You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2008.
S-Scripture: Exodus 29:45-46, “45 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.”
O-Observation: God gave some very specific and detailed instructions for Aaron, his sons, and the children of Israel. The reason God was so specific was to remind Israel that He was their God, and that He was the one who delivered them out of Egypt.
A-Application: I am thankful for all of the details and the instructions God has given us so that we can know Him. 1 John 5:13, “13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” God wants us to know for sure that we have eternal life, just as He wanted Israel to know that He was the One who had delivered them out of Egypt.
P-Prayer: Thank you Father for the Scriptures. Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to know you as my personal, Lord, and Savior. Remind me daily that You are MY GOD, and that it is YOU that I depend on and trust! In Jesus name. Amen.
S-Scripture: Acts 6:1, “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaintagainst the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.” (NKJV)
O-Observation: In Acts 6:1-7 there are several key things we see in respect to a growing church:
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Disciples were multiplying.
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People began to complain about “their” needs not being met.
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The Apostles devised a strategy.
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Deacons were chosen to serve the church (not run, manage, or dictate the church).
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The Apostles thoroughly explained their mission:
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Prayer to God.
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Reading the Word of God.
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Prayer was made for the Deacons.
The Results were phenomenal:
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The Word of God spread.
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More Disciples were made.
A-Application: We are in the business of multiplying disciples. I see several key things for the leaders of the Lord’s churches to implement. If we want to see disciples made, and the word of God spread, we must be about several things:
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We must be about Discipleship.
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We must be about Delegation.
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We must work the Strategy.
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We must be about Prayer.
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We must be about our Devotional time.
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We must train others to reach the next generation.
P-Prayer: Father in Heaven, this is a powerful passage of Scripture. It does my heart good to know that these are things that you desire your leaders to be involved in. Help me to be about the ministry of prayer. The ministry of the Word. The ministry of multiplying disciples. Help me to delegate the other areas of ministry that I am not supposed to be involved in. Help me to lead by example, and help me to be a Spiritual Leader to StoneBridge Baptist Church. Father, please multiply disciples at StoneBridge Baptist Church, in Morgantown, and in the World. In Jesus Name. Amen.
S-Scriptures: Exodus 23:5, “If you see the donkey of someone who hates you struggling beneath a heavy load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and offer help.” (NLT)
Proverbs 25:21-22, “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head and the LORD will reward you.” (NKJV)
Romans 12:20, “Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” (NKJV)
O-Observation: Moses is giving instructions, laws, and ordinances to Israel. These laws were to regulate Israel. It was to be a school-master for them to follow. The law was given to teach Israel how sinful they were compared to the Righteous, Holy, God! This command to “stop and offer help” to our enemies is one that pierces deep down in the centerpiece of our hearts.
A-Application: Being helpful, loving, and kind to our enemies can only be done through the aid of the Holy Spirit God living in us. The natural thing for us to do is fight back, poke fun, or wish misfortune to those who do not like or love us! This is sometimes hard to apply, but if we are going to be like Jesus, we must do good to those who have done us wrong, and we must pray for the happiness of our enemies.
P-Prayer: Father, it is not natural for us to forgive. It is not natural for us to do good to our enemies, but I realize that this command can only be done through the help of Your Spirit. Lord, please help me to not tense up, clam up, or blow up when my enemies do me wrong. Help me to love them, and pray for them. By doing this, we will heap coals of fire on their heads, and YOU WILL REWARD US. Thank You, Lord! In Jesus name. Amen.
S-Scripture: Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” (NKJV)
O-Observation: Peter and John had just healed a man who was crippled from birth in Acts 3:6. Peter and John’s boldness and mercy cost them a night in the Poky! When the rulers gathered together to discuss this matter, here is what happened:
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They saw the boldness of Peter and John.
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They marvelled at their wisdom.
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They realized that these men had been with Jesus.
A-Application: As a Christ Follower, I must pray for boldness, wisdom, and a genuine heart. When people see my life, what do they see? Do they say, “What a coward?” or do they say, “What a man of God?” May they never boast of my accomplishments, but may they always know by my testimony that I am a man who has been with Jesus!
P-Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the example of Peter and John. Thank you for the boldness that you give us when we share the wonderful message of the gospel. Father, I pray for a woman named Krista and a man named Jeff M. tonight. Lord, open their eyes, so that they may see Jesus! Thank you for the opportunities that you give to us to share Your message. In Jesus name. Amen.
S-Scripture: Exodus 17:12, “Moses’ arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset.” (NLT)
O-Observation: In the beginning of chapter 17, the children of Israel are grumbling and complaining to Moses that they did not have any thing to drink. They complained so much that they were about to stone Moses. Moses went to the Lord in prayer. Finally (probably the thoughts of the Israelites)the Lord gave them water. When in Rephidim, the warriors of Ameleck came to fight against them. Moses commanded Joshua (the General of the Israeli Army) to fight against the Amelekites. As the warriors of Israel were fighting, Moses stood on the hill with the staff of God in his hands. As the battle progressed, Moses’ arms got tired. The Bible says, “as long as Moses stood with his arms held high, Israel had the advantage, but when Moses’ arms grew tired, the Amelekites had the upper hand.” Aaron and Hur stood on each side of Moses, holding his hands high. The Bible says, “As a result, Joshua and his troops were able to crush the army of Amalek.” -Exodus 17:13
A-Application: As Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses to win the war, even so, we must hold each other up in prayer, in accountability, and in love. We need our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be there for those who are tired, discouraged, and beat down.
P-Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord, help me to be an Aaron, or a Hur to someone who is tired, weary, and beat down! Thank you for the ministry of encouragement. Help us to encourage one another. In Jesus name. Amen.
S-Scripture: Acts 2:21, “21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.’
O-Observation: Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost.
A-Application: Peter’s (an apostle of Jesus Christ) message to those in attendance was about redemption (salvation). He made it clear that Christ Jesus came to save sinners. He made it clear that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. I am thankful for the salvation message. I am thankful that it is extended, offered, to all people. Whether you are a Jew, a Greek, or a Samaritan, God’s gift of salvation is offered to you! I am to make this message known to those in Morgantown and the world. It is my duty, my privilege, to tell the wonderful story of Jesus.
P-Prayer: Thank You, Lord for the gift of salvation. Thank You for Johnny Martin, Kim Reeder, my family, and others which You have used to extend Your gift of salvation to me. Help me to share this wonderful message with those I come in contact with throughout my life. In Jesus name. Amen.
S-Scripture: Exodus 12:13, “The blood you have smeared on your doorposts will serve as a sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (NLT)
O-Observation: Moses had approached Pharaoh time after time to let the Israelites go, but he would not budge! Finally, God used the death of the firstborn to motivate Pharaoh to let God’s people GO! God clearly instructed Moses to inform the Israelites to place the blood of the animals on the doorposts, so that when He came through He would not kill the firstborn of the house. Whenever God saw the blood, He would pass over them! This was done for serveral reasons:
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To remind Israel what GOD had done for them in their Exodus.
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To symbolize the message of the cross.
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Every person who repents of their sins and calls on the name of Jesus will be saved (God sees the blood, not our sin).
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The blood of Christ was shed so that our firstborn could be rescued (The Adamic Nature is depraved and in need of the Savior). When we receive Christ as Savior, we are born again. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” Every person (the firstborn) will die at least once, but Christ came to redeem us from the second death (which will be cast in to the Lake of Fire).
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A-Application: I am thankful for the blood of Christ. When I was twelve years old, I called on Jesus to forgive my sins and be my Savior. I told him that I wanted His forgiveness, and that I believed that He shed His blood for my sins. Please forgive me and come into my life and be my Lord! I’ll never forget that day! My life was changed forever! Praise the Lord! It is so important that we take this message to our communities. The blood of Jesus Christ is what washes away all of our sin! Thank You, Jesus!
P-Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the blood of Christ, for without the blood, we would still be in our sins! Thank you for Jesus! He loved us so much, that He was willing to shed His blood for our forgiveness, for our redemption! In Jesus name. Amen!
S-Scripture: Luke 24:32, “They said one to another, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?'” (NASB)
O-Observation: Jesus had risen from the grave (Luke 24:6-7), and thank God He did! For without the resurrection of Jesus Christ we would still be in our sins! At the beginning of this chapter, the women came to Jesus’ tomb, but they were met by the Angels. The Angels told them, “He is not here, He has risen.” The women went back to the Apostles (v10) to tell of the things that the Angels had told them. Only Peter and John ran to the tomb. When they arrived, John had beat Peter to the tomb, but did not go in. When Peter arrived, he stooped down to see Jesus (if we want to see Jesus we must stoop down in humility to see the Lord). In the process of the resurrection, two of Jesus’ disciples were on the Road to Emmaus. They were talking about the things which had taken place. As they were traveling, Jesus approached them, and began traveling with them. As they were traveling, Jesus did not make Himself known to them. As they talked, He began questioning them about the events which had taken place. They told Jesus, about Jesus! They had passed the test! When they arrived in Emmaus it was getting late, and the two disciples begged Jesus (whom they did not know on the road) to stay and eat with them. So, when Jesus broke bread with them, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. In verse 32, they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us?”
A-Application: When we open God’s Word, does our hearts burn within us? Are we so amazed at Jesus the Nazarene that we cannot put the book down? Are we so amazed that we have a personal relationship with the Creator of this world? May we get back to the basics of knowing Jesus! May we strive to understand God’s Word, for in it, is where true transformation takes place!
P-Prayer: Father, this story thrilled my heart today! I was so thankful for Cleopas and the other disciple’s witness to this stranger (You, Lord). Thank you for faithful witnesses who are not ashamed to tell others of the life changing message of the gospel. Help me to be more diligent in sharing the message of Christ with those who are outside the faith. In Jesus Name. Amen!
S-Scripture: Exodus 7:13, “13 And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said.”
O-Observation: The Lord called Moses to deliver the Israelites from the hand of Pharaoh. The Lord told Moses what would happen, what Pharaoh would do, and how he would respond. Sure enough, Pharaoh responded negatively toward Moses and Aaron’s request to: “LET MY PEOPLE GO!” This verse really spoke to me, in that:
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Pharaoh hardened his heart.
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Pharaoh did not heed the Lord’s request.
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Pharaoh did exactly what the Lord said he would do.
A-Application: Many times I hear of people who claim that Pharaoh did not have a choice in his decisions, but this verse tells us differently. Pharaoh hardened his heart. Pharaoh did not listen or heed to them. I am thankful that God is the God of Free Choice. It is the decisions and the choices that we make that results in blessings or cursings. Obviously, we believe in a Sovereign God. He knows the beginning from the end, because HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END!
P-Prayer: Thank you Heavenly Father for allowing us to make our own choices and decisions. We are grateful for the work of the Holy Spirit who draws us to Christ, but never forces us to make a decision for You. Thank You for bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to my life. Help me to share this good news with those in which I come in contact with! In Jesus Name. Amen.
S-Scripture: Exodus 3:7, “And the Lord said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.'”
O-Observation: Moses was eighty years old when God appeared to him in Midian (Have you ever wondered what took place in Moses’ life from the time he left Egypt until the burning bush calling?). While Moses was in Midian taking care of his flock and raising his family, the Hebrews were being treated harshly by Pharaoh, and the taskmasters. This verse says at least three things:
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God had seen their afflictions in Egypt.
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God had heard their prayers.
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God knew their sorrows.
When God called Moses to rescue the Israelites, he wasn’t quite sure that he was the man for the job. He claimed that he was not eloquent in speech…etc. etc…Someone has said, “Excuses are the nails that build your house of failure.” Moses was giving God a lot of excuses, but HE did not buy it!
A-Application: Wherever God may take us, He has already been there! Whatever task He wants us to do, He already knows the outcome. I am simply to follow Him, the Omnipresent God! The Hebrews were troubled by their taskmasters, but their afflictions, their prayers, and their sorrows were not going unnoticed by the Omnipresent God.
P-Prayer: Father, please remind me, and others, that whatever we are going through, You already know the outcome. You call us to follow You, to love You, and to obey You. Thank You for all You do! In Jesus Name. Amen.
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