Generosity Wins

 Scripture:

“Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Paul is letting the Corinthians know he is proud of them for their faith, their gifted speakers, their knowledge, their enthusiasm, and their love. He goes one step farther and tells them he wanted them to excel also in the gracious act of giving. He was raising an offering and wanted them to be generous. He pushed them to learn to be givers because one day they might be on the other side and need an offering. 

Application:

Generosity is a very godly characteristic. Generosity is not natural. It comes from a walk with Jesus. Generous people are blessed people, not the other way around. If we want to be blessed financially, we must be willing to have a generous heart. I personally believe that generosity opens the gates for God’s blessing to flow into our lives. Most of us can’t comprehend how giving away resources can increase our resources because it doesn’t make mathematical sense. It is a God thing! He blesses those with a generous heart and they have more. I want to walk in the spirit of generosity and see God’s blessing increase in my life.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be more generous with what You give me. Show me when to give, how to give, and how much to give. Let me walk in step with You and what You want me to do at all times. You are my source. Everything I have has come from You. Help me to be generous with what You have blessed me with.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Preach Jesus

 Scripture:

“You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Paul told the Corinthians here that he didn’t go around preaching himself or anything else. He preached that Jesus Christ is Lord and Paul was his servant. He understood that it is Jesus who calls us into ministry. It is Jesus that our preaching and ministry should point to. It is Jesus who should be the focus of our lives and preaching. 

Application:

It is easy as a preacher to preach about things that will help people. Often we preach, using the Bible, how to have a better life. The reality is, our preaching should be Jesus-focused. We should be leading people to Him. He should be the center of our life and ministry. He should be the center around which everything rotates. I want my life and ministry to point people to Jesus.

Prayer:

Father, help me to preach Jesus as clear as possible. Help me to keep the main thing the main thing. Show me how to keep Jesus at the center and to speak from there. Teach me to teach Your people well. Show me how to correctly handle Your Word of Truth. Let me be a voice that points people to Christ for salvation, healing, deliverance, and life-giving water.

Yours,

Jeff

Remain Faithful and Obedient

 Scripture:

“These things happened because of the Lord’s anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭24‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

After King Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and destroyed the altars of all other gods, Judah rebelled against the Lord and began erecting images of other gods. The kings led the process as the people turned against the ways of God and the commandments of God. Finally, sin and disobedience caused them to be exiled from the land the Lord had given them. They were banished because of their repeated sin.

Application:

We should be a people completely devoted to the Lord and His ways. His incredible blessings are upon those who follow Him wholeheartedly and completely. I want to be a person who wholeheartedly follows the Lord and does what He says to do. His blessings are amazing, but His judgment is also true. Sometimes we focus so much on the love of God that we forget that He is holy and wants His people to live holy lives. We must learn to love God and fear God at the same time.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be a faithful follower of You and Your Word. Teach me to walk in step with the Spirit. Show me Your ways. Let my life bring You honor as Josiah’s life did in his strong obedience to You. I want to live out my life fully surrendered to You. Make me effective for You and Your kingdom.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Obedience and Blessing

 Scripture:

“He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.” 2 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭6‬-‭7

Observation:

Hezekiah remained faithful to the Lord God Almighty. He carefully obeyed everything the Lord commanded. This scripture says that because of that, the Lord was with him and made him successful in everything he did.

Application:

When we fully follow the Lord, we can expect Him to be with us and to prosper our lives. When we are walking in step with the Holy Spirit, we will always come out on top of whatever comes against us. When we stop obeying the Lords commands, we have no promises to stand on. Obedience brings blessing!

Prayer:

Father, You are great and glorious. Help me to follow you completely and wholeheartedly. Teach me to walk in step with Your Spirit every day and to do what You speak. Thank You for helping all these incredible years.

Yours Wholeheartedly,

Jeff

Relax and Trust God

 Scripture:

““Why go today?” he asked. “It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath.” But she said, “It will be all right.”” 2 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In the passage, the son of a woman who had built an addition on their house for the prophet, had died. She was distraught and told her husband to go get the prophet. When he inquired as to why, she just said, “It will be all right.” She knew if she could get to the prophet, everything would be okay.

Application:

When we are faced with insurmountable problems, we should not allow ourselves to get overwhelmed, but look to God, who can change any circumstance. We need confidence that “it will be all right”. Real faith relaxes and puts things in the hands of an all powerful God.

Prayer:

Father, help me to run to You with every need and not get stressed out or feel hopeless. You are me everything. Help me to relax and trust You more each day.

Yours, 

Jeff

Man of God

 Scripture:

“But Elijah replied to the captain, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.”  ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Elijah knew who he was in God. When confronted by fifty men, he said “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you.” Then it happened as he said. The proof of being a man of God was that God backed up his word.

Application:

In my heart, I have always wanted to be known by the words “man of God” more than any other title. I long to be like Elijah or Elisha and truly be a man of God who is bold in faith and knows who he is in God.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be a man of God. More than a pastor, teacher, prophet, apostle, or evangelist, I want to be a man of God who knows and walks with God and fully obeys the Lord in all situations. Let me live a life completely surrendered to You Lord. I’m yours!

Your Son, 

Jeff

Think Deeply About Your Calling

 Scripture:

I Kings 19-20 (NLT) "So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, "First let me go and kiss my father and mother goodbye and then I will go with you." Elijah replied, "Go back, but think about what I have done to you."

Observation:

Elijah had found Elisha and threw his cloak over him. The cloak was a symbol of his anointing. Elisha instantly knew Elijah wanted him to leave his parents and follow him. When Elisha asked to go back and say goodbye to his parents, Elijah gave him permission but told him to think about what he had done to him. He wanted Elisha to ponder the anointing that was being placed on his life.

Application:

There are times when we ned to think deeply about what God has called us to do. There are times we need to think about the ramifications of carrying God's anointing on our lives. We must think deeply about what it means to walk with God and fulfill His purposes in the earth. When God calls us, we must think about what He is calling us to do and what that will require of us.

Prayer:

Father, You have called me to do things that seem above my current thought processes. Help me to think deeply about Your calling and what that means for my life. What do I need to do now? What do I need to prepare for? What do I need to accomplish? What should I be giving my time to? Teach me to think deeply about Your calling on my life.

Forever Yours,

Jeff