Nov 10: Matthew 4, Jeremiah 19, Psalm 89
Nov 11: Matthew 5, Jeremiah 20, Psalm 90
Nov 12: Matthew 6, Jeremiah 21, Psalm 91
Nov 13: Matthew 7, Jeremiah 22, Psalm 92
Nov 14: Matthew 8, Jeremiah 23, Psalm 93
Nov 15: Matthew 9, Jeremiah 24, Psalm 94
Romans___10
Scripture: Romans 10:8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Observation-What does it say? Throughout chapters nine and ten, Paul expresses his anguish of the nation of Israel. Though he once had great zeal for the traditions of his people, Paul now has knowledge of Jesus as the Messiah. Having come to this knowledge, Paul longs for all of Israel to come to Jesus in the same way he did. He points to Christ, proclaiming that He is the end of the law, freeing all Jews from the burden of the law. He then pleads to their senses, exhorting them to accept Jesus as the Messiah. While doing this, he points to the simplicity of action needed: confess and believe.
Understanding-What does it mean? I remember the call, which came in the middle of a Friday, on a weekend I was scheduled to work through Sunday. My grandma had moved from North Carolina to live with my mom about six months prior. They had both become tired from the almost two year process of my grandma’s cancer treatments and decided it was easier for both of them to be here in California. This decision forced my grandma to leave her childhood home. The tone in my mom’s voice during the call was calm but hurting, “I think we only have a little bit left.”
I left work almost instantly, to spend the next day listening to my grandma’s last breaths. It was painful and beautiful all at once. Having to watch someone leave this life is horrible, because it feels so permanent. It made it easier knowing that my grandma had spent a life loving Jesus, and would get to spend eternity with Him.
In Paul’s writing, there is almost the sense that he sees his friends and countrymen dying without the same confidence of their salvation. Throughout his letters, he carries a sense of urgency, as he pours out his life so others will have the same knowledge of Jesus as savior that he did (Philippians 2:17). Though, Paul still had the peace to know that when he went on to be with Jesus, he had done all he could (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Life Application: Jesus, give in me the same heart as Paul, and the same urgency of preaching to those who need to hear the good news of Your salvation. Help me to have graceful speech. Allow me to produce fruit in season and out of season. In my shortcoming, allow your love to shine through.
-Tyler Galloway
Psalm 124
Application
Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Observation
Psalm 124. A song of ascents. A special song that was sung by pilgrims as they ascended uphill or as the priests climbed up the steps of the temple.
1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
Understanding
There were so many times in my life when I would have been swallowed alive by fear or swept away by a flood of anxiety. If it had not been for the LORD, I would not be here today, I would not be here today serving Him.
When I was a little girl left alone at night, I called out to him for help and he sent people to me.
When I was a young adolescent lying in my bed scared, hyperventilating, and filled with disappointment, as my drunk father finally came home, breaking another promise, I called out to Him for help and I was instantly filled with peace.
When I was 23 and waking up yet again with my stomach in knots, wondering if I would ever be free from the anxiety that had plagued me all my life, I called out to Him for help, and I when I awoke the next day, it was gone.
When I realized my life was a mess from my own doing, I asked Him to come into my heart and be my savior, to forgive me of my sins. I asked Him for help to transform my life and he led me to Desert Streams Church. I went to every service, every class, every prayer meeting. I served, built relationships with people, and was discipled. I asked him for help and he saved me.
Romans 10:13 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Application
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Think of the times that you have needed help and he has saved you. He saved you. He will save you again and again.
I think it is interesting that this psalm is called a song of ascent, meaning they sang this song as they went up to a higher elevation.
Some of us are going through a hard time and cannot see how the LORD can help us. I think worship takes us to a higher elevation in the spirit.
They started out singing the song as they climbed. At the end of the song they declare where their help comes from and who he is.
Let worship take you to a higher elevation and when you get to the top declare where your help comes from!
Deborah Lee
Romans__8
Scripture
Romans 8:36-39
Observation
Understanding
Freedom is FREE!
Ever since we read this passage during the fast I have gone back to it several times. Each time I read it I find myself getting so excited over the words that Paul so beautifully writes. He paints a wonderful picture at the end of this chapter too. The idea that once I am adopted into the sonship nothing can separate me from it. There’s one dilemma I find in this passage though. Somewhere along the way we are in this cyclical relationship of bondage and freedom. A relationship that we have created and placed on ourselves. Like Paul says in this passage you are free! However, actually grasping that core belief and living in it is a lot different than just saying it.
Here’s the main point I want to sit on before practically giving ways to living in freedom: freedom is paid for and there’s no “return policy.” Once it is granted and atoned for there is no reason to feel like you have to give it back or it has to be re-earned after you mess up (because let’s be real, we all mess up along the way). But the Bible says that:
God raised us up with Christ and seated with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
Ephesians 2:6
Life Application
How exactly do we walk in this amazing freedom?
- We have to know who are in Christ. This is only possible by reading His Word daily and being in constant communication with the one who made us.
- We must recognize that God is the one who is able, and we are simply to act in obedience with our own willingness. Sure, freedom is free and the most liberating feeling, but it doesn’t make you the ultimate earthly person. Instead this freedom is meant to empower you to carry out God’s will.
- Lastly, we must share this freedom with others. God doesn’t just want us to hoard all this freedom and love to ourselves. He longs for others to become “more than conquerors” as well.
When life seems difficult most of the time that means you are headed in God’s direction. Resistance means the enemy is scared, but you can rest assured that nothing can separate you from the love of Jesus. It’s free, paid for, and ready to be consumed by us.