Deuteronomy 8 - 8.6.24

Scripture: ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”“Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,“

Observations:

God was about to fulfill the promise He had given His people and bring them into the promised land. They had been in the desert wandering for 40 years. God fed them manna, their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. He provided all their needs. 

There is a huge contrast between the desert and the promise land. Verse 9 they were going into a land where they would lack nothing. 

Moses is giving his last instructions from God to the people. He stood up for them when they rebelled. God was ready to strike them down and start over with Moses.  He has so much love and compassion for them. Now he was admonishing them to follow God’s commands and they would be abundantly blessed. 

He also knew that once they had it all it would be easy to forget it was all from God, and boast that they had done it all themselves. He was taking his time to repeat all the blessings and do all he could to prevent them from straying. 

Application:

Deuteronomy 8:18 “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth and so confirms his covenant…”

God has done so much and I need to continually keep my eyes on Him as my source. It is important to remember the covenant, His commandments, promises, most of all what Jesus did to pay for my sins!  Also, this Scripture says “for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” It will not fall to me on a silver platter. I have to do my part. 

Robin shared so wonderfully Wednesday that if Jesus healed his enemy’s ear, He is willing and WILL Heal us. 

This Scripture is a specific promise for this time. However, God had the same promises for us many other places in His Word.  For example, Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” or lack nothing in some versions. “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4. I could go on and on.  My goal, as I go through challenging times, is not to look in despair, but know God has prepared a promised land for me. Also, no matter how good things get to always praise Him as my source and obey His commands. 

Prayer:

Father God thank you for your faithfulness, forgiveness, and love. Your Word is filled with so many incredible promises. I know you have plans for me, to prosper me and not harm me, to give me a hope and a future. Please help me always look to you in good times and those that are challenging.  May everything I do bring honor to your name. Especially when times are good. I want to always point people to you. Amen

- Cindy Howard

Acts 4 - 09.05.24

SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:5-10 NLT

“The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 

They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” 

Then Peter, FILLED with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 

“Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned TODAY because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 

Let me clearly—state to all of you—and to all the people of Israel—that he was healed— by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified —but—whom God raised from the dead.”

OBSERVATION: 

Peter and John have been arrested and thrown in jail because they healed a lame beggar. A man, who pretty much the whole of Jerusalem knew,  as he was laid at the same Temple entrance to beg for his entire life. 

The next day Peter and John are brought before the Jewish Council. The VERY SAME Leaders and rulers who Pronounced a death sentence to Jesus for the charge of blasphemy-claiming to be God. 

Peter-who just a few weeks ago was SO fearful he denied even knowing Jesus 3-times-“being FILLED with the Holy Spirit” Boldly Declares Jesus to BE the Christ [Promised Messiah] and additionally charges these men of the Sanhedrin with HIS crucifixion. 

Now that IS Holy Spirit inspired Boldness to BE Christ’s Witness!

“Peter said to them, “then know this…

It is by the name of Jesus Christ , whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” (Acts 4:10)

“Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11 NIV)

APPLICATION: 

Holy Spirit Boldness —for Jesus

Peter and John had NO idea when they walked towards the Temple that day for afternoon prayer that they would be Giving a Bold Testimony for Christ that would ADD 2,000 men to their number of believers (adding women would mean the Church was growing now closer to 8,000), AND that their subsequent arrest would provide an opportunity to Share the Gospel before the Sanhedrin giving a Bold Testimony for Christ.

“Jesus IS “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.””   (Acts 4:11-12 NIV)

I think one of the most compelling things out of this scripture is that this lame man was laid at this same Temple gate called Beautiful-every day—all his life-and he was over 40 yrs old (vs 22). 

Jesus and His disciples would have passed by him many times. 

This lame beggar only asked for money. 

But Jesus had something SO much better waiting!

The Gate Called Beautiful— in this usage Beautiful comes from the Greek word “hóraios” which isn’t beautiful in terms of its “physical” beauty BUT-

beautiful in timing, the right hour, beautiful fulfillment.

Living Boldly for Jesus-

My takeaway —be Prayed up—at all times-

Ask Jesus—daily—for a Fresh Filling—of His Spirit—

because we never know when God’s Beautiful Gate of Fulfillment will OPEN—

Peter and John were ‘on their way’ to afternoon prayer at the Temple.

As Katie has often shared during Dream Team Meetings, Jesus did MANY of His miracles “along the way” when HE was headed somewhere to DO something else.

“By this we KNOW with confident assurance that we abide in HIM and HE in us, because HE has given to us HIS Holy Spirit.” (1 John 4:13 AMP)

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. 

HE anointed us, set HIS seal of ownership on us, 

and put HIS Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV)

PRAYER:

LORD Jesus,

There is NO God like You. YOU are Loving and Miraculous and Creative in how You Touch People’s Lives-Meeting them right where they are at. Thank You for Calling me out of darkness when I didn’t even know I was living in darkness. Forgive me for all of the wasted years and wasted opportunities. Forgive me for the times I have been distracted. Forgive me for the times I have had my own agenda and not looked to YOU First for Your Way and Your Timing. Help me to hear your voice. Interrupt my plans so I can be used “along the way”.

Thank You that Your Harvest is all around us-every day. Take my blinders off. Give me Your Eyes and Your Heart. FILL me Fresh With Your Spirit for this Day. YOU, Alone know what each day holds. Embolden me by Your Holy Spirit to Step deeper into the water. Here I am Lord, Send Me. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.

Tina L Kudelka

Deuteronomy 6 - 9.4.24

Scripture

You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:7, Amplified)

Observation

Moses teaches the people of Israel about the importance of teaching their children the word of God. In the previous verse (Deut 6:5) he says, first make sure that these commandments are in your hearts. Then make sure that you diligently teach your children the word of God. Make it a priority. Impress God’s word on their minds. Penetrate their hearts with His truth. Speak about God’s word when you sit in your house. Talk about it while you drive down the road. Talk about it when you put them to sleep. Talk about it when you wake them up for school. Diligently look for opportunities to teach your children God’s word every single day!

Both me and my husband grew up in traditional Christian families in South India. Family prayer is a huge part of Indian culture. In my childhood there was a brief period when we lived with our grandparents, while my parents were constructing their house. Every evening before bedtime, all of us in the family would gather together, mats would be laid out and everyone would sit on the mats on the floor. Sitting on the floor while praying symbolizes reverence to God in Indian culture. My grandmother would start a worship song, and the whole family would sing together. Someone in the family would read the bible aloud - usually a portion from the New Testament and another portion from the Psalms. The prayer time would be closed by a prayer from an elder - usually the grandfather or the father. The scene would repeat in the morning. I would often be awakened before 6 AM, by the sound of my grandmother singing aloud early in the morning, which meant that it was time for morning prayer. The family would assemble for the morning family prayer, before everyone got busy with their day.

When my husband and I got married and were blessed with children, we tweaked the family prayer time to include the children. From the time they were old enough to understand stories, we bought them children’s bibles, and taught a story from it everyday, during the evening family prayer. The kids loved the family prayer time, as it was story-time as well! As the kids grew, the children’s bibles were replaced by other children’s and teens’ bibles to make the stories more age-appropriate for them. Today my youngest is 17, and we still do the bible study during the daily family prayer. The only difference is that today the focus is on the biblical truths and lessons more than the story.

Application

It is very important to God that we teach our children God’s word. God says that He chose Abraham because God knew that he would teach his children God’s word. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD” (Genesis 18:19, KJV). It is not the responsibility of the church, the youth group leader or the kid’s church teacher to teach God’s word to our children. It is our responsibility, and our God-given mandate. Regardless of the age of your children, it is not too late to start teaching them God’s word today. If you are not doing it yet, find a way to incorporate teaching the Bible into your daily schedule. 

Prayer

Father, I thank you for your word. Thank you because your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalms 119:105). Help me to be obedient to your commandment to teach your word to the next generation, as you have said one generation will declare your works to another (Psalms 145:4). Help me to find ways to talk about your word in my home. Help me to make discussing your word a priority and a daily commitment. Open my eyes to see the spiritual children you have brought into my life, and help me to invest in teaching them your word. Help me to be obedient to your commandments. May my life be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you (Rom 12:1). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George