Numbers 17,18; Ps 29; Mark 4

Scripture - Mark 4:11-12 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

Observation - Jesus speaking to the disciples the importance of the parables. He is making known the miracles and mystery of the kingdom so that those outside are not just perceiving the principles but actually seeing the principles. It is interesting to see that Jesus says that those on the inside, those that are walking with Him, are given the knowledge of the mysteries. We are given knowledge of the kingdom. It is in that knowledge that we have power and can overcome the enemy. The enemy works in the ignorance and not in the knowledge. Each one of us that is walking on the inside track with Jesus, comes to the place where we know and don't have to guess the principles of kingdom dynamics.

Application - Staying on the inside and not the outside is the key to knowing the mysteries of the kingdom. Too often we find ourselves on the outside looking in to the workings of God. We find ourselves without knowledge and without understanding. Jesus wants to make it plain. His desire is to teach us the ways of God so that we can walk circumspectly before Him. Too often we say "we don't understand the kingdom principles." In many cases it is do to removing ourselves from God's presence.

Prayer - Father, help me stay on the inside.

Numbers 14-16; Mk 3

Scripture - Mark 3:27 - No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

Observation - Jesus is teaching the disciples that unless they clean out the evil from an area and become the dominant spiritual force in any situation - they will not be able to gain the full result of harvest and fruit. Jesus is showing here that he is not aligned with satan or his ways but is standing not only in direct opposition to him but also has authority to bind him. Jesus shows through his words that he is not only no aligned with satan but has power over him.

Application - Taking control of the strong man - so often we approach situations in our life and never take control of the strong man. We try to bear fruit, we try to gain success, we try to move forward, but haven't stopped to bind the strong man in the area. Spiritually speaking, the strong man poses great resistance to a move of God or the movement of the church in any area. As a church we must make it every clear that we not only are not divided but we have the authority and the power to bind the strong man. Once the dominion is established we can and will plunder the area.

Prayer - Father help us to identify the strong man in our lives, the things that are keeping us from the heavenly plunder. Jesus you are the one that can and will bind the strong man in our lives. Allow us to walk in alignment with you.

Numbers 12-13; Ps 90; Mk 2

Ps 90:15-17 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children, 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes establish the work of our hands.

Observations - The psalmist in these scriptures is asking God to establish works of mercy and salvation in their midst. Understanding that God is all and we are not. That the work that we must do is from God and for God. In the previous scriptures there this this real understanding of man's temporary state and God's eternal state. The psalmist begins to describe man's limited time here and that God must establish His eternal purpose on earth.

Application - This concept of God's work being established has become a real eye opener for me. For God to establish His work, His way and that really Eric needs to just be used. As a pastor it can be really easy to come up with the greatest ideas ever to build the church and to bring in the harvest - but the great reality is that God establishes the work and brings the harvest and our job is to tend to the harvest. To work with what God has given us and to rejoice in that.

Prayer - Father let me restate the psalm. Please Lord establish the work of my hands. You are God and You know the work that must be done - please Lord show me and lead me.

Lev 18-19; Ps 13; Acts 19

Scripture - Lev 19:23-25 "When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, don't eat the fruit for three years; consider it inedible. 24 By the fourth year its fruit is holy, an offering of praise to God. 25 Beginning in the fifth year you can eat its fruit; you'll have richer harvests this way. I am God, your God.

Observation - Moses is being taught by God how to reap the best harvest of the land. He says for 3 years don't even bring in the harvest, consider it inedible, the fourth year give to God and the fifth year eat. This is principle for building God's work. The first 3 years in our new land should be consider laying the foundation for God's harvest, the fourth year should be a praise year and the fifth year we begin to break out. I had a pastor tell me one time "don't even begin to count for five years, God doesn't build his kingdom overnight and the only thing growing fast is weeds."

Application - Building a church for God is one of the most rewarding yet difficult tasks ever attempted. As an executive in the banking industry, I am used to rather quick results and success that takes place nearly immediately. In the kingdom, the first 3 years have been invested in the land, this fourth year has been one of praise and focus on God's heart - I am so looking for year 5 and reaping the harvest. As a pastor, I believe God is challenging me to look at 5 year increments in the things I do,. This scripture can apply to so many things in our life and ministry. Nothing happens overnight - building a great church, building a great life, building a great relationship. Everything takes time.

Prayer - Father help me to keep my eyes on the 5th year.

Lev 10-12; Acts 16

Scripture - Lev 10:9-11 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, 11 and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses."

Observation - Nadab and Abihu had just been consumed because they didn't pay attention to the precepts of God. The did not distinguish between right and wrong. Moses begins to teach the priests that they must determine what is holy and what is common, what is clean and what is unclean. In the kingdom of God this is not a blurred line. There is a distinct difference between right and wrong. Nadab and Abihu decided that God's principles could be casually accepted. They offered fire - even though the fire was not the right fire - they were close. Some might say "What is the difference?". The difference is that obedience is better than sacrifice. When we get instruction from God - it is not to have our opinion laced upon it. God is holy and is ways are above ours.

Application - This passage of scripture makes me think about the "shades of grey" idea that floats around our society. We no longer distinguish between right and wrong, clean and unclean, holy and common. We simply say "If it feels right do it" or "don't be so religious". Standards of character and non-negotiable. God's holiness is not up for negotiation. Something are right and some things are just wrong.

Prayer - Father help me to follow the right path today!

EX 30-32; Acts 8

Scripture - Acts 8:4-8 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

Observation - In this passage a great persecution had just taken place against the church. Saul was going everywhere taking men and women from their homes and dragging them to prison. There was a great movement to stop the progress of the church. When reading verses 4-8 I am so energized at the resolve of the church. No matter what comes against the church it will rise and continue on. The bible says that those that were scattered went about preaching the word. Just because we can't meet in a building doesn't mean we can't spread the word. Jesus resides in the heart of men and women not in a building or location. No matter what persecution comes we must continue to have the resolve to move forward.

Application - You can't stop the church. No matter what comes our way, what problem, what persecution, what legal demands, you can't stop the church. Even if we are scattered we must look for ways to spread the word. Philip ended up witnessing to an Ethiopian Eunuch on the side of the road. Each of us should take the church with us where ever we go and keep it moving forward.

Prayer - Father help me to keep moving forward no matter what comes my way.