Prov 19-21; Romams 13

Scripture - Rom 13:1-3 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.

Observation - Paul is giving instruction here to obey earthly government. While this scripture does not authorize a Christian to obey when asked to sin - the command is there to bring order in the kingdom. Paul is speaking to the church in Rome that has one of the strongest governmental powers of the time. The fiercest army and the strongest non-christian leadership. The church must have been trying to discern the purpose for non-christian rulership. Paul simply states that God has a purpose for Godly and ungodly government. Following them will allow God's purposes to be fulfilled. He says that rulers are a terror to evil. Throughout the old testament God used ungodly rulers for a season to chastise a sinful people and bring repentance.

Application - In a recent class we had a discussion on obedience. One of the taboo words of the 21st Century. The bible says to prefer obedience to sacrifice. We are a people called to obedience to both God and those that rule over us that are appointed by God. In the church it is our pastors and our leaders, in society it is our president and government. Our job is not to abandon either when we don't like what is happening - our job is to pray that God's purposes would be fulfilled through those men and women. That we are able to submit our lives to those that God has placed over us - that I am to submit my life to those over me in the Lord. God has placed some great people over me in both government and in the church and it is time to see the purpose of God fulfilled.

Prayer - God help me today to submit to the authorities you have placed over me. God you have appointed men and women in our church leadership as well as in our governmental bodies to lead and guide and cause a change. Father I pray that today and everyday I embrace your purpose for my life and follow with honor.

Exodus 1,2; Ps 88; Luke 21

Scripture - Luke 21:38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Observation - Jesus can always draw a crowd. No matter where or when - the presence of Jesus in any area will draw a crowd. They followed Him to other parts of the country, they followed Him to other sides of the lake, they followed Him to the temple. No matter where He goes they will follow Him. In this scripture Jesus was in the temple early in the morning and all the people come there early in the morning to hear Him teach. They wanted so desperately to hear what He dad to say.

Application - My life needs to be more about Jesus, my ministry needs to be more about Jesus, my every thought and every day needs to be more about Jesus. While I am so in love with Jesus and thankful for the saving grace He has brought to my life and while I teach Jesus to the people in my church. I sense a desire to make Him more a part of every service, every teaching, every sermon, every conversation. If ever there was a way to build a church - it is to make it about Jesus. The people were at the temple early in the morning. The people today would undoubtedly come no matter when our building was open to see and hear what Jesus had to say.

Prayer - Father - help me make the transition from one that loves You to one that loves You and preaches and teaches and is totally consumed with Your son. God, I love you for giving me Your son, I love You for offering Him to me, I love You for the life You have given me - now help me to profess it in everything.

Gen 31-33; Luke 13

Scripture - Gen 32:24-26 The Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He say that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with Him. 26 And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!"

Observation - Jacob was one persistent person. I know this scripture is very well known but today is it speaking clearly. As we are continuing in our 21 day fast - it seems to me that we need to understand the persistence that Jacob had to wrestle until he was blessed. Jacob refused to let go even in pain and discomfort. Even when he was injured in his hip, Jacob had a mindset that he wasn't letting go of God until God blessed him. Ironically that is exactly what happened. God blessed him and let him go and Jacob was forever changed by this event. In fact it changed the people that followed him and the diet they ate and the way they worshipped. This event not only affected Jacob but everyone that followed him.

Application - I think sometimes we need to get our mind on wrestling with God. We need to have the mindset that we are going to pursue God until we reach the break through. So many of us stop short of our goal but praying a bit and asking God for his blessing, but God never experiences the joy of one of his children pursuing him and chasing him and wrestling with Him until the blessing comes. Like a professional athlete, that is where the spiritual strength comes from. That constant wrestling until day break. Staying up with God could be the greatest blessing we have ever experienced.

Prayer - Father, I know your word says "You are a rewarder of those that diligently seek you." God help me to have the persistence of Jacob. Help me to pursue and to wrestle with you until the blessing comes. I want to experience you in greater and more complete ways. Help me God with this pursuit.

Gen 29, 30; Luke 12

Scripture - Luke 12:33-34 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Observation - What Jesus is trying to do in this scripture is to transfer the focus off of material possessions and things that are temporary and place them on the eternal. He is attempting to get His disciples and the people He ministered too, to focus on the eternal kingdom of God instead of the temporary things in this world. He gives the instruction to treasure the kingdom of God and it will have your heart.

Application - It is amazing how true this scripture is. That the things that we treasure our heart is wrapped around. For instance our children. I cherish and treasure both of my children and they have my heart. My wife - I absolutely adore her and treasure her and she has my heart. Anything in my life that I treasure I put my whole heart into. Our focus must be to begin treasuring the kingdom of God. To make it so valuable to us that we place our whole heart into its pursuit. That it become precious to us - more precious than any prized possession. We must treasure the gift that God has given.

Prayer - Father never let me forget the value of your promise. God I love you and never want anything material to take priority over you. Help me to treasure your promise and your kingdom.

Gen 15-17; Luke 6

Scripture - Luke 6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountains to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Observation - Jesus was about to make some major decisions. He was about to choose who were going to be his disciples. His commitment to prayer is unprecedented and is truly a high priority in His life. Jesus retreated to the mountains to pray and stayed there all night. He prayed to God for direction and instruction in making decisions that affected the whole of the newly forming church. Jesus dedicated himself to fasting an prayer and seeking God at every turn. He makes the statement "I can do nothing except what the Father tells me". His desire to hear God drives the decisions that He makes.

Application - To be found praying all night before making any decisions. Primarily decisions of paramount importance in our lives. Jesus model for prayer gives me the example that should be modeled for every decision facing our family and our church. To retreat with God. To pray all night for the direction and the instruction to move forward. To be able to do nothing except what the Father tells me. Too often I face decisions in my life that need more prayer. I would consider myself a praying man, but prayer that is laid prior to making a decision would eliminate the need for worry, stress and massive deliberation.

Prayer - Father I need your help to pray. Not simply the life of prayer but instructional prayer, pre-decision prayer, prayer that touches You and gives me the appropriate information for moving all of life forward.

Gen 3-5; Luke 2

Scripture - Luke 2:36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years fro her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Observation - What kind of diligence this woman has. Sitting in shear anticipation of the coming Christ, serving God with fastings and prayer. This woman had only been married 7 years and was widow for 84 years. She was spending her days and nights serving God in the temple. Not out trying to make a name for herself, not out doing anything but serving God with fastings and prayer. She was dedicated to seeing the Christ and wasn't going to leave the temple until she accomplished that very thing.

Application - We are quickly approaching our 21 days of fasting and prayer. We see here Anna who served God day and night with fasting and prayer and she was able to hold the son child of God. The Christ! She was able in her diligence to hold in her hands Christ the son of the living God. What might we be able to do as we serve God with fasting and prayer. As we dedicate our time in the temple and serve God with our fasting. Might we get to see a clearer picture of Jesus? Might we get to be quickly in His presence? Might we be overwhelmed by God and His mercy through Christ His Son.

Prayer - Father bless us as we prepare for fasting and prayer this month. Help us to walk away with a clear picture of your son Jesus and His purposes in our lives.

Gen 1,2; Luke 1

Scripture - Luke 1:20 "But behold you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."

Observation - The angel was giving Zacharias a sign to prove his word. He told him that he would not speak until the fulfillment of the promise. That he would be mute until that day. Then on that day when Zacharias named his son John, his mouth was opened.

Application - What a way to go. To be silent until the day the promise is fulfilled. I think too often we receive promise from God and then talk ourselves out of the fact that we heard from God. What could a more fitting solution for Zacharias be than to be silent til the promise was fulfilled. Sometimes I think if we would hear, and wait, and do we would see the promises of God more readily fulfilled in our lives. We would not talk ourselves out of the dreams that He has placed in our hearts.

Prayer - Father help me to stop talking and start listening. To stop talking me out of what you have planned to fulfill in my life. To use the ears...