Online Journals

Rhema:

Psalm 139: 17 How precious are your thoughts about me,[b] O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me

Inspect:

This is so amazing how much God thinks of us, especially when I think about how much I think of Him! For me, I go through long periods of the day when I don’t even consider God, am not even aware of Him. However compare this to how much God thinks of us. The scripture here says that God is constantly thinking about us. The number of thoughts that He has about us is infinite. You would think that God could be spending His time with so many other things, and yet He chooses to think many upon many thoughts about us.

Why? I believe because He cares so much about us. He is constantly thinking of ways to bless us, ways to make us stronger in character, in body, way to make us more helpful with each other. I smile when I think of why He wants to think so much about us, I think it's because we’re so difficult. If were more obedient, less complex, than we would be more easy to care for. I think of how much more a disobedient child takes in energy and wisdom to raise and care for, than an obedient, submissive child. Well that’s us, rebellious, disobedient and just plain stubborn, no matter God has to constantly think about us. It’s because He loves us so much that He will never give up on us.

Commit:

I must take encouragement in how much my Heavenly Father loves me. I see here that He is constantly thinking about me. He is constantly trying to make me better, constantly trying to keep me out of trouble. He is amazing!

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for helping me to understand the magnitude of your love for me. It is my comfort that You are thinking so much about me. Help me to honor that love. Help me to take more time to hear your thoughts and to be obedient to them. Help me in turn to think about others, about how I might be a blessing to them, to help them grow closer to you. Send your Holy Spirit to give me the right thoughts.

In the name of the one who thinks of me so much more than I think of Him, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

1 Chronicles 12: 14 These warriors from Gad were army commanders. The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand! 15 These were the men who crossed the Jordan River during its seasonal flooding at the beginning of the year and drove out all the people living in the lowlands on both the east and west banks.

Inspect:

This passage of scripture talks about the men who came to join David’s Army. The Bible records all kinds of men coming from all over. All different. This passage is about men from the tribe of Gad. These men left their families on the other side of Jordan to join the King. They are described here as mighty men, although only 11 are recorded as coming over, these were amazing. The least of these could take on a hundred normal troops and the best of them could take on a thousand. Just amazing!

King David attracted the best men and so should we! How do we attract these kind of men? Jesus did the same, He attracted mighty men, men who would become spiritual giants who would build the foundation of the church that has multiplied through today. How do we attract these kind of men?

I think both King David and the Lord Jesus knew that men needed challenges, they needed something that took risk, something that would draw the best out of themselves and those around them. They both took all kinds of men, yes all are described as great warriors, but as you read through their descriptions, they had various skills and talents. We also need to remember that at the Cave of Adullam that men who were impoverished, malcontent, in trouble. King David took them all. Jesus did the same, his disciples all had various strengths in their own right, but they had problems too, some with doubt, some with impatience and some with pride.

I believe we need to do the same. We issue the challenge. We take them all.

Commit:

I must do the same. I must challenge myself and others. I must accept all that come. I must trust that the Holy Spirit has brought them for a purpose, and He will equip us to bind us together in unity for His kingdom.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing us how to build a mighty army. I thank you that you just didn’t select the best warriors with best skills and character. No you took all who came, if they had a heart to join. Please help me to do the same. Please help me to attract men, to bind their hearts together and to present them to you as a mighty army!

In the name of the King of the Armies, Jesus!

Amen

Rhema:

Psalm 142: 1 I cry out to the Lord;
I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
2 I pour out my complaints before him
and tell him all my troubles.
3 When I am overwhelmed,
you alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go,
my enemies have set traps for me.
4 I look for someone to come and help me,
but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
no one cares a bit what happens to me.
5 Then I pray to you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life.
6 Hear my cry,
for I am very low.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring me out of prison
so I can thank you.
The godly will crowd around me,
for you are good to me.”

Inspect:

I did not know how to select a portion of this scripture and so I must take it all.

This is a prayer of King David. It is a prayer that shows desperation, frustration and hope.

King David is brought down because he is being attacked and all sides, and he has no one to turn to. No one cares to lift a hand to help him. He sees them as stronger than himself. This is the same man that defeated the mightiest warrior in the Philistine Army, so if he sees the enemy as stronger than himself, they must be.

We can all relate to this can t we? There are times when we feel that there is no one on our side. We may feel that there are those out there who are after us. And all of this may be true.

So we need to do as King David did. We must go to the Lord. We must tell him how we feel. We must run to Him, for He is our only true refuge. He is the only one that can protect us from anything. He is the only one that can rescue us from anything. He is the only one that can give us victory over anything.

We need to trust Him and come to Him.

Commit:

I must come to the Lord. He is my only hope. I must come to the Lord. There is no other who cares for me as He does. I must come to the Lord. There is no other that can protect and rescue me.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me that you are my only hope. Please rescue me. Please be my protection. Don’t let the enemy win. Give me victory, so that I may draw all men to you.

In the name of my refuge and my salvation, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

Matthew 13: 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

Inspect:

This is Jesus speaking about his teaching method of using parables. He says that for those people that really listen and try to understand His teaching, they will gain more understanding. They will in fact gain so much that they will have an abundance of understanding. Jesus compares to the people that don’t listen, or try to understand, for these people, what little understanding they have will erode or be taken away from them. They are hearing, but they are not really trying to understand.

I believe that’s why Jesus used parables. The parables are a way of teaching something new from something old, teaching the unknown from the known. If we were to take the parable and then try to understand it, think on it and look for application to ourselves, we will gain understanding. This takes more effort than just hearing. Hearing is passive, if allowed, stuff can come in one ear and go out the next. Listening and understanding requires work, it requires humility to have a teachable attitude, it requires submission to the Holy Spirit, it requires obedience a willingness to act upon it.

We all need to put more work in going beyond hearing, to listening and understanding.

I also believe that we should use Jesus’ example of using parables to teach others as well. We ought to really understand who we’re trying to reach. We need to use parables to take the unknown and serve it up with something known, to take concepts which are new to them via concepts that are old to them. If Jesus took the care to do this, so must we.

Commit:

I need to stop just hearing. I must put energy and time into really listening. I must try to understand. I want an abundance of understanding so that I have enough to bless many.

I also need to really think about using parables to teach others. Jesus took the time to understand the audience and take what is known to them and so that I can relate what is new and unknown to them.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for this lesson in showing me that I must go beyond hearing to really listen and understand. Give me the hunger and discipline to increase my understanding of your Word. Please help me to be a great communicator as you were. Let me use parables as you did. Send me the Holy Spirit to help me to understand those that I am preaching to so that I can bring your Word to them in a way that they can hear and understand.

In the name of the one who is constantly teaching me and hoping that I will listen and understand, who is willing to give me the ability to speak parables to anyone, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

1 Samuel 30: 6 David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Inspect:

Here was the situation. The future King David was still running for his life from King Saul. By this time, he was leading a band of about 600 warriors along with the rest of their families. It turns out while David and his men were away from home, the enemy attacked and captured their families. Upon returning home and discovering the tragedy, the men were understandably upset. And given that these were warriors and men of action, they wanted to take matters in their own hands. The Bible reports here reported that they were talking about stoning David. They blamed him for what had a happened and wanted to do something about it. Unfortunately, they didn’t think of doing anything constructive, they wanted to just hurt someone and break something and David their leader was a big target.

I can imagine David would have been devastated by this emotionally. After all he had taken these men who nobody else wanted, men who the Bible describes as being impoverished, malcontents and distressed. David took these men and cared for them, protected them from outsiders and each other, he gave them purpose in their lives. And now they turned against him, they wanted to kill him. However, the Bible records that David found strength. Where did he find it? It wasn’t in the men, it wasn’t in his family, it wasn’t in drink. The future King David found strength in the Lord.

As David turned to find his strength in the Lord, the Lord did not let David down. The Lord gave David direction, told him to go pursue the enemy, that he would have victory. What a great lesson in this. When we turn to others, to things for strength, what solutions will come from them? People as good as they may be, could be well intended but miss-informed, or limited in their experience and skills. Things are by nature limited, they may have been given us to help us in the past, but may not be able to help us in the specific situation that we’re in. However when we turn to the Lord for our strength, we can trust that He brings a solution that will work. After all, God knows the end from the beginning, He knows what will work in the very situation we’re in. Our Lord is not limited in the amount of His care, He will not left anything undone if it will help us. Our Lord is not limited in His strength, there is nothing God cannot do.

Commit:

I need to learn this lesson. This is a time, when I feel that others are coming against me. Some of these others, I’ve helped to mentor and coach to make them successful in their careers. And now it would seem that they are turning against me. I must handle this like King David. The Bible says that David didn’t blame his men, didn’t blame the situation. I must be careful to do the same i.e. don’t blame anything or anybody, but instead just do like David, and look to the Lord for strength. He won’t disappoint.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me how to handle these situations where it seems that others are turning against me. Please send me your Holy Spirit to help me to not look for blame as a source of affirmation and strength. Please help me instead to find strength in you. Help me to know that it is through your care, through your strength that I will find the solution to the situation that I am in. Help me to remember that as you gave King David victory after victory, you will give me victory after victory.

In the name of the one who is my source, my only source of strength, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

Psalm 141: 8 I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord.
You are my refuge; don’t them kill me.
9 Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
from the snares of those who do wrong.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
but let me escape.

Inspect:

Just as the mighty King David looked to the Lord for help, we need to as well. With all of his mighty army and wealth, he still knew that the true source of help would be God.

We must look for the Lord to be our refuge, because there is no other place that can withstand anything.

There is no one else that can outwit all the traps that are laid before us, only God, the one who can see through every scheme.

Only the Lord can take judgment on the evil and save those that love Him.

Commit:

I need the Lord. I have no where else to go, no one else to turn to. Help me.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you are my refuge, my escape and my rescue. Please help me. You are my only source of help. It’s you or nothing. I look to you for help. Keep me from traps. Let me escape.

In the name of the one who saves me, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

Matthew 9: 10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?[d]”
12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’[e] For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Inspect:

Jesus had called out to Matthew and invited him to come and follow him. Later that night, Matthew put together a party for his friends, maybe to introduce them to Jesus and to bid them farewell. Obviously Matthew’s friends included tax collectors, of which some have the reputation, perhaps truthfully of siding with oppressive government and / or not being totally honest with their transactions. Jesus knew that, and of course the critics knew that. Here we see the reaction of the Pharisees, they called Matthew’s friends scum. They didn’t think that Jesus should be spending time with these people.

So Jesus set them straight. Jesus didn’t come for the people that think they are okay, Jesus came for the people that know that they are in trouble. That’s what we need to do. We can’t just hang around people that think they’re okay, they’re not ready for Jesus. Instead we need to go to the people that know that they are sinners, these folks are ready for Jesus. The challenge is that these are not people that are easy to be around with. They’ve got problems. They may be impoverished, they may be dysfunctional, and they may not like us. But we need to do like Jesus, we need to go to these people, they’re ready for Jesus and it is up to us to bring Jesus to them.

Commit:

I need to be like Jesus. I need to find people who know they are sinners. I must be like Jesus and go where they are. I need to bring Jesus’ unconditional love and forgiveness to them.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me how to save people. Help me to see people as Jesus saw them. Help me to love them unconditionally as Jesus did. Send me your Holy Spirit to help me.

In the name of the one who came to me, who loved me unconditionally, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

1 Samuel 24: 9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.
12 “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.

Inspect:

What an amazing lesson on dealing with injustice. Here David has what his men themselves described as a “God-given” opportunity to bring revenge on King Saul who is trying to kill him, who has kept him on the run away from his home for years. David and some of his men are hiding deep inside a cave, and here comes King Saul coming into that very cave, and putting himself in a very vulnerable position by using the bathroom. Talk about a defenseless position! David crept up close enough to King Saul to stab him, but instead just cut off a corner of his hem, and he even felt bad about that.

David states an amazing truth, that punishment is to come from God and not from himself. David knew that it was not his place to harm the one who God has placed in authority. The sin of the King is for God to deal with. David knew that the opportunity to harm King Saul was not permission from God to judge him. David did the right thing, resisting the temptation that was right in front of him.

Commit:

This is something that I must do. I must never take the presumption to exercise judgment on someone. It is not my place. My duty is to do good, to do no evil deeds.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for this important lesson. Please help me to resist the temptation to judge others and to take matters into my own hands. Help me to know it is not my place to punish others, it is yours. Help me to be the good man that does no evil deeds.

In the name of the one who will handle the punishment, who will help me to resist the temptation to do evil deeds, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

Matthew 7: “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others.[a] The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.[b]

Inspect:

This scripture gives us no better reason to obey the Lord’s command to think of others as better than yourself (Philippians 2:3). If we judge others, finding faults with them, thinking of ways that we are better than they are, then we become subject to this scripture. God promises here that we will be judged by the same standards by which we judge others. I don’t want that.

The scary part is that while we may be wrong in the judgment of others, God is infallible, His judgment of us will be correct.

So why go down this path? What good can come from judging others? Do we improve others by judging them? Do we improve ourselves by judging others? I think the answer to this is a “No”?

As this scripture points out, there is no good that comes from judging others. The one being judge will rarely be blessed by it. They will most likely be defensive and keep doing what they’re doing. I don’t think we grow from judging others. We will puff ourselves up with pride and soon fall from the delusion that the faults we see in others don’t exist in us.

So don’t do it.

Think of others as better than yourself. See them as amazing creations that God has planned great purposes for. Then good will come to them, because you are affirming God’s love and purpose for them. Then good will come to you, because you will be humble, and the Lord promises to be close to the humble.

Commit:

I just need to stop judging. There is no good that can come out of it.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for reminding me the sinfulness of judging others. Please send me your Holy Spirit to warn me, to stop me. Open my eyes to my sinfulness. Open my eyes to see how others are better than me.

In the name of the one who Himself will not judge others, but will allow others to judge themselves, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

1 Samuel 22: 2 Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.

Inspect:

The future King David is on the run for his life from King Saul. He hides in the wilderness, but soon begins to attract men to himself. What kind of men? The Bible record that they were men that are discontented, men who are in trouble or men in financial trouble. Pretty soon David finds himself in command of 400 men. We soon learn that these 400 men become the core of King David’s mighty army. Isn’t this amazing, King David’s army becomes one of the mightiest on the earth starts off as a core of not the most righteous, most fiscally responsible, not the most contented, in fact they were the opposite. However, David knew how to take these men and transform them into men of courage, men of loyalty and army of men. These were men who had David’s heart, who were willing to die for him and joined together in unity.

I believe that David is a symbol of Christ. Just as David was shepherd, our Lord Jesus was the greatest shepherd. Just as King David gave his heart to the men in sacrificing for them, caring for them and leading them, the same is with our Lord Jesus. And the same as David, the Lord Jesus takes us not as righteous, wealthy and well-adjusted, He takes us as we are, as sinners, as impoverished, as needy people. He then gives us His heart, His care and His leadership. Soon we become mighty warriors loyal to the King, having the strength and courage to defeat any enemy, bound together in unity.

Commit:

I must do the same, I must not seek out men who are righteous, wealthy and well-adjusted, that’s not how Jesus found me. Instead I must go look for the unrighteous, the impoverished, those that are off-balance. Then I must give. I must give them my heart. I must give them my care. I must serve them with leadership. This will transform them into warriors for the king.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me how to build up warriors for your kingdom. Please open my eyes and help me to welcome all who come to me. Help me not to shun those that are unrighteous, impoverished or discontented. Send me your Holy Spirit to use me to transform them to serve your Son with courage, strength and unity.

In the name of the one who took me in and is transforming me into a warrior for His kingdom, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

Psalm 59: 14 My enemies come out at night,
snarling like vicious dogs
as they prowl the streets.
15 They scavenge for food
but go to sleep unsatisfied.[b]
16 But as for me, I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge,
a place of safety when I am in distress.
17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises,
for you, O God, are my refuge,
the God who shows me unfailing love.

Inspect:

This rhema came to me after I read the preface to this Psalm, which helped me to understand the situation in which it was written:

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”
David, who has been anointed and is to be the king of Israel wrote this Psalm, as he was running for his life. King Saul had not only tried to kill David personally, but now had sent soldiers to his house. After narrowly escaping, David writes Psalm 59 to be sung, I believe by himself and later as worship by all.

I think the reason it is rhema for me is because I perhaps take for granted David’s faith and trust in the Lord. I take for granted that David who has a shepherd was saved by God numerous times from lions and bears. David defeated Goliath through a miracle of God. David went into numerous battles, emerging victorious. So I would think that David is so utterly confident in the Lord that nothing would bother him. And so David wouldn’t need this psalm to remind him and others about what he and they should already know.

However, I think this is the purpose of these Psalms for ourselves and others. We are like David, we may have numerous past victories that God has mercifully provided for, but in the current situation, we have doubt, we have thoughts that perhaps this time is different, this time victory won’t happen, the Lord has let us down. And so the reason for these Psalms. We sing them to ourselves and to others to remind us of what we know to be true, even thought we may not see it or feel it at the time. Here David sings about God’s power. He sings that every morning is a victory. How telling, David is running off in the middle of night to escape being killed, not knowing if he will see morning again. But David sings with faith, that God will meet him in the morning.

David reminds himself that God is the refuge, God’s love never fails.

If David needs to remind himself, then we must also.

Commit:

I must be like David in these kind of situations. Instead of yielding to my natural temptation to feel sorry for myself and to start blaming God and others, I need to remember how God has been always been my refuge, my safety. I need to remind myself that God’s love never, ever fails.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing the genuine David. Thank you for showing me that this mighty warrior, courageous and skilled in the art of war, needed to remind himself of your faithfulness and love. Please send your Holy Spirit to me when I am in times of attack and testing, so that I don’t do the natural things which is to withdraw, or to lash out, instead let me run into your presence to take refuge. Help me to stand on your unfailing love, when there’s no other place to rest. Allow me to see morning again and sing of your love.

In the name of the one who is my refuge, where no harm can come to me, who’s unfailing love always providing a way in, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

1 Samuel 17: 38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.
“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

Inspect:

There’s a great lesson here. David wanted to go out and get Goliath. With good intentions King Saul offered his armor. David tried it out, but it didn’t work for him. He wasn’t used to it. He couldn’t fight in it. So David went with what he was familiar with. Instead of the helmet, armor and sword, David grabbed five smooth stones, staff and sling.

I believe the lesson here is that we are to use the gifts that God has given to us and not try to take on what God has given to others. David spent years using the stones, sling and staff. It was a part of his life. He probably used these weapons to defend himself and his flock from wild animals. God uses the gifts that He’s developed in us, and not gifts that He’s developed in others. We are not to covet the gifts in others, we are to trust the gifts that God has given to us.

Commit:

I must stop coveting the gifts in others, God has given me unique gifts of my own. He has invested gifts that are unique to me. I must trust His wisdom. I must trust that God has a purpose for this. I must know that God has never failed.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for helping me to understand that you have a given me a gifting that you will do a great thing with. Please help me to not covet anyone else’s gifting. Send your Holy Spirit to me to help me to trust in your wisdom and invest in the gift that you’ve given me. Help me to build it into a great blessing for your glory and kingdom.

In the name of the one who made me and will multiply my gifts for the Father’s glory, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

1 Chronicles 4: 9 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez[c] because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.

Inspect:

This is the Prayer of Jabez. We see first that he is recognized as being more honorable than others. We see that the Jabez had a rough start in life. Due to his rough childbirth, his Mom named him Jabez which means pain. We can imagine growing up with a name that everyone knows means pain, and yet Jabez became more honorable than others. I believe it is because of the Prayer of Jabez.

- Oh that you would bless me. Jabez knew who the source of blessing was. Where others looked elsewhere to obtain blessings and influence. Jabez went to the Lord.
- Expand my territory. Jabez prayed that his territory, his influence be increased. He wanted to do it in a Godly way, rather than by deceit or treachery. He looked to the Lord to the sources of all expansion.
- Please be with me in all I do. Jabez wanted the Lord present in every part of his life. I believe this showed that Jabez wanted to please the Lord in everything.
- Keep me from all trouble and pain. I believe that this showed how genuine Jabez was. I think all of us, if were honest would pray the same. We don’t want trouble and pain, so we’re going to ask God to keep this from us.
- And God granted him his request. I believe God grants the request of those that sincerely come to Him, those that are trying to please Him with every part of their lives and those that are genuine in their faith.

What a great lesson! It doesn’t matter how we start our lives, what matters is how we pray, how we live.

Commit:

I want to be able to pray and live like Jabez. I need to realize that the only true source of blessing is God. I need to go to God to get the blessings that I need. I need to invite God to be a part of every part of my life. I need to be genuine in my faith.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me the prayer and life of Jabez. Please help me to come to you for everything that I need. Help me to invite you into every single part of my life. Then help to be genuine and honest with you.

In the name of the one who will bless me and expand my borders, the one who will be with me in all I do, the one who will keep me from all trouble and pain, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

2 Corinthians 12: So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Inspect:

Paul’s life is such an important model for us. Here was a man that was so accomplished in education, in dedication and sacrifice. However, we see here how God builds his character. I believe that God knew that Saul had a propensity for pride given his personality and accomplishments, so God allowed “thorns” or problems into his life. Although Paul pleaded to have these problems removed, God left them there because God wanted Paul to depend on the Lord vs. taking comfort in a situation where everything is going right. In fact God says here that He works the best when we are weak.

That’s difficult to understand, and more difficult to accept. I mean, why can’t God work his best, when we are at our best? Why can’t God be the most powerful, when we are the most powerful? I believe that is because God knows we’re like Paul. I believe if God would be the strongest when we are the strongest, than our focus would be to get as strongest as we can as individuals. We would get the mindset that it is through our efforts that accomplishes everything. We begin to believe that we can do everything. This is bad. God doesn’t want us to put our trust in ourselves, we’re limited, we’re fallible. God wants us to put our trust in Him, who is unlimited and infallible. That’s why God encourages us to put our trust in Him, but being at His best, when we are at our worse.

This also explains why our witness must draw people to God and not to ourselves. We need to rejoice when we are insulted, going through rough times and suffering, because when we go through these times in faith, we then draw people to God and not us. After all, it is He who saves and not us. It is He who heals and not us. It is He who blesses and not us.

Commit:

I must then be thankful and even rejoicing when I am going through problems, because it is precisely at those times that God is at His greatest.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me why I need to go through tough times. Please send me your Holy Spirit to help me to know that I need to go through these time so that I will not become proud, so that I don’t learn trust myself rather than you. Help me to remember that it is at this times of weakness that you are at your best, that this will strengthen not only my faith, but those around me.

In the name of the one whose grace is sufficient for me, who will be strong when I am weak, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

1 Samuel 12: 23 “As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right

2 Corinthians 11: 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

Inspect:

At first, I had a difficult time trying to figure out the rhema between the two portions of scripture because both verses spoke strongly to me.

Then upon further thought, I began to realize that these two verses share a common theme.

Caring for the people no matter what!

Samuel here was speaking to the people right after he installed Saul as king. I believe this was difficult for Samuel in that the people were wanting to a human authority vs. a heavenly authority. It was also difficult, because the people wanted to turn to a king to represent God, vs. the High Priest. And yet, Samuel continued to care for the people. Samuel promised to the people who just turned their back to God and himself that he would continue to pray for them, he would continue to teach them.

Paul here was writing to the people at the Corinthian church. He reveals that he thinks of the church daily. Well more than think, because Paul said that whenever the church is feeling weak, Paul feels it also. Whenever they are threatened, Paul would reacted as if his children were threatened.

It doesn’t matter if those that God has given us to mentor are distant from us as in Paul’s case, or if they had turned away from us in Samuel’s case, it is our duty to continue to care for them. Samuel continued to pray and teach them. Paul continued to think and feel for them daily.

We are called to do the same.

Commit:

I must do the same. I must care for those that no longer care for me. I must care for those even though they are no longer near me. I must pray and teach. I must think and feel.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank for showing me how much you care for me through the examples of Samuel and Paul. You have chosen us to demonstrate the character of your love. You care even if people reject you, you care even if people are away from you. Please send me your Holy Spirit to help me to do the same. Transform my mind and heart to be like yours.

In the name of the one who cared for me and will care for me no matter what I think of Him, no matter where I am, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

2 Corinthians 10: 8 I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.

Inspect:

It would seem that spiritual authority is like parenting. The authority of parenting is for the purpose of building up the child and not tearing down. The duty of a parent is to build the character of a child so that the child will grow to find favor with God and men. It is an unloving parent that would seek to tear down a child. What kind of parent would want their child to not be successful in finding favor with God and man? I think this would be the case of a parent that does not have true love for their child.

I believe it is this parental love that applies to spiritual authority. The authentic love of the parent gives rise to true spiritual authority. This authority is used to lovingly guide, correct and encourage the believer to build up to be in turn a loving spiritual authority to build up others. This is God’s desire to build up others to build up others. How unlike the enemy’s way, to tear others down to tear others down.

Commit

I need to build up others and not tear them down. I need to encourage more and not think the worst.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me what true spiritual authority is based on. Please help me to have the love of a spiritual parent who’s only motivation is to build up those disciples you’ve given me. Help me to never tear them down. Please help me to control my speech. Help me to control my attitudes about them. Help me to control my heart toward them.

In the name of the one, who only builds me up and does not tear me down to what He intended me to be, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

2 Corinthians 9: 6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”[c] 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Inspect:

Giving is not losing, giving is investing, but not all the time. We can give to the wrong thing and never get a return from it. However, if we give to the Lord, He promises here that it is an investment. It is like a farmer who plants crops. The farmer can only harvest in proportion to what he sows. More seeds, larger harvest. Less seeds, smaller harvest. Yes a seed can multiply, one need only look at how many kernels of corn can arise from one planted corn kernel. But if the farmer were to double the amount of kernels planted, he would double the amount of kernels harvested. The Lord tells us here that giving is planting. We need to decide for ourselves what we can give eagerly, cheerfully.

And if we do so, God’s promise is that He will provide for our needs. And not only provide, but provide generously. The amount will not merely meet our requirements, we will have enough to have a surplus. This is God’s amazing wisdom.

- We give or plant.
- He gives us back to meet our needs.
- We have left over.
- So we plant again.
- More so, we give to others, so that they can give.

What an amazing God! The promise here is that we will always have something left over! Wow!

Commit:

I need to learn to plant abundantly! I must not stop now. I must trust that God will not only meet my needs, but have left over!

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for this amazing lesson. You give and give and give. Help me to do the same, to be like you. Because you give to me, I can give to others. And if I give to others, they can experience your giving nature, and learn to do it themselves as well.

In the name of the one who gives me everything I need and even have some leftover, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

2 Corinthians 8:

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers[b] in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

Inspect:

These two portions of scripture are really interesting because it seems contradictory.

The first portion talks about the churches in Macedonia. This church utterly persecuted, with the result that they were impoverished. Despite the fact of the poverty, they were generous givers. They gave more than what they could afford and they did it willingly.

The second portion of the scripture seems to contradict the commendation of the Macedonians, instructing to give what we can, with what we can, and as long as we do so eagerly, it will be accepted.

So how do I reconcile the two? I believe the secret is in understanding what the Macedonians had and what they didn’t have. The poor Macedonians didn’t have money, but what they did have was abundant joy. This is what they gave. Their abundant joy, expressed in generosity was given in the form of offerings. They were rich in joy and so they could eagerly give, what others thought was more than they could afford.

This is what we need to strive, to have an abundance of joy vs. an abundance in wealth, because with an abundance of joy, we can never have too little money, because this demonstrates that God will supply our needs. Compare this to someone who has abundance of wealth, but is impoverished in joy. These people will never have enough, they are always impoverished, because they are trusting that their wealth will supply their needs.

So which is better?

Commit:

I choose to be wealthy in joy. I choose to be generous with whatever I have, so that I can eagerly give it so that it will be accepted by the Lord. I believe the Lord will supply all my needs and not money!

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me this amazing truth. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me to be abundant in joy and not abundant in wealth. Help me to be eager to give what I have, because you will give me what you have. I can never out give you, because you will never be indebted to me. Let me eager to bless others.

In the name of the one who gave me everything, eagerly and abundantly, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

1 Samuel 2: 29 So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel!
30 “Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi[u] would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.

Inspect:

This portion of scripture records the problems the High Priest Eli had with his two sons. His two sons committed many sins including seduction of congregants and taking the best part of offerings for themselves. Try as he might, Eli could not discipline the two sons. I believe the word spoken to Eli was that he didn’t do enough. Eli was willing to endure the dishonor to God, but not willing to dishonor his sons by removal and punishment. Eli’s sons did not give the God honor, in fact they show utter disdain for things of God, taking advantage of the people that came to worship and enriching themselves on the sacrifices of the people. For this God despised them. And I also believe God despised Eli for not dealing with his sons.

We need to honor God because of the honor that He has given us. He valued us more than anything else in the universe, even His own Son. God honors us, so we should honor him. And when we honor God, He will honor us more. He will not honor us when we despise Him, because if He did, it would encourage us to continue to despise Him. So because He loves us, God will honor us when we give Him honor.

Commit:

I must be careful to give God the entire honor. Especially those who come to worship. Especially with the sacrifices that are given by others to honor the Lord. I must also be careful to not allow others to dishonor the Lord. I must do my best to give honor to help others to give honor.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me how to give you honor. Please help me to give honor to those that worship you. Please help me to give honor to the sacrifices that people that love you offer. Please and I think this is the hardest, please help me to correct those that dishonor you. Give me the courage, the knowledge and wisdom to help others to stop dishonoring you.

In the name of the one who honors me with His death, and who will help me honor Him with my life, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

2 Corinthians 6: 3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

Inspect:

Paul lived for others, just as Christ did. Here we catch a glimpse of Paul’s heart. He wanted his life to be a model for others. He didn’t want his life to lead others to stumble in their faith. Paul didn’t want his life to cause others to lose credibility of the truth of God. This takes sacrifice. It would be very tempting to act only in our own interests. We can just do what we like, perhaps thinking that it won’t hurt us. However, we need to realize that what we do may lead others to sin. If we have the love Christ and Paul in our lives, then we will realize that the lives of others are more important than our own. We would come to consider what we do on whether or not it shows others the right way to the Lord, on whether or not what we do increases or decreases their belief in the Lord.

Paul and Christ endured many problems and hardships, not for their own gain but for others. I believe the gladly did it because they saw that whatever they sacrificed was more than returned in the saving of lives.

Commit:

I need to start thinking more like Paul and my Lord. I must consider the impact of everything that I do upon those around me. I need to ask myself if what I do will cause another to go backwards in their walk with the Lord. I need to consider the impact of what I do upon how others will accept the Word and ministry of the Lord. I must think of others and not of myself.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me how I must live my life for others and not myself. Please send me your Holy Spirit to give me the awareness of how my actions affect others. Help me to sacrifice my interest for others. Help me to endure what it takes so that I can be a true minister for others.

In the name of the one whose life showed me victory and death showed me sacrifice, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

2 Corinthians 5: 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.

Inspect:

God’s way is to live by believing and not by seeing. Compare this to the world’s way of living by seeing and not by believing. The world doesn’t realize how limiting this is. There are so many things in this world that we don’t see. Our experience is limited. There are things that happen out of our sight, things in the past, things in the future, things too far away. So if we live by seeing vs. believing, our lives are so limited. That’s now how God wants us. God wants to take the limits off of us. God wants us to live as other have in the past, and how others will in the future. He wants not just to live as those that are near, but things that are far as well.

So we live by belief, belief in the power and love of God. There is no limit.

Commit:

I must not live by sight, I must live by belief. I must base my belief on the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me how to live a life without limits. Please send me your Holy Spirit to show me what I must believe it. Help me not to rely on my physical sight, but rather on the truth from your Word. Help me to trust in you rather than in what I sense and know.

In the name of the one who I believe will bless me beyond what I can see or understand, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

2 Corinthians 4: 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

Inspect:

Where the enemy wants to bring problems, obstacles and barriers to bring us down by discouragement, depression and destruction, God will use it for our good. God’s Word gives the key here. His promise is that through the suffering that comes us we will be identified with the death of Jesus. Just as Jesus suffered, we must also suffer. Our strength and character are built up through suffering. And ultimately just as suffering lead to the death of Jesus, we know that on resurrection Sunday, He defeated death, the same promise holds for us. We need not fear death, because when we become identified with Christ and His death, we also become identified with His resurrection as well.

When Christ was pressed on every side, He was not crushed, we will not be crushed. When they tried to confuse Jesus to try and trap Him, He could not be, we will not be. They hunted and pursed my Lord in effort to kill Him, but the Father was always with Him, as the Father will always be with us. Jesus was knocked down and persecuted, even crucified, but resurrection proved that He wasn’t destroyed. No matter what happens to us, we will not be destroyed. The same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise us from the dead.

Commit:

I need to hold on to faith. I need to remember that when I’m being pressed, perplexed, hunted down and suffering it will not end up in destruction, but resurrection! It will not end up in death, but in eternal life!

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for a great Easter Sunday! It reminds me that if I am in you, then every barrier, problem or obstacle that I go through will ultimately result in the destruction of my old self and the resurrection of my new self. Where the old self is limited and dying, my new life is unlimited and eternal. As you are resurrected so I will be. That’s my hope and you gave it to me.

In the name of the one who showed me how to defeat death, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

2 Corinthians 3: 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Inspect:

A veil is something that obstructs our vision. It blocks us from seeing things clearly. We can see through it but not clearly. God uses the metaphor of the veil to show us that without the Lord in our hearts we can’t understand God’s Word to us. I believe that when we don’t have the Lord in our hearts, we then are unable to hear the true intent of God’s Word. Without God in our hearts, we don’t hear things through a heart of love, and when we don’t, we then misread God’s intention. Without love, God’s correction seems to be like condemnation, God’s teaching seems like foolishness and God’s encouragement seems like patronizing. This is the veil over our eyes.

But when we have the love of God in our hearts, there is no condemnation, there is correction to make us better, there is no foolishness there is knowledge and wisdom in His teaching and there is no patronizing but God giving us encourage to move on and up. The veil comes off, and now we really can understand. This is where we need to be.

Commit:

I want to see God clearly. I must have God in my heart so that I can understand Him for what He truly is, without distortion.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for showing me how to really understand you. Give me your Holy Spirit more than ever, because I want to become more and more like you. I want my image to become more and more like you.

In the name of the one who lives in me, and who will transform me to be more and more like Him, Jesus!

Amen.

Rhema:

2 Corinthians 16: 23 Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. 24 But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.

Inspect:

It is so neat to see how Paul mentors his disciples. He didn’t want to dominate or Lord over the disciples, telling them what to do. Instead he wanted to work with them. He wanted the disciples to joyfully grow in the Lord rather than being forcefully pushed into it. Here was a Paul, who was the ultimate Type A personality, someone who did nothing half-way, especially when it came to serving the Lord. So I could see where he could have had that same driving attitude in bringing up believers. He could have pressed them hard for the betterment of the Kingdom. However we see a leader who was sensitive to the feelings of those he mentored. He didn’t want them to be forced into growing, instead he wanted them move forward with joy.

What a great lesson in discipleship!

Commit:

I must learn to be like Paul. I must mentor others not in dominating style, but in a way that helps them to joyfully grow in the Lord. It is not my faith they stand, it is by their faith that they stand. So I must not build my faith, I must build theirs.

Exalt:

Heavenly Father, I thank you so much for teaching me how Paul mentored. Please help me to be sensitive to my tendency to dominate and rebuke. Help me instead to realize that it is their faith I’m building and not mine. I must help them to joyfully experience their faith, so that they will grown stronger in it. Please help me to change by immersing me in the Holy Spirit.

In the name of the one who brings joy to me, to build my faith, Jesus!

Amen.