Gen 18-19; Ps 3; Luke 7

Scripture - Luke 7:11-15 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

Observation - It would be foolish to read this passage of scripture and not celebrate the major miracle that had taken place. The men were carrying this young boy in a coffin and Jesus speaks to him and he gets up and pops out of the coffin. Can you imagine what the crowd was saying. Inf act the scripture says "they were in awe and praised God" I was thinking however, as I read, how often we have things in our life that we put in coffins and are on the way to bury long before God has finished His purpose with those items. This young boy had a role to fulfill in life. He was the only child of his mother, he would be the only one to carry on the name of his father, she could not be provided for without him and the lives he would touch would not be touched. In short this young boy had purpose. He passes away too early and Jesus speaks to the coffin and the boy awakes. Amazing how all hope was lost in the sight of the people but not to Jesus. One word and he is back in business (so to speak).

Application - I think that too often there are things in our life that have great purpose and potential and because maybe it gets too difficult or it seems to not get legs and go, we pronounce it dead. We carry those things to the grave yard in the coffin and attempt to bury them long before they fulfilled their purpose. It seems like we do this with relationships, with jobs, with churches, with family, with many other areas and activities. We are burying them pronouncing their death before we can see the miracle bring them out. Jesus can speak to those things that are in coffins in my life. Those things that are dead that should be living. Those things I have tried to bury that should have life. Jesus can speak to them and when they live we should stand in awe and praise the Lord.

Prayer - Father help me not to write anything off too early. All things work together for the good of those who love You. Father, I love you - help me to pray life into the dead places and perform and coffin miracle in me.

Gen 15-17; Luke 6

Scripture - Gen 17:4-8 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."

Observation - God is unfolding the plan for Abraham's life right here. He is telling Abraham what is going to happen to him and what his promise is for Abraham's life. God said "I am naming you Abraham because I have made you the father of many nations". Abraham was not currently the father of many nations and really didn't see any physical proof of that being possible. Sarah was old, he was old, really it didn't make sense. But God had the plan already in place even when the physical evidence speaks to the contrary.

Application - I am reminded everyday of the physical limitations that face my life. Financial limitations, time limitations, people limitations and the list goes on and on. There is a promise burning inside of me that God has placed there. This promise was not given based upon any human limitation but based upon God's ultimate design. When He makes a promise He already knows the end of the story. I love that He told Abraham - "I have made you" even before it was a reality to Abraham. God let me respond as Abraham responded "I believe!"

Prayer - Father help me to see the plan as you see it. Let me know that your plan and your promise is not dependent on anything I can or will do but upon your word only. This whole world was put in place by your spoken word - Father speak over my life.

Gen 12-14; Luke 5

Scripture - Luke 5:1-8 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying,"Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

Observation - Peter and the men had been working all night to catch fish. This was their profession. They were skilled, trained and professional. They knew the right fishing spots, the places that were profitable to catch fish. Yet they didn't catch anything. There they were frustrated and broke with nothing to show for their efforts. Jesus enters the boat (at the wrong time of the day for fishing) and tells them to push out and let down for a catch. It is amazing that the only change is Jesus in the boat and his word spoken in their direction. They catch so much that they have to call partners in to help them. The blessing of Jesus flowed over their boat into the boats around them.

Application - It is amazing how you can work and toil all night doing what you have been trained to do, what you are skilled to do, maybe even what you are an expert doing with very little results. The production and return can be so disheartening, but one word from Jesus and the whole situation changed. These men knew what they wee doing and Jesus gets in the boat and says push our and let down - now everything is different.

Push out - some of us aren't going deep enough. We need to push out into new depths - new areas that we haven't approached yet, maybe because of fear or whatever, we need to push out today. He also said let down, we need to let down our guard, let down our attitude, let down our control and let Jesus speak a word over our situation. Let him get in the boat and tell me where to put the nets in. Even if its the wrong time of the day. Jesus makes all the difference.

Prayer - Father - I am pushing out today. I am going deep. Letting down my guard and allowing you to speak over my situation. I need you to touch every area of my life and let the catch come in.

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.


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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.