Praying like Jesus

S - Luke 11 NASB

11 It happened that while [a]Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say:

‘[b]Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 ‘Give us each day our [c]daily bread.
4 ‘And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’

O -   Jesus disciples where asking Jesus, we want to pray like you , not for the formula for prayers.  His disciples saw him frequently pray to the Lord and it is the heart to pray and seek God's provision,  forgiveness,  and overflowing grace.    

A - The application for me is to remember the heart behind this example that Jesus shows us.  For those that have a  relationship with God the Father, through Jesus, we ought to seek to glorify and worship GOd,  to look toward him during the campaign for our provision,  to wash us clean of our sins or any sin that has been weighing us down,   to help us to love and forgive others,  and most importantly not to lead others into temptation.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this devotion today,  may my life glorify you.  Thank you Lord for the many blessings and provision in my life.  I pray Lord that you would forgive of my sin, show me the way to forgiveness so I might forgive those who have sinned against me.  Lord protect me from things of this world, from the devil, and tempation that would draw me further from you.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Leadership lesson: Humble yourself today

s psalm 113

Who is like the Lord our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
6 Who [c]humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 To make them sit with [d]princes,
With the [e]princes of His people.
9 He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
[f]Praise [g]the Lord!

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To [a]retire late,
To eat the bread of [b]painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep

Luke 7 nasb
The Test of Greatness

46 An argument [aa]started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing [ab]what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

49 John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is [ac]for you.”

O -  Wow,  how amazing the connection in three different scriptural locations of God's principle of Humbleness.   This is between two or three different writers in the bible, but one author , God the Father, that the principle of humbleness.   In psalm 113 the example of how God lifts of the humble of spirit.  (Beattitudes connection).  In Psalm 127 - is the example of the Lord not only lifts those poor in spirit, he helps build those humble good in spirit people to help build and guard their house , even despite their hard labors.  In fact the lord provides in their sleep as well as in their labor.   Then Jesus comes in luke 7 and explains to us (speaking to his disciples in scripture when they begin discussing who is greatest among the disciples) that it is he whom is able to receive a child with humble gentleness ,    whomever puts himself last, will be first.  (Paradoxical commandment).

A -  The application for me is to recognize  that for me I need to ensure I am following God's commandments and values, that I humble my spirit, especially when facing challenging situations in which my aggressive and defensive spirit rises.   I need to build my family, and my ministry (home, work, and church) not on my hard labors but on his power.  Last of all I must die to whom is the greatest among those in the things I am doing (the trap of comparing myself to others and not to Christ).  I am to receive each in need with humbleness and serve them with God's grace and love.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this inspiring devotion this morning I pray you would transform my heart and mind to live this biblical truths.  I thank you Jesus for walking with me daily and gracefully picking me up when I fall short of your standard.  I pray this in Jesus name.

Humbly and faithfully following Christ

S- Luke 7

31 “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a [y]drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and [z]sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

O - This is an interesting scripture in that Jesus is sitting here speaking to the pharisee's.     In this chapter Jesus is showing both his disciples and the religious leadership that they are looking in the wrong place when they are looking for whom God will answer prayers and bring the good news to.  It will be people like the Roman centurion whose faith surpassed the faith of all of Israel.  It will be the sinful woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears, and annoited his head with perfume.   

A -  The application for me is to realize I can be a spoiled brat, so used to being in God's church that I forget to approach Christ humbly and trusting in who He is , in my life, in His church.   I must continue despite my rank or position , to seek Christs healing humbly, and have faith to trust in Christ's authority in my life.   I must continue to humbly serve Christ, despite my position or years saved, but serve him as a grateful sinner redeemed.  Humbly serving him in all I do. 

P - Dear heavenly father, thank you for your wisdom and truth you are speaking into my life.  I pray Lord that you help me to continue to scrub my heart for prideful behavior.  I pray for your powerful leadelrship of my life , that you would go before me and give me the ears to hear and wisdom to follow you.

Called to the lost and not our own home towns

S - Luke 4

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the [e]book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the [f]book and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
20 And He closed the [g]book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your [h]hearing.” 22 And all were [i]speaking well of Him, and wondering at the [j]gracious words which [k]were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” 23 And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24 And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. 25 But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; 26 and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to [l]Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow

O -   I am just enjoying the observation how with such calmness , Jesus reveals himself in person, but also in fullfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.   How interesting that must have been to be in the synagogoue and hear these words.  I can imagine many did not quite understand (as I am sure I would not have) the implications of what Jesus was saying.  He was here to set the captive free (that was them, that was them slaves to sin.)    He describes for those people of his hometown of Nazareth that God does not typically send a prophet to his hometown but somewhere else.   This may have two meanings.  One that He wasn't there for the people of Nazareth but for all of Jerusalem, and Israel.   Second it could mean that he wasn't there for those in Israel who were not seeking God but rather holding on to traditions and authorities , namely the Pharisee's and Sadducee's,  and that he came for those who were not being led by good shepherds.

A -  The application for me is to remember that Jesus came for the lost and misled.  God loves his people but has specific compassion on those who have not be shown the Gospel in a manner that should receive it. Therefore we must always be sure that  we the church,  Christ's body on earth, must always represent God to the lost and under represented, to whom he is calling us to reach.   In many cases that won't be to our hometown, though our hearts are connected to them.

P - Dear Heavenly Father, thank you Lord for today's devotion, and your spirit inspired word.  Thank you for sending your son, to testify to your glory, and reconcile my sin, so that I who was once lost,  could be found and connected to the body of Christ.

Investigating the truth

S- Luke 1 (NASB)

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things [a]accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning [b]were eyewitnesses and [c]servants of the [d]word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having [e]investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been [f]taught.

O - In the commentary on Luke the it says that Luke wrote this very chronological history of what happened when Christ came and went during his ministry here on earth.  I am not sure but am interested to know how the stories where past around and then captured on paper.  For example in this chapter is the chronicle of Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist and his encounter with an angel.  Luke seems to be capturing the stories that were passed on , or did he in his life's mission, travel to Zechariah's house and get a first account from Zechariah as to what the angel said. Luke said it the information was "handed down to us from eyewitnesses and servants of God.    I trust in the Holy Spirits leading of Luke and the correctness of the text but just think it interesting to understand the text was likely not written through direct inspiration such as John and the book of revelations, but rather purposed to ensure that it was documented, first for his friend Theophilus but in God's purpose for the foundation of our faith.

A -  Perhaps I should learn from Luke who did not rely soley on the Holy Spirits inspiration but investigated for the accounts.  I think we (I)  are supposed to investigate for ourselves the truth in the scripture by understanding more about what is written.  For example , historical context of text,   who the author was, what were his influences.  The purpose the text was being written.   I know Pastor Rod and a few others in my life have spoken into the need for this expository study of the word of God. I am encouraged today to use more resource like Mathew Henry's commentary,   and J Vernon McGee's audio commentaries to better understand and reflect on scripture.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank Lord for this opportunity and devine inspiration to again become hungry for your word.  I pray Lord that you would continue to lead me daily through revelation and inspiration and knowledge of your word.  I pray Jesus that you would help me plant these lessons deep in my heart, and help me raise my children in such a way as to help them know you, love your word, and serve the church.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Living on earth as it in heaven - a revelation of the New Jerusalem

S -  Rev 22 (NASB)

22 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, [a]clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of [b]the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve [c]kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they [d]will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

O -   I am not sure if I am suppose to receive it this way, but I am so looking forward to eternity with God, and serving him in this new Jerusalem, that I want to begin now.  The vision of a place such as is built of fine gems and pure stones,  with a living water river, that feeds the trees of life, which bear a variety of fruit for us to eat, and yields leaves for healing.  It is God's full and perfect provision.  This was God's original intent and design but due to sin entering the world, we were exiled from the Garden of Eden.  

A - The application for me is to understand that I can take this vision of God's perfect creation and pull elements of it into my life.   I can see despite a worn out and broken world,   that God's provision for my shelter , food and healing is here.   I must toil to get it but it is here.  The lesson might be to understand what is His provision,  what is His shelter, and what is His healing, and not things of man.  Focus on these things.

1. Shelter -  my home I have already been provided  ,  not a covetous view of bigger and more expensive houses

2.Provision - man made foods have likely worn heavily on my body and I need to begin eating more naturally from God's natural creation.  In Eternity on the tree of life will be required for food, and it will be on 12 different fruits which fully sustain us.   If I can begin eating whole fruits and vegetables and not food altered by men for profit or convienience.

3.  Healing -  healing also comes from the tree of life (the leaves to be exact),  so I believe there are natural cures out there available for a more natural healing.   This may be the hardest for me as I use alot of prescription drugs that are man made to manage my health.  I need the most wisdom and discernment in this area.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for revealing your eternal plan for us.    I pray Lord that you would let that vision spark me to see how your will can be done on earth as it is heaven, even now.  I pray for discernment to tell what is of you , and what is of this world.  I pray specifically in the area of prescription medication for what I might more naturally supplement to heal or relieve me of the symptoms of asthma, allergies, and depression.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

Hope is Alive - Heaven on Earth

s- rev 22 NASB

Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will [a]dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them[b], 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “[c]It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

O - Ahh!  The vision of life in perfect relationship with God the Father, and Jesus his son, as he has always intended it to be.   God's description of the tabernacle here on earth to Moses and then again to Ezekiel  was  a foreshadowing of what it would be like when God's throne comes to dwell amongst us.   It is the hope that we place in our promised future,  it is the model which we strive to live today as much as humanly possible.  We desire to drink for Christ's living water, and to be children of God.  Our challenge today is that not all things have been made new, and the devil still operates against us. 

A - The vision has always been enough to motivate me to press on , if it is a large enough and exciting enough vision.   This is true at work, in a company (like Apple or Google) , and especially in this God proclaimed vision of God on his throne on Earth as it is in heaven.

P - Lord today I am encourage and excited for your vision of your childrens future. I pray Lord for a periodic refreshing of that vision , especially in the times where the world as it is today seems to erase that , and the attacks of the devil distract me from it.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Walking in obedience of his commands

28 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: deut 28:1-2

...

15 However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:deut 28:15

Don't worry what you will say

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (Matthew 10:16-20 NASB)

the new old

^{S - 1 john 2}

Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. ^8 [c]On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.¹⁰ The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹ But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes

O 

Remain people of Christ and resist the devil

S - Revelations 20 NASB

Satan Bound

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain ^[a]in his hand. ² And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³ and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

⁴ Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of ^[b]their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had notworshiped the beast or his image, and had not received themark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

O - My immediate observation was how "how lucky are these guys"   they are given 1000 years where Satan can't complicate their faith in follow the truth.   What is even more interesting is this is when the judgement of all is about to occur, first the saints who served Christ faithfully and lost their lives for it, then all those that during who did nto received the mark of the beast.   For those thousand years, there was no Satan, and those who did not receive the mark of the beast  reigned with Christ.  What an opportunity for all who lived during that time to truly know Christ.

A -  The application for me is to understand that I am very challenged to resist the lies of Satan,  and to live true to Christ,  but I must.  The second application is to remain true because in the end,  I will be able to be apart of the first resurrection and reign with Christ to affect even more people for Him,  I will be a preist of God and work for the best boss I could ever hope for  ,  Christ.
P - Dear Heavenly Father, thank your for this day you have made,  your revelation of what is and what is to come.   I am refreshed and rejuvenated by your word and your presence  in my life.   I only  pray that you help me to resist Satan, and any thing of this world that would draw me away for you.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Philippians: Faith Revealed

Philippians: Faith Revealed

“A Quality Love”

(Pastor Wayne Cordeiro)

(September 14-15, 2013)

2. IT TRADES IN WHAT’S ALLOWED TO GET WHAT’S

_____________________________________.

“…so that you may prove what is excellent…” (Phil. 1:9).

“[Love] …believes the best in all; there is no limit to her

hope” (1 Cor. 13:7 ISV).

“And this I pray, that your love will abound

still more and more in real knowledge and all

discernment, so that you may approve the

things that are excellent, in order to be sincere

and blameless until the day of Christ …” (Phil.

A. SINCERE: ________________ ________________.

“…in order to be sincere…” (Phil. 1:10).

1. OUR LOVE HAS TO   __________ _________.

“And this I pray that your love will abound still

more…” (Phil. 1:9).

“May the Lord make you increase and abound in

love for one another…” (1 Thess. 3:12).

TWO QUALITIES OF LOVE:

B.  BLAMELESS:  NOT EASY TO _________________.

“…in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of

Christ…” (Phil. 1:10).

“These were among the mighty men who helped him

in war. They were equipped with bows, using both the

right hand as well as the left to sling stones and to

shoot arrows from the bow” (1 Chron. 12:1-2).

a) HIGHER QUALITY: A LOVE THAT IS…

_________________________ &

______________________.

b)  _____________ QUALITY: LOVE THAT

LACKS KNOWLEDGE & DISCERNMENT.

Let God reinforce His message through a CD or DVD available at

our Resources Table or go to www.eNewhope.org  to help you to

grow in Jesus!

Hope of relief in God's mercy

S -jerimiah 3

 Hope of Relief in God’s Mercy

¹⁹ Remember my affliction and my ^[e]wandering, thewormwood and bitterness.
²⁰ Surely my soul remembers
And is bowed down within me.
²¹ This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
²² The Lord’s lovingkindnesses ^[f]indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.”
²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the ^[g]person who seeks Him.
²⁶ It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for a man that he should bear
The yoke in his youth.
²⁸ Let him sit alone and be silent
Since He has laid it on him.
²⁹ Let him ^[h]put his mouth in the dust,
Perhaps there is hope.
³⁰ Let him give his cheek to ^[i]the smiter,
Let him be filled with reproach.
³¹ For the Lord will not reject forever,
³² For if He causes grief,
Then He will have compassion
According to His abundant lovingkindness.
³³ For He does not afflict ^[j]willingly
Or grieve the sons of men.
³⁴ To crush under His feet
All the prisoners of the ^[k]land,
³⁵ To ^[l]deprive a man of justice
In the presence of the Most High,
³⁶ To ^[m]defraud a man in his lawsuit—
Of these things the Lord does not ^[n]approve.
³⁷ Who is ^[o]there who speaks and it comes to pass,
Unless the Lord has commanded it?
³⁸ Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That ^[p]both good and ill go forth

O -  The verses here are written by the prophet Jeremiah who has spent some time prophesying what the Lord was going to do with the people of Israel and Judah.  He both tells them why the Lord is about to act, and also gives them a opportunity for repentance.   This portion feels like it is Jeremiahs testimony to those who are about to journey through the seige of Jerusalem and exile to Bablyon,  he gives both hope and posture for how we are to respond in light of God's sovereignty over our lives.

A -   Lord your word is sufficient for me to know you and understand your will for my life.   I understand whether in affliction or blessing,  abundance or scarcity of resource,  joyful times, or times of morning,  you are on the throne.  I believe you are good, and that you have good plans for me.  

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for your love and character that reigns over my life in such a loving way.   Thank you for ruling with truth, might, and grace.    I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

S - psalm 112

⁷ The works of His hands are ^[i]truth and justice;
All His precepts are ^[j]sure.
⁸ They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in ^[k]truth and uprightness.
⁹ He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ^[l]ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and ^[m]awesome is His name.
¹⁰ The ^[n]fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who ^[o]do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.

O - The psalmist here is proclaiming almost proverbs of wisdom regarding who God is, and how we are to interact with him.    He lays the foundation that not only has God created everything physically that we see,  he has created all the internal laws, like truth , and justice,  and that He has designed it all, and wil uphold all of his creation,  including us His people.   And it is because of this that we should have a healthy fear of the Lord, because this is the beginning of wisdom, to know and follow the one who is the creator of all truth.

A - The application for me is to recognize that God is my creator,  the author of all truth, the truth of who I am , who I am created to be,  and understands all in His creation.   I must have a healthy of fear of the Lord in all aspects of my life.  At work, I must understand that he knows people, engineering, science, and even unions , because he knows the hearts of men.   At home, he knows the hearts of my wife and children, he knows their struggles, he knows their hurts, and he loves them.   In ministry , he know my church, he knows where they need to go, he knows the plans he has for them, plans for their welfare, and not for their destruction.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you today, for the gift you have given me in your word, your spirit, and in your son, who died for my sins, so that I might be reconciled with you.  That I might have a healthy fear , and awe of who you are God.   I love you, in Jesus name, Amen.