Foundations May 1, 2011

SCRIPTURE READING
Eph 1: 1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus,
and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.

This month we will be focusing Foundations Devotional on the book of Ephesians. Paul
identifies himself as the author of this book and states that he is writing it to the Christians in
Ephesus. During his Gentile mission Paul spent more time in Ephesus than in any other city.
This was due in large part to the strategic importance of Ephesus as a base of operations
for spreading the gospel throughout Asia Minor. As the capital of the province of Asia during
Roman occupation, Ephesus enjoyed significant prosperity due to its strategic location, banking
and commerce. Ancient Ephesus was situated at the mouth of the Cayster River near modern
Selçuk on the western coast of Turkey. In the NT era Ephesus was one of the largest and most
important cities of the Roman Empire. The book of Ephesians deals with the problem of Jew-
Gentile disunity (Eph 2:11-22) as well as the issue of divine power and evil spirits. The letter also
gives evidence of a strong, if not predominantly, Gentile presence in the churches who needed
doctrinal instruction as well as ethical counsel. The theme of Ephesians is the church as a living
organism bought by the blood of Jesus, by His glorious grace. It is a key book for understanding
our personal relationship with Jesus, and how to live with our fellow Christians in a nurturing,
ministering relationship.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask the Lord to increase your ability to hear Him speak to you as you spend time reading the
Word.
2. Thank the Lord for the unity that we have at Southland through the Holy Spirit, ask for
continued alignment within church.
3. Pray that as you commit to spending the month of May studying the book of Ephesians, you
would grow in your personal relationship with Jesus and learn how to live within the body of
Christ in a nurturing, ministering way.

Foundations April 30, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 28-Mark 2
SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 6:33 (NIV); But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well.

Over this past month, we have explored a number of benefits that come as a result of
Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross. He is our propitiation – the One who satisfied God’s
holy wrath; He is our justification – the One who paid the legal penalty for our sin; He is
our redemption – the One who bought us out of our self-inflicted slavery; and He is our
reconciliation – the One who brought us back into relationship with the Father. And each
of these accomplishments brings with it numerous blessings that have been poured out on
each one of us. Our God is the great Problem-Solver. Only He could make a way for sinful
and broken people to have lives full of peace and joy through relationships and countless
blessings!
As we continue to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, blessing will be sure to
follow. And all of these will point us towards the hope that is the glory of God to be revealed
in the last days.
Come soon, Lord Jesus!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Spend time meditating on the things God as shown you this month through your
devotions and other experiences in your life. What has God been teaching you, and
growing you in? Thank Him for His work in you.
2) Take time to meditate on the cross again, and what has been accomplished for you.
Write a song or a letter of praise to Jesus for what He has done.
3) Ask God to seal the things He has spoken to you, so that you will continue to walk in a
spirit of gratitude for what God has done. In this way you will continue to value the cross
and show Jesus worthy.

Foundations April 29, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 25-27
SCRIPTURE READING
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV); For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the
world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary,
they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every
pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every
thought to make it obedient to Christ.

As followers of Christ, we have authority to fight against the enemy. Satan is ruthless,
bombarding our thoughts with his attacks. But as coheirs with Christ, we have been given
powerful weapons with which to fight against Satan. We have the Word of God, which
Jesus showed to be powerful when He was tempted by Satan in the desert (Mat. 4). We
have truth, God’s righteousness, peace, salvation, and the power of prayer. (Eph. 6) When
we get up and fight, using these weapons provided for us, we will experience great victory!
Many of us are lazy with our thought life. We think negatively of others, we judge, we
complain, we sulk. These things usually are visible to others, though sometimes can be well
hidden within us. However, the result of such thoughts – whether hidden or exposed – are
treacherous! Many of us know the authority that we have in Christ but don’t use it. Perhaps
we feel awkward talking to the unseen enemy; or we don’t feel like putting forth the energy
to fight, thinking that we will overcome this “next time”. Our lack of action likely comes from
unbelief that we actually have authority. But Jesus’ blood protects us, and Jesus’ name is
powerful. When we partner with Him, and use the weapons we’ve been given, we can take
great leaps against the enemy!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Do you exercise the authority you have in Christ, or are you lazy? Meditate on the verses
above. Do you habitually take your thoughts captive, or do you allow the enemy’s
attacks a place in your mind?
2) Ask God if there is any issue in your life that is a result of the enemy’s attacks, and that
He really wants you to start warring against. Spend time doing that right now.
3) Think about the weapons that are briefly mentioned (go to Eph. 6:10-18 for more detail).
How can you grow in using these things to fight against the enemy?

Foundations April 28, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 22-24
SCRIPTURE READING
Romans 8:1 (ESV); There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus.

Guilt is an enormous burden on the shoulders of so many people. Apologist, Ravi
Zacharias, mentions six responses our society makes toward the battle with guilt. The first
is that we expel guilt by irreverence. In other words, we do not treat anything as sacred;
therefore no action is worthy to inflict guilt upon us. The second is that we smother guilt
by pride. When convicted of guilt, we justify our behavior with a plethora of excuses. The
third response is that we conceal guilt by fear. We hide our guilt for fear of our actions
being exposed. The fourth is that we dismiss guilt as cultural. Extremely convenient, this
response pushes all weight of guilt onto the shoulders of our culture. The fifth is that we
deny guilt by innocence. This is the refusal to feel any guilt because one has lived his life
to the best of his ability, and should therefore not feel guilty. The sixth, and only hopeful
option, is to surrender guilt to God’s grace. Here the focus shifts away from our guilt and is
placed on our great and merciful Savior.
Guilt is an unbearable burden, which is why it is so adamantly denied in our society. “If I
close my eyes, it’s not there!” Meanwhile, the elephant is still standing in the middle of the
room.
As believers, we have the truth of Paul’s proclamation: There is no condemnation – no
lasting guilt – for those who are in Christ Jesus. Guilt in itself is not bad when it lead us to
repentance. Jesus has paid for our guilt, so when we come to Him in repentance, the guilt
can be removed. It is humbling for us, and easy for Him.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Think about the ideas put forth in this devotional. Go through each response to guilt and
ask the Holy Spirit to reveal times when you have responded in that way.
2) Psalm 51 was David’s response when He realized his guilt. Read this psalm as a prayer
of confession to the Lord for the sin He has revealed to you. Meditate on this Psalm
and ask the Lord if there is anything else He wants to teach you today.

Foundations April 27, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 19-21
SCRIPTURE READING
Romans 5:2 (ESV); Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in
which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Because of the grace we have received, we can now wait in hopeful expectation of our
future with the Lord. “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” God reveals Himself to us
in powerful ways, but the day is coming when we will see Him in His glory! As Isaiah saw
Him, seated on His throne between the Seraphim with a train that filled the Temple, so we
will see Him! As Moses and the Israelites saw the glory of the Lord come down upon the
Tabernacle, so we will see Him! And as John saw in His vision, God the Father, dazzling
and glorious, surrounded by 24/7 worshippers, so we will see Him! This is the glory we look
forward to being revealed!
The fear that eternity with the Lord will be an endless existence of song, without earthly
memory, and without… food(!)… is a long-taught misconception. We are going to be in
eternity with the One who created the universe; the One who created life; the One who
created relationships! To think that this all-powerful and imaginative God has run out of
creativity, so that eternity with Him is left to be some boring other-worldly existence is
putting huge restraints on God! He is LONGING for the day when He will return for His
Bride, the church! He is longing to bring us into face-to-face existence with Him, in all His
glory. Here there will be no brokenness or pain. There will be pleasures forevermore and
pure relationship with God, the Trinity. This is our future; this is our hope.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Meditate on Romans 5:2. Think about past experiences you’ve had with the Lord where
you sensed Him reveal His glory to you. Imagine how that compares to a full revelation
of His glory!
2) Having hope can change the way that we act. Ask the Holy Spirit how the hope of God’s
glory can, and should, change the way that you think and act today.
3) Ask God for a revelation of His glory today. Ask Him to cultivate excitement and
anticipation in you for the day when you will see Him face-to-face.

Foundations April 26, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 16-18
SCRIPTURE READING
Romans 5:1 (ESV); Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

As was highlighted earlier this month, justification is the legal transaction that Jesus made
for sin on the cross. Because of Jesus’ role in the courtroom, we now have peace with God
through Him.
Peace is an often overlooked benefit of the cross, yet it is priceless. All one need do is turn
on 30 seconds of the news to see that the world is in desperate need of peace. But peace
of a nation is not enough; we need peace in the hearts of every man and woman. Of course
many people strive to find “inner peace,” but it is all self-empowerment and is thus in vain.
True inner peace will never be found apart from God. As Paul wrote, our justification has
brought us peace WITH God. The problem of humanity is not ignorance, as many would like
to believe; the problem with humanity is sin, and the broken relationship that follows as a
result. Therefore, true peace will only be found when broken relationship is reconciled; that
is, when one finds peace between himself and God, the Father. This is what we have gained
through the cross, and this peace between us and the Father can now be transferred into
every area of our hearts and lives! The world is working backwards, searching for peace
in their hearts before they’ve found peace with God, and such effort will always lead to
emptiness.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) How have you seen a difference between someone who has found peace with God, and
someone who searches for peace within themselves? Meditate on today’s devotional and
spend time in thanksgiving for what has been accomplished for you.
2) Are you guilty of looking within yourself for peace? Ask God to reveal any guilt and
confess it.
3) How does God want to take the peace that you have through Him and use it to bring
peace to others? How can you actively bring the peace of God into every room you enter
today?

Foundations April 25, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 13-15
SCRIPTURE READING
Malachi 3:10 (ESV); Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in
my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the
windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

When we accept the gift of Christ and are adopted into God’s family, we receive blessings.
Jesus reminded us in Matthew 7 that God is a good Father who gives good gifts to His
children. So often we think of God as a big “NO” – One who is trying to take away our
pleasures. Even the thought of heaven, for many of us, is a dread because we envision
ourselves growing calluses on our knees 24-7. But God is good, and all good things come
from Him. Of course He will sometimes ask us to give things up. He will convict us when we
place anything, or anyone above Him in our lives; but He is not out to get us!
The prophet Malachi spoke to a nation who had stopped giving their tithe to the Lord.
God challenged them to return to Him with tithes and offerings and see Him respond with
blessing. As one commentary puts it, “God promises to meet all of their needs, but not
necessarily all their “greeds.” God may not bless us with material wealth, vocational power
or a sudden romantic relationship, but He will bless us in a way that is for our best interest!
When we are willing to submit ourselves to Him and trust that He is a good Father, we will
experience great blessing in return!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) What are your feelings when you hear the word “blessing?” Do you shy away from it or
run towards it? Do you believe that God has great blessings for you? If not, ask Him
why you struggle to grasp this promise.
2) Is there something that you are keeping from God that is keeping Him from blessing
you? Ask Him about it.
3) Ask God to give you a greater understanding of who He is as the Giver of good things.
Confess any false pictures you have of Him, and take time to thank Him for the many
blessings that He has already put in your life.

Foundations April 24, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 10-12
SCRIPTURE READING
John 17:17 (NIV); Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
John 14:6 (NIV); “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.”

Jesus said that sanctification comes by way of the truth. As believers in a world of
uncertainty, we can know what is true, and this is a huge blessing. Those around us are in
desperate need of truth – the certainty that there is right and wrong, that there is purpose in
life, that there is an afterlife. We have the truth, which is found in a Person, who is the very
Word of God.
Jesus prayed the words of John 17 over His disciples, and we can take His words for us as
well. “Father, make them holy by your truth,” He prayed. If the knowledge of the truth is not
continually encouraging us to evaluate our lives, if the knowledge of the truth is not bringing
about conviction, then there is a problem. The truth, when humbly accepted, can sanctify us
– it can lead us in our process of transformation to being a holy people. However, when the
truth is ignored, rebellion grows in our hearts, and we harden ourselves to future conviction
and transformation.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) How have you been responding to God’s truth? Spend some time listening about this
question.
a. How do you respond when others confront you? Do you get angry, or do you take
the confrontation to prayer and ask if there is any truth to it? Spend some time
praying about any recent confrontations you’ve had.
b. How do you respond to God in your Bible reading? Do you look for His truths in the
passages, or do you just read and close the book?
2) Ask God if there is anything He has been trying to reveal to you that you have missed.
Confess as necessary, and ask God to open your eyes and ears to the truth.
3) How can you lovingly take God’s truth to others today? Who needs to hear the truth of
God, and what is it that they specifically need to hear?

Foundations April 23, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 7-9
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (ESV); And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became
to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is
written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”Romans 6:22 (ESV); But now that you have been set free from sin and have become
slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

One of the incredible benefits of the cross is sanctification – the process to holiness. God
called the Israelites to be holy because He was holy. Peter reiterated that those of us under
the new covenant are also to be holy because God is holy. However we continue to fall
short of the Law, so we cannot be holy on our own. On the cross, Jesus brought salvation
when He became our righteousness, our redemption, and our sanctification. Because He is
holy, we, too, can be holy.
As we continue to walk in the Spirit, choosing each day to give ourselves wholly to God,
we will become more like Him. We have been given a new lease on life through Christ!
We are new creation! The more we seek Him above all else, loosening our shackles to sin
and becoming Christ’s slave, we will be transformed. The desires of the flesh will lose their
appeal as we grow in personal relationship with Jesus.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Mediate on today’s verses. Spend some time worshipping Jesus for becoming your
righteousness and sanctification.
2) What does Jesus have that you do not? Thank Him for being those things, and ask Him
to grow you in them, too.
3) Ask the Lord to remind you of where He has taken you from. How has God transformed
you from the person you used to be? What happened? Thank Him for what He has done
in the past.
4) Now ask God for a picture: What is He doing right now? Where does He want to take
you? Which of your fleshly desires or your character problems does He want to
transform? Do you trust that He can complete the good work in you that He has begun?

Foundations April 22, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 4-6
SCRIPTURE READING
Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV); For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and
discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight,
but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

God’s omniscience and omnipotence – His all-knowingness and all-powerfulness – is
incredible. When God speaks to us, it is powerful and effective. Jesus is the Word of God;
therefore, when God speaks it is different than the speech of humanity – a Person is
intertwined with the Word. What a strange and amazing concept; clearly an idea that could
only come from God!
Direct communication with God is an incredible benefit of the cross. The Spirit indwells us
and we can come boldly before the Lord. Many of us are full of anxiety over decisions that
must be made, or we are fed up with our character failings, or we feel as though things are
just not right for an unknown reason. God speaks to us. He cares about the life-altering
decisions and the seemingly small and insignificant questions. The God who knows
everything and has the power to do anything is also all-loving and has our best interest in
mind. Not just “our best interest” as the whole of humanity, but your best interest as a unique
and created individual. God’s Word – written and spoken – is alive and active. Listen to it
today.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Have you been spending regular time in prayer and allowing God to speak to you? If not,
what is stopping you?
2) Take time to articulate some things that you need direction for – whether the issues seem
major or minor, write them down. Take one or two of these items before the Lord and
spend some time listening about them. Write down what you sense the Lord is saying
to you and continue to seek the Lord through His word and through the confirmation
of godly people.
3) Ask God for an encouraging word that you can share with someone else today.

Foundations April 21, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Matthew 1-3
SCRIPTURE READING
Hebrews 4:9-11 (ESV); So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for
whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us
therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

God promised the Israelites deliverance from captivity and rest in the Promised Land. And
though His promise was clear, many of the people did not take hold of it. In their unbelief
they complained and disobeyed, and an entire generation died in the desert as a result.
God’s promise of rest is withstanding. He promises a Sabbath day rest to His people.
Ultimate rest will come when He returns and enacts His Kingdom on earth, but a great
measure of rest may be found today as well! God is in the habit of meeting us where
we are at. He meets us in our felt needs – loneliness, stress, worry, insignificance,
emptiness… God has offered to give us rest from the frenzy of our own thoughts, and
from the weariness of our own self-effort. However we are subject to become like those
hardened Israelites when we refuse to believe the promises of God. Belief and obedience
may not bring about perfection to our situation, but when we trust in our God – who is
personal – we will experience His tangible presence in our lives, resulting in rest beyond all
comprehension.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Where do you need to experience God’s rest in your life today? Ask God if unbelief plays
a role into your lack of rest. Ask Him to reveal any other things that are keeping you
from walking into His rest.
2) In listening prayer, tell God your need and allow Him to speak into it. Ask Him to meet
you where you are at and speak to you there.
3) Ask for a filling of the Holy Spirit. Put your hands out as a sign of acceptance and spend
time receiving Him. Ask the Lord to give you the power to walk closely with Him today.
Ask Him for a great level of dependency today as you follow the Spirit’s leading and
trust in God to give you the rest that you need.

Foundations April 20, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Malachi 3-4
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Peter 1:6-9 (ESV); In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you
have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more
precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise
and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you
love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is
inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your
souls.

This passage speaks of the reward that is to come. There awaits in heaven for us eternal
treasures that moth and rust cannot destroy. When we bear trials with grace, when we treat
others with kindness, when we choose to be selfless – these and all other obedience to
Christ accumulate for us rewards that are more precious than we can dream of.
It is easy to lose sight of the reality of eternal reward. We find so much pleasure in earthly
things that it is hard to imagine any other kind of reward. But our Creator is good and wise
and has unimaginable wonders in store. Undoubtedly these wonders will draw us closer
to Him in relationship. The outcome of our faith in our unseen God is the salvation of our
souls. We will not perish, but we will have eternal life because our God loves us and has
made a way for us to have glorious life with Him forevermore!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Read 1 Peter 1:3-9 and meditate on the whole passage. What does God want to teach
you from it?
2) Do you look forward to eternal life with Christ? If not, why? Ask God if there is anything
that you are holding onto too tightly on this earth. It is good to enjoy life, but we should
also look forward to our true lives with Him. Is there anything that God wants you to
get rid of for a time so that you can grow in expectancy and joy to be with him?
3) Ask God if there is anything you are doing that is hindering your eternal reward. Is
there a person you are mistreating, a bad attitude you are harboring, etc? Ask Him
for His forgiveness and commit to reconciling the situation.

Foundations April 19, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Zechariah 12-14
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV); Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great
mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead

We have been given a living hope; not a dead hope, not a past hope, not even a future
hope. Our hope is alive. Of course future hope is part of that, but when we limit ourselves
to obtaining a “future hope” alone, we may well forget that we have hope in the here and
now. It is because of what Christ did on the cross that we have a living hope, and the hope
that we hold to is the ultimate goal of eternity with Him. The God of the Bible is not just the
God of the past. Hebrews says that “the Word of the Lord is living and active” because God
Himself is living and active.
The Israelites worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (the past) and looked
forward to a day when they would return to the Promised Land given to Abraham (the
future). However, when they left Egypt they were guided by God Himself – a cloud by day
and a pillar of fire by night. God was with them.
God is with us. He is our Living Hope who we can cling to at all times. When we read our
Bibles we are reading the words of a God who is with us in that very room; when we call
out to the Lord, we are speaking to One who is not far away; when we listen for the voice of
the Spirit, we are listening to the voice of One who is inside of us. What a wondrous gift that
the God of the universe is so near!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) What does the Holy Spirit want to say to you through today’s reading? Spend some time
meditating on 1 Peter 1:3, thanking God for the amazing truth in these few words.
Ask God to speak to you about what it means for you to have a living hope.
2) Take time to read your Bible and journal now. Spend time in conversation with the One
who is alive and active within you. Invite His presence and open your heart to hear all He
has to say. Ask Him to grow you in intimacy and understanding in this time.

Foundations April 18, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Zechariah 8-10
SCRITPURE READING
John 21:16 (NIV); 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.”

It is such a wonderful blessing that the God of the universe would allow us to share in the
joys of His kingdom. It is such a blessing that we can know and experience the love of
Christ, even though we cannot fully comprehend it. (To think that God loves us even more
than we have already experienced is incredible!) However His love is not supposed to stop
at us. As we are filled with His love, we are called to overflow onto others.
In their first conversation after Jesus was resurrected, He illustrated this truth to Peter.
Peter was one of the more brash and reckless disciples. A man of passion, he had vowed
never to betray Jesus only to do so a few hours later. How ashamed and unworthy he must
have felt during this breakfast on the beach. Yet Jesus was not there to condemn, but to
bring reconciliation to the relationship, and purpose into Peter’s life. He picked Peter up,
set him on his feet and sent Him on a mission – a mission to bring the love and forgiveness
that he had experienced to the lives of other.
We have made mistakes, but it is what we choose to do in the aftermath that matters.
We can stay defeated, or we can accept the loving kindness of God and show that same
kindness and compassion to others. The more we do this, the more the enemy will lose His
footing and we will gain ground for the Kingdom of God!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Yesterday you asked God to show you what He loves about you. How can you use what
He showed you to help you become a more effective minister to others?
2) Ask God how you can be a bearer of love, kindness and compassion today. Who in
particular needs your love? Ask God how you can overflow His love onto them.
3) Spend some time in prayer about those people in your life who are hard to love. Confess
any sin that is in your heart and ask for God’s heart in the situation. How can you
love, bless and uplift that person this week?

Foundations April 17, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Zechariah 4-6
SCRIPTURE READING
1 John 4:15-16 (NIV); If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives
in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

One simple truth that the cross has revealed is God’s great love for us. God loved His
creation since He spoke it into being and formed man from the dust, yet He demonstrated
the fullness of His love when He sent His son to die so that we might live. If He did nothing
else for us, this would be enough.
The love that God demonstrated on the cross has ripples into all areas of our lives, and this
love is powerful. Not only does the Word speak to us of His love for mankind in general, but
the Spirit reveals to us the love that He has for each of us as individuals. As David wrote
in the 139th Psalm, we are each “fearfully and wonderfully made”, designed in the depths
where God imagines us and breathes into us the breath of life. We are often unhappy
and frustrated with ourselves: our character progress is too slow, our body too flawed, our
personality lacking something. Yet God sees us at our worst and is full of overwhelming
love. He saw us in our sin, and it was for those moments that He went to the cross; this
is a staggering grace when we take the time to meditate on it. God sees our struggles
as potential to grow in intimacy with, and likeness of Him. When we seek to find His
perspective of who we are, we will come to know Him more deeply and love him more truly.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Spend some time in conversation with God today, asking Him to give you a fresh
perspective of how He feels about you.
a. Talk to Him about the different areas of your life that you are frustrated with
(character, personality, body image, relationships, sin issues, etc.). Ask Him to
speak to you about the potential that He sees in you.
b. Ask Him to show you His heart. Ask Him what He specifically loves about you, and
write those things down. Thank Him for what He reveals, and ask Him to plant
His truth deep in your heart so that you would feel this same way about yourself.

Foundations April 16, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Zephaniah 1-3
SCRIPTURE READING
2 Corinthians 2:5-8, 10-11 (ESV); Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it…to
all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather
turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg
you to reaffirm your love for him…Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I
have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,
so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Since Jesus paid such a great price in our redemption, it is no wonder that Paul would write
to the Corinthians, urging them to forgive those who had caused pain due to sin. As we are
called to emulate Christ, we must live with a spirit of redemption, being willing to offer to
others what has been freely given to us.
As was illustrated earlier this month, redemption refers to the buying one out of slavery.
It takes grace and humility to offer redemption to those who have clearly messed up. As
a body of believers, we need to create redemptive community. In our friendship groups,
our cells, our workplaces… we need to be quick to redeem people. We must be quick in
showing grace and forgiveness. We must be wise in handling areas of hurt and sin that
come up. Even punishment must have a redemptive quality to it – a way of lovingly walking
with those who have messed up, helping them come back into alignment with truth.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Do you hold grudges, or harbor bitterness and offense? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any
areas where these things are hiding in your life and confess them.
2) Do you strive to create redemptive community wherever you go? Do you work hard
to love and walk with those who have made mistakes? Meditate on today’s verse
and ask God if there is anyone who you have stopped loving or caring about because of
a sin they’ve committed. How can you change gears and show them that you love them?
3) Are you involved in a community of people who support you, and hold you accountable?
If so, thank God for these people. If not, get involved in a cell or ministry where
these are made available.

Foundations April 15, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Zephaniah 1-3
SCRIPTURE READING
Romans 8:14-17 (ESV); For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you
did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of
adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with
our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow
heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with
him.

Jesus, the Son of God, made it possible that we would all be able to call God our Father. A
miraculous event through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was born of a virgin. The Son
of Man: His mother, Mary; the Son of God: His Father, God Almighty. His humanity made
Him one of us, yet His divinity highlighted the inequality. But He was a man, and in that,
became someone we could relate to; a brother.
Our sinful nature stems from one man, Adam; our redemption comes also from one Man,
Jesus. And through His obedient submission on the cross, Jesus the Son made it possible
for us to be adopted by the Father. There is acceptance when we give our lives to Him. God
in His great love and mercy has given us divine sonship. We can call God our Father and
we in turn are called His children, and His heirs. As co-heirs with Christ we have been given
the authority to do all the things that Jesus did. Our privileges are not only eternal blessings
to be received in heaven! Our rights and honours as kids can be taken a hold of now! We
have relationship with God NOW. We can boldly come before His throne NOW. We can
worship Him, love Him and advance His Kingdom NOW.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Meditate on your place in God’s family. What kind of Father do you see God as? Ask
God to show you if your picture of Him is correct.
2) Read and meditate on Luke 15:11-32, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a greater
understanding of what it means to be a child of God.
3) Are you taking hold of all of the things that God’s adoption offers you? Are there benefits
of being an heir that you are missing out on? Spend some time praying about these
questions.

Foundations April 14, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Habakkuk 2-3
SCRIPTURE READING
1 John 4:15-18 (NIV); Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way,
love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment,
because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out
fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in
love.

As believers, we can find freedom from fear in the Person of Christ. Because of Christ
the God of love lives in us; and where He rules fear flees. The love of God is a powerful
weapon against the enemy who detests us. Therefore, those who are without a relationship
with the Father do not possess the greatest weapon with which to fight fear. Those who are
without a relationship with the Father do not understand the spiritual battle and the hatred
of the enemy behind the lies and fears planted in their lives.
As Christians, freedom is available to us and God expects us to bring this freedom to
others. Our communities are full of people paralyzed by fear, and we are required to show
them the powerful love of Christ, which is in us. As the verse in 1 John says, because we
have the God of love in us, we are like Him! This is our calling, and yet many of us do
not walk this verse out in truth and obedience. We need to come together as a body of
believers and bring the love of God into a community of fear and darkness.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) On a piece of paper, write out a number of fears that you know are evident in your
community, and in those you know who do not have a vibrant relationship with Jesus.
2) Spend some time in listening prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to show you what you have
that each of these people need. What do you have that conquers these fears? Write
those things down beside each fear you wrote.
3) Ask God for the name of a specific person (or people) that you need to start loving and
leading to freedom. How will He enable you to do this? What will you actually go out
and do differently?
4) Spend some time in intercession, and in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to fill you with the
love of Christ.

Foundations April 13, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Micah 7 and Nahum 1
SCRIPTURE READING
Proverbs 3:24-26 (NIV); when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down,
your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the
wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

God is our Protector and Defender. We live among people whose hearts are permeated by
fear – the fear of failure, fear of death, fear of disappointment, fear of being wrong, fear of
what others think… Fear is the deciding factor in many of our decisions. If we would dig into
many of our issues we may likely find deep roots of fear. Satan plants lies and we respond
in fear – fear that what he says might just be true. “Maybe I am a bad parent” “Maybe I’m
not smart” “Maybe this is as good as it gets.” When we take Satan’s lies to heart, we don’t
allow the Holy Spirit to speak His profound truth, and we begin to act out of our fears that
the lie might be true. Jesus always provides a way for hope and redemption while Satan
paints these things as unattainable, reminding us of our unworthiness.
How many times has fear stopped us from doing the right thing for ourselves or those
around us? How many of us live in silent fear of big things such as death, financial failure or
the tribulation of the end times? And we all live with personal fears about our character and
our influence. These fears can be paralyzing and can keep us for our great potential placed
in us by the Father. His Word tells us time and time again that we need not fear when He is
our Lord. How different our lives would be if we truly believed this promise.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) What are your greatest fears? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any fears that are rooted into
your heart, and write them down.
a. Why do you fear these things?
b. Ask God to show you how these fears are affecting you and those around you. How
would your life change if you had total peace and freedom in these areas?
c. Ask God which lies are feeding these fears. Break their hold on you, in the name of
Jesus, and ask God for His truth.
d. Spend some time in prayer, asking God to help you trust Him and trust the promises
of His Word, that He is your Protector.

Foundations May 12, 2011

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Luke 14-16
SCRIPTURE READING
Eph 3:1-7 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.

In the previous chapter, Paul had just taught that the gospel was for both Jew and Gentile
and God was creating a new people united together in Christ Jesus. This is the reason that
Paul has been called as an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul assumes that they have heard
about his conversion and his calling to the Gentile people (see Acts 9:15). Paul tells them
that his knowledge does not come from human origin but from divine revelation, assuming
that they will understand what he is writing about in regards to the unification of Jews and
Gentiles in the new body, the Church. The mystery of Christ wasn’t revealed in the OT but
at that time was being revealed by the Holy Spirit to the apostles and prophets. (This would
mean that there were both apostles AND prophets alive at that time). The mystery that is
being revealed to the apostles and prophets is that Gentiles are part of the family of God,
that Jews and Gentile would make up one body, the Church. Paul’s office of apostle was a
gift of God’s grace. He became a Christian like everyone else and became an apostle and
minister of the gospel by the power of God. God was working through Paul therefore Paul
deserved none of the credit.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend some time thanking God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whom you can
receive insight into the mystery of Christ.
2. God’s grace empowers us to minister, ask the Lord if you are living by His grace or if you
are ministering on your own strength? Commit to relying on God to empower you instead of
serving in the flesh.

Foundations April 12, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Micah 2, 4-5
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV); No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you
are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Dietrich Bonheoffer said, “The heart of man is revealed in temptation. Man knows his sin,
which without temptation he could never have known; for in temptation man knows on
what he has set his heart.” In other words, when a sin is appealing the desire of our heart
is revealed. This could be taken as a real let-down; however, when our sinful desires are
brought to light, we have a choice to conquer them!
Bonheoffer goes on to say, “The coming to light of sin is the work of the accuser, who
thereby thinks to have won the victory. But it is sin which is become manifest which can be
known and therefore forgiven. Thus the manifestation of sin belongs to the salvation plan of
God with man, and Satan must serve this plan.”
Satan thinks that in temptation, we will fall into sin, which is often the case. But the upside
is that we can recognize our sin and find forgiveness and victory over the temptation. In this
way God thwarts what the enemy meant for evil, and uses it for our victory and His glory

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Take time to think about what temptations have been thrown at you lately. Sometimes
we don’t recognize temptation, so really listen for God to reveal unknown areas,
and write them down.
2) With each temptation, ask yourself, “What is the fleshly desire that is being revealed
here?” (In other words, why is this idea so tempting?)
3) Bring these desires before God. Be honest in telling Him why they appeal to you.
Confess sin that is revealed, and ways that you have given into temptation already,
and ask for His forgiveness.
4) Ask God to help you resist temptation through the power of His Spirit. Ask Him to take
what Satan has meant for evil and turn it into a testimony of His glorious good.

Foundations April 11, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Amos 8-9 & Obadiah 1
SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 13:37-38 (NIV); O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone
those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen
gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you
desolate.

After exposing the wickedness of the Pharisees, Jesus wept over His people. As the son
of a Jewish woman these were His brothers of national heritage – a blood connection that
runs much deeper than any westerner could understand. And as God, these were the
people of His creation and His image. He longed for them to soften their hearts and draw
near to the Father; but they would not listen.
Jesus longs for our generation and our culture with the same mourning passion. Society
says that “sin” and “guilt” are the profanities while the individual’s right to choose is sacred
– the right to choose whether a tiny life should live; the right to choose your sexuality; the
right to choose when your marital commitment has reached a limit; the right to choose to
end a life. Society’s sins pile high and her wounds run deep; still she clings to the façade
that sin is an illusion and peace will come as she does whatever she thinks is right. This is
the lie that Satan has successfully intertwined.
We are ambassadors of a King who has brought justice, love and mercy to a broken world.
We have been bestowed the task of loosening chains, breaking yokes and setting captives
free.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Spend a significant chunk of time in confession and repentance on behalf of our nation
and community. Listen in prayer for specific sins. You may even want to do this as a
family, or with a friend.
2) Do listening prayer, asking the Lord how you can intercede for our nation. Pray Jesus
words’ from the passage over our community and over Canada.
3) Perhaps you are too timid, or too brash, in sharing your views with others. Confess
anything that has hindered your influence. Ask the Lord to show you how you can
be an agent of transformation in your spheres of influence. How can you loosen chains
of injustice, break yokes and set free those who are captives to sin?

Foundations April 10, 2011

SCRIPTURE READING
John 8:12 (ESV); Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
James 5:16 (NIV); Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so
that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Darkness is a common fear; yet for many of us it seems to be the safest place. In darkness
we can hide our secrets and our sins. There is a strange mix of safety and oppression
when sin is left to the darkness. The enemy uses the darkness as a cloak of comfort and
we think, “If nobody knows my reputation will stay intact” or the very common, “If nobody
knows then nobody will be hurt.” However, the darkness is oppressing, offering neither
relief from memories or victory over sin.
Among many names and analogies, Jesus is the Light – “the light of men” John said.
Another benefit of the cross, Jesus’ death and resurrection offers us the light that exposes
all darkness. But many people stop here and slink back into the darkness. There is fear in
exposition; there is fear in laying oneself bare. They forget, though, that “perfect love casts
out all fear” and the One who is the Light is also Perfect Love. He never exposes without
offering a cover of atonement.
One way that the Lord reveals His light is by asking us to confess our sins to one another.
In bringing our sins to light face-to-face with a trustworthy friend, we can receive tangible
compassion and accountability. Though the thought can be frightening, the reward is great.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Ask the Lord if you are slinking around in the darkness at all. What is keeping you from
the Light? Confess any feelings of fear you have.
2) Ask the Lord to reveal anything you have kept secret that He wants you to bring to
light before another individual. Or maybe God just wants you to begin an accountability
friendship. Who can you talk to and when will you talk to them? Ask the Lord for courage.
3) Have you been faithful with things others have confessed to you? Do you ever ask them
how they are doing? Ask God if you have neglected the responsibility He has given
you to care for them.

Foundations April 9, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Joel 2-3
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Timothy 1:14-16; The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the
faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy
so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an
example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
We are saved by the grace of God – by His completely undeserved kindness. When we
were destined to hell, we were given eternal life with a loving God. This grace means that
there is mercy for us when we sin. He sees us at our worst points of shame and guilt; and
it is there where He says “I love you.” When Jesus went to the cross, He burdened all
sin, even those which have brought much scarring. Even if we have inflicted wounds on
ourselves and others, He has been wounded and scarred so that we may be healed. What
a mind-blowing truth!
Of course there are those who trample on God’s grace, using it as a “get-out-of-sin-free”
card – something the apostle Paul spoke adamantly against (Rom 6). However in trying to
stay far from this line, we also risk the pride that comes from trying to attain righteousness
alone. We strive and strive for perfection only to plummet in self-defeat and frustration
when we fail, feeling unloved and unforgiven. But our Father is not fickle, and He does not
suffer with offense and anger as we do. He is patient and compassionate; slow to anger
and abounding in love. His grace is free and He is quick to forgive.
Paul called himself the worst of all sinners. Was he? There is no way to compare; all sin
deserves death and all sinners have been offered life abundant by the grace of God.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Ask God to point out any was that you have refused to accept His grace. What has kept
you from taking this gift?
2) Spend some time in listening prayer asking God to give you a personal revelation of His
grace.
3) Ask God to reveal any misconceptions that you have of Him and His character. Ask Him
to give you a true picture of who He is.

Foundations April 8, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Hosea 3, 5:15-6:3, 14
SCRIPTURE READING
Galatians 2:15, 20 (NIV); …man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus
Christ… I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life
I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for all people to come to Him through faith.
Adherence to the Law, including circumcision, had been the mark of God’s chosen, but
salvation was nowhere to be found in the Law. The Law could not justify – it could not pay
the legal punishment for transgressions; only a personal God of complete holiness could do
that, and only a God of pure love would do that.
God demonstrated His love for us by sending Christ to die, and through His obedience
Jesus proved Himself the One who is faithful, true and worthy of our faith.
Faith – the assurance of hope and the certainty of things not seen – is a benefit for those
who accept the message of the Gospel. Every person lives by faith, though many put their
faith into the illusions of other gods, or the power of their own mind. As Christians, we can
rest assuredly in the truthfulness of the Gospel. Jesus actually lived in history, prophesied
his own death, rose from the grave and appeared to hundreds in His resurrected body.
Because we are nothing compared to our good and gracious God, ours is the only religion
that offers assurance that we will spend eternity with our Savior. Our salvation comes from
Him alone, and our faith can be firmly founded in Him.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Have you ever considered faith to be a gift? In what areas do you lack faith where you
really need it right now? Take time to ask the Lord to grow you in faith.
2) Think about times when God has proven Himself faithful to you. This is the same God
you are placing your trust in now!
3) Our faith often is affirmed after we take a step of obedience. Ask God what step of
obedience that He wants you to take in your life by faith.

Foundations April 7, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Hosea 1-2
SCRIPTURE READING
2 Peter 1:3; His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

There are thousands of benefits that come out of Christ’s death and resurrection. The entire
Bible is filled with the promises that we have received because of God’s plan to save us
from our sins! And these benefits are wonderful areas to meditate on as we near towards
the celebration of Easter!
This verse holds a fantastic promise and makes 99% of all the excuses we use invalid.
Jesus has given us EVERYTHING WE NEED for life, and a godly life at that! We can fulfill
all of the things that God has called us to do as long as we continue getting to know Him.
We can trust that what He calls us to is perfectly fitting for us because His will for our lives
comes right of out His own good and glorious nature! Our increasing knowledge of these,
and other, qualities of His will prove Him to be trustworthy and will give us the strength we
need to carry out His tasks!
How often do we respond with a quick “yes” to someone only to find out that the task we
signed up for has set us at our breaking point? And how often do we say “no” to someone
without even considering their need out of our own selfishness or laziness? In a world that
places so much weight on self-empowerment, it is easy to set God aside from the practical,
day-to-day decisions. However, His Word is clear! He has given us everything we need to
live a godly life! He cares about helping us grab hold of this promise if we will choose to
listen to Him!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Mediate on the verse for a few moments and ask the Holy Spirit to give you a clear
understanding of its message.
2) Ask yourself: “Do I honestly believe these words?” Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how
the truth of this verse should cause your life to be different.
3) Ask the Lord to show you where you have neglected to include Him in your decisionmaking.
Ask Him to point out any disillusionments or fears that have caused you to leave
Him out; ask Him to show you His truth about these things. What kind of shift needs
to take place so that you will be aware of His voice in your day today?

Foundations April 6, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Daniel 11-12
SCRIPTURE READING
John 17:3-5 (NIV); Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the
work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had
with you before the world began.

The result of the propitiation, justification, redemption and reconciliation brought about
through Jesus’ death and resurrection is renewed and eternal relationship with God the
Father. This is a momentous thing, and when one truly stops to think about it, it is a wonder
that we can overlook such a blessing or brush it off as “been there done that” – but we do!
We take for granted our relationship with the Creator. While others around us are searching
for some sort of spirituality to fill the God-space inside, many of us nonchalantly harbour
the truth that we have direct access to the One who has made us for the very purpose of
relationship with Him!
Christ’s work on the cross gave us an ETERNAL relationship with God. It is not a “here
today, gone tomorrow” relationship; it is real and everlasting. This is why Jesus said that
eternal life is to KNOW God. This personal and eternal relationship is such an incredible
blessing. Through this truth we can find purpose and meaning in our lives and spread this
to others in the process!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Do listening prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any indifference, or lack of
excitement in your heart towards the relationship that Jesus has made available to
you. Do you take it for granted?
2) What would you love to see happen in your relationship with the Lord? Read the verses
again and ask the Holy Spirit to give you a passion and a vision about the direction
of your relationship with Him. Thank God and tell Him the desires of your heart.
3) Ask the Lord for a picture or a word about how He wants to use you and your
relationship with Him to help others see the joy of what it means to know Him. What
is one thing that you need to start doing (or stop doing) in order to be effective in this.

Foundations April 5, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Daniel 8-9
SCRIPTURE READING
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (ESV); Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The
old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ
reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was
reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting
to us the message of reconciliation.

In Eden, there was perfect relationship between God and man. God called His creation
“very good” because there was completion and perfection. However, Adam’s sin caused
the very nature of humanity to be “very bad.” The bliss of Eden was ruined by sin and
the consequence was felt most deeply in the relationship between God and man as
brokenness put a chasm between them.
We know the effect that brokenness has on a relationship. There is a chill in the air.
Hostility at worst and cordiality at best replace warmth and intimacy. Sin leaves pain and
awkwardness in its wake. What a blessing that Jesus’ atonement brought reconciliation and
wholeness to our relationship with God. The chill has disappeared and the gap has been
closed so that we are truly permitted to come before God and get to know Him as a Person.
Not only did Christ reconcile us to God, but He gave us the ministry of reconciliation – the
mission to show others the way back to a restored and renewed relationship with the
Father. It’s incredible enough that God has reconciled us to Himself, let alone that He now
asks us to PARTNER with Him in bringing this message to others!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Meditate on the word “reconciliation” and its meaning. What images come to mind when
you think about this? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a clear understanding what it means
to be reconciled.
2) How can this image of the cross help you in sharing the Gospel? Who would really
benefit from hearing about the images of the cross, and how can you engage in
conversation with them?
3) How can your relationships show others the reconciliation of Christ? Does your marriage
illustrate this principle to your kids? Does your family illustrate this principle to your
friends? How do you need to grow in keeping reconciled relationships?

Foundations April 4, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Daniel 2, 7
SCRIPTURE READING
Romans 3:23-24 (ESV); …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are
justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
1 Corinthians 7:23a (ESV); You were bought at a price…

Within the images of Jesus’ sacrifice is one that comes with the word “redemption.” A
common word among Christians, redemption refers to one being reclaimed or bought out
of slavery. This image is hardly relatable to us in the west. The Jewish people at the time of
Christ had a definite grasp of this, not only due to their ancestor’s slavery in Egypt, Assyria
and Babylon, but also to their own subjection under Roman rule. Many nations, ethnic
groups and individuals throughout history have felt the oppression of slavery from the Jews
in the Holocaust to the African-American slavery in the American south to the rampant
increase in the sex trade all over the world today.
Though slavery is not a tangibly felt issue for most of us, we are all slaves to sin. And the
disgusting part of it all is that we have sold ourselves into slavery. The prophet Hosea lived
out the sorrow that God must feel and saw this image of self-inflicted enslavement when he
married Gomer – a prostitute who had an incessant drive to return to her life of immorality.
We, like Gomer, have prostituted ourselves and sold ourselves into the most oppressive
slavery where sin, and ultimately the devil, is our master. And it is from here in the repulsive
filth of our very nature that Jesus has drawn us into embrace.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Meditate on the word “redemption” and its meaning. What images come to mind when
you think about this? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a clear understanding what it means
to be redeemed.
2) Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart for areas where you have become a slave to
sin. Ask God to give you an understanding of how sin is like prostitution, and ask Him for
a repentant heart.
3) How does redemption really resonate with you? Ask the Lord to remind you of a great
time of redemption in your life. Ask Him to show you what has resulted in your life due to
that redemption and thank Him for what He’s done.

Foundations April 3, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Isaiah 9, 11-12

SCRIPTURE READING

Psalm 2:8 I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.  (NASB)

God’s ultimate purpose for His creation is to provide a family for Himself and a Bride for His Son as His eternal companion to reign with Him forever (Eph 5:31-32; Rev 19:7-9). Think about that for a minute.  God’s entire plan in history is have you in his family, but not just as a son or daughter, but as a true partner. The analogy God uses is one of a bride and bridegroom.  Everything that God has done throughout history has been to raise up the Church as a prepared Bride worthy of His Son.  He plans to give us to Jesus as His inheritance (Ps 2:8). History is most often interpreted through the lens of significant events such as scientific breakthroughs, military crises, political developments, economic trends etc. However, we can only rightly interpret history through the lens of God’s purpose to prepare the Church as a Bride and her growth in love towards Him.  Without understanding this we can have no way to accurately interpret the pains, struggles and even the celebrations in this life.  Human history is not mysterious; looking to the future does not need to leave us in despair and without hope.  God is building His Church as a spotless Bride to give to His Son as a precious gift.  God has orchestrated history so that God’s people may seek and find Jesus!

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1. What does God’s plan to make you a true partner in His family as an eternal companion, reigning with Him mean to you?  What does this say of your value to Him?
2. Spend some time in listening prayer, asking the Lord to show you how the pains and             struggles that you have faced in your lifetime have been part of His great plan to prepare   a Bride for His Son.
3. Spend some time thanking God that through His divine plan, we have purpose that can only be filled in relationship with Him.  Thank Him that He has orchestrated history so we      can seek and find Him.

Foundations April 2, 2011

END TIMES READING PLAN: Isaiah 2, 4-5

SCRIPTURE READING

Rev 19:7 For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready. (ESV)
Rev 22: 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come”.  (ESV)
One of the analogies that the Bible uses to teach us about the kind of relationship that we can have with God is that of a Bride and Bridegroom.  Human history began in Eden with Adam and Eve joined as bridegroom and bride (Gen 2), this is a prophetic picture of Jesus being joined to His Bride, the Church at the end of the age.  Eph 5: 31-33 tells us that “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife…but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (NKJV).  At the end of the age, natural history will end with Jesus and His people joined as a Bridegroom and Bride (Rev 21-22).  Natural history will end with a Bride who has made herself ready for her marriage to Jesus (Rev 19).  What does this mean?  Jesus is calling us to cultivate the type of closeness that is represented in a healthy marriage in our relationship with Him.  Salvation is an invitation to experience the deep things of God’s heart that He planned for us. This month, we will focus on what it means to be the Bride of Christ.  Understanding this concept has the potential to powerfully change your relationship with Jesus. 

PRAYER & MEDITATION

1. Do you have any fears or reservations about being called the Bride of Christ?  How does  this make you feel?
2. Salvation is a free gift to all who accept it but living in relationship and experiencing the deep things of God’s heart will require effort.  Are you willing to put in the effort that being Christ’s Bride demands?  What, if anything, is holding you back?
3. Spend some time asking the Lord to open your heart to the idea of being the Bride of Christ, ask Him to speak to you this month about this concept in Scripture. 

Foundations April 1, 2011

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… 12we 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 & 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.