Foundations March 1, 2011

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 (PRAYER SUMMIT TONIGHT 7pm)

END TIMES READING PLAN: Psalm 118, 147, 149

SCRIPTURE READING

2 Cor 2:10,12 10 …the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God… 12 we have
received… the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (NKJV)

We are called to experience God’s emotions, secrets and His commitments to us. God wants us to know the deep things of His heart, He longs for us to know the things that are precious to His heart. It is possible for us to know God, to have a deep and vibrant relationship with Him. We do not need to settle for spiritual boredom or for a dry spiritual life. It does not need to be agony for us to pick up our Bibles and spend time reading the Word and to spend time in prayer. We must not settle for less than a life full of zeal for God because Jesus won’t settle for less. We can’t let ourselves be satisfied with a boring walk with God and doing a bit of ministry here and there. One of the biggest differences between Christianity and other world religions is that we can experience intimacy with God. John 10:14-15 gives us insight into God’s heart “I know My own, and My own know Me” (NASB). We can know Jesus in a personal way and be known by Him – Praise the Lord!

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1. Have you been settling for a life of spiritual boredom, for a dry spiritual life? Ask the Holy Spirit for a strategy to break out of this dryness.

2. Spend some time in personal prayer, telling the Lord that you don’t want to be satisfied for less than a life full of zeal for God. Ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit, ask Him to give you deeper revelation of who He is and who you are, as His child.

3. Spend some time thanking God for the gift of being able to have a relationship with Him. Confess that you have taken this gift lightly. Praise Him for the promise that you can know Him in a personal way.

Foundations Feb 28, 2011

Sunday, February 28, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Psalm 102, 110

SCRIPTURE READING

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV); Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

What an incredible prayer and promise! Paul was not claiming to perfection, but he did understand from personal experience how much the Spirit could truly change a person.

God wants to sanctify us – to make us blameless, holy and pure. Paul prayed that the church would experience this sanctification, where they would be transformed into the pure bride as they awaited the return of Christ. This, he prayed two thousand years ago, and it is still our prayer today. Christ’s bride is not meant to be foolish and disloyal, going from this thing to that until the moment the bridegroom comes. Our focus is to live in preparation for the coming of our Groom, whether it is 2000 years, or 20 years until we will see his face.

We can be a blameless bride, but this is not by our own doing. It is a work of the Holy Spirit in us. As we submit to Him and obey His leadership, we will be readied for Jesus. But to depend only on ourselves and our efforts would be arrogant, for if it were up to our own efforts, mankind would be destined for eternal separation. But it’s not up to us. It is up to God as we partner with Him. He has called us to this, and He is faithful to help us.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1)  Think of the character issue of yours that you struggle with the most. How do you think God desires you to behave and think in this area? What keeps you from walking out His desire?

a.   Spend time in confession and prayer about this issue. Ask God for a strategy for change, and ask Him for the humility to do it. What specifically is He asking you to change?

b.  God has called you to this change and He is faithful to complete His good work in you. Meditate on the verse and ask God to remind you of His faithfulness through a verse, picture or word.

c.   Thank God for the things He showed you and pray that you would take the necessary steps TODAY that will enable you to obey Him.

Foundations Feb 27, 2011

Sunday, February 27, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Psalm 96, 99

SCRIPTURE READING

2 Corinthians 7:4b (NIV); I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

What a statement! Paul took great joy in seeing the spiritual growth of the churches. If anyone knew trouble and suffering, it was Paul. In 2 Corinthians 11 he lists many trials he had to endure, coming close to death on numerous accounts! Yet he was able to say with certainty that his joy was unending. If only we had such joy, how different we would be! So many of us live in fluctuation; moving from a rare place of ecstasy, down into the dumps, and then up to our most consistent mood of “blah.” 

If we, living in the land of the free and the home of the brave, feel so frequently unsatisfied, however did Paul, a man martyred for his faith, find such a real and lasting joy? As we’ve already seen this month, Paul found great joy in living a life of total surrender to Jesus, counting everything else as rubbish in comparison. But out of that, Paul was able to find joy in other things, namely, the church. He truly loved watching others grow in their love and commitment to the Lord. He loved to see others excel in ministry and develop in maturity. Did Paul experience pleasures? We can assume he did. Surely he enjoyed times of laughter and fellowship. Paul could enjoy the times of rest and relationship, but that did not alter his joy in the hard times when he had nothing to hold to but Christ.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1)   What things make you happy? What thing makes you feel the most blissful and at rest? What things make you unhappy? What are the key things that have the power to turn your attitude sour?

2)   Are you able to find joy in watching others? Spend some time in thanksgiving. Think of different people who you know are serving in the church and thank God for their talents. Worship Him through their service.

3)   Ask God what stands in the way of you being consistently joyful. Confess as necessary. Meditate on Paul’s words above and ask the Holy Spirit to show you where and how you can find a joy that knows no bounds.

Foundations Feb 26, 2011

Saturday, February 26, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Psalm 85, 87, 93

SCRIPTURE READING

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NIV); We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

An ambassador is a high-ranking official who, when visiting foreign countries, acts as a representative of his own country. His job is to stand for his country. Paul used this illustration to show us that we, too, are ambassadors; not to a country, but to our King, Jesus.  Because we represent Him, we need to be on good terms with God! We need to be reconciled – returned to favour – with the Father! Jesus died to make this return possible, and because of it we are now called righteous. However, the battle over the sinful nature continues! Just because mankind’s eternal conflict with God has been resolved doesn’t mean that we can now do whatever we want and still be clean. But we DO have access to God’s grace and forgiveness when we confess our sins and ask for Him to cleanse us. This is such a gift, but we defile it when we blatantly choose sin over and over again. When you made Christ the Lord of your life, He set to work changing your desires so that you would yearn to be like Him. Still, the enemy is at work and the battle rages on within: flesh vs. Spirit. Jesus died that we can choose the Spirit and walk in righteousness. It takes a daily commitment to live wholeheartedly for the King, representing Him in all we do.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1)   In what areas do you feel you are an ineffective ambassador of your King? Why? In what areas do you feel you are an effective ambassador of your King?

2)   Thank God for your strengths, and then ask Him how you can be an effective ambassador TODAY in those areas where you usually feel ineffective. How can you choose the Spirit over the flesh today?

3)   Now ask God to show you areas where you need to be reconciled to Him. Where do you need to experience favour in your relationship? Confess any disobedience or sin on your part, and ask God to clear you of any guilt for things you have confessed. Ask God to show you His grace, mercy and forgiveness that is available to you through Christ Jesus.

Foundations Feb 25, 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Psalm 80, 83

SCRIPTURE READING

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV); 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 a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

An Olympic trainer prepares for the games with discipline, determination and precision. Imagine an Olympic sprinter: she must have perfect form, solid breathing, and streamlined clothing; every millisecond counts. Focusing on the goal, her combination of technique and stamina will bring her across the finish line. How ridiculous would it be to see an Olympic race where one participant starts running aimlessly across the track? How ridiculous to see him flailing his arms and bobbing his head from side to side with no destination in mind! Paul illustrated this, using it as a comparison for our own lives. We are in a race, with eternity on the New Earth as our finish line. There we will receive our due reward, which surpasses any Olympic medal or earthly honor. Yet all too often, we act like that awkward and flailing Olympic runner. We live our lives in complete disregard of our future with Christ, and the fact that what we do today matters for eternity. We shun the idea of discipline in order that we may live our lives how we want, and in doing so we sacrifice eternal reward for momentary gratification.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1)   When you hear the words “disciplined lifestyle”, how do you feel?

2)   Ask Jesus to give you a picture: what kind of “Olympic trainer” are you? Are you focused and determined, with destination in mind, or are you lazy and undisciplined, wandering aimlessly in your faith?

3)   Confess areas of indiscipline that the Spirit shows you, and ask Him why discipline is necessary in your life, and which areas you really need discipline in. If you are struggling in certain areas of priority (devotions, meeting with people, family time, church, etc.) ask the Holy Spirit to help you create a schedule.

4)   Meditate on the passage and ask God to speak to you through it.

Foundations Feb 24, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Psalm 75, 79

SCRIPTURE READING

Colossians 2:18-19 (NIV); Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Paul spoke blatantly against false teachers and dissenters who sought to lead the church astray. Paul had no qualms when other genuine and truth-speaking teachers came to the church, for example, Apollos. However, when teachers came in the name of Jesus preaching lies that countered the real gospel, Paul was quick to call them out and remind the church of the truth they had been taught.

Most of us are not false teachers who have set out to lead others astray; however, when we look at the root of the problem that Paul points out, none of us are very far from developing such roots, if we are not careful. These false teachers had lost connection with the Head, that is, Christ. That’s it. That was their root problem. Considering this, it is vital that we search our hearts for waywardness. When one person, who has a degree of influence, separates himself from Jesus as his functional Lord, it is only a matter of time before others in the body get out of joint as they follow suit. If we allow ourselves to go unchecked by the Holy Spirit, and by our leaders, a downward spiral begins that can lead the church into confusion and disunity. Let us be quick to submit to Christ, and to our church leaders.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1)   Read the passage again, especially the last part. Reflect on today’s devotional and ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of any sin. Ask Him to reveal areas – big or small – where you have lost connection with Him as the Head.

2)   Ask the Lord to show you what can happen if you continue in these things, no matter how small. How will they affect your relationship with the Lord, and b) relationship with others?

3)   Ask the Lord to show you how you can realign yourself to the body with Christ as the head. What needs to change in order for you lay down your rights and submit to Jesus?

Foundations Feb 23, 2011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Psalm 68, 72

SCRIPTURE READING

Colossians 2:1-3 (NIV); I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge

Paul knew how to walk alongside people, even if he couldn’t see them face-to-face. But Paul’s care and concern for people was not done in vain, or on a whim; he had purpose for them! He desired to see people encouraged – not just with words and head knowledge of the Scriptures, but with the truth of Christ that would penetrate their very hearts. He longed to see the believers act in such love that would unite them as a body. He knew that only in that unity would they be able to tap into the treasures of wisdom and knowledge found in Jesus.

We seem to remember the wisdom and knowledge part of this verse, while glossing over the importance of love and unity! We must be unified – “knit together in love” as the ESV puts it – if we desire to partake in the richness of complete understanding of Jesus! Why is this? Because we are part of a body, and all parts of the body are necessary! As we use our talents and share our insights together in a community, we will learn from each other and grow in our knowledge and wisdom in Christ.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1)   Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you have not been very teachable. Who have you refused to learn from, and why do you refuse to learn from them? Confess as the Holy Spirit reveals. How can you be more open to learning from people?

2)   Where are there disunity and a lack of love in your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that you are doing to cause trouble or bitterness in the relationship. How can you surrender and show humility?

3)   Use this passage as a template for intercession. Ask the Lord who He wants you to intercede for, and pray Paul’s exhortation over them.

Foundations Feb 22, 2011

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Psalm 58, 67

SCRIPTURE READING

Colossians 1:28-29 (ESV); Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Jesus has commissioned us to make disciples. Our relationships are not meant to be dry and surfacey, rather we are asked to point people to the King. HIM we proclaim in conversation! Paul was a true missionary, bold and compassionate. He gave consistent encouragement and admonishment and reproach, striving to spur the church on in love and righteousness. He had genuine love for the churches, and truly desired to see the gospel of Christ spread throughout the empire. It was not enough for Paul that people just make a confession of faith; he desired to see them grow in maturity. As he wrote to the Ephesian church, he didn’t want to see them as infants, being tossed back and forth by every new form of teaching. He wanted them to grow up under the leadership of Christ, speaking the truth in love.

Paul poured himself into building up the church. Though we are not all called to a missionary profession, we are all ministers of the gospel and are commissioned to make disciples. We must toil and allow the energy of God to infiltrate us that we might act with His zeal and passion when interacting with others. Then we, too, will build up the church and see ourselves and our relationships moving towards a place of maturity.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1)   Ask God to reveal some of your immaturities. Confess them. What does the Holy Spirit want to say to warn and teach you today, so that you may grow in maturity?

2)   Do you toil and struggle to see the people around you grow in their faith, by pointing them to Jesus when you are together? Ask God to show you specific and practical ways that you can lead people nearer to Him today in every conversation. Think about the specific people you will see.

3)   Spend some time quietly before the Lord, asking the Holy Spirit to fill you and to anoint you with the energy – the passion and zeal – of God.