Gen 15-17; Luke 6

Scripture - Luke 6:27-36 But I say to you who hear: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, "bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you. "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And form him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."

Observation - This is a very tough scripture for current day society to understand. Jesus is telling us as His disciples that when we have a problem with someone, we need to forgive them and go further and love them. It is so easy to love someone that praises us and loves us - but very difficult to love someone that has a problem with us. Jesus says here that to be sons of the Most High - you must develop a character of loving the unlovable, doing for those that can do nothing for you, and blessing those that will never bless you. There is something in the character of a Christian that goes beyond the comfortable to reach out to those that no one will reach out too. Jesus instruction here is to love your enemies. So many of us can devise plans to retaliate against our enemies but love them...I have heard preaching much of my Christian life about winning regions, taking territory and evangelizing communities. We won't do any of that until we can love our enemies and put this scripture into practice.

Application - In the litigious world we live in, the common reaction to someone wronging us is to "get them back". To either retaliate, or to file law suit, or in some way make them pay for what they have done. So many times our feelings get in the way and we want to take vengeance on the person that beats us down, or in some way offends. Jesus clear instruction here is to do exactly the opposite. We must love those that do not love us - in fact they despise us. We must love those that treat us with contempt and treat them with love. Jesus tells us that our character MUST shift to be Christ-Like in order to be sons of the Most High. The only way we can compel them to come in is to love them in - love is the most compelling strategy we have. When we fall in love with the people of our region, saint and sinner, we will see the region come in...

Prayer - Father help me to become the person described in this scripture. Help me to love the unlovable, help me to bless those that will not bless me. Help me to treat those well that treat me bad. God we love you so much and desire your outpouring this year.

Gen 12-14; Luke 5

Scripture - Luke 5:18-20 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

Observation - Jesus is teaching in a house, the son of God - the one given that we might have life and life more abundantly. These four men should be commended on their valiant effort. They knew their friend needed to be touched and that Jesus was the one to do it. When they couldn't get through the door, they climbed up on the roof, tore a whole in the tiling and lowered the man on his bed into the presence of Jesus. Jesus honored their faith and commitment and healed their friend. Their determination and faith that simply getting their friend in His presence caught Jesus attention and caused a miracle to take place.

Application - What a story and principle in evangelism. I wonder if we have that kind of commitment and desire today for our friends, family and community. Do we look out at our neighbors and have this deep desire to get them into Jesus presence. Do we look at our family and start tearing the roof off to get them in the presence of Jesus. As we look at this story, I see the crowded room as the obstacle that would have prevented most of us from going on. That crowded doorway could have been what stopped these four men. They would have been justified perhaps to have looked at their friend and said "we can't get in, its over crowded." Probably anyone would have said "what a noble effort you made" But truly their never say die determination is what caused the miracle. They were desperate to get their friend in to God's presence. Four of them concocted an idea to climb up on the roof and lower him down. Now that took guts, effort, care and compassion for their friend. They wanted the healing for him that bad. The bible said, Jesus saw THEIR faith! We should be tearing some roofs off today to get people into God's presence...

Prayer - Father, give me roof tearing faith. Help me to be moved with compassion for my community that we tear off some roofs to get our neighbors into Your presence. Help us to have the kind of determination that we will go to any lengths to just get our friends in the door and into your presence.

Gen 9-11; Luke 4

Scripture - Gen 11:4-6 And they said, "Come let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them."

Observation - The people of God were ONE and they had ONE language. Because they had a common vision with a common language they were able to accomplish uncommon, extraordinary things. All working together the people were able to plan, build and execute in ways that were mind blowing. They were building a tower that reached the heavens and God confirms they were going to complete the task. He said "now nothing will be withheld from them". The problem is that the language they were using was the wrong language. Had they been using God's language the task would have been for His glory instead of their own. They were looking to make a name for themselves instead of making a name for God.

Application - The power of unity of vision and unity of language. If the people of God today could gain the same vision and use heavens language - we could build the church in such a profound way that it reached the heavens. God was not concerned with the tower that reached heaven, he was concerned because His people were looking to glorify themselves instead of glorifying him. He is a jealous God. He wants His mission, His vision, His purpose to be expanded on this planet. Having a common language will allow us to build greatly the kingdom of God. We need to become interpreters of God language not translators of God words. When we gain one language - nothing will be withheld from us. We can do all things through Christ.

Prayer - Father, help us to gain your language. For too long we have been translating your words instead of communicating your message. Please allow us to communicate your message.

Gen 6-8; Luke 3

Scripture - Luke 3:21-22 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are my beloved Son; In You I am well pleased."

Observation - This scripture always reminds me of my own baptism. Being recently converted their came a moment when the pastor announced the baptism service for that Sunday evening. I was adamant that I had already been baptized as an infant and didn't need to go through the ritual again. Arriving home from the morning service a deep sleep came over me. I don't usually nap - but for some reason this day I was extremely tired. Upon waking I was in a near panic frantically searching for Saundra to see if it was too late to be baptized. You see while I was asleep, I was dreaming that I was speaking with Jesus. He was telling me of all the wonderful things He had done in my life to protect me, to keep me, to lead me. How he had blessed me even when I didn't know Him. He began to tell me how He loved me so much that He laid His life down for me and even if I were the only one, it would be worth it. At the end of the dream Jesus said "I love you this much, how come you won't tell the people how your heart is renewed and cleansed. Why won't you publicly testify about me, even I was baptized?"

Application - God is so good. He put is stamp of approval on His son through the testimony of the Holy Spirit. In baptism we share in Jesus life experience and testify God's eternal love for us through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Prayer - Jesus, I do love you and thank you daily for everything you have done for me and my life. I will shout from the mountain tops your love.

Gen 3-5; Luke 2

Scripture - Gen 4:13-15 And Cain said to the Lord "My punishment is greater than I can bear! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me." And the Lord said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

Observation - Cain had brought a disrespectful offering to the Lord. In essence he sinned before God, then murdered his brother because of the jealousy in his heart. Cain was full of anger and bitterness and disrespect and the Lord punished him. Yet at Cain's response to the severity of the punishment, God placed an mark on him signifying his protection from the Lord. In his unrepentant state God still loved Cain enough to protect him. God looked at his creation with love and compassion and would not allow anyone to take vengeance on Cain. God's punishment is sufficient - the world does not get to take vengeance on God's creation. God appoints the time to die and the time to live.

Application - So many times we look at people with disdain or disgust or even frustration because of their actions. We don't understand how they could live a life apart from God even denying his very existence. In society today, God is in question! His existence is being challenged almost daily, his purity and principles are in question daily. From same sex marriage to premarital sex to drug and alcohol addiction. Yet God has such love for his creation that He has marked them for protection. God has placed a mark on His people and "would that none should perish but come to repentance". God's everlasting love is for His creation. It's time to see His people through His eyes.

Prayer - Father as we make it through 2011 and beyond, help us to see your creation and the love you have for us, sinner and saint. God we love you and ask for your direction as we put together outreach, evangelism and events that attract your creation to your church and ultimately to you.

Gen 1,2; Luke 1

Scripture - Gen 1:2-3 And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be..."

Observation - This is one of the foundational scriptures in the whole bible - the beginning of God's creation. God's Spirit hovering over the earth in its formless, void state and speaking into existence the entirety of what we know today as life and substance. God looked over the earth and began His work to create. He started by saying "Let there be..." God's spoken word has power to form, to complete, to engage. Let there be... speaks to us to day of possibility. Whatever God wants there to be there will be.

Application - As I look at this year of 2011, God has promised so many things. Let there be... are words that I will be repeating throughout this year. My pray will be God let there be souls saved, healing miracles, church growth, campus expansion, teams formed. Create ministry this year God that will bless our entire region and our entire country. There are so many things that God has placed in my heart to do - I pray His words "Let there be" become resounding and that those dreams become reality. 2011 is full of possibility - we simply need to make the decision to allow God to "Let There BE!"

Prayer - Father let there be life in the things you have given me to do. Let there be life in the ministries you have put in my hands. Let there be souls abundant this year. Give us hundreds saved, restored and redeemed. Father "Let there be" should be the song of my heart for this year. Let your creative ability come to full measure this year.

Prov 19-21; Rom 13

Scripture - Rom 13:11-14 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Observation - Paul is instructing the people of Rome to live at a high standard of moral code. His words tell us that he is dealing with a people that have allowed personal desire, even sensual desire to drive their decision making and their standard of living. He says a bit earlier in the chapter that to do no evil will draw praise from the father. Paul understands that time is short, the soon return of the Lord is eminent and life must be lived correctly. He says make not provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts - in other words don't cater to selfish, sensual even greedy desires but live by the Spirit.

Application - In our world today the exact opposite of this scripture is how we live, making complete provision for the flesh. Living by the desires of flesh, driven by the feelings of our flesh and making spiritual decisions based on a fleshly foundation. Our standard of living should be much higher that this. Gal says to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh. The appetite of the flesh is insatiable and unsustainable. But the Spirit is fulfilling and will endure to the end. Let's put on Christ today!

Prayer - Father help me to be drawn by the works of the Spirit and the desires of the Spirit all day and everyday. Eliminating the selfish desires of the flesh, not even making provisions for them. I love you and desire to do your will!