Date: 01-31-2020

Title: Sometimes People Just Don’t Want to Hear

(S) cripture:
    Acts 7:54-55 (NASB77) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
    

(O) bservation:
    Stephen just finished preaching about Jesus being the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel. He gave a quick history of God’s provision for Israel and brings this together in Jesus. The people were so angry with what was said that they stoned him to death. Someone has said they “rocked him to sleep.” I cannot recall another time where the scripture says that Jesus was standing at God’s right hand. I think he stood to honor Stephen.
    

(A) pplication:
    As I prepare messages, I am reminded of a question My mom would ask me. “Robin, is your sermon prepared? Remember the people want to hear from the Lord and so you had better be sure that your message is from God and not just you speaking.” My task as preacher/pastor is to do just that, deliver the message God has for the day not just some well delivered speech. It is God’s word that is powerful. The question is, “Would I, like Stephen, deliver that word in the face of death?” It is my desire today to be so fully devoted to the Lord that even the threat of death would not deter my speaking the word he puts on my heart.
    

(P) rayer:
    Lord let me be so in tune with you that the messages I preach are your word for the people and not just some well delivered speech. Amen
    

Date: 01-30-2020

Title: Growing Disciples Not Members

(S) cripture:
    Acts 6:1-7 (NASB77) Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2 And the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 “But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
    

(O) bservation:
    When faced with a problem the twelve acted. They called the congregation together and challenged them to choose seven men of good reputation and full of the Holy Spirit to serve the people while they tended to the tasks of prayer, and preaching. This would address the complaints and see that all were served appropriately and the apostles could devote themselves to prayer and teaching. As a result of each one doing what they should and no one trying to do it all the church grew and its influence spread.
    

(A) pplication:
    This is a lesson for me. Sometimes it is easier for me to do a task than to let someone else do it. That takes me away from what I need to be doing. When people have a responsibility and ministry in the church they are much more committed to the Lord and church. They make connections with others and the church grows. It is interesting that the text says the number of disciples grew – they were disciples not church members. I wonder if we are too often focused on growing members rather than disciples. Today I will again focus on helping others find their ministry and equipping them to do it rather that hoarding those things to myself. I want our church to grow in disciples and this is the way the Scripture shows to do it.
    

(P) rayer:
    Lord, make clear to me what I am to do and what tasks others are to do to minister in your name. Help me to equip them so they can be effective for you. Let our church grow in disciples not just members. Amen
    

Date: 01-29-2020

Title: The Cover-Up

(S) cripture:
    Acts 5:1-6 (NASB77) But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
    

(O) bservation:
    At the end of Chapter four Barnabas sold some land and gave the price to the Apostles to be used to support the needs of the people. Evidently Barnabas was thanked and praised for what he did to support the work of the Apostles. As chapter five begins a couple, Ananias and Sapphira, do the same except they kept some of the sale price. When they presented the gift they claimed to be giving the full price to the Lord and not only a portion. Peter addresses this deception or cover-up of the truth. The problem was not the selling of the property but was the lie trying to cover-up the truth that cost them their lives. They could fool the people, thus the cover-up, but not the Lord. The penalty was death (Sapphira’s punishment in in the next few verses) This seems like such a harsh punishment but as the church is just now beginning to hammer out its existence in a hostile world it could not have any hint of any immorality or deception.
    

(A) pplication:
    I wonder how often we have lied to the Lord by claiming one thing to the people knowing that what we claimed was not true. In this passage we see how seriously God takes lying to Him and the church. We also live in a world hostile to the church. Our witness cannot be tainted with untruth. I want my life to be free of deception and by confession I will walk cleanly by faith with the Lord. I do not want to cover-up my sin to impress others but rather to have the Lord cover my sin with His blood.
    

(P) rayer:
    Lord make me keenly aware when I am not being truthful with you. Let me walk so close to you that any deception will be clearly evident so I can confess it and continue to walk with you in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen
    

Date: 01-28-2020

Title: Powerful Speech

(S) cripture:
    Acts 4:1-2 (NIV) The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

(O) bservation:
    The leaders of the people were disturbed and tried to silence Peter and John because they were proclaiming that Jesus had risen from the dead. Their lives and places of power and prestige were at stake. People were becoming Christians and following the disciples instead of them. These preachers must be stopped. Why were they so fearful of this message? What was it that enraged them so? It was about power and authority over the people.
    

(A) pplication:
    This sounds a lot like our world today. There are some in government and other groups want to squelch any mention of faith in Christ. Somehow Christians have become the enemy of the state. Why is it that we are so afraid of the teachings of Jesus? In the guise of tolerance Christians are to be silent because we are the majority in our country. Where is tolerance when one group is told to be quiet. Problem is that for too long we as Christians have had a privileged status in America and now that that place if privilege is being challenged we get defensive. We respond by complaining and condemning and railing against those that would quiet our speech. I do not need to be combative or gripe and complain. I need to follow the example of Peter and John by simply continuing to live and speak the truth. When challenged I must speak the truth. Because someone or some government authority wants to quiet the church does not mean we are to be silent. With respect for all we are to continue to speak the truth, in love, concerning Jesus. As we do maybe just maybe some will respond in faith and follow Jesus. Today I will seek to speak the truth clearly and boldly. In the arena of ideas none compares to faith in the resurrected Christ, so speak clearly so that others might know the truth.
    

(P) rayer:
    Lord give me courage to speak even in the face of opposition and especially when those in political power try to quiet speech about Jesus. Let me live and speak in such a way that those who hear me will see Jesus. Amen
    

Date: 01-27-2020

Title: Healthy Fear

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 20:20 (NASB77) And Moses said to the people, ” Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”

(O) bservation:
    The Israelites have arrived at the foot of Mt. Sinai and God calls Moses up the mountain to speak to him. God is going to let the people know that he is speaking to and through Moses. God gives careful instructions to Moses about how the people are to prepare themselves and what restrictions there will be on their movement up the mountain. Moses and the people comply. As we come to the end of this encounter we find the people in fear of God and wanting Moses to speak because they fear death if they hear God speak. It is at this time that Moses shares the purpose of this fear of God – It is to keep them from sinning.

(A) pplication:
    It seems to me that we in the church have effectively neutered God of his awesome power by emphasizing his love and ignoring his wrath. We give people the impression that God is like a doting grandfather who overlooks or excuses sin and only expresses his love for his grandchildren. People no longer fear God’s wrath but rather take for granted his love. We take advantage of God’s love. How frightful is that? If we understood God’s wrath and hatred of sin would we still willfully sin? Would we sin and then flippantly tell God to forgive us? I don’t think so. Today I want to be so aware of God’s full character that I will have a healthy fear of Him and live accordingly. I do not want to abuse or take God’s love and grace for granted. I want to live as he would have me live.

(P) rayer:
    Lord when I take you for granted or attempt to abuse your love, remind me of your wrath. Let me develop a healthy fear of You that keeps me from sin and moves me on to a life of faith. Let me walk in the power of your Holy Spirit today. Amen
    

Date: 01-26-2020

Title: Jumping To Worst Case Scenario

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 14:10-12 (NASB77) And as Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 ” Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘ Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

(O) bservation:
    At the first sign of trouble the Israelites immediately assume the worst. They jump to the worst case scenario. Rather than to trust God they turn on Moses with all kinds of accusations about why they are in the desert. The Israelites look to their circumstances rather than to their God.

(A) pplication:
    Sometimes in the face of difficult times my mind goes to the worst case first rather than trusting God’s leading in my life. Rather than avoiding difficult times by any measure I should focus on being in the center of God’s will for my life. The safest place for me is in the center of God’s will not just some place that seems safe from the circumstances around me. An article in Leadership titled “Beyond Prayer Requests”, makes the point that sometimes in our prayers we ask God to do what he says he will not do. We ask God to override our children’s free will. We pray, “Don’t let my child become an addict.” Our prayer should be, “Lord make yourself so real to my child that they will want to follow you in the choices they make.” “Lord keep me safe.” Lord, let me live in the center of your will wherever that may be.” Rather than assuming the worst today I want to first trust God and look for his provision for me. Today I want to live in the center of His will.

(P) rayer:
    Father, I want to live today in the center of your will for me. Help me to trust you regardless of the circumstances I find myself in today. Rather than jumping to the worst case let me jump to faith and trust in You. Amen

Date: 01-25-2020

Title: It Has Always Been Exclusive

(S) Scripture:
    Exodus 12:43-50 (NASB77)

 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: no foreigner is to eat of it; ⁴⁴  but every man’s slave purchased with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it. ⁴⁵  ” A sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it. ⁴⁶  “It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it. ⁴⁷  ” All the congregation of Israel are to celebrate this. ⁴⁸  “But if a stranger sojourns with you, and celebrates the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it. ⁴⁹  ” The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you.” ⁵⁰  Then all the sons of Israel did so; they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.

(O) Observation
    These are the regulations of just who could eat the Passover. It was for all Israelites and those who bore the sign of the covenant, circumcision. The requirements for foreigners was severe but were the requirements just the same. These requirements and regulations made the celebration of Passover exclusive. Some were allowed and some were forbidden. This exclusivity is brought forward into the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus and the New Testament limited participation to those who are following Jesus. It is exclusive to Christians. Thos who do not believe in Jesus are excluded from participation. This was not new with Jesus but taken from the regulations for Passover. It should be remembered that the Lord’s Supper was first celebrated in the context of the Passover meal.

(A) Application
    On the days we share the Lord’s Supper I have found myself looking for ways not to offend those attending the service who are not Christians by excluding them from participation. Why am I so afraid when Jesus certainly was not. Paul was even more emphatic. Paul says that to participate in an “unworthy” manner brings God’s judgment on your life. The Lord’s Supper, like Passover, is only for those who are of the covenant. My task is to share with people how they can express their faith in Jesus and become part of the covenant people. The idea of exclusivity should not lead to pride but rather to an urgency to share my faith. The idea of God’s judgment should scare both the believer and the non-believer.

(P) Prayer
Lord I thank you for making a way for me to be part of the covenant people. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me new life in Jesus. Let me share that with others so that they too might be part of your family and never excluded again. Amen

Date: 01-24-2020

Title: Looking in Wrong Places

(S) cripture:
    Luke 24:5 (NASB77) and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?

(O) bservation:
    The women went to the tomb expecting to anoint Jesus’ body with additional spices. Jesus had on more than one occasion said he would rise from the dead. Apparently the women had forgotten what he had said because they went to the tomb looking for Jesus’ body. Think of their surprise when the angels speak. Then they remember and go to tell the disciples that Jesus did what he said he would do. Peter didn’t believe them so he went to the tomb and left “wondering what had happened.” They were looking for Jesus but in the wrong place, among the dead not the living.

(A) pplication:
    How often do I look for Jesus in the tomb? How often do I see him as an historic figure and look for him among the dead? How often do I live as if he were dead rather than alive? How often do I look for him in the wrong places? Jesus certainly is in the pages of history but I look for him in the present. His is not dead but is alive. I must look for him among the living. Today I will live by the truth that He is alive and lives within me. Today I will look in the right place by His Spirit to see the Savior. Today I will live for and by the power of Jesus

(P) rayer:
    Lord today I want to live by the power of your Spirit and experience you. Keep me from wasting time looking in the wrong places. Amen

Date: 01-23-2020

Title: Be Careful of the Counsel You Take

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 8:18-19 (NASB77) And the magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ” This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

(O) bservation:
    Pharaoh’s magicians had been able to reproduce the first three signs Moses has done, staff into a serpent, Nile to blood and frogs, but certainly not to the extent that God through Moses did them. I can imagine that Pharaoh was being told and shown that these were just magic tricks and not really from God and in response he refused to let the people go. Here though is a sign, gnats, that they cannot reproduce. I think their counsel now is laced with some fear when they tell Pharaoh that “this is the finger of God.” Even with this counsel Pharaoh does not comply.

(A) pplication:
    I wonder how often I mistake God’s actions around me as something that I can do or reproduce in my own power? I wonder how often I resist what God wants to do because of this pride and arrogance. I do not want to assign to luck or human achievement what God is doing. I want to recognize God at work and join Him in it. I want a tender heart before God.

(P) rayer:
    Lord by Your Spirit make me keenly aware of your work and action in and around my life. Make me aware of my arrogance and disobedience so that I can confess my sin and follow you more closely. My desire is to walk by faith and not by sight. Let me see you clearly today, Amen

Date: 01-22-2020

Title: Holy Ground

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 3:5 (NASB77) Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

(O) bservation:
    When Moses see the burning bush and approaches it, he encounters God. God speaks and commands Moses to take off his sandals because he is standing on Holy Ground. The place where Moses met with God was a holy place and Moses needed to recognize that place as holy. Moses heard from God in that holy place and it set the course of his life.

(A) pplication:
    If I really believed that the place where I encounter God was holy ground, would it change the way I respond? I wonder how often I have treated holy ground as common ground. On common ground I am equal with those I encounter. On holy ground I am not. When I treat the holy as common, I miss or can dismiss what God says because it is common. When I recognize that I am on Holy Ground then I must shut-up and listen and then obey. There is to be no argument or compromise just obedience. Moses wanted to argue or negotiate and later in the text it says that “God’s anger burned against Moses“. I certainly want to avoid God’s anger if I can. Too often I have treated this “devotion time” or “quiet time” as something common. Today I see it differently. This is where I meet with God and ask Him to speak to me. This is Holy Ground and I need to begin to treat it as such.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to always recognize that when I meet with you and listen for your voice, that place is holy ground. It is my desire to treat it as such. Discipline me when my pride kicks in and I treat you as common. Amen