Friday, September 28, 2012

God's Word Gives Confidence

Scripture:

Numbers 21:34 "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land.  Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon".

Observation:

King Og of Bashan, who this scripture is written about was in the line of the giants.  He was an enormous man and a valiant warrior.  Moses wasn't a warrior and his people were not trained for battle, but on the word of the Lord, they would march.  God tells Moses not to be afraid of Og because God had handed him over to Moses.  Once something is done in God's eyes, it is done!  Once God handed him over to Moses, he just had to walk that direction because God had already done the work.

Application:

A word from God changes everything!  Moses' natural reaction to fighting a "giant" king with and inexperienced army would have been to run the other direction, but God gave him the confidence he needed.  When God really speaks, and we know it, nothing can deter us from our destiny.  We need to hear His voice and do what He is saying, then we will have victory in our lives.   Moses knew that without God on his side, he would fail in this battle.  He also knew that when God says something, it is going to happen.

Prayer:

Lord, I want a word from You.  I need to hear Your voice and walk confidently after that.  Open my ears that I may hear clearly what You have to say to the church.  Help me to be tuned in correctly and walking in alignment.  Give me the confidence I need to do what you call me to do.

Your Son,
Jeff

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Allotment of the Priest

Scripture:

Numbers 18:20 ""Your priests will receive no allotment of land or share of property among the people of Israel.  I am your share and allotment".

Observation:

All of the people of Israel were to receive an allotment of land when they got to the promised land.  Each tribe would have a particular area.  It wasn't so with the priests.  They didn't get any allotment of land because God said He was their share and allotment.  They were very blessed, but were not allowed to buy land for themselves.  They ate incredibly well and received the tithes of the people to live off of, but God wanted to be their share and allotment.

Application:

Though we are not Old Testament people, there are very real shadows and thoughts that God wants us to understand to know Him better.  In the New Covenant, we are a kingdom of priests to whom God wants to be our share and allotment.  God wants us to have satisfaction in Him.  He wants to be seen as our provider.  God takes care of His own, but He wants His own to look to him as their great and present reward.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be satisfied in You.  I want You to be my share and allotment.  Your presence is what I want more than anything else.  I want to see Your glory.  I want to see revival in my generation.  Help me to get my satisfaction in You and nowhere else.

Yours Forver,
jeff

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Faith Moves Quickly

Scripture:

Numbers 13:30 "But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses.  'Let's go at once to take the land,' he said.  'We can certainly conquer it!'".

Observation:

Moses had sent out 12 spies into the land God had promised them.  10 spies came back after investigation with the report that the people were huge, the walls were fortified and they will kill us if we try to go against them.  The people, as people always do, gathered around the bad news and choose to believe the 10 spies.  The people were in an uproar and then a man of faith stepped up and quieted the crowd.  Caleb said "let's go at once and take the land.  We can certainly conquer it!

Application:

Caleb and Joshua saw the same enemies that everyone else saw, but they also saw the power of their God and of obedience to Him.  They understood that God could defeat any army and loved them enough to do it.  Knowing God's power and love should make us step out in faith quickly like Caleb.  We can either be people of fear or people of faith, but we cannot be both.  God's desires a people of faith.

Prayer:

Lord, increase my faith and always let my response be one of faith and trust in my God.  You are unfailing, everlasting and amazingly powerful, yet sometimes I allow fear to control my decisions instead of faith.  Help me to grow in faith.

Sincerely,
Jeff

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Multiplication of Ministry

Scripture:

Numbers 11:17 "I will come down and talk to you there.  I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also.  They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone".

Observation:

Moses was leading a huge group of complaining people and couldn't take it any more.  Just above it says he became very aggravated with the people.  God's solution to Moses' aggravation with whining people was to put some of the Spirit of Moses on 70 elders who would help him bear the weight of the responsibility for the people.  God multiplied Moses' ministry effectiveness by getting 70 other people involved in serving the needs of the people.

Application:

God loves to expand our leadership base.  Several times in His word He expands the leadership base to better serve the people when leaders are getting worn out.  As a leader, it is easy to get worn out and the solution is usually to involve more people in leadership.  The growth of our church will completely depend on how well we can multiply ministry by involving new leaders.  We must also make sure that the same Spirit that is on my life is upon them.  They can't flow in another spirit.

Prayer:

Father, help me to raise up new leaders to evenly distribute the load.  I know this is important for our church and that it is the only way we will grow to be all You want for us.  Help me to implement this multiplication of ministry better and to serve the needs of our church better.  I want our church to serve you with excellence.

Your Son,
Jeff

Friday, September 21, 2012

Let the Spirit Guide You

Scripture:

Galatians 5:16  "So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.  Then you won't be doing what the sinful nature craves".

Observation:

Paul is writing to the Galatians and telling them not to believe those who are telling them to go back to the Law of Moses.  Someone had come in telling them they needed to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses.  Paul is responding and saying "not since Jesus".  Paul tells them to go about holiness in a new way.  He says, "Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives".  When the Holy Spirit guides your life, He will lead you into truth and get you away from ungodliness.

Application:

Everyone struggles with the sinful nature to some degree, but those who are constantly and continually walking in the Spirit will overcome quickly.  When we listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him lead our lives, we won't be doing what the sinful nature craves.  Life the way God wants it for us is more about following the voice of the Holy Spirit and less about the do's and don'ts of religion.  When we let Him guide us, it is not even a struggle.  We need to focus more on listening to Him and doing what He says, this way we know we will be living right.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, I want to be filled completely by You.  I want you to lead me and guide me into fulfilling God's will for my life.  Teach me to hear your voice more clearly.  Help me to see what you see and feel what you feel.  Guide me into all truth I pray.

Yours,
Jeff Jacob

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Abraham's Promise is Mine

Scripture:

Galatians 3:29  "And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham.  You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you".

Observation:

Abraham was told by God that he was to leave his country and go to a place God would show him.  He told Abraham that He would make him into a great nation and that He would bless him and make him a blessing.  God told Abraham that He would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.  He said that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him.  Now Paul tells us that we are Abraham's heirs and that God's promise to Abraham belongs to us as well.

Application:

Abraham was a very wealthy individual who had the blessing of God on his life in a big way.  Everything he touched was blessed supernaturally by God.  According to Galatians, I am am heir of Abraham and an heir of the promise God made to Abraham.  I am so much more blessed than I have lived out in my personal life.  The blessing of Abraham rests on me and I am blessed.  Now I must believe it and live in it.

Prayer:

Father, I receive the blessing of Abraham and his descendants.  I realize that I am an heir according to the promise.  I realize that his blessing comes to me.  Thank You for showing me this today.  Help me to believe it and walk in it.  I want my life blessed like Abraham's was.  I want to be a blessing to the nations of the world and to those around me.  I want those who bless me to be blessed.

Thanks,
Jeff

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

God's Blessing for Obedience

Scripture:

Leviticus 26:3,5 "If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands...Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain.  You will eat your fill and live securely in the land".

Observation:

God told the children of Israel that there were blessings if they obeyed his decrees and there were curses if they disobeyed them.  He promised them that if they would obey him, He would cause their crops to come in so fast that they would be planting while still harvesting.  He wants His people to be careful in following Him and to do things His way instead of their own.

Application:

God is looking for our obedience to His word above all else.  When we obey, He blesses.  It's as simple as that.  I want to live under the incredible blessing and favor of the Lord, therefore, I know I must walk a life of obedience to Him.  If I want His blessing, I must walk in complete obedience to the Lord.  He even promises that we can live in the land securely.  I want security for my family.

Prayer:

Father, help me live a life that is pleasing to You.  I realize that you bless the obedient and want to be under your blessing.  Show me the areas of my life that need work and change.  You are the best and I want to serve You well.

Yours,
Jeff