Scripture:
II Timothy 3:12 "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution".
Observation:
Many people today preach a gospel that says if you come to Jesus, you will never have another problem. You'll be rich, powerful, healthy and wise! This message is wonderful to hear and people get excited when they hear it. I love the Apostle Paul! He says the opposite, "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution". WOW! Isn't that uplifting? The truth is that we will suffer persecution in this world, but God will bring us through every trial as we lean on Him. He will deliver His people!
Application:
When bad things happen, and they will, you don't always have to rebuke the devil. Sometimes you have to go through some stuff in this life. Persecution and difficult times really develop our character and God is very concerned with our character. God is faithful and won't allow us to go through more than we can bear, but He will allow us to go through some tough things which will help shape us if we will let it. We must stay on the potter's wheel and allow the process to help us grow. We must remain strong in faith and know our God will deliver us from every persecution.
Prayer:
Lord, let us be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Let us face persecution straight on and know You will help us. You are the best. Teach us to walk through every problem with faith in You alone!
Love,
Jeff
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A Pure Vessel
Scripture:
II Timothy 2:21, "If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work".
Observation:
Paul is writing a letter to his young friend Timothy who was getting started in ministry. He speaks of every wealthy house having "expensive utensils" that they would use if company is coming over and "inexpensive utensils" that they use every day. In this verse he is telling Timothy that if he can keep his life pure, he will be a special utensil for honorable use. His life will be clean and ready for use by the Master. Purity does matter! God looks for the pure in heart, then fills them up and uses them for His glory.
Application:
The good stuff gets put in a China closet and pulled out when guests come over. It must remain pure and clean because it is for serving our best people. In the same way, God wants us to remain pure so that when He has a situation that needs dealt with, He can call on us and He knows we will be close enough to Him to hear His voice. Not enough is being said today about purity, but it is crucial in the Kingdom. God truly desires "pure" vessels that are not contaminated so that He may pour through them. Does God get glory from your life? Are you living a life that makes God say, "I'm pulling out my fine china on this situation?" Let's purify ourselves and make ourselves ready for the Master's use.
Prayer:
Purify me Lord. Purify my heart, my mind, my motives, my dreams and ambitions. Purify my life in every area. I want to be ready for the Master's use. Lord, let my life continually be in a place with You where You can call on me for anything You need accomplished on this earth.
I Love You Lord,
Jeffrey Jacob
II Timothy 2:21, "If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work".
Observation:
Paul is writing a letter to his young friend Timothy who was getting started in ministry. He speaks of every wealthy house having "expensive utensils" that they would use if company is coming over and "inexpensive utensils" that they use every day. In this verse he is telling Timothy that if he can keep his life pure, he will be a special utensil for honorable use. His life will be clean and ready for use by the Master. Purity does matter! God looks for the pure in heart, then fills them up and uses them for His glory.
Application:
The good stuff gets put in a China closet and pulled out when guests come over. It must remain pure and clean because it is for serving our best people. In the same way, God wants us to remain pure so that when He has a situation that needs dealt with, He can call on us and He knows we will be close enough to Him to hear His voice. Not enough is being said today about purity, but it is crucial in the Kingdom. God truly desires "pure" vessels that are not contaminated so that He may pour through them. Does God get glory from your life? Are you living a life that makes God say, "I'm pulling out my fine china on this situation?" Let's purify ourselves and make ourselves ready for the Master's use.
Prayer:
Purify me Lord. Purify my heart, my mind, my motives, my dreams and ambitions. Purify my life in every area. I want to be ready for the Master's use. Lord, let my life continually be in a place with You where You can call on me for anything You need accomplished on this earth.
I Love You Lord,
Jeffrey Jacob
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Praying for You
Scripture:
II Thessalonians 1:11 "So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do".
Observation:
Here we see Paul telling the Thessalonians how he prays for them. He is basically asking God to... 1. enable them to live a life worthy of his call. 2. give them power to accomplish what their faith prompts them to do. I see Paul's heart here praying for them to be rooted and grounded in the faith. Paul didn't just encourage them verbally to live right, he took it to God and prayed about the people he led to the Lord.
Application:
How much do we truly pray for those around us. Sometimes we throw a little prayer someone's way. We even tell people, "say a little prayer for me when you think about it". Beyond just the prayers for people physical needs, how often do we pray for people to grow spiritually? Are we asking God to help people live a life worthy of His calling? Are we praying that God would strengthen people ad give them power to accomplish what He puts in their hearts to do? This is crucial to people's spiritual growth. They need someone praying for them! May we become people who pray, not just for people's physical, but their spiritual needs as well.
Prayer:
Lord, I hear You speaking to me. Thursday You spoke to me about prayer in 2010, yesterday you confirmed it again, and now it is once again confirmed. Thank You for speaking clearly to me on this. Show me the times, the places, and the order for these times of prayer. I want to lead Word of Life into Your best for them and into Your will. I love You. Thank you for allowing me to hear Your voice.
Jeff
II Thessalonians 1:11 "So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do".
Observation:
Here we see Paul telling the Thessalonians how he prays for them. He is basically asking God to... 1. enable them to live a life worthy of his call. 2. give them power to accomplish what their faith prompts them to do. I see Paul's heart here praying for them to be rooted and grounded in the faith. Paul didn't just encourage them verbally to live right, he took it to God and prayed about the people he led to the Lord.
Application:
How much do we truly pray for those around us. Sometimes we throw a little prayer someone's way. We even tell people, "say a little prayer for me when you think about it". Beyond just the prayers for people physical needs, how often do we pray for people to grow spiritually? Are we asking God to help people live a life worthy of His calling? Are we praying that God would strengthen people ad give them power to accomplish what He puts in their hearts to do? This is crucial to people's spiritual growth. They need someone praying for them! May we become people who pray, not just for people's physical, but their spiritual needs as well.
Prayer:
Lord, I hear You speaking to me. Thursday You spoke to me about prayer in 2010, yesterday you confirmed it again, and now it is once again confirmed. Thank You for speaking clearly to me on this. Show me the times, the places, and the order for these times of prayer. I want to lead Word of Life into Your best for them and into Your will. I love You. Thank you for allowing me to hear Your voice.
Jeff
Thursday, December 3, 2009
A Quiet Life
Scripture:
I Thessalonians 4:11 "Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before".
Observation:
In this text, God gives us a way of living and tells us to make it our goal. Goals give you a direction and a target. Without a goal, you don't know if you are accomplishing anything. Here God tells us to make a goal of living a quiet life, minding our own business and working with our hands. He goes on to say that then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live. Our faith in God should affect the way we live. Our lives should be be quiet, we should mind our own business and work, then we will be a good witness in the world.
Application:
The world is looking for something real, something they can believe in. They are looking for something that works. When they see believers lives that are no different than their own, they are not impressed with Christianity, but when they see us living differently than them, they will want what we have. What are most people missing and wanting desperately? They want a peaceful and quiet life. Most people don't know what a quiet life is, but when they see it, they want it. If we want to win the world to Jesus and be a good example for Him we must: live a quiet life, mind our own business and be diligent in our work.
Prayer:
Lord, let me be real, through and through. May the life I live be quiet and full of peace, a life that this world can't live. let me always have a good work ethic and help keep my mind on my own business and out of everyone else's. I want this world to see that serving You is awesome and will truly bring peace into their lives.
You're the Best!
Jeff
I Thessalonians 4:11 "Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before".
Observation:
In this text, God gives us a way of living and tells us to make it our goal. Goals give you a direction and a target. Without a goal, you don't know if you are accomplishing anything. Here God tells us to make a goal of living a quiet life, minding our own business and working with our hands. He goes on to say that then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live. Our faith in God should affect the way we live. Our lives should be be quiet, we should mind our own business and work, then we will be a good witness in the world.
Application:
The world is looking for something real, something they can believe in. They are looking for something that works. When they see believers lives that are no different than their own, they are not impressed with Christianity, but when they see us living differently than them, they will want what we have. What are most people missing and wanting desperately? They want a peaceful and quiet life. Most people don't know what a quiet life is, but when they see it, they want it. If we want to win the world to Jesus and be a good example for Him we must: live a quiet life, mind our own business and be diligent in our work.
Prayer:
Lord, let me be real, through and through. May the life I live be quiet and full of peace, a life that this world can't live. let me always have a good work ethic and help keep my mind on my own business and out of everyone else's. I want this world to see that serving You is awesome and will truly bring peace into their lives.
You're the Best!
Jeff
Pleasing God or Pleasing People?
Scripture:
I Thessalonians 2:4 "For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts".
Observation:
Paul is writing to the Thessalonian people, remembering his time with them. As he is reconnecting with them, he asks them to remember that he and his workers did not come with and trickery, deceit or wrong motives. He is bringing back to their remembrance the hard work they have done while with them. When it comes to motives of the heart he says, "Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts".
Application:
God knows the motives of our hearts. What we do must be to please Him and Him alone. When ministering, we must do it out of a pure conscience and pure motives. God can look through impure motives to see what we are really all about. He knows all! People will try to control you, tell you how things must be done, and honestly try to help you in the Kingdom, but our first priority must be to hear from God and do accordingly, no matter whether people like us or they don't like us. Keeping you heart right before the Lord is crucial in ministry. Maintaining your personal prayer and devotional life is crucial if you are going to minister for the Lord. Watch your motives, they will make you of break you! Keep them pure!
Prayer:
Lord, I want to be a God pleaser and not a man pleaser. I want my heart to remain pure before You and to accomplish Your will for my life. I love You and want to serve You with pure heart and motives. I don't want to be swayed by anyone but You. Show me Your ways, teach me Your truths and I will do my best to follow accordingly. You are my everything! There is nothing else but You.
Yours,
Jeff
I Thessalonians 2:4 "For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts".
Observation:
Paul is writing to the Thessalonian people, remembering his time with them. As he is reconnecting with them, he asks them to remember that he and his workers did not come with and trickery, deceit or wrong motives. He is bringing back to their remembrance the hard work they have done while with them. When it comes to motives of the heart he says, "Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts".
Application:
God knows the motives of our hearts. What we do must be to please Him and Him alone. When ministering, we must do it out of a pure conscience and pure motives. God can look through impure motives to see what we are really all about. He knows all! People will try to control you, tell you how things must be done, and honestly try to help you in the Kingdom, but our first priority must be to hear from God and do accordingly, no matter whether people like us or they don't like us. Keeping you heart right before the Lord is crucial in ministry. Maintaining your personal prayer and devotional life is crucial if you are going to minister for the Lord. Watch your motives, they will make you of break you! Keep them pure!
Prayer:
Lord, I want to be a God pleaser and not a man pleaser. I want my heart to remain pure before You and to accomplish Your will for my life. I love You and want to serve You with pure heart and motives. I don't want to be swayed by anyone but You. Show me Your ways, teach me Your truths and I will do my best to follow accordingly. You are my everything! There is nothing else but You.
Yours,
Jeff
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
God's Requirements
Scripture:
Micah 6:8 "No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God".
Observation:
Micah sums up what it takes to have the blessing and favor of God on your life. He had been talking about judgment that was coming because of their disobedience and how to avert it. He talked about offering massive sacrifices to get God's favor back, then he sums it up so simply. God is not hard to please and you don't have to wonder what pleases Him. Simply, "do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God". If we can do these three, the blessing of God comes into our lives.
Application:
These three things sound simple, but they are difficult to live by. Doing what is right means doing the right thing when doing other things would be so much easier. The right thing is seldom the easy thing. We are programmed to look for the easy way out of every problem, but God wants us to "do the right thing". Loving mercy is also difficult because we are also programmed to love justice and revenge instead of mercy and grace. It is more natural humanly to get revenge on someone than it is to forgive and have mercy working in our lives. Lastly, pride is when we feel we can do things better than God. He wants us to walk humbly with Him which means we must totally and completely trust and obey Him. These three will make you a winner in God's kingdom, but they are tough to live out every day.
Prayer:
Lord, You have told us what is good. You have made it so simple, yet we complicate it so much. Teach me to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You. I ask You to help me in these three areas. Help me be a person of character and integrity in every area of life. Help me to love those who hate me and do good to those who spitefully use me. Help me show mercy to all. Help me to walk humbly with You. I desperately need You in my life.
Your Son,
Jeff
Micah 6:8 "No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God".
Observation:
Micah sums up what it takes to have the blessing and favor of God on your life. He had been talking about judgment that was coming because of their disobedience and how to avert it. He talked about offering massive sacrifices to get God's favor back, then he sums it up so simply. God is not hard to please and you don't have to wonder what pleases Him. Simply, "do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God". If we can do these three, the blessing of God comes into our lives.
Application:
These three things sound simple, but they are difficult to live by. Doing what is right means doing the right thing when doing other things would be so much easier. The right thing is seldom the easy thing. We are programmed to look for the easy way out of every problem, but God wants us to "do the right thing". Loving mercy is also difficult because we are also programmed to love justice and revenge instead of mercy and grace. It is more natural humanly to get revenge on someone than it is to forgive and have mercy working in our lives. Lastly, pride is when we feel we can do things better than God. He wants us to walk humbly with Him which means we must totally and completely trust and obey Him. These three will make you a winner in God's kingdom, but they are tough to live out every day.
Prayer:
Lord, You have told us what is good. You have made it so simple, yet we complicate it so much. Teach me to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You. I ask You to help me in these three areas. Help me be a person of character and integrity in every area of life. Help me to love those who hate me and do good to those who spitefully use me. Help me show mercy to all. Help me to walk humbly with You. I desperately need You in my life.
Your Son,
Jeff
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Ruler from Everlasting
Scripture:
Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting".
Observation:
I love the Word of God. It is accurate to the letter. As we approach this Christmas season, we must remember that Jesus was the promised one who would come. It says of Jesus that He would come out of Bethlehem, a small and insignificant place, but that He would be the ruler of all. It also says of Him that He His going forths are from everlasting. Hundreds of years before Christ, Micah prophesied that He would come from Bethlehem, and that He would be from everlasting.
Application:
If God knew that Jesus was coming to earth and would be born in the insignificant little town of Bethlehem, how much does He know about you? He spoke of this hundreds of years before Jesus came. If this is true, then He knew I was coming also. He knew where I would be born, and what my life would become. He knows the beginning from the end and time is no issue with Him. He is from everlasting and yet is concerned about the little details of our lives. He is amazing! Jesus came, just as the prophecy said, and will yet rule the nations of the earth with a rod of iron. His Word never fails and you can trust Him fully.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for showing me a little glimpse today of how awesome You are. I love You and give You my life once again for Your service. Use my life Lord to bring You glory. You never cease to amaze me.
Yours Forever!
Jeff
Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting".
Observation:
I love the Word of God. It is accurate to the letter. As we approach this Christmas season, we must remember that Jesus was the promised one who would come. It says of Jesus that He would come out of Bethlehem, a small and insignificant place, but that He would be the ruler of all. It also says of Him that He His going forths are from everlasting. Hundreds of years before Christ, Micah prophesied that He would come from Bethlehem, and that He would be from everlasting.
Application:
If God knew that Jesus was coming to earth and would be born in the insignificant little town of Bethlehem, how much does He know about you? He spoke of this hundreds of years before Jesus came. If this is true, then He knew I was coming also. He knew where I would be born, and what my life would become. He knows the beginning from the end and time is no issue with Him. He is from everlasting and yet is concerned about the little details of our lives. He is amazing! Jesus came, just as the prophecy said, and will yet rule the nations of the earth with a rod of iron. His Word never fails and you can trust Him fully.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for showing me a little glimpse today of how awesome You are. I love You and give You my life once again for Your service. Use my life Lord to bring You glory. You never cease to amaze me.
Yours Forever!
Jeff
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