Gen 9-11; Luke 4

Scripture - Gen 11:1-4 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

Observation - The power of unity - The people were all together with one language and decided that the right thing to do was to build a kingdom for themselves. They built a city and began to erect a tower that would reach the heavens to make a name for themselves. People have always tried to make a name for themselves. We continue to try an build our kingdoms instead of trying to build the kingdom of God. God scattered these people because they tried to build their own kingdom. The unity of the people caused them to do amazing things. If we could focus our attention on unity and building God's kingdom we could do anything.

Application - Working together on God's kingdom doesn't cause scattering but a gathering. God was not pleased with their misdirected focus. They were attempting to make a name for themselves and reach heaven instead of making a name for God and expanding His kingdom. Everything we do - should be focused on God's kingdom expansion and working together.

This month - Pastor Ray, Pastor Jack and I are teaching a conference focused on this very topic. Working together. For too long we have been working alone trying to build God's kingdom - but together we can actually accomplish it. Remember that it isn't the working together that was disappointing, it was the wrong focus.

Prayer - Father help me today to rightly focus on you. God your kingdom expansion should be our first goal. Working together should be our method to accomplish your mission. Help me to put together teams and vision that focuses on your goals.


www.sunergos.org

Gen 6-8; Luke 3

Scripture - Luke 3:7-14 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Observation - John is preaching to the crowd about the coming Christ. He is preparing the way for Christ and instructs the crowd "Bear Fruit!" What a message. To bear fruit is to produce works worthy of God. Bearing fruit is the good works that we do. John goes on to say that they should share tunics and collect only proper taxes and to stop extorting money. Be content - he exclaims. Bear fruit.

Application - Fruit bearing should be all of our goals. Doing good works, good deeds, touching lives. Christ is coming once again - the same instructions apply - Bear Fruit.

Prayer - Father help me to bear fruit today. God I need Jesus help in understanding the right places and the right decision that will cause me to bear fruit.

Gen 3,4; Luke 2

Scripture - Gen 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Observation - Eve finds herself in dialogue with the serpent. God has given clear instruction on how to operate according to kingdom principles and Eve decides that the right thing to do is to have a conversations with the serpent to discuss what God really said. The deception began as she begins to question God's word. His way is to twist what God says and to have you rework in your mind the word of God. Vs 4 says "She saw that the fruit was good to eat, was pleasant to the eye and good for gaining wisdom. There was no way she could have seen that - because it was a lie. Satan loves to twist God's word and cause you to see what is not there.

Application - There is a very real presence constantly trying to get me to see what is not there. True vision comes from God. It comes in clarity and purity without distorting His overall purpose for my life. I need to look at the things that I see and line them up with the word God spoke over me. Does it line up with His word - is it live or is it Memorex.

Prayer - Father I know the enemy tries to twist and distort what you are doing and your principles for my life. God I need a clear picture of your plan and your word that can not be tarnished by the serpents slick tongue.

Gen 1,2; Luke 1

Scripture - Luke 1:11-20 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 18 And Zacharias said to the angel,"How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." 19 And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 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 - Zechariah and Elizabeth were praying for a child. They had been seeking God and wanting so desperately to have a child a son that could carry on the lineage of Zechariah. Gabriel comes along and tells Zechariah during his temple service that he is going to have a son and that his son will do great things for God. Zechariah's response is to verbally doubt the words of the angel. To prove the miracle - Zechariahs mouth is shut until the promise is fulfilled.

Application - Too often we talk ourselves right out of the promise. God send the answer that we have been waiting for - the thing that has been so deep in our hearts desire. Then our response is to tell God - I don't understand how that could be possible. I am not sure you would answer this way. I am not confident this is the way it should be. Our mouths get us in so much trouble and talk us right out of the things God is trying to do in our lives. I believe that going into 2010 - I need to begin speaking the things as though they are - even before I see them in reality. My words need to speak the wonderful works of God. Speak the reality of what God has promised. Not only hearing but believing!!!

Prayer - God forgive my unbelief. I want to speak the words that agree with your promise and that testify to the good you do. Help me God to believe your words and to walk in the power of the miraculous. I love you Lord and am anticipating all that you have in store this year.

2 Cor 7-10

Scripture - 2 Corinthians 9:10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

Observation - Paul is addressing the giver in this chapter. he is speaking to the Corinthians, who are a very advanced and modern society, and have prepared to help his missionary efforts. The tenor of the passages before and after this describe a people that know they should give but are having a hard time releasing it. Paul encourages them to be cheerful in giving and that once the seed is sown God will multiply it for them. I love what verse 10 says that God multiplies the seed you have sown and increases the fruit. God only multiplies seed that is sown. Seed that has left your hand and been placed in God's harvest field.

Application - Economic hardship is hitting many people these days. But as the people of God we must continue to sow seed, both financially and spiritually. God will multiply the seed that has left our hand and been placed in His. God will increase not only the seed, but the fruit of righteousness which if you remember is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The fruit will increase by the sowing of the seed.

Prayer - Father let us continually look for places to sow seed.

Ps 122; 1 Cor 9-11

Scripture - 1 Cor 9:8-12 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

Observation -It is probably that some in Corinth were debating his Apostleship and his right to receive materially for the work that he was doing. Paul goes on a rant here and begins to not only confirm his apostleship but the necessity that the man of God be taken care of. He explains that a man that plows should plow in hopes of bringing in a harvest. He should not plow, not expecting to reap anything. I believe that Paul connects the work to spiritual deposit into the lives of the people and it is not immoral or immaterial to expect to receive care and material blessings for that work. He compares the work of the man of God to the work of an ox. He explains that God cares much more for man than the ox but yet gives food to both.

Application - I believe that some shifting of expectations needs to happen. It is time to start hoping for the harvest from the labor. The interesting thing is that in agriculture there are seasons. Seasons for plowing, seasons for planting, seasons for caring, seasons for reaping. Too often we only focus on the plowing and maybe the planting - but now its time to expect the harvest. Paul tells us that we can expect to gain the harvest and that the harvest is the real focus. Spiritually or materially God wants to bless those who plow.

Prayer - Father open my eyes to the reaping. I get the sowing and the plowing, now teach me to reap.

Job 38; 1 Cor 4-6

Scripture - 1 Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. do you no know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Observation - 1 Corinthians writings contain very direct instruction for living. While the compassion of the Apostle can be seen, he is very direct in dealing with sin and sinful living. In the previous verses to this passage Paul is dealing with gross sexual immorality and not only saying not to do it, but instructing the disciples and believers not to even talk about it as if it is ok. He says your glorying is not good. In other words "Your innocent acceptance of the actions by another is not good".

Application - It seems like the lines between sin and purity are becoming more and more blurred. Paul cautioned that we should not even eat dinner with a sexually immoral person. His instructions were harsh, in fact he explained them in the last few verses of the chapter. Paul was cautioning the church not to make light of the sin, not to accept the sin, to to watch others engaged in the sin. Too often we blur the line - we may not be engaged in sexual immorality but we don't mind watching it. We may not be doing it but we celebrate it as if we do. The line needs to be clear.

Prayer - Father help me to understand how to offer a hand of compassion but keep the lines clear. I know that radical extreme views are the concern, but God help me to continue to advocate pure, holy living without isolating those you love.