CHICAGO CITY BLESSING DAILY DEVOTION

Wednesday, July 23 2008

2008-07-23T15:57:00.000-05:00

"The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (2 Chronicles 16:9)

A conversation took place many years ago between D. L. Moody, before he became the great evangelist, and another man. The man said to Moody, "You know, the world has yet to see what God can do with and through the man who is totally committed to Him."

Those words went deep into Moody's heart, and he prayed, "Lord, I want to be that man." He sure came close.

The Book of Acts is a story of ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things because they allowed God to have His way in their lives. In the same way, God wants to use you to turn your world upside down for Christ.

It starts with you saying, "Lord, I want to make a difference. I don't want this world to turn me around. I want to turn it around. Use me."

The world has yet to see what God can do with and through the man or woman who is totally committed to Him. Will God find such people today? I wonder if you would say, like Moody, "I want to be that person."

If you will, then your life can make a difference. It will be exciting in the days ahead to see what God will do through and with you. But He wants you to be available to Him.

One of these days, your life will come to an end. What will you say of your life? What will others say?

How great it would be to say, like Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful" (2 Timothy 4:7).

What will you say?

Monday, July 21 2008

2008-07-21T08:37:00.003-05:00

"And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!" (2 Timothy 4:18)

One of the things that we could learn about the apostle Paul is how he always seemed to rise to the top of every situation and seized every opportunity to preach the gospel.

We read in the Book Acts that when Paul and Silas were thrown in prison, they began to sing praises to God at midnight. An earthquake struck, the walls fell, and the next thing you know, the very jailer who was responsible for chaining them up and whipping them asked, "What must I do to be saved?"

Then, when Paul was brought before the various dignitaries of Rome, he became master of every situation. For example, when he was before Felix, he reasoned with him regarding righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. When he stood before Festus and Herod Agrippa II, he said, "Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?" He posed the question to Herod Agrippa II, "Do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." He was a prisoner on a ship, and in a short time, the crew, the captain, the soldiers, and the Roman centurion were taking orders from Paul---and everyone was listening to him!

Paul was bold. He didn't seem to be afraid of anything. He never seemed to get down. His life wasn't always easy. In fact, it was very difficult. But the words he penned to the believers at Philippi seemed to always hold true: "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11). He was fully convinced of the faithfulness of God and was sustained by that conviction.

Thursday, July 17 2008

2008-07-17T09:58:00.002-05:00

"So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.'" (Acts 27:25)

Sometimes we may think that when we're in the will of God, it will be smooth sailing. But many times it is just the opposite. Doors slam in our faces. Obstacles appear in our paths and storms arise that threaten to drive us off course.

That is why we need to remember there is a devil who wants to stop us from doing what God wants us to do.

As the apostle Paul was on his way to do the will of God, he hit some tough times. An incredible storm arose that caused the people in his boat to despair of their lives. But there was no obstacle big enough to stop Paul. He always seemed to rise above his circumstances.

As he went through the storm, he knew God had shown him what to do, and he would let nothing deter him from that course.

When a hard time hits, when a crisis hits, when a tragedy hits, we often want out. We ask God for an airlift out of our problems.

But many times, God wants us to learn in the midst of them. Romans 8:35--37 says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (NIV). Notice the phrase, "in all these things." It isn't saying we won't face some of these things. But it says that in them we are more than conquerors.

If you are seeking to obey the Lord, expect opposition. Expect obstacles. Expect difficulties. But also expect God to see you through.

Wednesday, July 16 2008

2008-07-16T10:06:00.003-05:00

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised;" (Heb 10:23) "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Rom 8:24-25)

Many of you today are in a crisis of faith. You stand at the edge of what you can see, gazing into a hope that God has deposited in your heart. Between you and that hope is a chasm of seeming impossibility. There is no known way across that chasm. Your natural eye sees no possible path, but God always has a path prepared for those who trust in Him.

The word for "faith" in Hebrews 10:23 above is the same word translated as "hope" in Romans 8:24-25. If what you need is in plain sight, it doesn't require faith to obtain it, but if what you see is something that is actually unseen, it requires faith / hope to bring it into the realm of the seen. For most of us, we see the prize afar off, even though it doesn't exist yet in the natural, but what we don't see is the path or the step by step plan to attain the prize.

Many times God doesn't give you the step by step plan because He is going to be doing a lot of things behind the scenes that you will never comprehend and could never execute on your own. So He simply asks you to take a step of faith into the unknown, then another and another until you reach the other side. It requires the ability to trust Him when you can't see where that step will take you, but you take it anyway. You must believe. Make no mistake. The fear is real. The risks are real. But sometimes it seems that only when we are willing to lose everything do we gain everything. Have faith-filled day!

Tuesday, July 15 2008

2008-07-15T21:59:00.002-05:00

Living in obedience to the will of God makes supreme sense. His way isnt just the way to heaven; its the best way to live on earth as well.

Then why do we struggle with obedience to God? The apostle Paul says its because of our sinful naturethe flesh. When we insist on resisting the Spirit with the flesh, we get exactly what we want: our own way. Sometimes it is hard for us to learn how unpleasant this can be. While Paul was persisting in persecuting the followers of Christ, the Lord observed, You are only hurting yourself by fighting Me (Acts 26:14, NCV).

The prophet Isaiah described it like this: All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way (Isa. 53:6). In short, we have trouble obeying because we have a will that is contrary to Gods will. We resist Him and rebel against His commandments.

Sheep are not the only creatures that resemble mans selfish plight. Dogs do, too. We can learn and see our response to God mirrored in the training of special breed of bird dogs known as retrievers. They must all be trained to fetch and return to their masters.

Each special breed of retriever, however, responds to this training differently. The Chesapeake Bay retriever is one of the most strong-willed. Trainers must use a club to teach this hardheaded hound to obey the commands of his master. For the black Labrador, only the sting of a freshly cut switch is needed. And the golden retriever is the most sensitive of all, the trainer needing only his voice to train him. Evidently, his heart is tender to the tone of the masters voice.

Like those purebred retrievers, we respond to our Masters training in different ways. Perhaps all you need to correct a bad attitude or habit is to hear a whisper of displeasure in your Masters voice. Others may need the switch or even the club. Which one of the three is least painful? Choose the way you want to respond to God.

Monday, July 14 2008

2008-07-14T10:01:00.002-05:00

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Rom 6:4).

When Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, he took them to the edge of the Red Sea. The people saw the sea before them and heard the chariots of the Egyptians behind them. They knew they were trapped - and they lost their faith in God. They thought God was no longer at work in their lives. In panic and despair, they turned on Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out into the desert to die? When we were slaves in Egypt, didn't we tell you, 'Just leave us alone and let us continue serving the Egyptians.' Better to live as slaves than to die out here!"

They couldn't imagine that God's path to freedom actually led straight into and through the deep waters! The waters of the Red Sea, like the New Testament sacrament of baptism, are a symbol of death. When Moses parted the Red Sea, the people of Israel walked upon the dry seabed with walls of water on either side. They descended into the depths of the sea. They died to their old selves and rose to a new life that led to the Promised Land.

Like the people of Israel in their journey, we panic and cry out to God, "Did You bring me out into this desert of adversity to die?" We would rather live as slaves than die to self and yield control of our lives to God. But God takes us through the depths so that we can emerge as new people, ready to enter the Promised Land.

We should know that the greater and higher the calling, the more intense the adversity. But it doesn't mean that one person's calling is more important. We learn from this that someone's calling may have a more far reaching impact on others. This often requires greater preparation. If you find yourself in deep water, thank God today that He is preparing you for a life that is designed to impact many.

Friday/Saturday, July 11/12 2008

2008-07-12T10:57:00.003-05:00

"But after the men were healed, God told Joshua, 'Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you'" (Josh 5:9).

God is calling thousands of people out of Egypt, out of their old lives of bondage. He's calling them to become new people, living out His plan for their lives in the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey. God wants Christians to take their places in the financial marketplace, the corridors of commerce, the capitals of information and entertainment, and the halls of government.

When the people of Israel crossed over the Jordan River and set foot upon the land of promise, God told Joshua to make flint knives and revive a ritual that had fallen into disuse: circumcision.

The rite of circumcision, of course, is the surgical removal of the foreskin (prepuce) of the penis. This rite was established as a sign of God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17, but it had not been practiced during the 40 years that Israel wandered in the wilderness before reaching the Promised Land. Joshua obeyed God's command and had all the Israelite men circumcised at a place they called Gibeath Haaraloth (a rather graphic name that means "hill of foreskins").

The rite of circumcision is painful, bloody and personal, and the Israelite men were incapacitated until the wound had healed. With the removal of the foreskins, the men of Israel became a new and different people. They were no longer slaves of the past; they were free people with a future. It was time to put aside the old way of life and to put Egypt behind them and enter the Promised Land with confidence and power.

The people of Israel would go on to fight 39 major battles before the Promised Land came under their control. The Israelites couldn't compromise with the evil and idolatry that was in the land. God told them to destroy it. As believers, we will always be in a battle against evil until the war is won. God has designed a bright future for us - and it's ours if we accept His calling and cling to Him as He reshapes us and remakes us.

Thursday, July 10 2008

2008-07-10T09:10:00.002-05:00

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7)

It is no coincidence that the phrase, "walk by faith," is used in Scripture. Notice that Scripture doesn't tell us to sprint by faith; it tells us to walk by faith. To walk speaks of continual, regulated motion. The Bible says Enoch walked with God.

Many believers have their bursts of energy. For a few months, they run. Then they collapse for a while. They need to learn what it is to walk with God. Of course, we like things fast. We have microwave dinners, e-mail, cell phones, and instant messaging. We have so much technology to make our lives a little easier and, most importantly, faster.

Then, when we come to the Christian life, we say, "All right, what's the angle? What's the shortcut?" Here it is: "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17). It's a day-by-day process. We are always looking for the angle, for the inside track. But it's very simple. The Bible declares that the just shall live by faith. Not by feeling. Not by emotion. Not by fear. Not by worries. By faith.

We all know that sometimes it seems like nothing is happening in terms of our spiritual growth. There are times when we don't really feel like we are changing, because as we look at ourselves every day, we don't necessarily see any changes. But as we are walking by faith day by day, month by month, and year by year, we are being transformed.

Colossians 2:6 tells us, "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." That's it. The just shall live by faith.

Wednesday, July 9 2008

2008-07-09T10:16:00.004-05:00

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe" (Eph 1:18-19).

Paul's letter to the Ephesians exhorts believers to experience three important things in their spiritual lives that he experienced personally. As a good mentor, he desires those he is leading to follow his example.

First, God wants you to have the eyes of your heart enlightened in order to know the hope to which He has called you. God has called each of us to a future and a hope. Some do not ever realize the dreams they envision for their lives. Paul prays they will experience this.

Second, God wants you to know there is an inheritance for each believer in Jesus Christ. There are riches to be had - not financial riches - but spiritual riches that are laid up for every saint. As you are faithful to His calling in your life, there will be a reward for your faithfulness.

Third, God desires you to tap into the power that is available to every believer. Paul often exhorted believers not to look at his persuasive words, but the demonstration of the power of God in his life. He wants you to know this same power is available to you. After all, Jesus said we would do even greater works than He did after He sent the Holy Spirit to us.

Pray that God reveals the hope that exists inside of you, be encouraged that there is an inheritance awaiting you, and know that you have power that resides in you that awaits those who exercise their faith to release it.

Tuesday, July 8 2008

2008-07-08T10:36:00.002-05:00

"But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" (Rom. 6:17-18).

Becoming a new person in Christ is part of a life-long journey that begins at conversion. Before coming to Christ, we were living (in a metaphorical sense) in Egypt, in the land of bondage. Just as the people of Israel toiled as slaves in Egypt, we were slaves to sin and worldly ambition.

Before we came to Christ, we sweated and toiled to build our career and acquire material possessions. Work was our idol. Greed was our taskmaster. We may have had all the trappings of power in the business world - a corner office, a staff of our own, a key to the executive washroom - but we were living as a slave in the land of Egypt. We didn't run our career; our career ran us.

Jesus once said, "No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money" (Luke 16:13). In the original language, the word translated "money" was an Aramaic word, Mammon. This does not refer merely to money as a medium of exchange but also to a demonic spirit designed to promote a mind-set of ambition for riches, power and worldly gain. The word is capitalized in the original text because the people of Jesus' day thought of Mammon as a false god. Jesus was saying that those who spend their lives seeking worldly gain are idolaters. No one can serve two masters. No one can worship both the true God and a false god.

We cannot experience the grace that God gives to His children because we are too busy striving for riches and enslaved to Mammon. The only way we can be free is to turn away from Mammon and allow the one true God to transform us into a different person. Ask yourself today if your life is best represented as Egypt or the Promised Land.

Monday, July 7 2008

2008-07-07T00:19:00.003-05:00

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Ps.63:1).

The desert holds a special place in God's Word. The Scriptures portray the desert as a place of inspiration and exaltation - a place where people met God in a powerful new way. King David wrote the 63rd Psalm while in exile in the Desert of Judah. He was hiding from his son Absalom, who wanted to replace him as king of Israel.

For Joseph, a deep pit in the desert was the first stop on a 13-year journey through desolation and despair. That 13-year desert experience served to break Joseph's self-will and self-confidence. It taught him that he could not control anything and that he needed to rely on God to manage the events in his life. Joseph's desert trial prepared him by scorching the youthful pride and arrogance out of his young life so that when he was 30 years old he could rule Egypt at Pharaoh's side in a spirit of humility and servant-hood.

Before becoming king of Israel, David was a shepherd. Part of his training for leadership involved hand-to-claw combat with the beasts of the wilderness, including the lion and the bear. Elijah learned the principles of spiritual leadership while in the wilderness of Gilead. And Jesus was tempted and tested for 40 days in the desert before He began to preach.

Perhaps God has given you a dream, but now it seems that your dream has withered and died under the scorching desert sun. It seems that God has gone away and is not listening to your prayers. But know this: that your dream still lives. God is with you, even if you can't see Him, hear Him or sense His presence. He is preparing you in the desert.

Friday, July 4 2008

2008-07-04T10:33:00.003-05:00

"Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son" (Gen 22:10).

There are times in our lives when God brings a test to see if we are ready to put to death the very thing that God promised we would have. Such was the case in the life of Abraham with Isaac. Isaac was the promised son. Yet, God said to raise the knife to sacrifice him in obedience God.

When God brings such a test into our lives we usually have a choice. Neither choice is attractive. One choice will often salvage some aspect of the vision. The other choice will totally kill the vision from our perspective. However, that is the faith decision. That is the only decision from God's perspective.

If we choose the faith decision that kills the vision - we will witness the resurrection of the vision supernaturally by God. Our own faith will be launched into a whole new dimension. He will raise us up in order to speak through our lives in that experience. God often brings that person into a very public ministry.

However, if we choose the lesser decision, we will reside in a lesser walk with God. God will accept the decision but there will be consequences to our faith journey. He cannot trust us with a bigger vision because He sees our obedience is moveable based on our perceived consequences.

If we choose the lesser decision then God will often orchestrate other events in our lives that are designed to develop our faith to a level that will allow us to make the right decision the next time.

Do you have resurrection faith that will trust God to raise your situation from the dead?

Thursday, July 3 2008

2008-07-03T09:54:00.003-05:00

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

God speaks to his children in many varied ways. God has said that his ways are not our ways. If left to our reasoning, we will fail to fully walk in the full counsel of God, which leads to poor decisions.

Thus, our goal is to avoid being deceived and to develop a listening ear that hears the voice of God with confidence. Our goal is to have such intimacy with God that we can walk in the full blessing of our decisions and to be assured they are not based on our own reasoning alone. This does not mean that we do not use the intellectual and logical skills that He has equipped us with.

A.W. Tozer said that the man or woman who is wholly and joyously surrendered to Christ can't make a wrong choice - any choice will be the right one. J. Oswald Sanders explains his method of receiving guidance from God for decisions; "I try to gather all the information and all the facts that are involved in a decision, and then weigh them up and pray over them in the Lord's presence, and trust the Holy Spirit to sway my mind in the direction of God's will. And God generally guides by presenting reasons to my mind for acting in a certain way."

The apostle Paul said, "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13). God has equipped us with everything we need to make good decisions. Hearing His voice is the first step toward making right choices in life.

Do you have a decision to make? Submit that decision to the Lord, ask God for clarity. Ask Him to make the desires of your heart the same desires that He has for you in this matter. Await His perfect timing on the matter. Then you can be assured of making the right decisions.

Wednesday, July 2 2008

2008-07-02T11:44:00.003-05:00

When you read in the book of Numbers chapter 13 and 14, you will find a disturbing story in both chapters. It's about "seeing." Moses had sent twelve spies into the Promised Land and they all saw the same thing with their physical eyes. But with their spiritual eyes, they saw something completely different. Ten of the men saw land that "eats its inhabitants." Those that weren't eaten, were of great stature and those that weren't of great stature were even bigger! They were giants! The ten men saw themselves as grasshoppers by comparison Can you hear the exaggeration? Land that eats its inhabitants? Grasshoppers by comparison?

The children of Israel listened to the bad report and immediately they wanted to go back into slavery where Pharaoh hated them as did all Egyptians and where they were treated with great cruelty and they began to pick a new leader who would take them back and negotiate something with Egypt! Can you imagine?

But what did Joshua and Caleb see? When they looked at the giants, they saw bread! Provision! They say fields that were already planted, houses that were already built, barns that were already full. They were excited and knew that if God delighted in them, He would bring them into a land that flows with milk and honey. The only condition was to not rebel against the Lord. Apparently that was too much and they rebelled. What form was that rebellion? It was simply unbelief. God let them die in the wilderness, never entering into the promise He had for them.

So the question to you today is, what do you see? Are you seeing God's perspective or the enemies' vision? Are you going to believe God or your lying eyes? Yes, sometimes your eyes will deceive you. Here's a clue... whenever you are faced with an adversity, wait on God until He shows you the opportunity. Then believe God and secure your opportunity.

Tuesday, July 1 2008

2008-07-01T11:37:00.003-05:00

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding" (Psalms 111:10).

Education is a high priority in any society that wants to advance. Education should be sought after by every believer in Jesus Christ in order to better understand God's ways. However, education that is not mixed with faith and obedience will result in programmatic religion.

In the early Hebraic church, wisdom was gained by obedience. Hebrews learned that wisdom was gained by knowing and doing the will of God and that it often did not line up with logic. However, as the church became impacted by the Greek culture through the influence of scholars like Socrates and Aristotle, knowledge-based systems became more influential in the way education was taught and applied. Greeks believed that the way to gain knowledge was based on reason and analysis.

When Joshua walked around the city of Jericho seven times blowing his trumpets, he was exhibiting a Hebraic model of decision-making - pure obedience. Logic and reason played no part in this decision. When Elisha instructed the army general to go wash in a lake in order to be healed of leprosy, it confronted his intellect. This was Hebraic thought rooted in obedience.

The Church has moved into a more knowledge-based and programmatic system of operation over the centuries, rather than obedience-based methods that are motivated by a heart fully devoted to following God. We've replaced obedience with reason, logic, and slick marketing for attractive programs to entice people into our churches.

Ultimately, God desires us to take the Hebraic approach when making decisions. He wants us to make decisions based on our heart's desire to follow Him.

Monday, June 30 2008

2008-06-30T12:01:00.003-05:00

It is worth noting that no person in the New Testament came to faith apart from the agency of a human being. Have you ever stopped and thought about that? We can find example after example.

There was the Ethiopian (see Acts 8:26-39). There are many ways that God could have reached this man from a distant country. He could have sent an angel to meet him. Instead, the Lord sent an angel to Philip and told him to go. So Philip went and proclaimed the gospel to that man, and he believed.

Then there was the Philippian jailer (see Acts 16:27--34). God could have reached him in many ways. Instead, He allowed Paul and Silas to be incarcerated and to ultimately proclaim the gospel, bringing that man and his family to faith.

We can think of Cornelius, a man who was searching for God (see Acts 10). An angel spoke to him and told him he needed to meet a man named Simon Peter The angel explained where to find him. The angel could have given him the gospel. But God chose to use Simon Peter.

What about Saul? While it is true that he was converted through an encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, his conversion was sandwiched between experiences with two people who influenced him. First, it was the witness of Stephen that softened Saul's heart and made it receptive to the seed of the Word when he was confronted by Jesus Christ. Afterward, God sent Ananias to follow up on Saul and pray for him to receive the power of the Holy Spirit So you see, God used people. And He wants to use you.

Friday, June 27 2008

2008-06-27T06:37:00.002-05:00

"But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life." (Romans 6:22).

Are you happy with the way that you are right now? Are there things in your life you would like to see dramatically altered? Perhaps, like many other people, you make bold resolutions whenever a new year rolls around. You make plans regarding what changes you want to make in the coming year. But it's not long until you have gone back on those great resolutions.

In the same way, as Christians we are often defeated in day-to-day living because we don't really realize how many resources God has placed in our spiritual account. A lot of times we say, "God help me. God, give me this. God, give me that." Meanwhile, God is saying, "Will you please go check your account? I have deposited more than you could ever use. Check it out."

Can you imagine a soldier fighting a battle with no ammunition, while he was sitting on a bunker filled with thousands and thousands of rounds of ammo, more than he could use in a thousand wars? He has more than he needs right under him, but he is trying to fight the battle without the resources he has.

Our defeat in our battle with sin and temptation lies largely in our ignorance of the facts. In Jesus Christ there is power to live a new life and to no longer be under sin's control. That power is not in imitation, because you can imitate Jesus all you want and try to be like Him. The power comes from impartation. God has done something for you, and now it is for you to appropriate that divine provision.

Thursday, June 26 2008

2008-06-26T08:49:00.002-05:00

"Then the men of Judah said to the Simeonites their brothers, 'Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours'" (Judg 1:3).

After the death of Joshua there arose a wicked king named Adoni-bezek that was creating havoc in the land. He prided himself in defeating his enemies and cutting off the big toes and thumbs of his enemies. He had done this to seventy kings. Now, without Joshua to lead them, the people wondered how they were to defeat this wicked king. Until this time, every King had attempted to defeat Adoni-bezek themselves and had lost.

The Lord told them they were to join forces with the other tribes in order to defeat this wicked king. "When Judah attacked, the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. It was there that they found Adoni-Bezek and fought against him, putting to rout the Canaanites and Perizzites. Adoni-Bezek fled, but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes" (Judg 1:4-6).

God is calling the Body of Christ together in cities to operate in unity together in order to defeat the wickedness in our cities. However, the key to victory is a willingness for churches, workplace leaders, and intercessors to work together as a unified army.

Jesus said, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23). God calls each of us individually and corporately to represent Christ to the world, but our independence, pride and individualism often prevent us from becoming unified in the purposes of Christ. The marketplace and the Church must come together to bless the city with practical initiatives that benefit the city. When unity takes place among leadership in the Body of Christ, Jesus responds by allowing the city to respond to Jesus. You will see more fruitful evangelism, favor among city leaders and an impact on the city you never thought possible.

Wednesday, June 25 2008

2008-06-25T08:01:00.002-05:00

"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD" (Joshua 9:14).

When Joshua and the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they fought many battles. In fact, they fought 39 battles in the Promised Land compared to only two in their exodus from Egypt. God instructed them to wipe out all their enemies completely. The more battles they won, the more their reputation preceded them as they entered new territories. Such was the case when Joshua and the people came into the land where the Gibeonites lived.

The Gibeonites knew they were as good as dead if they didn't do something. So, they dressed up in old, worn clothes and posed as foreigners passing through. They asked Joshua and the people to make a peace treaty with them. An interesting thing happened.

The scriptures tell us that Joshua and the people made a treaty with them because they did not inquire of God about these people. They assumed what they said was true. This turned out to be a very bad assumption. They were now forced to abide by this treaty after they discovered their true identity. They had been deceived. The Israelites were forced to make the Gibeonites slaves. This created a problem for Joshua and the people. The deception resulted because Joshua failed to keep a vertical focus with God. Joshua did not ask God about these people.

They now had to pay the consequences. Those consequences resulted in having to work to avoid cross-tribal marriages while they had to make an entire people their slaves. This was something God never intended them to have to do. The relationship was a source of compromise for the Israelites that made them susceptible to future compromises.

Many of us fall for the Gibeonite Ruse in our lives. It may be a great looking investment, a job that's going to pay more, or a relationship that you deeply desire. Sooner or later we all get entangled in our own Gibeonite Ruse because we fail to inquire of God.

Tuesday, June 24 2008

2008-06-24T09:24:00.002-05:00

People make changes in their lives for many reasons. Often it is when they face a crisis in life. It might be a heart attack. It might be the loss of a spouse through death or divorce. It might some other crisis that hits them, and they begin to evaluate their priorities and take stock of their lives.

They determine to make changes. But often the same people who vow to change end up going back to their old ways. We often hear of celebrities being admitted to drug rehabilitation centers. We hear about the great changes they have made. They tell their stories on television and write books about it. But then a few months later, we read that they have gone back to their old ways. Why? Because they have made moral changes in their lives, but they haven't gotten to the root of their problem, which is the absence of God in their lives.

Jesus warned the Pharisees, "First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too" (Matthew 23:26). Jesus was telling them that they were missing the point when they only concentrated on the outward. They must first take care of the inward.

The clear mandate given to the church from the lips of Jesus Himself was to go into this world and preach the gospel, because when people truly find Him, it will change their lifestyle. If, as believers, we allow other things to detract us from this calling, then we are also missing the point. As Jesus said, "First wash the inside, . . . and then the outside will become clean, too." That is where we must focus our efforts.

Monday, June 23 2008

2008-06-23T09:29:00.002-05:00

The word used for "press" in Philippians 3:14 carries in the meaning of "strong exertion." Every muscle of the runner is burning. He can see the ribbon. He has only a few more feet to go in the race. He must press on.

It is the same in our lives as Christians. There are times when it just gets hard. But it is then that we learn what it means to walk by faith and not by feeling. You can't live on an emotional high as a Christian. You must pace yourself in this race you are running. You can't expect that every time you go to church, you will have some great emotional encounter with God. Sometimes you will. Sometimes you won't. Growing up and learning to walk by faith are part of spiritual maturity.

When you first made a commitment to Christ, you discovered the joy and wonderful peace that comes from being forgiven. But you must realize that this is a walk by faith. You must press on even when it gets hard. Maybe, as you have been running, you have found yourself in a place where you are dragging burdens, sins, or other things along. Maybe you find that you don't even know why you are running the race anymore. Maybe you have become discouraged.

Look up and remember that it is Jesus whom you are running for. Two thousand years ago, He loved you so much that He went to the cross and died there. He shed His blood for you. Then He rose again from the dead. Because He did that for you, you can live for Him today. He will give you the strength.

Friday, June 20 2008

2008-06-21T00:11:00.001-05:00

"But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today" (Deut. 8:18).

Muhammad Ali is considered the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He won 56 of his 61 professional fights and knocked out 37 opponents. His most famous catchphrase was, "I am the greatest!" One day, Ali was seated in an airplane when the flight attendant came up the aisle to make sure that all the passengers had their seatbelts fastened. Reaching Ali's seat, she asked him to buckle up. "Hmph!" the champ sneered. "Superman don't need no seatbelt!" The flight attendant smiled sweetly and replied, "Superman don't need no airplane, either." Ali fastened his seatbelt.

The greater our success, the greater the risk of us thinking too highly of ourselves. Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle observed, "Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity there are a hundred that will stand adversity." And Oswald Chambers wrote, "Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity."

Each of us must view success as a gift from God. We must learn to see all of our successes as a gift from God, not our own achievement. The Lord is the source of all success, all elevation, all blessing. If you have a good mind and a healthy body, if you live in a land of opportunity, if you have a good education, if you've had a few breaks go your way, then you have much to be grateful for - and no cause for arrogance. You didn't achieve success; you received it as a gift. Each of us must voluntarily humble ourselves before God - or God will have to humble us Himself. I have learned it is better to learn humility voluntarily, than involuntarily! Paul tells us: "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you" (Rom. 12:3).

Thursday, June 19 2008

2008-06-19T09:39:00.003-05:00

"Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind" (Ps. 26:2).

Throughout the Old Testament, we see many situations in which God tests His people in order to determine if they will follow Him or follow the systems of this world. The nation of Israel was tested many times during the 40-year sojourn in the wilderness: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands" (Deut. 8:2).

You might ask, "Why does God need to test us? Doesn't He know everything, including what we would do in every situation?" Yes, God knows, but we don't know ourselves! God doesn't test us in order to find out something He doesn't already know. He tests us so that we can learn about ourselves and His love, power and faithfulness.

In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac on a mountain in the land of Moriah. Isaac was Abraham's only son by his wife Sarah?the son God had promised to Abraham. By demanding that Isaac be sacrificed, God seemed to be nullifying His covenant of making a great nation of Abraham. How could God's promise be fulfilled if Isaac was dead?

God tested Abraham to reveal whether or not Abraham truly trusted His promise. Yes, God knew what Abraham would do, but He wanted Abraham to know as well. So God put Abraham to the test?and Abraham passed. As Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice his own son, God stopped him and provided a sacrificial ram instead. Every test involves obedience in one way or another. When God tests us, He reveals the true state of our hearts. Are we obedient to His will, or are we self-willed? We might think we know the answer, but we would never truly know unless we were tested.

Wednesday, June 18 2008

2008-06-18T22:26:00.002-05:00

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power...." (Eph 1:18, 19)

You have two sets of eyes. Your physical eyes allow you to see the physical world but your spiritual eyes allow you to understand it. Paul calls them "eyes of understanding" and they allow you to "see" the great hope of His calling on your life.

That is to say, they allow you to understand the mountain of hope that comes with the great calling He has for you. Think of the hope you would feel if a team from the NBA or NFL came to your high school and said they wanted you to play for them when you graduate. Or perhaps the New York Philharmonic Orchestra or a major book publisher approached you to tap your talent. Imagine the great hope that comes to a young person in a situation like that! The calling God has for each one of us is like that, but even better.

Spiritual eyes allow you to see the hope that your calling brings. But with calling comes the question, "How?" When you see the fullness of what God has called you to, you will definitely wonder how getting that done will be possible. If you don't have that question, you may still be looking at your own idea for your calling. So Paul prays secondly, that we would see not only the hope of that great calling on our lives but also the provision to bring it to pass. I am speaking of the glorious wealth of inheritance He deposited in us to get the job done. God has deposited His Spirit in you and with that everything you need for life and godliness. He has uniquely gifted you to fulfill a magnificent destiny if you would but have eyes to see not only the destiny but also the inheritance within to get the job done.

Thirdly, Paul knows that people will struggle to accept that there is any good thing in them, but he speaks not of the flesh in which dwells no good thing, but of the spirit. So Paul prays a third thing, that your spiritual eyes would see not only the hope of your calling and the inheritance He deposited within you, but also the exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe. But when you begin to see with your spiritual eyes as Paul prayed, hope builds, faith comes, power is released and destinies are fulfilled.

Ask the Lord to reveal to you more of the calling He has for you. Many of you feel you know that, but ask God for more details, more imagery, more vision. Spend time with Him on that for it will build hope. Then ask Him to help you see His inheritance within you. What has He put in you? What does that look like? He will reveal it. Then ask Him to reveal afresh to you His exceeding power and let belief spring up in you.

Tuesday, June 17 2008

2008-06-17T01:07:00.001-05:00

"With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread" (Judg 6:21).

Gideon was a farmer who threshed wheat for a living using a staff. This was commonly used in his day to beat out fitches and cummin (Isa 28:27), but now it was being used for wheat.

He was busy doing his work when an angel of God appeared to him. The angel told him that he was going to be used to deliver the people of Israel from the Midianites who had been ravaging their land and crops for seven years. God was calling Gideon to do a new type of threshing. Instead of threshing wheat, he was being called to thresh the Midianites. God often calls men and women when they are in the middle of their workplace activities.

Like Moses, Gideon received this word from God with reluctance and feelings of insecurity, citing that his family was of no stature to accomplish such a task. Nevertheless, God addressed Gideon as a "mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12).

God often sees us for what we will become, not what we think we are. Once Gideon determines through a series of fleeces that it truly is God speaking to him he does an interesting thing. He prepares an offering to the Lord of meat and bread. Once this offering is prepared, the angel uses the tip of his staff to consume the offering.

Here God uses another symbol of his work to consummate a partnership to accomplish one of God's purposes in the nation of Israel. This time the staff is used to receive the offering presented to the Lord by touching the offering with the tip of his staff. God used the symbol of his work to ignite the fire that consumed the offering. Be watchful for times when God orchestrates events during the commonplace activity of work. He may be orchestrating something through you for His purposes.