Fri.’s Devo - The Tenth Plague - God Wins!

Read: Exodus 12:14-13:16; Matthew 20:29-21:22; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 6:12-15 The first day of Unleavened bread was the day they left the land of Egypt and was to be celebrated every year after that. It was the fourteenth day of the month and started at evening. They were to eat no unleavened bread for a week. That night they were to eat the passover lamb they had selected on the 10th. They were to take hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in a basin under the doorpost. With the hyssop they were to smear the blood of the lamb on the sides and top of the door posts. This was the sign for the Lord to pass over their house and not kill their firstborn. This blood made the cross. Blood at the bottom in the bowl was where Jesus feet were nailed. At the top where he wore the crown of thorns and the sides where he was nailed. They were safe because they passed through the door of the cross into salvation. *** That night at midnight the tenth plague hit Egypt as the death angel flew over the land of Egypt, killing all the firstborn child and animals of all who lived in Egypt. *** God told Moses to get the people and leave that night. They were to take everything, even the dough before it had leavened and the gold and silver that the Egyptians had given them. They plundered Egypt of its wealth. They traveled to Succoth which means “booths”. They left exactly 430 years from the day they had come. *** God told them to “consecrate” or “set apart” all the firstborn and the firstborn males shall be the Lord’s. They must be redeemed. The firstborn of a donkey had to be redeemed with a lamb. If you don’t want to redeem it, you must break its neck. *** The firstborn has to do with a person’s first birth which is natural. To be set apart to the Lord, that person has to be “born again” - redeemed. *** Pharaoh was the donkey who was stubborn and refused to repent through all the nine plagues. So, his neck had to be broken by the loss of his firstborn. It took this to make him let God’s people free. *** In Matthew, when Jesus and his disciples left Jericho, they met two blind men who were sitting on the side of the road. When they heard it was Jesus coming, they began shouting for Jesus to have mercy on them. They called him “Son of David” indicating that they knew he was the Messiah. Jesus stopped and asked them what they wanted and they said, “to see”. Jesus healed them and they began following him. *** They stopped at Bethpage which means “green fig house”. This is where Jesus stayed until his disciples brought him a donkey to ride into town. It had been prophesied that the Messiah would come to them riding on a donkey. Jesus had ridden into Bethlehem in the womb of Mary who rode on a donkey. Now he would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. *** The disciples put their own clothes for Jesus to sit on and the crowd laid out their clothes for Jesus to walk on and sang the Hallel from Psalm 115-118. They always sang these songs as they traveled to Jerusalem every festival. They were at the part where it says “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Psalm 118:25. *** Jesus entered the temple and cleansed it of the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Figuratively he was destroying the platforms and those who sat in the seats of those platforms. The merchants were stealing from the people deceitfully and selling them false religion. The Temple which was supposed to be a house of prayer had become a den of thieves. The leaders saw the miracles that Jesus was doing and the response from the people and questioned Jesus about it. He asked them if they had ever read the Scriptures… he could have stopped there, but he continued. The scriptures teach that perfect praise comes from the children and infants. He was quoting Psalm 8:2 and the rest of the sentence is “because of thine enemies, that thou might still the enemy and the avenger.” They, being the enemy and the avenger. *** Jesus returned to Bethany and the next morning on his way back to Jerusalem, he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went to see if it had any figs but it only had leaves. He cursed it and it immediately dried up. This fig tree represented Israel. They were not bearing fruit when he came to them, so they would die fruitless. *** When the disciples saw what Jesus did to the fig tree they asked how it died so quickly. Jesus told them that if they had faith, they could do this and more. They could even move mountains into the sea. It is all done with faith. *** What Jesus was demonstrating was the power to destroy the enemy. The leaves of the fig tree were suppose to be for healing of nations. Jesus destroyed their leaves because they were not healing but bringing disease and death. Leaves were also used for covering sin… remember in the Garden. The leaders in the synagogue used their position and rituals to hide their evil hearts. Jesus was saying to them that they had the power to defeat evil and to expose the enemies’ covering. All they had to do was to have faith. *** God is exposing the enemies plans and lies in America. *** By faith, we call all their plans to wither like this fig tree. We pray for God’s seed of his kingdom to grow and cover the earth with righteousness and goodness. May we have faith to see it.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Last Straw

Read: Exodus 10:1-12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; PSalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11 God explained to Moses why Pharaoh wouldn’t let them go. It was the Lord who had hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and it was so God could display his miracles. They would tell these stories to their grandkids about the power of God on their behalf. *** Moses went back to Pharaoh and warned him that if he didn’t let Israel go, the land would be covered with locusts who would devour what was left after the hailstorm. Even Pharaoh’s officials begged Pharaoh to just let them go to worship their God. He agreed and sent for Moses and Aaron to ask them who they would be taking with them. When he heard it was all of them, he refused to let the children go. (That shows us how crazy this man was. Who was supposed to keep all those children for three days? He had clearly lost all cognitive thinking skills.) Pharaoh was so obsessed, he threw Moses and Aaron out. So, Moses lifted his staff over Egypt and the locusts came all through the night. They ate everything in sight. *** This time Pharaoh immediately summoned Moses and Aaron back. He did his repentance thing and Moses prayed. God blew the locusts into the Red Sea. (I wonder if the people saw those dead locusts when they crossed through the sea weeks later?) Once again, Pharaoh changed his mind and refused to let them go. God told Moses to lift his hand toward heaven and the land of Egypt was covered with darkness. One of their greatest gods was the sun. This was a darkness that was felt and lasted three days. But, in Goshen, there was light. *** Pharaoh gave permission for Moses and all the people to go, but they had to leave their flocks and herds in Egypt. Pharaoh refused to give up his power over them. Moses told him they needed their flocks to sacrifice. He refused to give Pharaoh an inch of power over them. Pharaoh threw him out again. He told Moses he would not see his face again and if he did, he would die. Moses agreed that he would not see Pharaoh’s face again, and left. *** God told Moses, He had one more big thing he wanted to do before he could let them leave Egypt. Then, the Pharaoh would be so glad to let them go, he will throw them out. He was pretty good at that! The people were to go to their Egyptian neighbors and ask for silver and gold. God would cause them to generously give to them. *** Moses went and made an announcement to Pharaoh that at midnight, that night, God would pass through the heart of Egypt and kill all the firstborn sons in every family in Egypt and the firstborn of their cattle. The cry of mourning would be heard throughout the land, but in Goshen, they would sleep in peace. Then, Pharaoh would know that God makes a distinction between them and the Israelites. Then they would come to Moses and bow, begging them to leave. Only then would Moses go! Moses left burning with anger. He showed Pharaoh who was in charge! *** God had told Moses that this month, the seventh month, would be the first month for them. So the end became the beginning. On the tenth of that month they were to take a lamb per family. On the evening of the fourteenth day, they were to to slaughter their lamb at twilight. They were to smear some of the blood on the sides and top of their door and then eat the meat. along with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. The meat had to be cooked over fire and completely eaten or burned. They were to eat it dressed for travel because this was the Lord’s Passover for them. The Lord’s Passover for the Egyptian was completely different. This was salvation and life for Israel and judgement and death for Egypt and their gods. When God sees the blood on their doors, he would pass over them and not strike them with death. *** This is the picture of salvation. Jesus is the lamb and when we have tasted his death in our inmost being, we are saved. They had to eat it dressed for action because faith without works is dead. They were about to walk out of bondage and into freedom which is what happens when we get born again. They got a new calendar beginning because they were reborn. Our new life starts the day we are crucified with Christ. Glory! *** In Matthew, Jesus gave the parable about the workers who all got the same day’s wage no matter how short or long they worked. Salvation is ours the day we embrace it and our new life begins. Salvation is a gift of grace, not works. *** As Jesus and his 12 disciples were going to Jerusalem, again Jesus told them the plan. He would be persecuted, crucified and rise on the third day. *** James and John’s mother asked if he would let her two sons sit on either side of his throne when he came to his kingdom. Jesus told her, she didn’t understand what she was asking, because the way to exaltation in his kingdom was by drinking the same cup of suffering he was about to drink. The men said they were ready to do that. Jesus told them they would indeed drink from this cup, but he had no say so in who would sit where. God made those decisions. *** The other disciples were pretty upset when they heard what they were talking about. Jesus explained the way of God’s kingdom. It was not the way it was with the earthly kings. In God’s kingdom the leaders came from those who were willing to serve others. *** Lord, may were remember that this life on earth is our testing ground. We are living for eternity, not for our rewards on earth. With all we are given, may we glorify and testify of you and your kingdom.

Wed.’s Devo - The Plagues

Read: Exodus 8:1-9:35; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 6:1-5 The Nile was full of blood and now God sent Pharaoh back to him to tell him if they didn’t let the people go to worship God, He would send a plague of frogs. They would come out of the river and into every area of their lives. Then Aaron raised his hand over the waters and it happened. Pharaoh’s sorcerers were able to do the same thing, but obviously, they couldn’t take them away. *** After a while, the pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and begged them to take the frogs away. When Moses asked him when this should happen, he said, tomorrow. No doubt, he had some reason for not saying, “right now”. It probably had to do with some ritualistic number of the day or something crazy like that. These plagues were against the gods of Egypt so every plague was associated with with a god the Egyptians worshipped. *** Moses prayed and the frogs died and remained only in the Nile. Now, the problem was all the dead and stinking frogs. One false god - gone! *** Next, God struck the ground and destroyed their land. The dust on the ground became gnats. This time, Pharaoh’s men couldn’t counterfeit it. They claimed it was the finger of God. *** God sent Moses back to meet Pharaoh on his way to the river. He told him that if they didn’t let God’s people go he would also get swarms of flies. But this time, he would spare the land of Goshen where God’s people lived. God would draw a line and separate his people from Pharaoh’s. *** It happened just like Moses said and the whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos because of the flies. *** Pharaoh called Moses in and told him to go make sacrifices but they had to stay in the land of Egypt. Moses explained that they couldn’t offer the sacrifices God required where the Egyptians could see because they would retaliate. They worshiped the animals, God required for the sacrifice. They must go three days away. Pharaoh finally agreed but told him not to go too far. *** Moses prayed and the flies disappeared but Pharaoh refused to let them go. *** God sent Moses back to Pharaoh to tell him that if they continued to hold them back from sacrificing to him. he would strike all their livestock with a deadly plague. It would not affect the cattle of Goshen. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but none in Goshen died. Pharaoh’s heart still remained shut and he wouldn’t let them leave. *** God told Moses and Aaron to take soot from their oven and let Moses throw it into the air while Pharaoh was watching. The ashes became boils that broke out on the people and animals. The magicians were not able to stand before Moses. They had lost their arrogance, but Pharaoh was still proud and hardened. *** God sent Moses back to meet with Pharaoh and tell him that God could have killed him long time ago, but allowed him to live to show him His power and to spread His witness over the earth. Tomorrow, God would send a storm of hail like he had never seen before. He warned him to bring in any livestock and his servants out in the fields or they would be killed by the hail. Some of his servants did heed the warning, but those who didn’t lost whatever was left outside. *** The storm was full of thunder, hail and lightning like had never been upon the earth. It left Egypt in ruins, but Goshen was untouched by the storm. Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron and this time he actually confessed he had sinned and that God was the righteous God; his people were wrong. He begged Moses to ask God to end the storm. He promised to let God’s people go. But after all this, God said that Pharaoh and his officials still didn’t fear Him. Their talk was good, but their hearts were still not changed. Sure enough, as soon as Moses prayed and the stormed stopped, Pharaoh changed his mind…again. *** In Matthew, parents brought their children for Jesus to lay his hands on and bless. The disciples tried to stop the parents, but Jesus objected. He wanted to bless the children because the Kingdom of Heaven belonged to them. *** A man came to Jesus and asked what good deed could he do to have eternal life. Jesus answered to keep the commandments. The man explained he did that so what else must he do. Jesus told him if you want to be perfect, then give all your money to the poor and follow him. The man left sad because, he owned much. *** Jesus told his disciples that it was almost impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. His disciples were shocked because they had been taught by the priests that wealth was a sign of God’s approval on a person. They asked, then who could be saved. Jesus answered it was impossible to do it in the flesh, but could only be done through God. That rich man was trying to make it to heaven with his works. He was trying to be good enough to enter heaven but Jesus was saying that there would always be something he wouldn’t be able to master. Only through Christ and his grace, can we be saved. Only being like the children, can we see God. *** Then, Jesus gave them a glimpse into the Kingdom on earth. Jesus would sit upon the throne and his disciples would sit upon thrones with him and judge the tribes of Israel. Everyone who has died to this world to choose Christ will be rewarded a hundred times in return and they will inherit eternal life. The ones who are great in the world now will be the least and vice versa. *** Lord, we look forward to the regeneration of the world when the world is restored to your authority. We are watching this happen and rejoice. We will reign with you as kings and priests to You. May we have clean hands and pure hearts.

Tues.’s Devo - Moses’ Complaints and God’s Responses

Read: Exodus 5:22-7:25; Matthew 18:21-19:12; Psalm 23:1-6; Provers 5:22-23 Moses went back to the Lord complaining that ever since he returned to rescue the Israelites from the Egyptians, he had just made it worse for them and God had not rescued them. *** God told him that how when He got through with Pharaoh, he would be throwing them out of Egypt. God had appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but they had not known him as Jehovah the one who was, and is and is to come - the God of the past, present and future. God had promised to give them the land of Canaan where they lived as foreigners, and he has not forgotten that promise. Now, he promises to bring them out of Egypt where they are slaves and bring them to the land he promised their ancestors. *** Moses told the people what God said, but they were too distracted by their present condition that they couldn’t imagine anything better. God sent Moses back to Pharaoh to tell him once again to let them leave his country. Moses complained that if his own people wouldn’t listen, how could he expect the pharaoh to listen to him. God told him and Aaron to tell both the Israelites and Pharaoh that God had ordered them to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. *** Aaron and Moses were both from the tribe of Levi which was third in the birth line of Jacob. God told Moses to tell the pharaoh everything he had told Moses but Moses complained that he was a terrible speaker. God said he would make Moses like a god to Pharaoh and Aaron like his prophet. Moses was to tell Aaron to command that he let the people leave. God would make Pharoah’s heart hard so God could do miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. God would rescue the people with great acts of judgment on Egypt. When they did leave, Egypt will know that He is the Lord. *** Moses and Aaron went to the Pharaoh but when he heard Moses’ claims to be sent by God, he demanded a miracle to prove it. This is the very thing the Pharisees ordered of Jesus. They wanted a sign to prove he was from God. Jesus told them that the only sign they would get was the sign of Jonah. *** Aaron threw down his staff and it became a serpent. The Pharaoh called all his wise men and they did the same thing with magic, but Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Pharaoh still refused to listen to them. *** God told Moses to go to the river the next morning and wait for the Pharaoh to come. He was to take the staff that had turned into a snake and give him another chance to let them go to worship the Lord. When he refused, Moses was to strike the water of the Nile with the staff and it would turn to blood. The fish would die and the river would stink and become undrinkable. Then he was to take the staff and raise it over all the waters and reservoirs of Egypt and turn them to blood. All the water in Egypt, even water in their houses would turn to blood. Moses did this. Pharaoh’s sorcerers proved that they could turn water to blood also, so Pharoah’s heart remained hard. The people of Egypt had to dig along the riverside to find drinking water. This went on for seven days. *** In Matthew, Peter came to the Lord and asked him how often he should forgive someone who sinned against him. Should he forgiven him seven times. Jesus told him he should forgive him seven times seventy. Seven means “complete” and seventy means “measured completely full.” So he should forgive completely till his measure is full. Jesus told him a parable to explain his answer of how things are done in God’s kingdom. One day the king was working with his accountants bringing his accounts up to date. (It was judgment day.) One of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions. The king ordered that he, his family and all he owned be sold to pay the dept. The man fell on his face begging for mercy and time to repay him. The master felt compassion and totally forgave him the debt. But, then the same man went out and went to a man who owed him a few thousand and grabbed him by the throat and demanded he pay at once. When this man begged for mercy and time, he didn’t give him any but threw him in jail until the debt could be paid in full. *** Word got back to the king and he called the man back in and confronted him. Why had he not given this man mercy, when he had shown him mercy? He had him thrown into prison to be tortured until his entire debt had been paid. His measure of mercy was complete and he had run out. It was now time for judgement. *** Forgiving is setting someone free from their debt. That is what God did for us through Jesus. We owed a debt we couldn’t pay and he paid our debt he didn’t owe. God asks us to have the same mercy for others that he had for us. *** The Pharisees followed Jesus to Judea to try to find some question he wouldn’t be able to answer. They asked him about divorce and if it should be allowed for any reason. Jesus explained that from the beginning when God created man and woman, he didn’t intend for them to be split apart. Then they asked why Moses allowed divorce in his law. Jesus explained that it was because of God’s mercy he allowed it because men’s hearts were hard. ***But in Jesus’ day, they were just “putting away” their wives without going through the writ of divorcement required in the law. This caused the divorce not to be legal, meaning that when they remarried, they were committing adultery. If they are going to just leave their wives because they were tired of her and leave her with no provision, it would be better if then never married at all. (Note: only men could initiate a divorce in their day.) *** Then Jesus made a statement about those castrated - some were born that way, others were made that way by men and others chose it for the sake of heaven’s kingdom. I think this has to do with sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed having a wife and children for the sake of the Kingdom - his family was so much greater than the natural. *** Lord, may we have the same mercy for others that you have for us. May we forgive quickly and thoroughly and may your love increase in our hearts.

Mon.’s Devo - Death is the Cost of Freedom

Read: Exodus 4:1-5:21; Matthew 18:1-20; Psalm 22:19-31; Proverbs 5:15-21 Moses had a hard time wanting to go and try to convince the Israelite leaders to follow him. He told God they wouldn’t believe him. God gave him three signs that would convince the Israelites God had sent him. The first was to throw down his staff and it would became a snake. Then he was told to take the snake by the tail (a sure way of being bit) and it would turn back into a staff. That took some faith. The next was told to put his hand into his cloak. When he took it out it was leprous. He was to put it back into his cloak and this time when he took it out his hand was healed. The third was to turn the water in the Nile into blood on the ground. *** Moses’ next excuse was his speech. He couldn’t speak well. God told him that he made his mouth so who is he to complain about it. But God conceded with Moses and told him that Aaron would be his mouth. Moses would tell him what to say. *** Moses went home and told Jethro, his father-in-law that he wanted to return to Egypt and to his relatives. Jethro blessed him with a peaceful journey. God assured Moses that the people who had wanted him dead were now dead themselves. *** Moses left with Zipporah and Gershom, his son. God told Moses that when he spoke to the Pharaoh and performed all his miracles, that God would harden his heart so that he would refuse to let them go. Moses was to then tell him that Israel was God’s firstborn and since he had refused to let them go, God would kill his firstborn. That night Moses got to experience what God had told him. God came to Moses and confronted him. He was about to kill him when Zipporah stepped in and circumcised her son. She touched Moses with the foreskin of her son and the Lord left Moses alone and didn’t kill him. *** Moses stood for Israel in this encounter. He was being killed off by Satan (who was being played by Pharaoh here on earth.) Zipporah stepped in and sacrificed her son to let Moses live. Zipporah stood for God and Gershom stood for Jesus. The blood of Jesus saved us and Moses from dying. *** It makes you wonder how Zipporah knew that the blood of her son would save her husband, but she did and acted on it. *** Moses met with Aaron and together they went to the elders of Israel and showed them the miraculous signs. It did convince the Israelites that God had sent Moses, it just didn’t convince the Egyptians. The Egyptians came up with something to distract them from their goal… more work. *** This is the same playbook they are still using today. When ever the people begin to join together and protest, they raise taxes, raise interest rates and create inflation. Then we have to worry about how to make a living and feed our families. They hope this will discourage us from standing up against them. We cannot give up if we want freedom, and Moses and the Israelites had to make this decision also. *** Pharaoh required that they find their own straw to make their bricks, but their quota would stay the same. They beat the foremen when they couldn’t make the quota so that made the foremen angry and blame Moses and Aaron for their pain instead of blaming the real culprit, Pharaoh. That is another tactic of the enemy. Shift the blame to the our leadership and put confusion in our camp. They will do anything to divide us so we won’t meet our goal of freedom. *** In Matthew, Jesus was asked by the disciples who was greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus gave them the example of a little child because of their innocence, humility and blind trust. But, anyone who causes one of them to fall into sin would be punished. It would be worse than being drowned. The world would get the same judgment because they tempt people to sin. Jesus said, whatever it is that tempts you - get rid of it. *** Jesus also told us not to look down on a person who followed God like a child because God loves them. Even if one of God’s children wandered away, he would go and get them and bring them back. It is not his will that anyone gets lost or dies. *** If a believer sins against us, we are to go to them privately and discuss it. If they listen and repent then you have won that person back. If they don’t listen and repent then you need to bring a witness or two with you to talk to the person. If they still wont, listen, then it should be taken to the church to let them handle it. If they won’t listen to the church officials, then that person is to be treated like an unbeliever. *** Jesus tells us again that what we bind up or capture here on earth, will be bound up or captured in heaven and what we break up, destroy, dissolve, unloose, melt, and put off here on earth will be broken up, destroyed, dissolved, unloosed, melted, and put off in heaven. *** Jesus added that if two of you agreed concerning a thing on earth, God will do it for us because if we gather in his name, he is with us. *** Lord, may we walk in the authority you have given us and may we clean up this kingdom on earth so your kingdom can come to earth.

Sun.’s Devo - Moses’ Calling

Read: Exodus 2:11-3:22; Matthew 17:10-27; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 5:7-14 When Moses had grown up, he went to visit his own people and saw how hard they were being worked. He witnessed an Egyptian beating one of the Hebrews. Thinking no one was watching, he killed the Egyptian and buried his body in the sand. *** The next day, he found that his deed was known all over Egypt by the Hebrews and the Pharaoh. He had to flee to Midian to save his life. There, he met the seven daughters of the priest of Midian at a well. He saved them from the shepherds and watered their flocks. When returned home so early, their father asked why. They told him of the Egyptian who had rescued them. Their father, Reuel, had them go and invite Moses to their house. *** Moses came and ended up staying with them. Reuel eventually gave his daughter, Zipporah, to marry Moses. They had a son named Gerson which means “a stranger there.” *** Years later, the Pharaoh died and God spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai through a burning bush. He called Moses by name and told him to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. He told him He was the God of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He had heard the cries of his people and had come down to save them from the power of the Egyptians and Moses would lead them out of Egypt in to their land. It was a good land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hives, and Jebusites now lived. *** Moses doubted his capability to lead them, but God told him he would be with him and they would come back and worship him on this very mountain. *** Moses asked God to give him a name to call himself. God answered Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He was to tell them that I AM had sent him. *** God then sent him back to Egypt to speak to the elders and to tell them that He had sent Moses to rescue them from their oppression and bring them to their own land. *** God told Moses exactly what was going to happen and what the outcome would be which sounds simple, but walking it out was much more difficult. God has told us the same thing. He has promised us that we would inherit the earth and rule and reign with Him and that Satan would be underneath our feet, but the working it out is much more difficult. He has promised us our sons and daughters would return to the God of their youth, and yet this is hard to walk through when what we see is contrary to that at the time. We have to learn to walk by faith just as Moses did. *** God told Moses that the elders would accept his message and they would go with Moses to see the pharaoh. They were to ask the Pharaoh to let them take a three-day tourney into the wilderness to sacrifice to their God. The pharaoh would not let them do this, so God would strike the Egyptians with all kinds of miracles. Then the pharaoh would let them go. They would leave with their children wearing the wealth of the Egyptians. *** We are at this place as a nation. We have been promised to be released from the oppression of the Deep State and its power but it is not been easy. It is a battle, but we know that we will come out triumphantly wearing the wealth of the wicked. The kingdoms of this would will become the kingdoms of our God. *** In Matthew, the three disciples had just seen Moses and Elijah with Jesus and asked Jesus why the teachers of the law insisted that Elijah must come first before the Messiah comes. Jesus agreed with the teachers, but explained that Elijah had come and they abused him (speaking of John the Baptist). They would do the same to the Messiah. *** When they got to the bottom of the mountain they were met by a crowd. The disciples had been trying to deliver a boy from demons and couldn’t. Jesus called them a faithless and corrupt generation. He rebuked the demon and he was healed. *** The disciples asked him why they couldn’t cast out the demon. He told them that they didn’t have enough faith. Then he told them it didn’t take much faith, just a little. With just a little faith they could move mountains. *** Once again, Jesus told his disciples the plan of his death and resurrection which caused them to be filled with grief. *** When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax asked Peter why Jesus didn’t pay the Temple tax. Peter went to find Jesus to ask him. Before he could ask, Jesus asked him if kings made their own citizens pay taxes or did they taxed the people they had conquered. Peter said, they taxed the people they had conquered. (That should give us a clue as to who we are since we pay taxes out of the wazoo!) *** Peter answered it was the ones who were conquered who paid the taxes. Jesus told him that they were citizens of the Kingdom so they shouldn’t have to pay the tax, but since the people of this world wouldn’t understand this, Jesus told Peter to go down to the lake and throw a line in and open the mouth of the first fish he had caught. In it he would find a large silver coin. He was to pay both of their taxes with it. Jesus paid our taxes and his on the cross. We are now free to enter the Temple of the Lord without any shame or payment. *** Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you that you have freed us from the power and penalty of sin. May we walk in this freedom and come boldly before you.

Sat.’s Devo - The Next Generation

Read: Genesis 50:1- Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13-17:9; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 5:1-6 Joseph wept when his father died. He had him embalmed which took 40 days, then the Egyptians mourned his death for 70 days. After that, Joseph requested that the Pharaoh allow him to bury his father in his family burial ground as was requested. Pharaoh agreed and Jacob’s body was buried in the cave of Machpelah where all his ancestors were buried. *** Fear filled the hearts of the brothers of Joseph now that their father was gone. They begged Joseph to forgive them for the way they had treated him in his youth. This brought Joseph to tears. He had already told them that he forgave them a long time ago. He promised he would continue to take care of them and their children. *** This is probably how God feels when we keep going to him for forgiveness over something in our past when we can’t seem to forgive ourselves. It is exhausting to try to get someone to accept your forgiveness when they continue to live in guilt and condemnation. I bet God feels that way sometimes with us. Jesus died to forgive all our sins. It requires our faith to walk in freedom. *** Joseph lived to see the birth of Manasseh’s son, Makir. Joseph adopted Makir as his own, just like Jacob had adopted his two sons. Joseph lived to see three generations of descendants from Ephraim. Truly Ephraim was more blessed just like his name prophesied. *** Joseph and all his brothers eventually died, ending that generation. The next generation multiplied so exponentially that the new pharaoh of Egypt became afraid of them. He had never been told the history of Joseph. He feared the Israelites would one day rebel and join their enemies in fighting against them. Then they would move out of the country. That was close to what ended up happening. *** The Pharaoh tried everything to depopulate the Israelites. He tried working them to death, then having the midwives kill the boys in childbirth, but when none of that worked, he exposed his plan and proclaimed a decree to kill all the newborn Hebrew boys by throwing them into the Nile. *** At this critical time, God caused the deliverer to be born. His name was Moses and when he was born there was something extraordinary about him that was noticeable. *** His mother knew he was special and created a little ark made of reeds and tar and floated him in the river. The Pharoah’s daughter found it when she was bathing. When she opened the basket and saw Moses, he began to cry. She comforted him and felt compassion for him. She knew he was a Hebrew baby. Miriam, Moses’ sister was waiting in the wings. She asked if she would need a nursemaid for the baby to feed him. Miriam called her mother and the princess paid her to feed and take care of her own son. She was rewarded for her faith. *** It took great faith to break the law of the Pharaoh and to set her son in a basket in the very river that was meant to be his grave. From death came life. What a picture of resurrection. *** In Matthew, Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi which was known for the cave of Pan, who the people there worshipped. Jesus took them to that spot where all these gods were represented in alcoves around the cave Pan was to come out of from the pit of hell every spring. He asked them who the people thought he was. They responded that some thought he was John the Baptist, others Elijah or Jeremiah. Then he asked them who they thought he was. Peter answered for them. He said that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. *** Jesus blessed him for discerning this from the Spirit of God. He told him that the name Peter meant “rock” and upon the words he had just spoke, he would build his church. The powers of hell would not conquer his church. What ever his church forbids on the earth, will be forbidden in the heavenlies and what ever his church allows will be allowed in the heavenlies. *** He warned his disciples not to tell people that he was the Messiah. He began to prepare them for what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem. He told them he would suffer by the teachers of religious law, be killed and rise from the dead on the third day. *** Peter tried to rebuke Jesus for saying such things, but Jesus rebuked Satan from speaking through him. He told Peter that he was only seeing through his own humanly point of view and not God’s. *** Jesus told his disciples that to live, they must give up their lives. Nothing is more important that saving your soul. *** Six days later, Jesus took Peter and James and John up on a mountain and transformed into glory right before their eyes. Moses and Elijah both came and talked with Jesus about what was about to happen. Peter wanted to make shelters as memorials for Moses and Elijah, but God spoke from heaven and told them to listen to his dear Son. They fell to the ground. *** Jesus came over and revived them and everything was back to normal. They returned but Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen till he had been raised from the dead. *** Lord, we realize that the disciples didn’t understand half of what they were being shown but later they understood. Thank you that you do warn us of what you are about to do in our lives, we just rarely understand till later. May we trust you in the times of uncertainty and understand more quickly what you are doing. Lord, may we prepare the way for the next generation to walk with you in love and faith.

Fri.’s Devo - The Blessings of Jacob

Read: Genesis 48:1-49:33; Matthew 15:29-16:12; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 4:20-27 Joseph received news that Jacob was dying and took his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh to see him one last time. Jacob mustered up enough strength to sit up. He told Joseph that he was adopting Ephraim and Manasseh as his own children. Those born in the future would be Joseph’s and would inherit within the territories that Jacob was giving to Ephraim and Manasseh. He *** When Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons he crossed his arms to put his right hand on Ephraim’s head even though he was the youngest. When Joseph complained, Jacob explained that Manasseh would be blessed, but Ephraim would be blessed even more and become greater. That is such a great promise because Manasseh means “causing to forget” but Ephraim means “double fruit”. So the blessings of the future are so great they will outshine the pain of the past that it will cause us to forget all the suffering. We will experience that when God blesses the earth with his Kingdom. It will be so good, we will forget the pain we have experienced getting there. *** Jacob blessed his other children starting with Rueben, his first born. He, like Esau, lost the blessings of the first-born because he slept with his father’s concubine. Simeon and Levi would be dispersed throughout the tribes because of their cruel nature. Judah would be praised. He would take his enemies by the neck and all the other tribes would bow to him. Kings and rulers would come from his tribe. Jesus, came from this tribe. He would be tested until he came out pure. Zebulun would settle by the sea and border Sidon. Issachar would work the land and be blessed. Dan would be judges of the people. Gad would live by defending his land. He would live by the sword. Asher would live in luxury and be blessed. Joseph would be blessed beyond the others and be an example of God’s goodness. Benjamin would devour his enemies and defeat them. He would receive the wealth of the wicked. *** When Jacob had finished his blessings, he requested to be buried in the burial land Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah were all buried there. Rachel had been buried on the way to Bethlehem. Interestingly, he was buried with Leah, his first wife and not Rachel. *** In Matthew, Jesus returned to Galilee where he healed everyone who was lame, blind, crippled, couldn’t speak and others. The people had been with him for three days and not had anything to eat. He didn’t want to send them away hungry so he asked how much food the disciples had. They had seven loaves and a few small fish. Jesus had the people sit down and took the food and thanked God for them. He broke them into pieces and gave them to the disciples to distribute. The food multiplied in their hands. There were 4,000 men and also women and children who all ate of their fill. They collected seven large baskets of leftover food. Jesus sent the people home and got into the boat with the disciples to go to the region of Magadan. *** This is a spiritual concept. God uses men to work through. Jesus blessed it, but the food multiplied in the hands of the disciples. God wants to use us in this same way if we are available to him. *** The Pharisees and Sadduccees came to him to ask him for a miraculous sign from heaven to prove that he got his authority from God. He rebuked them for being able to read natural signs in the heavens but not spiritual ones. He told them the only sign they would get would be the sign of the prophet Jonah. We assume that this was the sign of the resurrection but I think it is so much more. Jonah was a rebellious follower of God just like the teachers of the law. God had to bring Jonah to death to repent and turn. Maybe, this means that their sign would be death before they saw the truth. *** Jesus told his disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees. He was referring to their false teachings that seemed to expand way beyond the truth. The deception of the Pharisees is still a problem. The Pharisees knew much about the Mishnah and the Talmud, but very little about the laws of Moses. To keep from being deceived by false teachings we need to know what the Bibles says above what others teach. The Bible is the standard. *** Lord, may we know the truth and may it be our litmus test. May we have great discernment to understand truth and not be deceived by wrong teachings but may we understand what you are saying right now to our generation.

Thur.’s Devo - Jacob Comes to Egypt

Read: Genesis 46:1-47:31; Matthew 15:1-28; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19 Jacob traveled to Egypt but stopped at Beersheba where there was a well of living water. Abraham had dug the well, and Isaac had re-dug it. God spoke to Jacob and told him to not be afraid of going to live in Egypt because that was where God was going to make him a great nation. He would die there and Joseph would be there when he died. God would be with him in Egypt bring him back again. *** Jacob took all he had to Egypt and there were 70 in his family that traveled with him. Joseph met them in Goshen and had a very heartfelt reunion with his father. Joseph instructed them that when they met the Pharaoh to tell him they were farmers. Since the Egyptians despised farmers, he would let them live in Goshen. They met with the Pharaoh and followed Joseph’s advice. Jacob blessed the Pharaoh and he gave them the land of Goshen. He provided their food for all of them from his provisions. Being apart from Egypt, Jacob’s family wouldn’t assimilate into Egypt and they could worship God their way. *** Jacob was 130 years old when he met with the Pharaoh and lived 17 years after that. When he died, Joseph was there to shut his eyes. *** As the famine continued in the land, the people ran out of money to buy grain and came to Joseph asking if they could give theirselves and their land in exchange for grain. He agreed and bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. The people became slaves of Egypt. He did not buy the land belonging to the priests and they were fed from Pharaoh’s own provisions. *** Joseph gave the people grain and told them to use it to farm. When the harvest came in, one fifth would belong to the king and they could keep the other four-fifths for themselves. The people were grateful. *** In Goshen, God’s people acquired property and were fruitful. They grew in number quickly. Notice the difference between those in Egypt and those in Goshen. God’s people did not even suffer during the famine. They were blessed instead and prospered. That is true about now in the time of harvest. The evil people are being harvested out of the world and we are being blessed with more than enough. *** In Matthew, Jesus had drawn the attention of the Pharisees and teachers of the law who came to see him. They asked him why their disciples ignored the ritual of hand-washing which was a tradition made up by the Pharisees long ago. Jesus answered them with a question. He asked them why they violated one the ten most important commandments which was to honor their father and mother. The Pharisees, because of their greed had made a law that said you didn’t have to care for your elderly parents if you wanted to give the money you would have given to care for them to the Temple. They taught that to give to the temple would give them status with them and with God. *** Jesus told them that their worship was a farce just like Isaiah had prophesied. They taught man-made laws as if they were God’s laws. He ended it with, “It is not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; but every word that comes out of it.” *** Jesus’ disciples came to Jesus and asked him if he knew that he offended the Pharisees. (You think?) Jesus told them not to worry because God would uproot them. They were nothing but blind guides leading people to fall off the road with them. *** They asked him what he meant by words coming out of your mouth being what defiles you. Jesus explained that eating food with unwashed hands would only go into your stomach and come out of your body as waste, but the things that are in your heart will eventually come out of your mouth as words and it is your words that will defile you. *** Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, Gentile territory, and one of the women there came to him asking for mercy for her daughter who was possessed by a demon. The disciples urged Jesus to send her away but Jesus addressed the woman. He told her that he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel, but she continued to worship him and ask for his help. Jesus told her that it wasn’t right to take the food from the children and throw it to the dogs. She agreed, but reminded him that even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table. Jesus loved her faith and healed her daughter. *** This woman was asking for something that was ahead of time. Jesus came to save the Jew first but eventually the whole world - Gentiles and Jews. This woman’s faith got her what she asked for even if it wasn’t time. Mary did the same thing when she came to Jesus at the wedding and asked him to turn the water to wine. Faith moves mountains. Faith is the key to getting prayers answered. This woman demonstrated that for Jesus. *** Lord, may we grow in faith and please you in all we do. Thank you that you provide for us abundantly in this time of great harvesting of evil.

Wed.’s Devo - Fulfillment

Read: Genesis 44:1-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36; Psalm 18:37-50; Proverbs 4:11-13 Joseph tested his brothers one more time to see if they would do to Benjamin what they had done to him. He sent them on their way loaded down with provisions and had his palace manager hide his silver cup in Benjamin’s bag. *** When they had just left the city, the office manager arrested them and accused them of stealing the cup. He promised that whoever stole it would be his slave, and the rest could go free. He found it in Benjamin’s sack, but the brothers refused to leave Benjamin and returned to defend his case. When they faced Joseph, Judah spoke up and admitted they were being punished for their sins. He told them that all of them would be his slaves - they were not leaving Benjamin alone. Judah told Joseph the whole story of losing Joseph and how it broke their father’s heart. He left out their part in the story, but Joseph could tell they were repentant. *** Joseph told all his servants to leave the room and revealed to his brothers who he was. They were speechless! He explained that God had saved him to go before them to preserve them during the famine. It would continue for 5 more years. Everything that had happened in Joseph was for this very time in history. What they meant for harm, God used for good. *** He told them to go and get their father and bring him to Egypt. There was a a region called Goshen that was fertile and they would live there, near him. *** Joseph embraced them all and sent them home. News about Joseph’s family reached the Pharaoh and he was delighted they were coming to live in Egypt. He gladly gave them the land of Goshen and was prepared to give them the very best he had. He provided his wagons for them to take with them to bring their belongings back with them. He gave them supplies for their journey. Joseph gave Benjamin five changes of clothes and 300 pieces of silver. He sent donkeys loaded with the best Egypt had to offer. *** When they got home and told Jacob everything, he was stunned at first but when he saw all the wagons from Egypt he believed. *** The story of Joseph was a precursor to the story of Christ. Joseph suffered for the sins of his brothers over their jealousy of their father’s love for Joseph, just as Jesus suffered under the hands of his Jewish brothers who were jealous of his authority with his Father, God. Joseph was sent to go ahead of them and prepare a place for them when the whole world was under a famine, just as Jesus was sent to prepare a place for us not only in heaven but here on earth right now. He has prepared a “Goshen” for us in this time of great tribulation for the wicked. We are being preserved and set up to prosper while those who have been prospering through deceit are being judged and found guilty. Great tribulation is falling on the wicked at this time, while we are being preserved to continue God’s kingdom on the earth. *** In Matthew, Jesus had just learned that John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod. He went to be alone and talk to God about it, but the crowds followed him. He had so much compassion on them, he spent the day healing the people instead of mourning his own loss. It was getting late in the day and the disciples suggested that Jesus stop the ministry and send the people home to eat. Jesus told the disciples to feed them. The disciples explained that they only had five loaves and two fish. *** Jesus asked for the food and sat the people down on the grass. Then he took the five loaves and two fish and looked up to God and blessed them. He broke the loaves and fish and gave them to the disciples to give to the people. Everyone ate all the wanted and they picked up 12 baskets of leftovers. They had fed about 5,000 men that day in addition to their wives and children. *** Jesus sent the people home and had the disciples get into the boat and go to the other side of the lake. He went on a mountain to pray. *** A storm arose on the water and the disciples were fighting huge waves. Jesus came walking on the water. When the disciples saw him, they first thought he was a ghost. Jesus told them it was him and told them not to be afraid. Peter asked Jesus if he could come out on the water and Jesus told him to come. He walked right out on the water and was doing well until he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves and the storm. Then he began sinking. He cried out to Jesus who reached down and saved him and helped him back into the boat. Jesus rebuked him for wavering in his faith. As soon as Jesus stepped into the boat, the waves stopped. The disciples worshiped Jesus as the Son of God. *** They reached the area of Gennesaret where Jesus had cast the demons out of them men and now the people were ready to receive Jesus. They had seen how the two demon-possessed men were sane and filled with God’s spirit now and they believed that Jesus was good and not evil. Many brought their sick to him to be healed. *** In the Old and New Testament today we read stories of victory and fulfillment. We will not always live in times of struggling and famine. There are times of refreshing and fulfillment to God’s promises and he wants us to experience both. Both are gifts from him. Our test is to live in the now with expectation of a great future, and not in the past. We learn from our past and we take the wisdom from the past into the present and the future. *** Lord, help us to embrace the fulfillment of your promises. Teach us to walk in the times of abundance and plenty. May we help in fulfilling your plans for the future. May we keep our eyes on You and not the storms around us.

Tues.’s Devo - The Curse of Guilt and the Blessing of Forgiveness

Read: Genesis 42:18-43:34; Matthew 13:47-14:12; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 4:7-10 After Joseph’s brothers had been in prison three days, he brought them out and told them one of them must stay until the others brought their brother back. *** Reuben concluded that all of this was happening because of how they treated Joseph. He reminded them that he had tried to tell them not to do it, but they wouldn’t listen. Now they were having to answer for their sin. *** This told Joseph that Reuben was innocent, so he chose the second born to be responsible. He kept Simeon in prison and sent the rest home. He had his servants put their money back in the top of their sacks to bless them. *** When they found the money, instead of being blessed, they felt cursed. That is the power of guilt; it taints everything through that lens. *** They shared with their father what had happened and he swore Benjamin would not be going to Egypt. So, Simeon was stuck in prison. When they ran out of grain, Reuben was able to talk his father into letting Benjamin go with them and assured with his own life, that he would return. Jacob had then take gifts and twice the money, just in case it was an accident that there money was restored to them. *** When they entered Egypt and Joseph saw that Benjamin was with them, he told his manager that these men would be eating with him. The manager led them to Joseph’s palace and once again their guilt robbed them of the blessing. They were terrified instead and immediately confessed that their money had been restored to them and they had brought it back, and more, to pay for the next grain. The manager knew what was going on and assured them he had received their money. This was not about the money. He released Simeon to them and gave them water and fed their donkeys. They were told they would eat there, so they prepared their gifts to give to Joseph. *** Joseph arrived and they bowed down before him again. He asked about their father and found out he was still alive. He addressed Benjamin and had to leave the room to compose himself. He came back refreshed and had the food brought in. He sat them in their birth order and they were amazed, but none of them caught on that this was Joseph. He was giving them small clues to show them that he knew things about them that no one should know as a stranger, just like all the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, and yet there were teachers of the law who missed the clues and refused to believe he was the promised Messiah. *** In Matthew, Jesus told the last parable about the Kingdom of Heaven and the great threshing the angels are doing - separating the good from the wicked. There is a difference between sinners and the wicked. Sinners are all of us before Christ. Sinners can be converted but the wicked have no grid for repentance or love. They are Satan’s seeds that he scattered on the earth. *** Not all of the religious leaders rejected Christ. The ones who did were able to add the new teachings of Christ to the old teachings of the law and the prophets. This was the last thing Jesus taught them before he left and went back home to Nazareth. *** He taught on the Sabbath in the synagogue and the people wanted to know where he got his wisdom and power to do miracles because they could not get past the fact that he was Mary and Joseph’s son. They were offended and refused to believe in him. Jesus told them that a prophet is honored everywhere but at home and left, not being able to do many miracles because of their unbelief. *** Herod Antipas heard about Jesus and thought he must be John the Baptist risen from the dead. Herod had been tricked into beheading John the Baptist and now his guilt had caused him to live in fear also. *** It is built into our DNA that sin requires judgment. Both Joseph’s brothers and Herod lived looking over their shoulders because of their guilt. Jesus came to take away our guilt and shame away so we can walk in freedom. Hallelujah! *** Lord, thank you for the cross! Thank you for your great gift of salvation and your invitation for us to live in your kingdom. We choose to live in your presence with your laws and under your authority.

Mon.’s Devo - From Prison to Position

Read: Genesis 41:17-42:17; Matthew 13:24-46; Psalm 18:1-15; Proverbs 4:1-6 Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. Dreams dominated Joseph’s life. His whole story started with dreams. It was through jealousy over his dreams that his brother’s sold him. Now, it would be through two dreams that God would promote him to his destiny. *** In dreams, God uses everyday objects to represent a greater truth just like he did in his parables. Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. Joseph was given eyes to see the symbols and to be able to interpret them. He was able to understand that fat cows and healthy grain represented years of prosperity and thin cows and blighted grain represented years of famine. He not only told the king the interpretation of his dream but also what to do to prepare and prosper in the midst of a famine. God is doing that now. He is giving us ways to prosper during this time to prepare us for the next few years when we go through a great transition in our land. *** The Pharaoh was humble enough to see that he needed help and that Joseph was the one to do it. He exalted Joseph to second-in-command. He gave him new clothes, a new name and new authority. This is another thing God is doing in the Body of Christ right now. He is bringing us out of the bondage and slavery we have been under and making us the heads of his mountains of society. He is clothing us in humility and love and giving us all the provisions we need to accomplish what God wants on the earth. We have got to change our mindset to do God’s new exalted assignments. We are to rule and reign on this earth with love and humility to care for and bless humanity. *** God used Joseph to bless and preserve a very idolatrous nation. We were all once sinners that Christ died for. America has been a very perverse and idolatrous nation, but God wants to change that through us and bless America once again. *** Back to our story, the last seven years of famine hit the whole world and eventually Canaan, where Jacob and his eleven sons lived. Everyone heard that Egypt had grain so Jacob sent all his sons except Benjamin to Egypt to buy grain to preserve their lives. When they reached Egypt they went to Joseph to buy their grain. He recognized them but they did not recognize Joseph. They bowed down before him and Joseph was reminded of his dreams of his childhood. He acted as if they were spies and asked them many questions. They revealed that they were brothers and had another brother at home. Joseph told them that he would keep them all there and send one home for this brother to prove their stories were true. He put them all in jail for 3 days. Because of them, Joseph had spent years in jail. Maybe he wanted them to experience a glimpse of what he had gone through. They were put in the very prison he had lived in for years. *** We will never go through the suffering that Jesus went through, but God does call us to fellowship in his suffering that we might one day know him and be conformed. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:11) *** In Matthew, Jesus continued telling parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. In his first parable we read about yesterday, the good seed represented the message of the Kingdom but in todays parable, it represents that message in people. Just like in Genesis 1:11, seed reproduces plants with the seed inside them over and over again. *** The first three of the parables we read about today have to do with that multiplication. Jesus spoke these parables to the people, but he explained them to his disciples when they asked him what they meant. The Bible is a closed book to those who have hard hearts and are not open to be taught by God’s Spirit. We have been blessed with tender hearts to receive the gift of God. The Holy Spirit teaches us and show us its mysteries. Thank you, Holy Spirit. *** In today’s parables we not only learn about multiplication but also the job of the angels. It is their job to expose and rid the body of the weeds at harvest time. It is harvest time and we are watching the angels do that now as many pastors, politicians, businessmen, etc. are being exposed and given a chance to repent. *** In the fourth parable, God explains that there is treasure hidden in the field - there are people who have chosen to follow Christ no matter what. So God bought the whole world in order to save them. (John 3:16). *** Lord, thank you for your wonderful plan of salvation. May we be part of your harvesting of souls in these last days. May we see your kingdom come to earth.

Sun.’s Devo - The Making of a Leader

Read: Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35 The captain of the guard for Pharaoh bought Joseph from the Ishmaelite traders for his own personal slave. God blessed Joseph with the gift of administration and he proved himself in all he did for Potiphar. He used his gifts to bless Potiphar and prosper him. When Potiphar recognized Joseph’s abilities, he gave honor to God. He put Joseph in charge of everything he owned. *** Joseph was good looking and strong and Potiphar’s wife began to try to tempt him to have an affair with her but Joseph kept putting her off. She finally found him alone and begged him to be with her. She grabbed at his cloak, but he fled the house, leaving his cloak behind. She took it as evidence, and called for her servants and told them Joseph tried to rape her. *** When her husband came back in town she showed him Joseph’s cloak and told him her lie. It doesn’t tell us that Joseph stood up for himself, all we know is that the husband put Joseph in the king’s prison. This is just where God wanted Joseph to be. He was able to learn the way of the Egyptians in secret and be preserved until God was ready to use him. In prison, he had much time to reflect on his life and learn humility and let God mold him into the leader he was being trained to be. *** Instead of giving up and becoming bitter, he became a favorite with the prison warden and was put in charge of the prison. Joseph was learning how to rule and work with all kinds of people. God caused everything he did to succeed. *** Pharoah’s cup-bearer and chief baker were both thrown into prison on the same day. There must have been a threat to the king of poisoning since it was the duty of the cup bearer to taste his wine first and the baker to cook his food. They were put in jail until an investigation was made to find out who was trying to poison the king. *** The two men each had a dream on the same night. The next morning, Joseph noticed they were both upset so he asked them about it. They told him they had dreams and had no one to interpret them. Joseph told them that was God’s business. He told then to tell him their dreams. *** The cup-bearer told Joseph his dream and Joseph interpreted it as saying that in three days, he would be returned to his job. The baker saw that the cup-bearer got a good interpretation so he told his dream, but his was not a good ending. Joseph told him that in three days, he would be impaled on a pole. *** Three days later was Pharoah’s birthday and he called in the two men and restored the cup-bearer to his position and impaled the baker on a pole. Joseph had told the cup-bearer to tell the Pharaoh that he had been kid-napped and was wrongfully put in prison, but the cup-bearer forgot all about Joseph. It was not time for Joseph to emerge. *** Two full years later, it was time. Pharaoh had a dream and he needed an interpreter and the cup-bearer then remembered Joseph and told the king. The king had him brought to him to see if he could interpret it. Josep told him the same thing… only God can tell you what it means and bring you peace. *** In prison, Joseph had learned how to please the king and the customs of the Egyptians. Before Joseph came before the king, he had his hair shaved and he changed his clothes to look Egyptian so as not to offend him and to relate to them. We, as Christians are set apart, but the difference we really want people to notice is our character. We need to be relatable without compromising our faith. *** In Matthew, Jesus’ mother and brothers wanted to speak to Jesus. Jesus made it clear to the people that they were just as important to him as his own family was. Anyone who did God’s will had this honor of being in his family. *** Jesus taught the people in parables. He told them stories and the first one was about a farmer scattering seed in his field. The seeds fell in different places. The seeds that fell on the foot path were eaten by the birds. The seeds that fell on the shallow soil with rock beneath sprouted quickly but soon wilted because their roots were not deep. The seeds that fell among the thorns were choked out, but the seeds that fell on the fertile soil produced a crop thirty, sixty and even a hundred times as much as was planted. *** Later, Jesus’ disciples asked him about the story and Jesus explained that it was one of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven and only those who had ears to hear and hearts to understand would understand its meaning. They were blessed because they were given eyes to see and ears to hear. Many prophets had longed to see what they were seeing (meaning him). Then he shared it’s deeper meaning with them. The seed was the message of the Kingdom. God gave this message to a bunch of people but the difference of receiving it had to do with their hearts. Their hearts were the soil. The enemy was the devil, who came to snatch the truth away as soon as it was given. The ones without roots in the words of God’s law and his prophets would not understand the message of the Kingdom. The ones who let their circumstances overwhelm them couldn’t process it. Some let the worries of life and the lure of wealth steal the truth. But, the ones who had good hungry hearts, the message of the Kingdom was life to them and they produced a harvest of souls - thirty, sixty or even a hundred times as much as they had received. *** Lord, we want to be productive in your kingdom. Thank you for showing us that it is not salvation alone that is the seed, but it is the whole Kingdom message that includes salvation and healing and ruling and reigning in this world and overcoming evil. May we help cultivate hearts to receive this message.

Sat.’s Devo - Hearts Are Exposed

Read: Genesis 37:1-38:30; Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32 Joseph was 17 and helped his half-brothers (Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher) out in the field. Joseph told Jacob some bad things they were doing. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite since he was Rachel’s son and reminded Jacob of Rachel. Jacob had a special coat made for Joseph that showed his love for him. This made the other brothers jealous. To make it worse, Joseph had dreams about them bowing down to him and worshipping him. He even had one where his mother and father bowed down and worshipped him. *** Joseph’s brothers had gone to Shechem to pasture their sheep and had been gone a while, so Jacob sent Joseph to bring him back a report of how they were doing. Joseph found them in Dothan. As he was approaching him, they were plotting how to kill him. Reuben stepped in and suggested to just throw him into an empty cistern and let him die there. He planned to come back and rescue him. They took off his coat and threw him into the cistern, but then saw a caravan of Ishmaelite traders with their camels. Judah came up with the idea of selling him and making a prophet. They sold him for twenty pieces of silver and the traders took Joseph to Egypt. *** When Rueben returned to save Joseph, he found the cistern empty and he was distraught. The brothers killed a wild animal and dipped Joseph’s coat in the blood. They took it back to their father to let him figure out what had happened to him. *** Jacob believed wild animals had attacked and eaten Joseph and was so sad he wept for a long time, refusing to be comforted. *** Judah left home and moved to Abdullah and stayed with a man named Hiram which means “hollowness.” Judah married a Canaanite woman and had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah in that order. Jacob chose Tamar to marry Er. Er was so evil, God killed him. Jacob had Onan marry Tamar to have a son for his dead brother’s name. Onan didn’t want to do this, so God killed him. Jacob had promised Tamar that he would give her Shelah when he was old enough to marry, but Judah was afraid his sons were dying because of Tamar so he didn’t give Shelah to Tamar. *** When Tamar realized Judah was not going to fulfill his promise she tricked him into having sex with her. She heard that Judah was sheering sheep in Timnah and she set up a prostitute’s tent on his way. He fell for the bait and gave his staff, his ID seal, and its cord to guarantee his payment to have sex with the veiled Tamar. He had no idea she was his daughter-in-law. *** Tamar became pregnant and when Judah found out he sent someone to stone her. She presented the staff, seal and cord and said that the father was the owner of these things. Judah realized what Tamar had done and was not going to kill his off-spring, so he let her live. *** Tamar had twins and while she was delivering them, one of them put out his hand and the midwife put a scarlet string on his wrist, but the other boy came out first. They named him Perez which means “breaking out” and the one with the scarlet thread was named Zerah which means “brightness.” *** This is a spiritual concept. The first born is the one they were to offer to the Lord. He was the one who received the most when the father died. The first born represents our natural life. When we present our lives to the Lord, we die to our sins and are born again. This second birth represents the second born. He was the one with the scarlet thread who is now a light in the world. He is double blessed with the inheritance naturally and spiritually. In Matthew, Jesus healed a man and he could now see and speak but now the Pharisees had to explain why this man couldn’t be the Messiah. They came up with the statement that Jesus got his power from Satan and was the prince of demons. This showed that the more light the people were shown, the more blind the Pharisees became and the more lies they had to speak. They accused Jesus of being the very thing they were. *** Jesus explained that the kingdom of Satan would not be bringing healing and salvation or it would be fighting against its cause. The cause of Satan is to steal, kill and destroy, so how could Jesus be of that kingdom. Because Jesus was casting out demons this was evidence of what John preached was here. John preached that the kingdom of God was near and Jesus was proving that now it had come. Jesus was plundering the camp of Satan. *** Jesus said that the only sin that could not be forgiven was to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. He said, people could speak against him, but not the Holy Spirit. What is in our hearts will come out of our mouths. It is with our mouth that we confess Jesus, and it will be with our mouth that we will give an account on judgment day for every idle word spoken. It is our words that will justify or condemn us. *** The Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus asking for a sign to prove his authority. What? Everything Jesus did was a miraculous sign that proved his authority. Jesus said that only an adulterous, evil generation would ask such things. The only sign they would get was the sign of Jonah. The people of Nineveh had repented when he showed up and now the Messiah was here and the people still wouldn’t repent. Their sign would be the empty tomb. *** Jesus added that this generation was like a person who was delivered from demons and yet when the demon couldn’t find a place to go, it came back to the original person bringing with it more demons and now that person is worse off than before. Jesus was predicting what would happen when he left. They already wanted to kill him, they would try to kill all his followers once he was gone. (Their demons would increase.) *** God forces demons out into the light which is what he is doing right now in our society. He is forcing the demons to show themselves and what their agenda really is. They can’t hide anymore and we can’t sit on the fence anymore either. We have to choose between light and darkness. *** Lord, you are our refuge and place of rest. Your are our inheritance and you guard what is ours. May we watch over our words and only speak what is gracious and true. May we not tolerate darkness in our society.

Fri.’s Devo- Jacob Returns Home

Read: Genesis 35:1-36:43; Matthew 12:1-21; Psalm 12:1-21; Psal 15:1-5; Proverbs 3:21-26 God told Jacob to move to Bethel and reestablish the altar to God he had set up when he was fleeing from Esau. Jacob told everyone in his household to get rid of their pagan gods and change their clothes. This was a call to return to God. Jacob had not led his family spiritually as the head of his household, but God was calling him to change that. Jacob took their objects of pagan worship and buried them under a tree in Shechem. (Remember they had destroyed Shechem and had taken the women and children from that town with them. No doubt, they had brought idols with them.) I wonder if Rachel gave up the household idols she had stolen from Laban. *** Jacob and his family came to Bethel and Jacob built the altar and named it Elbethel which means “God of God’s house.” *** The nurse, Deborah, who had taken care of Rebekah when she was a child, died. She was buried in Bethel. *** God appeared to Jacob and once again told him that he was to start using is new name, Israel. God also gave himself another name - El Shaddai which means “God Almighty.” He told him to be fruitful and multiply and he would become many nations. Kings would come from his offspring and he would be given the land God have to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark its place and poured wine over it as an offering then anointed the pillar with olive oil. He named that place Bethel which means “house of God.” *** Jacob continued traveling and when he got close to Ephrath which means “fruitfulness”, Rachel went into labor and died having her son. She named him Benoni which means “son of my sorrow” but Jacob changed it to Benjamin which means “son of my right hand.” Jacob buried Rachel in Bethlehem. *** Jacob traveled on to Migdal-eder which means “tower of flock” and there Reuben slept with Bilhah who had been Rachel’s servant and Dan and Naphtali’s mother. This dishonorable act cost Reuben his birthright. *** Jacob finally made it back home. Isaac was still alive and lived a total of 180 years. When he died, Esau and Jacob buried him. *** Esau’s lineage is given. He had married the two Canaanite women which his mother loathed, then he had married a Hivitte and then his cousin on Ishmael’s side. He had 5 sons by these wives. From his descendants came princes and eleven clan leaders. They lived in the land of Edom and Seir. The kings of Edom were listed, also. *** In Matthew, Jesus was walking through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. The religious Pharisees saw this and accused them of harvesting grain on the Sabbath. (This was what Jesus called, ‘straining at a gnat to swallow a camel’) *** Jesus reminded them of what David did when his men were hungry. They broke the law by eating the shewbread that was reserved for the priests alone. He also reminded them of the work the priests do in the Temple every Sabbath. He told them they would have not condemned his disciples if they realized who was there among them and understood the scripture that said, “I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” Then he told them that the Son of Man was Lord, even over the Sabbath.” I bet this ticked them off. *** Jesus went into ‘their’ synagogue and noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees were ready to charge him with blasphemy so they asked him if the law permitted them to heal on the Sabbath. He asked them if they would pull out a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath. They all would. So he compared the man to the sheep and said how much more valuable is a person than a sheep. Then he answered their question - yes, the law permits you to do good on the Sabbath. What could they say to that? *** Jesus told the man to hold out his hand and when he did, it was restored. This ticked them off even more. They wanted Jesus gone. Jesus knew this so he left that area. He continued to heal those who followed him and to fulfill Isaiah 42:1-4. *** Lord, may we do the things that you did and greater. May we not be afraid of opposition or threats. We see through the ministry of Jesus that you can protect and empower us like you did for him.

Thurs.’s Devo - Wrestling with God and Winning

Read: Genesis 32:13-34:31; Matthew 11:7-30; Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20 Jacob selected a list of animals from his flocks to present to Esau. Each animal group had a different shepherd, and when he approached Esau, he was to give him his herd and say that Jacob was right behind them. Jacob hoped to appease any anger Esau might still have towards him with his gifts. *** During the night, Jacob sent everyone across the Jabbok River and he stayed alone in the camp. A man came and wrestled with him until the dawn was breaking. When the man saw he couldn’t win, he touched Jacob in his thigh and injured it. Jacob still would not let him go so the man asked Jacob his name. The man changed his name to Israel which means ‘he will rule as a prince of God’. Jacob asked the man his name but he didn’t tell him. *** Jacob named the place Peniel which means ‘face of God’ for he knew he had seen God face to face and yet been spared. Jacob limped back to his family. *** Jacob saw Esau coming with his 400 men and divided his children with Bilhah and Zilpah and their children in the first group, then Leah and her children in the second group, and last of all Rachel and her son. Jacob went ahead of them all and met Esau. Esau ran and embraced him and they both wept. Jacob introduced his family to Esau and insisted that he kept the flocks he had sent ahead. Both Esau and Jacob had become very wealthy. *** Esau wanted to lead Jacob back with him to Seir but Jacob insisted on coming alone at their own pace. Jacob ended up in Shechem in Canaan. Jacob bought his first plot of land in Canaan for 100 pieces of silver. (Abraham had bought his first plot of land in Canaan for 400 pieces of silver.) *** One day Leah’s daughter, Dinah, was defiled by Shechem who was the local prince and the son of Hamor. Afterwards, Shechem fell in love with Dinah and wanted to marry her. Her brothers found out she had been raped and were furious. Hamor came to Jacob and his sons to ask for the hand of Dinah in marriage for his son, Shechem. He wanted to enter into a covenant through this marriage between his people and Jacob’s. Jacob’s reply was that they could only agree to this if their men were circumcised. Hamor and his son, Shechem were able to get the men in the town to agree so they all got circumcised. *** Three days later, while the men were good and sore, Simeon and Levi, Leah’s sons, attacked the town and slaughtered all the male there including Hamor and his son. The men were too sore to even put up a fight. When the other sons of Jacob arrived they saw the slaughter and plundered the town of all their wealth. They also took flocks and herds, the women and children. *** When Jacob found out what had happened, he was very upset, he was afraid the people around there would retaliate and he would lose everything, but this didn’t happen. Jacob would curse Simeon and Levi because of this act in his blessing at the end of his life (Genesis 49:5-8). This was not a small injustice they had done. God was not pleased. *** In Matthew, Jesus had just answered John the Baptist’s disciples question about whether he was the Messiah. As they left to go tell John what Jesus had said, Jesus turned to the crowd and asked them why they had gone out to listen to John. He reminded them that John was a prophet who didn’t dress in expensive clothes, but he was the one that scriptures had said would prepare the way for the Messiah. John was the greatest prophet that ever lived and yet he was less than those who lived in the Kingdom of Heaven. When John began preaching about the Kingdom, a war in heaven had begun and the Kingdom of Heaven was winning. *** People found every kind of reason to find fault in John because he wasn’t what they had expected. The same went for Jesus. He did miracles the people had never seen before and yet many had not repented of their sins. Every place Jesus had gone and displayed the Kingdom of God would be judged for how they received him. Yet there were those with child-like faith who had accepted Jesus, and they would be given the gift of salvation. They would enter into God’s rest and learn of him. *** Jacob had struggled with God and won and we must struggle with him also and win. We struggle with our pride and giving our whole will over to him. We struggle with sin and losing our lives. But, we always find that God’s life is better. *** Lord, may we never take lightly the gift of salvation and the joy of knowing you. May we always have child-like faith and struggle to enter into your rest.

Wed.’s Devo - Facing Our Fears

Read: Genesis 31:17-32:12; Matthew 10:24-11:6; Psalm 13:1-6; Provers 3:16-18 Jacob was fleeing from Laban secretly, to go back to his homeland. On the way, he would have to face the one who had tricked him repeatedly (Laban) and the one he had tricked and done wrong (Esau). Sometimes we need to experience what we have dealt out to others to understand its severity and our need to repent. Jacob reaped in Laban what he had done to Esau. *** When Laban found out Jacob had left, he went after him. The night before he caught up with him, God came to Laban in a dream and told him to leave Jacob alone. But, it didn’t keep him from letting him have it with his words. What he was really saying was, ‘I can’t believe you broke out of my control.’ He was more upset over loosing his stuff than the welfare of Jacob and his family. He was most upset about someone stealing his household gods. *** Jacob told him to search for his gods and pronounced a curse of death over whoever had them. This came true. Rachel had taken them and hidden them. She would later die in childbirth to Benjamin. *** When Laban didn’t find his gods, Jacob felt emboldened to speak and he told Laban exactly why he had left and how wrongly Laban had treated him. There was nothing Laban could say in defense. Laban had lost his control, so he now wanted to make a covenant of peace so Jacob wouldn’t one day decide to take out vengeance on him. They made a peace treaty and put up a pile of stones to mark their agreement and it became a boundary line that neither would cross to harm the other. *** Laban left the next day after blessing his daughters and his grandchildren. Jacob went the other way and encountered some of God’s angels. He realized he had happened upon a camp of angels. He called the place Mahanaim which means ‘double camp’. *** Next, Jacob had to meet Esau, the one he had tricked and wronged. He sent messengers ahead of him to feel out Esau’s attitude towards him. He sent gifts with them to pacify any anger Esau might have. The messengers returned with news that Esau was on his way to meet him with an army of 400 men. Because of his guilt, he couldn’t imagine that maybe it was a welcoming party of 400. *** Jacob panicked. He divided his group into three groups leaving his family in the last group. Then he prayed that God would protect them and reminded the Lord of the promises he had given him to make him into a multitude of people. In Matthew, Jesus made it clear that he was their master and he was being called the prince of demons, so we should expect to be accused of being demons also. Jesus told us not to be afraid of those who threaten us because God is going to reveal the truth about everything that is done in secret. He told us not to be afraid of those who want to kill us because they can’t kill our soul. God sees everything and will reward everyone according to their deeds. *** Jesus told us that he didn’t come to bring peace on earth first, but a sword to cut through the lies and hypocrisy. He came to expose evil and reward faithfulness. We are to support other believers, like we would have wanted to support Jesus when he walked the earth. *** John the Baptist was in prison for his testimony of Christ and he knew the Messiah would ‘set the prisoner free’ according to Isaiah. Since Christ was not doing that for him, he sent a message to Jesus asking him it he was the Messiah or if they should wait for someone else. Jesus sent him a message back reminding John of the miracles he was doing and then said, “and blessed are those who are not offended in me.” He was saying to John, instead of being offended by what I am not doing, look at what I am doing. *** What a good word for us. It is so easy to let one unanswered prayer take away the blessing of all the answered prayers God has done. That is why we need to constantly remind ourselves of the things God has done for us, and know that he is always at work. *** Lord, thank you for your perfect timing. Thank you that your ways are so much better and higher than ours. May we trust in your ways, your timing and your results. We trust in your unfailing love and goodness to us.

Tues.’s Devo - Jacob’s Sons

Read: Genesis 30:1-31:16; Matthew 10:1-23; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15 Rachel was so distraught that she was barren, she took it out on Jacob and blamed him. Jacob told her it was God’s fault she wasn’t having any children. Rachel gave him her maid, Bilhah so she could have a child through her. Jacob slept with Bilhah and she did have a son. Rachel named him Dan which means “judge”. Rachel said that through Dan, God had vindicated her. Bilhah had another son and Rachel named him Naphtali which means “my wrestling.” Rachel named him this to prove that in her struggle with Leah, she was beginning to win. *** Leah realized Rachel might truly win, because she had stopped having children, so she gave her servant, Zilpah to Jacob. Zilpah had a son Leah named Gad. Gad means “my fortune.” Zilpah had another son and Leah named him Asher, which means “joy.” Leah was on top of the world. She was winning 6-2. *** Reuben, Leah’s firstborn found some mandrakes in the field and brought them home to his mother. Rachel saw them and begged to buy them. Mandrakes were considered an aphrodisiac. Leah argued that it wasn’t enough that Rachel stole her husband, but now she wanted to steal her son’s mandrakes. This was the exact opposite of what had happened. Leah had stolen Rachel’s husband and now Rachel asked to buy them, not steal them. Rachel told Leah that if she would just share some of them with her, Leah could sleep with Jacob that night. Leah agreed. *** Leah met Jacob coming home that night. She told him that he had to sleep with her because he had paid for a night with him. That night Leah got pregnant and later had Issachar which means “he will be hired: he will bring a reward.” She said that God had rewarded her for giving her servant to her husband. Leah had a sixth son and named him Zebulun which means “dwelling”. She felt that now that she had given her husband six sons, he would respect her and dwell with her. She later had a daughter and named her Dinah which means “judgement”. She had no statement about Dinah; maybe this was God’s statement. *** Finally, God opened Rachel’s womb and she became pregnant and had Joseph, meaning “let him add.” She was so happy that God had added another son to her. *** Jacob went to Laban and asked to be released from his contract with Laban so he could return to his homeland. He asked for a payment for all his work. Laban told him to come up with a plan for a salary. Jacob told him he would continue working for him for a while and his wages would be all the speckled and black sheep. Laban agreed so Jacob took his cattle out and set them aside. Then he had all the healthy strong cattle mate in front of something that was spotted and streaked. They produced what they saw which is a spiritual concept: we become what we behold. *** God spoke to Jacob and told him it was time to leave and go home. He asked Rachel and Leah if they would go with him and they both said they had no respect for their father. He had spent all their money, so all God had given Jacob of their fathers was legally theirs. They were more than willing to leave. *** In Matthew, Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and heal every kind of disease and illness. The disciples were Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon, the zealot, and Judas Iscariot. He sent these men out to the people of Israel to announce that the Kingdom of Heaven was near. He have them authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, cure the leper and cast out demons. *** Jesus told them not to take any money, extra clothes, or even a walking stick. They were to accept any hospitality given. When they came into a new town, they were to seek out the godly and stay with them. They were to bless that home if it was worthy, but to take back their blessing if it was not. *** They would encounter wolves who would take them to court, but they were not to worry because the Holy Sprit would give them a defense. It would be an opportunity to be a witness of Jesus. *** Lord, help us to remember that when we are being persecuted that we are being given the privilege of sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Our lives are but a vapor, but we are living for eternity.

Mon.’s Devo - New Wineskins

Read: Genesis 28:1-29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12 Isaac called Jacob in to bless him before sending him to Paddan-aram to visit the house of his grandfather Bethuel, Abraham’s brother and Rebekah’s father. Isaac told him to marry one of Laban’s daughters. *** Esau knew that Jacob had been sent away to marry a wife from his mother’s side of the family that was not a Canaanite so he decided to do the same thing. He went the other way and visited with his uncle Ishmael from his father’s side of the family and married one of Ishmael’s daughters, Mahalath. Her name means “making sick”. *** Jacob left Beersheba and traveled to Haran and stopped for the night. As he laid his head upon one of the rocks, he had a dream of a stairway to heaven. He saw angels going up and down the stairway. At the top stood the Lord. He spoke and told Jacob who he was - the father of Abraham and Isaac. He promised him the same thing he had promised them. God would make them multiply on the earth and they would be a blessing to the world. He would bring him back to this land and be with him to bring to pass all had had promised. *** The place he was in was called Luz which means “perverse”. When Jacob awoke he realized that God was in that place and changed the name to Bethel which means “house of God.” Jacob vowed that if God did what he had said he would do, then He would be his God. He set up a pillar to mark the place. He would come back and give God one tenth of everything he received. *** When Jacob arrived in the land of Paddanaram he stopped by a well. He saw flocks of sheep waiting to be watered. At the well, he asked why they weren’t watering their sheep and was told that the stone was too heavy for one or two of them to lift so they would wait till all the shepherds arrived and together they could lift the stone. *** Jacob found that the shepherds were from Haran and asked if they knew Laban. They said they did and that his daughter, Racheal was just then walking up. Jacob went to the well and lifted the stone by himself and watered all of Rachel’s sheep. He kissed Rachel and wept. He told Rachel who he was and how he was related to her. *** Rachel ran home and told her father, Laban and he ran out to meet Jacob and brought him home. He stayed with Laban, working for him for a month. Then Laban offered to pay him and asked him what he wanted as his wages. Jacob said he would like to marry Rachel. He agreed to work for 7 years for her. But when the time came to marry her, Laban slipped Leah in at the last minute and Jacob didn’t know till the next morning. He was livid. Laban explained that it was not their custom to marry the second born before marrying the first born and Leah was the first born. Laban told Jacob to just finish out the week with Leah and the next week he would be given Rachel, but he had to work for him another 7 years without pay. Jacob agree. Jacob had met his match on being tricky. He was reaping what he had sowed with his own brother. *** God had compassion on Leah since she was unloved by her husband and opened her womb. She named her first son Reuben which means “see, a son.” She hoped that it would make Jacob notice her and love her. She had a second son and named him Simeon which means “hearkening”. She hoped that with this son, Jacob would not only see her but hear her, also. She had a third son and named him Levi which means “joined.” Through him she hoped to be bonded to her husband. With her fourth son, Judah she finally learned to put her focus on the Lord and just praise him. *** In Matthew, Jesus had just made the statement about putting new wine in old wineskins and how it wouldn’t work when one of the leaders of the synagogue came to him humbly begging Jesus to raise his 12 year old daughter from the dead. What a picture of new wineskin. He was a leader of the synagogue who opposed Jesus and yet he broke out of that mold and he is came to Jesus, asking the greatest miracle of all - to raise someone from the dead. Jesus was going with him to pray for his daughter when a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years reached out and took some of Jesus’ healing virtue. Jesus stopped in his tracks and turned to confront her. He told her that her faith had made her well. She was instantly healed. Having faith was part of this new wineskin. *** The story doesn’t tell us if the daughter had been born with an infirmity or not but the fact that she was 12 and the lady had been sick for 12 years is not a coincidence we can ignore. We just read of two women, Leah and Rachel who would together have 12 sons who would become the 12 tribes of Israel. All of these women suffered to have their dreams come true and to see salvation come to them. *** Jesus did raise the girl from the dead, and healed the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years and healed Rachel’s womb so she would have two sons. He did heal Leah’s heart so she could praise the Lord again. *** The number 12 has to do with God’s government. He was establishing his kingdom on earth by all the things he did. He next healed a blind man and a man who was deaf and dumb. When God’s government is set up on earth all who were blind to what was happening will be able to see, and those who couldn’t hear the truth will be able to. *** The religious leaders couldn’t stand what Jesus was doing because it was bad for their business. They said that what he did was because he was working for Satan who allowed him to do all these miracles. They accused Jesus of what they were doing. *** People from everywhere began coming to Jesus, breaking out of their old wineskins, and Jesus told his disciples to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out more workers. *** Lord, how exciting is the time of right now! You are opening the eyes and ears of people who didn’t see the truth. They are now being able to see. Continue to open our eyes and ears to see and hear the truth and give us great discernment and wisdom. May we be your new wineskins.

Sun.’s Devo - Respond, Not React

Read: Genesis 26:17-27:46; Matthew 9:1-17; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 3:9-10 Isaac had been asked by Abimelech to leave the land of the Philistines because his family was getting so powerful, the king was afraid he would overpower him. Isaac traveled away from Gerar and settled in the valley, but every time his servants dug a new well, the men of Gerar would come and say it was theirs. Finally, King Abimelech came to meet with Isaac and offered to make a covenant of peace with him. Isaac did and the next well he dug was not disputed over. He named it Beersheba. It was the same well that Hagar had been shown when she and Ishmael had been kicked out of Abraham’s house. *** Isaac was getting old and wanted to bless Esau, his first born, before he died. Apparently, Isaac knew nothing about how Esau had sold his right of first born to Jacob over a bowl of soup. Rebekah did, and she knew that the blessing now belonged to Jacob. She told Jacob what to do to trick Isaac into believing Jacob was Esau and Jacob got the blessing. Isaac blessed him with wealth and great harvests, with power and position among the nations. He would rule over his brother and all who cursed him would be cursed and all who blessed him would be blessed. *** When Esau realized he had been tricked by Jacob, he cried and begged his father to give him a blessing. Isaac finally said, that he would not be blessed with abundance, and would live by his sword and serve Jacob, but the time would come when he would break free from Jacob’s yoke. *** Esau was so angry with Jacob and planned to kill him as soon as Isaac was buried. Rebekah heard about his plans and told Jacob to flee to her brother, Laban’s house. She would send for him as soon as Esau calmed down. She also didn’t want Isaac to marry any of the Hittite women. *** In Matthew, Jesus had been kicked out of the Gadarenes when he cast the demons out of the two men and the demons went into the swine. This had caused the whole town to be afraid of him and his power. *** This sounds a lot like what we just read about the Philistines kicking Isaac out. People are afraid of power they can’t understand. Their first reaction is to reject it. We are about to enter into a game of great manifestation of God’s power on the earth and he is going to use us for it to flow through. We will face rejection and people will be afraid of us, but, we have to not react to this rejection and wait and let the Holy Spirit work in their hearts. Then, hopefully, they will embrace it. *** Jesus went back across the lake to where he was welcomed and Jesus healed the paralyzed man and told him that his sins were forgiven. Obviously it was sin that got him in the physical state he was in and Jesus dealt with it. The teachers of the law accused him of blasphemy. They asked if he thought he was God. (Little did they know, they were getting really close to the truth.) *** Jesus told them their thoughts were evil and asked them what was harder to say ‘your sins are forgiven’ or to say ‘stand up and walk’? To prove that he did have the authority to forgive sins, he told the paralyzed man to stand up, pick up his mat and go home. *** The man leaped up and took his mat and went home. The people were full of the fear of the Lord but they praised him for giving man the authority to forgive sins. *** Jesus called Matthew, who was a tax-collector, to become one of his disciples. That night Matthew invited Jesus to his home where all his friends who were tax collectors and sinners joined them. The Pharisees saw this and asked Jesus’ disciples why Jesus would eat with such lowly sinners. Jesus heard this and said that it wasn’t healthy people who need a doctor, it was the sick. Then he told them to go and study the Scripture that said, ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ Jesus added that he had not come to call those who think they are righteous, but to those who knew they were sinners. He was saying this about them because they thought they were the only righteous ones when really, they were the sickest. *** Some of John the Baptist’s disciples came to Jesus to ask him why his disciples didn’t fast like they did. Jesus asked them, ‘Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating the groom? When the groom is taken away from them, then they will fast, too.’ *** Then he added that you don’t patch old clothing with new fabric or else when the new fabric gets wet, it will shrink making a bigger tear in the fabric. The same is true about the new wine Jesus was offering to the people. They couldn’t put this new wine in the constructs of the law. They had to have new hearts to be able to accept Jesus and what he was bringing. *** Jesus is pouring out new wine today, and we must be able to shift into this new paradigm. What we have always thought about the end of the world and the rapture and Revelation has to shift. If we shift with it, we will see God’s kingdom coming to the earth and be a part of it. It is happening right before our eyes but we have to have eyes to see. The Age of Aquarius is coming and the Holy Spirit is pouring his spirit upon all flesh. It is a great day to live in and its going to get even better. *** Lord give us eyes to see your kingdom coming. May we not reject the next move of God because we don’t understand it or it is not how we thought it would come. May we respond to the new and embrace it and not react to it and reject You.