Saturday, October 21, 2006

Title: Five Strong Men / Topic: Team Ministry

Today’s Reading: Job 9; Job 10; Acts 13; Acts 14

Scripture: Acts 13:1-3
1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Observation: I just love this part of the story. What I especially like is this team of "prophets and teachers" at Antioch -- five strong men who were the ministering team that led the church there. I imagine the interaction and support that they experienced and how the church had the benefit of these five mature leaders. And they shared in the exercise of spiritual disciplines as it says, "while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting..." And it was in this setting that the Holy Spirit called Paul (Saul) and Barnabas to go and plant churches to the far flung regions of the world.

Application: I believe in team ministry. I know that our western church culture has adopted a pastor-leader model, but I think the best structure is a multiple-leader team with strong spiritual interaction and the ability for each member of the team to act as pastor as the need arises. While I have many excellent members of my team, we are not to this point of near interchangeability. I am thankful for the wonderful men and women that God has blessed me with and I look forward to growing as a team in the sharing of spiritual disciplines as well as ministry roles and responsibilities.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that church is not a one-man show, but a team event. Thank You for the excellent team that You have blessed me with. Help us to grow to the fullness of the sharing of ministry that will produce multiplication and the full spectrum of giftedness that is only possible with a group effort. Make me more of what You want me to be, and make our team all that You want us to be. And give us souls, Lord. Give us an abundant harvest of souls.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Title: Even Lousy Praying Gets Results! / Topic: Prayer

Today’s Reading: Job 6; Job 7; Job 8; Acts 12

Scripture: Acts 12:11-16
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"
15 "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

Observation: This always cracks me up. Here is a group of people praying for Peter, who has been arrested and is being held for execution by Herod. They know they must pray because Herod already killed James, and Peter is scheduled to be put on trial the next day. Amazingly, while they are praying, God sends an angel to spring Peter from his chains and jail cell.

In the verses listed, Peter goes to a house where a prayer meeting is in session and he knocks at the door. A servant girl named Rhoda goes out to answer it and upon hearing Peter's voice, rushes back into the meeting to announce to everyone that Peter is at the door!

Now notice their faith-filled response: "You're out of your mind!" That's what the people praying for Peter's release said to her. When she kept insisting, they told her, "It must be his angel," which I take to mean they thought Peter was already dead. Some great faith they have. But Peter kept on knocking and eventually somebody came out and opened the door. When they saw him standing there alive, "they were astonished!"

Application: I love this because it shows that these people were praying in obedience and desperation, but certainly not in faith. They did not expect Peter to be released. They clearly thought it much more likely that he would be killed. But Peter was released in answer to their pitiful prayers. This shows that even lousy praying gets results!

Bottom line: Pray, pray, pray! It's great if you have faith, but even if you don't, keep on praying. God will answer even the obedient prayers of those without faith. Isn't that encouraging!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord. Even when we are faithless, You remain faithful for You cannot deny Yourself. Help me to keep praying and seeking Your intervention for my every need -- especially when the situation looks hopeless. I am so glad that Your intervention is not dependent upon my doing everything right. Help me to grow in the regular, obedient exercise of prayer in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Title: A Presumption Of Knowledge / Topic: Humility

Today’s Reading: Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10; Acts 11

Scripture: Job 5:8-9, 12-13
8 "But if it were I, I would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed...
12 He thwarts the plans of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are swept away."

Observation: Job's friends came to comfort him and for seven days they simply stayed by his side and did not try to counsel him -- no one, not even Job, spoke. Then Job breaks the silence (chapter 3) and Eliphaz the Temanite can't resist the opportunity to give some advice. (Oh, that he had kept his mouth shut.) And most of what he says sounds pretty good. Take another look at the verses above. Sounds good, right? At first blush, yes. But notice verse 9: "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed..." I believe that Eliphaz should have ended here with something like, "Since God's wonders cannot be fathomed, I won't pretend that I understand them." PERIOD. But he didn't. He went on to explain the wonders of God that cannot be fathomed. Dumb idea.

Application: It is always dangerous when one thinks he has a true grasp on God. God is beyond my discovery. (And yours too.) Yes, I can know many things about Him, but the more I truly understand about God, the more I will see that He is unfathomable. What can I know? I can know what the Bible tells me. God is good. God is love. God is mighty. And much more. But I cannot know how God feels about or will repond to every specific action of every person. In fact, in Job we are told that what God did to Job was for no reason whatsoever! The Bible says that! (So much for being able to understand God's ways.) The Bible tells me that His ways are beyond me.

Bottom line: Keep humble about your knowledge of God. Don't act like a know-it-all because if you do, you just demonstrate your ignorance. Show the loving character of God -- His kindness, grace, humility, and forgiveness. That is what will touch people and please God.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for helping us to understand what we need to understand. Help us to submit ourselves humbly to You and to face that fact that if we were given the full knowledge of You, our brains would explode. Lord, I ask You to show me how best to represent You, and to not worry about what I cannot understand.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Title: Evil? Used By God? / Topic: God's Creative Power

Today’s Reading: Job 3; Job 4; Acts 8; Acts 9

Scripture: Acts 8:1, 3-4
1 ...On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem... 3 ...Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went...

Observation: Saul begins his rampage against the church, literally destroying it. (Notice that he had learned the Christians' strategy of meeting house to house and he goes to these house meetings and arrests the Christians.) But God uses even this terrible act to further spread the Gospel as we see in verse 4. The preaching of the word gained a wider distribution because of the persecution that forced the Christians to flee for their lives.

Application: God uses everything, even bad things, to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Kingdom of God. (Some folks think that He actually makes the bad stuff happen so that good will come of it, but I don't agree. This is one of those discussions that could get real deep, but suffice it to say, bad actions are the responsibility of those who do them, not of God. But God does find ways to bring some good through them nonetheless.)

Bottom line: When bad things happen, look up to see what amazing ways our creative and positive God will bring some good through them.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that though all things are not good, "all things work together for the good of those who are called to your purpose in Jesus." You are so good to take even the most difficult situations and demonstrate Your love and power. Help me to see it, and to cooperate with it. Work Your great will and purpose in and through my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Title: A Man Of Principle / Topic: Character

Today’s Reading: Job 1; Job 2; Acts 6; Acts 7

Scripture: Job 1:20-22, 2:9-10
Job 1:20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 2:9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Observation: These are two amazing passages of scripture. The first records Job's response to some bad news. (This is the understatement of the year.) One messenger after another has delivered horrible tales of loss to Job's flocks, herds, servants, and the most devastating report, the death of all his children. He responds with the remarkable declaration, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." The second passage occurs after Job is stricken with head to toe painful sores, and his wife verbally attacks him. He shows his understanding of his place beneath the Lordship of God. "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

Application: Job is a great example of living by principle without being affected by adverse circumstances. He truly sees himself as a servant of God, and submits himself, for better of worse, to the Lordship of God in his life. I want to be a man under God -- living a consistent testimony regardless of circumstances.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us this wonderful testimony of your servant, Job. May I keep a deep understanding of my place of submission to Your Lordship as Job did. (But, Lord, please don't smite me with sores. Thanks.)
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Title: The Eavesdropper / Topic: Private Words

Today’s Reading: Malachi 3; Malachi 4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

Scripture: Malachi 3:16-18
16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Observation: Someone is listening in on your conversations. Not it's not the NSA (National Security Agency), it's the FSHS (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). According to this scripture, God is particularly pleased with one kind of conversation -- when people who fear the Lord honor Him in what they say to each other. God is keeping a log book of these conversations (called a "scroll of remembrance") which will be used in the future for special rewards. When the Lord chooses His "treasured possession," that is, His select group of people He wants for a special relationship with Himself, this log book will be referenced and those who "feared the LORD and honored his name" will make up His "treasured possession." What a high honor this would be.

Application: What kind of conversations is God hearing when He listens in on your interaction with others? Is He hearing you honor God and seeing evidence of a God-fearing heart and life? This passage encourages me to continue and grow in Godly and edifying conversations and interactions with fellow leaders and other believers.

Bottom line: Honor God with every conversation. Someone is listening and taking notes.

Prayer: Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, my strength and my redeemer. May I grow in "the fear of the Lord" and honor You always with my words, actions, attitudes, and intentions.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Title: Godliness Under Assault / Topic: Spiritual Battles

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1; Malachi 2; Acts 4

#1 The Battle For The Sabbath Day

#1 Scripture: Nehemiah 13:15-22
15 In those days I saw men in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day. 16 Men from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah. 17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day? 18 Didn't your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity upon us and upon this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath."

19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 But I warned them and said, "Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

#1 Observation: Nehemiah is aghast as he returns after an absence from Israel. The Jews have reverted to many of their sinful ways. Here, Nehemiah is dealing with the breaking of the Sabbath day by those doing commerce on what is supposed to be a day of rest. He literally has to lock the gates of Jerusalem and post guards to keep the merchants out. Even then, they still come, even spending the night outside the walls waiting to get in. Nehemiah has to chase them away and threaten them to get them to stop coming.

#1 Application: You can decide to give God what is His but your decision alone is not enough. Any decision you make for God will be challenged. People and circumstances will come against that decision to get you to compromise. Even after you have told them "NO," they will still show up to challenge and tempt you away from your convictions. So you have to continually fight and reinforce to keep your commitments and your convictions against persistent challengers.

#2 Title: Try Treating Your Boss The Way You Treat God

#2 Scripture: Malachi 1:6-8
6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty. "It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name.
"But you ask, 'How have we shown contempt for your name?'
7 "You place defiled food on my altar.
"But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?'
"By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. 8 When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.

#2 Observation: God, speaking through Malachi, tells them that they are showing Him contempt and a lack of honor and respect by offering substandard animals on the altar of sacrifice. To demonstrate His point God challenges them to "try offering them [crippled or diseased animals] to your governor!" Of course, no one would think of putting a diseased lamb on the platter for a banquet for special guests. Or serving road kill to royalty! Yet we frequently offer gifts to God that we know would never pass the test in other areas of our lives.

#2 Application: Try treating your boss the way you treat God. For example, take your punctuality and attendance record at church and try it at work. Try showing up regularly a little past (or long after) the hour of your scheduled shift. Try missing the same percentage of work days that you miss of church. Or try reading your bosses memos with the same regularity that you read the word. Would your boss be happy with this level of performance on the job? If not, then why should God be happy with that level of sacrifice and service to Him? Think about it.

Prayer: Lord, help me to keep You in the first place in my life, to fully respect You, and to fully follow Your ways. Give me a heart that motivates and inspires me beyond my fear and discomfort to obey You always. May Your Spirit rule in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.