He is coming again

scripture

Mark 13:33

And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert

(NLT)

Take heed, watch and pray. For you do not know when the time will come. (MEV)

Observation

1. I do not know when Jesus will return

Because of that:

2. Be on guard, take heed

3. Stay alert. Be on watch

4. Pray

Application

1. The soon return of Jesus should have an affect on my life.  It does not cause me to fear but it should be a motivation for me.

2. Because of the soon return of Jesus, I should be alert to what is going on around me and in the world, I should watch for signs of his return and for signs of his working in my midst.

3. I should pray: pray for the lost, pray for an outpouring of his spirit, pray for a harvest, pray for workers

Prayer

Make your return real to me and alive in me.  Make it a motivating factor in my life.

Be a blessing in word and deed

Scripture

Numbers 6:24-26

Then the LORD said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: 24 ‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. 25 May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. 26 May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace. 

Observation

How to bless people

1. The lord bless and keep you

2. Make his face shine upon you

3. Be gracious to you

4. Turn his face towards you

5. Give you peace

application

1. Verbally bless God's children

2. Parents verbally bless their children

3. Be a blessing in word and deed

Prayer

Thank you for the days I had to bless my kids before bedtime, those days were sweet. May I continue to bless them verbally, may I be a blessing to your children in both word and deed,  maya I be an encourager, someone who speaks life into people but with truth.  May I be more interested in people's well being than their comfort.

Great is the Lord

Scripture

Psalm 48:1

How great is the LORD , how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on his holy mountain!

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain.

Observation

Dr. George Wood wrote

"Let us say, “Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise” not just in “the city of our God, his holy mountain”— but also “in me.” (See v. 1 .) If Jerusalem is an exhibit for His past deliverances, so are we. If God is great within the city of David, then let Him be great in us. Too often we let our problems become large and the Lord, small. Instead of saying, “Great are my trials, difficulties, burdens, or needs”— why not reverse our focus? “Great is my God, great is Jesus’ love for me, great are His provision, His forgiveness and salvation, and the future He has prepared.” A Psalm in Your Heart

Application

1.  Magnify God

2. Minimize my problems

3. Praise God regardless of my circumstances

4. Don't allow what is going outside of me control what is happening inside of me.

Prayer

You are great, you deserve all the praise, all the glory, all the honor.

Hopes & desires fulfilled

Scripture

Proverbs 10:24-25

The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted. 25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

The fear of the wicked will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation. 

Observation

1. What evil people fear will come upon them.

2. When the storms of life come, the wicked will be no more.

3. The hopes and desires of the Godly will be fulfilled.

4. The righteous will leave a lasting legacy.

Application

1. Character counts

My character will determine my destiny.  

2. Trust God to fulfill my hopes & desires

3. Don't be jealous or envious of the world.

Prayer

I trust you with my hopes & desires.  They do not die, they rest in you.

Build character and integrity in me.  Make me a man of God.

Moving Mountains

Scripture

Mark 11:20-25

The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!” 22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

Observation

1. Have faith in God

Not faith in man, organizations, or faith in faith.  Faith in God means to trust in his character.

2. Speak to the mountain

Faith is released through the tongue.

I must speak out loud not just say it in my mind.  Prayer is verbal, faith is verbal.  Speaking in faith is putting actions to my faith.

3. Must really believe not and doubt in my heart

I believe that God will do what he says he will do.  Doubt is doubting God, his character, his ability and willingness to keep his word.

4. Nothing is impossible with God.

He can move mountains, heal the sick, save the lost, establish his church in the hard places.

5. Keep my heart pure.

Unforgiveness negatively affects my faith.  It is disobedience to God's word and will hinder my prayers.

Application

1. Trust God's character 

2. Forgive quickly 

3. Believe for the impossible

4. Speak to my mountains

Prayer

I ask that you increase my faith, when I read passages like this, I feel I come up short.  I want my reality to match your word.  Do not allow me to dumb down your word but to lift my experience to match your promises.

The blessing of God

Scripture

Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Observation

God is a God who loves to bless his children.  He is for me not against me.  He has a plan for my victory not my defeat, to bless me not to curse me, for my success not my failure, he is for me not against me.

Application 

1. Trust a God with this move

2. Believe He will bless me in the process

3. There will be no sorrow in it.

Prayer

I trust you completely.

The promise of reward and persecution

Scripture

Mark 10: 29-31

Jesus answered, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left a house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, who shall not receive a hundred times as much now in this age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecution, and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” 

Observation

1. Left family, church, home, and possessions.

God ask us to sacrifice, to give up, to move down, to leave, relinquish, to die to self.

2. for my sake and for the sake of the gospel

To sacrifice for anyother reason is insanity and pride.  I let go for my love of Jesus, His glory, and His kingdom.

3 promise: shall receive a hundred times as much now and in heaven.

The promise is for heaven but also for now.  When I die to self and leave, God will reward me with houses, family, friends, etc.

4. Jesus also promises persecution

Persecution is normal in this part of the world.  It is not the exception but is to be expected.

5. Many who are recognized and praised today will be least in heaven.  Those who are last, least now will be rewarded, be first, in heaven.

Application

1. Live a lif of self denial and sacrifice.

2. Expect persecution and suffer well.

3. Believe the promise of Jesus for reward.

Prayer

May I be I loving to leave, be last, suffer, and deny myself but also build my faith that my sacrifice will be rewarded now and in heaven.  May I live the abundant life you have provided for me.