Job 19; Mk 1-2

Scripture - Mk 2:1-4 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

Observation - These four men carrying this paralytic men had simply heard word that Jesus could do miraculous, life changing things. They were so overwhelmed by that testimony that they wanted to get their friend in front of Him. They were persistent and actually aggressive about getting him there. They really didn't let anything stop them from getting to Jesus. They couldn't get through the front door or the windows so they ripped the roof off the house to get in front of Jesus. What determination to get in front of Jesus. These men had some passion to get the answer that they needed. Their focus was squarely on getting in front of Him. Getting their friend the touch from Jesus that he needed, so focus in fact, that nothing would stop them.

Application - I wonder sometimes if we have the same passion to get in front of Jesus. So much passion that we don't let anything get in our way. These four men simply heard that this man could do something and believed it so much that they actually ripped the roof off the house. How would Jesus respond today if we were so passionate about getting to him that we didn't let anything stop us. If we really approached Him with that kind of determination. That we knew He holds the answer to our problem and all that we have to do is get in front of Him. Further that we know that He has the answer for our friends and that we will rip the roof off the house to get our friends and family in front of Him. I really believe He is looking for that kind of passion from us today.

Prayer - Father - Help me to be passionate about getting in your presence today. I know that one spoken word from you takes care of many years of worry and stress. That if you simply speak in my direction all things are great. Father help me to get anyone and everyone in front of you - because you hold the same desire to heal them as you do to heal me.

Job 18; Ps 114; Acts 27-28

Scripture - Acts 28:30-31 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Observation - I was thinking about the way that the book of Acts ends with Paul in his own rented home in Rome preaching the gospel and no one forbidding him. He was there preaching as he wanted, converting people to Christianity and building ministry. I am sure he was also sending messages to his churches throughout the regions, discipling the men that he planted in those churches. But what is interesting to me is that no one was forbidding him. He was in this place where his ministry just worked. But it took a whole lot of beating up to get there. He had been through prison, beatings, accusations, shipwrecks, viper bites, persecution, slander, and every other type of personal attack, but ended up in a house that he rented preaching the gospel.

Application - How many times do we want the prize but don't want to pay the price. Paul had hit a stride in his ministry but had to pay a tremendous price to get there. Ministry does not come without some prison experiences, some beatings, some accusations and some personal attacks but if you can endure all of that God will get you to the place where your ministry will go without anyone forbidding it.

Prayer - Father help me to endure. I am willing to pay the price to get the prize. We are on our way to ministry that the devil can't forbid. God bless every step of the way.

Neh 9-10; Acts 2

Scripture - Neh 10:39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are, where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not neglect the house of our God.
Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Observation - In Nehemiah 10:39 we see that the temple is completed and dedicated to the Lord, the priests have been commissioned, the people have committed to bringing in the tithes and the storage rooms are full and yet they continue to bring in the tithes so that the ministry can continue. In Acts 2:46 the birthing of the new testament church takes place with God adding to it daily. The scripture just before this one describes the people selling their possessions and bringing them to the house of God so that no one had any needs and that the house of God was taken care of.

Application - I love that in both instances the people cared so much for God's house that it was not neglected. There was a real emphasis in both the old and new testament that the house of God be maintained and cared for. In Nehemiah it goes on to say that "we will not neglect the house of God". To have that much emphasis on the house of God understanding its vital role in the continuation of the ministry and the fulfilling of God's plan. Building or no building - the house of God is a vital aspect of God's plan and every effort must be given to care for it as such. I love that the people were willing to bring all in to take care of the house...

Prayer - help us to see the vital role your house plays. While the church is the people the house of God is important to the kingdom and the work that you are doing here on earth. God help us to never neglect the house.

Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1

Scripture - Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which" He said "you have heard from Me; 5 "for John truly baptized with water but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now"

Observation - "Wait For The Promise" - "Do Not Depart" - these gentlemen were gathered together in the upper room waiting for 120 days with nothing. No indication that the promise was coming, no indication that anything was happening. Wait for the promise and do not depart were the instructions from Jesus - as a matter of fact he went on to say "that you heard from Me". In other words I have given you specific instructions and a promise that I will fulfill - don't move until it happens. Don't run, don't walk, don't go, don't leave the room until you see the promise fulfilled.

Application - All too often we leave before the promise is fulfilled. We depart Jerusalem, for that matter we leave the room before the promise ever arrives. Jesus told the disciples very specifically don't depart Jerusalem and wait on the promise. If Jesus can get us to stick around long enough and hang in there even when it looks like things aren't happening He will bring the promise to pass.

Prayer - Father help me to take my eyes off of the tangible results and just wait for the Promise...

Ezra 9-10; Ps 131; Lk 21

Scripture - Ezra 9:1-2 When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands.

Observation - God had some pretty strict rules about intermarriage and defiling the seed of the holy people of God. The pagan cultures were not to be integrated into the Jewish culture. God's people were to be separate. Mixing seed with pagan culture causes distraction and eventually pulls away the believer. God did not want the philosophies and the rituals of these cultures to affect the worship of His people. The design was to keep the people of God squarely focused on the purest of worship following prescribed methods and with the right heart. Pagan beliefs begin to gain influence when mixed with holy seed.

Application - I was thinking about some time ago when I needed to plant a new yard at my house. I was so excited about getting the lawn level and preparing the soil to receive the seed and making sure the right fertilizer and nutrients were in the soil. After all the preparations were made I had a company come and spray seed on the top of my painstakingly prepared soil. Unfortunately the batch of seed the man used contained some wild, dominant seed mixed in with the rye, fescue and blue grass that I wanted. This crabgrass content mixed in with the great seed caused me much problem. It took me nearly 2 years to finally get the crab grass all killed and the right grass to be full and lush and green. As Christians - we need to be careful what kind of seed we mix with the pure holy seed God has given us.

Prayer - Father kill the crab grass that can infiltrate the good grass in my life.

Esther 9-10; Luke 10

Scripture - Luke 10:38-42 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Observation - Jesus was talking to Martha here about the difference in focus. Jesus was trying to keep the main thing the main thing. Martha's complaint was that she was doing all the work and was distracted by all the things around her and that Mary was just sitting there listening to what was going on with Jesus. Jesus replied to Martha - you are worried about the wrong things. Mary is focused correctly and is doing the better thing. Martha was distracted by the business of the house.

Application - My wife has a book on the shelf (one that I haven't read) entitled "Being Mary in a Martha World" the title alone is enough to convict you to doing the right thing. This scripture is timely today. The busyness of life can cause us to really loose focus on the "Main Thing". Our worship of Jesus, our relationship with Jesus, our time with Jesus. Sitting at his feet is really the only place that we need to be. The only pressing thing in life is what we learn from Him. I know that the demands on my time can be VERY distracting. But the "Main Thing" needs to be the "Main Thing". Mary basically thumbed her nose at Martha and said I am sitting here learning something today. I am not getting up until I have spent some time with Jesus. Every day must be a Mary day! Slow down, put away the distractions and get some time with Jesus.

Prayer - Father, there have been several men tell me to slow down. Please help me Lord by giving me the strength and the discipline to make the main thing the main thing. Jesus I love you and long to spend time at your feet, listening to your word over my life and over my days. You are the one that I am here for and am willing to be taught. Help me to put the distractions away and focus on what you have to say today. To quote a phrase from the old show Frasier "I'm Listening!"

Zech 10-12; Ps 126; Luke 14

Scripture - Luke 14:13-14 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

Observation - Reaching out when someone can do nothing for you is the key to major blessing in our life. This concept is such a opposing position from the world. Every day we are motivated to do for and hang around those that can in some way help us back. Work drives us to do for those that can promote us or help us or advance us. Our position should be to do for those that can do nothing for us. Opening the doors of the church to all - no matter background or social standing or political position. Each week we set the table for the feast and are eager to invite all.

Application - Everything we do must be motivate by a heart to help and to serve not to get and attain. I want to prepare for this Sunday's banquet in such a way that the feast is open to all and the invitations get sent to "whosoever will".

Prayer - Father bring them all!!!!!!