The Spirit of Sheba

God has a corporate destiny for his people. When we come together and work together to achieve a common purpose God is glorified. Consequently, standing up strong today in the church is "Sheba". Sheba is a spirit that comes to derail the corporate vision that God has given the visionary.

And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. 2 Samuel 20:1

Who was Sheba? Sheba was the grandson of Abraham through Keturah (Gen. 25:1-3). In the O.T. Sheba was a person, but in the N.T. context Sheba is a spirit with the potential to destabilize and create confusion in the local church.

Sheba views problems in a church as evidence that leadership is out of God’s will. He blew the trumpet and made covenant-breaking statements. “We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse.”

A person of covenant called alongside to complement, strengthen, and to bring completion to a person or place, did the very opposite. Because Sheba means seven or oath he should have been an oath-bearing, covenant-keeping, leader covering individual brought alongside King David to complete that which was lacking. But instead, Sheba’s true colors were revealed in an atmosphere of strife.

“…all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel” (2 Sam. 19).

The one called to bring completion into David’s life became the ring-leader of a revolt in Israel. This spirit is real and running rampant. Is Sheba using you?

I Met God In The Morning

I met God in the morning
When my day was at its best,
And His Presence came like sunrise
Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O'er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I, too, had loosed the moorings
With the Presence left behind.

So I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way;
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day.

Ralph Cushman

Day 21 - Don't Stop 'Til You Taste The Honey

So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” But they could not tell the riddle in three days. Judges 14:14

Daniel Kahneman spent part of his childhood in Nazi-occupied Paris. Like the other Jews, he had to wear a Star of David on the outside of his clothing. One evening, at the age of seven, he stayed late at a friend’s house, past the 6 p.m. curfew. He turned his sweater inside out to hide the star and tried to sneak home. A German SS trooper approached him on the street, picked him up and gave him a long, emotional hug. The soldier displayed a photo of his own son, spoke passionately about how much he missed him and gave Kahneman some money as a sentimental present. The whole time Kahneman was terrified that the SS trooper might notice the yellow star peeking out from inside his sweater and his life would be over. He lived on to become one of the world’s most influential psychologists and to win the Nobel in economic science.

Samson wanted to be anything other than what God intended for him.  Like Kahneman, he hid his "star" in hopes of blending in with the hoi polloi. God had given him a work to do, but he desired other things.  One day, on his way to Timnah he encountered a hungry young lion. The lion suddenly attacked Samson.  Samson seized the animal and tore him apart with his bare hands.  Some time later, he returned to Timnah and looked around to see what became of the lion.  He notice that bees had hived inside the carcass and left much honey.  He reached in, scooped the honey out and ate it.

Look at the battles you have been through.  Reflect for a moment on the things you have encountered.  Did you scoop out the honey?  Paul told Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it".  Archipuss was under attack and at the point of throwing in the towel. He was feeling like, "I've had it!" Paul's words of encouragement were loaded with a promise of victory.

Look at Calvary.  The "lion" Christ faced there was great. But He suffered long enough to make death sting-less and forced the grave to yield its victory.  Every trial we face carries in it the seeds of an awesome victory.  So before you move on, look back at your last struggle.  There is a victory left in there.  The lion came to eat Samson but , "Out of the eater came something to eat".  Don't just put it the lion to death.  It owes you some "honey".  Compel it to "spit it out".  "Out of the Strong came something sweet." There still a victory left in that last battle. So, don't stop 'til you taste the honey!

Prayer:
Thank you God for giving me the strength to face my challenges.  What other meant for evil, You turned it into good. I will not quit until my life resembles the victory you promised. My hurt has been transform into my honey. Amen.

Go Deeper?  
Genesis 50:20; Judges 14; Psalm 2:3-4; Matthew 6:2; Matthew 25:21; 1 Corinthians 15:55; Colossians 2:13-15; Colossians 4:17; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 12:11

Day 20 - Bottomless Blessings

For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 1 Kings 17:14


For many in Advanced Individual Training, the recruits are transported to other locations on-posts that specialize in the given subject. Such is the case with Elijah he has been order to Zeraphath to administrate a miracle. Remember, God intends to use this man in a mighty way! In the next chapter this man calls fire from heaven, but first he must be put through a rigorous training. God is building Himself a man of God!

You will need some hands-on training in the things of God.  That is what is missing in the Church today.  People mimic, steal, copy and pretend to have encounters.  Who really has had an authentic vision? Who really has "heard from God"?  Where are the Elijahs who have been to Dry Brook University and Empty Barrel School of the Arts?  We need leaders who know how to handle a crisis because they have been through a crisis.

Elijah asks the widow woman for a drink. She hurries off.  It appears that God indeed has lined things up for the man of God.  He then calls to her for some bread and fear grips her heart.  Her circumstances were bleak. “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” As much as Elijah was sent to Zarephath for his benefit, he was also sent for the benefit of this widow. She needed to learn the value of faith in God.

He instructs her to go home and do what she has stated with one proviso - make him a little cake first.  When she did, a continuous miracle was instituted.  For years, until it rained, every meal time was a miracle. God worked a miracle in that barrel and in that jar every single day. He took nothing and made it last until it was no longer needed. We serve a God Who specializes in doing the impossible!


The glory of this story resides in this fact: that barrel of meal and that cruse of oil were never full! Elijah and the widow were taught to live day by day. Everyday she scraped the bottom of the barrel and everyday there was just enough meal to fix their food. Everyday she watched the last drop of oil drip from that jar, but the next day there was always more.Are your eyes on the problem or the Provider? If you will trust God this new year, regardless of what outward appearances may suggest you will never reach the bottom of your barrel. Bottomless Blessings from now on!


Prayer:

Thank you Lord for Your refining process. As I move from Cherith to Zarephath, I walk by faith and not by sight. I believe for miracles, In Jesus Name, Amen!

Go Deeper?
Genesis 22:1-14; Genesis 26-18-22; Exodus 15:22-27; 2Kings 4:1-7; Matthew 17:24-27; Luke 6:38; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:19

Day 19 - Help Me... Humble Me

Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 1 Kings 17:9
 
After Boot Camp the soldier is sent to AIT (Advanced Individual Training).  This where he learns his specialty,  receives hands-on training and field instruction to become an expert in a specific field.  He also gains the discipline and work ethic to help him no matter what path follow in life.

God's Advanced Individual Training program is designed for you to zero in on your purpose and passionately pursue your assignment.  This is a war and you are a soldier in the Lord's Army.  The stakes are high.  This isn't about being happy or sad in life.  Eternity is involved.  Destinies will either be discovered or discarded.  God doesn't need you to "like" his page or "follow back".  He is not asking you to be his fan. He wants you on His force. You will go through a battery of tests and a series of challenges to prepare you for what He has predestined for your life.

Elijah's hotel stay and Cherith Spa and Resorts had ended.  He's a graduate of Dry Stream University but God is not through training him.  He must enter Heaven's AIT program to become and expert in "The Working of Miracles".  God sends him to Zarephath, a Gentile nation. It is country of Jezebel.   It gets better - to a widow who will sustain him.  In those days, widows were the poorest of the poor! In times of drought and want, the widows were the first group to die off. Instead of God telling Elijah, "I have a widow over there and I want you to go take care of her." God says, "Elijah, I want her to feed and sustain you."

There are times when you go into one trial after the other. Times when storms are back to back to back.  It seems like when you finally get this area together the bottom drops out over there. In reality God is getting you ready for something phenomenal. Remember, gold must be melted before it is molded.  Like the old saints use to say, "It's for you making!"  Being fed by ravens (GO BALTIMORE!) hurt Elijah's pride. Being fed by a widow hurt his position. God has to humble you in order help you.  The lesson here is that God uses the humblest of means to train His children bring glory to His Name.  Be patient, because with God things are never as the appear. (to be continued). 

Prayer:
Lord, I refuse to sit at this dry brook longing for days gone by. I am moving forward, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go Deeper:
Genesis 50:20; Exodus 14:13-30; Psalm 27:13-14; Psalm 119:33-38; Isaiah 40:28-31; Mark 12:41-44; Ephesians 4:13; James 1:27

Day 18 - Shut it Down... Shut it Down, Now!

And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 1 Kings 17:7


For those who have served in the military, Boot Camp is a place they well remember.  For many, it was their first time away from home. It was a time of brutal discipline, unending work, regimented training, cold fear and acute loneliness. Of course, there is a positive side to all the training, discipline and pressure.  A soldier is born.  One grows to be stronger, more disciplined and mature. He is transformed from a common man into a battle ready soldier.

Yes, a soldier will never be able to serve on the battlefield unless he has first been through the training of boot camp. In boot camp, soldiers have their self-will stripped away. They lose any rebellion that may be in their heart. They learn to follow every order from a superior without question. They learn to follow their leader, even to death, if necessary.

God has a place that each of His children must pass through. He has a boot camp training experience, for each of those He intends to use.  He must correct you in order to perfect you.  He must break you in order to make you.  The only thing that can avenge disobedience is obedience.  He who conquers his own soul is greater than he who takes a city.  So we must enroll in God's Boot Camp to receive training for reigning.

God sent Elijah to the brook Cherith where ravens provided "room service".  Anything he had need of was provided for him. So you could imagine how discomforting and discouraging it must have been for him to wake up one morning and  realize the brook dried up. When this life giving stream dried up for Elijah, he was completely unaware of God' s plan to bless him through another channel.

In God's Boot Camp there are three reasons why He will dry up your brook. First, to get your attention.  Once He shuts down the gravy train, when you come  crying, asking why, He'll have your undivided attention.  Secondly, to determine your desperation.  Does "it" even really matter to you? Are you willing to even look for more provision? Or will you say, "Oh well, I guess this is the end." Finally, to prepare you for the next dimension of His abundance.  God wants you out of your "comfort zone" in order to prepare you for a new anointing and a fresh experience in His glory.

Are you trusting in the gifts or the gift giver? If the gifts mean more to you, I can guarantee you, your commanding officer will very soon give the order to - Shut it Down... Shut it Down, Now!  (to be continued)


Prayer:
Father, I believe everything that happens in my life is for a reason and I know you have a plan for me and that nothing can happen in me or to me that You do not allow. Dried brooks are now easier to deal with. Lead me to the next place of provision, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go Deeper:
Isaiah 54:1-8;Ezekiel 22:20-22; Proverbs 16:32; Romans 8:28; Phil. 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 2:3-5; James 5:17-18

Day 16 & 17 Changing Heads (reprint)

And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." 1 Samuel 16:11

Dependency is frightening.  It brings anxiety because it has its roots in infancy.  Infants are indeed helpless, dependent solely on another to provide food, clothing and shelter.  Collectively, as growth and maturity occurs there is a desire for more –even a demanded more, especially in the area of freedom from restrictive roles.   But, individually, many of us feel caught in an old adolescent conflict, pulled equally by the need to live freely (by which, too often, we meant without constraint) and the need to feel safe and secure.  Such is the case with David, the eighth and final son of Jesse.

How likely was it for David to become anything significant in Jesse’s house?  Seriously.  What were chances of him seeing success in life being relegated to a slave and not a son?  The scriptures suggest his father didn’t call him by name but instead referred to him as “the youngest”.  How much of an inheritance would have been left for him after it passed through seven other greedy hands?  Under Jesse, all David had to look forward to was a life of being overlooked and abandoned.  Staying connected to circumstances and allowing conditions to limit you will always result in stagnation.  If we operate according to the natural, people will overlook us because we are deemed less significant.

Samuel was not David’s natural father but in many ways he became a more real father to David than Jesse.  God is about to change your headship and change forever the options available to you.  God will often bring a "Samuel", your way, who will not necessarily be a relation to You, but a spiritual father with a new set of instructions for your life.  Since it takes a king to make a king, Jesse could in no way qualify to usher David into the presence of the Almighty.  David is now in God's divine order, he is no longer under the natural order of Jesse.  When it comes to you and your destiny, if your natural order does not help you, God will bring a "Samuel" your way to align you with His plans.

David went from being overlooked and abandoned to being known and called.  Once Samuel was aware of David he states, “Go get him!  We will not sit down until he gets here.”  The truth is that some things will not happen until you are in place.   Jesse saw “the youngest” who he needed to keep his sheep healthy.  His brothers saw a “little brat” who needed to stay outside.  Samuel saw a young man who needed identity and GOD SAW A KING!  The pull of Jesse draws us back.  The pull of Samuel pulls us forward.  At some point in our lives, we have to determine where we are going to flow.  We can either flow with Jesse or flow with Samuel, and for David, that day was a turning point in his life.  He determined his future was with the Prophet.

My friends, your past is calling you to your previous performance, but your future is calling you to your powerful potential.  Like David, you are about to be mentored to a whole new level consciousness.  You will be introduced to a realm of real power and influence where who you were yesterday will not matter to those who bless today.

Prayer
Father, I thank for a Samuel directing me to Your purpose for my life.  Free me from all attachments that would cause me to repeat the pain of my past. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go Deeper?
Numbers 11:12; 1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Cor. 3:6-8; 1 Cor. 9:1-16; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Galatians 3:24-25; Gal. 4:19

Day 15 - Let Me See You Walk

The sun was rising above Jacob as he crossed over from Peniel, limping due to his wounded thigh. Genesis 32:31


Millions of court cases, costing billions of dollars are filed every year.  It’s common for legal fees to exceed the value of the amount at stake.  The cost of conflict represents drainage and discomfort.  Our current judicial system operates on an Aristotelian logic of winners and losers.  However, our practitioners of law have become very advanced in ways of impeding resolution, extending the process so that only the strong survive.  For those who persevere, their victory is almost always a moral one.

Jacob was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham.  He came from a good family and grew up "in church".  He heard countless times about their encounters with God. Yet, Jacob was a trickster. He could not be trusted.  He had a calling on his life but his ways were not God's ways.  All of that would change in one encounter. Jacob was alone one night and wrestled with "a man" until daybreak.  The conflict raged on and it looked as if Jacob was winning. The man hit Jacob and dislocated his hip.  Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."  Like a thug, he was going to try to force the blessing.

This is not about winners and losers.  This is about change. You don't need God to bless your already messed up life.  You need a new life.  God changed Jacob's name to Israel, blessed him and when the sun rose Jacob limped away a changed man.  God's process will make you God's person.  Never trust anyone without a limp. Yeah, we hear all that talk. Talk is cheap. Let me see you walk.

Prayer:
Father, change me and then bless me. I'm not longer wrestling against you. From this point forward, I am leaning on you. May the world see my new walk, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go Deeper? 
Genesis 31-33; Psalm 1; Hosea 10:11; Luke 14:27-33; John 3:3-7; Galatians 1:11-24

Day 14 - Trust and Obey

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

In 1887, after a church service held by D. L. Moody, a young man stood up to share his testimony. As he was speaking, it became clear to almost all he knew little about the Bible or the Christian doctrine. His closing lines, however, spoke volumes to the seasoned saints and new believers alike: I'm not quite sure. But I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey.  The music director was so struck by the power of those simple words that he quickly jotted them down, then delivered them to John Sammis, who developed the lyrics to the popular sacred hymn - Trust and Obey.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Prayer:
Lord, in the times when I am afraid, I will trust You.  You know what is best for me. Not my will but Thine be done, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go Deeper?
Genesis 12:1-4; Joshua 1:5-8; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 56:3; Mark 9:20-29; Romans 4:18-22; 2 Timothy 1:7

Day 13 - Dressed for the Occasion

So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. Daniel 3:21

It was May of 1940. Hitler's dreaded German Panzar Division had swept across Europe and had the British Army pinned down at Dunkirk. The British commander was able to get a message back to Britain that consisted of just three words, "but if not"! Those three words sparked a surge of courage, determination and strength throughout the British military and the entire civilian population. Those three words brought about the bravest, most unorthodox successful rescue of any army in the pages of history.

Do you recognize these 3 words? Lifted right out of sacred scripture these three words are the response of three Hebrew men to an evil king.  They are from Daniel 3. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego refused to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar set up. In a rage he ordered the fiery furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal and  Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were thrown into the furnace. They said, "0 King, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand 0 King, But if not' be it known unto thee 0 King, that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou has set up."

What is Satan trying to get you to do?  The king gave these three young men a second chance to bow privately without the crowd present.  They refused.  Are you sold out (souled out) for God? As a soldier in the Lord's army your chief requirement is the surrender of your own will.  A soldier's time, duties, and responsibilities is entirely in the hands of his commanding officer.

Infuriated by their resolve to stand for God, the king threw them into the furnace - fully clothed. No doubt, this was done to make their torment greater. It only made the miracle greater.  Not only did God deliver them from the furnace, none of their clothing was singed.   Only God can make the combustible the coolant.  Things have been done to isolate you, but God chose these very things to insulate you.  When things heat up today, just remember - you are already... dressed for the occasion.

Prayer:
Father, clothe me in Your righteousness. I give you all of me.  On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, Amen.


Go Deeper?
Genesis 27:15-24; Daniel 3; Ezekiel 44:15-22; Zechariah 3:1-7; Matthew 5:1-16; Mark 15:24; John 19:2; Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 6:11-17; Revelation 7:9-15

Day 12 - Growing Pains

However, we do use wisdom to speak to those who are mature. It is a wisdom that doesn't belong to this world or to the rulers of this world who are in power today and gone tomorrow. 1 Corinthians 2:6

 Baby Christians get the quickest, fullest answers to prayers. Those were the days.  Later on, it almost seems as if God ignores your prayers.  Why? Because feeling must give way to faith.  God sees you reaching a level of maturity and you must go from being fed to feeding yourself.  You no longer need constant reassurance.  It is time to rely solely on His Word.  Time to do some "water walking" of your own.

Here's the best part - God is patient with you as you grow.  Ever work for a company where mistake-avoidance seemed to be the only goal?   How can an organization encourage excellence if the guillotine blade is ready to drop at the slightest slip up?  Mistakes happen when people get creative, when they experiment, when they try to bring a product from conception to the marketplace.  To be a successful company these days you must to welcome risk taking.  Eliminate this corporate culture of fear and allow innovators to innovate.

As you grow in Christ you will learn that failing does not make you a failure.  The righteous man falls seven times and rises again (Prov. 24:6).  Don't be so afraid to fail that you never try.  Don't be so afraid to be wrong that you are never right.  Many who have succeeded in life made mistakes.  Moses was a murderer and fugitive.  David was an adulterer and murderer combined.  They treated failure as a temporary set back, not as a reason to give up.  They repented, shook of the condemnation and went on to please God.

God wants to see himself in you.  It is a mark of tremendous growth and maturity.  This world is tricky - don't be fooled by its flattery.  The times I feel the most disjointed, aimless and upset, God is rejoicing - Growing Pains!  Made a mistake? Study it. Do you see a pattern? Learn from it and avoid it the next time.

Prayer:
Father, I thank you that my place is with you. Let my feelings give way to faith, help me to rely solely on your Word.  Forgive me and help me to be more like you today, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Go Deeper?
Genesis 2:16; Job 2:6; Psalm 51:12; Proverbs 28:10; Matthew 17:22; Hebrew 5:12-14;James 1:2-8

Day 11 - All Things Are Possible

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Everyone has been given a measure of faith.  Yet, we are commanded by God to "add to our faith".  Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  When you hear the Word, you have an opportunity to increase your faith. Use it or lose it.  Focus on building your own faith. The gift God gives you is enough, but you can build upon what you have.  God’s Word is Truth; you build your faith by getting the truth into your heart.

You can’t read or hear the Word then put it on a bookshelf. What happens when you do that? Well, what happens when you quit exercising and eating too much? You gain weight and loose your muscle. What happens when you don’t focus on giving to your family and only focus on the getting part? The family suffers. What happens when you let you garden go? The weeds come in and overtake the plants. The same thing happens when you stay out of the Word. You forget what the Word says and how to apply it to situations in your life.
 

So by reading the Word of God is how you increase your faith. So receive the with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls. Stay in the Word, by reading, listening to messages, hearing others teach and preach until the Word is in your heart.  

Faith like a seed once it gets into the ground will either produce life of not.  Once it disintegrates, it will either shoot forth or disappear and become one with the properties of the earth.  Your faith will either grow to make you distinguishable or you will appear to be just like everybody else.  How do I bring about the maximum yield for my faith?  You must believe!

Faith moves heaven. You have had glimpses of the power of your potential.  However, in this season you will begin to see the true purpose of your existence! All things are possible to the one who believes.

Prayer:

Lord, increase my faith as I hear your Word as seize this moment to go beyond believing in You to believing You.  All things are possible for me because of You, Amen.

Go Deeper?

Genesis 15:6; Genesis 18:1-14; Psalm 103:1-5; Psalm 126;  1Samuel 1; Mark 4:1-25; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 18:27; John 12:24; James 5:14-15  

Day 9 & 10 Talking Trumpets (reprint)

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me… Revelation 4:1

Our God is the Master of impossibilities. Last I checked, trumpets do not talk. So many times our view of God stops in the natural. We sing, “Lord, send your power right now,” and we usually mean send chill bumps down my spine and goose pimples up my arms. We think a real relationship with Christ is only associated with great visibly tenable displays of emotions and activity- not necessarily. If we are to really become mature believers, we must go beyond feelings into spirit (life). Emotional service is great, so long as we rend our hearts and not just our garments (Joel 2:13). Something must happen to drive us beyond the superficial façade of coming to church and going back home, unchanged. If we experience a touch, a quickening, a tear or a humbling before God and fail to press further into Him for “the more” we become bloated believers.

John says, “After this, I looked.” After what, John? After hearing God chasten and correct The Seven Churches of Asia Minor for their failings and shortcomings. We make so many decisions based on our feelings. John could have easily said, “Lord, I understand, I get the point; you're not pleased with us” and went back to his normal ways. On the contrary, he pressed in further and what came next, blew us all away. An open door and a talking trumpet. When we stay tuned to the frequency of God, after the rebuke comes the rebuild.

For those of us who press on the know Him, there will an open door and a talking trumpet. The open door symbolizes access and opportunities. In this season, we will have access to things, never open to us before. Areas of denial and repeated rejection will spring open to us and we will walk in places once denied. The door that was closed shall suddenly open and the restricted area shall be freely explored. Not only this, but also associated with this open door is a talking trumpet. The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments. They are played by blowing air through closed lips and producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air column inside the instrument. John tells us that this trumpet when it sounded did not produce the standard buzzing sound that traveled through the instrument. This trumpet began to talk. The unusual and the supernatural are now a daily occurrence. We cannot be alarmed when God speaks to us from the most unusual places. Directions and instructions will come from some of the most least likely places imaginable. Yet, we will hear clearly concerning our purpose and destiny.

God has saved and delivered us all out of one thing or another. We have been through it all. Now, He has gathered us all together in the same place. He didn’t bring us this far to leave us. Now, we all face the same challenge. Do I stay with the status quo (i.e. my comfort zone, church as usual) or press in to know Him more? I don’t know about you but I don’t want time to pass and I look back with regret saying what if… Let’s decide together to press in to know Him more dearly and receive the blessings He has for us in this "now" moment. Then, let’s plan a reunion where we get together and sit around talking about the goodness of the Lord saying, “Remember the days before we heard talking trumpets.”

Prayer
Father, show me Your glory. I am now longer reluctant to see it. I reach out and receive everything you have for me today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go Deeper?
Ex. 19:10-11; Ps. 66:12; Joel 2; Luke 15:20; John 10:10; Eph. 3:16; 1Peter 2:10; Rev. 1-3

Day 8 - Use what you got...

And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. Judges 3:31


The worst time to learn crisis management is during the crisis, but sometimes you have no choice.  Most of us are a long way from practicing proactive crisis management.  Crisis will happen.  How it turns out will strongly depend on how dedicated you are to the resolution.

Shamgar slew 600 Philistines with an oxgoad.  Unlike Samson, there is no mention of any supernatural strength granted to achieve this feat.   So one man killing 600 men doesn't quite add up.  Even with a quadrotor machine gun, up against six hundred men, he's still no match.  So how'd he do it?  Two things: Study and Strategy.

First, Shamgar knew his weapon like he knew himself.  Because he studied what he had available to him at the time he was able to turn a farm tool into a weapon of mass destruction and deliver Israel.  He didn't wait until he had a bigger and better weapon.  You simply have to make the most of what you have, where you are.

Secondly, Shamgar had a strategy.  Yesterday we learned that no one was traveling the main highways in that time.  The enemies were working like gang units intimidating travelers from every direction.  The chaos of the times was the perfect cover for Shamgar's mission.  He didn't attack all 600 at once.  He went after a few here and a few there.  He picked them off one by one and before he knew it he had amassed a body count of 600.  How many times have you said, "I can't do all of it, so I won't do any of it"?

No one will force you to step up to the call; its your choice. But, if you would just take one step at a time, one project at a time, one sentence at a time, one day at a time, one prayer at a time, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.  So stop - take a moment and ask God how He wants you to use what you have to influence and impact the domain in which you live. Be great!   (concluded)

Prayer:
Lord, Help me to do what I can, where I am with what I have to bring glory to Your Name, Amen.

Go Deeper?
Numbers 6:1–21; Judges 13:1-7; Psalm 144:1; Matthew 11:12; Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 6:10-20; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:10

Day 7 - You got to use what you got, to get what you want

In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travelers walked through byways. Judges 5:6


A study important inventors from the period of about 1880 to 1930, the likes of the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, and Alexander Graham Bell has revealed that many of these men were very interested in physical devices and artifacts when they were young.  They began work on major inventions before they were 30, had no university education and generally worked alone.

Shamgar, a judge in Israel, slew 600 Philistines with an oxgoad.  An oxgoad was long eight-foot pole used by farmers to keep the oxen in line while plowing.  Blunt on one end to guide the oxen and sharp on the other to chisel up stubborn roots.  Shamgar was not a military man, nor a politician.  He was just a farmer with his tool. Israel was under oppression.  The main roads were shut down.  To be out in public was to to put your life at risk.  Bands of marauders and terrorists were everywhere. If anyone decided to travel, they had to take the back roads.

Shamgar was dissatisfied with the way things were.  As a farmer how could he get his goods distributed in a gangland environment?  How could he provide for his family? His economic security was in jeopardy.  He got fed up.  So, he took action.  With no military training, no weaponry and no army to aid him, Shamgar delivered the nation using the only thing available to him at the time - an oxgoad.

All you have is all you need.  Jesus said,  "The kingdom of God is not coming with a visible display, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."  Be like Shamgar today.  Be innovative. Be first. Be great.  He wasn't a judge at the time. He was a farmer.  History declared him a judge. What will history declare you?     (to be continued)

Prayer:
Lord, show me the resources that are available to me today that I may have missed.  Grant me the courage and tenacity to embark upon a mission for you and see it through to completion, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go Deeper?
Judges 3:31; Judges 21:25; 1Chornicles 4:9-10 ; Luke 1:48; John 15:5; Acts 26:22; 1 Corinthians 14:26

Day 6 - Free to be Me (Part 2)

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.' So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez prays "me," "my," and "I" five times in one paragraph, yet God answers his prayer.  The answer may lie in the fact that he was more honorable than his brothers.  Not many would have taken the time to get to know Jabez beyond the role cast for him.  Though Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, yet, it was Jabez, not his brothers, who wore the stigma. One look at him, car doors are locked, purses are clutched, streets are crossed not because of what's on the inside but the outside.

People purchase "pain relievers" for a reason.  Were the contents of the package to read "pain causer" no would have anything to do with it.   Although Jabez caused his mother pain coming into this world the label of his name was in contradiction to his character. But he didn't quit.  He didn't offer excuses.  He appealed to a higher court.  Jabez saw something in himself his own mother could not see.  He asked God to work through his condition to produce abundance.  "Bless me indeed... that I may not cause pain"

My friends, people will throw you away, not aware God is trying to use you. What they fail to realize is that with God less is more and nothing is best.  I've seen "slow learners" graduate ivy league, ADHD skip a grade and and felons become CEO's.  God answers the "me," "my," and "I" prayers because what looks selfish isn't selfish at all.  When you are blessed a family is blessed - a community is blessed - a nation is blessed.

Prayer:
Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.

Go Deeper?

Genesis 12:1-4; Judges 6; 1 Samuel 17-18; Matthew 25:14-30; 1John 4:4

Day 5 - Free to be Me

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.' So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10


The stress of modern living is increasing heart trouble in society.  Everyone is trying to "make it".  We gotta keep up.  We are working just to earn and living.  Then, we are too exhausted to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  Sitting in subways, standing at bus stops, riding in cars lost in our thoughts and smartphones.  Trapped - too busy to enjoy life!

Jabez was trapped.  Israel was a tribal nation.  In tribal societies they live uncodified personal lives where relationship is valued over possessions.  They learn through constant conversing and sharing.  Steeped in oral tradition, what is spoken is of greater value than what was written.  We generally don’t see them exercising much individual agency.  We generally don’t see them trying to improve their own lives, alter their destinies or become a more admirable people.

But when Jabez's mother names him after her pain, he breaks the pattern with a powerful prayer.  Critics have called this prayer selfish.  I don't believe Jabez prayed because he was selfish.  I believe he prayed because he was selfless.  He did not want to cause pain to those around him.  He had no desire to live up to the label forced upon him.

Maybe you've been mislabeled, misdiagnosed or misunderstood.  No one expects anything out of you because they have already decided on who you are.  It's time you upset their prediction. Refuse to allow their opinion to become your reality. You will not be limited by race, sex, disability, size, education, neighborhood, economics or haters.  Pray this prayer of Jabez, today.  Instead of bringing pain , bring power. (To be continued)


Prayer:
'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.'

Go Deeper?
Genesis 11:1-3; Proverbs 22:1; Isaiah 54:1-2; Daniel 11:32; Luke 10:19; Acts 1:8; 1Peter 4:12

Day 4 - You Complete Me

And you are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:10

How we see ourselves differs greatly from how God see us.  Being on God's team has nothing to do with how high you can jump or fast you can run.  To begin with, no one is good enough to make the team.  When you look at yourself, you see what you are not, but God sees a finished product.  Stop looking at yourself as the sum total of your experiences and begin to see yourself in Christ.  Yes, you have limitations but He does not.  You are on His team out of your need to lean not your ability to leap.

God desires to reveal His glory to the world through you.  That's why the highest positions on His team go to the least of us.  Consequently, the more inadequate you feel, the more potential you have to play a role in God's plan.  The places of honor go to those who are empty and hungry.  How empty are you?  How hungry are you? Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed because the glory of God covered them. God always invests His glory in the implausible because it becomes ever so clear He did it and no one else.  Thus, He never calls you to accomplish anything you can do in your own strength.  When you love the unlovable, do the impossible and touch the intangible, He gets all the praise.

So, do not focus on yourself because you have everything when you have Christ.  Less is more.  You can do all things through Christ who gives you the strength and power.  No more excuses. Your emptiness releases His fullness. Sickness, poverty, fear, doubt, , etc., all of which are no match.  Stop trying to figure out your own battle plan.  Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.  You plus Christ make up the majority.   So face this day with a blessed assurance and know that with God nothing is impossible. Lift your head, square your shoulders and say to God, "You complete me".


Prayer:
Father, I thank you that Christ lives in me and I in Him.  I know when self reigns, I am at war with You. I will not seek honor, promotion or acclaim.  I will seek You. You complete me, in Jesus name, Amen.

Go Deeper?
Genesis 2:25; Psalm 115:1; Mark 10:37-41; Luke 9:23; Romans 8:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:13

Day 2 & 3 - Broken Open

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

There are those times when we just outright fail God.  We've either thought the wrong thoughts, said the wrong words or done the wrong deeds.  His presence invades us and we feel we have nothing to offer Him accept a repentant heart.   Then duty calls, and it's time to usher, greet, host guests, teach children's church, lead worship or preach.  You think to yourself, "I'm in no condition to do this today - no eyes on me.  I need to be off the stage, out of the limelight and on the altar."

Strangely enough, that is exactly where you need to be.  Instead of you thinking you can achieve something or that you have something special to give, God wants a broken and dependent heart.  David said, "a broken spirit and a contrite heart God would not despise".  Remember, to be broken is to be open.  When brokenness shows up in your life, openness follows.  Isaiah saw the Lord after King Uzziah died.  The tears he shed over the king cleared his vision to see THE KING.  It is only after your earthly dependence has been exhausted, will you ever see the rich resources available to you in the heavenly realm.

Pull all the levers, tweak all the settings, twist all the dials you want, but you must admit - you are limited.  Paul says, "I will glory in my infirmities."  In other words, my limitation is Christ's invitation.  That's it my friends - HE is strong so you don't have to be.  So let go and rest in the Father's arms because when you are weak, HE is strong.  There is a visitation awaiting you today.  If you are broken, you are open.  Nice to meet you - Broken Open.

Prayer:
Father, I thank you this day that I am more aware of my limitations than the day before.  I ask that you invade my heart with you power.  Forgive Me, Favor Me and Free Me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go Deeper:
Genesis 6:8; Psalm 45:2; Psalm 51:17; Proverbs 3:34;  Isaiah 6:1; Zechariah 4:7; Mark 14:22; John 1:14-17; Romans 5:20; 1 Corin.15:10; 2 Timothy 1:2

Day 1 - A Wind, Win Situation

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.  John 3:8

Relationships stale when they become predictable.  Your walk with God is meant to be an encounter, an exciting journey full of surprises and completely unscripted.   Jesus said, "The wind blows where it pleases.  You hear the sound but you cannot tell where its going."  Please note the words of the Master.   The locomotive is on the track the whistle is blowing you can hear it coming but you do not know which direction it will be traveling.  God's ways are not our ways.  There is something about the unexpected and the unusual that makes this life in Christ so meaningful. Learn the art of flexibility when it comes to the things of God because growth requires change.

That is the wonderful thing about the Spirit of God - He doesn't want you boxed in or nailed down.  Have you noticed that whenever you try to use someone's formula it doesn't work for you? The wind that blew them forward will push you back.  God has a unique way of dealing with you.  People tend to bring difficulty your way when they hear the sound of God's wind blowing you to your future.  When they cannot control your movement, predict your direction or steer you where they want you to go - you become the problem.  Well, now that God finally has you where he wants you and don't allow those whose relevance has passed to hold you back in this season. If you want to win and know what success looks like to God, get "Gone with the Wind".  All you need to do is just allow God to have his way in your life in this season and you will see the results of your faith. This is a WIND, WIN situation.

Prayer:
Lord, you are in control of my life.  I give you permission to manage me as you see fit. May the wind of the Spirit carry me to my next place in you. Not my will but Thine be done, Amen.

Go Deeper?
Genesis 1:1-2; Exodus 15:10; 1Kings 18:45-46; Psalm 104:4; Eccl. 11:5; Ezekiel 37:9; Jeremiah 49:36; Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12:7-13; Heb. 1:7