Ezekiel 12:28
Therefore say to them, ”This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Many times there is no urgency in what we do because there are no consequences for our delay. We wait for deadlines before we do anything because we know we have some more time to procrastinate. In times past, we had the luxury of Grace that gave us time to get ourselves together. Paul said, “a thousand years are like one day for the Lord.” God has been giving us time to get it together. He wishes that none would perish but that all would be saved. He’s given us time to get it together but now there is no more delay. We are entering a season where God’s judgment comes without delay. God’s word will do what it says it’s going to do when it is spoken.
We live in a generation of young people whose favorite mantra is, “Only God can judge me!” That is true and his judgment is coming swiftly. God told Ezekiel, “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.” As a result, God told Ezekiel I will no longer delay with my judgment. God is a loving God but he also means what he says.
God says there is no more delay when it comes to:
1. Idolatry. Idolatry is when we put something in God’s place whether it be money, our job, our lovers or ourselves. God will not share his glory with another. We have to make sure we get rid of our idols before we experience God’s wrath. Ezekiel 14:6
2. Disobedience. We can’t be hearers of God’s word but we also have to put it into action. Ezekiel 12:2
3. Lying prophets. We just can’t tell people what they want to hear. WE have to speak truth in Love. God is tired of us preaching a popcorn gospel that doesn’t challenge people to Holiness or social justice. We must speak only what God gives us to speak. Ezekiel 12:24
Dear God,
We have been disobedient long enough. It’s time for us to live the life you want us to live. You gave us Jesus as a sacrifice so we would not be condemned to death. You gave us time to catch up with the gift of salvation. The deadline of our judgment is fast approaching and we want to get there before our time is up. Today, help us to walk in obedience so that we can get an extension of Grace. Thank you for giving us time to get it together. There is no more delay.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
It's Time to Change Up!
2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Ezekiel 10:14 Each cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Rev. 4:7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
God is always changing things up. He told the prophet, “Behold I do anew thing in you, do you not perceive it?” God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow but yet he is constantly changing us. It does not yet appear what we shall be but we shall all be changed in the twinkling of an eye. When we are born again we become a “new Creation” old things have passed and all things become new. God shifts us to handle new assignments in new places. Whatever shape your life takes depends on the assignment that God has for you.
In both the Old and New Testaments, there is a vision of four living creatures around the throne of God. Their descriptions are the same in both accounts accept for one change; the cherub is now an ox. The living creature in Ezekiel had an angelic face or a cherub’s face. In Revelation, he was replaced with an Ox. Angels are messengers. An ox is a strong worker. We shift from an announcement of Judgment in Ezekiel to a preparation for Judgment in Revelation. This may be your season for God to shift you into a new creation. Where you were before required you to be angelic now you are in a season where you have to pull which requires you to be an ox. It’s time to change things up.
1. Lion. The lion is the king of the Jungle. He is at the top of the food chain. Jesus was often called the “Lion of Judah or the "conquering Lion.” There are times in our lives when we need a Lion spirit to go out and conquer territory where the enemy is like a roaring lion. This is the season where you have to be brave to protect your land from the enemy.
2. Ox. The ox is strong and steady. This may be the season where you are not running but you are pulling your weight. Your life is not moving fast but it’s steady.
3. Man. Never lose your humanity. As strong as you are, as brave as you are, you are only human. It’s not by power nor by might but by God’s spirit. To be human is to have compassion on other humans.
4. A flying Eagle. Eagles fly above storms. This is the season where you use your storm to give you altitude. With all of the storms we have been experiencing it may be time to shift to eagle mode and fly above the storms to get to where God would have us be.
Dear God,
Whatever season you have me in change me into a new creature and do new things in me so that I can fly high above my circumstances, pull my weight, hold on to my humanity and handle all of my enemies. Thank you for making me into a new creation. I’m ready for something new.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Ezekiel 10:14 Each cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Rev. 4:7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
God is always changing things up. He told the prophet, “Behold I do anew thing in you, do you not perceive it?” God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow but yet he is constantly changing us. It does not yet appear what we shall be but we shall all be changed in the twinkling of an eye. When we are born again we become a “new Creation” old things have passed and all things become new. God shifts us to handle new assignments in new places. Whatever shape your life takes depends on the assignment that God has for you.
In both the Old and New Testaments, there is a vision of four living creatures around the throne of God. Their descriptions are the same in both accounts accept for one change; the cherub is now an ox. The living creature in Ezekiel had an angelic face or a cherub’s face. In Revelation, he was replaced with an Ox. Angels are messengers. An ox is a strong worker. We shift from an announcement of Judgment in Ezekiel to a preparation for Judgment in Revelation. This may be your season for God to shift you into a new creation. Where you were before required you to be angelic now you are in a season where you have to pull which requires you to be an ox. It’s time to change things up.
1. Lion. The lion is the king of the Jungle. He is at the top of the food chain. Jesus was often called the “Lion of Judah or the "conquering Lion.” There are times in our lives when we need a Lion spirit to go out and conquer territory where the enemy is like a roaring lion. This is the season where you have to be brave to protect your land from the enemy.
2. Ox. The ox is strong and steady. This may be the season where you are not running but you are pulling your weight. Your life is not moving fast but it’s steady.
3. Man. Never lose your humanity. As strong as you are, as brave as you are, you are only human. It’s not by power nor by might but by God’s spirit. To be human is to have compassion on other humans.
4. A flying Eagle. Eagles fly above storms. This is the season where you use your storm to give you altitude. With all of the storms we have been experiencing it may be time to shift to eagle mode and fly above the storms to get to where God would have us be.
Dear God,
Whatever season you have me in change me into a new creature and do new things in me so that I can fly high above my circumstances, pull my weight, hold on to my humanity and handle all of my enemies. Thank you for making me into a new creation. I’m ready for something new.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Monday, August 29, 2011
Wake Up!
Revelation 3:2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
I hope I wake up before they start my wake up! –Lecrae, Rehab
Bill Hybels, Sr. Pastor of Willow Creek recently spoke about the Life Cycle of Ministry at his Leadership summit. He said that Life cycle consists of accelerating, Booming, Decelerating, Tanking, and death. He said, “Nothing Rocks forever.” A life cycle is not meant to depress u but to awaken us to the fact that we have to inspect what we expect.
When we first start a ministry, business, or relationship we begin at the Acceleration stage. We start picking up steam. It’s new and word is getting out about the new initiative. People are getting on board slowly but surely.
Booming is where you’ve hit your stride. You’ve reached maximum capacity, you’ve hit your stride. This is where the organization is reaching your intended target.
Deceleration is when things start slowing down. Numbers fall off. Momentum begins to slow. You’ve become stuck in a routine.
Tanking is when it starts going down real fast. You’re pouring resources on something that is no longer working.
Then there is death.
In order to avoid death in your ministry, business or relationship you must come up with fresh ideas during the deceleration stage. Stop nursing dead stuff and put your resources to new and invigorating ideas which will cause you to keep booming.
In order to ensure that you keep growing in your life cycle you need to:
1. Wake up! Take a sober look at where you are and ask yourself are you accelerating, booming, decelerating or tanking. Name the problem and add a solution.
2. Strengthen that which remains. Even if you are decelerating, you still have something left. You can’t get stuck on what you lost but you have to strengthen what you have left. Your new start comes from strengthening that which remains.
3. Finish what you started. It’s not time to die but you have to add some fresh ideas because God is not through with you. As Marty Neumeier says, “you have to Zig while others are Zagging.” In order for your ministry, business or relationship to thrive you have to do something new to once again accelerate and boom.
Dear God,
Give us fresh wind, fresh fire and fresh ideas so we can boom again. Breathe new life in my ministry, my business, and my relationships. There is more you want from me. It’s not time to die. Renew the right sprit and restore the Joy of my salvation.
In Jesus name,
Amen
I hope I wake up before they start my wake up! –Lecrae, Rehab
Bill Hybels, Sr. Pastor of Willow Creek recently spoke about the Life Cycle of Ministry at his Leadership summit. He said that Life cycle consists of accelerating, Booming, Decelerating, Tanking, and death. He said, “Nothing Rocks forever.” A life cycle is not meant to depress u but to awaken us to the fact that we have to inspect what we expect.
When we first start a ministry, business, or relationship we begin at the Acceleration stage. We start picking up steam. It’s new and word is getting out about the new initiative. People are getting on board slowly but surely.
Booming is where you’ve hit your stride. You’ve reached maximum capacity, you’ve hit your stride. This is where the organization is reaching your intended target.
Deceleration is when things start slowing down. Numbers fall off. Momentum begins to slow. You’ve become stuck in a routine.
Tanking is when it starts going down real fast. You’re pouring resources on something that is no longer working.
Then there is death.
In order to avoid death in your ministry, business or relationship you must come up with fresh ideas during the deceleration stage. Stop nursing dead stuff and put your resources to new and invigorating ideas which will cause you to keep booming.
In order to ensure that you keep growing in your life cycle you need to:
1. Wake up! Take a sober look at where you are and ask yourself are you accelerating, booming, decelerating or tanking. Name the problem and add a solution.
2. Strengthen that which remains. Even if you are decelerating, you still have something left. You can’t get stuck on what you lost but you have to strengthen what you have left. Your new start comes from strengthening that which remains.
3. Finish what you started. It’s not time to die but you have to add some fresh ideas because God is not through with you. As Marty Neumeier says, “you have to Zig while others are Zagging.” In order for your ministry, business or relationship to thrive you have to do something new to once again accelerate and boom.
Dear God,
Give us fresh wind, fresh fire and fresh ideas so we can boom again. Breathe new life in my ministry, my business, and my relationships. There is more you want from me. It’s not time to die. Renew the right sprit and restore the Joy of my salvation.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Thursday, August 25, 2011
He's Not Heavy, He's My Brother!
Jeremiah 38:10
Then the King commanded Ebed-Melech the Cushite, “take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
There is a painting by an African-American artist I saw when I was younger, depicting a man reaching over a wall to help another man over to freedom. The caption under it read, “He’s not heavy, he’s my brother.” This painting was inspired by a song written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell in 1969. The first verse in the song said:
The road is long with many a winding turn that leads us to who knows were, who knows when but I’m strong enough to carry him. He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
In these uncertain times there are a lot of brothers and sisters down who not only need a hand out but more importantly need a hand up. Especially from those of us who are in a position to help someone out. We should help lift them up because in helping them we really help ourselves.
Jeremiah, the prophet, was thrown in a well and left to die for telling the truth to the king that they should surrender to the Babylonians. Speaking truth to power can be dangerous but not speaking Dos’ truth can be deadly. Jeremiah said, “when I said wasn’t going to speak in his name anymore, his word was like fire shut up in my bones.”
They threw Jeremiah in a well with no water in it, just mud. He sank into it and was left to starve to death. How many people are sinking into a depression because they’ve been let go, laid off, or put in prison? So many brothers/sisters are starving in dark places with no hope for tomorrow. They’re not heavy they just need a job. They’re not heavy they just need another chance. They need a lift.
Ebed-Melech the Cushite heard about Jeremiah’s plight and went to the King on his behalf. He was a minority. He was an official in the Royal palace. He used his position at the top to help a brother who was at the bottom of a well. Jeremiah had a good name and integrity even though he was at the bottom. No matter how hard times may get there is one thing that people can’t take away from you and that is your good name. Guard it with everything that you have. Ebed-Melech didn’t mind risking his position or helping him because he knew Jeremiah had a good name and he wasn’t heavy!
Lifting people out of a mess is not heavy work when they are worth the lift. Jeremiah was in a mess but he wasn’t a messy person. He wasn’t heavy. His punishment didn’t fit the crime. His only crime was telling the truth. There are some people you can’t lift because they start pulling you down.
When you find someone of integrity who needs your help to lift them out, here’s what you should do:
1. Use your position and influence to talk to important people to get them out. Ebed-Melech went to the King.
2. Use a network of people to help you. Ebed used 30 men from the palace to help him lift Jeremiah out of the well. Who are the people in your network that can help you lift them out?
3. Use whatever resources you can find even if they are not financial. Ebed-Melech used old rags which were below the treasury. He didn’t use money but rags. I guess Jeremiah went from rags to riches through the help of Ebed-Melech.
4. Make sure the person you are lifting is working with you, not against you. Ebed told Jeremiah to tie the ropes around him. Jeremiah had to participate.
5. Don’t hurt them while you are lifting them. He told Jeremiah to pad the ropes with the old rags so the rope wouldn’t burn. We have to be tactful while we are trying to help pull people up. Don’t tell everybody their business or rub in their faces what you are doing for them.
6. Place the lifted person somewhere safe and where they can succeed. Jeremiah was placed in the courtyard of the guard and brought daily bread until the siege was over.
7. Watch God elevate you after you lift them. Ebed-Melech the Cushite was the only person from the royal palace that was saved when the Babylonians finally broke through. God told Jeremiah to tell Ebed, “I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be handed over to those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 39:16-18. When you help others God will help you!
Dear God,
Show me how to lift up my brothers and sisters who are not heavy. Give me discernment on who to lift and whose pulling me down. Give me the resources to help those who are not heavy. Thank you that one day when I was stuck in despair, that your love lifted me. When nothing else could help Jesus your love lifted me. Thank you for lifting me out of my mess.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Then the King commanded Ebed-Melech the Cushite, “take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
There is a painting by an African-American artist I saw when I was younger, depicting a man reaching over a wall to help another man over to freedom. The caption under it read, “He’s not heavy, he’s my brother.” This painting was inspired by a song written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell in 1969. The first verse in the song said:
The road is long with many a winding turn that leads us to who knows were, who knows when but I’m strong enough to carry him. He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
In these uncertain times there are a lot of brothers and sisters down who not only need a hand out but more importantly need a hand up. Especially from those of us who are in a position to help someone out. We should help lift them up because in helping them we really help ourselves.
Jeremiah, the prophet, was thrown in a well and left to die for telling the truth to the king that they should surrender to the Babylonians. Speaking truth to power can be dangerous but not speaking Dos’ truth can be deadly. Jeremiah said, “when I said wasn’t going to speak in his name anymore, his word was like fire shut up in my bones.”
They threw Jeremiah in a well with no water in it, just mud. He sank into it and was left to starve to death. How many people are sinking into a depression because they’ve been let go, laid off, or put in prison? So many brothers/sisters are starving in dark places with no hope for tomorrow. They’re not heavy they just need a job. They’re not heavy they just need another chance. They need a lift.
Ebed-Melech the Cushite heard about Jeremiah’s plight and went to the King on his behalf. He was a minority. He was an official in the Royal palace. He used his position at the top to help a brother who was at the bottom of a well. Jeremiah had a good name and integrity even though he was at the bottom. No matter how hard times may get there is one thing that people can’t take away from you and that is your good name. Guard it with everything that you have. Ebed-Melech didn’t mind risking his position or helping him because he knew Jeremiah had a good name and he wasn’t heavy!
Lifting people out of a mess is not heavy work when they are worth the lift. Jeremiah was in a mess but he wasn’t a messy person. He wasn’t heavy. His punishment didn’t fit the crime. His only crime was telling the truth. There are some people you can’t lift because they start pulling you down.
When you find someone of integrity who needs your help to lift them out, here’s what you should do:
1. Use your position and influence to talk to important people to get them out. Ebed-Melech went to the King.
2. Use a network of people to help you. Ebed used 30 men from the palace to help him lift Jeremiah out of the well. Who are the people in your network that can help you lift them out?
3. Use whatever resources you can find even if they are not financial. Ebed-Melech used old rags which were below the treasury. He didn’t use money but rags. I guess Jeremiah went from rags to riches through the help of Ebed-Melech.
4. Make sure the person you are lifting is working with you, not against you. Ebed told Jeremiah to tie the ropes around him. Jeremiah had to participate.
5. Don’t hurt them while you are lifting them. He told Jeremiah to pad the ropes with the old rags so the rope wouldn’t burn. We have to be tactful while we are trying to help pull people up. Don’t tell everybody their business or rub in their faces what you are doing for them.
6. Place the lifted person somewhere safe and where they can succeed. Jeremiah was placed in the courtyard of the guard and brought daily bread until the siege was over.
7. Watch God elevate you after you lift them. Ebed-Melech the Cushite was the only person from the royal palace that was saved when the Babylonians finally broke through. God told Jeremiah to tell Ebed, “I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be handed over to those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 39:16-18. When you help others God will help you!
Dear God,
Show me how to lift up my brothers and sisters who are not heavy. Give me discernment on who to lift and whose pulling me down. Give me the resources to help those who are not heavy. Thank you that one day when I was stuck in despair, that your love lifted me. When nothing else could help Jesus your love lifted me. Thank you for lifting me out of my mess.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
It's Time For Intervention
I John 5:16
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.
We’ve all had loved ones in our lives who’ve gotten into trouble before. We watch them as their lives become unmanageable. Particularly in the area of addiction to things like drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping, hoarding, etc. There are times when family members have to do what’s called “intervention.” It’s when the family brings the addict/offender into a room without knowing why they are there and everyone begins to tell them why they can’t live like this anymore. They tell the addict/offender how their behavior is affecting the family in a negative way. They challenge them to go to Rehab. Sometimes, this is the only time that the addict/offender is able to really look at themselves because their loved ones have intervened all at once. They do it out of love because they don’t want to see them die or ruin their lives.
At some point we all need intervention, whether we will admit it or not. Somebody intervened for you. When your life was teetering out of control somebody prayed for you. You probably avoided becoming an addict because somebody intervened early in your life. Prayer is a form of intervention through intercession.
I John 5:16 says, “If you see a brother or sister sinning and they have not already died from it you should intervene or intercede through prayer first.” All sin leads ultimately to death but there are some sins that take us out immediately. It’s only by grace some of us are still here. Then some of us are here because prayer warriors have been interceding, giving us more time to get it together and go through spiritual rehab.
There is a sin that leads to death. Sometimes, when we refuse to stop sinning God has to take us home early to protect our salvation. Then there are sins that have immediate consequences of death like robbing someone and getting shot. When we see someone sinning and they are still alive we need to intervene and pray for God to save them. When we intercede for someone God will intervene. After you intercede through prayer you should follow up with intervention.
Matthew 18:15 is a good model for intervention that can save somebody’s life:
If your brother/sister sins against you, go to them and show them their faults. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If they listen to you, you have your brother/sister back. But if they will not listen to you, take one or two persons with you so that every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses as the scripture says. And if he/she will not listen to them, then tell the whole thing to the church. Finally if he/she will not listen to the church, confront him/her with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love. Matthew 18:15-17 MSG
Dear God,
We all need intervention. Thank you for giving us time to get ourselves together. I should’ve been dead but you spared my life. Thank you for Jesus intervening on Calvary’s cross so I wouldn’t have to die but have eternal life.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.
We’ve all had loved ones in our lives who’ve gotten into trouble before. We watch them as their lives become unmanageable. Particularly in the area of addiction to things like drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping, hoarding, etc. There are times when family members have to do what’s called “intervention.” It’s when the family brings the addict/offender into a room without knowing why they are there and everyone begins to tell them why they can’t live like this anymore. They tell the addict/offender how their behavior is affecting the family in a negative way. They challenge them to go to Rehab. Sometimes, this is the only time that the addict/offender is able to really look at themselves because their loved ones have intervened all at once. They do it out of love because they don’t want to see them die or ruin their lives.
At some point we all need intervention, whether we will admit it or not. Somebody intervened for you. When your life was teetering out of control somebody prayed for you. You probably avoided becoming an addict because somebody intervened early in your life. Prayer is a form of intervention through intercession.
I John 5:16 says, “If you see a brother or sister sinning and they have not already died from it you should intervene or intercede through prayer first.” All sin leads ultimately to death but there are some sins that take us out immediately. It’s only by grace some of us are still here. Then some of us are here because prayer warriors have been interceding, giving us more time to get it together and go through spiritual rehab.
There is a sin that leads to death. Sometimes, when we refuse to stop sinning God has to take us home early to protect our salvation. Then there are sins that have immediate consequences of death like robbing someone and getting shot. When we see someone sinning and they are still alive we need to intervene and pray for God to save them. When we intercede for someone God will intervene. After you intercede through prayer you should follow up with intervention.
Matthew 18:15 is a good model for intervention that can save somebody’s life:
If your brother/sister sins against you, go to them and show them their faults. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If they listen to you, you have your brother/sister back. But if they will not listen to you, take one or two persons with you so that every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses as the scripture says. And if he/she will not listen to them, then tell the whole thing to the church. Finally if he/she will not listen to the church, confront him/her with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love. Matthew 18:15-17 MSG
Dear God,
We all need intervention. Thank you for giving us time to get ourselves together. I should’ve been dead but you spared my life. Thank you for Jesus intervening on Calvary’s cross so I wouldn’t have to die but have eternal life.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Is There Anything Too Hard For God?
Jeremiah 32:27
I am the Lord, the god of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
We are facing some difficult days and times right now. It seems like we’re in perpetual limbo with our finances. Some of us are so distraught because we feel like there is no way out but there is one thing that separates us from everybody else, our faith in God!
Jeremiah was in prison for prophesying the truth about Jerusalem’s destruction. He warned the people that they would be taken captive by Babylon because of their disobedience to God. It was equivalent to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. being thrown in a Birmingham jail because he spoke truth to Power and he wrote one of his greatest messages on a roll of toilet paper, “we can’t afford to wait.” This was the fate of Jeremiah, but just because you don’t want to hear the truth doesn’t mean the truth will not be heard or come to pass.
Jeremiah is in prison and God sends his cousin to ask him to buy some land. God tells him to buy the land in prison! God is going to restore his people in years to come and Jeremiah is to put the deed of trust in a clay jar and bury it until God’s promise is fulfilled. Jeremiah is obedient but with his checkbook in his hand, in prison, under siege, he is honest with God and asks God, “You want me to buy some land with the way conditions are right now?!” God answers him with a rhetorical question: “Is there anything too hard for me?” God tells Jeremiah that when his people turn back to him he will turn things around! He says I will:
1. Bring back the people and allow them to live in safety. Verse 37. With all that is going on God’s promise to us is that when we turn our faces back to him he will bring us back to the land we were kicked out of.
2. Give us singleness of heart and action. Verse 39. God will give us focus again and bring all the people on the same page. There has been so much division lately from the White House to your house. God will bring us back together as a nation.
3. He will never stop doing good for us. Verse 40. God told Jeremiah that those who survived the sword would find favor in the desert.
4. He will plant us in new places. Verse 41.
5. He will once again give us prosperity. Verse 42. Prosperity is more than money. It’s life and life more abundantly. In the past we thought prosperity was only material things to be spent on ourselves. In the future we will not waste our prosperity but use it to be a blessing to others.
6. The housing market will pick back up. Verse 43. When we get back right with God, our homes will have value and we will restore our neighborhoods for good.
7. He will restore our fortunes. Verse 44.
Dear God,
I believe that when we turn around things will turn around. God we will show you our face and not our backs. We repent of our sins and follow you in obedience. Thank you for hearing our prayers.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
I am the Lord, the god of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
We are facing some difficult days and times right now. It seems like we’re in perpetual limbo with our finances. Some of us are so distraught because we feel like there is no way out but there is one thing that separates us from everybody else, our faith in God!
Jeremiah was in prison for prophesying the truth about Jerusalem’s destruction. He warned the people that they would be taken captive by Babylon because of their disobedience to God. It was equivalent to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. being thrown in a Birmingham jail because he spoke truth to Power and he wrote one of his greatest messages on a roll of toilet paper, “we can’t afford to wait.” This was the fate of Jeremiah, but just because you don’t want to hear the truth doesn’t mean the truth will not be heard or come to pass.
Jeremiah is in prison and God sends his cousin to ask him to buy some land. God tells him to buy the land in prison! God is going to restore his people in years to come and Jeremiah is to put the deed of trust in a clay jar and bury it until God’s promise is fulfilled. Jeremiah is obedient but with his checkbook in his hand, in prison, under siege, he is honest with God and asks God, “You want me to buy some land with the way conditions are right now?!” God answers him with a rhetorical question: “Is there anything too hard for me?” God tells Jeremiah that when his people turn back to him he will turn things around! He says I will:
1. Bring back the people and allow them to live in safety. Verse 37. With all that is going on God’s promise to us is that when we turn our faces back to him he will bring us back to the land we were kicked out of.
2. Give us singleness of heart and action. Verse 39. God will give us focus again and bring all the people on the same page. There has been so much division lately from the White House to your house. God will bring us back together as a nation.
3. He will never stop doing good for us. Verse 40. God told Jeremiah that those who survived the sword would find favor in the desert.
4. He will plant us in new places. Verse 41.
5. He will once again give us prosperity. Verse 42. Prosperity is more than money. It’s life and life more abundantly. In the past we thought prosperity was only material things to be spent on ourselves. In the future we will not waste our prosperity but use it to be a blessing to others.
6. The housing market will pick back up. Verse 43. When we get back right with God, our homes will have value and we will restore our neighborhoods for good.
7. He will restore our fortunes. Verse 44.
Dear God,
I believe that when we turn around things will turn around. God we will show you our face and not our backs. We repent of our sins and follow you in obedience. Thank you for hearing our prayers.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Monday, August 22, 2011
I Can't Keep Doing This!
I John 3:9
No one who is born of God will continue to sin because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
When you are born again, God places a deposit inside of you. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit. God then begins his redemptive work that was set in motion by Jesus dying for us on the cross. Old things have passed away and behold all things should be new. We must work out our soul’s salvation every day. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray daily, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Even when we are saved and give our lives to serve Jesus we are still prone to drift. What keeps us is God’s seed and his inner voice.
If you truly belong to God and you have been born again there is the seed of God’s Spirit and his word inside of you and it will not leave you alone. The old folk’s use to sing, “What is this that makes me feel so good inside, what is this that makes me want to love my enemies, what is this that makes me want to do right when I want to do wrong, whatever it is I don’t want it to leave me alone.”
John says, ‘You can’t go on sinning if God’s seed is in you.’ God’s seed is the Holy Spirit which nurtures the word of God when we hear it. When John says, “We can’t go on sinning if we belong to God”, he doesn’t mean that you won’t make mistakes after you get saved. The Writer of Romans tells us that ‘all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.’ What it means is that when we find ourselves off course the Holy Spirit will help us to “Recalculate”.
Whenever I drive out of town, I like using my GPS. If I make a wrong turn the ‘Voice’ of the GPS says, "Recalculating”. The Voice is trying to get me back in the right direction but I have to choose to listen to the Voice. It’s not that God doesn’t speak to us, it’s that we don’t listen. If you belong to God you can’t keep ignoring his Voice. What is it that God is trying to get you out of that you keep ignoring his Voice? You have to get out before you miss your exit.
Dear God,
Help us to hear you loud and clear today. We can’t keep doing this! You’ve been too good to us to jeopardize our lives by heading in the wrong direction. Today, I’m going to recalculate my life’s plan to make sure that I’m following your voice.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
No one who is born of God will continue to sin because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
When you are born again, God places a deposit inside of you. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit. God then begins his redemptive work that was set in motion by Jesus dying for us on the cross. Old things have passed away and behold all things should be new. We must work out our soul’s salvation every day. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray daily, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Even when we are saved and give our lives to serve Jesus we are still prone to drift. What keeps us is God’s seed and his inner voice.
If you truly belong to God and you have been born again there is the seed of God’s Spirit and his word inside of you and it will not leave you alone. The old folk’s use to sing, “What is this that makes me feel so good inside, what is this that makes me want to love my enemies, what is this that makes me want to do right when I want to do wrong, whatever it is I don’t want it to leave me alone.”
John says, ‘You can’t go on sinning if God’s seed is in you.’ God’s seed is the Holy Spirit which nurtures the word of God when we hear it. When John says, “We can’t go on sinning if we belong to God”, he doesn’t mean that you won’t make mistakes after you get saved. The Writer of Romans tells us that ‘all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.’ What it means is that when we find ourselves off course the Holy Spirit will help us to “Recalculate”.
Whenever I drive out of town, I like using my GPS. If I make a wrong turn the ‘Voice’ of the GPS says, "Recalculating”. The Voice is trying to get me back in the right direction but I have to choose to listen to the Voice. It’s not that God doesn’t speak to us, it’s that we don’t listen. If you belong to God you can’t keep ignoring his Voice. What is it that God is trying to get you out of that you keep ignoring his Voice? You have to get out before you miss your exit.
Dear God,
Help us to hear you loud and clear today. We can’t keep doing this! You’ve been too good to us to jeopardize our lives by heading in the wrong direction. Today, I’m going to recalculate my life’s plan to make sure that I’m following your voice.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
