Jer 26,35,36; John 20

Scripture - John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed."

Observation - Jesus has been showing up for the past week with the disciples - the first time Thomas was not there and when told about the encounter said "unless I stick my fingers in his wounds, I will not believe". Thomas need to have physical proof that Jesus was alive again. He needed not only his spiritual sense to be confirmed but his physical senses to confirm Jesus as alive. I love that Jesus did not show up the second time to condemn Thomas but satisfied his need to have they physical confirmation. I love that Jesus understands how we think and what we need. Jesus will not only confirm himself to us both in spirit and in flesh. The reality of Jesus is real, tangible and alive and he wants everyone to be convinced of this not matter what. However Jesus explains that the greater blessing is in believing without seeing. Too many of us need proof before we will make a move and Jesus in this statements confirms that Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.

Application - There is an old saying "Seeing is believing". While that may be true there is a great blessing that comes from not needing to see the physical manifestations of God but simply to know that HE IS! To know that Jesus is Jesus because he is Jesus and not needing to stick our fingers in his wounds constantly. It seems to be human nature to want to go poking around Jesus hands to prove that "yes in fact this Jesus". Jesus wants us to trust him without seeing. To believe without the needing a sign. In fact he says that "the foolish look for signs". To believe without seeing gives us a foundation that is strong because our senses will fail us and can be swayed by circumstances. Faith alone is strong.

Prayer - Father help me to see you my faith and not my eyes.

Amos 7-9; Ps 104; Titus 2

Scripture - You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. ²Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. ³Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. ⁶Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Observation - Paul is continuing to teach Titus how to train and develop leaders and those faithful to the gospel. Over and over in the new testament there is the theme of teaching sound doctrine. It becomes apparent that there are those that teach false doctrine. In fact Paul says in 1:11 that this false doctrine is ruining families. Here is the second chapter he tells Titus to teach from sound doctrine. Teach men to be temperate, self-controlled and sound in faith and to teach women the way to live. He goes on to talk about the younger men and women. The entire family must receive sound doctrine. Doctrine that does not hurt but stands to encourage and correct the behaviors of this world. Sound doctrine will build families to strong positions of faith.

Application - Continuing to teach principles that families can live by is the call and the directive of God. Thinking of entire families and how the doctrine will help them become stronger in faith and to leave a legacy is very important. Throughout our church we should see the fingerprint of God on the families as men become temperate, strong, faithful and serving and women become reverent, self controlled and honoring of their husbands and both are able to teach the younger the right way to live.

Prayer - Father help me to keep it real and keep it sound.

Amos 4-6; Ps 86; Titus 1

Scripture - Titus 1:15-16 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.
NIV

Observation - Paul is giving instructions to Titus in this book regarding the establishment of leadership and elders in the church. Paul says earlier that Titus was left to finish what was unfinished. Here in vs 15 Paul is giving Titus some much needed education on what to look for in leaders. He says that people claim to know God but by their actions they deny him. It is amazing what our actions tell about our beliefs. You could ask someone if they believe God and have them tell you yes - but with their actions you can tell they really don't. Interestingly enough my son Dylan has a great ability to spot these things. Dylan is quietly influential and can see through what people say to their actions. Because Dylan doesn't talk alot - he is watching the actions to determine a persons faith. The old adage "Actions speak louder than words" seems very appropriate here. You can claim to be a Christian all you want but what do your actions tell those around you. In many cases life actions are a stronger testimony than the words we say. Can people tell you are a Christian without opening your mouth. Or do you claim Him with your mouth and deny Him with your actions.

Application - As a pastor I know that I come under a higher scrutiny because of the position I hold, however, irrespective of that position - I need my actions to line up with my verbal testimony. In everything I do, I want Christ to shine through. I want my actions to scream to the world that I love God and am faithful to His son. My life must scream by my actions that my life is dedicated to the one true God. I never want my life to deny the Christ that I love.

Prayer - Father watch over me. Watch over the things I do both in public and in private. God I pray that my life be a living testimony of my love for You. Father help me to walk in the commandments that you have detailed for me in your word. Father you mean the world to me and I want the world to see you in everything I do.

2 Kings 1-3; Ps 82; 1 Tim 1

Scripture - 2 Kings 2:19-22 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren." 20 And he said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.'" 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

Observation - This land had been barren, not producing any results. Nothing would grow, no harvest would come. The city was placed perfectly - everything seemed to be well. But the water was bad and the land would not produce anything. Elisha says bring me a new bowl with some salt and throws the salt into the water and heals the water and the land so that it produces crops even to this day. The salt in this scripture represents purification. Salt is the medium by which preservation come and purification comes. Christ says we are the salt of the earth. Salt to bring flavor and truth to the dark and deceitful. In order to produce we must have purification and truth with light in the darkness. To make our land produce we must throw salt...

Application - For several years we have been working land to make it produce. Sowing and sowing and sowing and waiting for the harvest. The city is positioned perfectly. The land is perfect for harvest. It is pleasant for a move of God but the land seems to be barren and unproductive. I believe it is time for a salt treatment. I believe that the land needs to be purified and taken back from the enemy. The spirit of the anti-Christ (death) has attempted to claim the land but we must take it back. We must throw the salt on it and take it back for Christ. The land we are standing on is holy land. The place where we worship is claimed for Christ. It is perfectly placed and perfectly positioned for God's mighty move. Today I throw salt on the land and claim it for Christ.

Prayer - Father - Help me today. Let me take salt and purify the land and pray from hearts to be radically changed, radically transformed so that we might radically change a community. God I pray that you heal the land and let it produce in abundance.

1 Kings 17-19; Col 2

Scripture - Colossians 2:1-3 - For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Observation - Paul is in prayer for the churches at Colosse and Loadicea. He knows that the false teachers are at work with philosophy and worldly wisdom trying to move the Christians back to their old ways. He is praying earnestly and is praying for their unity that together they would defeat the false teachers. In intense spiritual warfare he is praying for the believer. It is the prayer that touches me today. He says "that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love..." Paul makes a strong connection here that if their hearts are knit together in love they can over come the false teachings. If their hearts are knit together in love they can become stronger and attain the riches of God. If their hearts are knit together in love they are stronger in their faith. All too often our hearts are not knit together in love. While we associate with each other - we don't become "knit" together. I believe that it is love that conquers all things according to 1 Corinthians 13. Love requires that we go out of our way. Love requires that we make sacrifices. Love requires that we do something for someone. In our churches - people come in looking for something. They have been beat up by the enemy and by the world and are looking for something different. Too often we look right by them. If they don't engage us we don't engage them. If they don't talk to us we don't talk to them. That is not their role. The need to be knit together with us in love. Love...

Application - Today I begin strategically, emphatically, carefully and mindfully planning to love more people. The only way we can make a difference anywhere is to gain the strength that unity of knit souls together brings. We must do our best to make everyone feel love. We must put ourselves aside to transmit love to everyone we meet. We must focus our attention on loving our neighbor and our guests and begin the weaving process of their hearts to ours.

Prayer - Father help me to teach and to live love. Help me to show the power of hearts knit together in love. Help me know the power of God's love working through our church and our lives.

1 Kings 12; 2 Chron 10-11; Phil 2

Scripture - Phil 2:12-16 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Observation - This is one of my favorite scriptures of all time...The idea of continuing to work on your salvation and become what God needs me to be for His good pleasure. The idea that everything I hope to do and want to do is for God because it in some way blesses Him completely wins my heart. God is my father - like the scripture says "Abba Father" or daddy. Further - I love the idea of doing all things without arguing or complaining. Too often we do it but we grumble all the way. We need to be blameless and harmless for this generation. We must perform without the moaning and groaning. God is waiting for us to become the testimony He has called us to be.

Application - I must take the advice of the scripture here. For too long I have been in this place wondering what am I doing and why am I here. But God is rightly saying "You are here for my good pleasure". That should be and is plenty of reason. Now I need to work out the salvation portion and continue to be a blessing to God.

Prayer - Father you know what I am talking about. You know how I think. God I love you so much and want my life to be used for your good pleasure. Whatever that takes - God I am willing.

Song 5-8; Phil 1

Scripture - Phil 1:27-30 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Observation - let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, stand fast in one spirit, one mind, together and not terrified by your adversaries. I love these words - Paul casts vision and deposits faith in every letter. He is telling the Philippian church that there actions are so very important. Everything they do represents Christ. That together they should be standing in one spirit - having the same goal with the same purpose and the same Christ. They should be in the same mind with the desire for the same things. If we could get Christians today in the same city going in the same direction with the same purpose with the character to back it up we would have no problem filling every church in that city.

Application - While I can't affect every church in the city - I can affect mine. I take the personal responsibility to instruct us on the vision, desire and passion of God for our community that will change the hearts of our community to change the community. If we are all on the same page we will crush the adversary that tries to attack any one of us.

Prayer - Father - unity, direction, and passion to complete the task. God help me to communicate your vision to your people your way.