Friday, May 29, 2009

The Seeker Meets The Teacher

scripture

John 3:1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

observation

It’s early in Jesus ministry and already the Pharisees have formed an opinion against Jesus, well not all of them, there was one who still had an open mind to check out Jesus and see what he is all about.

So at night this curious seeker comes to Jesus and before Nicodemus knew it the teacher had become the student as Jesus begins to teach Nicodemus, before he can even ask a question Jesus goes straight to the heart of the matter and talks to Nick about his greatest need. Nick is still saying hello and Jesus jumps into a discussion about his spiritual condition, it may have seemed awkward and it could have scared some people off, but Jesus knew there wouldn’t be an opportunity like this one again.

“I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Out of nowhere Jesus takes control of the discussion and Nick is puzzled, how could he possibly be physically born over again and how could that get him any closer to entering heaven, a second physical birth even if were possible it could not change Nick’s condition. Besides he was a Jew and if anybody was born correctly the first time then it must be a child of Abraham.

“Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.”

We all need a spiritual birth that comes when we believe that Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins and we receive the Holy Spirit. With the help of the Holy Spirit we will be a new creation and we will be totally changed from what we were before, even if what you were wasn’t so bad from a human perspective, Nick was probably a pretty good guy himself but he still had not earned a spot in heaven for himself.

”As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”

If Nick wasn’t convinced when he walked away from Jesus on this evening then I bet that he was convinced when he saw that Jesus prediction that he would be crucified had come true, by then he was sure that he "must be born again."

application

We have to make the most of opportunities to share the truth about Jesus whenever we meet a seeker.

prayer

Help me Lord to use the opportunities that come my way to share the gospel.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Stay In The Word

scripture

John 2:13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body.

22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.

23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature. 25 No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like.

Matthew 21:13 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

observation

The annual trip to Jerusalem to observe Passover meant that you had to bring an animal for the sacrifice, if you lived a long distance from Jerusalem and had to bring an animal with you all the way from home, then you were going to have some complications caused by the lack of desire that the sheep and cattle had for traveling.

Honesty and integrity were cast aside for convenience and corruption. What a great idea somebody had, let’s put the animals up for sale right inside the temple courts, that way it is all a lot more convenient than traveling a hundred miles with an uncooperative cow.

One of the problems was that they were selling the animals and exchanging the money in the outer courts of the temple in the area where the Gentiles were allowed to enter for prayer.

Another problem is the religious leaders were probably making a great deal of profit from these sales and from the exchange of foreign currency into the Shekel that the priest accepted.

The religious leaders ask Jesus a fair question, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.” The first proof that Jesus offers to them was his prediction that he would rise from the dead in three days, but it looks as if Jesus gave them other miraculous signs as well.

John 2:23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.

There were a lot of people that did look at the signs that Jesus gave to prove himself, too bad the religious leaders would not look at the signs and determine that Jesus did have authority from God and that he would rise from the grave in three days.

application

It is not that difficult to be lead astray, we must examine the proofs for ourselves, the miraculous signs that Jesus gave to prove his identity were so clear and yet those that were blinded by religion could not see what so many others could.

prayer

Thank you Lord for revealing yourself to us, I want to stay in your word daily so that I will know the truth.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Water Into Wine

scripture

John 2:1-12 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.

observation

It seems odd to see Jesus being reluctant to do his first miracle, it seems that he didn't have any interest in doing it at all, maybe he was honoring his moms request just out of respect.

Anyway he decides to make wine and you know that he could have just spoke the wine into existence but instead he chose to have the water pots that were standing nearby filled with water first and then changing the water into wine. Jesus didn't even touch the pots, he just gave the servants the directions.

In this story we see the human and the Divine side of Jesus. He is probably enjoying the wedding party just as much as anybody and then he is asked to do perform a miracle. We know that Jesus came to earth as a man but we often forget about the emotions and feelings that go along with it.

application

I will remember that my Savior was fully God and yet he was fully man and that being fully man means that everyday he dealt with the same problems that we deal with and yet he was victorious through every circumstance.

prayer

Thank you Lord for coming down to earth and becoming my great High Priest.

Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Come, Follow Me!

scripture

John 1:35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.

45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”

50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”

Matthew 4:19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

observation

The invitation is open, “Come, follow me” Jesus call to his soon to be disciples is the main message of Christianity, that’s the simplicity of the gospel, nothing difficult to understand but the following part could get hard sometimes nevertheless with great excitement the disciples leave behind their old lives and follow Jesus.

Don’t think too deeply on this question, the obvious answer is the correct one, how did the disciples follow Jesus? The answer is his disciples followed him daily.

Luke 9:23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

They followed Jesus when he preached the Sermon on the Mount and everybody liked him.

They followed him when the tension in the room was to the max as the Pharisees were trying to trap him in his words in order to kill him.

When John the Baptist was beheaded there could have been some second thoughts about continuing to follow.

They continued to follow him after Jesus had to slip away from an angry mob.

They followed him when the weather was bad and they thought that they would die in the middle of a lake.

They kept on following him when they came to the end of a long day of teaching and healing and they had to spend the night out under the stars, wondering what they could find for breakfast.

They still followed him when all the lepers came around and even when the demon possessed guys started showing up, you know that would make the temptation to go home look like a real good option.

They followed Jesus before they even fully understood what he was here to do, he hadn’t yet paid for their sin debt by dying on the cross, they didn’t comprehend all that but they still followed.

You don’t usually hear about the human emotions that the disciples felt day to day as they continued to follow him. They were just ordinary guys with fears and frustrations and temptations, they had ordinary childhood experiences but they still decided on a daily basis to wake up and continue to heed the call, “Come, follow me” each day was filled with struggles that most of us will never experience, each day there were no conveniences not a hint of luxury. They had no reason to believe that they would be allowed into the synagogue, they had abandoned their career with no guarantee that they could go back to work and maybe people wouldn’t buy fish from someone that was tossed out of the synagogue. How many of us would have kept on going every day for three years?

It’s not much for Jesus to ask me to take up my cross daily and follow him.

application

I will take up my cross everyday and make a conscience decision to follow Jesus. I will quote Jesus when he said “Come, follow me” as a means to start a conversation about the gospel.

prayer

I need to be bolder as I follow you Lord. I pray that i will not grow weary in living for you.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Listen up!

scripture

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

observation

Look, the Passover Lamb!

John was the first to announce to the world that the Messiah was here. I wonder how many people would react to such a bold and clear testimony today, too many people are not even willing to listen to the testimony much less give it any thought.

1 Peter 1:18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

application

The gospel is too good to pass up or ignore. We must plant the seeds where we can even though there is a lot of bad soil around.

prayer

Help us to boldly proclaim you Lord. I pray that people that I come into contact with will become better soil.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Do You Know Jesus?

scripture

John 1:6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” 22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’ ”

24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” 26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”

observation

It is no surprise that the religious leaders didn’t know Jesus. Thirty years ago when King Herod asked them about Jesus, the religious leaders didn’t know, when he was a boy in the temple teaching the people they didn’t know him and now at the beginning of his ministry they still don’t know who he is even though he is standing right there in their midst (v. 26).

They were told in the Old Testament that John the Baptist would be coming and then after John would be the Messiah. They were so blind even though they had an abundance of facts about John and Jesus they still had to send spies to interview John and get some more facts.

Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath?
Matthew 21:32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn't believe him,
It is amazing that there are so many people that know all about John 3:16 and they know the whole “plan of salvation” and yet they have absolutely no conviction in their hearts that should come as a result of all that knowledge in their heads.

application

Lots of people that we encounter will know all about Jesus and the plan of salvation, they need to see that they need what Jesus has to offer. The main thing that he has to offer is forgiveness and redemption for our sins. If they don’t feel that they are guilty of rebellion against God then all of their knowledge of him will not matter.

prayer

I pray Lord that all the people that I work with everyday will take their head knowledge about you and set it aside and see that they will come to know that they are in great need of forgiveness. They know so much about you but it doesn’t matter to them at all.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Are You His Child?

scripture

John 1:10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

observation

Do you remember what it was like to be a child? Think about how you treat your children or better yet your grandchildren? You give them everything that they need to survive and then you also give them things that will help them to thrive.

They need food and shelter and safety and that’s what they get to the best of your ability to provide it. But you probably go way beyond what they need to survive and you give them things that will help them to thrive and be prosperous in this life. Through our children we learn how to be giving and how to look out for someone else’s welfare.

I helped my son to get a car that was in better condition than any of the ones that he could afford. While we were driving back to the dealer to buy the car that we had decided on I told him that I was giving him the tools to help him get started in life so that he would be able to thrive on his own, tools like solid transportation, but also less tangible things like Christian values, standing up for those values, spending time in the word and knowing how God would want you to behave.

Maybe you didn’t have it that good with your father but God is the perfect Father and he wants to take care of his children, give them food, shelter and help them to thrive. He is a father that can be trusted for these things, he didn’t promise an easy life but he will bless you and sustain you.

Whose child are you?

Matthew 5:9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

John 12:36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Galatians 3:26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:15 So that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

1 John 3:10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

application

It may be difficult to fully remember what it was like to be a child, looking up to your parent for all your needs but I need to remember to trust God in the same way. I also need to learn be a good member of the family, one that won’t embarrass the rest of the family members, my Heavenly Father will help me to know how to behave as one of his children should.

prayer

I want to be a member of your family that will not be embarrassing to you. Help me to trust you for every need that I have.

Monday, May 18, 2009

The Giver of Life

scripture

John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

observation

“In the beginning the Word already existed”
In the confines of human wisdom we cannot comprehend how something could have always existed and that the thing will always exist into the future. One dangerous thing that men do when they are seeking out God is to try to explain too much about him, or to say that they cannot believe in something that they cannot understand. Even with all the knowledge that is at our disposal in the information age, it still isn’t possible to understand the idea that something didn’t have a beginning or an end.

The Bible makes it clear that the trinity didn’t begin when Jesus came to earth. God the son already existed before coming to earth, verse 14 states that the word became flesh or human so that he could exist with us, which means that he existed before he became flesh.

“God created everything through him and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything”
Jesus had an active part in all of creation, he wasn’t just a bystander looking on as God the father created everything, he was as influential on the finished product as was God the father. In the beginning God, in all three persons of the trinity, created the heavens and the earth and more specifically Jesus is mentioned as the source of life.

“To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God”
What an interesting concept that Jesus was the giver of life, who else would be better qualified to give us life again, life that is eternal. He came into the world that he created to live and die among us and rose again to prove that he really is the giver of life that will last forever.

application

We all need to accept Jesus as the giver of life from the beginning of time and the giver of new life for eternity.

prayer

Thank you Lord for life and for giving me new life as a child of the King.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

God Sustains His People

scripture

1 Kings 17:8  Then the LORD said to Elijah, 9  “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
10  So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11  As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

12  But she said, “I swear by the LORD your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

13  But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14  For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!”

15  So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat for many days. 16  There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.

observation

Every time that God punished the nation of Israel there was always a prophet to announce to the people and make it clear that the harsh times that were coming wasn’t just a coincidence but that it was a result of their sin and turning away from God.

God’s punishment for the sins of the nation of Israel didn’t exclude the prophets that were sent to announce the coming judgment, they also had to live through the hard times, but God took care of the men that took a stand for him and were willing to live for him.

Elijah told his countrymen that there would not be any rain which would in turn create a famine and even though Elijah had to live through the condition that he prophesied about he was sustained by God’s care. At first God provided a brook for Elijah to drink from and he sent the ravens to deliver meat for his prophet, but then after the brook ran out of water God chose a different way to provide for Elijah.

There were plenty of widows in Israel, women whose husbands had been killed in battle but God didn’t send Elijah to live with them but instead he was sent to a Gentile widow. Who knows, maybe this Gentile widow was a God fearing woman and was far more faithful than any of the widows of Israel. She certainly had some measure of faith since she was willing to prepare food and water for Elijah prior to feeding herself or her son. She believed in the promise of God and showed it by giving him his part first and then taking her portion from what was left.

Over and over again in scripture we see the Lord use the weak in this world as we see him give them the opportunity to do his work instead of the strong.

God’s people will have to suffer in this world when the country that they live in strays away from him. As America drifts away from God his people may have to suffer and may be persecuted but he will sustain his people and give them a bright future.

application

In desperate times we need to have the faith that God will sustain us.

prayer

Thank you for your love and goodness that provides for and sustains your people. I pray that our country will return to you and declare that you are the one and only God.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

You Cannot Use God

scripture

1 Samuel 4:2 The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. 3 After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the LORD allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”

4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!

1 Samuel 4:10 So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.

observation

“Why did the LORD allow us to be defeated”
The Israelites thought that God would continue to protect them despite replacing him with substitute "gods" and then they had the nerve to question why he didn't come through for them. You didn't live according to his commands and love him without compromise like he told you to do then how can you try to require God to live up to his part of the covenant that you made with him.

“Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, it will saves us"
Eli and his sons were disrespectful and now we see that the whole country has decided that they can use God to accomplish whatever they need help with.
The people decide that the best way to win this battle is to use the Ark as if it had its own mystical power or maybe the thought that God would not allow the Ark to be destroyed or taken from Israel. God's people can get in trouble when they think that the religious accessories have some sort of magic, they are not the source of salvation and can not give you any special power.

We must respect God and obey his commands, to think think that we can use religious icons or a cross or misinterpret scripture to get some benefits is wrong and it will prove to be powerless.

application

I must live in obedience to God's command in order to have the power to be victorious. God doesn't owe me anything and I cannot use him.

prayer

Help me to always live according to your word and to rely on your power.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Eli Instructs Samuel

scripture

1 Samuel 3:7 Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before. 8 So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went back to bed.

10 And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel.

19 As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. 20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.

observation

Judgment had been pronounced on Eli and his sons in the previous chapter for their disrespect for the Lord, the Lord revealed his plans to Samuel in a vision.

The Lord chose to appear to Samuel instead of Eli the High Priest, Eli could have felt insulted that God chose to speak to Samuel instead of him. Instead Eli chose to instruct Samuel and guide him, one of the most important jobs we have is to teach our youth about God.

Eli pressed Samuel for the details of God’s message and he was humble and didn't try to argue his case before God.

1Samuel 3:18 So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the LORD’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”

application

I must continue to be an example for my kids and encourage their passion to grow spiritually.

prayer

Thank you Lord for the privilege to work for you and to be an example for the next generation. I pray that they will be more spiritually minded than I was at their age.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Gideon: God's Humble Servant

scripture

Judges 6-8

observation

Once again God’s chosen people did not always choose him and so they are in a desperate situation again and just in case they don’t realize why they are suffering the Lord sends them a prophet to let them know:

Judges 6:7-10 When they cried out to the LORD because of Midian, the LORD sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. I told you, ‘I am the LORD your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

Once again God delivers his people and the man for the job isn’t the big brave guy with all the muscles. God uses the weak and humble to lead his people again:

Judges 6:14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” 15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” 16 The LORD said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

The Lord told Gideon to tear down the altar to Baal and the Asherah pole that was at his fathers house, his father must have been a leader in idolatry since he had an altar (v25). God raised up a leader out of human weakness whose family was a leader in idolatry.

The Lord chose a humble leader and now he wants the army of Israel to be humble. The Lord tells Gideon that Israel can not go into battle with a great and mighty army that would give them a reason to be proud and trust in their own abilities:

Judges 7:2 The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her,

After the battle is won the nation of Israel is ready to make Gideon their ruler but Gideon doesn't even appear to be tempted to rise in power and be in charge but rather he focused the attention right back where it belongs:

Judges 8:22 Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Be our ruler! You and your son and your grandson will be our rulers, for you have rescued us from Midian.” 23 But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD will rule over you!

The Lord wants to use humble servants that are willing to rely on him and give him the glory.

application

Do not forget that the Lord wants to use a man that is humble and that will give the Lord the glory for the successes that he has. It can be tempting to rely on your own strength and your past success in ministry but we must remember that God uses the weak and the humble servant.

prayer

Help me Lord to keep my focus on you and to be your humble servant.

Monday, May 04, 2009

God Uses My Weakness

scripture

Judges 3 and 4

observation

God’s chosen people did not always choose him, too many times they turned their backs and went their own way and then they would cry out in their misery and the Lord would faithfully take them back.

Ehud was one of the first judges that led the people back to the Lord. Ehud was the man that took his concealed sword out and ran it into King Eglon of Moab. Ehud was a brave man, who would think of bringing a sword into the palace and killing the king right there in his palace and then sneaking away. Ehud’s victory ushered in peace that lasted for eighty years.

Contrast Ehud with Barak, the next warrior for Israel. Barak was told by Deborah that she had an order directly from God “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, commands you” seems like every time that the Lord told the Israelites to go to battle they always won. There is no way of knowing why Barak wanted Deborah to go along into the battle, most men that led Israel into battle were more confident than this guy, but never the less he is victorious despite his weakness.

Hebrews 11:34 Their weakness was turned to strength.

God has chosen many times to use the underdog, the guy that is willing yet weak, that’s the guy that the Lord uses many times to show His power and strength.

application

I want the Lord to use me in any way that he pleases. I need to keep my weaknesses from getting in the way and allow God to stretch me and use me even if it is outside my comfort zone.

prayer

Thank you Lord for saving me and giving me a new life, I pray that I will follow you and be obedient even when it isn’t comfortable.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Grieving The Holy Spirit

scripture

Ephesians 4:30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 5:1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

observation

“Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live”
It may seem difficult to live the way that we are supposed to live but if it sinks into your head that you were bought at a high price and that now you are a part of God’s redeemed then you will want to live your live so that God will be pleased. If we have truly repented from our sin and acknowledged that we need a Savior then we must realize that our old sin nature cannot be in charge of the way that we live anymore.

“Therefore we should imitate God”
How many people live with that goal in mind? Do we think that it is such a high and lofty goal that we shouldn’t even bother? Again, If we truly understood our situation when we were saved and how bad off we were then we shouldn’t mind the sacrifice of self and our sinful pleasures and getting rid of “all types of evil behavior” to live so that we do not bring “sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit.”

God is holy, he is righteous, God is the ultimate example of love that you read about in 1Corinthians 13, he is forgiving and we are called to be just like him in every way.

application

I must remember that Christ brought me out of a desperate situation that I could not get out of on my own. There is no good reason that I should be going to heaven other than the love that God has for each and every one of us. God’s command that I live to please him is not much to ask in return and since his way is the better way then I need to live for him through the Holy Spirit’s assistance.

prayer

Thank you Lord for your salvation and for giving me a better way to live. I pray that the Holy Spirit will not be grieved by the way that I live. Thank you for the change in my life.