Scripture:
Jeremiah 32:27 "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?"
Observation:
Jeremiah was in a place of not understanding how the Lord could do what he was prophesying. He was questioning how God could do what He was saying. The word of the Lord comes to him and confirm and says, "Is there anything too hard for Me?" This is the God who put the stars in space and keeps everything in orbit!
Application:
Many times when I have been praying about something, I will hear the still, small voice of the Lord whisper, "is there anything too hard for Me?", or "what can I not do?". God is the God of infinite power who can change the world as we know it in a moment. With one word he could destroy the entire planet. He is the all-powerful God! There is no other like Him! I would apply this by saying that God is all-powerful and we must talk to Him as such. We should pray big prayers because He is a big God. He is not afraid or big prayers. He loves it because they are prayers of faith!
Prayer:
Lord,You are mighty, majestic and powerful! There is none like You. You are worthy of all praise and honor and glory. Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. You reign over all the earth. Reign in my life. Reign in my church. Reign in my city. Let revival come to northern VA. Pour out Your Spirit in power and touch this region with a mighty move of God. Let hearts be turned back to You. Bless Your church in every way and let it be effective again.
Yours,
Jeff
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
A Future and a Hope
Scripture:
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope".
Observation:
Jeremiah writes this from the Lord as God is saying to the people that they will be in exile for 70 years. He is reminding them that it won't last forever, but that He needs to get their attention and get them to turn back to Him. Even when they have been disobedient and wandered from Him, God is telling them that He has plans to give them hope and a future. God's plans for them were thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give them a future and a hope.
Application:
God may allow us to go through some things that are not easy. He may not always rush in to save the day, but His overall plans and thoughts toward us are amazing! He wants to give us hope and a future. When there is no hope of a better tomorrow, we stop living. When we see no future, we are dying quickly. God gives His people hope and a future. We must realize when we are going through trying times that God has a purpose and He will give us a future and a hope. Hope will keep you going, don't lose hope!
Prayer:
Father, You are good and Your mercy endures forever. Israel messed up so many times ad You continued to demonstrate selfless love to them. You continued to give them a future and a hope in the midst of their punishment. You do all things well and continue today to give your people a future and a hope. Thank you for sending us Your Spirit to guide us into all truth.
Yours,
Jeff
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope".
Observation:
Jeremiah writes this from the Lord as God is saying to the people that they will be in exile for 70 years. He is reminding them that it won't last forever, but that He needs to get their attention and get them to turn back to Him. Even when they have been disobedient and wandered from Him, God is telling them that He has plans to give them hope and a future. God's plans for them were thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give them a future and a hope.
Application:
God may allow us to go through some things that are not easy. He may not always rush in to save the day, but His overall plans and thoughts toward us are amazing! He wants to give us hope and a future. When there is no hope of a better tomorrow, we stop living. When we see no future, we are dying quickly. God gives His people hope and a future. We must realize when we are going through trying times that God has a purpose and He will give us a future and a hope. Hope will keep you going, don't lose hope!
Prayer:
Father, You are good and Your mercy endures forever. Israel messed up so many times ad You continued to demonstrate selfless love to them. You continued to give them a future and a hope in the midst of their punishment. You do all things well and continue today to give your people a future and a hope. Thank you for sending us Your Spirit to guide us into all truth.
Yours,
Jeff
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Restoration is always on God's Mind
Scripture:
Jeremiah 27:22 "They shall be carried to Babylon, and there, they shall be until the day that I visit them, says the Lord. Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place".
Observation:
Jeremiah has been speaking powerful words to Judah and all the surrounding nations because they had forsaken Him. He speaks of a deportation of God's people to Babylon for 70 years. Verse 21 talks about the vessels in the house of God. God says that they will be taken to Babylon and will stay there until He restores them to their proper place. Even in judgment, God is thinking about the restoration that will come later. He is making provision for their restoration!
Application:
God is awesome! Even when He is punishing His people in Jeremiah, He is thinking about their return. Even when He is about to let enemy armies carry away His people into a foreign country, He is thinking about their return and making provision for their worship. God loves it when His people return to Him! He is always waiting with blessing for those who are away from Him to return. He prepares ahead of time for their return. Like the story of the prodigal son, the father said "kill the fatted calf". Basically it was the one that he had been preparing for His son's return.
Prayer:
Lord, You are faithful when we are not. Even in judgment, You remember Your people and make provision for their return to You. Teach me to love like that! Teach me to be more like You. Let Your face shine on my life and let me reflect Your glory to the world. help me to witness to someone today.
Your Son,
Jeff
Jeremiah 27:22 "They shall be carried to Babylon, and there, they shall be until the day that I visit them, says the Lord. Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place".
Observation:
Jeremiah has been speaking powerful words to Judah and all the surrounding nations because they had forsaken Him. He speaks of a deportation of God's people to Babylon for 70 years. Verse 21 talks about the vessels in the house of God. God says that they will be taken to Babylon and will stay there until He restores them to their proper place. Even in judgment, God is thinking about the restoration that will come later. He is making provision for their restoration!
Application:
God is awesome! Even when He is punishing His people in Jeremiah, He is thinking about their return. Even when He is about to let enemy armies carry away His people into a foreign country, He is thinking about their return and making provision for their worship. God loves it when His people return to Him! He is always waiting with blessing for those who are away from Him to return. He prepares ahead of time for their return. Like the story of the prodigal son, the father said "kill the fatted calf". Basically it was the one that he had been preparing for His son's return.
Prayer:
Lord, You are faithful when we are not. Even in judgment, You remember Your people and make provision for their return to You. Teach me to love like that! Teach me to be more like You. Let Your face shine on my life and let me reflect Your glory to the world. help me to witness to someone today.
Your Son,
Jeff
Friday, February 18, 2011
My Deliverer and Redeemer
Scripture:
Jeremiah 15:21 "I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible".
Observation:
Jeremiah had been prophesying some terrible events that were going to come to pass on Israel and Judah. In the midst of all the bad things God is planning for them, He talks about their return to Him and how He will then deliver them and redeem them. God's love and forgiveness is amazing! The same group He is speaking judgment to, He says, if they return, He will deliver them and redeem them.
Application:
Sometimes people feel like they have gone too far for God to rescue them. Israel and Judah had forsaken the Lord and served other gods. They had been terrible toward the Lord after all He had done for them. Yet God is still there telling them that if they will turn to Him, He will deliver them from their enemies. We need to see this amazing forgiveness as part of who our God is. He wants His children to worship and serve Him alone and will stop all attacks on the person who wants Him fully.
Prayer:
Lord, You are still delivering and redeeming those who don't deserve it. Those who, by their actions, have denied You, You are just waiting for them to come home. Your love is incredible and Your ability to forgive your children is unthinkable. Let me be more like You. Let Your light shine through me and let my life bring You praise!
Jeff
Jeremiah 15:21 "I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible".
Observation:
Jeremiah had been prophesying some terrible events that were going to come to pass on Israel and Judah. In the midst of all the bad things God is planning for them, He talks about their return to Him and how He will then deliver them and redeem them. God's love and forgiveness is amazing! The same group He is speaking judgment to, He says, if they return, He will deliver them and redeem them.
Application:
Sometimes people feel like they have gone too far for God to rescue them. Israel and Judah had forsaken the Lord and served other gods. They had been terrible toward the Lord after all He had done for them. Yet God is still there telling them that if they will turn to Him, He will deliver them from their enemies. We need to see this amazing forgiveness as part of who our God is. He wants His children to worship and serve Him alone and will stop all attacks on the person who wants Him fully.
Prayer:
Lord, You are still delivering and redeeming those who don't deserve it. Those who, by their actions, have denied You, You are just waiting for them to come home. Your love is incredible and Your ability to forgive your children is unthinkable. Let me be more like You. Let Your light shine through me and let my life bring You praise!
Jeff
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Glory in the Lord
Scripture:
Jeremiah 9:23-24 "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory glory in his riches; But let him that glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, For in these I delight, says the Lord".
Observation:
God loves humility and hates pride. Here He says that we should not glory in anything we have done for ourselves, rather, our glory should be in the Lord. Without Him, we can do nothing. We can glory in the fact that we know Him and understand Him. He wants us to understand his lovingkindeness, judgment, and righteousness. God delights in His people understanding Him and living for Him.
Application:
America has become a very proud nation. Pride always goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. We are proud of our accomplishments and our knowledge. We glory in our accomplishments and have forsaken our God. We must humble ourselves and shift our lives from being self-centered to being God-centered. We must seek the Lord while He may be found. If we must glory, it must be in the Lord.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, Maker of the heavens and the earth. You are awesome! Your word blesses me every day. Help me to glory only in You. Father, it said in this verse that we should glory in the fact that we understand You. I want to understand You better. Teach me every day more about You. Teach me Your ways. Show me Your truth and let me understand You better. Let Your word come alive to me.
Your Son,
Jeff
Jeremiah 9:23-24 "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory glory in his riches; But let him that glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, For in these I delight, says the Lord".
Observation:
God loves humility and hates pride. Here He says that we should not glory in anything we have done for ourselves, rather, our glory should be in the Lord. Without Him, we can do nothing. We can glory in the fact that we know Him and understand Him. He wants us to understand his lovingkindeness, judgment, and righteousness. God delights in His people understanding Him and living for Him.
Application:
America has become a very proud nation. Pride always goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. We are proud of our accomplishments and our knowledge. We glory in our accomplishments and have forsaken our God. We must humble ourselves and shift our lives from being self-centered to being God-centered. We must seek the Lord while He may be found. If we must glory, it must be in the Lord.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, Maker of the heavens and the earth. You are awesome! Your word blesses me every day. Help me to glory only in You. Father, it said in this verse that we should glory in the fact that we understand You. I want to understand You better. Teach me every day more about You. Teach me Your ways. Show me Your truth and let me understand You better. Let Your word come alive to me.
Your Son,
Jeff
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Words of Fire
Scripture:
Jeremiah 5:14 "Therefore thus says the Lord God of Hosts: 'because you speak this word, Behold I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them'".
Observation:
God is pronouncing judgment on Israel and Judah because they had once again forsaken Him. He is speaking of all the calamity He was going to bring on them and He was going to use Jeremiah to speak this truth to the people. I'm sure Jeremiah was not exactly desiring to deliver these messages bacuse he knew he would be hated for them, but God didn't leave him helpless, He gave him a message. God told Him that, because He spoke the true word of the Lord, his words would be like fire and the people like wood. God was going to back up what Jeremiah said with conviction.
Application:
When we speak on God's behalf, we need God's power to back up what we are saying or it is just words. When God gets involved in the delivery of His message, it is powerful. When we are just communicating good teaching in our own power, it is ineffective to bring about change. When the power of the Holy Spirit brings the words to life it is like fire that consumes the wood. It will light people up! We must seek God and ask Him to make our words powerful tools in His hands.
Prayer:
Whenever I speak on your behalf, let my words be like fire and the peoples hearts like dry wood. Let hearts be changed and lives be moved because my words are Your words and they are spoken by the power of Your Spirit. You take communication to a whole new level. Let Your hand rest upon me every time I witness, preach, teach, etc. that people may experience Your touch in their lives.
Your Son,
Jeff
Jeremiah 5:14 "Therefore thus says the Lord God of Hosts: 'because you speak this word, Behold I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them'".
Observation:
God is pronouncing judgment on Israel and Judah because they had once again forsaken Him. He is speaking of all the calamity He was going to bring on them and He was going to use Jeremiah to speak this truth to the people. I'm sure Jeremiah was not exactly desiring to deliver these messages bacuse he knew he would be hated for them, but God didn't leave him helpless, He gave him a message. God told Him that, because He spoke the true word of the Lord, his words would be like fire and the people like wood. God was going to back up what Jeremiah said with conviction.
Application:
When we speak on God's behalf, we need God's power to back up what we are saying or it is just words. When God gets involved in the delivery of His message, it is powerful. When we are just communicating good teaching in our own power, it is ineffective to bring about change. When the power of the Holy Spirit brings the words to life it is like fire that consumes the wood. It will light people up! We must seek God and ask Him to make our words powerful tools in His hands.
Prayer:
Whenever I speak on your behalf, let my words be like fire and the peoples hearts like dry wood. Let hearts be changed and lives be moved because my words are Your words and they are spoken by the power of Your Spirit. You take communication to a whole new level. Let Your hand rest upon me every time I witness, preach, teach, etc. that people may experience Your touch in their lives.
Your Son,
Jeff
Monday, February 14, 2011
Fountain or Cistern?
Scripture:
Jeremiah 2:13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water".
Observation:
Jeremiah is giving one of his first messages as a prophet to the people. In this word he says that God is the "fountain of living waters" and that the people have made themselves "broken cisterns that can hold no water". A cistern is something that holds water. Usually it contains rain water, that once was fresh, but after sitting a while stagnates and becomes bad. These people were not only a cistern, but a cistern that would hold no water because it is broken.
Application:
God desires us to have a living relationship with Him. He is the fountain of living water. Jesus told us he would be in us like a fountain of living water. A fountain produces life everywhere it goes, a cistern produces death and disease. A fountain produces clean water and a cistern produces dirty, contaminated water. As the Spirit of God leads our lives, He brings life, as we lead ourselves we will end up in death.
Prayer:
Father, You are the giver of every good thing. You give us a river, let me not be satisfied with yesterday's water. let me drink freely of Your Spirit every day and not become stagnant. Be a fountain of living water in me and let me give out that water to others. Help me to lead someone to Christ today.
Jeff
Jeremiah 2:13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water".
Observation:
Jeremiah is giving one of his first messages as a prophet to the people. In this word he says that God is the "fountain of living waters" and that the people have made themselves "broken cisterns that can hold no water". A cistern is something that holds water. Usually it contains rain water, that once was fresh, but after sitting a while stagnates and becomes bad. These people were not only a cistern, but a cistern that would hold no water because it is broken.
Application:
God desires us to have a living relationship with Him. He is the fountain of living water. Jesus told us he would be in us like a fountain of living water. A fountain produces life everywhere it goes, a cistern produces death and disease. A fountain produces clean water and a cistern produces dirty, contaminated water. As the Spirit of God leads our lives, He brings life, as we lead ourselves we will end up in death.
Prayer:
Father, You are the giver of every good thing. You give us a river, let me not be satisfied with yesterday's water. let me drink freely of Your Spirit every day and not become stagnant. Be a fountain of living water in me and let me give out that water to others. Help me to lead someone to Christ today.
Jeff
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