Hard Ground

 Scripture:

“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭10:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Hosea gives God’s people a word from the Lord in this passage. His entire life had been in illustration of Israel’s cheating on their relationship with God like an adulteress would cheat on her husband. Here he tells them it’s time to sow righteousness and reap love. He tells them to break up their hard ground and seek the Lord until He comes and gives them righteousness.

Application:

There comes a time when we have to seek the Lord afresh in our lives. There are seasons where we grow hardened and do what we want without really seeking Him. We must realize that we are living in the last days and that our walk with God is the most important thing in the world right now. We must be hearing His voice and living according to His will at this moment in history.

Prayer:

Father, break up any hard ground in me this morning. Let my heart and life be pliable and usable for Your kingdom. Heal my body, which is fighting because of something I ate on mission for You in Dominican Republic. Enable me to walk according to Your ways and to seek You now more than ever. Let me not grow content with where I am, but draw nearer to You each day.

Yours,

Jeff

God’s Love

 Scripture:

“The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Israel had walked away from the Lord and Hosea was demonstrating that through marrying a prostitute, who continued to cheat on him. In this passage, Hosea is told by the Lord to go and show love to the woman who had cheated on him as the Lord still loves the Israelites, even thought they continue to turn to other gods.

Application:

God loves His people. He continues to pursue us, even when we are straying away from Him. He always stands with open arms, waiting for His children to return home to Him. Even when we are unfaithful, He is faithful. He continues to search for ways to bring us back to Him. How much more should we want to be faithful to Him and walk according to His ways? We must return love with love.

Prayer:

Father, You love me with an everlasting love. Help me to love You back in the same way. May my life be lived in such a way that You can see my love for You and never have to doubt my love for You. Thank You for Your faithfulness, even when my faith struggles. You are amazing!

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Restored

 Scripture:

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

This scripture is so powerful! Peter tells us that we will go through some difficult times, but that God will restore us, make us strong, firm and steadfast. He also adds that it was God who called us to HIs eternal glory and even allowed the suffering.

Application:

When we go through trying times, we must realize we are living in the last days and there will be trials of all kinds in this season. What we must focus on is that fact that God will deliver us from them all. He will make us strong, not we ourselves. He will make us steadfast, not we ourselves. The Christian life is all about walking in step with the Holy Spirit and doing what He wants us to do. When we do that, God will step in and do His part.

Prayer:

Father, You are my strength when I am weak. You are the treasure that I seek.  You are my all in all! When I fall down, You pick me up. When I am dry, You fill my cup. Receive glory and honor from my life. I commit myself to You for Your purposes. Help me to walk in step with You and fulfill everything You have planned for my life. I am Yours,

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Greater Worth

 Scripture:

“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Peter tells us that our tests and trials prove the genuineness of our faith, that it is greater than gold and results in the praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Proven faith is tested faith. What is not tested, has no real value.

Application:

We have to walk through some difficult times once in a while as a believer. We must endure suffering as a good soldier and learn to have a right attitude when we are tried.  Trials don’t mean we have done something wrong, they simply mean we are being tested to see what level our faith is at. We must learn to walk in obedience to God at all times and when trial and tribulations come, we must see it as testing and not judgment.

Prayer:

Father, help me to see testing how You see it. Teach me to walk according to Your ways and to fulfill Your will for my life. Show me how to endure suffering well and to pass every test and trial that comes my way. I am Yours and offer You my complete life, the blessings, the tests, the trials, and the victories.  All are Yours my King.

Your Son,

Jeff

Wisdom and Leading People to Christ Makes us Shiny

 Scripture:

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."

Observation:

Daniel says here that people who are wise and who lead many to righteousness will shine like the heavens and like stars forever. We are called to be wise and to lead others to Christ.  When we do this, we are going to shine.

Application:

This works both directions, when we shine, people are attracted to us. When those people turn to righteousness, we shine more. It is like a circle of influence that grows larger and larger. Our place i to shine the love of Christ everywhere we go.  This is wise, and leading people to Christ should be a normal part of our lives. In both cases, we shine more.  We should be going from glory to glory, from shining to greater shining.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are good and Your mercy endures forever! Your faithfulness reaches the sky and Your love never ends. Thank You for working with us this week in the Dominican Republic. We have seen Your glory and Your goodness. Let those who came to Christ this week grow and develop.  Let Your kingdom extend here more and more with each passing day.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Supernatural Strength

 Scripture:

"Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. 'Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,' he said, 'Peace! Be strong now; be strong.' When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, 'Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.'"

Observation:

Daniel was weak after some spiritual encounters he had.  He said, just prior to this, that he felt very weak, with no strength, and that he could hardly breathe. God sent the angel who touched him and immediately he received peace and strength. 

Application:

When we have worked hard and ministered with all our heart, God can send an angel to give us strength, or He can do it without one. The point is that God is able to give us supernatural strength when we have become exhausted from spiritual work.  One moment in the presence of the Lord and we are rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to keep on going forward for the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, I feel weak and tired from this ministry trip I have been on this week in Dominican Republic. I need supernatural strength today. Fill me with Your power and strength.  Heal my voice, which is weak from preaching. Empower my body and bring Your supernatural strength to finish the race well. Touch my team today and give them all they need for Your purposes.

Forever Your Son,

Jeff

Exceptional Qualities

 Scripture:

"Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom." Daniel 6:3

Observation:

Daniel lived in Babylon and served under three kings. He was a captive who was taken into a foreign king's training program and became one of the king's wise men. Daniel excelled before the king and everyone else. Though he had to learn the language and wasn't in his own country, he had exceptional qualities that made him stand above the rest.

Application:

Excellence gets the attention of leaders. Daniel had an excellent spirit and did everything, even serving an ungodly king, with all his heart and did it extremely well. God wants to raise us up to the place of influence for His purposes, but He needs some of His people to rise up and live excellent lives that will influence others. We need to do everything we do with exceptional service and detail.

Prayer:

Father, help me to live an exceptional life. Teach me to walk before You in a way that is appropriate and that brings You glory and honor. Let my life be a life of obedience and excellence in every area. Help me to lead well the people You have entrusted to me. Make an impact on our team this week in the Dominican Republic.

Your Son,

Jeff

Let God’s River Flow

 Scripture:

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭47:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel had a vision of a river flowing from under the threshold of the Temple. It started small, but got deeper as it went away from the Temple. That river was to bring life wherever it goes. Along the river is what the above verse references, fruit trees that bear fruit every month. The fruit was food and the leaves were for healing. God’s river produces food and healing wherever it flows.

Application:

Jesus said we should have a river of living water flowing from our lives. We have the Spirit without measure and He wants to flow out of our lives like a river. The problem is, we don’t really believe that and walk in it. Our lives should produce fruit constantly and bring healing wherever we go because God’s river flows in and through our lives. I need to seek the Lord and ask Him to let His river of life flow through my life at greater and greater levels.

Prayer:

Lord God, Let Your river flow in my life. As I go to The Dominican Republic tomorrow, let Your river flow there in every service.  Bring healing, life, and freedom to everyone we come in contact with. Let Villa Verde never be the same. Let the children’s center we built there provide fruit for the community and healing as well. 

Yours,

Jeff

Moving Forward

 Scripture:

““ ‘When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed festivals, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭46:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel here tells us about worship at the Temple of God.  He basically says whatever entry you come in, you must go out the opposite entryway. If you came in the South Gate, you are to leave the north gate. 

Application:

When we come into God’s presence, we should never leave the same as when we came in. When we encounter the Lord, we should be transformed and leave the place different than when we came in. There may have been some practical application for this, but it makes a spiritual point. We must never leave church the same way we came. We should exit through a new gate, going to new places. You can’t experience God and go back to where you were.  There are new things God has for us, so we must keep on moving forward.

Prayer:

Father, I ask You to help me to never leave Your presence the same way I came into it. Change me. Modify me. Let me go to new territories and do new things instead of going backward. I like forward progress. Help me to lead others well into new places in You.  Teach me not to look back, but to always look forward and keep moving forward.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God’s Glory

 Scripture:

“and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭43:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel saw the glory of the God of Israel. He says of the Lord, “His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.” Similar language is used in the book of Revelation many, many years later. It is a powerful thing to see the glory of the Lord and how awesome God really is. 

Application:

God is worthy of the greatest glory and honor we can give Him. When we see Him as He is, our hearts are captivated by the sound of His voice and the radiance of His glory. God is worthy of us dedicating our lives completely to him. When we see Him in His glory, we realize how powerful He is and how He can take care of our greatest problems and issues with one word. We need to spend time gazing on His beauty and His glory.

Prayer:

Father, You are great and glorious. Help me to see You as You are. You are all-powerful and all-knowing. You know the end from the beginning and You know every step along the way. Help me to hear Your voice and see what You are doing. Help me to live a life that pleases You and bring You honor. You are truly worthy of my very best.

Your Son,

Jeff

Forget Your Shame

 Scripture:

“They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭39:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

God speaks through Ezekiel here about Israel’s return to their land after the season of deportation and exile. He says “they will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land.” He lets His people know that discipline lasts for a season, but that blessing will come again.

Application:

God’s heart is always for us to return to Him when we have strayed. He desires to bless us immensely, but we have to be in proper alignment with Him in order for it to happen. As we turn our hearts to Him in humility and obedience, He will always respond by taking away the shame of our disgrace and replacing it with blessing. God doesn’t get glory out of our shame.  Shame is used to bring us back to God, but is stops there. When we are walking with Him, shame disappears.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for always loving me and sharing Your word with me. Thank You for teaching me Your heart. You are faithful and don’t desire to punish anyone.  You simply desire for us to walk according to Your ways so You can then bless us and prosper us. Help me to listen to Your voice and respond at all times. Let me live a life that pleases You and builds Your kingdom. Bless our trip to Dominican Republic this week.  Let Your glory cover that nation.

Your Son,

Jeff

Heart Surgery

 Scripture:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36:26-27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

 In this passage, Ezekiel is speaking to Israel, who had been far from God and had been punished by God fro their disobedience. He tells them when they return to the Lord, He will give them a new heart and spirit. He will remove a hard heart and give them a heart of flesh that is pliable and moldable. He would go as far as to put His own Spirit within them to move them to follow His ways. God went to extremes to help us follow Him completely.

Application:

God did everything possible to give us the ability to live for Him. He paid the price of His own dear Son so that we could have His heart and His Spirit within us. We cannot live a life of disobedience to Him in any area. We must yield to this loving and faithful God who would go to great extremes to give us what we need in order to follow Him well.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are great and glorious! You are amazing and I honor You today. Help me to follow You completely and with my whole heart. You have made a way for me to serve You well and fulfill Your will.  Help me to yield to it and not resist God, but assist God in walking out Your will in my life.

I’m Yours Forever,

Jeff

God’s Desire and Our Commission

 Scripture:

“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭33:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

God says here through Ezekiel that He “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” God doesn’t like to judge or condemn people to destruction. He would much rather see them saved so He can bless them. He doesn’t get a thrill out of sending people to hell.  He would much rather they be saved.

Application:

Currently, God has chosen to work through His body, the Church. We must have His heart and desire what He desires. Our job is to speak on His behalf, “turn! Turn from your evil ways!” We have been commissioned to herald His message to the ends of the earth. We must proclaim the Lord and his heart until He comes again. We shouldn’t want anyone to ever go to hell because that’s not God’s will.  Therefore, we have to speak up and share His love for them.

Prayer:

Father, You are amazing.  I love Your heart for people and how you don’t take pleasure in the death of the wicked. I love that You have grace on those who turn to You. Help me to spread Your word long and far. Enable me to get Your message to the ends of the earth. You are valuable and don’t delight in anyone’s death. Fill me with that same Spirit.  Pour out Your Spirit in our revival services this weekend!

Your Son,

Jeff

God is in Charge of Who is in Charge

 Scripture:

“I will cause your hordes to fall by the swords of mighty men— the most ruthless of all nations. They will shatter the pride of Egypt, and all her hordes will be overthrown.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭32:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

In this part of Ezekiel, God was speaking through the prophet about the destruction He was going to send to all the nations that did not follow Him. He says that He will cause Egypt’s army “to fall by the swords of mighty men - the most ruthless of all nations. They will shatter the pride of Egypt.” God sends a word to Egypt that they are going to be destroyed by a ruthless nation, and it was His doing.

Application:

I recently watched a video series called, “Thriving in Babylon.” It is based on the story of Daniel thriving in Babylon, even when it was a very ungodly culture.  In this series, the speaker said, “God is in charge of who is in charge.” God can use whoever He wants to bring about His purposes and will sometimes use a ruthless, pagan nation to do His work. God uses the ungodly sometimes to accomplish His will, but He is still in charge. We must learn to submit ourselves to Him and serve Him with all our heart. We also need to learn to trust Him completely because He can overthrow any government or people group.  He is all-powerful!

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and I love You more every day. Help me to realize that You are in charge of who is in charge. Teach me to trust Your workings in the earth. Right now the world has been in a pretty cray season. Help me to know confidently that You are in charge of who is in charge. Have Your way in the nations, but protect Your people. Let us turn to You more and more each day and be cleansed from our unrighteousness.

Yours,

Jeff

Restoration

 Scripture:

““ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’ ”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭28:25-26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

God has been speaking through Ezekiel concerning the different nations He was going to punish an dhow He was going to destroy them. Here, the Lord speaks of gathering Israel from where He scattered them and blessing them. He says He will then punish their neighbors, but His people will live in peace and blessing. There was a time for their judgment, but God always has a time for restoration.

Application:

God disciplines His children, but He is always focused more on their restoration than their punishment. His goal is always the same, “Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.” God wants us to be completely His and to live as He plans and desires us to live. When we walk in His ways, we are blessed in every way.  When we do our own thing, He will bring discipline us, but always with restoration in mind. He is the God of restoration. When we are going through difficult times, we can always look to God for restoration.

Prayer:

Father, You are good and I love You with all my heart. You are my strength and my deliverer. You are my shield and defense. You are the one who restores me when I mess up. Thank You for never giving up on me. Let me live more like You desire today and throughout my life. Let my life reflect Your glory and make You look good instead of bad.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

The Time Has Come

 Scripture:

““ ‘I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭24:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, God is speaking to Jerusalem and Judah about the sins they have been committing for a very long time.  They had walked away from God and were following idols made by their own hands. They were serving the gods of the other countries around them, but had broken their covenant with the living God. The Lord speaks and says, “The time has come for me to act.” 

Application:

There is a time God gives His people to repent and turn to Him. His heart is always to bring about repentance when we get off track, but there is also a limit. There is always a time in God. Here, we see a time for judgment. Sometimes we see a time for restoration, but God always has a timing. We must seek the Lord and follow Him closely so we can know the times and season God is working in. 

Prayer:

Father, I want to know Your voice and see what You are doing in the earth. You have a plan and there is always a time involved.  Help me to know the timings of God. Show me things to come and help me to discern what You are doing in our nation and around the world. I know there are set times for certain things. Reveal more and more to me. I want to know Your timing.

Yours,

Jeff

Gap Standers

 Scripture:

““I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭22:30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel was prophesying about the destruction of Jerusalem and Samaria because they had known God, but turned toward the idols of the people of the land they dwelt in. Ezekiel called them prostitutes who had  given themselves to idols, etc. In this verse, we see that God looked for someone among them who would stand in the gap and build up the wall, but He found no one.

Application:

When God looks to destroy a city, a nation, etc. because of their sins, He looks for someone who is building a wall and standing in the gap. If He finds someone, He won’t destroy the place. Sometimes He will remove that person and then allow His judgment to fall. The job of the intercessor or prayer warrior is to stand in the gap, knowing that our nation has sinned terribly against God. We are called to build a wall and stop the hand of God from bringing judgment. 

Prayer:

Lord, I know the US has many, many intercessors who haven’t bent the knee or bowed the head to the ways of this world. We are a messed up country, but there is still a remnant who have not turned to the enemy and who are crying out to You day and night. Hear our prayers from heaven and rend the heavens and come down. Come down in all Your power and might. Come down and rescue Your people. Save souls. Move is power my God. Bring an awakening to this nation.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Repent and Live

 Scripture:

“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18:32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking through Ezekiel and tells His people that He is gong to punish them for their disobedience and their following the practices of other gods. He speaks judgment, then you hear His heart. This comes through every time you hear the Lord speak of His judgment. He doesn’t take pleasure in disciplining His people.  He would rather we just repent and live, but He will do what it takes to get us in right position with Him.

Application:

God is not a mean God who takes pleasure in hurting people or disciplining them. I know as a father I hated disciplining my sons.  I would rather they just live right and me not have to go there, but I knew it would help them if I disciplined them.  My desire to help them be better was stronger than my desire to feel good. Therefore, I disciplined them. God would rather not bring discipline into our lives, but will do it to keep us on track. 

Prayer:

Father, You are good and Your mercy endures forever! You are amazing and I love You with all my heart. This week we have revival services in the church. Pour out Your Spirit. Let people come to Christ. Let bodies be healed. Let people be filled with Your Spirit. Come Holy Spirit and Rend the Heavens. Let Your presence be upon us this weekend.

Your Son,

Jeff

Recapture Hearts

 Scripture:

“I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.’”‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭14:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Israel had turned strongly against the Lord and His covenant. They had prostituted do themselves with other gods and had sinned greatly, to the point of sacrificing their own children to these other gods. God is talking here about His punishment for them, but even in that He says, “I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel.” God is always about bringing His people home to Him.

Application:

God will go to great lengths as seen in Ezekiel and Jeremiah, to turn His people back to Him. He will use whatever is necessary to get hearts to turn back to Him. His purpose, though, is never just to punish His people, but to draw them back into relationship with Him so He can bless them once again. God acts to capture our hearts. We need to respond when He captures our hearts. We need to return to Him with all our hearts when He moves in our lives.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, help me to be the person You want me to be. You are incredible! Let me hear the whisper of Your voice and let Your hand be upon my life for Your purposes. Help me to represent Your heart to this around me by seeking all ways to bring them back to You.

Yours,

Jeff

An Undivided Heart and a New Spirit

 Scripture:

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭11:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

God says here that He will give His people an undivided heart and a new spirit.  He says He will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. He longs for a people who will be completely His, not for pride purposes, but because He wants to bless them and show them the benefits of serving Him.

Application:

When Jesus died, this heart was made possible in His death and resurrection.  We can now live out this verse by the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to ask God to give us an undivided heart and a new spirit.  I want my heart to be pliable and flexible to become all God wants me to be.

Prayer:

Father, I give You my heart. Cleanse it. Make it new. Help me to walk with You in deeper levels. Teach me Your word and help me to live it out each day. I want to know You in the fellowship of your suffering and the power of Your resurrection.

Your Son,

Jeff

Prophetic God Encounters

 Scripture:

“In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on me there.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭8:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel records here about an encounter he had with the Lord. He was in his house with the elders of Judah and the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on him there. The Lord began to show him things to come and judgments that would come on Israel and Judah.  I love the words, “the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on me there.”

Application:

I desperately want “the hand of the Sovereign Lord” to come on my life. I love prophetic God encounters and I know I’m not suppose to seek signs and wonders or encounters, but I love when God shows up strong in my life in a very personal way. I love those times in His presence when He overwhelms me with His goodness and His power. I want to know Him, walk with Him, work for Him, and flow with Him at all times. 

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, I long for Your presence and power to com upon my life in greater dimensions. I love those times when Your Spirit has come upon me in the past and showed me things. I open my life to You completely Lord. Come and speak to me for Your servant is listening. Show me things to come. Show me what needs to happen in each situation. Show me Your glory. You are incredible and I love to encounter You.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Then They Will Know

 Scripture:

“The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards I will judge them. “ ‘Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭7:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Israel had sinned terribly and forsaken their covenant with the Lord. They had walked away from Him and His ways to do their own thing. Just prior to this verse, God was explaining how terrible it was going to be for them because they had walked away from Him.  At the very end of a series of awful judgments you hear the heart of God, “Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Application:

Throughout the entirety of Scripture I see one overarching theme. God wants to be our God and He wants us to be His people. He wants the world to know He is God and will do anything, including sending His own Son to die on behalf of the world so they will know He is the Lord. He will execute judgment, so that they will know that I am God. His heart is for us to know Him, not to punish us for disobedience. He wants us to know and fear Him.

Prayer:

Father, may You never have to bring judgment into my life so I will know You are God. Help me to always walk in step with You and honor You at all times.  Guide me today and allow me to represent You well. Live big in me Lord and help me to fulfill Your will in the earth.  Help me to multiply what You have put in my hand.

Your Son,

Jeff

The Heavens Were Opened

 Scripture:

“In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

The book of Ezekiel starts out with an introduction of Ezekiel and he tells his story. He was among the exiles by the river when the heavens were opened and he saw visions of God. Wow! What a way to open a book of prophetic words to a nation far from God. I would love to know in more detail, what he saw and what open heavens look like.

Application:

We are having revival services next week entitled, “Rend the Heavens” where we are asking God to rip the heavens open and come down in power and great might. We are crying out for the presence of God to come in greater levels to heal our land. Great things happen when the heavens are opened and we want them open in our region. We are starting with three days of fasting to “Rend our Hearts.”

Prayer:

Father, rend the heavens and come down. Speak to us as friend with friend. I long to encounter You once again. I long for Your presence and Your power to flow strongly in our gatherings.  Help me to walk with You and to obey Your voice at all times. Let me be more sensitive to Your Spirit and fulfill all You have for me, for my family, and for the church we are blessed to lead.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Obedience When I Don’t Know Where I’m Going

 Scripture:

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Hebrews‬ ‭11:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Abraham was asked by God to go to a place He would show him. He picked up his family and started heading to a place he knew nothing about and didn’t even know where it was. All he knew was that God would show him. This is faith. No wonder he is called the father of faith.

Application:

My question today is, “Will I obey the Lord when His commands are fuzzy and unclear? Will I follow the Lord when He doesn’t give me all the details? I want to say yes, but I know I sometimes wait for the details before heading off to a place I know nothing about. I want to truly be a person of faith and obedience.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, help me to follow You well, as Abraham did. Teach me to trust You, even when You don’t give me all the details. Enable me to follow You closely and to do what You say, whether I agree or not. Help me to live in step with You and Your will for my life.

Yours,

Jeff

Hold Unswervingly

 Scripture:

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

The author of Hebrews has been talking about Jesus sacrifice cleansing the heavenly temple and that He paid the price once and for all of sin. Then he speaks the words, “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Because of all He has done for us, we should hold unswervingly to our hope

Application:

We must not swerve from the hope we have because Jesus is faithful. When we are faithless, He is faithful.  When we are hopeless, He is faithful. He is faithful, no matter what we are going through. Rather than run away from God when troubles come, we should run to Him and hold onto Him for our lives, literally.

Prayer:

Jesus, You paid the price to make a way for us.  You paid for our sins and were sacrificed on our behalf. How could I not trust You? How could I not serve You with my whole heart? You are incredible and You cleansed the heavenly temple so we could enter with Your own blood. Help me to hold unswervingly to You and Your sacrifice.

Yours Forever,

Jeff