August 23 - 28, 2010

Monday August 24, 2010
Face to Face
Read Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 5:3-5

I think one of the most exciting truths in all of Scripture is the fact that God is the primary mover behind every relationship He has with mankind. Now it’s true that we sometimes describe our friends who might be far from God as “seekers”. We watch them as they look for satisfaction in all kinds of things and we intuitively know that what they are looking for is a relationship with God. But what we often forget is the fact that they really aren’t the seekers in this eternal drama…God is! His love for people like you and me and for those who might be far from God is so powerful that He’s willing to take the first step. Jesus said it this way in John 15 – “You didn’t choose me, but I chose you”.

Moses was doing the same thing he had done for 40 yrs. He was a shepherd and this day was like every other day in his ho-hum existence. It was business as usual, that is until God made His presence known. I think it’s important for us to notice how God chose to reveal Himself. The bible says that Moses noticed a bush that was burning, but it wasn’t consumed. There was probably nothing new about seeing a scrub bush burning in the desert. The unusual thing, the supernatural thing about this bush was the fact that it burned w/o burning up. Do you see what God did? He took an ordinary bush and then by adding his presence to it, he got Moses’ attention.

Paul who had been religious all his life and sought out God he was changed by one encounter where he heard God speak and this encounter changed his life forever. All of Paul’s religious training and education did not teach him God’s will or give him right standing with God or enable him to hear God’s voice. A face to face conversation with the living Son of God changed him forever. John reminds us that what he is sharing came from an encounter with the living speaking God. He is sharing what he has seen, heard and touched. (1 John 1:1-3) As God’s people we are to be learning to hear and share with others what we have heard and experienced with the Holy One.

God wants to have a face to face sit down talk with us. Paul told of the reason God had chosen him. I believe this is why God also chose us. He wants us to know his will, see his righteousness, and hear words from his mouth. God wants us to know and experience him not just learn about him. We are new creations in Christ Jesus and God creates by speaking. We can only be truly transformed as we sit in His Presence hearing His voice.


Tuesday August 24, 2010
Not By Accident
Read Ephesians 2:10; Isaiah 60:21

GOD HAD A PURPOSE AND A PLAN FOR PAUL’S LIFE EVEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. He learned he was not here by accident but his life had purpose and meaning and what that purpose and meaning was. “I believe my father created me for a purpose.” Moses and Paul had been created for the purpose of delivering the people of God. They were both trying to do it their own way but; then they heard the plan for their lives from the living God and it changed their lives forever. Just as God had a plan for Paul and Moses He has a plan for you and me.

Not by accident before the creation of the universe God thought of me. He fixed his gaze on me and chose me for himself. He did not choose me because I was already in Christ of my own doing, but that I might be in Christ. He did not choose me because he saw me as a believer, but so that I might become a believer. He did not choose me because I chose him, but so that I might choose him. He did not choose me because I was holy or good but so that I might become holy and good. Everything I am and all I hope to be is rooted in God's freely choosing me. My faith, my hope, my work are not the ground of electing grace but only its effect. God had a plan and purpose for me, my life did not just happen by accident.


Wednesday August 25, 2010
Hearing Empowered
Read John 17:3, 17; Ephesians 5:26, 1 Peter 1:22

Every true Christian has heard God’s voice. It was God’s voice that called you to Him; it was His Holy Spirit that drew you with chords of love to receive His salvation message, the gospel of Jesus Christ. You heard God’s voice say in your heart “I have chosen you, and ordained you, come unto Me”. So then your Christian walk began with faith, and you received that faith from God through His Holy Spirit communicating with you. Faith is a gift from God; it is a part of God’s grace that is at work in your life. True faith, true hope, and true love, all come from God and not from yourself, they are gifts from God.

In the New Testament when the word of God is mentioned there are two main words for the word, word; they are rhema and logos. They both have a similar definition that is “spoken words”. But in studying the Bible We notice an important difference, rhema has to do with hearing the voice and sensing the spirit by which the words are spoken. Logos are recorded words, which have been spoken.

Paul tried with everything in him to keep this law but learned that righteousness comes from hearing and obeying the righteous one. The words Paul now heard were not just dead written words with no power put Spirit filled words that had the power to change him. The Words we hear in the presence of the living God cleanse and empower us. We become hearing empowered. Just like Moses who knew what needed to be done but did not know how to do it. When he met with God face to face he got the how to from the words of the living God. If the Holy Spirit lives in us then we are hearing empowered and our lives will be transformed.


Thursday August 26, 2010
Live to Hear, Hear to Live
Read Matthew 4:4; Exodus 25:30; John 6:48-51

Life comes from hearing words that come from the mouth of the living God. Paul learned what the words of Jesus really meant. We are not to live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). God wants us to listen to him on a personal level not just through others. He wants us to stop eating stale bread and change to fresh, living bread. The priest in the Old Testament placed fresh bread in the presence of God on the Table of Shewbread and this is what God wants us to do. We have to meet with God and eat the fresh bread that comes from the words of His mouth. We must eat at God’s table daily and experience the living God inside of us. God wants us to live an abundant life and he wants us to know for ourselves what God is saying. We must live to hear His word and His word will cause us to live.


Friday August 27, 2010
His Presence Brings Lasting Change
Read John 15:1-7

As human beings we normally do not like change, but change is inevitable. We all have to realize that we are either going to change for the better or for the worse, it is really a matter of choice.

Hearing God’s Voice brings change in people, situations and organizations. God has a clear view of every person’s heart and mind so that He knows what changes are necessary. Paul wrote, "And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will." (Romans 8:27)

When God speaks to us it will change us, it will not only change us but we will become change agents in the world. We don’t just need information about God but communication from God. When God speaks to us his words change us. We all need to have a face to face talk with God. That is what we were created for. We are created to communicate with the creator.

Father, as open my ears to hear, speak to me so that I may change into the person you created me to be, as you change me help me be positive and let the changes have a positive effect on those around me. Amen.

People will change when they hear God’s voice. Others change only when they feel the heat.


The Weekender August 28 - 29, 2010
Turned On & Tuned In
Read Acts 22:14-16

Just like the radio waves which are unseen in the air all around you this very minute, God's Spirit is ever present, waiting for you to make contact. And much the same as a simple little transistor radio, you have been designed by your Creator to receive those signals. God's power is always on. The message is always there. But in order to receive it, you must turn on and tune in to His frequency! Compared to the tremendous power and complex operations of the broadcasting station, you, the operator of the receiver, need not have much power and only the simplest of skill! Prayer is the hand of faith that flips the switch and turns on what little power you have. And then the hand of hope tunes with expectancy, feeling for the frequency upon which God is broadcasting, and suddenly His great broadcasting station booms in with tremendous positive volume and power!--And the messages come through loud and clear! Is your spiritual receiver continually turned on and tuned in to His frequency? If so, you will be in good communication with Him, constantly receiving His vibes, constantly hearing His Voice speaking to your heart!