Foundations Jan 1, 2011

Saturday, January 1, 2011
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Daniel 1-3 and 1 John 3

SCRIPTURE READING

“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8

Many of us desire to pursue God but most people simply don’t know how. Many of us want a
closer and deeper relationship with God but no matter what we try we just can’t seem to get
there. Some of us have experienced times of feeling close to God but then, after a few weeks
or months, the passion fades. How do we become a people who walk in close relationship with
God? And, what is it that takes this passion and sustains it for the long haul? Obstacles, detours
and traps catch us off guard causing our hearts to waiver and our pursuit of God to be hindered.
What is the key to sustaining the heart that longs to go after God, all the days of our lives?
This devotional series has been developed to touch on the key to sustaining a passionate life
for Jesus. To help you develop a heart that is passionately in love with Jesus. There is a deep
pleasure, a sustaining zeal, and an intense passion available – they are found only within a life of
close love relationship with God.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1. Think about your present relationship with God. On a scale of 1 – 10 (1=very distant, 10=very
    close) where would you place your closeness to God?
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of strength and weakness in your relationship with God. Be
    honest with yourself. These devotionals are designed to help you grow but you cannot grow if
    you’re not honest with yourself. Do not feel condemned! Every person has room to grow
    in their relationship with God!
3. Do you feel like you are missing out on a deeper relationship with God? Ask the Holy Spirit
    to reveal to you areas in your life where you are settling for less than you can experience in
    your relationship with God. Are you going through the motions in your spiritual life? Confess
    as necessary.

Foundations Dec 31, 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 46-48 and 1 John 1-2

SCRIPTURE READING

Isaiah 9:7 (NIV); Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

The prophesies of Isaiah, the faithfulness of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the birth of John the Baptist, the submission of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the humility of the shepherds, the acclamation of the angels, the quest of the wise men, the patience of Simeon, and the devotion of Anna – all coalesced together in the perfect plan of God the Father. The baby in the manger held such promise, though what it was and how it would be fulfilled was a mystery to those present. The birth of Christ was a day in the life of these key players. It is spectacular to us who know the outcome of the Child’s life, but how could they have known who it was they saw before their very eyes? How could they know that they were key players in the Redemption they and their ancestors had been awaiting for centuries? Yet they were faithful and now, 2000 years later we rejoice at the promises of God fulfilled in and through them!

Jesus was a Baby in a manger, He was a Man on a cross, and He now sits exalted to the highest place at the right hand of the Father. He looks forward to when the rest of Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled – when He will establish His government and eternal Kingdom on the earth, when He will return to His people and live among them forever!

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1.       What are some incredible things that God revealed to you throughout this Christmas season? Spend some time giving praise to God for these truths.

2.       Were you faithful in the commitments you made throughout the month to bless others and share God’s truth with them? If not, ask Him to help you to be faithful in this.

3.        Meditate on the rest of the Isaiah 9:7 prophecy. How can you prepare for this time? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an urgency for the things of His heart as we come nearer to the time of Jesus’ return.

Foundations Dec 30, 2010

Thursday, December 30, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 43-45 and 2 Peter 3

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 1:23 (NIV); “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When sin entered mankind in the Garden of Eden, man was severed from the presence of God. God was never again with His people in the way that He had been with them in Eden – walking and talking with them. Certain individuals experienced the closeness of God, such as Moses, Abraham and David, but the nearness and intimacy offered in Eden was no more. When Abraham entered the Tent of Meeting, they stood at the entrances of their homes. When the Tabernacle was constructed, only the high priest was allowed entrance into the Holy of Holies, and even then only once a year! The Tabernacle was constructed in the wilderness that God could come down in the presence of the people for them to worship, but the people always remained at a distance. But the work of this Child on the cross married the Spirit of God to the people once and for all! At the moment of Jesus’ death the Temple curtain was ripped in two, signifying that God was no longer going to live separately from His people. The Child of the prophecy was the Son of God who made a way for us to reunite with Mighty God!

The Apostle Paul said that God’s mystery had finally been revealed. What was it? “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus was called Immanuel because His death allowed for the Spirit of God to indwell every individual who lives by faith in Jesus Christ. This manifestation of God in us is our hope for a future glory and eternity with Christ!

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1.       Meditate on the prophecy of Isaiah found in Matthew. Meditate on what it meant to the world at large at the time and today.

2.       Take the things that God showed you and the things you read today and worship God for what He has done for us. Write out your own psalm of praise to Him.

3.       Christ in you. Is this something you take for granted? Do you think about the Spirit of God dwelling in you as a believer? Take time to think about this. Ask God how you can grow in even greater intimacy with Him.

4.       How can communicate this truth – God with us – to someone else today?

Foundations Dec 29, 2010

Wednesday, December 29, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 40-42 and 2 Peter 2

SCRIPTURE READING

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV); And he will be called… Prince of Peace.

To appreciate peace it is helpful to consider what happens when there is no peace. Of course war is the obvious opposite, though not necessarily applicable to the majority of us. Chaos, on the other hand, is much more relevant. Whether it’s in the environment around us or in the caverns of the heart, we all face moments, or even seasons of chaos.

Jesus came to give rest to the weary and peace to the troubled soul. As Isaiah declared, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (See Is. 9:2)What a promise! What a picture of refreshment and joy for those who were walking in a land of darkness!

This child was being born so that He may rise as the Prince of Peace. And “the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (See Is. 53:5.) On His dark night of the soul, as Jesus wrestled the devil in Gethsemane, He resolved to fulfill His call and endure the punishment of the cross that we may have lasting peace.

As subjects of the Kingdom of God, we also are bearers of peace. Even the footwear of our heavenly armour is secured that we might be the messengers of peace. In a season where so many experience loneliness in contrast to holiday cheer, we must lace up our shoes and proclaim the peace of Christ.

PRAYER and MEDIATION

1.       Read the words of Isaiah 9:6 a few times over and spend some time soaking them up. “He is called the Prince of Peace.” Allow this to sink in. What does it mean to you today, right now?

2.       Meditate on what this prophesy meant to the world at large. It was not spoken just for us as individuals, but the entire human race!

3.       Where are you experiencing chaos right now? Ask the Lord for His peace today. Pray for peace as you continue through this Christmas season and enter the New Year.

4.       Ask the Holy Spirit how you can share this news with someone today. Who needs to know that the Lord is the Prince of Peace and how can you communicate this to them? Be specific.

Foundations Dec 28, 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 37-39 and 2 Peter 1

SCRIPTURE READING

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV); And he will be called… Everlasting Father…

What a peculiar prophecy – that a child would be called a Father. These words highlighted the PERSON of Jesus. Not only is His counsel wonderful, not only is He great in power, but He is an everlasting, available person!

As Creator, God is the first and eternal Father of mankind, and He was always accepted as the Father of Israel. He is the Most High, but His highness does not deter Him from intimacy with His people. He is the great King. Not a “here today gone tomorrow” king such as Israel and Judah had experienced, but a forever King whose dynasty would never end.

 God is a Protector of His people. Picture a father defending his bruised and abused daughter. That is our God. Picture a first-time daddy holding his tiny newborn son in his arms. That is our God. Picture a father embracing his child who has just sorrowfully confessed to the worst of sins. Picture a dad sitting in a coffee shop looking into the eyes of his boy and saying, “I’m proud of you, son.” Picture a father writing out a will of great inheritance. Picture a dad at Christmas excitedly distributing gifts. Picture a father lovingly disciplining his child. Picture a father on his knees interceding for his children. These are pictures of good earthly dads and they do not even compare to the workings of our Everlasting Father!

PRAYER and MEDIATION

1.       Read the words of Isaiah 9:6 a few times over and spend some time soaking them up. “He is called Everlasting Father.” Allow this to sink in. What does it mean to you today, right now?

2.       Meditate on what this prophesy meant to the world at large. It was not spoken just for us as individuals, but the entire human race!

3.       How do you need God to be a Father to you right now? Get close with Him and ask Him to show you His heart. How does He want to protect and comfort you today?

4.       Ask the Holy Spirit how you can share this news with someone today. Who needs to know that the Lord is the Everlasting Father and how can you communicate this to them? Be specific.

Foundations Dec 27, 2010

Monday, December 27, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 34-36 and 1 Peter 5

SCRIPTURE READING

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV); And he will be called… Mighty God…

What a statement! That a child born in the future would be called Mighty God must have been an inconceivable idea for the Jews who believed that Yahweh was the one true God. They already referred to Yahweh as Mighty God, and yet they took this prophecy as a word about the Redeemer who would bring light and freedom to Zion. Interesting, then, that the Pharisees – those who knew the Messianic prophesies well – were so offended that Jesus claimed to be God.

The Lord God is mighty and can do the impossible; The Israelites saw His marvelous deeds firsthand during the days of Moses and Joshua, they experienced the certainty of His word as they were exiled from Jerusalem and Samaria in chains, they stood in the power of His deliverance as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, and they waited expectantly for the promise of eternal redemption.

Mighty God is the One that we serve. The almighty God who constantly revealed Himself to the nation of Israel is Jesus who was born unto us to deliver us from sin and death.

God took one man – Abraham – to be the father of a great nation. By the time of Abraham’s grandson Jacob, the “nation” had grown to 70. Over a relatively short period of time, these children of Israel grew exponentially, even presenting a threat to the Egyptians! This little nation under heaven, which has endured intense persecution since its founding is still remarkably still alive. Many great nations of their day are dead and gone, yet Israel remains. The Lord our God is Mighty God.

PRAYER and MEDIATION

1.       Read the words of Isaiah 9:6 a few times over and spend some time soaking them up. “He is called Mighty God.” Allow this to sink in. What does it mean to you today, right now?

2.       Meditate on what this prophesy meant to the world at large. It was not spoken just for us as individuals, but the entire human race!

3.       Read Deuteronomy 10:17-22 and ask God to speak to you about the might of His name and the power of His deliverance.

4.       Ask the Holy Spirit how you can share this news with someone today. Who needs to know that the Lord is Mighty God and how can you communicate this to them? Be specific.

Foundations Dec 26, 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

SCRIPTURE READING

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV); And he will be called Wonderful Counselor…

Over 600 years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah pronounced these words. A child would be born who would be called Wonderful Counselor.

Who is wonderful in counsel but the Lord? Who is great in wisdom but our God? He knows the outcome of every event. He knows the downfall of every ruler and the rising of the next. He devised the rising and setting of the sun and the placement of the earth in the precise point of survival in the Milky Way. He above all else can be trusted to give the most perfect guidance, and His direction is good. He is not the overwhelmed guidance counselor of an over-populated school, taking case after case with growing anxiety. He is not the stereotypical life councilor of the movies blandly asking “And how do you FEEL about that?” He is the WONDERFUL Counselor. He is the extraordinary, unfathomable Leader who excites our mind to amazement. It is with eternal wisdom and immense joy that He wants to direct your paths. As wise king Solomon said, trust God, lean on His understanding and acknowledge Him in all things, then He will make your paths straight. You will know the way to go, and you will know the will of the Lord. What an incredible promise from a Wonderful God.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1.       Read the words of Isaiah 9:6 a few times over and spend some time soaking them up. “He is called Wonderful Counselor.” Allow this to sink in. What does it mean to you today, right now?

2.       Meditate on what this prophesy meant to the world at large. It was not spoken just for us as individuals, but the entire human race!

3.       Do you have decisions to make or questions that are in your heart today? Lay them down before God and see what He has to say. How does He want to lead you in these things?

4.       Ask the Holy Spirit how you can share this news with someone today. Who needs to know that the Lord is the Wonderful Counselor and how can you communicate this to them? Be specific.

Foundations Dec 25, 2010

Saturday, December 25, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 31-33 and 1 Peter 4

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 2:1-3, 16 (ESV); …wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him…Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

The prophet Jeremiah had foretold of the opposition that would come in the days of the Messiah’s birth, when the land would be filled with weeping over the deaths of many children. Herod, along with many others who would follow in the years to come, lacked understanding. Many Jews were waiting expectantly for a zealot to come and overthrow the powers of Rome; consequentially Herod was disturbed and fearful when the birth of this “zealot” came to pass. Few understood that this child was born to do much greater things than offer a few years of political freedom. He came to offer life, to set captives free and bring peace for all eternity to those who would bow their hearts.

Fighting against God’s plans will never work. Continually butting heads with the Lord will bring grief to us but will never alter God’s eternal purposes. He WILL reign on a LITERAL, EVERLASTING throne! Let us strive to keep in step with Him as we await His final redemption!

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1.       Where are you feeling opposition in your life right now? What does the Lord want to say to you about His purpose in light of it? What should your response be in light of this opposition?

2.       Is there an issue that you are butting heads with God about? How is it causing you grief? Ask Him how you can be on the same page as Him.

3.       Ask God for a big-picture perspective in this situation. Meditate on God’s prevailing goodness and His deliverance.

4.       Take time to pray for the person/people opposing you.