S-12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.John 15:9 KJV - YouVersion.com
O- Jesus sets the condition of His friendship. There is a difference between love and friendship. Love is unconditional. God sent Jesus into the world because of unconditional love. Friendship is conditional. Friendship is only shared with those with the same values. Friendship is only enjoyed by the ones that are doing the same things as Jesus. Obedience is required for friendship to be enjoyed. Jesus wasn't selfish when he asked for obedience because it wasn't for him. He was telling others to love each other. If people did that, they would enjoy his friendship. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God
A- Jesus makes it very clear here that to enjoy friendship with Him, I have to do everything I can to love and serve others. Relationship with Christ cannot happen without relationship with others. The conduit of fellowship with Christ is to have a serving heart that is bent on mending broken relationships.
P- God, please help me to view my relationship with you through the eyes of how I love and serve others. Please help me to maintain the view of you as my father in law and everyone else as your kids.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Fasting
S-Isaiah 58:7 KJVIs it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
O- The purpose of fasting is not to add another feather to the hat of the righteous. It is to take the focus that we have on ourselves and place it on others. The purpose of fasting is to learn to put yourself away and to put others first. The most basic need is put aside so that it gives us strength to put other things aside as well. Fasting is a time to exercise self control for the purpose of loving God and others.
A- The next time I fast, I should practically take the time to give to God and others things that I would normally give to myself. Money, time, energy. I need to make it a discipline to fast weekly and do something for God and others on the day that I fast.
P- God please give me the self control to fast and to place you and others above the food that I eat.
O- The purpose of fasting is not to add another feather to the hat of the righteous. It is to take the focus that we have on ourselves and place it on others. The purpose of fasting is to learn to put yourself away and to put others first. The most basic need is put aside so that it gives us strength to put other things aside as well. Fasting is a time to exercise self control for the purpose of loving God and others.
A- The next time I fast, I should practically take the time to give to God and others things that I would normally give to myself. Money, time, energy. I need to make it a discipline to fast weekly and do something for God and others on the day that I fast.
P- God please give me the self control to fast and to place you and others above the food that I eat.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Judgment on the Land
TITLE: Judgment on the Land
DATE: February 25,2011
SCRIPTURE: 38 18:
“And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.”
OBSERVATION: A defiled land is an abomination to God. Through Abel’s bloodshed, Cain was “cast out” of the land. Through deceit & falsehood, Jacob had to flee to uncle Laban’s dwelling away from his home. For shedding the blood of an Egyptian, Moses was exiled from Egypt to Midian. The Jews, for crucifying Jesus, was scattered across the world for almost two millenniums. In this passage, those who commit sexual sins defile the land so God vows to remove them from their land. God’s response to these violations of human life is serious. The perpetuator cannot remain in the land and is thrust out as a judgment.
APPLICATION: I’ve pondered the fate of many peoples and nations and wonder if what has happened to them is not a form of God’s judgment upon them - the conquest of the Indians in America, the Africans from Africa and the Hawaiians from this land of Hawaii. Were these expressions of God’s judgment against these nations? From this passage, it seems it is and, if so, gives no right to conquering nations to mistreat the conquered. If this is true, it is only a matter of time for America and Hawaii to have its day of judgment. The bloodshed of abortion and murders, the deceit & falsehood in the financial & political arena and the increasing sexual immorality that is now becoming acceptable practice by law is bringing us closer to the handwriting of “Mene, Mene Tekel, Upharsin” as it did for Belshazzar in his desecration of God in his day.
PRAYER: “Grant me a sensitive heart to Your immutable laws and an intercessory love for the people of our land for revival to cleanse our land so judgment can be averted.”
DATE: February 25,2011
SCRIPTURE: 38 18:
“And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.”
OBSERVATION: A defiled land is an abomination to God. Through Abel’s bloodshed, Cain was “cast out” of the land. Through deceit & falsehood, Jacob had to flee to uncle Laban’s dwelling away from his home. For shedding the blood of an Egyptian, Moses was exiled from Egypt to Midian. The Jews, for crucifying Jesus, was scattered across the world for almost two millenniums. In this passage, those who commit sexual sins defile the land so God vows to remove them from their land. God’s response to these violations of human life is serious. The perpetuator cannot remain in the land and is thrust out as a judgment.
APPLICATION: I’ve pondered the fate of many peoples and nations and wonder if what has happened to them is not a form of God’s judgment upon them - the conquest of the Indians in America, the Africans from Africa and the Hawaiians from this land of Hawaii. Were these expressions of God’s judgment against these nations? From this passage, it seems it is and, if so, gives no right to conquering nations to mistreat the conquered. If this is true, it is only a matter of time for America and Hawaii to have its day of judgment. The bloodshed of abortion and murders, the deceit & falsehood in the financial & political arena and the increasing sexual immorality that is now becoming acceptable practice by law is bringing us closer to the handwriting of “Mene, Mene Tekel, Upharsin” as it did for Belshazzar in his desecration of God in his day.
PRAYER: “Grant me a sensitive heart to Your immutable laws and an intercessory love for the people of our land for revival to cleanse our land so judgment can be averted.”
Judgment on the Land
TITLE: Judgment on the Land
DATE: February 25,2011
SCRIPTURE: 38 18:
“And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.”
OBSERVATION: A defiled land is an abomination to God. Through Abel’s bloodshed, Cain was “cast out” of the land. Through deceit & falsehood, Jacob had to flee to uncle Laban’s dwelling away from his home. For shedding the blood of an Egyptian, Moses was exiled from Egypt to Midian. The Jews, for crucifying Jesus, was scattered across the world for almost two millenniums. In this passage, those who commit sexual sins defile the land so God vows to remove them from their land. God’s response to these violations of human life is serious. The perpetuator cannot remain in the land and is thrust out as a judgment.
APPLICATION: I’ve pondered the fate of many peoples and nations and wonder if what has happened to them is not a form of God’s judgment upon them - the conquest of the Indians in America, the Africans from Africa and the Hawaiians from this land of Hawaii. Were these expressions of God’s judgment against these nations? From this passage, it seems it is and, if so, gives no right to conquering nations to mistreat the conquered. If this is true, it is only a matter of time for America and Hawaii to have its day of judgment. The bloodshed of abortion and murders, the deceit & falsehood in the financial & political arena and the increasing sexual immorality that is now becoming acceptable practice by law is bringing us closer to the handwriting of “Mene, Mene Tekel, Upharsin” as it did for Belshazzar in his desecration of God in his day.
PRAYER: “Grant me a sensitive heart to Your immutable laws and an intercessory love for the people of our land for revival to cleanse our land so judgment can be averted.”
DATE: February 25,2011
SCRIPTURE: 38 18:
“And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.”
OBSERVATION: A defiled land is an abomination to God. Through Abel’s bloodshed, Cain was “cast out” of the land. Through deceit & falsehood, Jacob had to flee to uncle Laban’s dwelling away from his home. For shedding the blood of an Egyptian, Moses was exiled from Egypt to Midian. The Jews, for crucifying Jesus, was scattered across the world for almost two millenniums. In this passage, those who commit sexual sins defile the land so God vows to remove them from their land. God’s response to these violations of human life is serious. The perpetuator cannot remain in the land and is thrust out as a judgment.
APPLICATION: I’ve pondered the fate of many peoples and nations and wonder if what has happened to them is not a form of God’s judgment upon them - the conquest of the Indians in America, the Africans from Africa and the Hawaiians from this land of Hawaii. Were these expressions of God’s judgment against these nations? From this passage, it seems it is and, if so, gives no right to conquering nations to mistreat the conquered. If this is true, it is only a matter of time for America and Hawaii to have its day of judgment. The bloodshed of abortion and murders, the deceit & falsehood in the financial & political arena and the increasing sexual immorality that is now becoming acceptable practice by law is bringing us closer to the handwriting of “Mene, Mene Tekel, Upharsin” as it did for Belshazzar in his desecration of God in his day.
PRAYER: “Grant me a sensitive heart to Your immutable laws and an intercessory love for the people of our land for revival to cleanse our land so judgment can be averted.”
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Holy Spirit Power!
Luke 12:11-12 AMP
And when they bring you before the synagogues and the
magistrates and the authorities, do not be anxious [beforehand] how you shall reply
in defense or what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour and moment what [you] ought to say.
O/
Holy Spirit will give you words to speak in a time when you have nothing to say! Epic!
A/
This is just one more thing that will give us freedom to live free!
P/
Thank you Lord for the freedom that is in You! Amen!
And when they bring you before the synagogues and the
magistrates and the authorities, do not be anxious [beforehand] how you shall reply
in defense or what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour and moment what [you] ought to say.
O/
Holy Spirit will give you words to speak in a time when you have nothing to say! Epic!
A/
This is just one more thing that will give us freedom to live free!
P/
Thank you Lord for the freedom that is in You! Amen!
S-Leviticus 19:14
“‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD"
O-
This verse can easily be applied in a spiritual way, like, "do not curse those who are not 'hearers of the gospel' or live in such a way that will cause those who are spiritually blind, to stumble".
The spiritual principle to follow in order to live in such a way where we do not get fed up with those who may cheat us, gossip about us, and refuse to live righteously (the spiritually deaf and blind) is found later in the verse: "fear the Lord".
If we fear the Lord, then we will have a proper perspective and treat those who are a burden to us with humility. When we fear the Lord, we remember who we are, and that we were once blind and deaf to the gospel, and we are still working out our salvation.
That's my spiritual answer. But let's observe the context of this verse. God is actually ordering the people to literally not curse deaf people and trip blind people. How bad is that? Deaf people were getting cursed without them knowing and blind people were being tripped up in order to steal from them or be a source of entertainment.
That's mean. A lot of the levitical laws make me scratch my head...until I realize just how many dumb laws God has to put into my life, when I don't live out of love and grace. He's got to make a whole bunch of rules for me, because I'm not mature enough to not fall into the folly of my own mind and actions.
A-
I am going to write down all the little laws that I live by, or put on myself, and see if maybe those restrictions are actually keeping me in training wheels.
P-
God help me to live by your new covenant...Let me not need to follow a whole bunch of rules, but let me live by grace and produce the fruit of the Spirit in my life-while still embracing correction.
S- Acts 17:16-28
O- Paul went into Athens and was distressed about all of the ungodliness there. Instead of leaving or cursing it or condeming the people there he preached the same message of Christ and His resurrection but in a new and a fresh way that made the people interested in hearing more.
He also studied their culture, their beliefs, and there literature and used their culture in his gospel presentation and showed them how Jesus was the completion of their belief system and not a contradiction. He took the time to learn about them and to show them he cared which made his gospel message that much more powerful.
A- Sometimes we as Christians can be so afraid of the world and that it will influence us, our families, and or churches that we run away from it. Paul was so connected to God and had such a love for the people that didn't know Him that he was willing to learn about other non Godly practices in order to redeem them for God. He even got to the point were he was disturbed by what he saw in that culture but he got passed those things in order to be an effective witness.
I want to have the power and wisdom that Paul had to be so connected to God that I am not influenced by the world and at the same time be able to study the world around me and be able to show others in that world the fingerprints of God all over the place.
P- Lord please give me a love for you and a love for the lost that Paul had. Please help me to be effective in balancing my time with you and my time with the world and please help me to be effective in leading others into a relationship with you. Give me words of wisdom and words of knowledge that will help others see that you are real and that you have been seeking after them for some time.
O- Paul went into Athens and was distressed about all of the ungodliness there. Instead of leaving or cursing it or condeming the people there he preached the same message of Christ and His resurrection but in a new and a fresh way that made the people interested in hearing more.
He also studied their culture, their beliefs, and there literature and used their culture in his gospel presentation and showed them how Jesus was the completion of their belief system and not a contradiction. He took the time to learn about them and to show them he cared which made his gospel message that much more powerful.
A- Sometimes we as Christians can be so afraid of the world and that it will influence us, our families, and or churches that we run away from it. Paul was so connected to God and had such a love for the people that didn't know Him that he was willing to learn about other non Godly practices in order to redeem them for God. He even got to the point were he was disturbed by what he saw in that culture but he got passed those things in order to be an effective witness.
I want to have the power and wisdom that Paul had to be so connected to God that I am not influenced by the world and at the same time be able to study the world around me and be able to show others in that world the fingerprints of God all over the place.
P- Lord please give me a love for you and a love for the lost that Paul had. Please help me to be effective in balancing my time with you and my time with the world and please help me to be effective in leading others into a relationship with you. Give me words of wisdom and words of knowledge that will help others see that you are real and that you have been seeking after them for some time.
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