False Representation

 Scripture:

“Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ even though the Lord never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies!” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭13‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬

Observation:

False predictions get God angry. These prophets were saying things that were not from God, then expecting Him to bring them to pass. They were saying that their messages were from the Lord when they were not. God hates being misrepresented!

Application:

When we speak on behalf of God, we must represent Him well. If we say, “Thus says the Lord,” we better have heard from the Lord clearly.. I want to accurately speak what God is speaking and to do that I need to hear His voice clearly and know His word deeply. 

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and I bless You this morning. Help me to represent You well and to speak what You are truly saying in my generation. Let my words be Your words and let me speak them with confidence and humility. Open my ears so I can hear You well. Help me to never say thus says the Lord unless I have really heard from You.

Yours,

Jeff‬

Turn Back to God

 Scripture:

““Have you seen this, son of man?” he asked. “Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger?” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭8‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking here through Ezekiel and He asks Ezekiel if he has seen the detestable sins of the people of Judah. The Lord tells Ezekiel that the people of Judah were thumbing their noses at Him and provoking His anger. They were leading the nation into violence through their sin. God hates sin and anything that separates Him from His people.

Application:

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach on any nation. When a nation turns away from God and serves other gods, the Almighty gets upset. He desires the nations to worship Him so He can bless them and walk in covenant with them. America was once a righteous nation that was supernaturally blessed by God. Today, our sins have become many and there is no respect for God anymore. We are in a dangerous place. We need a sweeping revival in this land.

Prayer:

Father, America, like Israel, was born for Your purposes. Our early founders dedicated this land to You and Your purposes in the earth. We have strayed away in every area. Bring us back to You O God. Turn us from our wicked ways and let America once again be the city on a hill You desired it to be. In our elections today, protect truth and righteousness. Let nothing happen that is not Your doing. Expose what needs exposed and let justice roll down like a river in this nation. Heal our land, that has sown so much into the Kingdom around the world.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Redemption in Punishment

 Scripture:

“I will crush them and make their cities desolate from the wilderness in the south to Riblah in the north. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel prophesied some really difficult things concerning God’s people and their coming destruction because of their disobedience to Him. Even in the really harsh language about what God was going to do to the people for their rebellion, you can hear His heart for all to be saved. He ends most hard predictions with “Then they will know that I am the Lord.” Even in punishment, the heart of God is that all would know Him.

Application:

God is a severe God at times, but He is a loving God who simply desires His people to walk in obedience so He can bless them and call them His own. His desire and covenant with us is powerful and beautiful, but we must hold up our end of the covenant. He wants to bless His people, but He needs us aligned with Him so He can do it and so the world can be saved.

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk with You daily and to hear Your voice clearly. Let my life bring You honor and praise. Help me to represent You well in my generation. Teach me to obey You in all things. Show me Your ways and I will follow Your paths. Empower me to bring more people into Your kingdom, “that they will know You are Lord.”

Forever Yours,

Jeff

My Life God’s Glory

Scripture:

“may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The author of Hebrews speaks a blessing over them at the conclusion of his letter. In that conclusion he demonstrates that it is God who equips us with all we need for doing His will. It is God who produces everything that is pleasing to Him through the power of Christ. Therefore, He gets the glory forever and ever. From the beginning to the end of our salvation, it is about God’s glory, not just our salvation. Our lives are to bring Him glory forever and ever.

Application:

My life for His glory should be my motto. We should do everything we do, not for our benefit, but for the glory of God. When we are trying to make our lives better, we struggle, when we are building God’s kingdom, He takes care of our needs and gives us what we need. We should live for the glory of God and not the comfort of ourselves. Salvation, though it is personal and wonderful for us, is really not about us, but about Him. We should live to honor Him.

Prayer:

Father, let me live my life for Your glory. Use my life to bring You honor and glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your name is praised in everything I do. I offer You my life this morning. Show me every step to take and every move to make. I am Yours and I want to live a life for Your glory and the advancement of Your kingdom.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Patient Endurance

 Scripture:

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬-‭36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Patient Endurance helps us continue to do God’s will. When we walk in patient endurance, we will receive all that He has promised. It is patient endurance that allows us to walk in the first part of this passage. We need to remember the rewards of serving God and not throw away our confident trust in the Lord. 

Application:

I’m not a halfway person. I want to live for the FULL reward of ALL God has promised. Therefore, I must not throw away my confident trust in God and I must remember the reward that comes from serving Him wholeheartedly. I also need to work on my patient endurance when things are not going the way I expected or believed for. I want a full reward for my work in the Lord. I need to keep my eyes on Him and trust completely that He will bring about His reward as I patiently endure, waiting for the breakthrough.

Prayer:

Father, I want to serve You well in my generation. I want my life to make a difference for those around me. Help me to patiently do what You have called me to do. Make Your way and Your will clear to me and give me the strength and courage to step out in faith and go for it! Until the vision comes to pass, give me patient endurance, but please speed up the process.

Yours Forever,

Jeff