Tag: Humility

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Be Like Moses

Scripture: Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. Numbers 12:3 NIV

Observation: Miriam and Aaron began complaining about Moses as the only one that God would communicate through.

Application: Moses was once a son of Pharoah; a ruler of Egypt. He was called by God to lead the Israelite nation out of slavery. This was a man destined for greatness in Egypt and yet when called by God he said, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10 NIV Moses was such a great man God told Miriam and Aaron after they were caught grumbling against him, “…When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face,clearly and not in riddles…” Numbers 12:6-8a NIV We should make an effort to humble ourselves and be like Moses. That humility just may make a difference to someone to whom we are sharing Christ.

Prayer: Father, help me to be humble in all that I do so that people see you when they look at me. Amen

Doug

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God is Holy

Scripture: The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
Leviticus 19:1,2 NIV

Observation: God is Holy.

Application: I’ve read through Leviticus and I’ve not really been expecting to get any good instruction from the book. For the most part it’s a book of “dont’s.” Yesterday I had an occasion to sit and talk awhile with my lead pastor and his wife about our daily reading; we are all reading the same passages daily as a church. We laughed about some of the “silly” do’s and dont’s in Leviticus. I know that much of the book is written to keep the Israelites from harm but I’ve thought it’s a bunch of antiquated rules that no longer apply…or so I thought. After we had some light-hearted talk about the book my lead pastor became serious. He told us that because God is Holy, He cannot be in the presence of sin or imperfection. It’s impossible for Him and imperfection to exist together. It can’t happen. Leviticus is a book given by God to man to make it possible for us imperfect beings to fellowship with Him. Whoa, the boring, sometimes almost laughable book of the bible was written for a noble purpose, to bring King and subject together. The Levitical list is specific and detailed and it leaves no room for error. Unfortunately we, man, don’t have the ability to adhere to the vast list of regulations. God saw that and so He sent us Christ to bridge the gap between himself and us. Christ’s blood covers our inability to be perfect, it covers our sin. Now, we too can have fellowship with God. Today God verified my lead pastor’s words and showed me in the first two passages of verse 19 why Leviticus was written. It was written because we are sinful and God is Holy. It’s a book that is a reminder of how much God loves us. He sent Christ to accomplish the “unaccomplishable” and make it possible for us to be with God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for showing me how much you love me through the book of Leviticus. Thank you for Christ who covers my failings and allows me to come into fellowship with you. I love you. Amen

Doug

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Prayer is Power

Scripture: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Observation: The attacks brought on by Satan are subtle and constant.   Only through our Lord Jesus Christ  and the power of his shed blood at Calvary and his ability to conquer death do we as Christians have the power to push back and tear down Satan’s strongholds.   Our salvation, self-control and freedom from sin is obtained and maintained through our conversations with God through prayer.

Application: Prayer is power.  In his name we claim the promise made at the cross and found in his shed blood. We must pray without fear. Sometimes when I pray only a moan comes out; words are difficult and that’s okay. The Lord sees the inside, he knows our thoughts. We don’t have to be eloquent.  I praise him that we are not graded on our grammar or expression.  The Lord is a God of specifics…details. He wants our prayers to be full of confidence, believing that freedom, healing and salvation are already on their way. So lift your voice without fear and claim the destruction of Satan’s work. Pray with confidence!  Pray to break down the thoughts and habits that keep you away from your Savior and the relationship he wants with you. “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.” Psalms 19:13

Prayer: Lord, I claim your authority over all things natural and supernatural. Through your power and word I take captive the thoughts and actions that keep me away from you.   Satan I resist your temptations.  Lord break down any strongholds the enemy has in my life.   Lord I know you are working in my life and I pray that you bring my every thought and action into obedience to you.  Amen

Laurie

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Daily Priority

The following blog entry is compliments of Pastor Leon Hiebert, Community Care Pastor of Generations Church, Andover, KS

Scripture: Numbers 28:23 Prepare these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering.

Observation: Nothing could replace the regular morning burnt offering. Those offerings offered on the special days were always in addition to the daily burnt offering. This verse is speaking of the Passover offerings. And as is repeated over and over in this chapter, the offerings for each special day were not to take the place of the daily offering.
How we need to understand that success lies in our daily habits. It is the daily routine that sets the priorities and pattern for our live. The special event should support the daily pattern, not take its place. Too often the opposite is true. We fashion our daily lives to support the special event rather than vice versa.

Application: I do not believe I can survive by eating only one meal each week; neither should I think I can get by on what I get on Sunday in church. It is being faithful in my daily prayer and Bible reading that brings growth and strength in my spiritual walk. I make time to feed my physical body each day, how much more should I make time to feed my spirit.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for allowing me to live in a time and country in which the Bible is so readily available. Forgive me for the days I ignored You and Your Word. Amen.

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Unforgivable Sin

Scripture: And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Luke 12:10 NIV

Observation: I’ve often wondered how a person can blaspheme the Holy Spirit and not be forgiven. I went searching in the “Notes” of my YouVersion bible and I found the following. I hope that it helps you understand too.

Application: “Unforgivable Sin” by karensigman

“I have never totally understood the unforgivable sin. When I read verse 10 I got out my life application bible and looked to see what it said. “Jesus said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. This has worried many sincere Christians, but it does not need to. The unforgivable sin means attributing to Satan the work that the Holy Spirit accomplishes. Thus it is deliberate and ongoing rejection of the Holy Spirit’s work and even of God himself. A person who has committed this sin has shut himself or herself off from God so thoroughly that he or she is unaware of any sin at all. A person who fears having committed it shows, by his or her very concern, that he or she has not sinned in this way.” This helped me a lot. I hope it helps someone who is reading this.”

Prayer: Father, I pray that I never sin against any part of your character. Amen

Doug

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Jesus

Scripture: For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1 Corinthians 1:17 NIV

Observation: Paul was charged with sharing the truth of Christ. I believe that he may not have been a well-spoken man. A stutter or slow speech may have been the thorn in his flesh. 2 Corinthians 12:7 says, “…or because of these surpassingly great revelations, [Paul’s revelations]. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, [and taking the focus off of Christ], I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” Paul was highly educated and well versed in the scriptures. I believe that he had exceeding wisdom and with that wisdom he knew that if he excelled verbally in preaching and teaching he could become the focus–not Jesus. So that he would not be the object of worship I believe God may have given him his “thorn.” Paul had one ministry and that was to preach the gospel of Christ and he excelled at doing that in his writings. Of course, this is just my opinion but given today’s scripture it makes perfect sense to me.

Application: When we share Christ we need to be certain that he remains the focus–not us!

Prayer: Father, help me to share Christ and make sure that he is the object of worship. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

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I’m Sorry

I’m sorry that I’ve been so off and on in posting.  Laurie and I just came out of an extremely stressful year and I believe that Satan is using that fact to interfere with my hearing.  I don’t seem to hear the Lord daily as I read.  I believe that may mean that S.O.A.P. and sharing daily with people may be an affective tool for the kingdom.  There are many people in my church and across the country who are reading and sharing daily thoughts and truths through S.O.A.P. postings, blogs, and emails and Satan hates that fact.  I know God is faithful and he speaking to me, I’m just not hearing him right now.  So I will keep reading and praying and I will start hearing again.

Doug

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Be Child-like

Scripture: Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4 NIV

Observation: Jesus teaches the truth of humility in God’s kingdom.

Application: God not only wants to be our daddy, he wants us to be meek, child-like, and humble. I believe that when we have those attributes we are more willing to be led and more able to learn.

Prayer: Father, help me to be child-like. Teach me as I marvel and learn. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

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Model Consistency

Scripture: When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.  Matthew 13:53-58 NIV

Observation: Jesus returns to his hometown and teaches in the synagogue.

Application: I have been given this message in the past as I read these passages I realized that as Christians, our pasts can haunt us. Whether we are in the position of son, brother, father, or coworker, what we were before we became Christians can impede our testimony to those that know us best. I believe that I must pray for consistency in my walk so that my current life speaks louder than my former.

Prayer: Father, help me to model consistency in my walk so that my family and friends know that there is something different in my life that they want to partake in. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

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Judge Not

Scripture: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1,2 NIV

Observation: I found an entry in my Contrib section of the on-line bible written by DilaHanim. It is entitled “Judge Not.”
I am sure we have all heard the scripture “Judge not, that ye be not judged”
When I read this scripture I think of those who have made critical judgments about us, directly or indirectly. This type of judging has a spirit of criticism and those individuals that condemn others in this way have no intentions of forgiving or understanding that person. Ephesians 4:29 says “… Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear…” Instead of finding ways to build them up, encourage them, or point them in the right direction… they would rather judge and put them down, when the Word clearly asks us to build up instead of tear down. The Bible also tells us that in the same way we judge others, we will also be judged and standard that we use in judging is the standard by which we will also be judged.. Anyone remember reading a part in the Bible where it asks why we worry about the speck in someone else’s eye when we have a log in our own? Are we not being hypocrites? How about we get rid of the log in our own eye? I think we all forget that one day, we must all be in that judgment seat before God and as 2 Corinthians 5:10 states… “each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil”
Another thing that really grinds my gears is individuals never letting the past be the past. Although I have an issue with this myself when it comes to letting past failures or hurts go… but when it comes to judging others according to their past, truly irritates me. Would you want your past to interfere with your future? So why continue to throw stones at an individual in regards to their past. I have made some great friends in the last several years but if I were to judge them off of the things I have heard about them prior to meeting them, I would of missed out on some awesome friendships. Who am I to condemn someone for a bad decision made in the past. I think everyone has heard of the story of the woman in the Bible who had sinned and people of that town wanted to stone her because that is what the Law of Moses instructed them to do. Jesus responded and asked everyone in the crowd if there is an individual that is without sin, they are allowed to come up and be the first to throw a stone at her. Was she ever stoned? No.. she was forgiven and was told to sin no more.
If our Lord, Jesus Christ can forgive this woman… and forgive you for the sins of your heart… who are you to judge and not forgive others?
With that said, if you have any negative individuals in your life that constantly bring up the past and throw it in your face making it harder to move forward with your life… let those individuals go. You do not need them in your life. Once you have let them know that you have recognized your past mistakes, learned from them, and repented… they do not have the right to continue to bring you down to their miserable level.. Let God deal with those individuals and continue on the path that you were meant to be on! You are not here to please people… you are to please HIM.

Application: Amen

Prayer: Amen Father, Amen!

Doug