Scripture:
Romans 15:19 "They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God's Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum".
Observation:
Paul is speaking here about the conversion of the Gentiles on his missionary journeys. Paul was definitely one of the greatest missionary evangelist, church planters ever. How did he build the kingdom and convince people about the Good News of Christ? "They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God's Spirit". Today we tend to steer away from the supernatural because people might think we are weird or something. We need the supernatural to confirm our message.
Application:
We need the power of the Spirit back in our lives. We need to be plugged in to the power of the Holy Spirit. When He empowers us and moves in our midst, people will notice and come the Christ. Much of America today has walked away from Christ because they were promised power, but never received and walked in it. They think the claims of Christ are not real because all they have seen is a week church that can't back up what it preaches. We need power back in our lives, back in our churches, back in our evangelism, back in every area of our lives. We need the power to be turned on.
Prayer:
O, Lord send the power just now. O Lord send the power just now, O Lord send the power just now and baptize everyone. I think this song says my heart this morning Holy Spirit. Empower us to be the powerful church You designed us to be.
Sincerely,
Jeff Jacob
Monday, August 22, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Overwhelming Victory
Scripture:
Romans 8:37 "Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us".
Observation:
Just before this section, Paul was talking about the love of Christ and how nothing can separate us from His love. He says that trouble, calamity, persecution, hunger, destitution, danger and even the threat of death cannot separate us from God's love. After this, he says, "despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ". Overwhelming victory is pretty strong language, but it describes how we can live when we are surrendered to Christ.
Application:
Overwhelming victory implies that there has been a contest of some sort. Many times we think of our victory in Christ meaning that there is no contest we and that we have no opponent. Victory, by definition, means there has been a contest or something to overcome. When we have problems, we must realize that there can be no victory if there was no problem. In this verse we have the promise of overwhelming victory at the end of the contest or fight. The only way that we are not guaranteed victory in this scripture is if we quit too soon. Hold on, victory is coming!
Prayer:
Father, help me to realize that overwhelming victory belongs to those who don't faint and grow weary. Help me remember that if there is no test, there can be no testimony. Help me when I'm weak to have the mind of Christ. I want to walk in overwhelming victory.
Yours,
Jeff
Romans 8:37 "Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us".
Observation:
Just before this section, Paul was talking about the love of Christ and how nothing can separate us from His love. He says that trouble, calamity, persecution, hunger, destitution, danger and even the threat of death cannot separate us from God's love. After this, he says, "despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ". Overwhelming victory is pretty strong language, but it describes how we can live when we are surrendered to Christ.
Application:
Overwhelming victory implies that there has been a contest of some sort. Many times we think of our victory in Christ meaning that there is no contest we and that we have no opponent. Victory, by definition, means there has been a contest or something to overcome. When we have problems, we must realize that there can be no victory if there was no problem. In this verse we have the promise of overwhelming victory at the end of the contest or fight. The only way that we are not guaranteed victory in this scripture is if we quit too soon. Hold on, victory is coming!
Prayer:
Father, help me to realize that overwhelming victory belongs to those who don't faint and grow weary. Help me remember that if there is no test, there can be no testimony. Help me when I'm weak to have the mind of Christ. I want to walk in overwhelming victory.
Yours,
Jeff
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Day and Night Prayer
Scripture:
Romans 1:9 "God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son".
Observation:
Paul is writing to the Romans. In his opening comments to them he tells them, "God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring your needs in prayer to God". Paul not only spoke to people about God, but spoke more to God about people. He was a man of prayer who sought the Lord on behalf of his people.
Application:
The greatest thing we can do for someone is to pray for them. As Paul prayed day and night for the Romans, and many other people as well from his other writings, I need to spend more time in prayer for the people I am associated with. I want to become a man of prayer who intercedes on behalf of the people around me. I don't want to say "I'll pray for you", and not do it sincerely.
Prayer:
Lord, I repent for my lack of prayer for those around me. I want to learn to pray like Paul did for the people around him. Teach me to not only have good prayer times, but to truly be an intercessor who bring the needs of people to You effectively. Let me prayers be led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Romans 1:9 "God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son".
Observation:
Paul is writing to the Romans. In his opening comments to them he tells them, "God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring your needs in prayer to God". Paul not only spoke to people about God, but spoke more to God about people. He was a man of prayer who sought the Lord on behalf of his people.
Application:
The greatest thing we can do for someone is to pray for them. As Paul prayed day and night for the Romans, and many other people as well from his other writings, I need to spend more time in prayer for the people I am associated with. I want to become a man of prayer who intercedes on behalf of the people around me. I don't want to say "I'll pray for you", and not do it sincerely.
Prayer:
Lord, I repent for my lack of prayer for those around me. I want to learn to pray like Paul did for the people around him. Teach me to not only have good prayer times, but to truly be an intercessor who bring the needs of people to You effectively. Let me prayers be led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Personal Experience
Scripture:
Joshua 24:31 "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".
Observation:
God had done amazing things for the people of Israel. HE brought them out of Egyptian slavery, provided for them supernaturally for 40 years as they wandered in the desert, and defeated all of their enemies as they took possession of the Promised Land. They had seen God do so much, yet the stories of what God "HAD" done were not enough to keep the next generation seeking and serving Him. Personal experience with God is crucial to our faith.
Application:
Teaching a generation about God is a good thing, but, no matter how good your teaching is, unless they experience God for themselves, it will not last under pressure. Doctrine can be argued and scriptures debated, but nobody can take away a personal experience with God. As we raise the next generation, we can teach them everything about God and have them quote most of the Bible, but if they don't have a personal experience with God, it will not be valued. We must seek ways for our children to experience God in personal ways. stories of what He had done are great, but seeing Him working in their lives will change them forever.
Prayer:
Lord, let this generation experience your power. Let them see the awesomeness of my God. Thank You for the incredible experiences you have given me which I could never deny, but give my children some of those same experiences. Let them see how incredible You are. Let them have encounters with God from which they could never turn away.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Joshua 24:31 "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".
Observation:
God had done amazing things for the people of Israel. HE brought them out of Egyptian slavery, provided for them supernaturally for 40 years as they wandered in the desert, and defeated all of their enemies as they took possession of the Promised Land. They had seen God do so much, yet the stories of what God "HAD" done were not enough to keep the next generation seeking and serving Him. Personal experience with God is crucial to our faith.
Application:
Teaching a generation about God is a good thing, but, no matter how good your teaching is, unless they experience God for themselves, it will not last under pressure. Doctrine can be argued and scriptures debated, but nobody can take away a personal experience with God. As we raise the next generation, we can teach them everything about God and have them quote most of the Bible, but if they don't have a personal experience with God, it will not be valued. We must seek ways for our children to experience God in personal ways. stories of what He had done are great, but seeing Him working in their lives will change them forever.
Prayer:
Lord, let this generation experience your power. Let them see the awesomeness of my God. Thank You for the incredible experiences you have given me which I could never deny, but give my children some of those same experiences. Let them see how incredible You are. Let them have encounters with God from which they could never turn away.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Monday, August 15, 2011
All God's Promises
Scripture:
Joshua 21:45 "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".
Observation:
In Joshua's time the people of Israel came over the Jordan river and into the promised land. The conquered many people and "possessed" the land the Lord had promised them. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the people of God inherited everything the Lord originally promised. In this verse we see that, though it may have been 45 or more years, not a single promise the Lord gave was left unfulfilled.
Application:
Sometimes we get weary in well doing and begin to faint before the promise comes to us. God wants us to be faithful, then He will do His part and fulfill every promise He has made to us. We can look back to the family of Israel and realize that God's promises may take a while to inherit, but they will come to pass. Everything the Lord has promised will come to pass if we walk in faith and patience. "By faith and patience, you inherit the promises".
Prayer:
Father, You are amazing! Always have been. Always will be. You fulfill the promises You make and leave not one of them undone when we as Your people walk in faith and patience. Help me walk in faith and patience. Thank You for reminding me that Your promises come true and that You are faithful to leave nothing undone that You promise.
Thanks,
Jeff
Joshua 21:45 "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".
Observation:
In Joshua's time the people of Israel came over the Jordan river and into the promised land. The conquered many people and "possessed" the land the Lord had promised them. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the people of God inherited everything the Lord originally promised. In this verse we see that, though it may have been 45 or more years, not a single promise the Lord gave was left unfulfilled.
Application:
Sometimes we get weary in well doing and begin to faint before the promise comes to us. God wants us to be faithful, then He will do His part and fulfill every promise He has made to us. We can look back to the family of Israel and realize that God's promises may take a while to inherit, but they will come to pass. Everything the Lord has promised will come to pass if we walk in faith and patience. "By faith and patience, you inherit the promises".
Prayer:
Father, You are amazing! Always have been. Always will be. You fulfill the promises You make and leave not one of them undone when we as Your people walk in faith and patience. Help me walk in faith and patience. Thank You for reminding me that Your promises come true and that You are faithful to leave nothing undone that You promise.
Thanks,
Jeff
Saturday, August 13, 2011
There Remains Very Much Land
Scripture:
Joshua 13:1 "Now Joshua was old, advanced in years, and the Lord said to him: 'You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed'".
Observation:
Joshua felt like he had been fighting for years, which he had, but God reminded him in his old age, "There remains very much land yet to be possessed". He was probably ready to retire and call it quits, but God said there was still much work to be done. Joshua won an incredible number of battles, but when he was old, there was still much territory to be taken for the Lord.
Application:
I fell like I have worked hard for a long time at this point in my life, but God has reminded me that there is still a huge number of souls that need Christ and the good news of the Gospel. I have enjoyed my Sabbatical so much, and needed the rest, but there is much land in Ashburn, Loudoun, Northern VA and the world to be possessed and I can't wait to get back at it. There is very much land to be taken from the enemy and the battle is not over.
Prayer:
Father, make me like a Caleb, who at 85 years of age said "give me the mountain you promised me when I was only 40. I want to fight until the end for my Lord. ZGive me strength to fight for the long haul. I will take rests periodically as I have just done, but let me finish strong.
Your Son,
Jeff
Joshua 13:1 "Now Joshua was old, advanced in years, and the Lord said to him: 'You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed'".
Observation:
Joshua felt like he had been fighting for years, which he had, but God reminded him in his old age, "There remains very much land yet to be possessed". He was probably ready to retire and call it quits, but God said there was still much work to be done. Joshua won an incredible number of battles, but when he was old, there was still much territory to be taken for the Lord.
Application:
I fell like I have worked hard for a long time at this point in my life, but God has reminded me that there is still a huge number of souls that need Christ and the good news of the Gospel. I have enjoyed my Sabbatical so much, and needed the rest, but there is much land in Ashburn, Loudoun, Northern VA and the world to be possessed and I can't wait to get back at it. There is very much land to be taken from the enemy and the battle is not over.
Prayer:
Father, make me like a Caleb, who at 85 years of age said "give me the mountain you promised me when I was only 40. I want to fight until the end for my Lord. ZGive me strength to fight for the long haul. I will take rests periodically as I have just done, but let me finish strong.
Your Son,
Jeff
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wood Choppers and Water Carriers
Scripture:
Joshua 9:27 "But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodchoppers and water carriers for the people of Israel and for the altar of the Lord - wherever the Lord would choose to build it".
Observation:
The Gibeonites had lied to Joshua and the leaders of Israel. They said they had come from a long distance to make a peace treaty with Israel after hearing how powerful their God was. They knew Joshua would destroy them if he knew they lived nearby. Joshua was commanded to take every city in the promised land by force and kill every living thing. They lied about wherer they lived so Joshua would make a peace treaty with them and said they would serve him. He and the leaders of Israel signed it, then found out they had lied. When Joshua found out he had been lied to, he would not kill them, but felt God would hold him more accountable for breaking an oath with them than with killing them. He would not kill them even though they had lied.
Application:
Sometimes we have to make decisions in which there is no clear answer and we have to know God well enough to know what He would want us to do. God has told them to kill every living thing in these cities, but Joshua felt God would punish him more for breaking an oath with the people, even though they lied about it, than for obeying Him and killing every living thing. God takes oaths very seriously! We also need to take oaths very seriously. When there is no right answer, we must know God and what He would want us to do.
Prayer:
Father, when decisions are hard to make, help me to lean on You and to know You well enough to make the decisions You would want me to. Help me be led by Your Spirit every day. Let my life reflect Your goodness and let my light shine brighter each day. You are amazing!
Yours,
Jeff
Joshua 9:27 "But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodchoppers and water carriers for the people of Israel and for the altar of the Lord - wherever the Lord would choose to build it".
Observation:
The Gibeonites had lied to Joshua and the leaders of Israel. They said they had come from a long distance to make a peace treaty with Israel after hearing how powerful their God was. They knew Joshua would destroy them if he knew they lived nearby. Joshua was commanded to take every city in the promised land by force and kill every living thing. They lied about wherer they lived so Joshua would make a peace treaty with them and said they would serve him. He and the leaders of Israel signed it, then found out they had lied. When Joshua found out he had been lied to, he would not kill them, but felt God would hold him more accountable for breaking an oath with them than with killing them. He would not kill them even though they had lied.
Application:
Sometimes we have to make decisions in which there is no clear answer and we have to know God well enough to know what He would want us to do. God has told them to kill every living thing in these cities, but Joshua felt God would punish him more for breaking an oath with the people, even though they lied about it, than for obeying Him and killing every living thing. God takes oaths very seriously! We also need to take oaths very seriously. When there is no right answer, we must know God and what He would want us to do.
Prayer:
Father, when decisions are hard to make, help me to lean on You and to know You well enough to make the decisions You would want me to. Help me be led by Your Spirit every day. Let my life reflect Your goodness and let my light shine brighter each day. You are amazing!
Yours,
Jeff
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