Jer. 45-47; Ps. 105; John 21

  
JOHN 21: This chapter has always puzzled me. Why are the disciples fishing back in Galilee after having seen the resurrected Christ and being commissioned by Him? Then when they see Jesus how can they not recognize Him. “Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.” (John 21:4) After all, this isn’t the first time they have seen him after His death and resurrection. The first thing that always comes to my mind is, “shouldn’t they be out caring for the church?” Maybe they were taking a day off to go sports fishing. Ok, seriously my friends; Some day this might be clearer but for now we can clearly see Christ working in their lives. This starts with His provision to the disciples, “He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" “No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. (John 21:5-6) Jesus always meets us where we are at and takes us to the next level whether that is in provision or in spiritual development. He goes on to further affirm Peter and the call on his life even while seemingly challenging him three times.

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" (John 21:15-19)

God has a place for all of us in His ministry so I ask you these questions:

• What area of ministry has the Lord called you to?
• What is the gifting you see or others see in your life that He has given to you?
• How can you put those gifts to work in your church family?
• How can you get started?

See you all on the ministry field.

Blessings,
Pastor Jason



NEXT READING: Jer. 48,49; Ps. 67; 1 John 1

Isaiah 57-59; Psalm 103; 2 Peter 3

 
The hero of all heroes….

I never read comics as a kid but if I did I’m sure none of the super heroes in them could have compared to Jesus. For example look at the imagery we see here.

He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance
and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

According to what they have done,
so will he repay
wrath to his enemies
and retribution to his foes;
he will repay the islands their due.

From the west, men will fear the name of the LORD,
and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory…” (Isaiah 59:17-19)

It is like the best action hero movie Hollywood could ever plan to make. Jesus has already done so much for us and He will continue to stand in the gap for us right up until the day He comes back. I love what the end of Isaiah says, “…this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD. (Isaiah 59:21) While Jesus has come to us to be our Redeemer, He has also given us a great gift for daily living. The Spirit of God has come to be our Sanctifier: thus the Comforter shall abide with the church for ever, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16.) Remember the cause of the Redeemer shall gain complete victory on earth, and the believer will be more than conqueror when the Lord receives him to His glory in heaven.


Be Blessed,
Pastor Jason



NEXT READING: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

Isaiah 36,37; Psalm. 76; 1 Peter 1

So often we wander around this world being shaped by our surroundings. If we look carefully at what sort of things develop in us based on the surroundings we grow up in, one of the things so many of us see is “FEAR”, more specifically the fear of man. It is easy to be shaped by our hurts and even to see a world with so much injustice and to speculate how God can let it happen or to question if it will ever stop. Sometimes when we see things happen for an extended period of time we might ask, “Will God make things just and right? Will He step in?” These thoughts are some of the seeds that allow fear to grow in us. Thankfully, He is always faithful…..

“At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep.
You, Yourself, are to be feared;
And who may stand in Your presence
When once You are angry?”
(Psalm 76:6-7)

When we read through Psalms 76 we see a God who fears nothing and who looks out for us. Sometimes it is just a matter of time before God steps in. Just as a father might stand by for just a moment to see how his child is going to react in the face of opposition. Our Father in Heaven is slow to anger but is still watching with a sharp eye. He will always step in and when he does everyone will know it. When we look at the “BIG PICTURE” it brings an understanding that we must trust God and recognize He has everything under control and He will deal with the good, bad, and everything in-between in His time.

I encourage us all to look to Him who is just and true while we thank Him for the grace we have been given in our lives.


Be Blessed,
Pastor Jason



NEXT READING: 2 King 20; Isaiah 38,39; Psalm 75; 1 Peter 2

1 Kings 20,21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

After succeeding his father, Asa, Jehoshaphat strengthened himself against Israel. The Bible says "... He sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel." (2 Chronicles 17:4)

Jehoshaphat sent teachers with the Book of the Law throughout Judah. Unfortunately he made the mistake of allying himself with Ahab. (2 Chronicles 18:1) One of Ahab’s problems is he didn’t like hearing the truth and this drove him to false prophets and false spirits. Jehoshaphat wanted a real prophet of God. Ahab didn't, saying "But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me." (1 Kings 22:8) Micaiah prophesied disaster for Israel. In a strange parody of a self-fulfilling prophecy, Ahab says, "Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?" In the coming battle, Ahab in disguise is killed and Jehoshaphat returns to his palace in Jerusalem. He then begins to turn the people back to God. He appoints judges in the land and in the fortified cities. In Jerusalem, he appoints Levites and family heads to administer the Law of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 19:8)

We should be encouraged to not stand in a place of pride or just wanting our ears tickled as Ahab did. Instead let’s be open to the Lord and attack every day from a place of humility saying, “Lord what would YOU have me do today”. (Jehoshaphat set his face to seek the LORD….2 Chronicles 20:3)

When Paul wrote to the Christians in Colossae (the book of Colossians) he did this because many of the Christians there had begun to listen to false teachers, like Ahab and his false prophets. One of the most devastating things about false teachings is so many of them have threads of truth or better said may seem so close to the gospel that it is hard to spot the truth from fiction. Yet these false teachings fork off on their own journey that runs down a crooked path. Paul really tried to emphasize Christ is superior in this letter. I believe Paul wrote more about Christ in Colossians than in any other letters. These letters remind us that our past life is gone, “water under the bridge”. Christ has made us free and calls us to live in that freedom. So, again let’s take every day and ask the Lord, “What would YOU have me do today?” as we live our lives for His service.

Blessings,
Pastor Jason


Next Reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18,19; Colossians 4

2 Samuel 21-23; I Thess. 1

"When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint." 2 Samuel 21:15

 

Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted.  Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David but Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. 

 

Have you had those days where you feel like David? Exhausted, but still in the middle of a battle?! David, the once valiant fighter and defeater of Goliath was now experiencing old age.  I'm sure David remembered when he once had the strength to keep up with the battle.

Sometimes our battles, whether physical pain or emotional pain, can pass quickly and sometimes the length of them are wearing.  Like David in this portion of scripture, we were not created to handle battles on our own. We were created for community. God brought David help, not in a sling shot like he had with Goliath, but through the help of another, Abishai.

 

We need others; We need encouragers and prayer warriors.  Ecclesiastes 4:12 "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Whether you are in a position reaching for help or the one fighting on someone else's behalf, you can have guarantee that your spiritual relationship will be strengthened.  Yes, the battle does belong to the Lord but that means He will choose His strategy for the fight, including the use of others.

 

Next Reading:  2 Samuel 24; I Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; I Thess. 2

Ruth 1,2; Psalm 53; 61; 2 Corinthians 5

“Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.” Psalm 61:1-3

“The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge." Ruth 2:12

Is your heart overwhelmed today? Do you need a strong tower from the enemy? Two of our passages deal with people in crisis, people who need their God to be a strong tower from the enemy and a refuge from the storm. David writes this psalm at a time that he had been in exile because of the rebellion of his son Absalom. David had fled across the Jordan River as an army from Hebron, led by Absalom, came to take Jerusalem. He did not want to face his son in battle. Rather than taking a stand in Jerusalem, a victory that would have surely been David’s, the King fled with his armies in to exile. David cries out to God, “Hear my cry, O God, attend to my prayer.” (Psalm 61:2) In Ruth we read the story of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Naomi returns to Jerusalem, broken and destitute, with her daughter in law Ruth, a foreigner. Both women are widows and without a redemptive miracle, they will both be poorly outcast and beggars or for a young, widowed woman, even worse, sent to the streets. I am sure Naomi cried out, O God, hear my cry…attend to my prayer! When we are in crisis it seems more like the end of the world, rather than the ends of the earth! Many a time I have cried out, “Lord, lead me, lead me to THE Rock, that is higher than I.” When we are so low, there is only one place to go and that is up. But when we are feeling so low, up seems so far away. But God is THE Rock and He does lift us up to a place that is higher than our circumstances, higher than us. “He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deut. 32:4) “The Eternal God is my refuge and underneath is His everlasting arms.” (Deut. 33:27) God is faithful, He is our Rock, He is our Refuge. God delivers Naomi and Ruth, God rescues David, and God delivers and rescues us. Perhaps today, you need the deliverance and rescuing of your God. Today is your day, your day to cry out to God and a day to be led to the Rock, Jesus Christ.

Victorious in Christ,
Carol Danna

Next Reading: Ruth 3, 4; Psalm 64-65; 2 Corinthians 6