March 11, 2017

                                                 

DAY EIGHTEEN

March 11, 2017

Power For The Future

“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today…The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” Exodus 14:13-14

God’s power does not operate until we move beyond the realm of our possibilities.  As long as we can do it in our own strength, there is no need for God to display His power.  We must move beyond our abilities if a watching world will ever see the power of God.  This feat is seen clearly in our text as the recently freed Hebrew slaves found themselves surrounded by impossibilities.  Before them was a sea that could not be crossed.  Beside them was a barren wasteland.  Behind them was an enemy that desired to capture them and take them back to where they had been.  In this difficult situation they had three options:

They could go back.

They could stand still.

They could go forward.

For the children of God, there is only one real option - go forward!  As we move forward under God’s direction and by His power, we must be careful.  Around us are many roads that can only lead to defeat and death.  Doctrinal deviation, isolation, cowardly compromise, and division are to be avoided.

Before us there is a future.  There is a land that flows with milk and honey.  This future is as bright and powerful as the promises of God that we find in Scripture.

Prayer Focus:  Pray that Fred Wes will not be afraid to move forward with God.  Ask God to give you a promise out of His word to claim for our church.  Pray about an area of your life that needs to move forward.

March 10, 2017

                                               

DAY SEVENTEEN

March 10, 2017

Power!

“…His incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly realms…” Ephesians 1:19-20

One of the greatest needs in the church today is power; not political power, not manipulative power, not fleshly power, but heaven-sent, Holy Spirit anointed power.  The source of all power is the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  The Bible tell us in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”  The Bible continues to state this truth again in I Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

If the Bible is the source of all power, and there are lots of copies out there, then why are there not more changed lives?  Could it be that we are missing the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Acts 1:8 it says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

How is it possible to read the Bible and yet be unaffected by it?  The root of the issue is what you define as truth.  Do you believe that everything in the Bible is true and that it is from God and that the power of the Holy Spirit is for you?  For the Christian, power and truth are inseparably linked together.  Paul says in Ephesians 6:17, “Take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”  God gives us spiritual power when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We understand the operation of the Holy Spirit through Scripture.  Consider today’s devotional a challenge to be filled with the Holy Spirit and memorize a new Scripture verse.  Then you can claim the promise of its power. Why not start with Acts 1:8?

Prayer Focus: Pray that the people of Fredericksburg Wesleyan Church will be a powerhouse for God because we daily put on His armor and are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.  This armor includes the belt of truth, the body armor of God’s righteousness, the shoes of peace that come from the Good News, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, and that we will be a people who pray at all times (see Ephesians 6:10-18).  Pray that we will have a genuine love for God’s truth and will claim its power.

March 9, 2017

                

March 9, 2017

DAY SIXTEEN

How Much Is Too Much?

“She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.” Mark 14:3b

The story of the Bethany anointing is one of the few stories of Jesus’ life that is contained in all four of the gospels.  So impressive was this event that it was indelibly written upon the disciples’ hearts so that they never, ever forgot this act of devotion.  Mark uses it as a prelude to the passion events.  It contrasts the hatred and rejection that Jesus was receiving at the hands of the rulers and the people.  This act of worship and devotion stood out as an act of love that the Lord deserved from all, but was only given by a few.

May this deed be received as a call to worship for us today.  May this deed make us ask ourselves the question, “How much is too much?”  This woman’s act set a standard of sacrifice, which none can better, but all can match.  That alabaster bottle was very valuable.  It was worth a year’s wages.  Plus, it was to be saved for the most important occasion of one’s life.  What is the most extravagant thing you have done for the Lord?  What can we learn from this Scripture?

• Real love is always extravagant.
• Extravagant love is always criticized.
• Jesus always comes to the defense of those who are criticized for being extravagant in their devotion towards Him.

Prayer Focus:  Pray that the people connected to our church will love Jesus so much that they will be extravagant with their giving of their time, talents, and treasures.

March 8, 2017

                                                         

DAY FIFTEEN

March 8, 2017

Discover Your Destiny…Like Joseph

“…when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back the spirit of  their father Jacob revived.”  Genesis 45:27b

Today’s story is about Andrew Singleton.  He had an I.Q. of only 55.  But his parents dreamed for him.  They dreamed that he could somehow enjoy life as a teenager.  Although he was enrolled in special need centers for most of his life, when he was 19, his parents put him in regular high school.  He attended special classes there and endured a tremendous amount of pressure while adjusting to his new environment.  His parents desired that Andy would be accepted and have friends there.  Eventually, Andy did so well that he was able to participate in some mainstream classes.

On graduation day when Andrew’s name was called, his parents watched in amazement as the unbelievable happened.  All 192 of his classmates rose to their feet and soon the entire crowd of spectators joined them.  His classmates began to cheer for him and to call out his name.  It was a dream come true.

When we get to heaven we will also celebrate a dream come true.  Until then, God will keep us revived.  Jacob was living with a spirit of poverty until he saw the wagons.  When he saw the riches from Egypt from a son he had thought dead, he was revived.

Prayer Focus:  Pray that each and every one of us at Fredericksburg Wesleyan Church will develop ownership of our God-given dream to build.  Ask God to revive the church leaders of this dream as they continue to work toward it – our pastor, the staff, the church leaders, and the campaign team leaders.  Ask God to revive you in an area of your life that needs it.

March 7, 2017

                                                        

DAY FOURTEEN

March 7, 2017

Discover Your Destiny…Like Jacob

“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.’” Genesis 28:16,22

Today we continue our look at Jacob’s encounter with God.  Because of this experience, Jacob went from being characterized as a taker, to being known as a giver.  It was all due to meeting the living God personally.  Look at the God he met:

God is a Dream-Maker (Genesis 28:12).  God came to Jacob with a dream for a glorious future.  God always puts dreams about the future in our hearts.  Jacob awoke to a wonderful truth.  Beforehand, he did not know that he was at the house of God and the gate of heaven.  God delights in giving us dreams and then seeing them come to pass.

God is a Promise-Keeper (Genesis 28:13).  God reveals Himself not with just a generic name for God, but the covenant name of Yahweh.  God is a God who makes promises and keeps them.  He does what He says He will do.

God is a Work-Giver (Genesis 28:13).  He speaks.  The verse says, “and He said.”  God reveals Himself clearly to His people through the Bible, which are His oral words in written form.  Jacob had been stumbling around wondering, until he heard the voice of God.

God is a Living God (Genesis 28:13).  God does not identify Himself as, “I was the God of your father Abraham.”  But rather He says, “I am the God of your father Abraham.”

Prayer Focus:  Take time in prayer to praise and worship God for who He is to you.  Love Him back in a real and personal way today.

March 6, 2017

                                                      

DAY THIRTEEN

March 6, 2017

Discover Your Destiny…Like Jacob

“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.’” Genesis 28:16,22

Today’s passage finds Jacob running from the consequences of his actions and falling asleep at a place called Bethel.  While he was asleep, God revealed Himself to him in a personal way.  It was then that the God of his fathers became his personal God too.

Before we see how this destiny moment changed his perspective about giving, let’s look at the point where God showed up in Jacob’s life.

God reveals Himself when we are at the end of ourselves.  Jacob’s scheming and trickery had brought him nothing but failure and rejection.  When he stopped running and fell asleep at Bethel, he had nothing.  It is when you are at the end of your rope that God reveals Himself to you in a personal way.

God reveals Himself when we are alone.  God came to Moses when he was alone with his flocks in Midian.  God came to Isaiah while he was alone in the temple praying.  God uses the times we are alone to reveal Himself, for usually, that is when He has our undivided attention.

Jacob was forever changed at Bethel.  When God became personal to him, he immediately vowed to give God a tenth of everything.  This personal encounter with God changed Jacob from a taker in life to a giver.  Personal encounters with God result in changed lives.

Prayer Focus:  Pray that everyone touched by Fred Wes will experience a personal relationship with God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Ask the Father how the giving of your time, talent, and treasures can reveal your personal faith in Him.  If you don’t know God in a personal way, pray and ask Him to meet you at “your Bethel.”

March 5, 2017

                                                      

DAY TWELVE

March 5, 2017

Discover Your Destiny…Like Rebekah

“‘Drink, my Lord,’ she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.  After she had given him a drink, she said, ‘I’ll draw water for your camels too…" Genesis 24:18-19

Chapter twenty-four of Genesis details the marvelous narrative of the servant of Abraham who seeks out a bride for Isaac.  Most interpreters see a story behind the story in these verses.  Abraham appears to be an example of Father God, Isaac is a picture of His Son, Jesus Christ, and the servant who goes on the journey to find the bride corresponds to the Holy Spirit.

This unnamed servant, when looking for a bride for the Father’s son, had one characteristic in mind that she must possess.  It was not natural beauty, even though Rebekah was naturally beautiful.  It was not strength, even though she was strong.  The servant was looking for a person who had the spirit of giving, for a giving person would bless the son, Isaac.  When Rebekah gave him a drink and then offered to water his camels (which might take hours, by the way!), he knew that he had found the one for Isaac.

The Holy Spirit as well waits in the background until He sees the spirit of giving in you.  Then He pulls out the riches and gives you revelation of the Father’s plan.

The Holy Spirit is watching and waiting on your response to the opportunities to give in your life.  (Genesis 24:12)

The Holy Spirit will graciously confront you with the opportunity to give.  (Genesis 24:17)

Rebekah was willing to give.  She was going to the well to take care of her needs.  It was her water, but she gave it away.  (Genesis 24:18)

Rebekah was willing to go beyond the ordinary.  If you are willing to go beyond the ordinary for God, He will go beyond the ordinary for you.  (Genesis 24:19)

Prayer Focus:  Pray that Fredericksburg Wesleyan Church possesses a spirit of giving above the ordinary.  Ask God to bless you with a giving spirit.  Pray for someone you know who struggles in this area.