2021-09-18
Exodus 14:13 NIV
Let’s look again at Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. It isn’t easy to hand our battles over and let God fight for us. We feel like we’re backing out or being irresponsible. We feel like we should be doing something. But just because God fights for us doesn’t mean we’re not involved. The hardest part about the order – ‘stand still and watch the deliverance of the Lord’ – is we mistake standing still for doing nothing, or for not doing our duty. Fear says, ‘Just do something!’ Faith says, ‘Stand in faith. Let God do it!’ That’s about as far from doing nothing as you can get. It’s faith at its highest.
So if we don’t do the fighting, why do we need spiritual armour? Paul said, ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes’ (Ephesians 6:11 NIVUK). Notice that we wear God’s armour – not our own. We’re told to stand – not fight. ‘The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 10:4 NASB).
Standing still and trusting God to fight can be very difficult. We want to do things our way, in our time. We like to have control, and handing control over to God can be uncomfortable. But human methods get in God’s way. Natural abilities are useless against spiritual forces. Our solutions and strategies aren’t often the best ones, the ones God chooses. We only have a limited view of the circumstances; He sees the complete picture. So instead of trusting in our own human effort, we must trust only in Jehovah-Nissi.
2 Cor 9:1-11:15; Luke 22:24-38; Ps 24; Prov 21:1-2
2021-08-19
Acts 27:14 NLT
The ship Paul was sailing on to Rome was wrecked by a powerful storm called a ‘northeaster’. Here are some valuable lessons we can learn from his experience.
1) God can make a bad situation work for our good. Because of this shipwreck, Paul ended up on Malta, and shared the gospel with people who hadn’t heard it before. Plus, when he and his followers left the island, ‘people supplied [them] with everything [they] would need for the trip’ (Acts 28:10 NLT). Sometimes a problem can provide a platform for God to work in ways that’ll amaze us. Our future isn’t in the hands of people, and it never will be. It’s in God’s hands, and what He owns He protects and provides for.
2) We’ll have to sail through storms to reach the destination God’s set for us. Paul said, ‘All hope that we would be saved was finally given up’ (Acts 27:20 NKJV). There’ll be days when we wonder how we’re going to make it, but with God’s grace we will (see Psalm 37:34).
3) Storms reveal how well we know the Lord. Paul said, ‘Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul”‘ (Acts 27:23-24 NIV). In difficult times we discover how strong our connection to God is.
4) He can bring success from what looks like failure. Notice two particular things in this story: a) We might have to throw some things overboard to reach our destination (see v.18). b) Despite our best efforts, occasionally we’ll run aground (see v.26). That’s when we must remember what God has promised, believe it, and trust Him.
Judg 19:16-21:25; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 119:97-104; Prov 18:6-8
2021-07-28
Mark 5:40 NAS
When you’re trusting God for a miracle, nothing will drag you down faster than unbelief. Plus, it’s impossible to know what God is doing based on how things look on the surface. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). So in order to stay strong, it’s important to fill your mind with the right things: “the best, not the worst;…things to praise” (Philippians 4:8 MSG).
One pastor writes: “There were times Jesus didn’t allow unbelief around Him, like when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. When He heard the little girl had died, Jesus told her father, ‘Do not be afraid…only believe’ (Mark 5:36 NAS)….You can believe, or you can be afraid. You can’t do both; and people who truly believe bypass human reasoning.
When Jesus dealt with the spirit of death that day, there was no room for contaminated faith. So when He went to Jairus’ house, ‘He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter…James and John’ (v. 37). He took those who believed in miracles, and when ‘they came to the house…and…saw…people loudly weeping…He said…”Why make a commotion…The child has not died, but is asleep.”
They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took…the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking [her] by the hand, He said…”Little girl…get up!” Immediately the girl got up and began to walk'” (vv. 37-42 NAS).
Humanly speaking, your situation may look impossible, but when you throw out the naysayers and the doubters and believe what God says, you’ll get results.
Soul food: Deut 5-7; Luke 9:57-62; Ps 78:1-8; Prov 16:23-24
2021-07-23
Matthew 11:30 MSG
Jesus said: “I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (vv. 28-30 MSG).
Note the words, “I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” It’s good to know we don’t have to worry about things, figure everything out, or carry the burdens in our lives. It can actually be quite refreshing to realize that we don’t need to know everything about everything! We need to get comfortable saying, “I don’t know the answer to this predicament, and I’m not going to worry about it because God’s in control, and I trust Him. I’m going to relax in Him and live freely and lightly!”
When we’re overburdened with the cares of life – struggling, laboring, and worrying – we need a mental and emotional break. Our minds need to rest from thinking about resolving problems, and our emotions need to rest from being upset. Worry robs us of rest and its benefits. So the next time you find yourself worried and anxious, remember, you can “live freely and lightly.”
All you have to do is rest in the assurance of God’s love, provision, and guidance. If someone asks you what you’re going to do about your problem, tell them you’re not thinking about it right now. If they ask you why, tell them you’ve turned it over to God, and you’re trusting Him to work it out for you.
Soul food: Acts 24-26; Luke 9:18-27; Ps 1; Prov 16:10-15
2021-07-14
Luke 5:5 NIV
Lesson five: Stand on the promises of God. In their previous fishing attempt, the disciples were trusting in their own experience and ability. But this time they were trusting in Christ’s promise: “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (v. 4 NIV). Now, Jesus didn’t specifically say, “Peter, if you go fishing with me, I promise you a big catch.” He didn’t need to say it because Peter realized that when Christ told him to go fishing, and then got into his boat, and then told him exactly where to put down the net, there was no way it was going to come up empty! Peter expected God to act. He expected Him to keep His promise.
When you get God’s presence in your boat, God’s plan in your head, and God’s promises in your heart, you can’t fail. Maybe you’re saying, “That sounds great, but you don’t know my circumstances. Right now I’m defeated by the problems I’m experiencing. I’m having some hard times.”
If you’re feeling beaten by your circumstances, do this: Read your Bible, find a specific promise from God, and start claiming it. Start expecting God to act, and you’ll find that His promise will inject new hope into your situation. Just because you haven’t solved your problem doesn’t mean the solution doesn’t exist. With God, success often begins at the point of failure. It’s after you’ve “fished all night and caught nothing,” that He steps in.
So the word for you today is – Don’t give up! Try again. This time do it with Jesus in your boat, and He will make all the difference.
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Luke 7:11-23v; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 15:31-32
