Friday, September 28,2018 - The God Who Meets All Needs - Eph. 1:3-8

Thursday, September 28, 2018 - The God Who Meets All Needs

Ephesians 1:3-10 The Message (MSG)

The God of Glory

3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

Thursday, September 27, 2018 - Trust God for all your needs

Thursday, September 27, 2018 - Daily Devotion

"Trust God for all your needs"


Philippians 4:19

Philippians 4:19-20 The Message (MSG)
18-20 And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.

Reference scriptures:
Eph 1:18

Ephesians 1:18-19 The Message (MSG)
15-19 That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!

Observation:
1. God has promised to meet His children's every need - His boundless riches are included in the Price Christ paid for their salvation (Eph. 1:18).

2. Many folks are instead trying to live out their own resources.  They don't realize that the wealth of their Father's love, power, and provision is on their "menu."

3. A believer's relationship with the Lord is one of complete unity.  Jesus is our life.  His Spirit lives through us.  Therefore, we have remarkable resources available to us, as do our brothers and sisters in Christ - we have access to His power, strength, and endurance.

4.  Discover in God's Word the riches you are entitled to through faith.  God offers believers everything required for living well and wisely, so trust Him for all your needs.

May God Bless you and Keep you!

~ Andrea

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 - Maintaining Our Witness in Trials

1 Peter 2:11-12 The Message (MSG)

11-12 Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

Reference scriptures:

Phil. 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6-7 The Message (MSG)

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

1 Peter 1:17-19

1 Peter 1:17-21 The Message (MSG)

17 You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.

18-21 Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

Observation:

WEDNESDAY

26

1 Peter 2:11-12

You are being watched. That’s always a good thing to remember as we interact with people at work or in the community. How we respond to frustrations, annoyances, difficulties, and temptations is a witness for Christianity, and the last thing we want to do is misrepresent Christ.

Many times challenging situations arise unexpectedly. Therefore, it’s important that we prepare ourselves beforehand—then we’ll be equipped to display Christlikeness, and our witness will not be derailed. To be ready ...

Stay in God’s Word. Knowing Scripture helps you view situations from God’s perspective and know how He would have you respond.

Pray. Challenge yourself to make prayer an immediate response to your problems. When you bring your concerns to God, His peace will guard your heart and mind, which is a powerful witness to a watching world (Phil. 4:6-7).

Trust and obey. When you rely on God’s promises, your peace and confidence in God will stand out to those who are consumed with fear and anxiety.

Remember whose you are. You belong to God and have been purchased by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:17-19). Your life is a display of God’s grace, and your character, conduct, and conversation should always reflect Christ.

Be gracious and kind to others. Don’t let your own troubles erupt into anger and blame. Small acts of kindness and a forgiving spirit are a tremendous witness in a world where such things are rare. 

Aggravations and problems seem like hindrances to us, but our response can change someone’s life if it reflects the love of Jesus Christ.

Bible in One Year: Nahum 1-3

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 - God's Blessing In the Wilderness - Numbers 6:22-27

A surprise in the Wilderness - The Benediction

Numbers 6:22-27

Numbers 6:22-27 The Message (MSG) The Aaronic Blessing 22-23 God spoke to Moses: “Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the People of Israel. Say to them, 24 God bless you and keep you, 25 God smile on you and gift you, 26 God look you full in the face     and make you prosper. 27 In so doing, they will place my name on the People of Israel— I will confirm it by blessing them.”

Numbers 6:22-27 Amplified Bible (AMP) Aaron’s Benediction 22 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 The LORD bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness]; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’ 27 So Aaron and his sons shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

OBSERVATION

1. What is a benediction?
Ans.  It is a saying of good, it is usually at the end of a church service

2.  Is the benediction just a formality?  Something you do as a habit
Ans.  It can be habitual 

3.  Does it do anything besides make you feel good when you leave?

Read Numbers 6:22-27

It should not be just a formality 

4.  Re-read v27 - What is moses saying?

Moses is instructing Aaron..

Aaron is the head of the priesthood is to instruct his sons and the priest that follows that this blessings is to be how they speak of their God to the people of God.

5.  How does God bless His people when He knows they will have good times and bad times?  Is God really blessing them, if so, How?

.. to be continued..

Tuesday - September 25, 2018 - A surprise in the Wilderness: What's in a Name? - Numbers 6:22-27

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 - Daily Devotion

Text : Numbers 6:22-27

What's in a Name?

Numbers 6:22-27 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Aaron’s Benediction
22 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24
The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you];
25
The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor],
And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];
26
The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval],
And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’
27 So Aaron and his sons shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Reference scripture
Exodus 3:1-13

The Burning Bush
3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (Reuel) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God. 2 The [a]Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing flame of fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was on fire, yet it was not consumed. 3 So Moses said, “I must turn away [from the flock] and see this great sight—why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned away [from the flock] to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then God said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet [out of respect], because the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

7 The Lord said, “I have in fact seen the affliction (suffering, desolation) of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters (oppressors); for I know their pain and suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand (power) of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a land [that is] good and spacious, to a land [b]flowing with milk and honey [a land of plenty]—to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 9 Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me; and I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them.

The Mission of Moses
10 Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, and then bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve and worship God at this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers (ancestors) has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “[c]I Am Who I Am”; and He said, “You shall say this to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’” 15 Then God also said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Israel), has sent me to you.’ This is My [d]Name forever, and this is My memorial [name] to all generations. 16 Go, gather the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.

Observation:
1.  What is the significance of the Lord's name being mentioned in Numbers 6?
How many times is the Lord's name mentioned?
v22  Lord spoke to Moses
v24 Lord bless you,
v25 Lord make His face shine
v26 Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you
2.  Do you know a person because you know their name?
No, you have to know more about that person
So a name is a way of referring to someone's personality, to the heart of somebody.
A person's name is to let you in the heart of someone
3.  Exodus 3:1-16 - God's reveal himself to through this bush that is burning but is not consumed
4.  God introduces himself as:  I am, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (your ancestors)
5.  God repeat this alot through the Old Testament
6. Exodus 3:11-15 - How did God refer to himself?  I am that I am - Self Existence
God's Name = Its the Name plus the Knowledge of God
7.  When we talk about God, we are talking about the personality of God YHWH

The blessing is God putting his name on them
The God that wants to turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - 1 Chronicles Chapter 3

1 Chronicles 3 The Message (MSG)
The Family of David
3 1-3 These are the sons that David had while he lived at Hebron:

His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

second, Daniel by Abigail of Carmel;

third, Absalom born of Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

fourth, Adonijah born of Haggith;

fifth, Shephatiah born of Abital;

sixth, Ithream born of his wife Eglah.

4-9 He had these six sons while he was in Hebron; he was king there for seven years and six months.

He went on to be king in Jerusalem for another thirty-three years. These are the sons he had in Jerusalem: first Shammua, then Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel was the mother of these four. And then there were another nine sons: Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet—David’s sons, plus Tamar their sister. There were other sons by his concubines.

10-14 In the next generation Solomon had Rehoboam, who had Abijah, who had Asa, who had Jehoshaphat, who had Jehoram, who had Ahaziah, who had Joash, who had Amaziah, who had Azariah, who had Jotham, who had Ahaz, who had Hezekiah, who had Manasseh, who had Amon, who had Josiah.

15 Josiah’s firstborn was Johanan, followed by Jehoiakim, then Zedekiah, and finally Shallum.

16 Jehoiakim’s sons were Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) and Zedekiah.

17-18 The sons of Jeconiah born while he was captive in Babylon: Shealtiel, Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

19-20 Pedaiah had Zerubbabel and Shimei; Zerubbabel had Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister. And then five more—Hashubah, Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed.

21 Hananiah’s sons were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. There were also sons of Rephaiah, sons of Arnan, sons of Obadiah, and sons of Shecaniah.

22 Shecaniah had Shemaiah who in his turn had Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat—six of them.

23 Neariah had three sons: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam.

24 And Elioenai had seven sons: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.