Every Promise – March 26, 2009

Every Promise

Joshua 23:14

Jim Stephens

03-26-09

 

Scripture:

 

“Soon I will die, going the way of all the earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!” (Joshua 23:14 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Everybody dies.  Each person’s part in God’s plan, no matter how significant that part may be, is only one life-time long.  Then we die and it is up to the next generation, the next leader.

 

God is faithful.  God does his part every time.  What God promises to do, he does.  In every generation, with each succeeding leader and each succeeding generation of people of faith, God makes it happen.  We can trust him.

 

Application:

 

I want to be able to say that not one detail has failed of all the good things God, my God, has promised.  When I’m done I want to know that I’ve done my part, God has done his part, and it all happened the way he purposed it.

 

I’m determined to encourage, challenge, and resource those who will be here to carry on after I’m gone.  God’s plan moves seamlessly through the changing generations and it is important that I do everything I can to facilitate the transfer and continuation of his purpose.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, help me to increasingly think about helping the next generation of Christ-followers who will carry on your purpose and plan.  I want to put more time and energy into helping them prepare and into resourcing them.  Please give me wisdom and grace to adjust my role and responsibilities appropriately.  Amen.

 

Encourage Him – March 6, 2009

Encourage Him

Deuteronomy 3:26-28

Jim Stephens

03-06-09

 

Scripture:

 

26 “But the Lord was angry with me because of you, and he would not listen to me. ‘That’s enough!’ he ordered. ‘Speak of it no more. 27 You can go to Pisgah Peak and view the land in every direction, but you may not cross the Jordan River. 28 But commission Joshua and encourage him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them the land you now see before you.’ (Deuteronomy 3:26-28 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Moses had given his life to lead the people out of Egypt and for forty years in the wilderness.  Now it was time to enter the land – the fulfillment of all that Moses had sacrificed and served to bring about – and he would miss it.  His assistant Joshua would lead the people into the Promised Land.

 

Everything depended on how well Moses had trained Joshua in their forty years together and on how well Moses handed off the authority and responsibility of leadership to Joshua.  I think it’s a good thing that Moses led with humility.  Otherwise he might never have let go with humility.  God told Moses to commission Joshua and encourage him.  He had to train, transfer, and trust!

 

(And check Matthew 17:1-4.  Moses did get to enter the land after all – 1500 years later!)

 

Application:

 

If I invest my life in projects that depend on me to make them happen and they will end when I run out of time and energy.  If I invest my life in people and help them form values and vision, my influence will carry on after I’m gone in a kaleidoscope of ways I could never imagine or accomplish.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Please help me to effectively influence my daughters and their husbands, my grandsons, and as many of the next generation of Christ-followers as you can trust me with.  I want to influence them.  I want to encourage them.  And help me to trust them.  Amen.

 

Encouraged – February 13, 2009

Encouraged

Acts 20:1-2

Jim Stephens

10-24-08

 

Scripture:

 

1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece…  (Acts 20:1-2 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Paul had spent two years evangelizing and discipling Christ-followers in Ephesus.  He had developed deep and rich relationships with the believers in that church and was well-known throughout the city for his boldness for Jesus Christ.  But now he was leaving to travel through Macedonia, on to Greece, then through Syria and on to Jerusalem, with Rome as his chosen final destination.

 

While he was with the Ephesians, he encouraged them.  When he prepared to leave, he encouraged them.  When he visited the other churches on his journey, he encouraged them.

 

Application:

 

People get discouraged.  They get discouraged by the financial challenges they face.  They get discouraged by difficult relationships.  They get discouraged by things others do that are beyond their control.  They get discouraged by criticism and lack of appreciation.  They get discouraged by their own weaknesses and failures.  I get discouraged.

 

I want to be an encourager.  I want to encourage my wife and kids.  I want to encourage the people I know who are facing financial reversal, uncertain futures, health issues, transition, weariness, doubts, and fears.  I want to encourage pastors and their congregations.  I want to encourage the people we know and love around the world.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, may I please be a source or at least a channel of wisdom and encouragement to others.  Any others.  Many others.  Make me an instrument of your peace.  Amen.

 

Meanwhile

Meanwhile

Acts 12:24

Jim Stephens

02-05-09

 

Scripture:

 

But God’s Good News was spreading rapidly, and there were many new believers. (Acts 12:24 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

The Good News story of Christ at work in his church was growing, developing, multiplying.  No longer was it the story of one man, Jesus, walking among the people, or one man, Peter, speaking to the crowds at the Pentecost celebration.  Now the once-linear story line had multiplied into many parallel stories.

 

In this short chapter, Herod murdered James and arrested Peter and some of the Jerusalem believers prayed at the home of Mary, John Mark’s mother.  An angel released Peter from the prison.  Herod left for Caesarea in frustration and was struck down by God’s power and died.

 

The Antioch church, 450 miles north in Syria, was thriving and had sent Barnabas and Paul to Jerusalem with a generous gift for the poor.  Barnabas and Paul were likely in Jerusalem, possibly present at the prayer meeting in Mary’s house the night Peter was freed from prison.

 

A revival had broken out in Samaria and Philip was now in Caesarea, possibly working with the new Gentile church that had sprung up in the house of Cornelius, the converted Roman army officer.  The treasurer of Ethiopia had gone home a Christ-follower, having been baptized by Philip along the Gaza road.

 

Application:

 

It’s good to remember that there’s a lot going on in God’s Kingdom outside our own personal story and situation.  When things are hard for us, there’s blessing somewhere.  When we’re prospering, someone is suffering.  When we’re enjoying favor, someone is struggling to lift their head under persecution.

 

I need to hear stories of the “meanwhiles” of God’s Kingdom.  God’s Good News is still spreading and there are many new believers!

 

Prayer:

 

Father, this morning I rejoice that there are millions of stories of the “meanwhiles” of your Good News spreading throughout the world.  I ask you to bless my brothers and sisters in every nation and continent and encourage us all that your Good News is still spreading and there are many new believers.  Amen.

 

Barnabas Brought Him – February 2, 2009

Barnabas Brought Him

Acts 9:26-28

Jim Stephens

02-02-09

 

Scripture:

 

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.  (Acts 9:26-28 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

In my reading yesterday from Acts 8, Philip was doing miracles and teleporting from one place to another.  Today from Acts 9, Peter was healing people and raising the dead.  Amazing and powerful!  But two other guys, Ananias and Barnabas were opening doors and giving second chances.

 

Saul’s track record was bad – he had been passionately anti-Christian.  He experienced a dramatic transformation in an encounter with the living Christ, but he was feared and excluded until someone took a chance and brought him in.

 

Application:

 

Not everyone gets to do the really dramatic stuff.  But there have to be encouragers and door-openers and second-chance-givers or the dramatic-stuff-doers will never even get on the playing field.  You know what I mean?

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Barnabas is a good role model for me.  I feel called to encourage, to look for the best in people, and to bring people together for good.  Help me to be Spirit-guided and Spirit-empowered in this ministry of encouragement.  Amen.

 

Don’t Give Up – November 7, 2008

Don’t Give Up

Galatians 6:9-10

Jim Stephens

11-07-08

 

Scripture:

 

9 So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.  10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to our Christian brothers and sisters. (Galatians 6:9-10 NLT)

 

Observation and Application:

 

Paul worked so hard, sacrificed so much, and suffered in so many ways to keep the message of God’s Good News pure and simple.  There were so many people who resisted and opposed him – for such a variety of reasons – that it must have been really hard not to just get discouraged and give up.  I don’t know who encouraged him when he was at his lowest point, but I know he has encouraged me a lot of times through the years.

 

God has used these two verses over and over again to encourage me and to remind me that there will be a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.  I believe God.  I believe God’s Word.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I believe your Word.  I receive your encouraging reminder.  I won’t give up and I will use the opportunities you give to do good to others.  Amen.

 

Encouraged – October 24, 2008

Encouraged

Acts 20:1-2

Jim Stephens

10-24-08

 

Scripture:

 

1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece…  (Acts 20:1-2 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Paul had spent two years evangelizing and discipling Christ-followers in Ephesus.  He had developed deep and rich relationships with the believers in that church and was well-known throughout the city for his boldness for Jesus Christ.

 

But now he was leaving to travel through Macedonia, on to Greece, then through Syria and to Jerusalem, with Rome as his chosen final destination.

 

While he was with the Ephesians, he encouraged them.  When he prepared to leave, he encouraged them.  When he visited the churches while on his journey, he encouraged them.

 

Application:

 

People get discouraged.  They get discouraged by the financial challenges they face.  They get discouraged by difficult relationships.  They get discouraged by things others do that are beyond their control.  They get discouraged by criticism and lack of appreciation.  They get discouraged by their own weaknesses and failures.  I get discouraged.

 

I want to be an encourager.  I want to encourage my wife and kids.  I want to encourage the people I work with here in Bend.  I want to travel among the churches some and encourage the pastors and congregations.  I want to encourage the people we know and love around the world.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, may I please be a source or at least a channel of wisdom and encouragement to others.  Any others.  Many others.  Amen.

Barnabas Brought Him – October 18, 2008

Barnabas Brought Him

Acts 9:26-28

Jim Stephens

10-18-08

 

Scripture:

 

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.  (Acts 9:26-28 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

In my reading today from Acts 8 and 9, Philip was doing miracles and teleporting from one place to another, and Peter was healing people and raising the dead.  Amazing and powerful.  But two other guys, Ananias and Barnabas were opening doors and giving second chances.

 

Saul’s track record was bad – he had been passionately anti-Christian.  He was dramatically transformed, but he was feared and excluded until someone took a chance and brought him in.

 

Application:

 

Not everyone gets to or even needs to do the really dramatic stuff.  But there have to be encouragers and door-openers and second-chance givers or the dramatic-stuff-doers will never even get on the playing field.  You know what I mean?

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Barnabas is a good role model for me.  I feel called to encourage, to look for the best in people, and to bring people together for good.  Help me to be Spirit-guided and Spirit-empowered in this ministry of encouragement.  Amen.