God Blesses His People

Scripture:

“For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist understood that God blesses the righteous and surrounds them with favor like a shield.  The only conditional thing I see in this verse is that we must be righteous.  Fortunately, The righteousness of Jesus has been imparted into lives and God sees us as completely righteous because of His Son Jesus and not because of our works.

Application:

God does bless His people!  He does surround us with favor like a shield.  This would be the same shield or hedge that surrounded Job.  In order to walk in the promises of God, we must believe the promises of God.  We must believe first that we are righteous by the blood of Christ and not our own righteousness.  Second we must believe that God does bless His children and surround them with favor.  Do I really believe this verse and am I living like someone who is blessed by an all-powerful God or am I settling for a little blessing here and there?

Prayer:

Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to pay the price for my righteousness.  Thank You for favoring me and letting Your blessing rest on my life.  I am blessed and highly favored, not because of who I am, but because of Your great love.  Thank You for blessing my life.  Let me believe that You want to bless me and let me walk in your blessing and favor at greater levels.

Your Son,

Jeff

Humility and Forgiveness

Scripture:

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Paul tells the Colossians here that we should be merciful, walk in kindness, humility , meekness, long suffering, bearing with and forgiving each other.  He gave a double reference to forgiving and added, “as Christ forgave you”.  As God’s people, we are to walk in humility and be easy to get along with.  We should be quick to forgive and never see ourselves higher than others.  Humility and forgiveness are huge for us to work on.

Application:

I need to daily walk as Christ walked, in humility, forgiveness and kindness.  I want to take off the things of the world and put on Christ.  I want to live as He would live in 2020 as an example.  When people complain, we are to forgive them, not argue with them.  We are to bear with people instead of wanting to get rid of them.  Sometimes the hard way is the right way and the way Christ would want us to walk.

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk out this life with gentleness, humility, forgiveness, long suffering, etc.  Teach me to live like Christ and to put on His life instead of simply living out of my flesh.  Help me to represent You well in my generation.  Let me have the right heart in serving You.

Your Forever,

Jeff

Delivered

Scripture:

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Paul tells the Colossians that God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.  To be delivered means we are no longer under the power of that person.  We are no longer under the power of darkness.  We have been moved over to the kingdom of God.

Application:

At salvation, we were delivered from the hand of Satan and delivered into the hands of God.  Satan has no more authority in our lives.  He cannot control us, manipulate or intimidate us any more.  We have been conveyed into a new kingdom.  Satan’s power has been broken in us, therefore, we must never give excuses that we are under attack, etc.  We operate in the kingdom of God and He has all authority.  We must not live under the power of the enemy, but in the power of God.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, help me to realize that I have been conveyed into Your kingdom, therefore every potential for the enemy to touch my life has to come through Your will.  Help me to walk in confidence that You know best and that I have been delivered from the power of the Satan.  Help me to walk in Your authority and not be held back by my own thinking.

Your Son,

Jeff

Where Were You?

Scripture:

“Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭38:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

After Job had justified himself many, many times to his friends, God stepped onto the scene and began to talk to Job.  He told him to prepare himself like a man because He was about to questions Job.  God began with “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”  God began to speak on behalf of himself and told Job who he was, which made Job feel really small.  God has a way of showing us how frail we are without Him.

Application:

God is awesome and all powerful!  Our place is not to question Him and demand He do what we think He should do, but to find out His will and enforce it.  God can do whatever he wants to do.  He can do things that don’t make sense to us.  We cannot question God because we don’t always know what He is up to.  Humility before God is the best place to be.  I don’t ever want to be rebuked by God like Job was.

Prayer:

Father, You are incredible and there is none like You.  You are the one who created the heavens and the earth and you maintain all of them.  You are high above every other thing.  You are worthy of all glory, honor and praise.  Help me to live a life that bring You honor.  Teach me not to question You, but to submit to You in all things.

Your Son,

Jeff

God is Just and His Judgments are True

Scripture:

“As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭37:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Elihu is speaking to Job and his friends here concerning the LORD.  He expresses that God is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice and that He does not oppress.  He has a good perspective about who God is and how He works.  

Application:

God truly is excellent in power and He does not oppress through judgment and justice.  HIs justice is pure and powerful.  His judgement is perfect.  We must realize when things go wrong that God is a just god.  He will bring about justice and judgment.  Sometimes when we are hurt by others, we want to defend ourselves.  We need to let God defend us and let Him fight our battles because He is the only one who is truly just and He will judge.

Prayer:

Father, help me to keep my eyes on You.  You are just and Your judgments are accurate.  I want to trust You more and more and to not judge things on my own.  Teach me to let You fight my battles and defend my cause for You are just and the judge of the whole world.  

Your Son,

Jeff

Partiality and Flattery

Scripture:

“Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone; Nor let me flatter any man.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭32:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Elihu is speaking in this text.   He is the youngest on there and waited for wisdom to speak and for his elders to speak.  After hearing everyone share their thoughts about Job and his problems, he finally stood up to speak.  He said here that didn’t want to show partiality or flattery to any man.  He wanted to speak what God wanted and not what anyone else would want to hear.

Application:

We should be people who honor God above everyone and everything else.  We should never see one man above another or better in any way than another.  We should not be partial to any person because of who they are or what they do for us.  We must realize that we answer to God above all and we must follow Him first and foremost.  I don’t want to treat anyone differently because of who they are.  I want to learnt to respect all men equally, no matter what their background is because they were created in the image of God and not because they have been good to me in any way.

Prayer:

Father, help me to not to show partiality or flattery to any man.  Help me to not show favoritism to anyone, but to be true to You and what You have said to me.  Guard me from treating people differently because of who they are and to treat all the same because we are all created in God’s image.  Help me to live the life You want me to live.  As I preach a funeral today, help me to represent You well in every way and let me speak, not to flatter or show partiality, but to speak truth.

Your Son,

Jeff

Pass the Test

Scripture:

““Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭23:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Job is saying that wherever he goes, he can’t perceive God.  He can’t seem to see God no matter where he looked at the time, but he acknowledged that God knew exactly the way he went and declared that when this test was finished, he would come out as gold.  He understand that even when he couldn’t see God working, he knew God was working and that this was only a test which he was determined to pass.

Application:

Sometimes God does test his people.  Sometimes we go through times when we can’t see what He is is doing or discern where He is moving.  He could be working, but we can’t perceive it.  In times like these, we must realize this is not God’s judgment, but God’s testing pattern.  Sometimes He withdraws to see if we will seek Him.  Sometimes He withdraws to see if we will remain faithful.  We must be like Job and determine that when this test is over, we will be pure gold.

Prayer:

Father, help me pass every test and be more refined from the process.  Teach me to be able to discern what are tests, trials, and when I need to seek Your face more.  I want to pass the tests and come forth as gold in Your kingdom.  Increase my faith and my trust that, even when I can’t see it, You’re working.

Your Son,

Jeff

I Will See God

Scripture:

“And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,”

‭‭Job‬ ‭19:26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

At this point in the story of Job, everything he owned and all his family was taken from him.  He had been plagued with terrible sores and was stripped of every good thing he had ever possessed.  Even in this condition, he had confidence that when his skin was finally destroyed, he would see God.  He never questioned whether he was right with God and that he would see God.  He was willing to take both the good and the bad from God, but he knew in the end he would see God.

Application:

Sometimes in life when things are going really bad, we begin to question our relationship with God and if He really cares anymore.  We must learn to trust God in the good times and to trust Him in the bad times.  We cannot question our future with Him.  We are confident that we will see Him at the end of this life and nothing can take us out of His hand.  We can rest assured of our eternal hope because of Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die in our place.  Thank You for giving us Your word and showing us how to live.  You are amazing!  Thank You that You never leave us and never forsake us.  Thank You for giving us hope, even in bad and difficult times.  You are my strength, my source, and my salvation.  You are all I need.  

Yours,

Jeff

I Will Trust Him

Scripture:

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭13:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Job had seen everything he loved taken away from him and he was covered with boils from head to foot.  He had every right, in my eyes, to walk away from God and give up on Him.  Job didn’t do that.  He said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”  His determination was to serve God when things were good and when things were bad.  He wanted to do the right thing, even when he didn’t see God’s Hand of favor.

Application:

It is easy to get mad at God when things are not going our way.  It is easy to serve God when everything is going great and you have all the blessings He bestows, but when things start going really bad, will my commitment level remain the same?  I must learn to trust God in the good time and in the bad times.  I must trust that God knows best at all times and that I can trust Him completely.  He knows what I can handle and what I can’t.

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You when I don’t see You working in my life.  Help me to walk in faith when things are not going the way I wanted them to go.  Teach me to trust You more fully each day.  I want to follow You in the good times and in the bad times.  Help me to live a balanced life that can bless You when things are good and bless You when things are not so good.

Yours,

Jeff

God is All We Need

Scripture:

““With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭12:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Job is speaking here to his friends about God.  He says of the LORD, “with Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.”  Job goes on to describe God quite well.  Wisdom, strength, counsel and understanding all come from God.  

Application:

God is the author of wisdom, the provider of strength.  God is the one who gives counsel and understanding.  Often we feel like we are on our own in life and must follow our own wisdom and understanding.  We must learn that all wisdom, strength understanding and counsel come from God.  We must learn to look to Him above everything else and trust in Him.  He will guide us into all truth.  he will lead us into understanding.  He will give us wisdom when we ask.  Everything we need is found in Him!  We must pursue Him above everything else.

Prayer:

Father, open my ears to hear You and my eyes to see You.  Teach me to lean on You for strength and wisdom.  Show me the way forward.  Help me to hear from You during this season of difficulty in our world.  Show me how to lead each day through this pandemic and the tensions our nation is in.  Lead me Holy Spirit.  I am yours.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God’s Correction

Scripture:

““Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭5:17-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Job’s friend Eliphaz is speaking in this verse to Job and tells him that the person God corrects should be happy and not despise the chastening.  He tells him that the Lord bruises, but binds up.  He wounds and makes whole.  In Hebrews we are reminded not to despise the chastening of the Lord because it proves God loves us like a son.  

Application:

When we are reprimanded by the LORD, we should be happy because it means He loves us.  When we start getting off the right path and He punishes us, we should be pleased.  As a father disciplines the son he loves, so the LORD disciplines us when we start messing up.  Rather than run from the LORD during times like this, we must run to him and appreciate the fact that He loves us enough to keep us in line.

Prayer:

Father, when I need disciplined, correct me.  When I need to change, show me.  I open myself to Your correction, instruction and discipline.  I am your son and I want to represent You well in my generation.  help me to respond appropriately when things don’t go the way I want them to.  Teach me to walk this walk better each day.

Your Son,

Jeff

God’s Hedge

Scripture:

“Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

When Satan cam before the LORD and the LORD asked him about Job, Satan replied, “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the word of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”  Apparently, God had a hedge around Job’s life that Satan knew was there.  It brought protection and blessing.

Application:

I stand with Job, not matter what happens in my life, I will worship and honor the LORD my God, but I also desire the hedge of God’s protection and blessing on my life.  I long to see the day of good things and the blessing of the LORD.  I want to walk with God and be blessed and prosperous.  Job was upright and feared the LORD.  When I honor and fear the LORD, He will place a hedge around my life.  

Prayer:

Father, place Your hedge around my life, my family, the church You have given me, and the area I live.  Protect me from every evil assignment against me and let Your blessing overtake my life.  Make Your hedge evident to those around me.

Yours,

Jeff

Unity in Suffering

Scripture:

“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Paul opens his book to the Philippians by telling them about being in chains and how it has been a blessing to those around him and opened doors for the Gospel.  He is writing this from a prison cell and telling them to rejoice because they will be counted worthy to suffer for Christ.  In this text, he tells them to stand fast in one spirit and with one mind, striving for the faith of the Gospel.  His cry to a persecuted church was for them to be unified.

Application:

Unity is crucial in the body of Christ.  When we are unified, great things can happen.  Unity also allows us to go through difficult things together.  A unified people can ensure suffering because they know someone with with them and they are in this together.  When you are alone and suffering, it is extremely difficult.  God put us in a family so we won’t have to suffer alone, but that we may strive together for the Gospel.  We need each other and need to reach out to each other during good and difficult times.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to walk in unity with my brothers and sisters.  Help me to do everything I can to keep Your people together during the age we live in.  Unify Your Church and bring us together during this season of Covid 19.  Let me be a unifier in Your kingdom because I know we need each other to get through the days ahead.

Yours,

Jeff

Even the Enemy Knows God Takes Care of His Kids

Scripture:

“When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him.””

‭‭Esther‬ ‭6:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Zeresh, the wife of Haman, understood that if her husband was going up against a Jew that he would not prevail.  She understood that her husband had messed with the wrong person because she understood that God would take care of the Jews and fight on their behalf.  She basically gave her husband a death sentence in this passage because she knew that the God of heaven would take care of His own and defend them.

Application:

God still fights for His people.  The world should know once again not to mess with God’s children.  I want to see God arise and defend His children once again until the whole world knows that God doesn’t mess around when You try to do wrong to Him or His kids.  

Prayer:

Father, arise and defend Your Church.  Arise and defend Your people.  Arise and let the world know that those who serve You are blessed by Your protection and that You have a great protection detail.  Father, as this world comes into the season of the end, arise and show Yourself strong on behalf of those who love You.

Your Son,

Jeff

Preparation

Scripture:

“Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

When the king sent out a message to find the most beautiful women in the kingdom, they were to be prepared before they got to go before him.  Though they were beautiful, they had to go through a 12 month preparation process before they could go before the king.  We think preparations on the day of a wedding are extravagant, but this goes to a whole other level.  

Application:

Anything worth having in life is worth preparing for.  Preparations are usually not fun and they are generally tedious, but faithfulness in the season of preparation will get you where you need to get.  I personally hate preparation.  I would rather just go into battle and get to fighting, but there are always preparations in God.  We should always be upgrading and making ourselves better while waiting on the next thing God is preparing for us.

Prayer:

Father, help me to enjoy the preparation times in life.  Teach me to appreciate the process and not get frustrated during the preparation seasons.  I want to be all I can be and to be effective for You and Your kingdom.  Help me to prepare well.

Your Son,

Jeff

Keep the Unity

Scripture:

“with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Paul is telling the Ephesians to remain humble and gentle with each other in love.  He goes on to say that they should try to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Paul knew the importance of relationships in the Kingdom.  He knew that unity is crucial for any church to prosper and he told them to “endeavor” or “work” toward keeping unity.

Application:

Unity brings the commanded blessing of God.  Unity makes God’s people unstoppable.  The enemy hates a unified church, a unified home, a unified organization, etc. because where there is unity, great things will happen.  We must seek to walk in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We do this by remaining humble, gentle and demonstrating long suffering.

Prayer:

Father, help me to keep the unity and to walk in humility, yet confidence.  Teach me to lead Your people well and show me how to keep the peace and unity each day.  Empower me by Your Spirit to love like You love and to serve like You serve.  Show me how to balance authority and humility.

Your Son,

Jeff

Created for Good Works

Scripture:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Paul is telling the Ephesians here that we were created in Christ Jesus for good works and that God prepared the good works beforehand so that we could walk in them.  There are good works that our lives were specifically prepared for.  Our job is to find them and do them.  We must also allow the Holy Spirit to develop us into the people He is working on.  We are His project!

Application:

We must realize that we are a work in progress and allow God to continually work in our lives to bring about the person He wants us to be.  We also must realize that we are being formed for good works which God prepared ahead of time for us.  There is a purpose for our lives and we have been custom built to do them.  I must see the opportunities for good works around me and do them.  I also must allow myself to stay on the potters wheel and let God continue to prepare me for His will.

Prayer:

Father, let me be faithful to do the good works You have prepared for me to do.  Help me to see them and do them and to make the most of every opportunity.  Let my life continue to be worked on so I might fulfill Your will.  Increase in me I pray.

Yours,

Jeff

A Time to Rejoice

Scripture:

“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭12:43‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

When Nehemiah finished the task of building the wall and restoring Jerusalem, he held a celebration service in honor of the LORD and all He had done.  He assembled the priests and Levites to do their duties and offered sacrifices all day long.  God made the people rejoice with great joy!  Their joy was heard afar off from Jerusalem.

Application:

There is a time to rejoice in the LORD.  Paul said we should rejoice in the LORD always.  No matter what we are going through, we are to rejoice in what the LORD has already done for us.  We always have something to rejoice about because Christ has erased our sins.  I believe we should learn to celebrate what the LORD does more and more.  I want to build a culture of celebration in my home, my church and everywhere I go.

Prayer:

Father, help me to see what You are doing and celebrate it well.  I pray for the day when our celebration is so loud and strong that it is heard afar off like it was in Jerusalem.  Help me to celebrate when things are good and celebrate when things are bad.  Teach me to walk in faith and help me to celebrate the wins in life.

Your Son,

Jeff

Joy is our Strength

Scripture:

“Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.””

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭8:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Nehemiah and Ezra had just read the Law to the people of God who had been away from the LORD and been banished to captivity for 70 years.  When they read the Law, the people wept and mourned because they saw their error.  Nehemiah was smart enough to know that weeping and mourning when confronted with the word of the Lord is good, but that once we repent, joy is what strengthens us.  He told them not to sorrow but to have a party.

Application:

It is important that we remember that it is the joy of the LORD that is our strength.  We don’t get strength from being sorrowful, but from being joyful.  When we are confronted with our own issues, we must repent and turn to the LORD, but then we must not stay there.  We must then move into joy because joy gives us strength.  We must always go back to the place of joy. We must live from a place of joy and not sorrow.

Prayer:

Father, help me to repent when I need to repent and sorrow when I need to sorrow, but also help me to move back to the place of joy because joy is my strength.  Teach me how to return to my place of joy.  Help me to live a joy filled life instead of a solemn life.  Enable me to walk the balance between being sorrowful for things I’ve done and being filled with Your joy.

Your Son,

Jeff

A Faithful Man

Scripture:

“that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭7:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

When the wall was built, Nehemiah gave charge of Jerusalem to his brother Hanani, and Hananiah because he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.  Who did Nehemiah pick?  The one who had been faithful and feared God.  Leadership comes from faithfulness and fearing God.

Application:

Who should be empowered to lead?  Those who are faithful and who fear God.  When we fear God, we will always want to please Him and do the right things, not the convenient thing.  When we are faithful, we do the simple things continually.  Faithfulness is crucial in leadership.  Those who come in too quickly and want to lead are scary.  Those who are faithful in the simple things are the ones who should be raised up into leadership.  Those who fear God and want to do right by Him are also great candidates for leadership because they fear doing something wrong.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, help me to appoint the right leaders at the right times.  Help me to honor faithfulness and fearing God over charisma and anointing.  Enable me to live a life of faithfulness and fear of God so that I can be elevated to stronger levels of leadership.  Help me to lead well and live a faithful life in the fear of God.

Your Son,

Jeff

Work and Pray

Scripture:

“So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared. At the same time I also said to the people, “Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day.””

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4:21-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

When Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall, the people were tired, weary and had their enemies fighting against them at the same time.  Nehemiah had them work on the wall with all their heart, but they had to stay watch and guard the city by night.  They were working and the were praying during the rebuild time.  When we are doing God’s work, we must find the balance of work and prayer.  

Application:

It is easy to fall into being a hard worker for me.  I can get up and go to the office and execute a plan, but there are times when we need to be praying as much as we are working.  The early Apostles gave themselves to the word and prayer and delegated everything else.  I need to delegate more and spend more time in prayer and the word.  

Prayer:

Father, help me to find the balance of work and prayer in my life.  Teach me to take do both well.  Help me to pray until I have a plan to work and then work until the plan happens, while praying against any adversary while working on the plan.  Show me how to lead well and to hear from You daily.

Yours,

Jeff

Revive, Repair and Rebuild

Scripture:

“For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭9:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

The author here says that God did not forsake them in their bondage, but extended mercy to revive, repair and rebuild the house of God and a wall in Jerusalem.  God gave Judah favor from the King of Persia to come home and repair, rebuild and revive God’s people.  God can take slaves, who are slaves because if their own disobedience, and revive, repair and rebuild them into something beautiful.

Application:

God still revives, repairs and rebuilds people’s lives.  We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit in this time and sometimes we do wrong.  No matter what someone has done, God can still revive, repair and rebuild them into something beautiful.  We should never give up on people, not because of them, but because of our God.  He is faithful to work in people’s lives and continues long after we have usually given up on them.  God is challenging me to never give up on His people, but to pray for revival, repair, and rebuilding of broken lives.

Prayer:

Father, I long to see You work in the lives of Your people.  Would You move one more time in a great awakening in the United States.  Pour out Your Spirit once again on this nation.  Revive the church, repair what is broken and rebuild what is torn down.  Would You rebuild the lives of the people around me.  Use my life to bring restoration of broken people.  Help me to never give up on them, but to trust You over what my own mind may say about people.  We need You LORD in this nation!

Your Son,

Jeff

The Heart of the King

Scripture:

“And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the LORD made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭6:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

When God wanted His people to return and His Temple to be restored, He turned the hearts of kings to make it happen with excellence.  The king of Assyria actually strengthened the hands of the people returning to Judah to build the house of God.  When God wants to get something done, He will turn the heart of those in leadership to make it happen.  He Is the God of unlimited resources and He can speak to those who have the resources to take care of the project and bring it to completion.

Application:

The heart of kings is in the hands of the LORD.  God can turn the hearts of those who were against you when He wants to get something done for His kingdom.  The impossible becomes possible when God gets involved.  As the church I lead looks at a building that is way beyond our budget, God is showing me that He doesn’t look at budgets to plan His kingdom... He speaks to kings!  God will turn hearts and heads to accomplish His will.  We just need to be in His will.

Prayer:

Father, turn the hearts of kings, business people, and Your servants to help us build a great place for You and Your kingdom in our region.  The building we are currently looking at would be perfect in my mind, but we need vast resources and breakthroughs to make it happen.  Look favorably upon Your servant and let the good hand of God be upon my life.  Lead me each step of the way and let Your kingdom be established in my region.  Help me to walk in faith that You will work miracles on behalf of Your people.

Your Son,

Jeff

God Can use Anyone

Scripture:

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

This verse speaks about a time when the people of Israel and Judah had been in captivity and God decided to rebuild the Temple for worship and to bring His people back home.  I would normally think God would raise us a revolutionary leader who would fight for their freedom and lead them home, but here God speaks to Cyrus, a Persian king.  It says that the LORD God of heaven commanded him to build a house for the LORD in Jerusalem.

Application:

If God can speak to a Persian king and tell him to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem, He can speak to anyone.  God can use unlikely people.  he can turn situations around by giving a dream, a vision, or a word to someone we would not expect to hear from God.  When God wants something done, He can use anyone He wants to get His mission accomplished.  I should not judge “who” God decides to use for His purposes, but see Him working through whoever He chooses.

Prayer:

Father, forgive me for judging people as to whether they are worthy of building your kingdom.  You can use whoever You wish, however You wish.  I want to see Your Kingdom extended throughout the earth.  Use whoever is necessary to get the job done.  Your Kingdom come.  Your will be done.

Your Son,

Jeff

Never Give up on People

Scripture:

“But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.””

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

Paul was preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles while Peter was preaching to the Jews.  When they finally connected together, it was said of Paul, “He who formerly persecuted us now preached the faith he once tried to destroy.”  Paul was preaching the very faith he had formerly tried to destroy and punish.  If God can turn a murdered and a hater of the Gospel into a writer of 2/3 of the New Testament, then we should never give up on people.

Application:

The person who seems to be against us and is actually persecuting us, may be the very one God is going to raise up to be a preacher of the Good News.  The person everyone has given up on, may be the next Billy Graham.  We never know what God can do in a person when they finally come to Him, therefore, we must never give up on people.  They may not be serving Him yet, but nothing is impossible for God.  I can’t give up on those how haven’t yet turned to Christ, they may be the next Apostle Paul.  

Prayer:

Father, help me to never give up on You or on those You put in my path.  Help me to see potential in those who resist the worst.  Teach me to judge less and love more.  Help me to continue to love and serve, even when the person seems to be going farther and farther away.  Teach me to love like You love.

Yours,

Jeff

A Tender and Humble Heart

Scripture:

“because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, ” says the LORD.”

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭34:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

King Josiah found the book of the Law in the Temple and wept for the sins of his people and how they turned from their covenant with God.  When he read the prophets, he tore his clothes and wept in humility and brokenness.  The above verse says that because his heart was tender and he humbled himself before God, that God heard him.  God listens to those who humble themselves and repent of unrighteousness.

Application:

I want to have a tender and humble heart before the LORD my God.  Sometimes, when we cry out to God and He doesn’t do what we want Him to, we can slow our hearts to become hardened.  We can take pride in ourselves and feel we don’t need God any more.  I am always reminded that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.  We have been asking God to speak.  When He speaks, we must humble ourselves and do what He says.

Prayer:

Father, give me a pure heart and a humble heart.  When You speak about things in my life that need to change, help me to obey from a pure heart.  When You show me things, let my heart be soft and open to change.  Help me to live a life of simple obedience and humility before You and trust that You will take care of the details of my life. I am Yours.  Have Your way in my life.

Your Son,

Jeff

The Connection Between Prosperity and Seeking God

Scripture:

“And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.”

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭31:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

This passage is about King Hezekiah.  It says that in every work of the house of the LORD, His laws and His commands, Hezekiah sought the LORD and did it with all his heart.  After that, there is a simple statement, “so he prospered.”  God prospered Hezekiah in a big way because of his obedience to the LORD and his wholehearted service.

Application:

When I make my life about serving God wholeheartedly, God will prosper my life.  My job is to build God’s kingdom with all my heart and to serve Him well all the days of my life.  His place is to bless my life.  God is a covenant keeping God.  When I pursuit Him wholeheartedly, He blesses my life.  I desire to be fully obedient to the LORD in all that I do.  I want to live a prosperous life.

Prayer:

Father, I trust You.  You are faithful and You do what You say You are going to do.  Empower me to live above reproach and help me to seek You first all the days of my life.  Teach me to walk humbly before You.  I ask You to bless my life, my family, and the church I lead.  Let Your blessings be evident in everything I touch.  I want to do well what I do for You.

Your Son,

Jeff

Pride Is a Destroyer

Scripture:

“But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.”

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭26:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Observation:

King Uzziah was a great king and it record that he ruled for 52 years.  He had great success because his heart was faithful to the LORD.  At some point, he felt strong in the LORD and felt it would be okay to burn incense before the LORD in the temple, a job set apart for the priests.  This caused his destruction.  He seemed to be doing something very godly and his heart was right in wanting to sacrifice to the LORD, but he overstepped his boundaries and did the job of a priest.

Application:

We can never allow pride to make us think we can do things that God hasn’t called us to do.  Each person has his or her calling and place in the Kingdom.  God is a God of order and He has set certain things in place.  As long was we walk according to His ways and do things His way, we are going to be blessed.  When we overstep our place and think we are more than we are, we are in dangerous territory.  God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.  We are to think humbly of ourselves and always fear the LORD.

Prayer:

Father God, teach me to walk according to Yours ways.  Help me not to think I am higher than I am, but to walk humbly before You all the days of my life.  I want to walk in step with You and to do Your will in the earth in my life.  Help me to live out my days fulfilling Your purposes for my life and not trying to be someone who I am not.  

Yours,

Jeff