for today and tomorrow
Acts 11:21
The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
When God is present in power, his blessing is abundant. A healing and helping hand from God through his people is a huge attraction for non-Christians to come to Christ. They might disagree with what is being taught but they can’t ignore the evidence. Signs and wonders address skepticism head on.
Pray for Jesus to work through you today to be a sign.
Acts 13:11
Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."
God’s hand can also work against us and tear us down. In this verse, Saul, a hateful enemy of God is reprimanded in a way that only God can pull off. The bitter, spiteful opponent becomes Paul, the main biblical spokesman in the New Testament. The one who couldn’t see the light of the sun finally gives in to the “light of the Son.” Now you can’t stop him from sharing the Good News.
Pray for God to correct you if you are going against his ways.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
no barriers
Acts 11:17
So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
Here Peter is speaking about the message he received from God who told him that faith in Jesus is for all people, not just the Jews. God leads the non-Jewish people (Gentiles) to faith in Christ and so it is legitimate. The barriers are falling and being right with God is possible for all cultures.
Pray for your Jewish friends.
So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
Here Peter is speaking about the message he received from God who told him that faith in Jesus is for all people, not just the Jews. God leads the non-Jewish people (Gentiles) to faith in Christ and so it is legitimate. The barriers are falling and being right with God is possible for all cultures.
Pray for your Jewish friends.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
open
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
When you were a kid, did you ask one of parents why you had to do something, and he/she replied, “Because I said so.”?
Well, here Jesus doesn’t even have to tell his disciples what to do. He has so much confidence in them that he simply states it as fact. Maybe it has something to do with the Holy Spirit coming to them.
With the Holy Spirit in your life you can’t help but witness. If you aren’t a witness of the love and power of Jesus does that mean the Holy Spirit hasn’t cracked your resistance? What do you think?
Pray for an openness to the Holy Spirit.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
When you were a kid, did you ask one of parents why you had to do something, and he/she replied, “Because I said so.”?
Well, here Jesus doesn’t even have to tell his disciples what to do. He has so much confidence in them that he simply states it as fact. Maybe it has something to do with the Holy Spirit coming to them.
With the Holy Spirit in your life you can’t help but witness. If you aren’t a witness of the love and power of Jesus does that mean the Holy Spirit hasn’t cracked your resistance? What do you think?
Pray for an openness to the Holy Spirit.
Monday, September 24, 2007
different
John 17:21-23
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Christians are not called to think exactly alike. The Gospels are a great witness to this. Each of these four accounts of Jesus has a different emphasis by a different author for a different immediate audience. When someone uses the Gospels as an example of “discrepancies” in scripture, you know they haven’t actually thought about them for one minute or perhaps haven’t even read them.
Jesus comes in a specific culture and time and at the same time says all cultures in all times will have an opportunity to understand and trust. However, careful listening is required.
Pray for a local church you don’t attend.
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Christians are not called to think exactly alike. The Gospels are a great witness to this. Each of these four accounts of Jesus has a different emphasis by a different author for a different immediate audience. When someone uses the Gospels as an example of “discrepancies” in scripture, you know they haven’t actually thought about them for one minute or perhaps haven’t even read them.
Jesus comes in a specific culture and time and at the same time says all cultures in all times will have an opportunity to understand and trust. However, careful listening is required.
Pray for a local church you don’t attend.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Jesus is
John 15:5
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Did you ever have a little brother or sister who had to follow you wherever you went? People would call him/ her your “little shadow.”
Jesus is more than a shadow. He invites us to remain in him- his presence, his teaching, his love- and he will reciprocate. “I in them.” Jesus calls himself, “God,” several times using the sacred name of God, “I Am.” We see one such example here. “I am the vine.”
Jesus also brings his divine power to the rest of us as we are open to remaining in him. “I in them.” I would follow that big brother, who also happens to be God, wherever he leads. Where else would you want to go?
Pray for brothers and sisters, your own or someone else’s.
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Did you ever have a little brother or sister who had to follow you wherever you went? People would call him/ her your “little shadow.”
Jesus is more than a shadow. He invites us to remain in him- his presence, his teaching, his love- and he will reciprocate. “I in them.” Jesus calls himself, “God,” several times using the sacred name of God, “I Am.” We see one such example here. “I am the vine.”
Jesus also brings his divine power to the rest of us as we are open to remaining in him. “I in them.” I would follow that big brother, who also happens to be God, wherever he leads. Where else would you want to go?
Pray for brothers and sisters, your own or someone else’s.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
better
John 6:56
Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
What are we, a bunch of zombies or vampires? It’s passages like these from the Bible that must shock those who don’t know the story of Jesus. What a wonderful teachable moment about the Eucharist; Holy Communion.
Jesus comes to us in the bread and wine of Communion and declares that he is there in a way he is not in the rest of his creation, “for you.” He is present within this sacred act to bring the message of “forgiveness of sin, new life, and salvation.”
This is way better than Dracula or “Night of the Living Dead.”
Pray for those who will receive their first communion soon.
Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
What are we, a bunch of zombies or vampires? It’s passages like these from the Bible that must shock those who don’t know the story of Jesus. What a wonderful teachable moment about the Eucharist; Holy Communion.
Jesus comes to us in the bread and wine of Communion and declares that he is there in a way he is not in the rest of his creation, “for you.” He is present within this sacred act to bring the message of “forgiveness of sin, new life, and salvation.”
This is way better than Dracula or “Night of the Living Dead.”
Pray for those who will receive their first communion soon.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
clear
John 1:4
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
Jesus offers his life to all people. This is not an anonymous or hidden inner light that is in all people just waiting to be discovered as some philosophies or religions teach. You may believe this but it doesn’t appear Jesus did. In him the light of the world is revealed in a very specific and clear way. “In the flesh,” as verse 14 will state later in this chapter.
Secret knowledge or light within that has to be discovered is exactly the kind of thinking Jesus came to correct. There is nothing secret, mysterious, or rare to being a follower of Jesus. It is just being open to live in Christ, who says, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”
Pray for the basic, simple clarity of the good news of Jesus to reach those who are seeking.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
Jesus offers his life to all people. This is not an anonymous or hidden inner light that is in all people just waiting to be discovered as some philosophies or religions teach. You may believe this but it doesn’t appear Jesus did. In him the light of the world is revealed in a very specific and clear way. “In the flesh,” as verse 14 will state later in this chapter.
Secret knowledge or light within that has to be discovered is exactly the kind of thinking Jesus came to correct. There is nothing secret, mysterious, or rare to being a follower of Jesus. It is just being open to live in Christ, who says, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”
Pray for the basic, simple clarity of the good news of Jesus to reach those who are seeking.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
city
Luke 24:49
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
Pastor Tim Keller says ‘As the city goes, so goes the culture. We need churches wherever there are people, but we can have our greatest influence for good in our society if we have a strong presence in the urban centers.‘
The early church went to the cities first. Christians established centers for hope, healing, and good news in the urban arenas of the Middle East, Asia, Minor, and Europe. Only later did the faith spread to the countryside. What are the implications for this today?
Pray for the blessing of the largest city near you.
Monday, September 17, 2007
children
Luke 18:16-17
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Anyone who thinks little children are precious and completely pure has never raised or met a two year old who finally discovers he/she is not the center of the universe. As one pastor said in a sermon I heard recently, “They would kill you in a minute if you weren’t so big.”
Precious? Of course. Pure? At times. Yet, Jesus isn’t talking about the exemplary behavior of children; he is talking about their confident trust. If you say something, children expect it to be true. If they are in trouble, you will save them. If they are sad, you will comfort them. It is this trust Jesus is lifting up as a model for us all.
Pray for the children in your life.
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Anyone who thinks little children are precious and completely pure has never raised or met a two year old who finally discovers he/she is not the center of the universe. As one pastor said in a sermon I heard recently, “They would kill you in a minute if you weren’t so big.”
Precious? Of course. Pure? At times. Yet, Jesus isn’t talking about the exemplary behavior of children; he is talking about their confident trust. If you say something, children expect it to be true. If they are in trouble, you will save them. If they are sad, you will comfort them. It is this trust Jesus is lifting up as a model for us all.
Pray for the children in your life.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
justice
21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”
Nothing more has to happen to bring in God’s Kingdom; it is already here. In order to live in his Kingdom, you must trust in the sacrifice of Jesus for your sins and accept his forgiveness. If you don’t want him he will not force himself on you.
God the Father does have pure wrath against sin and so if you don’t accept the sacrifice of Jesus your actions are all that will save you from the purely just God. God is perfection and so your actions must be identical to God’s in order to not need Jesus. God is not mean or vindictive, he is only fair.
Pray for God to guide you to those who don’t trust in Jesus that you might share his love.
Nothing more has to happen to bring in God’s Kingdom; it is already here. In order to live in his Kingdom, you must trust in the sacrifice of Jesus for your sins and accept his forgiveness. If you don’t want him he will not force himself on you.
God the Father does have pure wrath against sin and so if you don’t accept the sacrifice of Jesus your actions are all that will save you from the purely just God. God is perfection and so your actions must be identical to God’s in order to not need Jesus. God is not mean or vindictive, he is only fair.
Pray for God to guide you to those who don’t trust in Jesus that you might share his love.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
one way
Luke 11:29
29 As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah."
The sign of Jonah is the declaration to repent. There are various meanings for this word from the Bible.
repent- turn and go in a new direction
repent- think again, only differently
For a generation to be classified as evil it must be working against God’s ways. The assumption is that you do know the ways of God, and yet, you are still doing one or both of these things: Going in the wrong direction and/or not thinking straight. When God eventually brings fairness and justice to the situation, there will be no excuse. You knew and you chose to go your own way rather than God’s on purpose.
Pray that you would be honest before God.
29 As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah."
The sign of Jonah is the declaration to repent. There are various meanings for this word from the Bible.
repent- turn and go in a new direction
repent- think again, only differently
For a generation to be classified as evil it must be working against God’s ways. The assumption is that you do know the ways of God, and yet, you are still doing one or both of these things: Going in the wrong direction and/or not thinking straight. When God eventually brings fairness and justice to the situation, there will be no excuse. You knew and you chose to go your own way rather than God’s on purpose.
Pray that you would be honest before God.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
preach
Mark 16:20
20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
When the Holy Spirit is at work, people will notice. There may even be miraculous signs. Notice the signs follow the preaching. Are there life changing signs that occur at your church after your preacher preaches? The most common and miraculous sign is when Christian believers become disciples. When it actually sinks in that this faith stuff really does matter in a practical way in everyday life, and followers actually follow.
Pray for long term as well as short results in the life of your community.
20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
When the Holy Spirit is at work, people will notice. There may even be miraculous signs. Notice the signs follow the preaching. Are there life changing signs that occur at your church after your preacher preaches? The most common and miraculous sign is when Christian believers become disciples. When it actually sinks in that this faith stuff really does matter in a practical way in everyday life, and followers actually follow.
Pray for long term as well as short results in the life of your community.
Monday, September 10, 2007
intention
Matthew 28:20
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Everything that Jesus wants done will be done because he is there to do it. Disciples are those who intentionally choose to follow the ways of Jesus and learn from him however they can. This is different than people in churches who love Jesus and trust in him and want to live with him forever, but they don’t practically intend to actually follow his teachings.
If you love Jesus and wish to live with him forever you get to, but there is more life in store for us than simply believing. It is about living the abundant life and we can do this, too. All the way to the end, and beyond. Choose this life.
Pray for strength to be more intentional in your walk with Jesus.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Everything that Jesus wants done will be done because he is there to do it. Disciples are those who intentionally choose to follow the ways of Jesus and learn from him however they can. This is different than people in churches who love Jesus and trust in him and want to live with him forever, but they don’t practically intend to actually follow his teachings.
If you love Jesus and wish to live with him forever you get to, but there is more life in store for us than simply believing. It is about living the abundant life and we can do this, too. All the way to the end, and beyond. Choose this life.
Pray for strength to be more intentional in your walk with Jesus.
Friday, September 07, 2007
more
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
This verse is not meant to assume that Jesus is not present with us when we are alone. What it does tell us is we are strong when we are together. Think of what would actually happen if we lived in our homes as those gathered in the name of Jesus? Then why don’t we?
Pray for Jesus to be in all your relationships today.
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
This verse is not meant to assume that Jesus is not present with us when we are alone. What it does tell us is we are strong when we are together. Think of what would actually happen if we lived in our homes as those gathered in the name of Jesus? Then why don’t we?
Pray for Jesus to be in all your relationships today.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
whole world
Matthew 16:19
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
The keys of the Kingdom are a sign of God’s work in his community. We have been given the means to decide what is acceptable and what is forbidden in the life of our churches. This begins and ends with the Bible. Christians of good conscience can disagree over important matters (e.g., infant or adult baptism, open or closed Communion) and so it is probably a good thing that “it takes the whole world to preach the Gospel.”
Pray for churches who take positions contrary to your viewpoints.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
best seat in the house
when following Jesus, we don't have to try to compare and compete with others for his blessing-
there is room for everyone at Jesus' table
there is room for everyone at Jesus' table
God's measurements are different
God honors humans so much, he allows us to make bad choices
the story of King Saul
the story of King Saul
other than that
Matthew 1:23
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.”
Who would have thought that we would actually have Christians questioning the Virgin Birth? What’s wrong with Jesus having a human biological father? Well, two things. One, he would have been conceived out of wedlock, a sin and sign of disobedience, and two, he wouldn’t be divine from eternity. So, other than those two reasons...
Pray for God to continue to bless faithful teachers of the Gospel.
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.”
Who would have thought that we would actually have Christians questioning the Virgin Birth? What’s wrong with Jesus having a human biological father? Well, two things. One, he would have been conceived out of wedlock, a sin and sign of disobedience, and two, he wouldn’t be divine from eternity. So, other than those two reasons...
Pray for God to continue to bless faithful teachers of the Gospel.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
fine
Daniel 6:22
“My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
Confidence and humility are the ways the Holy Spirit works through us most often. We know we are going to be just fine, no matter what, in the long run. We also know this is because of who God is not who we are. We just made the connection and stopped getting in our own way.
Pray for confidence in the power of Jesus in your life.
“My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
Confidence and humility are the ways the Holy Spirit works through us most often. We know we are going to be just fine, no matter what, in the long run. We also know this is because of who God is not who we are. We just made the connection and stopped getting in our own way.
Pray for confidence in the power of Jesus in your life.
Monday, September 03, 2007
with us
Daniel 3:25
“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”
What does God look like? God can have an appearance (“glory”), but he is a non-physical entity. Yet, there are instances where God appears through his angels. Here is one of those times. Protecting his teachers (missionaries) in a land that does not recognize God.
The three servants of God are spared and the angel disappears. What if God could be with us all the time? What if every single step of the way nothing bad would ever happen? God is with us, but not always for immediate protection. If we lived in a sheltered bubble, we would never grow out of infancy. Yet, we are wise to pray for God to be with us always.
Pray for God’s glory to shine in any darkness you or a loved one is experiencing.
“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”
What does God look like? God can have an appearance (“glory”), but he is a non-physical entity. Yet, there are instances where God appears through his angels. Here is one of those times. Protecting his teachers (missionaries) in a land that does not recognize God.
The three servants of God are spared and the angel disappears. What if God could be with us all the time? What if every single step of the way nothing bad would ever happen? God is with us, but not always for immediate protection. If we lived in a sheltered bubble, we would never grow out of infancy. Yet, we are wise to pray for God to be with us always.
Pray for God’s glory to shine in any darkness you or a loved one is experiencing.
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About Me
- Dana
- Pastor from LIFEhouse Church in Northridge CA, focusing on the theme, "How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk."
