Faith That Jesus Would Commend

 Scripture:

“I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭40‬-‭41‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

A man brought his son, who was demonized, to Jesus’ disciples but they were not able to cast the devil out of him. The above verse describes His reaction. Jesus responded to the fact that His disciples couldn’t cast out a devil by saying they were an unbelieving and perverse generation. He went on to ask how long He was going to have to put up with them. The bot came to Jesus and was immediately set free. 

Application:

Sometimes it’s good to ponder what it would be like if Jesus walked with us today. I wonder how many times He would have to call me an unbelieving and perverse generation. I wonder if what I am doing would be commended by Him as appropriate or would He think I lacked faith. I want to live a life of faith and to do what Jesus would do on this earth. I don’t want any demons hanging around that Jesus would want gone. I walk to walk in step with the Spirit and live a life of faith.

Prayer:

Father, help me to live a life You would be happy with. Increase my faith. Help me to walk in such a way that You would be honored and blessed. Teach me to do what You would do in every circumstance. Lead me daily into Your will for my life. 

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Lord Lord - Obedience

Scripture:

““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭46‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

Observation:

Jesus asks a powerful question in this passage. He asks why people call Him Lord, Lord, but do not do what He says. He goes on to demonstrate that a house built on a strong foundation will remain strong during a violent storm and flood. Building on the solid foundation, according to Jesus, is doing what he says. Obedience brings God’s blessing and gives you a solid foundation.

Application:

We need to be cautious about calling Jesus our LORD if we are not going to do what he says. The term LORD implies that we obey whoever the Lord is. Just the word itself tells us we need to walk in submission to Him. We must learn to live submitted lives and obedient lives in the Kingdom. Our job is to do what He says if we are going to call Him Lord.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to serve You well in my generation. I long for Your presence and I want to live a life You can bless. I want to see Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help me to walk in submission to You and Your will all the days of my life. Show me how to walk with You and to live according to Your ways. I want a strong foundation. Lead me and show me what to do each and every day!

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Light and Glory

 Scripture:

“a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Simeon had been serving the Lord God Almighty for many years. He had been told by the Lord that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah. When he saw Jesus, he knew he had seen the Messiah. He said these words about Jesus, “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” This is how Jesus was introduced to the planet by a great man of God. 

Application:

As a Gentile, two-thousand years later, I can say that Simeon’s word was extremely accurate, Jesus has brought incredible light to the gentiles and is the glory of Israel to those gentiles especially. Israel didn’t receive Christ when He came the first time, but they will in the future. The gentiles have received this incredible revelation and we see Jesus as the glory of Israel. Although His own still don’t realize it, He is the glory of Israel and is the reason the whole world watches Israel. Sometimes in life, those closest to us won’t see who we were until much later. That’s okay, we are more like Christ when that happens.

Prayer:

Father, You sent Your Son into this world and Your own people didn’t realize it. You then allowed us Gentiles to be graphed into your tree. You have lit our world. Let Your people see and realize that Jesus is the glory of Your people Israel. Let my life be used to bring revelation to the Gentiles and for the world to see Your glory through Jesus. Use my life to extend Your Kingdom.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

God’s Favor When We Obey

 Scripture:

““ ‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭26‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

God is telling the people of Israel here that when they do what He asks them to do, He will look with favor on them and make them fruitful. He tells them He will keep His covenant with them. God blesses those who are in covenant with Him. He makes some powerful promises to His people who are walking according to His ways. 

Application:

God is a God of fruitfulness, multiplication, and blessing. He loves to bless His people with overflow. He makes covenant’s with His people and tells them that if they will live as He says, He will bless them, prosper them, make them victorious over their enemies, and will multiply them. As I always say, when we do things God’s way, we get God’s results. I want to align my life with the word of God and walk in His promises.

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk in Your will at all times. Teach me to live as You desire and not just according to what is comfortable to me. Show me how to live a life that pleases You and let Your blessing of fruitfulness surround my life. May Your favor rest on my, my family, my church, and my region. 

Love,

Jeff

Memorials

 Scripture:

“Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’ ”” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭23‬:‭42‬-‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Memorials are items that are set up to help us remember certain things. God used memorials quite often with His people so they would remember how He worked with them. In this passage, God told His people that once per year they were to live in temporary shelters for seven days to remind them of living in tents for forty years as God provided for them in the wilderness when He brought them out of Egypt. 

Application:

We don’t worship memorials or worship at memorials, but they are good reminders of what the Lord has done in the past. There are times when we need to have reminders of God’s provision in our lives. It demonstrates to our children and reminds us of God’s faithfulness. We are to remember what the Lord has done for us. Memorials bring back good memories and show others what the Lord has done. Cheryl and I have been talking about making a special place for our mom’s Bibles. They are filled with incredible prayers, and thoughts about their children and we want to honor that in some way and set them as a reminder of what God did in their lives as they followed Him.

Prayer:

Lord, show me how to use memorials that honor You and what You have done in my life without becoming idols in any way. Help me to use wisdom in doing things to remember, but not to live in the past. Show me the balance of remembering the past, living in the present, and preparing for the future. Lead me each step of the way as I endeavor to honor You.

Yours,

Jeff

Different

 Scripture:

“You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭18‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

God’s people were meant to be different than the rest of the world. God spoke clearly here to His people and told them not to do what the Egyptians did, nor what the Canaanites do. He told His people that they were not to live like the people around them. They were to be different. 

Application:

Something in our human makeup always wants to be like the people around us. We don’t like to stand out in a crowd. We tend to like people to like us and so we try to be like the people around us. God’s people were not meant to be like everyone else. We were made to be different. We should not copy the patterns and behaviors of the world. We are to be set apart and different in every way. We must learn what it means to come out from among the and be separate. I believe much of why we don’t see God working stronger in our lives is because we don’t do things God’s way.

Prayer:

Father, help me to live a life that pleases You. Help. Me not to be concerned with what people think about me, but with what You think about me. Teach me Your ways and let my life reflect them accurately. I don’t want to serve the gods of this world in any way. I want to be completely Yours. sanctify my life as I pursue You each day. Give me strength to stand out from the crows and live differently than those around me.

Your Son,

Jeff

Clean Vessels

 Scripture:

““ ‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’ ”” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭15‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

These three chapters have been one law after another about when things are considered unclean. It included everything from houses, to beds, to clothes, to people, etc. In this verse, God tells why He had them deal with unclean things so scrupulously. He didn’t want them to die in their uncleanness for defiling His dwelling place among them. God doesn’t take well to those who defile His dwelling place. 

Application:

We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit and the dwelling place of God Almighty. Our bodies are His temple. From the OT we can see how serious God was, and is, about anything that defiles Him. As believers, we should offer our lives as holy, separated, sanctified, vessels for God to work in and through. He works through clean vessels and we must offer Him ourselves as cleansed and pure. We need to get rid of anything He is not pleased with.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to walk with You daily. Let my life be a vessel You can work through. Sanctify me. Purify me. Let me be set apart for Your service. Let my life bring You praise. Empower me to live a life that You can bless. Teach me to live in such a way that I host Your presence well.

Sincerely Yours,

Jeff

Unauthorized Fire

 Scripture:

“Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬

Observation:

In this passage we see that Aaron’s sons offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which was against His command. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and killed them. God was demonstrating that even a good thing done in a wrong way is not good. God has a way of doing things and He wants us to walk in His ways. When we live according to His commands, we will be blessed beyond measure. When we do what we feel is right and acceptable, we will not see His blessing.

Application:

We must do God’s things God’s way. We can’t simply do what seems right to us. We must honor the Lord by doing what He says to do in the way He says to do it. There are many good things that are not God things. There are many things we can do as a church that are good, but not what God wants us to do. I want to walk in step with Holy Spirit and walk in ways that He can bless and prosper.

Prayer:

Father, You are amazing! Help me to lead Your people well. Help me to offer only the fire You want and nothing else. Help me to build a church Your way and not in ways that seem right to man. Help me to honor You in everything I do. Be glorified in my life. Help me not to offer unauthorized fire on Your altar. Lead me on and help me to follow.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God’s Will, God’s Glory

 Scripture:

“Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

After Moses received the instructions about all of the offerings for the priests and the Tabernacle, he followed them closely. When it was all ready, exactly as the LORD said to do it, Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, came out, blessed the people and the glory of the Lord appeared to ALL the people. God’s way of saying, “you did everything I asked and fulfilled my desires,” was to let all the people see His glory. 

Application:

When we do things God’s way, we get God’s results. God’s way of saying everything was done correctly according to what He had spoken was to let the people see His glory. When we follow God’s patterns, we can expect His glory. Moses and Aaron were extremely diligent to do exactly what the Lord had told them to do. They implemented everything precisely as the Lord had told them, then God’s glory came for the people to see. Many times in church leadership, we do what we think is best instead of seeking the Lord, then we expect His glory. His glory falls on obedience, not smart organizational leadership and marketing strategies. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to know exactly what You want me to do each and every day. Help me to do what You say, and not what others think. Teach me to implement Your desires and not just what makes sense to me. I want to follow You well, but I need clear direction. Show me what to do each day, then empower me to do it. I am Yours.

Forever,

Jeff

Keep the Fire Burning

 Scripture:

“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

This verse, and others, speak of the fire on the altar in the Tabernacle. The priests were not to ever let the fire go out. It was always to be burning. They had to carry out the ashes daily and bring new firewood, but they were not allowed to let the fire go out. God started the fire, but the priests had to take part in keeping the fire burning. 

Application:

These type verses always speak to me about my walk with God. God started a fire inside of me many years ago when He saved me, but I have to upkeep the fire. I have to spend time with Him daily in prayer and in His word to keep the fire burning. God initiates the fire, then we have to maintain the fire as believers. I want to live on fire for God. There are times when the fire is higher and hotter. There are times when the fire is more like embers and coals. The difference really isn’t in God, it is in how much wood am I putting on the fire. 

Prayer:

Father, don’t let my love grow cold. Let Your holy fire burn in me. Help me to always keep fresh wood on the fire of our relationship. Walk with me every day and let my heart burn for You and Your presence. You are my everything. You are my strength. You are my source. Add fuel to my spiritual fire today and let my life be an offering to You.

Your Son Forever,

Jeff

Hearing Clearly

Scripture:

“The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Right here at the beginning of the book of Leviticus we see the Lord calling to Moses and speaking to him from the tent of meeting. The Lord clearly speaks to Moses as friend with friend. He clearly told Moses exactly what to do concerning ministry for the priesthood and the people. There was not questioning, “was this God or was this me?” He knew God had spoken to him. God gave him incredibly clear instructions for many things.

Application:

In my life, I want to hear the voice of the Lord more clearly. I long for Him to show me things and tell me of things to come. I want to be able to clearly and accurately discern what the Lord is saying to me, to my church, and to my nation, as well as anywhere I am invited to speak. I want to hear word for word like Moses did.

Prayer:

Father, I want to know You more. I want to hear Your voice and to know Your thoughts. As Moses received the words of Leviticus, I want to clearly hear Your voice. Teach me to listen well and to hear what You are speaking in my generation. Give me ears to hear and a heart to apply what I hear. Open my ears and my eyes to hear and see what You are doing. I want to walk in step with You Lord. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Self Confidence

 Scripture:

“Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Peter made a statement of confidence in himself when Jesus told His disciples about His soon arrest and trial. Jesus had said that they would all fall and walk away from Him. Peter rose up and said, even if the rest fall away, I won’t. Jesus told him he was weaker than he thought he was and that he would deny Christ three times before the rooster would crow in the morning.

Application:

Sometimes it’s easy to think of ourselves higher than we ought. We should always be careful when we think we would stand, because any of us can fall if put into the right situation. Humility says, I’m gonna do my best not to fall. Pride says, I will never fall. God opposes the proud and gives grace to to the humble. It is dangerous to think we are stronger than we really are. Jesus had to prove to Peter that he wasn’t as strong as he thought he was. We need a realistic and humble outlook on life.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to walk in humility and never say never. Help me to walk in step with You at all times, knowing that even Peter could be deceived and walk out on Jesus. Help me to walk as You would want me to each day. I am Yours. Show me how to keep a realistic view of myself and what I am capable of.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Loving God With ALL

 Scripture:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

When Jesus was asked the question, “Which is the most important commandment?” His response was powerful. He said to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Loving God with ALL we are is Christ’s first and most important commandment. In this passage I hear the word ALL four times. I think He is trying to let us know that God wants ALL of us.

Application:

God doesn’t want a people who are partially loving Him. He doesn’t ask for a people who are 99% following Him. He asks for ALL. He wants us to love Him above every other thing in our lives. I want to serve the Lord in this way. I long to walk with Him in this level of love and commitment. I never want my love for God to grow cold. I want to serve Him well all the days of my life.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, I don’t want to be halfhearted. I don’t want to partially in love with You. I want to love You with ALL my heart, ALL my soul, ALL my mind, and ALL my strength. I want to walk a fully committed life before You. Teach me to love You more each day and guide me into Your will for my life, my family, and my world.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

If You Can?

 Scripture:

““It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Jesus was approached about healing a demonized son. The demon would throw him into the fire or water. The man came to Jesus and used the words, “if you can.” Jesus didn’t seem to like those words. He put the question back to the man, “If you can?” Jesus then added the statement, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” In other words, the only “if” has to do with your faith and belief.

Application:

We must be people of faith. We need to understand the teachings of Jesus. With Him, there were no if’s. It was simply a matter of faith and belief. As God’s people, we should never doubt whether God can do certain things. We should never allow doubt into our hearts, rather, we should be people of faith who believe nothing is impossible for our God. We must never question what is possible for God. All things are possible to him who believes.

Prayer:

Father, You spoke words like this through Jesus. Help me to walk in them. Teach me to live a life of faith and obedience. I want to be one who never doubts. Help me to walk with You in strong levels of faith and to obey You completely at all times. I want to have great faith and to see the impossible things made possible because You are involved.

Yours,

Jeff

Wherever

 Scripture:

“And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭56‬ ‭NIV‬

Observation:

This passage tells us that WHEREVER Jesus went, the sick were healed. It says He went into villages, towns, and to the countryside. Wherever He went, sick people were healed. Jesus didn’t concern Himself with where He was. He didn’t just go the big cities. He went into big, small, tiny and throughout the countryside. The focus wasn’t on where, but on what He did.

Application:

WHEREVER we go, we should do what Jesus did. This speaks to me more about lifestyle than about mission trips. We should be doing what Jesus did. Therefore, wherever we go, we should be praying for the sick. Missions isn’t something we should go on as a one week trip, but a lifestyle wherever we go. We should do both! I want to be a person that extends God’s kingdom Wherever I happen to be at the time.

Prayer:

Father, help me to think more on living a missional life than about doing mission trips. Help me to live a life that bring people to Christ as a normal part of living. I desire to see people saved, healed, and delivered as normal living for me. Help me not to separate ministry time from personal time, but to live on mission for You 24/7.

Your Son,

Jeff

Undeniable Glory

 Scripture:

“So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭40‬:‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

When Moses had finished everything the Lord told him concerning the construction of the Tabernacle and the  priests, the glory of the Lord came down in the form of a pillar of fire and cloud. It remained over the tabernacle their entire time in the wilderness travels. When the cloud and fire moved, the people moved. God was reminding them that He was with them.

Application:

When God moved in this passage, everyone could see it. Nobody was left out. Everyone could see this incredible sight. I dream of the day when God moves so strongly among His people that nobody can ignore it. I want to see God moves so strongly in such a way that the newscasters and reporters could not ignore it. I long for the day when God moves in such a way that people can’t deny who He is and what He does.

Prayer:

Father, reveal Yourself once again for all to see. Let nobody be able to deny who You are and what You do. Come and move among Your people in such a way that nobody could deny that it is You. May Your glory once again fill Your church. May Your presence be so real and manesifested that the worst skeptic has to admit that You are great. Pour out Your Spirit in my generation.

Your Son,

Jeff

Fluid Follower

 Scripture:

“Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

The disciples woke up in the morning and Jesus wasn’t there, He had been out very early in the morning in prayer.When they found Him, He told them, “Let’s go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Apparently, going to nearby villages and preaching wasn’t on the agenda but the agenda changed while He was in prayer early in the morning. It continues by saying that traveled throughout the region preaching and casting our demons.

Application:

These verses cause me to think about how fluid Jesus kept His life. He remained free to do what He felt led to do, which came from time in prayer with His Father early in the morning. This was probably very difficult for His disciples to work under. People like to know where they are going next and what is the organizational strategy for what they are doing. Jesus would go out to pray, then come back and take the next steps. Traveling with Him wouldn’t seem like He didn’t have a plan or agenda except to wander from village to village. I need to live a little more fluid life so that I can be available to whatever God wants me to do at a moment’s notice. I want to operate out of the place of prayer and not just out of organizational planning. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk in step with Your Spirit. Help me to be more concerned about what You have for me each day, than what I have on my agenda. I believe there is balance in this and I want to live a Spirit-directed life. Show me how to be more available to You and less worried about my organizational structure.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

God Fixes What We Break

 Scripture:

“The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Moses had come down the mountain with the commands of God written on stone tablets by God Himself. When Moses saw the craziness Aaron had allowed in making a golden calf and everyone worshiping it, Moses threw down the tablets and they broke into pieces. This verse says that the Lord told Moses, “I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” God fixed what Moses broke.

Application:

God is an expert at fixing the things we break. Moses lost his temper and broke the tablets, but God told him to go back up on the mountain and He would write on them again. Sometimes in life, we break things and mess things up. Sometimes we say things we should have never said. Sometimes we do things we should never do, but God always welcomes our repentant heart, and fixes whatever we broke in the process. His faithfulness is incredible and His forgiveness is wonderful.

Prayer:

Father, You are amazing and I love You with all my heart. You have blessed my life over and over. Many times I have messed things up, but You fixed them for me. You are the one who fixes all the problem I create. When You say, “I’ve got your back.” You really do! Thank You for loving me and fixing th mistakes I have made. You are the one who turns evil into good and overthrows our enemies, even when we don’t deserve it.

Your Son

Jeff

People of His Presence

 Scripture:

“Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Moses had an interaction with God Almighty in the passage. God had said He wasn’t going with the people of Israel because of their rebellion in making a golden calf and worshiping it. Moses said that if God’s presence didn’t go with him, he didn’t want to go. Then he added, “What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”  God’s presence sets us apart!

Application:

We should be known as people of His presence. Those around us should see that we are different and should sense the presence of the Most High in our lives. Our lives should distinguish us from people who do not know Christ. We must ask how different our lives are than those around us. God’s presence in and on our lives should distinguish us from those around us. We should seek His presence as Moses did and let the Lord know that if His presence doesn’t go with us, we don’t want to go.

Prayer:

Lord, you know me and the cry of my heart. Cheryl and I have always desired Your presence and prayed this prayer. We want to be set apart by Your presence. Fill me Holy Spirit to overflowing. Let Your Spirit rest on my life and let the world see it and know that there is great blessing in serving You. Demonstrate Your goodness through my life. I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want people to know that You are real and experience that through my life. Let me represent you well.

Yours,

Jeff

Consecrated

 Scripture:

““For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭29‬:‭42‬-‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, God tells Moses how to make and present a burnt offering to the Lord. God tells him that at this altar of burnt offering He will meet Moses and speak with him there. Also, God says He will meet the Israelites there and the place will be consecrated by His glory. God is very particular about His offerings and the details surrounding serving Him in the Old Testament. When every detail was fulfilled, He would meet with His people and His glory would be among them.

Application:

In the New Testament, we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We carry His glory in our lives. The word “consecrated” means set apart for the Lord’s use. In the same way the glory consecrated the Tabernacle, God’s glory consecrates our lives. In His presence, we are changed from glory to glory. In His presence, we are consecrated and set apart for His purposes. We must desire the Holy Spirit to consecrate our lives for His purposes and invite His glory to fill us.

Prayer:

Father, fill me with Your glory. Let my life be consecrated to You for Your purposes. Help me to follow Your voice and do what You ask me to do. Show me the way forward each and every day. Teach me Your ways and show me each day what I am to do. Lead me by Your pillar of cloud and smoke. I long for Your presence. I long for Your glory. Fill me to overflow I pray.

Yours,

Jeff

Don’t Let My Love Grow Cold

 Scripture:

“In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭27‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

As God was giving Moses exactly what He wanted the Tabernacle to look like and exact dimensions and instructions concerning how each item within the Tabernacle was to be contracted, He told Moses about lamps outside the Most Holy Place that were never to go out. God wanted a lampstand and He instructed His servants to never let the fire go out. 

Application:

We don’t have physical Tabernacles at this point in our relationship with God, but I do believe there are things we learn from the Tabernacle that we can and should implement in our lives. This verse tells us to never let the lamps go out in our lives. We can say from this that God starts the fire within us, but we have to tend the flames to make sure they are strong and never go out. I must walk with the Lord in prayer and devotions so that fire never goes out. I want to live in constant relationship with the Lord and want to maintain His fire in my life. I don’t want my love to grow cold. I want to live a life on fire for God.

Prayer:

Father, as the song says, “don’t let my love grow cold.” Help me to live on fire for You at all times. Let my life count for Your kingdom. Work in me and through me for Your purposes. Let me walk in Your presence and fulfill Your purposes. Let my fire burn strong till the day I leave this earth and step into the fullness of Your presence.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Enemy of My Enemies

 Scripture:

“If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭23‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

When Moses was on the mountain of God receiving the Law, God spoke clearly to him. In this verse, God tells Moses that if he, and the people Israel, listen carefully to what He says, God would be an enemy to their enemies and He would oppose those who oppose them. What a powerful promise! 

Application:

As believers, we never fight our battles alone. God is with us! He promises us to make our enemies His enemies and to oppose the ones who oppose us. His instruction to us is that we must listen carefully or His word. This is called a covenant or an agreement. When we do our part, we can expect God to do His part. As for me, I earnestly desire to hear His voice clearly so I can follow accurately, then I want God to fight my battles.

Prayer:

Father, open my spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear what You want me to do at all times. Let Your voice be as clear to me as my own. Teach me to walk in Your ways and show me how to hear Your heart. I want to fulfill every plan and purpose You have for me. Let me walk in alignment with You and Your word all the days of my life.

Sincerely Yours,

Jeff

Honoring God’s House

Scripture:

 ““ ‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

This instruction was given to Moses on Mt Sinai when he received the Law. God told him to make an altar for offerings. He continued to say, “Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.” Church today is the place where we honor God. This passage says it is there that God will come and bless His people.

Application:

My generation has lost its honor and respect for the house of God. In the past, there was a great respect for the Lord’s house, the church. Although it is just a building, it is still a building that has been dedicated to the purposes of God. It is a place that has been set aside as a place of worship. We need to teach our children and those under my leadership to honor the church as God’s house and the place He comes to bless His people. We need to treat the building better than we currently do.

Prayer:

Father, forgive me for not honoring Your house more and teaching our people to honor Your house. Help me to establish some guidelines for how to treat the house of God. I don’t want to become legalistic because I know You live in my heart and I am Your temple, but I also want to honor the place set aside to meet with You and for You to come and bless Your people. Help me to treat it with more respect and honor.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

My Healer

 Scripture:

“He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

God had just bought the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and they had traveled three days into the desert. They came to a place with some water, but it was bitter water and not good for them to drink. God showed Moses a piece of wood and told him to throw it into the water. When he did, the water was made pure and drinkable. It was after that incidence that the above verse comes and God reveals Himself as the Lord who heals you. There was a condition to the healing though, they must listen carefully and do what was right in God’s eyes. They had to keep His commands, and then the promise of healing would be theirs. 

Application:

Many want healing, but don’t want to walk in obedience to the ways of God. Covenants work both directions. When one party does what they are suppose to do, the other party gives what they agreed to. God is a healer, but He also want his people to walk in obedience to His word. I want to walk in divine health and for my body to be made well. I want to age well and not have any sickness or disease in my life. I’ve watched God heal so many times in my life. Therefore, I must walk in obedience to Him every day.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and You are faithful to Your promises. Your love for Your people is awesome and Your word stands forever. Help me to walk in alignment with Your words and to obey Your decrees. Heal my body of everything that is not functioning properly. Renew my youth like the eagles as I honor You and obey Your words. I want to be healthy and have energy to preach Your word all the days of my life.

Your Son,

Jeff