Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.
Sometimes, I lay in the bed after the alarm goes off trying to allow my body to catch up to my mind. I have to tell my body to move because it wants to remain comfortable in that warm bed enraptured by a state of inactivity. We have too much to accomplish to lie in the bed for hours after the alarm has already gone off. Some of us are sitting in front of our computers, lying in the bed with our smart phones, but we have not gotten up. What are you waiting for?
There is an alarm built in your spirit that God has placed there that reminds you that you have work to do. Jesus said, “I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day for when night comes no man can work.” If you saw daylight today that means that you still have work to do, that’s why the old folks could wake up with joy singing, “Lord you gave me one more sunny day.” But if you are still idle this morning I have to ask you, ‘what are you waiting for?’
After the Apostle Paul had his Damascus road wakeup call he had to lay down in a house on straight street. After he recovered he was still lying down. God sent Ananias to give Paul instructions on his journey and what he would accomplish for the Lord. Maybe the reason you are still laying down after recovery is that you need a Life Coach like Ananias, who can spur you on toward good works and ask you hard questions like, “What are you waiting for?” There is something great inside of you that God is trying to birth in you but you have been procrastinating and putting off what you know God has purposed you to do. I don’t even think that you are afraid of failure you are more afraid to succeed. If I do what God tells me to do I will no longer have the luxury of lying in obscurity inoculated by mendacity but I must engage the world with what he has commissioned me to do with my life. It’s time to wake up! In order to break this spirit of procrastination we have to:
Get up. Half the battle for attempting to accomplish anything worthwhile is getting up. The other night when Eminem won his Grammy for his Album Recovery, he yelled out, “Detroit, Stand up!” It was like Eminem after his own recovery from drug addiction was speaking to his dead and impoverished city with so much potential, "it’s time for us to stand up again.” After your recovery you don’t stay down you stand up.
Be Baptized. That is Immerse yourself in that which is going to make you new. When you have a passion for something you have to immerse yourself in it until you accomplish what it is you set out today. Don’t get sprinkled with hit and miss attempts, get baptized! Put your whole self into it.
Wash your sins away. Forget about past mistakes and failures. Instead press toward the new thing God is doing. Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained perfection but one thing I do is forget those things that are behind me and press toward the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ.”
Call on his name. Start operating in the authority God has given you. Jesus said, “Ask anything in my name and it will be given to you.” That’s authority! Star calling on his name.
Whenever I wake my boys up in the morning I call them through the monitor system. “Son are you awake? ‘Yes sir (sleepy voice).’ “Then get up and put your feet on the floor. It’s time to have a great day.”
Dear God,
I’m ready to get up to do what you have for me to do. Use me as you see fit. Thank you for waking me up this morning and starting me on my way. Baptize me Jesus with your Holy Ghost and help me to walk in authority all day long.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Are You Fresh?!
Is that fresh?
Leviticus 24:8
This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as lasting covenant.
Whenever we go to the grocery store to purchase food like bread or milk we always check the expiration date. We like our food to be fresh. Nobody wants food that’s been setting up in display all day. We like fresh bread. Maybe that’s why Krispy Kreme does so well with their sign that says, “Now serving Hot doughnuts!” that sign is so tempting because no one can resist hot, fresh doughnuts.
God likes hot fresh bread too! We are the bread. Every day we are to give ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. We can’t live off last week’s bread. Every week we have to start from scratch kneading out the dough of our daily devotion, removing the yeast of sin, and involving ourselves in the heat of regular worship.
Every Sabbath the priests were to put 12 loaves of bread before the Lord. The number 12 represented the 12 tribes who were to assemble themselves before the Lord for regular worship. We should regularly assemble our tribes, our families, for weekly worship. Our worship ought to be fresh!
How do you have fresh worship?
1. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise Psalm 100:4. When we come to church we have to come with our fire. You can’t bake bread if you don’t have that fire.
2. Consecrate yourself. Leviticus 11:18 “Tell the people: Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow…” whenever the people assembled themselves to be in God’s presence they had to get themselves presentable. We need to get our minds and bodies clean in preparation of coming into God’s presence.
3. Sing Hymns. When we come to worship we ought not to have a performance mentality where we sit back and let the praise team entertain us. We are the praise team and God is the audience. Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.
4. Pray for each other. Ephesians 6:18 pray in the sprit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
5. Come with Expectation. Ephesians 3:20 He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Dear God, help my worship and my living to always be fresh. Daily will I seek your face. Give me fresh wind and fresh fire so I can give your people a fresh word. Help me to serve others today with freshness. “Now Serving Hot Bread!”
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Leviticus 24:8
This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as lasting covenant.
Whenever we go to the grocery store to purchase food like bread or milk we always check the expiration date. We like our food to be fresh. Nobody wants food that’s been setting up in display all day. We like fresh bread. Maybe that’s why Krispy Kreme does so well with their sign that says, “Now serving Hot doughnuts!” that sign is so tempting because no one can resist hot, fresh doughnuts.
God likes hot fresh bread too! We are the bread. Every day we are to give ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. We can’t live off last week’s bread. Every week we have to start from scratch kneading out the dough of our daily devotion, removing the yeast of sin, and involving ourselves in the heat of regular worship.
Every Sabbath the priests were to put 12 loaves of bread before the Lord. The number 12 represented the 12 tribes who were to assemble themselves before the Lord for regular worship. We should regularly assemble our tribes, our families, for weekly worship. Our worship ought to be fresh!
How do you have fresh worship?
1. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise Psalm 100:4. When we come to church we have to come with our fire. You can’t bake bread if you don’t have that fire.
2. Consecrate yourself. Leviticus 11:18 “Tell the people: Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow…” whenever the people assembled themselves to be in God’s presence they had to get themselves presentable. We need to get our minds and bodies clean in preparation of coming into God’s presence.
3. Sing Hymns. When we come to worship we ought not to have a performance mentality where we sit back and let the praise team entertain us. We are the praise team and God is the audience. Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.
4. Pray for each other. Ephesians 6:18 pray in the sprit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
5. Come with Expectation. Ephesians 3:20 He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Dear God, help my worship and my living to always be fresh. Daily will I seek your face. Give me fresh wind and fresh fire so I can give your people a fresh word. Help me to serve others today with freshness. “Now Serving Hot Bread!”
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Night Vision!
Acts 16:9
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Can’t sleep at night, something just ain't right, maybe God is trying to tell you something. –Shug Avery’s song she sang as she left the night club going back to her daddy’s church.
God has a way of speaking to us even if he has to do it at night. Sometimes, it is when we are still and free from the distractions of the day that God can finally get a word in or a vision communicated. The Prophet Joel said that in latter days young men would see visions and old men dream dreams. In these dark days, God is showing us Night Visions. Sometimes, we can be so busy thinking we are living out God’s plan, when in fact, we are heading in the wrong direction. God offers corrections to our course by communicating through night visions.
The Apostle Paul wanted to travel to Bythnia but while he was sleeping God showed him a night vision of a man standing up in Macedonia begging him to come there. What is it that is begging your attention? There is something that God has put on your Sprit that is different from what you are doing right now. This could be your Macedonian call.
Oftentimes, God will put people in my heart by showing me their face in a dream or their name in my spirit and when I get that feeling I try to follow up with a call to see how they are doing. Sometimes, there is a cause that God could be calling you to. You know what it is because you can’t shake it. It begs for your attention: Helping the poor in Haiti, Adopting a child, democracy in Egypt, ending homelessness in America, ending world hunger, supplying clean drinking water, a cure for cancer, stopping the HIV/AIDS epidemic, eradicating teen pregnancy.
What is it that God is giving you a night vision for? Paul changed his course to follow his vision. Once God gives you a night vision you have to change your course fulfill what he’s calling you to do. I met a wonderful brother from New York, Scott Harrison, who was a former night club promoter. He woke up one night and realized he was living his life keeping people high but not helping people live. He got on a ship and devoted his life to giving people clean drinking water in poor countries. Check out his testimony here: http://www.charitywater.org/about/scotts_story.php
Dear God,
Help me to be sensitive to your call. Give me a vision in this night time of our existence that will meet the needs of people I may not even know about yet. There is something that begs my attention and I want to be obedient to the vision that you give me. Whatever you want me to do, wherever you want me to go, whatever you want me to say, I’ll do it Lord. Send me and I’ll go. Only show me the way. Whatever you are doing in this season Lord, don’t do it without me!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Can’t sleep at night, something just ain't right, maybe God is trying to tell you something. –Shug Avery’s song she sang as she left the night club going back to her daddy’s church.
God has a way of speaking to us even if he has to do it at night. Sometimes, it is when we are still and free from the distractions of the day that God can finally get a word in or a vision communicated. The Prophet Joel said that in latter days young men would see visions and old men dream dreams. In these dark days, God is showing us Night Visions. Sometimes, we can be so busy thinking we are living out God’s plan, when in fact, we are heading in the wrong direction. God offers corrections to our course by communicating through night visions.
The Apostle Paul wanted to travel to Bythnia but while he was sleeping God showed him a night vision of a man standing up in Macedonia begging him to come there. What is it that is begging your attention? There is something that God has put on your Sprit that is different from what you are doing right now. This could be your Macedonian call.
Oftentimes, God will put people in my heart by showing me their face in a dream or their name in my spirit and when I get that feeling I try to follow up with a call to see how they are doing. Sometimes, there is a cause that God could be calling you to. You know what it is because you can’t shake it. It begs for your attention: Helping the poor in Haiti, Adopting a child, democracy in Egypt, ending homelessness in America, ending world hunger, supplying clean drinking water, a cure for cancer, stopping the HIV/AIDS epidemic, eradicating teen pregnancy.
What is it that God is giving you a night vision for? Paul changed his course to follow his vision. Once God gives you a night vision you have to change your course fulfill what he’s calling you to do. I met a wonderful brother from New York, Scott Harrison, who was a former night club promoter. He woke up one night and realized he was living his life keeping people high but not helping people live. He got on a ship and devoted his life to giving people clean drinking water in poor countries. Check out his testimony here: http://www.charitywater.org/about/scotts_story.php
Dear God,
Help me to be sensitive to your call. Give me a vision in this night time of our existence that will meet the needs of people I may not even know about yet. There is something that begs my attention and I want to be obedient to the vision that you give me. Whatever you want me to do, wherever you want me to go, whatever you want me to say, I’ll do it Lord. Send me and I’ll go. Only show me the way. Whatever you are doing in this season Lord, don’t do it without me!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Protect Your Neck!
Acts 15:10
Now then why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
Sometimes, when I’m working out at home, it’s funny to see my boys trying to lift the same weights that I select. They want to show me that they are strong like their daddy but they are not at an age where they can lift what I lift. So to protect them I give them weights that they can handle and still be able to work out with their father.
Jesus did that for us. He knew that we would not handle the weight of God’s law because we were weakened by sin. So he lightened the load by dying in our place and giving us a weight we could handle and still workout with the Father. That weight is called Grace, unmerited favor, from the father. That is why Jesus said, “Come unto me all of you that “work out” and I will give you rest, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For my yoke is easy and my burdens are light.”
Jesus lightened our Load making it possible to walk alongside of the Father to do the work of the Kingdom. We are able to be in relationship with the father based upon the work that Jesus did on Calvary.
Religious people have come along and tried to increase the weight through tradition and dead rituals. The Pharisees were complaining that the Gentiles who were being saved needed to be circumcised out of Jewish tradition. Peter had to remind them that God made the decision to pour out his spirit on the Gentiles, so why should they come behind Jesus and put weight on the necks of new believers that they couldn’t even lift? He said, “Why do you test or provoke God by putting heavy yokes on the necks of these new disciples we couldn’t even carry?”
In Football, the linemen and maybe some linebackers have a “yoke” around their necks to protect them from neck injury. They are made out of foam so the helmet can only go so far back in a collision. God’s grace is like the foamed yoke that protects our heads form getting so heavy with rules and oftentimes our righteousness collides with the opposition. It's grace that keeps our necks from being broken by the sin that so easily entangles us. Sometimes, the rules get so heavy on our minds that it threatens to break our relationship but Grace sustains us. We are saved by grace not works but we still have rules.
Peter said in verse 28; it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements. Verse 29; “you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.” So they narrowed it down to eating healthy, eating righteously and having righteous relationships. You would do well to protect your neck.
Dear God,
Thank you for lifting my heavy burden and making it possible to work with you and for you. Forgive me of my sins and help me to do that which pleases you. You are my strength and my redeemer. I’m stronger; I’m wiser, I’m better so much better because of you. When I look back on all you brought me through I realize I made it because I had you to hold on to. Thank you Jesus.
Amen
Now then why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
Sometimes, when I’m working out at home, it’s funny to see my boys trying to lift the same weights that I select. They want to show me that they are strong like their daddy but they are not at an age where they can lift what I lift. So to protect them I give them weights that they can handle and still be able to work out with their father.
Jesus did that for us. He knew that we would not handle the weight of God’s law because we were weakened by sin. So he lightened the load by dying in our place and giving us a weight we could handle and still workout with the Father. That weight is called Grace, unmerited favor, from the father. That is why Jesus said, “Come unto me all of you that “work out” and I will give you rest, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For my yoke is easy and my burdens are light.”
Jesus lightened our Load making it possible to walk alongside of the Father to do the work of the Kingdom. We are able to be in relationship with the father based upon the work that Jesus did on Calvary.
Religious people have come along and tried to increase the weight through tradition and dead rituals. The Pharisees were complaining that the Gentiles who were being saved needed to be circumcised out of Jewish tradition. Peter had to remind them that God made the decision to pour out his spirit on the Gentiles, so why should they come behind Jesus and put weight on the necks of new believers that they couldn’t even lift? He said, “Why do you test or provoke God by putting heavy yokes on the necks of these new disciples we couldn’t even carry?”
In Football, the linemen and maybe some linebackers have a “yoke” around their necks to protect them from neck injury. They are made out of foam so the helmet can only go so far back in a collision. God’s grace is like the foamed yoke that protects our heads form getting so heavy with rules and oftentimes our righteousness collides with the opposition. It's grace that keeps our necks from being broken by the sin that so easily entangles us. Sometimes, the rules get so heavy on our minds that it threatens to break our relationship but Grace sustains us. We are saved by grace not works but we still have rules.
Peter said in verse 28; it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements. Verse 29; “you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.” So they narrowed it down to eating healthy, eating righteously and having righteous relationships. You would do well to protect your neck.
Dear God,
Thank you for lifting my heavy burden and making it possible to work with you and for you. Forgive me of my sins and help me to do that which pleases you. You are my strength and my redeemer. I’m stronger; I’m wiser, I’m better so much better because of you. When I look back on all you brought me through I realize I made it because I had you to hold on to. Thank you Jesus.
Amen
Monday, February 7, 2011
Don't Listen to Them!
Acts 14:2
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
The people in Cairo said that they can no longer trust the media in Egypt because of the Propaganda put out by the government. The government has become corrupt and President Mubarak is poisoning the waters with what he wants the people to hear. You really have to be careful who you get your news from.
Whenever there is a revolution taking place there will always be opposition from those who stand to lose something, be it power, position, or political influence. The quickest way to kill momentum of a movement is poisoning through propaganda of people who are successful in getting your ear. Eventhough we have to be skeptical of any news source in the media we also have to be leery of family and friends who don’t have our best interest in mind. If they are not where you are spiritually they could be poisoning your mind all in the name of love.
Paul and Barnabus were sent to a synagogue in Iconium and preached the Gospel. They were so impactful that Jews and Gentiles believed. In the crowd were also Jews who didn’t believe and ran the risk of losing their influence even though they didn’t care about the Gentiles. They stirred up the Gentiles by poisoning their minds.
In the movie, “Australia”, Sarah has to drive her cattle to the Market before her competition or she loses her farm. The next time they travel, they are driving across a really dry place. Magarri is at a watering hole, but he only splashes the water. The camera zooms out and there is a dead animal in the pool and one near it. He tells Drover that the water is bad. Fletcher (her competition) is the one who probably poisoned it. They argue about what to do. The nearest water is a five-day ride, but Magarri remarks that across one of the deserts, a three-day ride, there is water. Drover argues that there is no way they can drive across it, because there is not enough landmarks, so they’ll get lost and die. However, King George appears, and Nullah asks him to find the way to water. They follow him, and KG is shown singing and dancing his way through the desert. Drover explains that the aborigines have a song for every rock and landmark, allowing them to find a path.
When people who are in opposition to your movement see they can’t stop your momentum, they will try to poison your watering hole. But you got to have somebody who is a spiritual guide to get you from your place of poison to your place of purpose. It might not be King George but they might read from King James. When people close to you try to poison your mind they can say things like:
“Why are you going to that church? Why are you giving them all your money? They don’t appreciate you! God is not in that! You should leave! I think your season is up!” If you are not careful you will let miserable people who are not going anywhere talk you into joining them in their misery.
To counter this poisoning of the mind Paul and Barnabas:
1. Spent considerable time teaching the people who had been wrongly influenced. Some of us have to be untaught some of the damaging things people have misspoken in our minds. Make sure you spend time in a bible believing church with kingdom minded people.
2. Confirming the message of God’s grace. What Kingdom minded people teach should match the grace that you have experienced in Jesus Christ. If it doesn’t fit you must acquit.
3. The Apostles' miraculous signs and wonders confirmed they were from God. When God is in a movement there will be evidence that he is a part of it. Men lie. Women lie. Numbers don’t.
Dear God,
Protect my mind from Propaganda. Help me to protect my ears from people who don’t believe in the vision. Everyone cannot speak into my life especially if we are not equally yoked. Remove the poison with the antidote of your Word and your Holy Spirit. My ears are listening for your voice and I will not hearken to another. Today, I will be selective in who I let in my space.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
The people in Cairo said that they can no longer trust the media in Egypt because of the Propaganda put out by the government. The government has become corrupt and President Mubarak is poisoning the waters with what he wants the people to hear. You really have to be careful who you get your news from.
Whenever there is a revolution taking place there will always be opposition from those who stand to lose something, be it power, position, or political influence. The quickest way to kill momentum of a movement is poisoning through propaganda of people who are successful in getting your ear. Eventhough we have to be skeptical of any news source in the media we also have to be leery of family and friends who don’t have our best interest in mind. If they are not where you are spiritually they could be poisoning your mind all in the name of love.
Paul and Barnabus were sent to a synagogue in Iconium and preached the Gospel. They were so impactful that Jews and Gentiles believed. In the crowd were also Jews who didn’t believe and ran the risk of losing their influence even though they didn’t care about the Gentiles. They stirred up the Gentiles by poisoning their minds.
In the movie, “Australia”, Sarah has to drive her cattle to the Market before her competition or she loses her farm. The next time they travel, they are driving across a really dry place. Magarri is at a watering hole, but he only splashes the water. The camera zooms out and there is a dead animal in the pool and one near it. He tells Drover that the water is bad. Fletcher (her competition) is the one who probably poisoned it. They argue about what to do. The nearest water is a five-day ride, but Magarri remarks that across one of the deserts, a three-day ride, there is water. Drover argues that there is no way they can drive across it, because there is not enough landmarks, so they’ll get lost and die. However, King George appears, and Nullah asks him to find the way to water. They follow him, and KG is shown singing and dancing his way through the desert. Drover explains that the aborigines have a song for every rock and landmark, allowing them to find a path.
When people who are in opposition to your movement see they can’t stop your momentum, they will try to poison your watering hole. But you got to have somebody who is a spiritual guide to get you from your place of poison to your place of purpose. It might not be King George but they might read from King James. When people close to you try to poison your mind they can say things like:
“Why are you going to that church? Why are you giving them all your money? They don’t appreciate you! God is not in that! You should leave! I think your season is up!” If you are not careful you will let miserable people who are not going anywhere talk you into joining them in their misery.
To counter this poisoning of the mind Paul and Barnabas:
1. Spent considerable time teaching the people who had been wrongly influenced. Some of us have to be untaught some of the damaging things people have misspoken in our minds. Make sure you spend time in a bible believing church with kingdom minded people.
2. Confirming the message of God’s grace. What Kingdom minded people teach should match the grace that you have experienced in Jesus Christ. If it doesn’t fit you must acquit.
3. The Apostles' miraculous signs and wonders confirmed they were from God. When God is in a movement there will be evidence that he is a part of it. Men lie. Women lie. Numbers don’t.
Dear God,
Protect my mind from Propaganda. Help me to protect my ears from people who don’t believe in the vision. Everyone cannot speak into my life especially if we are not equally yoked. Remove the poison with the antidote of your Word and your Holy Spirit. My ears are listening for your voice and I will not hearken to another. Today, I will be selective in who I let in my space.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Don't Do It Without Me!
Exodus 33:15
Then Moses said to him, “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
Bishop Paul Morton has a song that says, “Lord whatever you’re doing in this season please don’t do it without me.” What a powerful plea. God’s definitely up to something. He is getting his harvest ready. He’s gathering his people together and make preparation for Jesus’ return. He’s shifting some things around and I want to be in that number. There are some great things God has in store for us this year but we are in danger of missing his move if we aren't sensitive to what he is doing. We don’t want God to do it without us and we surely don’t want to do it without him.
God was about to shift the Children of Israel from the wilderness to the Promised Land but God told them, “Go up to the land flowing with Milk and Honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:3) Sometimes a promotion can be a demotion if God doesn’t go with you. I don’t ever want to go up if God doesn’t go with me. The people were grief stricken with this news and Moses went in to God to seek his favor because he realized he couldn’t do it without God.
Moses said, “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
If you don’t want God to do it without you, here’s what you need to do:
1. Be still until you know His will. Make sure God is going with you before you take a step.
2. Get in God’s presence through worship and ask him to go with you. God told Moses in Exodus 33:17 I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.
3. Ask God to teach you his ways and show you his Glory. Moses wanted to know God more intimately. He spent 40 days and 40 nights with God without food and water. When he came down his face was glowing. God had transferred his Glory to Moses so the people would know that God was with them.
Dear God,
Whatever you are doing in this season please don’t do it without me. Show me your Glory and teach me your ways so I can lead your people into the Promised Land. We are ready to follow you forward.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Then Moses said to him, “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
Bishop Paul Morton has a song that says, “Lord whatever you’re doing in this season please don’t do it without me.” What a powerful plea. God’s definitely up to something. He is getting his harvest ready. He’s gathering his people together and make preparation for Jesus’ return. He’s shifting some things around and I want to be in that number. There are some great things God has in store for us this year but we are in danger of missing his move if we aren't sensitive to what he is doing. We don’t want God to do it without us and we surely don’t want to do it without him.
God was about to shift the Children of Israel from the wilderness to the Promised Land but God told them, “Go up to the land flowing with Milk and Honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:3) Sometimes a promotion can be a demotion if God doesn’t go with you. I don’t ever want to go up if God doesn’t go with me. The people were grief stricken with this news and Moses went in to God to seek his favor because he realized he couldn’t do it without God.
Moses said, “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
If you don’t want God to do it without you, here’s what you need to do:
1. Be still until you know His will. Make sure God is going with you before you take a step.
2. Get in God’s presence through worship and ask him to go with you. God told Moses in Exodus 33:17 I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.
3. Ask God to teach you his ways and show you his Glory. Moses wanted to know God more intimately. He spent 40 days and 40 nights with God without food and water. When he came down his face was glowing. God had transferred his Glory to Moses so the people would know that God was with them.
Dear God,
Whatever you are doing in this season please don’t do it without me. Show me your Glory and teach me your ways so I can lead your people into the Promised Land. We are ready to follow you forward.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Who Are You Standing Under?
Acts 8:31
“How can I (understand), “he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” so he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Okay, I lost my mind, it's somewhere out there stranded I think you stand under me if you don’t understand me—Lil Wayne in the song 6’7”
We are all out there stranded when we don’t have understanding. Wayne Carter says something profound in his song 6’7”. This phrase is like a treasure that found a dirty cave strewn with the mess of misogynistic lyrics. He says you can’t understand him unless you stand under him. In a sense we are all out there stranded out of our minds without someone helping us understand. Where he falls short in his thought process is that you can’t stand under somebody who is lost themselves. Who we choose to stand under in terms of leadership determines if we ever arrive at a higher level of understanding.
Whether we admit it or not, we are all standing under somebody’s umbrella. Some of us get our understanding from watching the news but you have to be careful because many news networks spin according to their partisan affiliation even though they are supposed to be bi-partisan. Many get understanding from street culture. Rappers like Tupac, Biggie, and Jay Z got their understanding from pimps, hustlers, and drug dealers. Then, in turn, our youth get under these rappers to get their understanding about life, how to treat women, and who God is or isn’t.
Who are you standing under?
In life, we are all seeking understanding for life’s questions. It is only in God that we get unpolluted answers. God is Holy which means God is pure. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Solomon said to his son, in all your getting, get understanding. It’s in God’s word where God gives us understanding about his plan for our lives but without proper explanation you can be left stranded on the side of the road.
An Ethiopian Eunuch, a man that had been cut off and serving the Queen of Ethiopia was trying to read the book of Isaiah 58:7-8 about the lamb led to the slaughter. It was an early reference to the Messiah or Jesus. The Holy Spirit told Philip to go over to the chariot and that when Philip heard him reading. Philip had been one of Jesus’ disciples. Philip asked the Eunuch did he understand what he was reading? “He said, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?”
If you want understanding there are some prerequisites:
1. You have to have a hunger for God’s word. The man was pulled over on the side of the road reading the book of Isaiah. When you are stranded on the side of the road of life you should pick up God’s word for instruction.
2. You have to have a teachable Spirit. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.
3. You need a spirit led teacher knowledgeable of God’s word. I like when Joel Olsteen closes out his broadcast. He always encourages his listeners to get in a local bible believing church to get under a local pastor. Every believer needs to get under an anointed teacher/pastor.
4. You have to ask questions of the text. The Eunuch asked, “Who is this prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”, that’s when Philip gave him understanding about who Jesus is.
5. You have to take time to get taught. Sunday morning is good but you also need bible study individually and collectively in order to gain further understanding. Tune into TNT Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. Online @www.n2newdirection.org for further understanding.
Run DMC said, “The next time someone’s teaching why don’t you get taught. It’s like that and that’s the way it is!
Dear God,
Give me a greater understanding today. When the student is ready the teacher will come. God I’m ready. Please send the Holy Spirit to teach me your ways and to bring back to remembrance the things you already taught me. I don’t want to be out here stranded. I need some understanding.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
“How can I (understand), “he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” so he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Okay, I lost my mind, it's somewhere out there stranded I think you stand under me if you don’t understand me—Lil Wayne in the song 6’7”
We are all out there stranded when we don’t have understanding. Wayne Carter says something profound in his song 6’7”. This phrase is like a treasure that found a dirty cave strewn with the mess of misogynistic lyrics. He says you can’t understand him unless you stand under him. In a sense we are all out there stranded out of our minds without someone helping us understand. Where he falls short in his thought process is that you can’t stand under somebody who is lost themselves. Who we choose to stand under in terms of leadership determines if we ever arrive at a higher level of understanding.
Whether we admit it or not, we are all standing under somebody’s umbrella. Some of us get our understanding from watching the news but you have to be careful because many news networks spin according to their partisan affiliation even though they are supposed to be bi-partisan. Many get understanding from street culture. Rappers like Tupac, Biggie, and Jay Z got their understanding from pimps, hustlers, and drug dealers. Then, in turn, our youth get under these rappers to get their understanding about life, how to treat women, and who God is or isn’t.
Who are you standing under?
In life, we are all seeking understanding for life’s questions. It is only in God that we get unpolluted answers. God is Holy which means God is pure. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Solomon said to his son, in all your getting, get understanding. It’s in God’s word where God gives us understanding about his plan for our lives but without proper explanation you can be left stranded on the side of the road.
An Ethiopian Eunuch, a man that had been cut off and serving the Queen of Ethiopia was trying to read the book of Isaiah 58:7-8 about the lamb led to the slaughter. It was an early reference to the Messiah or Jesus. The Holy Spirit told Philip to go over to the chariot and that when Philip heard him reading. Philip had been one of Jesus’ disciples. Philip asked the Eunuch did he understand what he was reading? “He said, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?”
If you want understanding there are some prerequisites:
1. You have to have a hunger for God’s word. The man was pulled over on the side of the road reading the book of Isaiah. When you are stranded on the side of the road of life you should pick up God’s word for instruction.
2. You have to have a teachable Spirit. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.
3. You need a spirit led teacher knowledgeable of God’s word. I like when Joel Olsteen closes out his broadcast. He always encourages his listeners to get in a local bible believing church to get under a local pastor. Every believer needs to get under an anointed teacher/pastor.
4. You have to ask questions of the text. The Eunuch asked, “Who is this prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”, that’s when Philip gave him understanding about who Jesus is.
5. You have to take time to get taught. Sunday morning is good but you also need bible study individually and collectively in order to gain further understanding. Tune into TNT Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. Online @www.n2newdirection.org for further understanding.
Run DMC said, “The next time someone’s teaching why don’t you get taught. It’s like that and that’s the way it is!
Dear God,
Give me a greater understanding today. When the student is ready the teacher will come. God I’m ready. Please send the Holy Spirit to teach me your ways and to bring back to remembrance the things you already taught me. I don’t want to be out here stranded. I need some understanding.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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