I Just Need You

One of many amazing songs by Telecast.

Unbelief

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief... Hebrews 3:19

* To whom did God say, "You shall not enter into the rest, the Promised Land, the abundance of milk and honey"? I would have thought it would have been to those who worshiped idols or to those who didn't have morning devotions. I would have thought it would have been to immoral men or to those who didn't offer sacrifices. Yet, in reality, the only thing that kept the children of Israel from the Promised Land was their lack of faith.
This is critically important theology, for the singular sin that kept them from blessing was simply thinking God's promise was just too good to be true. Precious people, you can live the abundant Spirit-filled, successful, exciting, thrilling Christian life if, instead of thinking that God can't bless you because you haven't had morning devotions regularly, you say, "I'm a spiritual grasshopper, Lord. But if You want to bring me into this great land of blessing, I'll gladly go in!"
The sin of Hebrews 3 is singular. It's not fornication, as destructive as that sin may be. It's not idolatry, as sad as that sin in. Rather, it's simply not believing how good God is.

* Truly, the basic understanding of most people is that, because God was frustrated with mankind, Jesus came on the scene to calm Him down. But such is not true biblical theology. Jesus came to earth not primarily for you or me. He came to do the will of His Father. And it was the Father's will to save you.

* Biblical Christianity is not about us. It's not about our prayer. It's not about our devotion. It's not about whether we're good or bad, obedient or disobedient. It's not about how much we pray or how little we pray. It's not about where we go or don't go, what we do or don't do. It's about Jesus' faithfulness to His Father. And our failures only make His ministry to the the Father that much more impressive. "If that's true," you say, "if my relationship with God is not about my prayer life, my worship, my anointing, my ministry, then how do I fit in at all? Am I just a pawn, just a piece of the puzzle in the demonstration of the faithfulness of the Son to the Father?"
For the answer, turn to John 17...

I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. - John 17:23

* What if we believed this? What if we really believed that the Father loves us as much as He loves His own Son? We would pray with confidence. We wouldn't have to prove anything to Him or to ourselves. We would be at peace. The repercussions? We would pray more. We would study the Word more. We would worship more - not to earn spiritual brownie points, but just to enjoy our Father.

* Our Apostle and High Priest, Jesus Christ, will not fail - no matter how many times we do - because His ministry is to the Father. And the Father will never frustrate Him.

So do not throw away your confidence: It will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. - Hebrews 10:35-36

*Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary

9.26 - Praying God's Word Day by Day (Beth Moore)

Trying to ignore our enemy doesn't work for very long, especially if you're beginning to be a threat to his dark kingdom

Father God, please help me to keep in mind that my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

Help me to be self-controlled and alert, for I know my enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

My faithful Father, whether I turn to the right or to the left, cause my ears to hear a voice behind me saying, "This is the way; walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21).

Psalm 33

¹ Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
² Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
³ Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

⁴ For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
⁵ He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

⁶ By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deep in storehouses.

⁸ Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
⁹ For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

¹⁰ The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
¹¹ The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

¹³ The LORD looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.
¹⁴ From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth;
¹⁵ He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works.

¹⁶ No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
¹⁷ A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

¹⁸ Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
¹⁹ To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰ Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
²¹ For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.
²² Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You.

All Who Are Thirsty

Isaiah 44: 1-8

1 “Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant,
And Israel whom I have chosen.
2 Thus says the LORD who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:

‘ Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;
4 They will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the watercourses.’
5 One will say, ‘I am the LORD’s’;
Another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
Another will write with his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’
And name himself by the name of Israel.
There Is No Other God
6 “ Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:

‘ I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.
7 And who can proclaim as I do?
Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me,
Since I appointed the ancient people.
And the things that are coming and shall come,
Let them show these to them.
8 Do not fear, nor be afraid;
Have I not told you from that time, and declared it?
You are My witnesses.
Is there a God besides Me?
Indeed there is no other Rock;
I know not one.’”

Notes (condensed) from Jon Courson's Application Commentary:

Here the Lord is encouraging Israel - here called Jacob or "righteous nation," to not be afraid, that He would pour out the water of His spirit upon a dry land. But it also speaks to us personally, for the Lord promises that He will pour water upon he who is thirsty and blessing upon his offspring. To whom does the Lord pour out His Spirit? Simply to those who are thirsty. And, in that, is a real key. We overcomplicate and overmystify the work of the Spirit in many cases when, in reality, the prerequisite for an outpouring of the Spirit upon your life is simply to say "Lord, I'm thirsting for more of You." That's why Jesus said the woman who admits her hunger will be filled (Matthew 5:6)

If you're not thirsty, if you don't have a desire to experience a fuller measure of the Spirit flowing through your life, how do you become thirsty? Ask a jogger or a basketball player. If you start expending energy and start sweating a bit, you'll find yourself thirsty real fast. The key is to get out and start ministering. Start sharing, loving, and caring - for it is when you're in the place on loving your neighbor, of sharing with your friends and family, of witnessing to your coworker, of expending energy, that you begin to thirst more of the Lord.

Lord, thank you so much for the promises of your perfect Word.
Matthew 5:6 tells us "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled."

Thank you for the promise and power of your Spirit and the water of your Word. Please let it continually fill my life to such a point that it must pour out onto those around me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Everything I Need

Psalm 37

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.

⁷ Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him...