Repeat Them In Our Day

Scripture:

Habakkuk 3:2  "Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.  Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy".

Observation:

Habakkuk was hearing of the devastation that the Lord was going to bring through the Babylonians.  He had heard the stories of how God worked on behalf of his people in the past.  He heard how God routed their enemies and protected them supernaturally.  The prophet remembers all he has heard about the Lord and says, "repeat them in our day".

Application:

I have heard, and personally observed God do some incredible things in my life.  I have been blessed to see the awesomeness of God as He moves in power among His people and how He brings the lost to repentance.  I am blessed to have heard the stories of how God moved at Azusa Street and in revivals throughout history.  Today I stand with Habakkuk and say, "repeat them in our day".  I want God to move strongly again in a third great awakening in America.

Prayer:

Father, do it again!  Fill Your people to overflowing and pour out Your Spirit in my generation.  Come Holy Spirit and move in power in my region.  In these last days, pour out Your Spirit as you said you would do.  I long to see You move again in great power and might and for multitudes to turn to Christ.  I want to see revival in my generation.

Your Son,
Jeff

God's Purpose and Plan

Scripture:

Revelation 21:3  "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look!  God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God'".

Observation:

This year as I have read through the Bible again, I saw throughout the Old Testament over and over again that God has always simply wanted a people who would be fully His so that He could be their God and they would be His people.  That has been His purpose from the beginning and at the very end of the book, He is saying that it will finally happen.

Application:

If God's desire is simply to have a people who are completely His so that He could be their God, then our job is simply to make him the true Lord of our lives and to live completely for him and his purposes.  He longs for a people who have no other gods but Him.  We have the ability to make God's purpose and plan come to pass as it pertains to us.  We need to submit ourselves fully to Him and truly be His people.

Prayer:

God, from the beginning you have talked about having a people who are completely Yours and who desire You over all other gods.  You have always wanted a people who would be called by Your name and who would live how You want them to.  Let me be who you want me to be.  I want You to be my God and I want to be your person.  Walk with me.  Talk with me.  Show me what You desire and I will give it to you.

Yours,
Jeff

Triumph Over Our Enemy

Scripture:

Revelation 12:11  "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death".

Observation:

John tells us here that he saw Satan, the accuser, hurled down to the earth because God's kingdom, power and authority had come.  He then goes on to say that they triumphed over Satan by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and the fact that they did not love their lives so much that they didn't shrink back from death.

Application:

When you are not afraid of death, there is no conquering you.  When you love Jesus more than anything and to the degree that you are not afraid of death, you will conquer the enemy every time.  Satan is triumphed over when we love heaven more than we love earth.  Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain.  When we have that mindset, we are unstoppable and will live as overcomers.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, help me to live, not loving my own life, but loving eternal life more.  Help me to see eternity as You see it and to value what You value.  I want to triumph over Satan in every way.  Let my testimony be strong and let me love You more than death.

Yours
Jeff

The Throne of God

Scripture:

Revelation 4:5  "From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.  In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing.  These are the seven spirits of God".

Observation:

John describes the throne room of God in this passage.  It is just the beginning of his description, but it is enough for us to see the power and glory of that place.  God's throne is a place of incredible energy and power.  Lightning and thunder emanate from it.  The atmosphere is charged with electricity and power.

Application:

When we pray, we need to realize who we are praying to and the power that emanates from His presence.  We must realize that we are not praying to an insufficient God, but the all-sufficient God.  We must see His as He is and realize that He sits in a place of Great power.  When we see this, we realize that our problems are nothing for Him.  He can change our situations in a moment.  He can turn things around for us in a flash.  The throne shows us a picture of the power of God and when we pray, we must realize we are not just speaking useless words, but speaking to the all-powerful God.

Prayer:

Father, let me see You as You are.  Let me see Your glory.  Let me walk closely with You.  Help me to realize Your power.  Help me to see You as You are and realize that I have Almighty God as my Father.

Yours,
Jeff

Repentance is not just for unsaved people

Scripture:

Revelation 2:5  "Consider how far you have fallen!  Repent and do the things you did at first.  If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place".

Observation:

John is speaking what he heard the Lord speak.  Here, he is speaking to the church in Ephesus.  He tells them to consider how far they had fallen and repent.  He tells them to do the things they did at first.  He goes on to tell them that if they don't, Jesus would come and remove their lampstand from its place.

Application:

Sometimes in our spiritual lives we drift away from our first love.  Sometimes because of the cares of this life, our spiritual lives struggle and get put on the back burner.  Periodically, we all need to consider or think about how far we have fallen, then repent and do the things we did at first.  When our love for the Lord grows cold and service to Him is affected, we must consider it and repent.  We must ask the Holy Spirit daily to examine us and show us areas of our lives that need changed or where we are growing cold and don't realize it.  We must then repent for those things and do what we did at first.

Prayer:

Father, don't let my love for You grow cold.  Forgive me for allowing complacency into my life.  Help me to follow You fully and to live a disciplined life every day.  Forgive me for not spending the time with You I have in the past seasons of life.  I love You.

Yours,
Jeff

But As For Me II

Scripture:

Micah 7:7  "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me".

Observation:

I see here Micah's knowledge of the Lord.  He knew that God is a severe God who punishes sin and that his nation would see some terrible punishment from God, but he also knew the character of God.  He knew that God would hear his prayers and respond.  He watched in hope, knowing that God is faithful and that God rewards faithfulness.  Here he was saying that everyone is going astray, but as for me, I watch for the Lord.

Application:

No matter what is going on around us, we must be a people who say, "as for me" I will serve the Lord.  I will wait on the Lord.  I will put my hope in the Lord.  God does hear us, but He also knows what is best for us.  We must watch in patient hope, knowing God's love for us and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  We must be determined to say, "but as for me".

Prayer:

Father, As for me, I will follow You.  I will walk with You and look to You for my answers.  You are my hope.  You are my strength.  Help me to depend more and more on You and less and less on myself.  Help me to trust You more every day.  Teach me to walk in faith and patience.

Yours,

Jeff

But As For Me

Scripture:

Micah 3:8  "But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin".

Observation:

Micah was speaking about the prophets, teachers and priests who were speaking for money instead of relating the true word of God.  He had just told the people that they were false prophets and that God was going to judge them.  After Micah described the false prophets and teachers, he said, "But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the Lord".

Application:

When the whole world seems to be going away from God, we need to be people who say, "But as for me, I am filled with power and with the spirit of the Lord".  We need to make sure we are hearing clearly and accurately speaking the word of the Lord.  We don't want to falsely represent the Lord and His words.  When we get our message right, we can expect to be filled with power to deliver it.

Prayer:

Father, help me to not speak as one of the false prophets who always prophesy wonderful things, even when judgement in coming.  Help me to be one who accurately speaks on Your behalf.  Let my ears be open and my heart be strong to say what You want said.  Let me accurately speak on Your behalf and may Your power flow as I do so.

Your Son,
Jeff

A Full Reward

Scripture:

II John 8  "Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded".

Observation:

John tells us that we can lose what we have worked hard for.  He lets us know that we need to stay on God's path so we can be fully rewarded.

Application:

I want to be fully rewarded for the things I have done in my life.  I don't want anything to step in and take away the things I have invested in.  A partial reward does not sound appealing.  we must remain diligent in serving the Lord.  Many forfeit their reward because as they were serving, they were hurt and became bitter.  Many will not receive a full reward because they didn't finish as well as they started.  I want to finish well.

Prayer:

Father, keep my motives pure and help me to stay on Your path.  Help me not to lean on my on understanding, but to follow You completely.  I simply want to hear, "well done good and faithful servant".  I want nothing to slow down what You have started in my life.  Keep me pure and loving all the days of my life.

Your Son,
Jeff

God's Judgment

Scripture:

Amos 8:11  "'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord'".

Observation:

God had been speaking through Amos about some of the terrible punishments coming on His people for their sins and for walking away from Him to serve other gods.  He was telling them of all the terrible things that were coming on them.  In the midst of all this judgment, he tells them that He would send a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.  God considers it terrible judgement for us not to hear the words of the Lord.

Application:

Hearing the words of the Lord is a privilege we have.  It is a great honor to have the word of the Lord that we can open at any time and read.  We must be people who take this honor seriously and delve into the word of God with all our hearts.  We never want a famine of hearing the words of the Lord in our lives.  God considers it a form of awful judgment for us not to hear the word of the Lord and we should view it the same.  We need to hear God's words.  His words are life!

Prayer:

Father, I want to hear the words of the Lord.  I want to hear your written word and I want to hear Your rhema word.  I want to know Your will on all things.  I want to follow You completely.  Teach me to feast on Your word daily.

Yours,
Jeff

God Uses Those Who Are Available

Scripture:

Amos 1:1  "The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa - the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jereboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel".

Observation:

The book of Amos was written as the Word of Lord to Israel and it's neighbors.  Amos is simply described here as one of the shepherds of Tekoa.  It doesn't say that he studied in the school of the prophets and that son of Elisha or something like that.  It simply says he was one of the shepherds of Israel.  His qualification... He heard from God.

Application:

Sometimes we feel like we need more and better training to do things for the Lord.  Training and education are never a bad thing, but the most important thing we can do in ministry is to learn to hear the word of the Lord.  We need to be trained to hear the voice of God above all other things.  When you can hear His voice, He can use a shepherd or anyone else to deliver his word.

Prayer:

Lord, thanks for reminding me this morning that you don't use the special, highly trained, sophisticated, but you simply look for one who will hear your voice and deliver your words accurately.  Help me to be that person who hears and knows the voice of the Lord.  I want to declare Your words accurately and to convey Your messages to Your people.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Make Every Effort

Scripture:

II Peter 3:14  "So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him".

Observation:

Peter tells us just before this about the wrath of God being poured out in the last days.  He then tells them to "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him".  He basically said that judgment was coming, therefore, you need to start living in such a way that you will be found blameless.

Application:

When we live our lives with a good view of the judgment, we will walk before the Lord spotless and blameless.  Our greatest desire should be to please our Lord and Savior.  We definitely are in the last days and must begin to live like Peter tells us to.  Grace should cause us to bring about good works and we should be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God.  If He came today, how would He find us?

Prayer:

Father, I want to live my life rapture ready.  I want to live looking forward to judgment day instead of terrorized by it.  I want to serve You well all the days of my life on this earth.  Help me to live a life that bring You glory and that will be at peace with You always.

Your Son,
Jeff

The Drift

Scripture:

Hosea 13:6  "When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me".

Observation:

God is talking to His people here who had drifted away from him and began serving other gods they were making with their own hands.  The Lord God Almighty had rescued them from Egypt with supernatural signs and wonders, fed them in the wilderness for forty years, and now they were serving other gods.  In this, the Lord describes what happened to them as a progression that it is easy for us all to fall into.

Application:

God shows us a progression that is easy to fall into and is how we drift away from him.  He says that he fed them and took care of their needs until they were satisfied, then when they were satisfied, they became proud and forgot God.  We must be cautious when God works on our behalf because we can become very satisfied and proud.  When we do this, we are starting on the drift of feeling we don't need God.  We must always remain humble and hungry before the Lord.  By doing that, we will never be satisfied and proud.  We must guard against the drift.

Prayer:

Father, bring me back to a place of absolute dependence upon You.  Help me to never be satisfied with where my life and ministry are.  Help me to stay hungry and humble before You.  I offer my life to You once again this morning.  Fill me and use me for Your glory.  I need You desperately.

Yours,
Jeff