Nehemiah 11, 12; Ps 1; Acts 3

Scripture - Acts 3:11-16 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Observation - I have always loved this portion of scripture. Peter and John are on their way to church and they see a man laying there by the door that is in need of help. Since he was born the man could not walk and had to beg for everything he had. Peter walks by the man and through a bit of dialogue he tells the man to get up in the "name of Jesus". The man goes leaping through the temple as an unruly display for all to see. He was completely healed. In my life, I have focused on this healing and thought how miraculous it was, but today I am seeing a new emphasis from Peter. Peter uses this opportunity - the unruly display of healing - to get peoples attention and to speak to them about Jesus. He indignantly says "Why are you standing here in amazement, Jesus can do so much more than this for your lives". He uses this opportunity to bring attention to Jesus. I think so many times we get stuck at the miracle and forget the Jesus of the miracle. Peter began to preach the gospel through the healing and in conjunction with the healing. No discredit to the guy who was cured, but it was a miracle that allowed the people to see what kind of God we serve.

Application - Boy do I believe in healing. I believe it, I want it, I pray for it. The miraculous God has always intrigued me and excited me. The fact that people don't have to hurt and don't have to live in pain that doctors can't figure out how to cure is amazing to me. I love it when God shows off in public and makes a grand display of His power. However, I need to understand the purpose. The purpose is not only to bring a touch to the individuals life, but also to show His son Jesus to the world. God shows up not to put on a performance but to point to Jesus. As Peter said, "It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can ALL see." I need to always point the signs and wonders to Jesus.

Prayer - Father, let is always be about your son. You created this whole world and from the beginning you had Him on your mind. Let there never be a moment in my day or in my life that I am not pointing the crowds to your son. I want Him to be the most important thing to me and to the church I serve. I love you today and always. Amen.

Nehemiah 9, 10; Acts 2

Scripture - Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to the number daily those who were being saved.

Observation - Luke is describing here the simplicity of the faith and the life lived with God. He is depicting a functioning community of believers that are working in harmony with one another and concerned about the overall health of all constituents. After such and phenomenal outpouring of God's Spirit on the people as promised in the Gospels and by Joel the prophet, the people of God began to work in unity. Emphasis was placed on the apostles teaching and the signs and wonders performed by the apostles. It brought the people together with the same emphasis and the same focus - to see God's powerful hand moving in their lives.

Application - As a pastor I must always work at getting the people to be together and having a common focus and a common vision. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of God's word - God wants us as a community of believers to want the same thing and be investing in the same goals. I love the last verse that says the Lord added to their number daily those that were being saved. I long for the day that we are adding to the church daily those that are being saved. To see the community I serve and to know that when my church devotes themselves to the apostles teaching and begins to works together to accomplish the vision - we will begin to see many saved for the Kingdom. It must become the top priority. To be together and have everything in common. That is the Goal.

Prayer - Father teach me how to lead...How to build community...How to work in such a way as to help us have common focus with common vision. God I know that in unity is strength and favor and in that we can build your great church.

Ezra 7,8; Luke 20

Scripture - Luke 20:1-8 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?" 3 But He answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4 The baptism of John — was it from heaven or from men?" 5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

Observation - Jesus is once again questioned about His authority. People are always looking to try and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is who He says He is. Questioning His authenticity, questioning His authority, questioning His motives. Jesus came in to this world and confounded every one He met. I love that He didn't answer the question here. He simply asked one. What He was really trying to say was that you don't believe anyway, why should I justify this with an answer. You won't believe me when I tell you so I am not going too. I can imagine what would happen if we would stop questioning Him on every point and simply believe that He is and He is willing to do what ever it is that we need. I remember the scripture where the person asks "Master, if you are willing" and He replies "I am willing, be healed". I love that "I am willing...". It doesn't seem to be good enough though. We have to have proof!!! More questions and more doubt. We need to just believe that He is...

Application - Jesus authority comes into question with me, not so much as my Lord and savior, but in regards to operation in my life in the supernatural. I wonder often will He take care of this situation? Will He respond? Will He rescue me? Every time those questions are asked - I am just like one of the elders saying "By what authority are you here?" I need to stop questioning and start responding to the call that trumpets from my life every day. He is operating by authority, with authority, on my behalf.

Prayer - Father - let me remember your sovereignty today. Let me remember your authority today. I love you so much and know that you are my God and my father, my abba father. Keep me from questioning that authority and taking the authority that you have given.

Esther 9-10; Luke 19

Scripture - Est 9:1-3 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king's command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. 2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.

Observation - The Jews had come into great power under King Ahasuerus and were being tormented and persecuted by those in adjacent cities and provinces. The leaders of these areas sought to do great harm to the Jews. I think the key phrase in this passage is "the opposite occurred". It is amazing what happens when the King is involved. All of a sudden what your enemies intend for harm actually turns out for good. The bible is so interesting in the description of God turning bad situations into good and what was meant for evil into something good for your life. God is a master a spinning the circumstances and creating situations where you can and will overpower your enemy.

Application - To look at a situation and know that what was intended to take me down will only bring me up. That every fight I fight is fought with the outcome already sealed. I can overcome, I will overtake the enemy that has his sights set on my destruction. In a world that is so negative and defeated - it is good to know that even though there are things that want to bring me down "The Opposite Occurred". I have the Kings blessing in the fight and that makes all the difference in the world. I have the King behind me to insure the victory.

Prayer - Keep me focused on the opposite. God every time the enemy tries to take me down, remind me that the opposite will occur.

Ezra 5-6; Ps 138; Luke 16

Scripture - Luke 16:1-10 He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2 So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.' 3 "Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.' 5 "So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' 6 And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' 7 Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' 8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. 9 "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

Observation - In this parable Jesus is describing the proper use of ones position and ones money. He makes it very clear that at some point you are going to lose what you have materially and that even your position in job is not guaranteed. The rich man comes and basically fires the manager for improper use of his position and of loosely managing the rich man's money. He gives the manager direction to give account of himself and the manager right away understand that he needs to make long term plans and protect himself from the pains of unemployment. He does this by using what he has to make friends of his masters clients. The understanding that we gain from this parable is that we must use the wealth, position, job and material positions to rightly serve the kingdom of God. All can be lost in a moment - with today's economy everyone is panicking and totally unsecure. It is times like these that we rest knowing we are using what we have to glorify the king and to secure our positions beyond this life.

Application - We must use what we have for God and to work toward the kingdom of God. We only have a limited time here, we are only given so many resources and everything we have must be used to make friends of the kingdom. Looking to invest in the harvest and working to make friends of our father's clients must be our focus. Many of us take the resources that God has granted us and we squander them and are not accountable for them. We must redirect these resources to the harvest and the work of God. Looking toward heaven as we approach every day - knowing that at any moment we could be standng in front of Him.

Prayer - Father - Help me to use what you have given me in gaining friends that will endure to the end and will be welcomed into eternal life. Father I want to reinvest what you have given me to reach the world for the kingdom of God. Help me each day to employ your resources wisely.

Zech 13-14; Ps 147; Luke 15

Scripture - Luke 15:4-7 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them,'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Observation - Jesus is beginning to teach the disciples the importance of the harvest. He is setting forth the expectation that people are the purpose of Jesus on earth and the Father's plan for salvation. In the presence of tax collectors, sinners and the Pharisees, He begins to teach them of the importance of "Just One" that is lost. How passionate heaven is for one that gives themselves to the Lord. In two parables back to back He explains how intently He is searching for the one that will be rescued.

Application - I believe we need to have that undying passion for "Just One" that needs to be rescued. It is so easy to get focused on the things of everyday life and forget that we need to be formulating plans and putting together strategy that puts us in front of the harvest. The focus must be on the one. We must raise our awareness of the one that is lost from the pack, the one that is hidden away in hurt and pain. We need to go after the one.

Prayer - Father - help me to redirect my focus on the "One".

Zech 10-12; Ps 126; Luke 14

Scripture - Luke 14:13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Observation - Jesus is trying to fill His house. His father is about to have a party and it will be the party of a life time and Jesus wants us to invite everyone we can find. he says if you invited all of these - the poor, the blind, the crippled, the lame you will be blessed. I believe I just found a key to blessing that has yet to be unlocked. God is paying back blessings for the invitations that we make. Going to get the broken people and the hurt people opens doors to blessings. God has placed a motivator in the mix. He says if you go get these I will bless you. What a deal...

Application - Yesterday I met a man outside of a restaurant. I was with one of my associates from the church and we were finishing a brainstorming session about direction and spiritual direction for our body. Right outside the door was a man that looked to be in his mid 30's. When we came through the door he immediately started his speech "Do you happen to have a few bucks to spare, I am diabetic and need to get some food." Once engaged in the conversation I felt I had permission to ask some questions. After all the price of answering a few questions was a meal across the street. Fair deal, I think. I began to talk to this young man and ask him about his past and what got him to the place of being homeless. I wanted to know what really drove a mid 30's man to the place of no hope, no plan, no purpose, no anything. What got him there? He began to tell me a story of his past and where he was from. He told about how he once knew the Lord but was disappointed by the people in the church. He was focused in the wrong direction and doing the wrong things. It was amazing to hear him speak and the more he spoke the more you could see God beginning to work on his heart. I made the man a deal. I told him I would buy him lunch but I wanted 2 things in return: 1. I wanted to pray for him that God would bless him and change his circumstances and 2. I wanted to invite him to church. Simple. He agreed and we proceeded to purchase the lunch. By the end of our conversation this young man and I struck the beginnings of a pretty good relationship. I know this is a lot today but as I read through Luke this morning I remember this event and realized there are so many that need to be invited to the party. I thought as I was standing there with this young man - there are so many opportunities to share Jesus if we will only open our eyes. I was totally focused on them and now looking in Luke realize that God wants to bless my life through the invitations. There are so many like this young man that need help and they need it today.

Prayer - God refocus my attention! Get me out of the four walls of our building and into the neighborhoods and businesses of our community. Get me out there inviting them to your party. I know that your banquet will fill them up and meet every need they (we) have. God help me to refocus on the important priorities.