Sitting in the Presence of God Weeping

 Scripture:

“Now the people went to Bethel and sat in the presence of God until evening, weeping loudly and bitterly.”  ‭‭Judges‬ ‭21‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

A terrible thing had happened in Israel and one of her tribes was almost completely wiped out by the other tribes because of an insidious incident. Even though Israel did what the Lord told them to do, they were upset because one of their tribes was almost completely wiped out and they didn’t want to see that happen. They did the right thing. They went to Bethel, where the ark of God was. They sat in the presence of God, weeping loudly and bitterly. 

Application:

Sometimes the hurt and pain is so deep, you don’t have words to say. At those points, we need to go to God and sit in His presence, weeping. We don’t need the proper words to say, we simply need to express our emotion to Him, then He will give His guidance and direction. He will save the day. There are times we need to just sit in the presence of God weeping and asking for direction. God is not opposed to this. He delights in a person who seek Him and His will for whatever the situation is. 

Prayer:

Father, I feel like I need some cry time in my life right now. I have been overloaded, tired, run down, and in need of rest. I feel like I get more rest than ever, but it does not refresh my body. Help me to finish this semester and to lead Your people well. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. I need You Lord. I long for Your presence and Your touch. Come and refresh my life I pray.

Your Son Forever,

Jeff

The God of Comebacks

 Scripture:

“But before long, his hair began to grow back.”   ‭‭Judges‬ ‭16‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Samson had sold out his source of strength to Delilah after several attempts to get it from him. He ended up giving in to her and telling her about his strength and she used it against him. The Philistines were then able to capture him and pluck his eyes out. The Bible doesn’t say, but I’m sure he started repenting quickly after the captured him, then this verse says, “before long, his har began to grow back.”

Application:

Even when we mess up in our walk and relationship with God, it doesn’t stop our destiny in Him. We need to quickly repent and turn back to doing His will, then we can expect our hair to start growing back. We can expect that God will restore us to full power. All it takes from us when we mess up is to acknowledge it, repent of it, and turn to God, then our spiritual hair will start growing again. Samson ended up killing more in his death than he did in his life. God hasn’t given up on us. The hair will grow back.

Prayer:

Father, You are good and Your mercy endures forever. You are faithful to Your promises and Your loving kindness is incredible. When I get off track, lead me back and restore me. Fill me with Your Spirit and let Your anointing be on my life. I love You Lord and want to finish all You have given me to do. Show me Your plans and I will follow. I also ask You for a fresh anointing on my life. I have felt stagnant fo a little while. Fill me once again and flow through my life once again.

Your Servant,

Jeff

Crying Out to the Lord

 Scripture:

“So God caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground at Lehi, and Samson was revived as he drank. Then he named that place “The Spring of the One Who Cried Out,” and it is still in Lehi to this day.”‭‭Judges‬ ‭15‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Samson had killed a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. He was tired and thirsty, but there was no water. He cried out to God and basically asked why He would deliver His people through Samson, then let him die of thirst. God caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground. Samson named the place, “The Spring of the One Who Cried Out.” 

Application:

Just as Samson cried out to the Lord in his day of trouble, there are times we must cry out to God to deliver us. There is something about the cries of God’s people that He responds to. Last night we studied Blind Bartimaus, who cried out to Jesus and was healed of blindness. God doesn’t have a problem with people crying out to Him, He seems to respond well to the cries of His people. We must learn to cry out to Him, not just complaining, but realizing He is able to save us. 

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are good and greatly to be praised. You are worthy of all my honor and praise. Teach me to cry out from the depths of my soul when things are not right. Teach me to respond to each situation in a way that You would honor. Show me how to respond in each situation. I cry out this morning for Cheryl’s complete healing. I cry out this morning for Josh’s complete salvation. I cry out this morning, knowing You are more than able.

Your Son,

Jeff

Stay Close to God

 Scripture:

“Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!”” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬

Observation:

In this passage, the Ammonites were persecuting the people of God and God’s people cried out to Him for help. His reply was devastating to His people. “I will not rescue you anymore. God and cry out to the gods you have chosen!” God was tired of rescuing His people and then they would turn and serve other gods. God wants to be the first and the last, and everything in between. 

Application:

God doesn’t want us to just run to Him when we have problems, but to walk with Him according to His ways every day of our lives. I want to live a life that pleases God and invokes His blessing, and not cause Him to say, “let your other gods rescue you.” I want to live with a hotline to heaven. I want to walk in touch with the Lord God Almighty every day of my life. I want Him to know He can trust me not to abandon Him.

Prayer:

Father, find me faithful to You and Your kingdom all the days of my life. Teach me to follow Your ways and walk Your paths. Help me not to lean on the arm of my flesh, but show me the way You would have me go each day. Show me the next steps I’m to take each day and give me strength to follow You well. I long to hear “well done” when I see You face to face.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Give God the Glory

Scripture:

“The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.”  ‭‭Judges‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God took Gideon’s army and dwindled it down to three hundred men. He told Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you…the Israelites will boast that they saved themselves by their own strength.” God wanted to make sure that Gideon’s army knew that it was not them or their power that rescued them, but it was the hand of the Lord. God gets more praise when the odds are strongly against you.

Application:

We like the odds in our favor, but God will sometimes allow us to face overwhelming circumstances so He can get the glory and we will not take it from Him. If we give God 100% of the glory all the time, we may not have to face so many difficulties. It is when we are going to take credit that God may start dwindling our army so He can receive the glory. We must always rely on the Lord and not ourselves. He is our strength. He is our redeemer. He is our victory.

Prayer:

Father, help me to lean more and more on You and not myself. Teach me to walk with You and not on my own understanding. Help me to live a life that is totally dependent on You at all times. Teach me to live by faith and trust You completely. You are good and worthy of my praise and worship. Help me to never take the credit that belongs to You. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Why Has All This Happened to Us?

 Scripture:

““Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.””  ‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The angel of the Lord came to Gideon and told him to arise and defeat the Midianites. He replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?” He was real. He didn’t shy away from telling the Lord how he felt and what he couldn’t understand. He felt abandoned by God, but that didn’t upset God. God still used him in his lack of faith.

Application:

Sometimes God asks us to do things that we can’t even understand because we haven’t seen Him do something like that before. Sometimes we may have heard stories of others, but it seems like God hasn’t come through for us. We must come to the Lord with sincere hearts and seek His face. When we feel Ike God has abandoned us… He hasn’t. He still has a plan. It is usually us who has messed up and walked away, not Him. He is faithful to His end of the covenant. 

Prayer:

Father, when I struggle to see You moving and working, help me to walk by faith and not by what I see. Help me to trust You in all things. Teach me to walk in Your ways and do what You want. Thank You for answering my cry on Saturday and showing that You are still God and You know exactly where I am. You are faithful. Help me to walk faithfully before You all the days of my life. You are good and Your mercy endures forever. 

Yours,

Jeff

He Healed Him

 Scripture:

“As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him.”  ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭28‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Paul was shipwrecked on an island, bitten by a snake, and then had a healing service. What intrigues me about this passage, along with others, is the words, “he healed him.” When Jesus sent out His disciples He told THEM to heal the sick. We always tell people, “I can’t heal anyone. It is the Lord who heals.” It is the  Lord who heals, but He has given us that ability to heal. As we read through the Bible, It seems we read more often that the apostles healed people. I know it is just the wording, and the Lord heals, but I wonder if we are reading it wrong.

Application:

Today, I am seeking the Lord on this topic. Does God fully give us the ability to heal when He gives us His Spirit? Do we have this treasure in earthen vessels? Do we have abilities we have not been operating in because we are afraid to say words like, “he healed him?” I long to see God work in and through His people at a greater level. Maybe some of that comes with understanding that there are certain things He expects us to do on His behalf. As for me, I will continue to wrestle with this thought and strongly desire God to heal, restore, and deliver through. My life. 

Prayer:

Lord, if I’m missing something, please let me know. Show me how to function as Your servant. I long to see the sick healed, the dead raised, and the oppressed delivered. Show me what I need to know to operate like the early apostles did. Teach me Your word and how to live by faith.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Calling and Assignment

 Scripture:

“to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’”  ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭26‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Paul was standing here before the highest level of authority and giving his testimony of what happened and why he was preaching about the resurrection of Christ. He told them that when he encountered Christ, he was told that he was sent to open their eyes so they could turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the power of God. Jesus told him that then they would receive forgiveness of sins and be given a place among God’s people. 

Application:

As with Paul, our mission remains the same, “to open people’s eyes so they can turn from darkness to light and from Satan’s kingdom to God’s kingdom. It is to give them a place among God’s people. We are called to fulfill the Great Commission. I want my life to count for Christ and to help turn people from darkness to light. I want to see more people’s lives transformed than ever before.

Prayer:

Father, help me to see You and hear Your voice as the Apostle Paul did. He was given his calling and assignment very clearly. I desire clarity in my life about the mission I am on. I need You to speak to me and show me what I need to be doing. Work in my life Lord to do Your will. I avail myself to You once again this morning. Teach me to hear and to follow. Help me to walk in wisdom.

Your Son,

Jeff

Knowing Him, Hearing Him, and Seeing Him

 Scripture:

““Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.”  ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭22‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

When God called Paul, He spoke through Ananias that Paul was “chosen to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.” What a calling! Paul was going to know God’s will, see Him, and hear Him speak. 

Application:

I long to have times with God where He reveals Himself to me more and more. I long to see His face and hear Him speak. I long to know God’s will in every area. These are things I have spent my life looking for and desiring. 

Prayer:

Lord God, I want to know Your voice, see Your face, and do what You desire me to do. I never want to be outside of Your will for my life. Help me to navigate well and remain in step with what You are doing in my life. I know that in Your will, every need is taken care of and Your kingdom is established. YOUR KINGDOM COME and YOUR WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE. 

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Powerful Effect

 Scripture:

“A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.”  ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Paul was preaching Jesus every day in the city and people were turning to Christ. It was causing an uproar among those who sold images of the gods in the region. They were losing their influence and their money. So many people got saved that millions of dollars worth of incantation books were burned. It says the Gospel spread widely and had a powerful effect.

Application:

I want the Gospel to spread widely and have a powerful effect in my region and wherever I minister. We have a big God who can do big things. He can turn cities around in a day. He can move mountains. Nothing is impossible for Him. I need to activate my faith and believe that God will allow His world to spread widely and have a powerful effect. I want to see the day of powerful effect once again. I long to see lives transformed powerfully into the image of Christ. 

Prayer:

Father, I long to see the powerful effect of Your Gospel. I long to see cities turned upside down. I long to see nations in revival. I long to see millions of dollars of demonic books being burned because they are of not use any more. Come Holy Spirit and work among us again. Pour out Your Spirit in my region. Move in power in my generation. Let the effects of the Good News be seen clearly by everyone around me.

Yours,

Jeff

Taking Someone Aside

 Scripture:

“When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.”  ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭18‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Apollos was preaching very passionately and effectively about what he knew. He was preaching John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly, they TOOK HIM ASIDE and explained the way of God even more accurately to him. God was using him, but he was off a little bit and they took him aside to explain with a little more detail and to straighten his thoughts out instead of just rebuking him and telling him not to speak.

Application:

They applied wisdom and understanding to their relationship with Apollos. Rather than simply telling him he was wrong and needed to be quiet, they took him aside and explained more about Christ and the Gospel to him. We must be very careful about quenching the gifts on people’s lives. Sometimes people need corrected and taken aside, but not squelched. Sometimes we have to correct wrong doctrine, but we don’t have to kick people out or remove them from what they are doing. If their heart is pure, and they will receive correction, we must fan the flames in them with the right information.

Prayer:

Father, help me to pour oil on the fire You have put in people’s lives, yet to take them aside when necessary to keep them going the right direction. Help me not to destroy people when correcting, but also not to be a pushover and let anything be taught under my watch. Teach me how to take people aside and bring some correction without destroying the people I am talking to.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Preach with Power

 Scripture:

“The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.” ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In the text, Paul and Barnabas are seen as preaching with such power that a great number of Jews and Greeks became believers. Power confirms the word of the Lord. Arguing doctrine usually doesn’t convince someone to follow Jesus, but when they sense power from on high, they know there is something different on this person. Power convinces stronger than a strong argument every time, yet the church world leans on our own understanding and wisdom instead of the power of God.

Application:

We need the power of God in our midst. People want something real, not a philosophy or a teaching. They want to SEE the power of God in action and experience it for themselves. I am still convinced that that preaching must be, not with words of man’s wisdom, but with demonstration of the Spirit’s power so that man’s faith will not be in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. I want to preach with POWER.

Prayer:

Father, empower my preaching and teaching with Your presence. Let Your Spirit fall and confirm what is being spoken. Help me not to do anything apart from You, but to speak what You are speaking and teach what You are teaching. I want to be align with You and Your plans above everything else. I don’t want to preach a powerless Gospel, but a powerful Gospel that can liberate the oppressed, heal the sick, raise the. Dead and cast out demons. You are powerful. Let my preaching be with Your Power and not my own intellect.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Prayers and Gifts

 Scripture:

“Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!” ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Cornelius was a Gentile who feared God and gave to the poor. He was a good man. He had an encounter with an angel, then with Peter, that changed his life forever. He was the first Gentile convert. When the angel showed up, Cornelius stared at him terrified. The angel said, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering.” God recognized his prayers and generosity as an offering.

Application:

God sees everything done in secret. He knows every time we pray. He knows every time we give to the poor. He knows every time we give or go on mission trips. He knows every time we pray and seek his face. He is also a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. We must learn to do private generosity and private prayer well, then it is rewarded openly. God looks for those He can trust.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are amazing. Thank You for receiving Cornelius and us Gentiles into Your fold. You see the hearts of me  and women, and You take care of Your own. Help me to serve You well in the big things and in the little things. Help me to be someone You can trust in every way to say or do what You want done. Show me what I need to do each day and teach me to follow You completely. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Stronger Through Fear of the Lord

 Scripture:

“The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.”  ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭9‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This passage tells something quite opposite than what we are accustomed to today. Today we focus on the love of God and good marketing strategies and business plans. Here, we see the church getting stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. It grew in numbers because of the encouragement of the Holy Spirit. 

Application:

The growth and strength of the early church was based in the fear of God and walking in the Holy Spirit and being encouraged by Him. I believe we have traded the fear of God for the love of God and walking in the Spirit to strong business models. We gather our leadership information from books by secular CEOs instead of from the Holy Spirit. We must get back to the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to fear You and to walk in the Spirit. Show me Your ways. Help me not to lean on my own understanding, but to submit myself to You in all things. Help me to hear Your voice and do what You are saying. I need You Lord and don’t want to do ministry FOR You, but WITH You. Teach me the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

Your Son,

Jeff

Healing and Deliverance

 Scripture:

“Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.”  ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The verse just before this says that people tried to get close to the apostles because, even the shadow of Peter was getting people healed and delivered. God was moving powerfully through His apostles. The result of God moving is always the sick being healed and the possessed being set free. God works through His people to bring freedom from the bondage of sin and oppression of the enemy.

Application:

God is a healing God. He has been healing from the beginning and delivering people from the power of Satan as well. As Christ’s body, healing and deliverance should be commonplace. These should be the natural result of when God is moving on people’s hearts. It is the New Testament experience and I don’t see where it was ever suppose to stop. The more signs we see, the more people will be convinced that Christ is the answer. 

Prayer:

Father, restore gifts of healing and deliverance to Your Church. Restore powerful demonstrations of Your Spirit in our midst. I don’t want man’s faith to be in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. I long to see Your power and for my generation to see the power of my God. Would You pour out Your Spirit and move in Your Church once again? Come Holy God and flow through Your people to bring healing and deliverance. I long to see a powerful church once again.

Your Son,

Jeff

Restoration of All Things

 Scripture:

“For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

When addressing the crowds, the apostles spoke about Jesus. Here it was said that Jesus would remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised through the prophets. I have never heard this used as a last days prophetic scripture, but it is. 

Application:

We don’t know exactly what the restoration of all things looks like, but we know that we are restored when we come to Christ. We know in the end there will be a new heavens and a new earth. Until then, we are to help restore people to God. In restoring people to God, we are doing what he told us to do. We have no idea when the restoration of all things will take place, but I do know that today I have the opportunity to restore someone I run into. 

Prayer:

Father, until the restoration of all things and we see Jesus face to face, let me be active in the ministry of restoration of souls and lives here on earth. Help me to be effective in reaching people for Christ and making disciples. Empower me to live out Your kingdom here on earth and to do all that You want for me to do. I don’t want to leave one thing undone in my life concerning You and Your will. Teach me to hear clearly and respond appropriately. Bless our missions conference this weekend. Use it to build Your church around the world.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Personal Experience

 Scripture:

“The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel.”  ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This verse has a powerful thought behind it. It tells us that the people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetimes of those who had seen Him work and personally experienced His mighty miracles. One of the most difficult things about Christianity is that each generation must have a move of God. Theology and good ideas don’t keep people following a religion, personal experience does. 

Application:

When someone personally encounters the Lord, their lives will be changed forever, but each person must have that encounter for themselves. You can’t pass on an experience. You can tell your kids about it, but they must experience it themselves. If it isn’t personal, it isn’t likely to be passed to the next generation. 

Prayer:

Father, let this generation see a true move of God. Let Word of Life be a place where people can have personal encounters with the risen Christ. Help me to serve You well in my generation. Thank You for so many incredible personal experiences with You. You have allowed me to see much, but my kids and their kids will need to see You work in the same ways. Pour out Your Spirit in this generation.

Your Son Forever,

Jeff

God Comes Through on His Promises

 Scripture:

“Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”  ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭21‬:‭45‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God promised to give the descendants of Israel their inheritance as they were leaving Egypt. 40 years later they entered the land and then they had years of fighting to gain the land, but in the end, “Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything e had spoken came true.” It took longer than they thought it would, but God’s promise came to pass exactly like He said it would.

Application:

When God says something, it will come to pass if we remain faithful. The people of Israel could have fulfilled this promise 40 year earlier, but they didn’t want to do it God’s way. When we try to do things on our own instead of the way God says to do them, we may delay things. Our job is to obey the Lord, and when we do, He ALWAYS comes though on His side of the promises. What He promises, He is able to perform. We must just stay in step with Him and walk in obedience.

Prayer:

Father, You are good and Your more cries are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness! You fulfill what You say You will do. Your promises are never left undone, but I see they are conditional according to my obedience as well. Help me to walk in obedience to You all the days of my life. Bless my life, my home, my family, the church I lead, and the region where I live. Let us see th goodness of God.

Yours Always,

Jeff

Even Though

 Scripture:

“The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.””  ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭17‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Joshua, in this passage, was helping the Israelites divide up the land they were conquering. They had been taking cities and regions for some time, yet they were not doing what the Lord told them to do in kicking out every enemy. They should have followed the Word of the Lord more carefully. Anyway, here Joshua tells some of his people to lear says much land as they wish and drive out the Canaanites, EVEN THOUGH they are strong and have iron chariots.

Application:

Sometimes God tells us to do things EVEN THOUGH it seems difficult or even impossible. If we only do what we think we can do, we will never take great steps for God. We must learn that God sometimes asks us to do what we don’t think we can do. EVEN THOUGH it looks insurmountable, God may be telling us to do it. EVEN THOUGH it seems unwise, God may be telling us to do it. God gets more glory when we realize we are not strong enough or good enough. 

Prayer:

Father, let me take the steps You have ordained for me EVEN THOUGH they may be difficult or seems impossible. Show me the way forward and help me to accomplish everything You desire for me in this day and hour. You are amazing and I love You with all my heart. Teach me to take faith steps EVEN THOUGH things may seem tough.

Your Son,

Jeff

Humility and Trust

 Scripture:

“As the Lord had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. And Joshua did as he was told, carefully obeying all the commands that the Lord had given to Moses.”  ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, we see that God spoke to Moses, who spoke to Joshua, and Joshua carefully obeyed the commands the Lord gave to Moses. It is one thing to hear from God and walk out His vision. It is another thing to trust that God spoke to your spiritual authority and when they die, you continue fulfilling what God spoke to them. Most of us would be saying, “That’s what God said to Moses, but what is He saying to me?” Joshua trusted Moses as a man of God and didn’t go away from what the Lord had spoken to Moses.

Application:

Walking in another person’s vision is not an easy thing to do. It is hard to remain passionate about finishing what another person started, and do it in the way they were told by God to do it. It takes great humility not to say, “Moses is dead, now I’m your leader and we are going to change the way we don things.” Humility and trust had been created while Joshua served Moses and he remained faithful to the call of God.

Prayer:

Father, I want to fulfill all You have for me on this earth. Help me to know what to do at all times and to submit to You completely in every area. I ask You to lead me and guide me. Show me when to step out and when to remain. Show me how to serve wit humility and graciousness. Teach me how to lead Your people and to impact lives for Your purposes. 

Your son,

Jeff

Always Consult the Lord

 Scripture:

“So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord.”  ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

As Joshua and God’s people entered the Promised Land, they started defeating everyone around them. The Gibeonites had a plan. They would act like they were from very far away and would make a peace agreement to serve the Israelites. They looked like they had traveled far, but they were from close by and lied about where they lived. Joshua made a covenant with them and had to honor his covenant. They should have been destroyed like every other town, but Joshua listened to the people instead of consulting the Lord.

Application:

We must learn to consult the Lord for every decision. Sometimes the enemy will lie, cheat and deceive to get us to make wrong decisions, affecting our relationship with the Lord. Rather than trusting our gut, or trusting people who could be lying to us, we must seek the Lord. He is truth. He will keep us from making wrong decisions. Some decisions that seem so natural, are set ups of the enemy. We must follow the voice of our shepherd.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, teach me to consult You before I do anything. I don’t want to fall for the enemy’s lies. I don’t want to fall for trying to help people and trying to do the wrong thing, only to find out I was doing what you didn’t want me to do. I want to serve You well and consult You on every decision. Make Your voice clear to me. Open doors and close doors in my life and let me be keenly aware which are from You and which are not. 

Your Son,

Jeff

God’s Ways

 Scripture:

“No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This is a beautiful text that doesn’t stand out as anything amazing, but it is really a powerful testimony to God’s provision for His people. For forty years, they had eaten manna every single day. God made huge amounts of it appear on the ground each day for forty years. This is an incredible miracle, not only because Mann came down from heaven, but because it fed 2-3 million people every day for forty years. When God’s people entered the Land of Promise, the manna immediately stopped and they ate the produce of the land. 

Application:

God can not only make manna appear, He can make it stop appearing on the day He chooses. After forty years of seeing it on the ground every day, it suddenly disappeared. God provided for His people in their time of need, but when they had the ability to produce themselves, He stopped his provision. They never starved, but God’s best for them was to have them work the fields and eat the produce of their work. We must realize there are times that God sustains us, and times when God expects us to sustain ourselves, with His blessing of course. 

Prayer:

My Father and My God, You have provided for me for many years. You have somehow helped me through every situation. Help me now to be wise with what You have blessed me with. Show me how to handle Your blessings. Teach me to be a good steward of what You have entrusted me with. Your provision for my life has been amazing. Help me to make right choices from this point forward. Bless my life, family, ministries, and the world around me. 

Your Son,

Jeff

God WITH Us

 Scripture:

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”” Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9

Observation:

As Joshua was assuming the leadership role after Moses, the Lord spoke to him and told him several times to be strong and courageous. He added that Joshua should not be afraid or discouraged because God was going to be WITH him wherever he went. 

Application:

The presence of God guarantees success. If God is with you, you will not be defeated. We must learn to seek God and desire Him over what He can provide for us. The promise, “I will be WITH you.” Is powerful. If God is WITH us, who can be against us. If God is WITH us, there is nothing to fear. His presence changes everything.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, I long for Your presence. Teach me to walk in Your presence. I want You WITH me more every day. I want to fulfill Your desires and do Your will. Help me to never fight my own battles, but to let You fight my battles while I focus on being with You.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Believing is Seeing

 Scripture:

“Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.””  ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jesus, in this passage, tells Thomas, who doubted until he saw Jesus personally, that those who don’t see Jesus, yet believe, are blessed. We don’t get to walk with Jesus and talk with Him as Thomas and the other disciples did. We don’t have Him to follow in the flesh. We must operate totally by faith, but we are blessed for it.

Application:

We are called to live a life of faith. We must believe what we cannot see. We are also blessed according to Jesus. We must see ourselves as blessed rather than wishing we could have been there and walked and talked with Him. We must learn to see faith as a source of blessing. It is easy to desire to SEE more and more in our Christian lives. I love to SEE God heal people, deliver people, etc. but believing without seeing is observed by Christ as something good, not bad. 

Prayer:

Father, I love to SEE You work.I love when You move into people’s hearts and lives are changed. I love to SEE You heal the sick and raise the dead. Help me to realize that I am blessed, whether I get to SEE things or not. I am blessed because I live by faith, not because I see God do things. Increase my faith. Help me to serve You better each day.

Yours,

Jeff

TAKE Heart IN Him

 Scripture:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””  ‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jesus had just finished speaking about going away and coming again. He also told them about sending the Holy Spirit while He was away to comfort them and empower them. He says here that He told them this so they could have peace IN Him. He continued to say that in this world they would have many trials and sorrows, but they should TAKE HEART because Jesus overcame the world.

Application:

First, I see here that Jesus said our peace was going to be found IN Him. He told us here that we can expect some trials and sorrows, but we should TAKE HEART because Jesus overcame the world. As we walk through difficulties on this earth, it is Christ who is our peace and we can take heart, or be strong, because He has overcome the world. Jesus is letting us know that when we rely on Him, we too will overcome the world. IN Him is everything we need to face the things in this world and have peace.

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk IN Christ at all times. I want to know You more and more. I long to walk with You through every situation that arises in my life. You are the source of my peace and my hope. Teach me to take heart because I can trust You over everything else. You are my Lord and my savior. You are also my best friend. Walk with me. Talk with me. Teach me.

Your Son,

Jeff

Servant AND Friend

 Scripture:

“I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”  ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jesus was about to leave this world and go back to His heavenly home. He is speaking some of His last words to His disciples, which are always important words. He told them that He no longer called them slaves, but friends, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. He said, “I have told you everything the Father told me.” 

Application:

While it is good and appropriate to say that we serve Jesus and are obedient and subservient to Him, He calls us friends. We walk the line between friendship, where He tells us everything on his heart, and servanthood, where we listen to and obey His commands.  I want to learn to walk this balance well. I long to know Him as friend who knows His voice and a servant who follows what he is told. I guess what I’m saying is I want to speak with Him as friend and serve Him as master.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to walk the balance between living in Your kingdom as a servant and living in Your kingdom as a friend of God. You have called me both and I want to serve You well in both. Let me hear your voice like a best friend and let me obey You as your finest servant. Teach me Your ways and let me always live a surrendered life to You.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

WHAT and HOW to Speak

 Scripture:

“I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭49‬-‭50‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jesus says here that He didn’t speak on His own authority, rather, The Father told Him what to say and how to say it. He then reiterated the point that He said whatever the Father told Him to say. Jesus didn’t just do whatever He wanted while He was on earth. He did what the Father told Him to do. He never asked the Father to bless His plans, rather, He worked out The Father’s plans and did whatever He said to do.

Application:

It says here that the Father told Jesus WHAT to say, but also HOW to say it. How we say things is often more important that what we say. We must be careful because it is easy to say the right things in the wrong way. I want to communicate what the Father wants, but also in the way He wants it communicated. 

Prayer:

Father, as always, I want to hear Your voice clearly. Open my ears that I may hear You and then let me communicate, not only WHAT You are speaking, but HOW You are speaking. Help me to represent You well. I want to speak on Your behalf, therefore, let me hear Your voice well and let me communicate HOW You want to speak. Show me, not only the what, but the HOW.

Yours Forever,

Jeff