Numbers 21:22-25
"Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway until we have passed through your territory." But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the desert against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified. Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements.
I will have to fight battles while I am wandering in the wilderness.
Satan will pick a fight with me, even when I am trying to stay out of trouble.
Jesus, help me to walk in righteousness and pick up a sword to slay the enemy.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Eat to Live
Numbers 20:2-5
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
God has gotten me out of the Army, and now He has to get the Army out of me.
I have learned through fasting this week that I need to eat to live, and not live to eat.
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
God has gotten me out of the Army, and now He has to get the Army out of me.
I have learned through fasting this week that I need to eat to live, and not live to eat.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Give Him the Best
Numbers 18:30-32
"Tell the Levites, When you offer the best part, the rest will be treated the same as grain from the threshing floor or wine from the wine vat that others give. You and your households are free to eat the rest of it anytime and anyplace—it's your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By offering the best part, you'll avoid guilt, you won't desecrate the holy offerings of the People of Israel, and you won't die."
Jesus, I am ready to give you the first fruits, the best portion of my harvest.
"Tell the Levites, When you offer the best part, the rest will be treated the same as grain from the threshing floor or wine from the wine vat that others give. You and your households are free to eat the rest of it anytime and anyplace—it's your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By offering the best part, you'll avoid guilt, you won't desecrate the holy offerings of the People of Israel, and you won't die."
Jesus, I am ready to give you the first fruits, the best portion of my harvest.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
First Fruits from the Promised Land
Numbers 15:17-21
The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land to which I am taking you and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the LORD. Present a cake from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor. Throughout the generations to come you are to give this offering to the LORD from the first of your ground meal.
Jesus, thank you for slaying the giants and bringing me into the promised land. I commit the first fruits to you and to your kingdom.
The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land to which I am taking you and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the LORD. Present a cake from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor. Throughout the generations to come you are to give this offering to the LORD from the first of your ground meal.
Jesus, thank you for slaying the giants and bringing me into the promised land. I commit the first fruits to you and to your kingdom.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A Glimpse of the Promised Land
Numbers 13:21-25
So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
God exceeded the expectations of the the spies. They has expected to find small grapes, but God had provided huge grapes for the Israelites.
I believe that God will use the next 40 days to let me into the promised land and get a glimpse of His promise. I have been asking for small grapes, but He has huge grapes waiting for me. It may take me years to fight off the giants, and posses the land entirely, but His promises are sound. Motorola and Cisco should watch out, because God is on my side fighting these battles on my behalf.
Many people around me are watching my struggle and try to feed human wisdom into the problem. This only introduces doubt into the situation. It is my job to stand up, declare God's promise, and take possession of the land. I am so excited about my encounter in the next 39 days.
So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
God exceeded the expectations of the the spies. They has expected to find small grapes, but God had provided huge grapes for the Israelites.
I believe that God will use the next 40 days to let me into the promised land and get a glimpse of His promise. I have been asking for small grapes, but He has huge grapes waiting for me. It may take me years to fight off the giants, and posses the land entirely, but His promises are sound. Motorola and Cisco should watch out, because God is on my side fighting these battles on my behalf.
Many people around me are watching my struggle and try to feed human wisdom into the problem. This only introduces doubt into the situation. It is my job to stand up, declare God's promise, and take possession of the land. I am so excited about my encounter in the next 39 days.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Day 1
Mark 1:9-13
At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."
At once, this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him.
Critical decision points arise in every man's life - If I am obedient and face the challenge, I will be rewarded and live a fulfilled life. If I miss the opportunity, I am left with frustration and disappointment.
Jesus started his ministry in the desert with a 40 day fast. I believe that we are already in the desert, and that Jesus will use our 40 day fast to kick off the work that He has planned for us. I am sure that Satan will try and tempt us during the next 40 days, but we have surrounded ourselves with friends for accountability and encouragement.
Our family has read this scripture together, and we have prepared for the temptation. We are expecting an amazing encounter.
At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."
At once, this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him.
Critical decision points arise in every man's life - If I am obedient and face the challenge, I will be rewarded and live a fulfilled life. If I miss the opportunity, I am left with frustration and disappointment.
Jesus started his ministry in the desert with a 40 day fast. I believe that we are already in the desert, and that Jesus will use our 40 day fast to kick off the work that He has planned for us. I am sure that Satan will try and tempt us during the next 40 days, but we have surrounded ourselves with friends for accountability and encouragement.
Our family has read this scripture together, and we have prepared for the temptation. We are expecting an amazing encounter.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Storms
Acts 27:23-26
Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."
Previous Sermon Notes:
It will Be as He said
Sometimes storms come through no cause of our own, so stop letting Satan tell you:
Your faith is growing when you are growing in faithfulness to God
Even though it is difficult, thank you Jesus for positioning me just where you need me to be.
Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."
Previous Sermon Notes:
It will Be as He said
Sometimes storms come through no cause of our own, so stop letting Satan tell you:
- It's your fault
- You are being punished
- Something is wrong with you
Your faith is growing when you are growing in faithfulness to God
Even though it is difficult, thank you Jesus for positioning me just where you need me to be.
Fasting
I have been feeling like the Israelites that are camped outside the promised land, and I need to take an active step to slay some giants.
After some prayer and leadership from Seth, I believe that my active step is also a fast.
The giants in our family are sugar, soda, deserts, and television. When we get depressed, we turn to these comforts to escape the pain and the reality of our situation. These are the giants that are keeping us from spending time with God, and they are keeping us out of the promised land.
We had a family meeting tonight, and we plan to start our fast on Monday. The family will be fasting from sugar, soda, and television for 40 days until Good Friday. I will be worshiping God with a Daniel fast consisting of vegetables, fruits, and nuts. At the end of this period, we will have a big party to celebrate our encounter.
I believe that God is going to supernaturally knock down the barriers to our contracts and send us back to work in a big way. I believe that He is going to deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and pay off our debts. This small act of obedience is the key to the door to the kingdom. Please pray with us for the next 40 days as we Expect our Encounter.
After some prayer and leadership from Seth, I believe that my active step is also a fast.
The giants in our family are sugar, soda, deserts, and television. When we get depressed, we turn to these comforts to escape the pain and the reality of our situation. These are the giants that are keeping us from spending time with God, and they are keeping us out of the promised land.
We had a family meeting tonight, and we plan to start our fast on Monday. The family will be fasting from sugar, soda, and television for 40 days until Good Friday. I will be worshiping God with a Daniel fast consisting of vegetables, fruits, and nuts. At the end of this period, we will have a big party to celebrate our encounter.
I believe that God is going to supernaturally knock down the barriers to our contracts and send us back to work in a big way. I believe that He is going to deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and pay off our debts. This small act of obedience is the key to the door to the kingdom. Please pray with us for the next 40 days as we Expect our Encounter.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Testimony
Acts 22:19-21
Lord,' I replied, 'these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'
Lord,' I replied, 'these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'
"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "
Jesus has custom crafted my testimony for a specific purpose. Each trial will be used to test my faith, and demonstrate His faithfulness. I must be prepared to share my testimony so that others will come to know him.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tent-making
Acts 18:1-4
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
A tent-maker is a missionary that has a job to support their needs. They are not professional missionaries dependent on the church for financial support.
I like this concept of tent-making missions work, and I witnessed it in Tanzania. Providing engineering or IT services helps the local economy, provides financial resources for missions, and relieves the burden from the church.
Jesus, please give me the resources to be a tent-maker. We are willing to be used here or abroad.
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
A tent-maker is a missionary that has a job to support their needs. They are not professional missionaries dependent on the church for financial support.
I like this concept of tent-making missions work, and I witnessed it in Tanzania. Providing engineering or IT services helps the local economy, provides financial resources for missions, and relieves the burden from the church.
Jesus, please give me the resources to be a tent-maker. We are willing to be used here or abroad.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
He is with Me
Acts 17:24-28
Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him!
Even when I feel like I am alone, He is with me.
Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him!
Even when I feel like I am alone, He is with me.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Full Time Ministry
The original church was very similar to our small groups that meet in private homes.
I had always assumed that the idea of a formal church was a product of the Council at Nicaea in 325 AD. They wrote the Nicaean Creed which divided up the church into dioceses based upon geographic regions. Writing the Bible in Latin and administering confessions has always made the Catholic Church appear a little self serving.
I noticed yesterday that the concept of full time ministry originates thousands of years prior to the Catholic Church and actually comes from the beginning of Judaism.
Leviticus 7:28-36
God spoke to Moses: "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them, When you present a Peace-Offering to God, bring some of your Peace-Offering as a special sacrifice to God, a gift to God in your own hands. Bring the fat with the breast and then wave the breast before God as a Wave-Offering. The priest will burn the fat on the Altar; Aaron and his sons get the breast. Give the right thigh from your Peace-Offerings as a Contribution-Offering to the priest. Give a portion of the right thigh to the son of Aaron who offers the blood and fat of the Peace-Offering as his portion. From the Peace-Offerings of Israel, I'm giving the breast of the Wave-Offering and the thigh of the Contribution-Offering to Aaron the priest and his sons. This is their fixed compensation from the People of Israel."
God clearly described a culture where a small portion of the population was called into full time service, and they were to be supported by the citizens.
- When did the church become an institution with a full time staff?
- Is this a Biblical principal or something invented by men?
I had always assumed that the idea of a formal church was a product of the Council at Nicaea in 325 AD. They wrote the Nicaean Creed which divided up the church into dioceses based upon geographic regions. Writing the Bible in Latin and administering confessions has always made the Catholic Church appear a little self serving.
I noticed yesterday that the concept of full time ministry originates thousands of years prior to the Catholic Church and actually comes from the beginning of Judaism.
Leviticus 7:28-36
God spoke to Moses: "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them, When you present a Peace-Offering to God, bring some of your Peace-Offering as a special sacrifice to God, a gift to God in your own hands. Bring the fat with the breast and then wave the breast before God as a Wave-Offering. The priest will burn the fat on the Altar; Aaron and his sons get the breast. Give the right thigh from your Peace-Offerings as a Contribution-Offering to the priest. Give a portion of the right thigh to the son of Aaron who offers the blood and fat of the Peace-Offering as his portion. From the Peace-Offerings of Israel, I'm giving the breast of the Wave-Offering and the thigh of the Contribution-Offering to Aaron the priest and his sons. This is their fixed compensation from the People of Israel."
From the day they are presented to serve as priests to God, Aaron and his sons can expect to receive these allotments from the gifts of God. This is what God commanded the People of Israel to give the priests from the day of their anointing. This is the fixed rule down through the generations.
Jesus later reinforces the idea that the priests should be supported by the people in Luke 9:3-6. He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.God clearly described a culture where a small portion of the population was called into full time service, and they were to be supported by the citizens.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Power of Prayer
Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
I have been waiting on God so long that I find myself resigned to the fact that God will do His will in His time. I am so weary that I have forgotten about the power of prayer.
Notes from a previous sermon:
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
I have been waiting on God so long that I find myself resigned to the fact that God will do His will in His time. I am so weary that I have forgotten about the power of prayer.
Notes from a previous sermon:
- Prayer has the power to stop a Satan filled enemy
- Prayer can prevail over the apparent victory of Satan
- Prayer can postpone the judgment of God
- Prayer can change the course of history
- Prayer is the key to understanding things I don't understand
- I can change my situation through the power of prayer
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Cast Vision
Exodus 36:2-7
Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab along with all whom God had gifted with the ability to work skillfully with their hands. The men were eager to get started and engage in the work. They took from Moses all the offerings that the Israelites had brought for the work of constructing the Sanctuary. The people kept on bringing in their freewill offerings, morning after morning.
Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab along with all whom God had gifted with the ability to work skillfully with their hands. The men were eager to get started and engage in the work. They took from Moses all the offerings that the Israelites had brought for the work of constructing the Sanctuary. The people kept on bringing in their freewill offerings, morning after morning.
All the artisans who were at work making everything involved in constructing the Sanctuary came, one after another, to Moses, saying, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing this work that God has commanded us to do!"
So Moses sent out orders through the camp: "Men! Women! No more offerings for the building of the Sanctuary!" The people were ordered to stop bringing offerings! There was plenty of material for all the work to be done. Enough and more than enough.
If everyone in the church tithed of their money and their time, the church would overflow. We would have more than enough money for facilities and more than enough volunteers. The burden would be light and not continue to fall on a few people.
Moses challenged the people to dig deep and be a part of building something wonderful. People naturally want to be a part of something greater than themselves. They want to see God at work and accomplish a goal. Moses was able to share God's inspired vision for the temple and get the people on board.
When our church lacks money and volunteers, we must look at ourselves, the church leadership. Have I shared God's vision for this ministry with my volunteers? Do they understand the importance of greeting people, running cameras, and changing diapers? Has the leadership cast a vision for something great, or have we become content with the status quo?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Daily Obedience
Acts 9:13-16
Ananias protested, "Master, you can't be serious. Everybody's talking about this man and the terrible things he's been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he's shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us."
Ananias protested, "Master, you can't be serious. Everybody's talking about this man and the terrible things he's been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he's shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us."
But the Master said, "Don't argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews. And now I'm about to show him what he's in for—the hard suffering that goes with this job."
This passage reminds me of the famous quote"Ours not to reason why, Ours but to do and die" by Lord Alfred Tennyson. It is used in the military to remind us that we are soldiers on the battlefield and our commanders know more than we do.
Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
God is the ultimate commander not only seeing our present circumstances, but seeing the future ramifications as well. Following Him through daily battles is a conscious choice. Knowing that He loves us and wants the best for us, do we really have any other choice than surrendering our will to total obedience?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Demand Righteousness
Exodus 32:5-6,27-29
When Aaron saw all this, he built an altar before the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a special feast to honor the Lord." The people got up early the next morning and offered whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. They sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up and sinned sexually.
Then Moses said to them, "The Lord, the God of Israel, says this: 'Every man must put on his sword and go through the camp from one end to the other. Each man must kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.' " The people from the family of Levi obeyed Moses, and that day about three thousand of the Israelites died. Then Moses said, "Today you have been given for service to the Lord. You were willing to kill your own sons and brothers, and God has blessed you for this."
Exodus 12 tells us that 600,000 men left Egypt and 3,000 refused to repent and turn away from this sexual sin. Less than one percent of the Israelites continued to sin, but God knows that immorality spreads quickly.
While society pressures us into being tolerant and politically correct, America has surpassed this level of immorality. God will eventually release his judgment unless we clean up our own country. Are there any Levites left to stand up and demand righteousness?
When Aaron saw all this, he built an altar before the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a special feast to honor the Lord." The people got up early the next morning and offered whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. They sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up and sinned sexually.
Then Moses said to them, "The Lord, the God of Israel, says this: 'Every man must put on his sword and go through the camp from one end to the other. Each man must kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.' " The people from the family of Levi obeyed Moses, and that day about three thousand of the Israelites died. Then Moses said, "Today you have been given for service to the Lord. You were willing to kill your own sons and brothers, and God has blessed you for this."
Exodus 12 tells us that 600,000 men left Egypt and 3,000 refused to repent and turn away from this sexual sin. Less than one percent of the Israelites continued to sin, but God knows that immorality spreads quickly.
While society pressures us into being tolerant and politically correct, America has surpassed this level of immorality. God will eventually release his judgment unless we clean up our own country. Are there any Levites left to stand up and demand righteousness?
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