Read Judges 5:13-18
So down they came to fight- the few against the many; the poor against the rich; the people against warriors. Roll call: Ephraim, Benjamin, Naptali, Zebulun, Issachar. All here. Where is Rueben, Gilead, Dan, and Asher.
Didn't God tell them that when there was a battle against any tribe - they were all suppose to come help. So why didn't they come? Well, it seem there was great indecision in the tribe Rueben. They just couldn't all agree so they sat home and life went on as usual. I guess they would catch it on the 6:00 news. Gilead didn't want to cross the Jordan. Dan was too busy watching the beautiful sunset over the ocean - safe in the harbors.
So who are we when it comes time to fight, go on a mission trip, help the poor, work in Toys or Tots, go speak a kind word to someone who is friendless or alone. Are we like Rueben who just couldn't decide whether he wanted to or not. "Surely someone else will do it. They don't need me." May be so, but you need them, and they do need you. If you leave decisions up to how you feel - you will probably choose to default. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!!!" Or are we like Gilead who let his obstacles keep him from getting there. It is not the easy path to follow Jesus, but it is always the most fulfilling. Or, what about Dan? Is your life so comfortable and planned that you don't want to disturb it? If you don't - God will and you won't like it. The Christian life is meant to be an adventure! You don't want to miss it. Or, are we like Zebulun and Naptali who risked their lives on the heights of the battlefield. They laid it all down for Jesus and won.
Lord, we want to lay it all down for you. We want to risk it all for you. Put your spirit in us so that we will march in your power and bring down strongholds and defeat your enemies! Thank you, God for your unfailing kindness to us.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Monday's Devo. Purified Water
Read Judges 5:10-12
We are reading the song of Deborah and Barak after their great defeat. The song is calling out to the rich: "the ones who ride on white donkeys" and to the poor: "the ones that walk along the road." It is begging them to listen to the village musicians as they sing songs about what God had done for them in the past. They knew that if the people were reminded of all the wonderful ways God had delivered them from in the past, they would have courage to march as an army down to the city gates to fight for their freedom.
In verse 12 the spirit of God is telling Deborah to wake up and proclaim victory and Barak to wake up and lead the army in victory. In the OT they didn't have a literal Bible to read, but they had songs that had been written and recorded so they could recall what God had done in the past. These songs were their Bible. The minstrels were the singing prophets of their day. It is the same today. Our modern day minstrels are singing their prophesies. The prophets of the world are singing about love, broken hearts, disappointment and bitterness. If you listen to them you will learn to close your heart to love, or open it to the wrong kind of love. Either way you lose. If you listen to God's musicians you will be uplifted in your spirit and be drawn near to the heart of God. In our story, the musicians were found at the watering holes. Heb. 10:22 says, "Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean and our bodies have been washed with pure water." Eph. 5:26 tells us that this water is the Word of God.
What are you listening to? Is it giving you power in your spirit to walk with God or is it feeding your flesh to want what the world has. God wants you to walk in freedom and love but you have to choose Him.
I pray that we would choose You today. Change our desires to be your desires. Change our hearts to hunger after the pure water of your Word. Walk with us and cause us to hear your voice. We are thirsty for You.
We are reading the song of Deborah and Barak after their great defeat. The song is calling out to the rich: "the ones who ride on white donkeys" and to the poor: "the ones that walk along the road." It is begging them to listen to the village musicians as they sing songs about what God had done for them in the past. They knew that if the people were reminded of all the wonderful ways God had delivered them from in the past, they would have courage to march as an army down to the city gates to fight for their freedom.
In verse 12 the spirit of God is telling Deborah to wake up and proclaim victory and Barak to wake up and lead the army in victory. In the OT they didn't have a literal Bible to read, but they had songs that had been written and recorded so they could recall what God had done in the past. These songs were their Bible. The minstrels were the singing prophets of their day. It is the same today. Our modern day minstrels are singing their prophesies. The prophets of the world are singing about love, broken hearts, disappointment and bitterness. If you listen to them you will learn to close your heart to love, or open it to the wrong kind of love. Either way you lose. If you listen to God's musicians you will be uplifted in your spirit and be drawn near to the heart of God. In our story, the musicians were found at the watering holes. Heb. 10:22 says, "Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean and our bodies have been washed with pure water." Eph. 5:26 tells us that this water is the Word of God.
What are you listening to? Is it giving you power in your spirit to walk with God or is it feeding your flesh to want what the world has. God wants you to walk in freedom and love but you have to choose Him.
I pray that we would choose You today. Change our desires to be your desires. Change our hearts to hunger after the pure water of your Word. Walk with us and cause us to hear your voice. We are thirsty for You.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Friday's devo - War in the gates
Read Judges 5:6-9
"in the days of Shamgar"... Shamgar was a judge before Deborah who had killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad and delivered Israel. His name means: the desolate dragged away. There must have been a lot of fear and unsafety because the people didn't walk on the main highways but took the winding side roads when they traveled. There had ceased to be a real leader till God raised up Deborah. God's people had chosen to follow "new gods" as if God was not enough. When they did this they had war in their gates. Deborah cries out asking if there is a sword or shield in the 40,000 Israelites. She then praises the leaders that rose up to fight.
So what does that mean to us. We don't live in the days of Shamgar... or do we? Do we not see the desolate resorting to drugs, sex, gambling, suicide, divorce, etc. Have we hidden the Jesus in us out of fear and intimidation and not taken him on the main highways of our lives? Have we chosen new gods of fame, fortune, idols, music, sports. When we do we have war in our gates. Our gates are our eyes, ears, mouth. What we allow in our "gates" guide our decisions. If we feast on Miley Sirus we will porbably not make the right decisions about how to dress, walk or talk. Do you have your shield and your sword. The Bible says our shield is our faith. What has our heart? Our sword is the Word of God. It is powerful if you use it.
But, praise God the leaders rose up to fight! That can be the Jesus in YOU! Find just one verse in the Bible that speaks to your situation and use it. You will be amazed at what power God will give you through it. I have a good one for you: Phillipians 4:8 "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. " God bless your walk today.
"in the days of Shamgar"... Shamgar was a judge before Deborah who had killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad and delivered Israel. His name means: the desolate dragged away. There must have been a lot of fear and unsafety because the people didn't walk on the main highways but took the winding side roads when they traveled. There had ceased to be a real leader till God raised up Deborah. God's people had chosen to follow "new gods" as if God was not enough. When they did this they had war in their gates. Deborah cries out asking if there is a sword or shield in the 40,000 Israelites. She then praises the leaders that rose up to fight.
So what does that mean to us. We don't live in the days of Shamgar... or do we? Do we not see the desolate resorting to drugs, sex, gambling, suicide, divorce, etc. Have we hidden the Jesus in us out of fear and intimidation and not taken him on the main highways of our lives? Have we chosen new gods of fame, fortune, idols, music, sports. When we do we have war in our gates. Our gates are our eyes, ears, mouth. What we allow in our "gates" guide our decisions. If we feast on Miley Sirus we will porbably not make the right decisions about how to dress, walk or talk. Do you have your shield and your sword. The Bible says our shield is our faith. What has our heart? Our sword is the Word of God. It is powerful if you use it.
But, praise God the leaders rose up to fight! That can be the Jesus in YOU! Find just one verse in the Bible that speaks to your situation and use it. You will be amazed at what power God will give you through it. I have a good one for you: Phillipians 4:8 "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. " God bless your walk today.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Read Judges 5:1-5
Last night we talked about how Deborah, Barak, and Jael defeated Sisera. This chapter is the song Deborah and Barak sang about the battle. In vs. 2 they are praising God for the victory he gave them and for the people who freely offered themselves. Barak couldn't fight this battle without the people who volunteered to risk their lives and fight. We are in a battle for righteousness in a very evil world. It is so important that we stand together like we did last night, praying for each other and standing with each other when we are going through a hard time. Most of the time no one notices what we do, but it doesn't mean it is not important.
At church we are also going through a fast. I encourage you, if you have not gotten in on the fast yet, that you jump in. Pray about what God wants you to offer Him. Maybe it's your music he wants you to put down. Maybe it's food. Whatever it is do it willingly. That was what a free offering was all about in the OT. They were required to bring certain burnt offerings and sin offerings at certain times each year, but the free-will offering was not required. They gave it when they wanted to.
Verse 4 tells how 10,000 men on horses defeated many more men and 900 iron chariots. God sent earthquakes and rain. Iron chariots don't roll very well in the mud. It would be like driving a car and blowing 3 tires. They were swerving all over the place and very frustrated. Verse 5 says that the mountains melted. So the ice on top of the mountain melted and the water came flowing down like a river. Romans 1:18 says that Gods shows his anger from heaven against wicked people. He definitely did that a lot in the OT. Rain, thunder, hail, lightning, floods; all to show his power. This is a great illustration of how God will go to great lengths to help us win our battles over sin, strongholds, and our enemy.
What is your part in God's army? What is the battle you are in right now? What does God want you to do next? Is there anything you would want to freely give him? These are all questions God can help you answer.
I pray that God will be so near to you that you can feel his arms around you. May you be able to climb up in his lap and give him all your pains and weights. God, I ask that you speak clearly to each one of us and show us the plan you have for us and what it is that we can do next. Help us know how to fight our battles. Be our leader and strong tower. We love you with all our hearts.
Last night we talked about how Deborah, Barak, and Jael defeated Sisera. This chapter is the song Deborah and Barak sang about the battle. In vs. 2 they are praising God for the victory he gave them and for the people who freely offered themselves. Barak couldn't fight this battle without the people who volunteered to risk their lives and fight. We are in a battle for righteousness in a very evil world. It is so important that we stand together like we did last night, praying for each other and standing with each other when we are going through a hard time. Most of the time no one notices what we do, but it doesn't mean it is not important.
At church we are also going through a fast. I encourage you, if you have not gotten in on the fast yet, that you jump in. Pray about what God wants you to offer Him. Maybe it's your music he wants you to put down. Maybe it's food. Whatever it is do it willingly. That was what a free offering was all about in the OT. They were required to bring certain burnt offerings and sin offerings at certain times each year, but the free-will offering was not required. They gave it when they wanted to.
Verse 4 tells how 10,000 men on horses defeated many more men and 900 iron chariots. God sent earthquakes and rain. Iron chariots don't roll very well in the mud. It would be like driving a car and blowing 3 tires. They were swerving all over the place and very frustrated. Verse 5 says that the mountains melted. So the ice on top of the mountain melted and the water came flowing down like a river. Romans 1:18 says that Gods shows his anger from heaven against wicked people. He definitely did that a lot in the OT. Rain, thunder, hail, lightning, floods; all to show his power. This is a great illustration of how God will go to great lengths to help us win our battles over sin, strongholds, and our enemy.
What is your part in God's army? What is the battle you are in right now? What does God want you to do next? Is there anything you would want to freely give him? These are all questions God can help you answer.
I pray that God will be so near to you that you can feel his arms around you. May you be able to climb up in his lap and give him all your pains and weights. God, I ask that you speak clearly to each one of us and show us the plan you have for us and what it is that we can do next. Help us know how to fight our battles. Be our leader and strong tower. We love you with all our hearts.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Jael's moment in history - Wed. devo
Read Judges 4
Once again Israel has sinned and is turned over to an enemy, the king of Hazor who had been oppressing Israel for 20 years. His name is Jabin which means intelligent, discerning, understanding. His army commander is Sisera who had 900 iron chariots. Pretty impressive being that Israel had none.
Deborah was a prophetess and a judge in Israel at the time for Israel. She lived in Ephraim. Her name means "a bee." She called Barak out to lead 10,000 men from Naptali and Zebulun. Barak means "a bright flashing sword. Naptali and Zebulun mean "abiding" and "wrestling".
Deborah is going to draw Sisera to the river Kishon which means "to set a trap". And deliver them to his hands. Barak agrees to go and Deborah tells him that this battle is not for his honor because God is going to sell Siseral into the hand of a woman. How humiliating for Sisera - to die at the hand of a woman.
Judges 4 11-24
Heber - a sorcerer from the descendant of Cain, had severed himself from his own people and was living out by himself. He showed Sisera where Barak was so Sisera went after him. Deborah told Barak that this was the day God had delivered Sisera into your hands so Barak went down and fought. God troubled, vexed, disturbed, Sisera and all his chariots so that Sisera got off his chariot and ran. Barak chased and killed all of Sisera's men. But Sisera went to the tent of Jael. Her people were on his side. Jael means "to be valuable and useful". She covered him with a mat to hide him and gave him some milk. He told her to stand watch while he slept. She took a tent nail and a hammer and drove the nail into his temples all the way to the ground.
When Barak came looking for Sisera, she showed him. (Read the last vs. 24) We keep fighting our enemies till they are gone.
Our enemy is alway intelligent. We fight him with the sword of the spirit which comes from abiding and wrestling with God. Deborah stands for a member of the body. We are part of an intricate society called the Body of Christ where everyone knows their part. Deborah knew her part and did it. Everything happened just as God had told her it would. Barak was just a fighter, doing his part. He didn't quit when he found out a girl was going to get the glory for killing Sisera. He did what his part was. He fought the battle. Jael was on the enemies's side. She fought from there. She was strategically to do her job. God has people in the enemies' camp. There were Christian soldiers in the Nazi prison camps that helped the Jews. God has his people everywhere. There are also Satan's people planted in Christian churches, organizations, etc. Jesus said not to try to weed them out but to wait till the harvest and let God separated the wheat from the tares.
Once again Israel has sinned and is turned over to an enemy, the king of Hazor who had been oppressing Israel for 20 years. His name is Jabin which means intelligent, discerning, understanding. His army commander is Sisera who had 900 iron chariots. Pretty impressive being that Israel had none.
Deborah was a prophetess and a judge in Israel at the time for Israel. She lived in Ephraim. Her name means "a bee." She called Barak out to lead 10,000 men from Naptali and Zebulun. Barak means "a bright flashing sword. Naptali and Zebulun mean "abiding" and "wrestling".
Deborah is going to draw Sisera to the river Kishon which means "to set a trap". And deliver them to his hands. Barak agrees to go and Deborah tells him that this battle is not for his honor because God is going to sell Siseral into the hand of a woman. How humiliating for Sisera - to die at the hand of a woman.
Judges 4 11-24
Heber - a sorcerer from the descendant of Cain, had severed himself from his own people and was living out by himself. He showed Sisera where Barak was so Sisera went after him. Deborah told Barak that this was the day God had delivered Sisera into your hands so Barak went down and fought. God troubled, vexed, disturbed, Sisera and all his chariots so that Sisera got off his chariot and ran. Barak chased and killed all of Sisera's men. But Sisera went to the tent of Jael. Her people were on his side. Jael means "to be valuable and useful". She covered him with a mat to hide him and gave him some milk. He told her to stand watch while he slept. She took a tent nail and a hammer and drove the nail into his temples all the way to the ground.
When Barak came looking for Sisera, she showed him. (Read the last vs. 24) We keep fighting our enemies till they are gone.
Our enemy is alway intelligent. We fight him with the sword of the spirit which comes from abiding and wrestling with God. Deborah stands for a member of the body. We are part of an intricate society called the Body of Christ where everyone knows their part. Deborah knew her part and did it. Everything happened just as God had told her it would. Barak was just a fighter, doing his part. He didn't quit when he found out a girl was going to get the glory for killing Sisera. He did what his part was. He fought the battle. Jael was on the enemies's side. She fought from there. She was strategically to do her job. God has people in the enemies' camp. There were Christian soldiers in the Nazi prison camps that helped the Jews. God has his people everywhere. There are also Satan's people planted in Christian churches, organizations, etc. Jesus said not to try to weed them out but to wait till the harvest and let God separated the wheat from the tares.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Cities of Refuge Tues Devo
Read Joshua 20
Cities of refuge. This is one of my favorite things to study. I have been interested in them for years and still don't fully understand their significance, but here is a little I have come to understand.
These cities were for people who accidentally killed someone and have no eye-witness. They can run to these cities and be safe until they stand before the congregation for judgment and until death of the high priest. Then they are released and free to go. What a great picture of what Jesus did for us.
Until Jesus came into our lives we were murderers, liars, sinners and didn't even know our sin. God kept us in his city of refuge until we came to the truth. When we realized the High Priest had died for us and we came to the realization that we were sinners; we subjected ourselves to his judgement and we were set free. Now we can walk this earth free from the "avenger of blood" that once had the right to judge us. Jesus took all the penalty of our sin and did away with it on the cross.
Want to go deeper? I asked God one night before I drifted off to sleep, "Where did the people in the OT go after they died?" I woke up to this in my head: "cities of refuge." I remembered my question the night before and realized God was answering my question. I got up and started studying again about the cities of refuge. I realized that when God-fearing people in the OT died, God had "cities of refuge" under the earth where they stayed until "the death of the High Priest". When Jesus died and was buried he went and preached to them and delivered them out of bondage. He "led captivity captive." After Jesus came back to walk the earth, many other people who had died came back and walked the streets of Jerusalem also. Jesus was the first fruit to rise from the earth, but he brought many with him.
Lord, thank you that you still have "cities of refuge" where we can go and hide away until we repent and apply your blood to our sin. Help us not to stay in these cities long but appropriate your death and go free. Help us to lead many out of bondage into freedom.
Cities of refuge. This is one of my favorite things to study. I have been interested in them for years and still don't fully understand their significance, but here is a little I have come to understand.
These cities were for people who accidentally killed someone and have no eye-witness. They can run to these cities and be safe until they stand before the congregation for judgment and until death of the high priest. Then they are released and free to go. What a great picture of what Jesus did for us.
Until Jesus came into our lives we were murderers, liars, sinners and didn't even know our sin. God kept us in his city of refuge until we came to the truth. When we realized the High Priest had died for us and we came to the realization that we were sinners; we subjected ourselves to his judgement and we were set free. Now we can walk this earth free from the "avenger of blood" that once had the right to judge us. Jesus took all the penalty of our sin and did away with it on the cross.
Want to go deeper? I asked God one night before I drifted off to sleep, "Where did the people in the OT go after they died?" I woke up to this in my head: "cities of refuge." I remembered my question the night before and realized God was answering my question. I got up and started studying again about the cities of refuge. I realized that when God-fearing people in the OT died, God had "cities of refuge" under the earth where they stayed until "the death of the High Priest". When Jesus died and was buried he went and preached to them and delivered them out of bondage. He "led captivity captive." After Jesus came back to walk the earth, many other people who had died came back and walked the streets of Jerusalem also. Jesus was the first fruit to rise from the earth, but he brought many with him.
Lord, thank you that you still have "cities of refuge" where we can go and hide away until we repent and apply your blood to our sin. Help us not to stay in these cities long but appropriate your death and go free. Help us to lead many out of bondage into freedom.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Can the Jebs
Joshua 15-19 is all about how the tribes divided the land and went in and settled in their portion alloted them. Sadly, many tribes didn't drive out all the Jebusites, or the Canaanites or whoever was there. It reads that they still remain there today because it was their choice to become weary of fighting and just put up with them. Sometimes they made them their slaves which meant they still had to feed them and take care of them. I wonder what the Jebusites and Canaanites are in my life. "Canaanites" means to humiliate or make you bend your knee. They sound like accusers, which sounds just like the "accuser of the brethren".
Rev. 12:10 says that "the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." The devil is always looking for an ear he can speak into. He says things like, "you can't expect God to use you after what you did." "Surely you don't think God told you to say that, remember how you got mad and lost your temper?" "You're not good enough." ETC. We are suppose to "cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2Co 10:5.
The Canaanites had iron chariots! Isn't it interesting how these intimidating thoughts come in droves. One thought leads to another. "Chariot" in the Hebrew means a team; the upper millstone. Everytime the word "millstone" is mentioned in the Bible it is being cast somewhere: either down, into the sea, or around someone's neck and then cast into the sea. So that is what we need to do to millstones the devil tries to put on us. They need to be cast down.
Another enemy left in the land were the Jebusites. In the Hebrew they meant "to trample; tread down under foot; be poluted". God hates mixture and that is what the enemies did to the Israelites. They wanted them to add their gods in with THE God. When we start adding in other gods we become poluted. James 1:27 says that 'Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Lord, show us what we have allowed in our life that keeps us from being pure and holy. What have we allowed into our lives that has polluted our soul and intimidated our walk. Help us identify it and cast it out. Be our strong tower today.
Rev. 12:10 says that "the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." The devil is always looking for an ear he can speak into. He says things like, "you can't expect God to use you after what you did." "Surely you don't think God told you to say that, remember how you got mad and lost your temper?" "You're not good enough." ETC. We are suppose to "cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2Co 10:5.
The Canaanites had iron chariots! Isn't it interesting how these intimidating thoughts come in droves. One thought leads to another. "Chariot" in the Hebrew means a team; the upper millstone. Everytime the word "millstone" is mentioned in the Bible it is being cast somewhere: either down, into the sea, or around someone's neck and then cast into the sea. So that is what we need to do to millstones the devil tries to put on us. They need to be cast down.
Another enemy left in the land were the Jebusites. In the Hebrew they meant "to trample; tread down under foot; be poluted". God hates mixture and that is what the enemies did to the Israelites. They wanted them to add their gods in with THE God. When we start adding in other gods we become poluted. James 1:27 says that 'Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Lord, show us what we have allowed in our life that keeps us from being pure and holy. What have we allowed into our lives that has polluted our soul and intimidated our walk. Help us identify it and cast it out. Be our strong tower today.
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