He asked God to open the servant's eyes and when he did, the servant saw God's army was larger than the enemy army.

Application:

Sometimes when situations look impossible, we need to ask God to open our eyes.  If we could see what's going on in the spirit realm, we would live very different lives.  We would see how often our lives have been in danger ad how God has preserved us.  We would see how God is working on our behalf and we would trust Him more.  We would feel invincible if our eyes were opened.  If only we could see what goes on, we would live differently.

Prayer:

Lord, open my eyes.  I want to see You and Your armies at work in the world.  Teach me to trust You more and more each day, realizing that your are truly the God of angel armies.  You are victorious and powerful.  Help me see it more each day.

Yours,
Jeff

Is There No Prophet?

Scripture:

II Kings 3:11  "But Jehoshaphat asked, 'Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?'"

Observation:

In the days of the kings of Israel and Judah, when the king needed to hear a word from God, he would go to the prophets and see what God was saying.  In this particular case, Jehoshaphat needed to hear from God about his army's present situation.  He knew if he could just get to a true prophet of God, he would be able to hear from God.

Application:

"Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?" really stood out to me this morning.  As God's people, very often we lack God's direction.  We don't know what to do.  As New Testament believers, we have the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and to guide us.  It should be easy and normal for us to hear from the Lord with all our decisions.  May we develop into people who know the voice of the Lord and hear Him clearly like the OT prophets did.

Prayer:

Lord, I need to hear from You about some things.  Open my ears to hear Your Spirit.  Open my mind to receive from You.  Help me grow in knowing Your voice.  I want to do Your will, but sometimes I don't feel like I hear clearly enough from You what I need to do.  I want to know You more.

Your Son,
Jeff

Where Now is the Lord, The God of Elijah?

Scripture:

II Kings 2:14  "He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it.  'Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?' he asked.  When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over".

Observation:

Elisha was determined to get a double portion of the anointing on Elijah's life.  He followed him around until he got it.  When Elijah was taken to heaven, he dropped his mantle and Elisha picked it up.  He had seen Elijah use it and now it was his turn.  He cried out "where is the Lord God of Elijah?"  and struck the water.  The waters opened and he walked across.  The school of the prophets was amazed.

Application:

In my Spirit this morning I'm asking, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?"  Where are the miraculous interventions of God in our generation?  I know we hear some great testimonies of what the Lord has done, but I believe there is so much more that we are missing out on.  I want to see revival in my generation that shakes America.  Where is the God of the first and second great awakening?

Prayer:

Lord, I want to see true revival in my generation.  I want to see Your glory hit regions at a time and see thousands swept into your kingdom.  Where is the Lord God of the First and Second Great Awakening?  Come Mighty God and move in our country again.

God of the Valleys

Scripture:

I Kings 20:28  "The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, 'This is what the Lord says: Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord '"

Observation:

The Arameans were defeated because they thought God was the God of the mountains, but not the God of the valleys.  God is God!  He is God of the mountaintops and He is the God of the valleys in our lives.  God told Israel they would win and they would know that He was God because the Arameans didn't realize He was God of the Valleys.

Application:

Sometimes we only see God as the God of the mountaintops, but God is God in the valleys as well.  He is God in the good times and in the bad times.  He is Lord of everything!  When we are going through the valleys, He is still God.  When we are on the mountaintops, He is still God.

Prayer:

Father, let me see that You are still God when it seems things are not going my way.  Help me to see You as the God of the valleys as well as the mountaintops.  Thanks for showing me this today.

Your Son,
Jeff