The Result of a Hard Heart

Scripture
Mark 6:52. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

Observation
The disciples were amazed about the loaves and the fish. Then Jesus comes walking on the water and their hearts were too hard to receive what was taking place. Obviously there hearts would not stay that way forever. They did soften, but it took some time and the work of the Holy Spirit

Application
Jesus has done so much for me, and around me, but my heart can still be hard. As it is, it prevents me from "taking it in". A hard heart does not let the miraculous in.

Prayer
Lord, please partner with me, or me with You. Soften my heart as I soften my heart. I want to be touched by the miraculous, to receive all You have for me. Create in me a clean heart!

Standing Between Death and Life

Scripture
Numbers 16:48 He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped.

Observation
Aaron stood with his censer between the living and the dead. He saved people because of his action, his intentional stance to be in the midst of the people when the Lord was judging them. What a brave and compassionate thing to do. The people were complaining against Aaron, Moses, and the Lord ~ and yet he stood in the midst of the complainers to save them. Way to go Aaron!

Application
I want to be a priest who postures myself to be right in the middle of where people are dying, and people are living. By my obedient actions, I want to make the difference between life and death for people. I need to not just be in the tabernacle where the presence of the Lord is, I need to be with the people who are complaining about the Lord. I see these people not as the unsaved, but as those who have left the church offended. Same kind of words that Korah said. "preacher, you go too far, God can speak to all of us, I'm not coming to the tabernacle, etc". They have no idea that they are in jeopardy for their actions. It won't cost them their lives as it did Korah, but there are some things that die in their lives.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for your powerful presence. Your presence is not contained at the church building, or during services. Please bring people back who have left, and help me to do the same.

Seeing Their Faith

Scripture
Mark 2:5
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven."

Observation
The four friends who brought their paralytic friend to Jesus demonstrated their faith. Faith without works is dead. Jesus responds to active faith, not dormant faith. Faith has to do something. Faith brings the situation to Jesus, to see what He will do.

Application
This scripture helped me decide that I would initiate a pay reduction. Audrey and I are trusting the Lord, not the church, to provide for all our needs. We are putting our faith in action and going to Jesus. I'm confident we can't make this work, but I am also confident that He can. Loaves and Fishes are still enough for Jesus!

Prayer
Lord, you know that I am so grateful for how you have provided for us over the years. There has always been increase, and abundance. In this time of little, we know You can still be much! Please help us to be wise with what you entrust to our care, to have an open hand with all our possessions ~ including our house ~ and to honor and glorify you through this season. You are faithful, and we are thankful.

Early Morning Encounters

Scripture
Mark 1:35
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Observation
Jesus had a busy schedule. Ministering to people, making disciples, traveling. Yet He made the time in the early morning to pray.

Application
I need this as a discipline in my life. No more lazy bones jones. I find that through prayer, I draw closer to God. It can also be through worship.

Prayer
Lord, please help me be motivated and disciplined to get up before daybreak to pray not just to You, but to be with You ~ to really meet with You!

Casting Off Coats

Scripture
Acts 22:23
They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.

Observation
Paul has just been telling his story of how he held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. And now the Jews are taking off their coats. It is a very ironic moment. Paul really did get saved.

Application
Today the application is to simply remember that I was once not saved, and now I am. I need to live differently, no matter what the cost is.

Prayer
Lord, please help me to live a life worthy of my calling; a life that demonstrates I am different from what I used to be.

The Devil Is Not In The Details

Scripture
Acts 21:19
After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.

Observation
Paul's account was detailed, not sketchy. The following verse will tell of how they praised God because of his account. In essence, he gave a list of God's accomplisments, which caused the people to rejoice.

Application
It's important for me to remember to write down the things that God does in me, through me, and near me. I want to be one who remembers, and gives testimony of God's present accomplishments, not only His past ones. It's good to recall the Marsten Book of Miracles. I want to be more faithful with that as it pertains to our family.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, please help me to be a witness, to give testimony of what you are doing. And help me to give the details. The devil isn't in the details.... YOU ARE!!!

One Message

Scripture
Acts 20:21
I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

Observation
One message. Sounds like simple church. One message for everyone. Repent from sin, turn to God, have faith in Jesus. It's so important that Paul could summarize it like this. Memorable

Application
Like Arnie about evangelism, and Grady about worship, Paul had one message. May I discover my one message, and preach it over and over and over.

Prayer
Lord, please show me what my life's message is, and how I can preach it well. Amen.

I've Got A Feeling....

Scripture
Acts 19:21 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. "And after that," he said, "I must go on to Rome!"

Observation
The apostle Paul was led to a region because he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit. It's amazing that the leading came from a feeling. He simply felt compelled.

Application
I want to be that sensitive, and that obedient, to respond to the Holy Spirits nudgings. In order for this to happen, I need to be close to Him and learn to be sensitive. I believe that the more obedient to Him I am, the more sensitive I will become.

Prayer
Lord, please help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit's compelling feelings, that I might know where you have for me to minister each day.

Being A Great Benefit

Scripture
Acts 18:27 When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God's grace, had believed.

Observation
Apollos arrived and was a benefit to the believers. He didn't just come and take up space. A great benefit. It appears that this was partly due to his teaching.

Application
I want to be a benefit to the believers. I think too I could take more time to learn, to sharpen the axe, so I can be of more benefit. More tools in the toolbox. I need to designate time weekly to learn, that I might teach and strengthen believers.

Prayer
Lord, I want to be a benefit to others, not just take up space. Help me to encourage and edify Your church as I intentionally grow.

An Uncared For Woman

Scripture
Acts 16:19 Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered,

Observation
It's very interesting to note that the greedy men cared nothing for this woman, only for their profit. They would rather have her demon possessed and make some money, than have her set free from satans power. Also, this girl was not becoming a Christian, but Paul still had authority over the demon. It doesn't look like he showed too much care for her either.

Application
I need to care for people. I need to notice the person, not just the annoyance. The world was dome with her when their profit was gone, and Paul was done with her once he cast out the demon. I'm sure the Lord was never done with her.

Prayer
Lord, please help me see people. Yes, cast out demons, but care for people.

An Ambassador of Grace

Scripture

Acts 15:11

We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.

Observation

The same way.  There is no other way.  The ground is level at the foot of the cross ~ God is no respecter of persons.  Everyone needs a Saviour. Undeserved grace.  What a beautiful phrase! Grace that is greater than all my sin.

Application

As this scripture declares that we are all saved the same way, I need to remember to proclaim the grace of our Lord Jesus. There is a winsomeness, a warmth, a welcoming about His grace. Yes, it identifies our sinfulness, but gives great hope, and without condemnation.  And as I live with this attitude, may people be saved!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for the undeserved grace You have poured out on me. May I be an ambassador of grace to all.

A Heart of Obedience

Scripture
Acts 13:22
But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.'

Observation
Often I have equated David's heart with the life of a worshipper, and I think rightly so. However this verse shows the connection between a heart towards God and a life of obedience. A heart towards God is not just a singing heart, but a heart that obeys.

Application
I do want to ensure that my heart is soft towards the Lord, and that as I keep it that way, it will cause me to obey. A soft heart and an obedient life must come from drawing close to God, hearing Him speak, and obeying. May I be faithful not only in my devotions, but listening and obeying.

Prayer
Father, please help me to love You like David did, with all my heart. And please help me to live a life of obedience, doing everything you want me to do. I want to COMPLETE all the work You have for me.

Worship And Worms

Scripture Acts 12:23
Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.

Observation
Herod has just sentenced soldiers to death for Peters angelic escape. He executed James. And the angel of the Lord struck him to death because he accepted worship that was rightly God's. It reminds me of why Lucifer fell, wanting to be like the most high.

Application
I need to be careful when people thank me for ministry, or somehow think that I have done something by myself. I need to direct people to Jesus, the only one who is worthy of worship.

Prayer
Lord, I am your servant. Please help me to be a worshipper, and to always be very careful to give You the glory. You ALONE are worthy. Amen

Barnabas ~ Good, Full & Strong

Scripture
Acts 11:24
Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

Observation
Three things this verse tells me about Barnabas, the son of encouragement ~ he was GOOD, he was FULL of the Holy Spirit, and he was STRONG in faith. The result was many people were BROUGHT to the Lord. Good, Full, Strong.

Application
I want to strive towards being like Barnabas. Tim Peterson wrote me once that he thought of me as "Barney", not just Barry ~ as I was a son of encouragement. That was very kind. In order to have these qualities in my life in increasing measure, I need to be intentional. Good ~ keeping my life pure and clean and wholesome. Full of the Holy Spirit ~ I must make a practice of worship and praying in tongues. Strong in Faith - I need feed my spirit things that will build my faith, and I need to exercise my faith. And in all of this, may I be bringing many people to Jesus!

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me this verse about the life of Barnabas. He seems to be influential in the early church, but always kind of in the background. He surfaces here and there, at crucial moments, standing with people. In fact, I read today that he went looking for Saul. Not only did he minister to those he was with, he was intentional about ministry. Help me be transformed, that I might be good, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And please touch my heart so I will seek out those who are lost, and bring many people to You.

Powerful Preaching

Scripture
Acts 9:22. Saul's preaching became more and more powerful...

Observation
This part of the verse stood out to me. Immediately after Saul's conversion, he began to preach about Jesus. And as he did, his preaching grew in power. Other versions say he increased in strength. The question is 'How?'. What did Saul do for his preaching to increase in power?

Application
Yesterday I listened to a lady officiate a funeral service. She was very articulate. She presented herself well. She seemed very caring. But her 'preaching' lacked any power. We never prayed, there was no scripture, and only ambiguous references to God ~ whatever your concept of Him may be. I was sad for the opportunity lost, for grieving people to be presented with real hope. She never mentioned Jesus. It seems more and more acceptable to talk about 'spiritual' things, and 'god', but Jesus is still off limits ~ for Jesus offends. Jesus demands a response. Jesus is not just an etherial concept, Jesus is a person. This experience, and this scripture reading today, reminds me that I need to focus my preaching on the person of Jesus Christ, and I need to see an increase in the power of my preaching. Not louder, not more articulate, not more wordsmithing ~ but an increase of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer
Lord, I do pray first that you would minister to all those people at the funeral yesterday. May You surround them with people who will speak the truth, in love, to them. Let there be an awareness of their need of You. Also, please touch this woman, who obviously has had pain in her life. May she discover the narrow way, and in doing so, be an ambassador for You. I too pray that you would teach me to preach. Homiletics of the Holy Spirit ~ growing in power in my preaching. Keep people from saying "What a powerful preacher"; instead may they say "I want to follow Jesus more!"

Amusing The Enemy

Scripture
Exodus 32:25
Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies.

Observation
Aaron was in charge, but he let the people be in charge,and the people quickly became out of control. Their enemies were amused by their actions. Instead of respect, there was amusement. Instead of reverence, the enemy laughed. When the people of God are out of control, the enemy is delighted. KJV says the people were naked. NKJV says it was to their shame.

Application
The enemies of the people of God should never be amused at us. It makes me consider that anytime I am out of control the enemy is pleased. Out of control with my anger, or my eating, or my finances.

Prayer
Lord, I don't want to amuse the enemy, for I know that it not only reflects on me, but on You as I am Your son. May the work of Your Holy Spirit be so evident in my life that I demonstrate self control ~ the fruit of the Spirit.