Scripture:
I Corinthians 1:27 "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong".
Observation:
Paul is telling the Corinthians not to have pride and arguing among them. They apparently were arguing over following Paul, Apolos or Christ and pride usually shows up in an argument. He tells them to remember that before Christ not many of them were wise, noble, powerful, etc. Then he tells them that God uses the weak to confound the strong and the foolish to shame the wise.
Application:
Often today we hear phrases like, "knowledge is power". I would say, "knowledge of God is powerful". God has a way of using and blessing people who are not wise and powerful to make the wise and powerful know it is Him and not us. When we feel foolish and weak, we are right where God likes us to be, then He can get the glory for all He does in our lives.
Prayer:
Lord God, help me to see You as wise and powerful and myself as your servant. My area is very wise and influential. I want to see You confound them. I want to see You work in such powerful ways through simple people, that the powerful can't deny You.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Heartfelt Humility Before the Lord
Scripture:
II Kings 22:19 "Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people - that they would become a curse and be laid to waste - and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord".
Observation:
When the book of the Law was found and Josiah read it, he humbled himself before the Lord in repentance and brokenness. He tore his royal robes and cried out to God and wept before the Lord. When he did, the Lord said he was heard by the Lord.
Application:
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. He loves when His people come to Him weeping and crying out to Him. He blesses those who come to Him in humility, declaring how much they need Him. We must be people who continually look to the Lord and cry out to Him. He loves it when we acknowledge our need of Him.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, I worship You this morning. You are amazing! Help me walk in humility before you all the days of my life. I need You and want You to work in my life to bring about Your will above all else. I want to know You more.
Your Son,
Jeff
II Kings 22:19 "Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people - that they would become a curse and be laid to waste - and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord".
Observation:
When the book of the Law was found and Josiah read it, he humbled himself before the Lord in repentance and brokenness. He tore his royal robes and cried out to God and wept before the Lord. When he did, the Lord said he was heard by the Lord.
Application:
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. He loves when His people come to Him weeping and crying out to Him. He blesses those who come to Him in humility, declaring how much they need Him. We must be people who continually look to the Lord and cry out to Him. He loves it when we acknowledge our need of Him.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, I worship You this morning. You are amazing! Help me walk in humility before you all the days of my life. I need You and want You to work in my life to bring about Your will above all else. I want to know You more.
Your Son,
Jeff
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
God's Incredible Power
Scripture:
II Kings 20:11 "Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz".
Observation:
Hezekiah had been calling of the Lord and doing what the Lord had asked of him. He had asked the Lord to heal him and the Lord added fifteen years to his life. As a sign that the Lord would heal him, God asked him if he wanted the shadow to go forward ten steps or backward. Hezekiah said backward, and the shadow on the ground went backward ten steps.
Application:
God is incredibly powerful. He moved the sun or earth in order to make this happen and it was simply a confirmation to one man that He had healed the man. God's power is far beyond what we can ask, think or even imagine. He can literally do whatever He wants to do at any time He chooses to do it. Nothing is beyond Him and nothing is beyond hope.
Prayer:
Father, let me see Your power demonstrated in my generation. Teach me to believe You and to walk with You in the miraculous. I believe our generation needs to see Your power again. I want to see You work in the church in the miraculous again. You are amazing!
Yours,
Jeff
II Kings 20:11 "Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz".
Observation:
Hezekiah had been calling of the Lord and doing what the Lord had asked of him. He had asked the Lord to heal him and the Lord added fifteen years to his life. As a sign that the Lord would heal him, God asked him if he wanted the shadow to go forward ten steps or backward. Hezekiah said backward, and the shadow on the ground went backward ten steps.
Application:
God is incredibly powerful. He moved the sun or earth in order to make this happen and it was simply a confirmation to one man that He had healed the man. God's power is far beyond what we can ask, think or even imagine. He can literally do whatever He wants to do at any time He chooses to do it. Nothing is beyond Him and nothing is beyond hope.
Prayer:
Father, let me see Your power demonstrated in my generation. Teach me to believe You and to walk with You in the miraculous. I believe our generation needs to see Your power again. I want to see You work in the church in the miraculous again. You are amazing!
Yours,
Jeff
Friday, June 6, 2014
If We Could Only See
Scripture:
II Kings 7:16-17 "'Don't be afraid', the prophet answered. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them'. And Elisha prayed, 'Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha".
Observation:
Elisha and his servant were being followed by an army of men who wanted to to kill them. It looked hopeless and like they would surely die quickly and the servant was scared. Elisha told him not to be afraid because there was more for them than against them. He asked God to open the servant's eyes and when he did, the servant saw God's army was larger than the enemy army.
Application:
Sometimes when situations look impossible, we need to ask God to open our eyes. If we could see what's going on in the spirit realm, we would live very different lives. We would see how often our lives have been in danger ad how God has preserved us. We would see how God is working on our behalf and we would trust Him more. We would feel invincible if our eyes were opened. If only we could see what goes on, we would live differently.
Prayer:
Lord, open my eyes. I want to see You and Your armies at work in the world. Teach me to trust You more and more each day, realizing that your are truly the God of angel armies. You are victorious and powerful. Help me see it more each day.
Yours,
Jeff
II Kings 7:16-17 "'Don't be afraid', the prophet answered. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them'. And Elisha prayed, 'Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha".
Observation:
Elisha and his servant were being followed by an army of men who wanted to to kill them. It looked hopeless and like they would surely die quickly and the servant was scared. Elisha told him not to be afraid because there was more for them than against them. He asked God to open the servant's eyes and when he did, the servant saw God's army was larger than the enemy army.
Application:
Sometimes when situations look impossible, we need to ask God to open our eyes. If we could see what's going on in the spirit realm, we would live very different lives. We would see how often our lives have been in danger ad how God has preserved us. We would see how God is working on our behalf and we would trust Him more. We would feel invincible if our eyes were opened. If only we could see what goes on, we would live differently.
Prayer:
Lord, open my eyes. I want to see You and Your armies at work in the world. Teach me to trust You more and more each day, realizing that your are truly the God of angel armies. You are victorious and powerful. Help me see it more each day.
Yours,
Jeff
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Is There No Prophet?
Scripture:
II Kings 3:11 "But Jehoshaphat asked, 'Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?'"
Observation:
In the days of the kings of Israel and Judah, when the king needed to hear a word from God, he would go to the prophets and see what God was saying. In this particular case, Jehoshaphat needed to hear from God about his army's present situation. He knew if he could just get to a true prophet of God, he would be able to hear from God.
Application:
"Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?" really stood out to me this morning. As God's people, very often we lack God's direction. We don't know what to do. As New Testament believers, we have the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and to guide us. It should be easy and normal for us to hear from the Lord with all our decisions. May we develop into people who know the voice of the Lord and hear Him clearly like the OT prophets did.
Prayer:
Lord, I need to hear from You about some things. Open my ears to hear Your Spirit. Open my mind to receive from You. Help me grow in knowing Your voice. I want to do Your will, but sometimes I don't feel like I hear clearly enough from You what I need to do. I want to know You more.
Your Son,
Jeff
II Kings 3:11 "But Jehoshaphat asked, 'Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?'"
Observation:
In the days of the kings of Israel and Judah, when the king needed to hear a word from God, he would go to the prophets and see what God was saying. In this particular case, Jehoshaphat needed to hear from God about his army's present situation. He knew if he could just get to a true prophet of God, he would be able to hear from God.
Application:
"Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?" really stood out to me this morning. As God's people, very often we lack God's direction. We don't know what to do. As New Testament believers, we have the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and to guide us. It should be easy and normal for us to hear from the Lord with all our decisions. May we develop into people who know the voice of the Lord and hear Him clearly like the OT prophets did.
Prayer:
Lord, I need to hear from You about some things. Open my ears to hear Your Spirit. Open my mind to receive from You. Help me grow in knowing Your voice. I want to do Your will, but sometimes I don't feel like I hear clearly enough from You what I need to do. I want to know You more.
Your Son,
Jeff
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Where Now is the Lord, The God of Elijah?
Scripture:
II Kings 2:14 "He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. 'Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?' he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over".
Observation:
Elisha was determined to get a double portion of the anointing on Elijah's life. He followed him around until he got it. When Elijah was taken to heaven, he dropped his mantle and Elisha picked it up. He had seen Elijah use it and now it was his turn. He cried out "where is the Lord God of Elijah?" and struck the water. The waters opened and he walked across. The school of the prophets was amazed.
Application:
In my Spirit this morning I'm asking, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" Where are the miraculous interventions of God in our generation? I know we hear some great testimonies of what the Lord has done, but I believe there is so much more that we are missing out on. I want to see revival in my generation that shakes America. Where is the God of the first and second great awakening?
Prayer:
Lord, I want to see true revival in my generation. I want to see Your glory hit regions at a time and see thousands swept into your kingdom. Where is the Lord God of the First and Second Great Awakening? Come Mighty God and move in our country again.
II Kings 2:14 "He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. 'Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?' he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over".
Observation:
Elisha was determined to get a double portion of the anointing on Elijah's life. He followed him around until he got it. When Elijah was taken to heaven, he dropped his mantle and Elisha picked it up. He had seen Elijah use it and now it was his turn. He cried out "where is the Lord God of Elijah?" and struck the water. The waters opened and he walked across. The school of the prophets was amazed.
Application:
In my Spirit this morning I'm asking, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" Where are the miraculous interventions of God in our generation? I know we hear some great testimonies of what the Lord has done, but I believe there is so much more that we are missing out on. I want to see revival in my generation that shakes America. Where is the God of the first and second great awakening?
Prayer:
Lord, I want to see true revival in my generation. I want to see Your glory hit regions at a time and see thousands swept into your kingdom. Where is the Lord God of the First and Second Great Awakening? Come Mighty God and move in our country again.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
God of the Valleys
Scripture:
I Kings 20:28 "The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, 'This is what the Lord says: Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord '"
Observation:
The Arameans were defeated because they thought God was the God of the mountains, but not the God of the valleys. God is God! He is God of the mountaintops and He is the God of the valleys in our lives. God told Israel they would win and they would know that He was God because the Arameans didn't realize He was God of the Valleys.
Application:
Sometimes we only see God as the God of the mountaintops, but God is God in the valleys as well. He is God in the good times and in the bad times. He is Lord of everything! When we are going through the valleys, He is still God. When we are on the mountaintops, He is still God.
Prayer:
Father, let me see that You are still God when it seems things are not going my way. Help me to see You as the God of the valleys as well as the mountaintops. Thanks for showing me this today.
Your Son,
Jeff
I Kings 20:28 "The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, 'This is what the Lord says: Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord '"
Observation:
The Arameans were defeated because they thought God was the God of the mountains, but not the God of the valleys. God is God! He is God of the mountaintops and He is the God of the valleys in our lives. God told Israel they would win and they would know that He was God because the Arameans didn't realize He was God of the Valleys.
Application:
Sometimes we only see God as the God of the mountaintops, but God is God in the valleys as well. He is God in the good times and in the bad times. He is Lord of everything! When we are going through the valleys, He is still God. When we are on the mountaintops, He is still God.
Prayer:
Father, let me see that You are still God when it seems things are not going my way. Help me to see You as the God of the valleys as well as the mountaintops. Thanks for showing me this today.
Your Son,
Jeff
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