Isaiah 11:1-5

Today, a homeless man told me he finished reading Isaiah 11:1-5.  

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
    or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
    with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
    and faithfulness the sash around his waist." - Isaiah 11:1-5

Then, the man told me as he meditated on the word, God gave him this message: 

"If you will believe, I will be more than what you will ever need in any one given moment in your life without limitation!" 

God's Temple

I've been reading the book of Numbers.  I thought it was interesting in chapter four the author gives details of the different branches of the Levite clan and their obligations to the temple (Tent of Meeting).  Kohathite, Gershonite and Merarite branches had specific places to camp around the Tent of Meeting as well as specific obligations to the monitor the items within and outside temple.  In fact, each had duties and a specific way to carry the items when they traveled.   If any individual didn't follow these specific duties they way God commanded, they could die!

I find this interesting because,  in I Corinthians 6:19, it says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"

If our body is the holy temple and God intended His holy temple to be cared for so carefully by the Levites, how should we be caring for our body?  He says our body isn't ours.  We are just the manager of the body God gave us much like the Levites managed the Tent of Meeting.  Is the health problems I have off and on due to the lack of care to God's temple?  Could I die due to lack of caring for my body?  Of course, I could.  

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the body you gave me to manage.  I pray you will give me the Godly wisdom and discernment to understand how to care for your temple through nutrition, exercise and purity.  I also pray for this same wisdom for my family members, parents, children, grandchildren, and friends.  May your will be done with your holy temple and may the gifts you give to me and my family and friends be used only for your glory. 

In Jesus name, Amen.

Stretch Your Faith: Week 2

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV)

Our goal should be to manage our bodies, God's holy temple, the way He intended. Therefore, someday we will meet Him in heaven and hear him say,"Well done!"

I encourage you to define your goal this week to manage the body God's given you.  Define how that goal can please Him.  

Stretch Your Faith Class - Week 1

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV)

Paul tells Timothy in his letter, "I have finished well." To finish our races well, we train through Run for God/Red Sea Fitness or other running plans.  Youth pastor Jim Chapman,  author of  Finishing Well, says to honor God's gifts he has given us to manage, such as our body - God's Holy Temple, we train just like we do for a race. (Remember, your body is His and you are only the manager of that body while you are here on Earth. How well have we managed His Holy Temple?) 

Training involves stretching in your warm up, cool down, and many times in the middle of a long run.  In the same way, we need to train for our race through life.  We should be stretching our faith by speaking encouragement not only to ourselves but our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We stretch our faith by waiting for God's timing, not our own.  In addition, pastor Kyle Idleman, author of Not A Fan, says we have to committ to our race in EVERY AREA of our life to be a true follower of Christ. Jesus wants us to follow Him all the time, not just some of the time.  This requires training; it requires you to stretch your faith throughout your race of life.  

Blessings

Here is my devotion for today from Rick Warren:

When We Bless Others, God Takes Care of Our Needs 

Most Christians want to bless others through their gifts and resources. But more than a desire, God commands us to be a blessing to others because we have been blessed. 

As you look for ways to bless others, keep in mind the four laws of God’s blessing: 

1. Our blessings should flow to others.

The Bible teaches us that we are blessed not just so that we can feel good, not just so we can be happy and comfortable, but also so that we will bless others. God told Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “I will bless you ... and you will be a blessing” (NIV). This is the first law of blessing: It must flow outwardly. 

2. When we bless others, God takes care of our needs. 

God promises that if we will concentrate on blessing others, he’ll take care of our needs. There’s almost nothing that God won’t do for the person who really wants to help other people. In fact, God guarantees this blessing. In Luke 18:29-30, Jesus says, “I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come” (NLT). 

When you care about helping other people, God assumes responsibility for your problems. And that’s a real blessing, for he’s much better at handling your difficulties than you are. 

3. Our blessings to others will come back on us. 

The more you bless other people and the more you help others, the more God blesses your life. Luke 6:38 tells us, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back — given back with bonus and blessing” (MSG). You cannot out-give God. The more you try to bless other people in the world around you, the more God says, “I’m going to pour blessings out on you. We’ll play a little game here. Let’s see who will win. Let’s see who can give the most. The more you bless others, the more I’m going to bless you in return.” 

4. The more God blesses us, the more he expects us to help others. 

Jesus said it this way in Luke 12:48: “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given” (GNT). 


This devotional © 2014 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Learning to be more like Jesus

In Philippians, Paul tells us how to be more like Jesus and be a true follower of Christ in any circumstance.  Paul sounds so dedicated and joyful about the Phililppians in these four chapters.  However, he endured torture and many difficult times while he built the church there.  He chooses to focus on the good memories and not the bad.  He chooses to encourage instead of give up on these people.  He is a true follower despite hisbackground and history with these people.  

Philipians 4:13 says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  Therefore, we too, can become followers of Christ despite our background and history.  He goes on to tell us we should always be rejoicing in all The Lord does for us and let our gentle spirit be evident to others around us.  We shouldn't stress ourselves about anything but pray about each situation so we can release God to control our hearts, minds, and situation.  Read the following:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)

Paul goes on in this fourth chapter of Phillipians how to act as Christians:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV)

What an awesome promise of peace if we just practice to be followers.  

Born Blind

I had a great devotion and quiet time with God today.  He revealed an additional message in John 9 that I haven't focused on before.  Jesus heals a man born blind in this chapter.  While I have always looked at this story as one of Jesus's miracles to show the many follows and unbelievers who he was, it had so much more meaning than that.

First of all, lets look at the fact Jesus continues to break the "man-made" religious rules by healing on the Sabbath, not to mention mixing mud and water which is another forbidden rule the Pharisees created. This action provoked the Pharisees.  They chose not to "see" the miracle for what it was even though they were educated individuals.  They chose to put "blinders" on and only see their laws.  However, the blind man knew he couldn't see and after one experience with Jesus his eyes were open!

Do we get involved with religion and not allow ourselves the pleasure of seeing God's awesomeness?  Do we want to be full of biblical knowledge but lack gratitude?  Of course not!  Jesus rescued the blind man from his inability to see and the Pharisees never allowed Him to rescue them from their religious laws.  Let us not become like the Pharisees.  Instead, let us remember to connect with God daily, stay true to our faith to gain strength, and continue to be thankful for our many blessings.  This is what it means to "see" or to have our "eyes opened" to Jesus.

The original story from John 9:

John 9

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders,who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.