Today we read through :

- Psalm 83:1-18,

- Acts 28:1-16,

- 2 Kings chapter 19 : verse 14 to chapter 20:21

In all of these passages we see people of God persecuted, imprisoned, and yet delivered because of faithful prayers. Sometimes we can think that our voice doesn’t matter to God, but God hears our voice, and when the position of our heart is right… He answers our prayers, and changes plans of destruction to plans for victory .

Proverbs 3:5-6 says,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Sometimes we put our trust in others, because of their age or position. Yet this should never be the only reason we trust their advice - because they’re human just like us.

In 1 Kings 13, there was an old prophet who lied to a younger prophet from Judah. The prophet from Judah was commanded not to stay in the city where he prophesied, but the older prophet persuaded him with a lie… saying an angel told him to come to his house and eat. The prophet of Judah disregarded the command of the Lord, and because of this was killed by a Lion when returning home.

Sometimes elders and teachers can give you bad advice. But when you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and following his commands you can’t go wrong.

Psalms 119:98-100 says,

Your commands are always with me

and make me wiser than my enemies.

99I have more insight than all my teachers,

for I meditate on your statutes.

I have more understanding than the elders,

for I obey your precepts.

It is important that we obey God’s word in all situations for this is true wisdom. We should pray for good counsel, and listen for what the Spirit of God is saying. We must first seek God’s council through reading the Bible, and prayer. Once we know what he says, then we can choose wisely whose advice to accept, and reject. Take a deep breath, release it. With this, we release our limited point of view and ask God to give us His divine counsel.

Open your hands…with this we open our heart to receive and give godly counsel.  Lift up your hands… with this, we offer our plans to God, and accept his divine directions.

Let God’s Love saturate you. Be filled with his presence, be filled with His peace, and be filled with counsel.

Let’s Pray

Dear heavenly Father, we honor you above everything. We say that your council is above everything else. We receive your power, we receive your wisdom, and we will walk in your presence forever amen.

Psalm 78:4-5 (NIV)

…We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Do you realize that you have something to give the next generation? Do you realize the attitudes you have today, and the perspectives you hold will affect the next generation?

Let that sink in…

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (NIV)

5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

It is our job to tell, train, and teach the next generation in the ways of God. We are to testify or tell them what God has done in our lives so that their eyes may be open to the power of God. Then we must train them so they know how to wield that power, and finally, we must teach them so they understand how to empower others.

Take a deep breath, release it. With this, you receive the God-given calling as a witness, trainer, and teacher to the next generation.

Open up your hands, lift them up. With this, you open your heart to tell, train, and teach the next generation.

Let’s Pray

Dear heavenly Father, you are set apart. There is none like you. We say that you are above everything else. Forgive us for hoarding stories of how you delivered us. Forgive us from holding back wealth knowledge from our children. May we use our resources to educate the next generation about your goods so that they may put their trust in you, and have eternal life. We receive your power, we receive your wisdom, and we will walk in your presence forever amen.

What is a friend? The dictionary defines it as “ A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations” Why is it important to have good friends? The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one,     because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down,     one can help the other up. Do you value your friendships? Ecclesiastes says that two are better than one, and with a partner, you will have a good return rather than working alone. Think about that for a moment… Jesus is the prime example of a good friend… with him, we have entry to heaven. He paid that price with his life so we could have that privilege. To be a good friend we should strive to be like him in our relationships.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Think about that for a moment…

Do you realize that God is looking to strengthen you? Do you realize that he is for you?

But the question is… are you for him? Have you fully committed your ways to him?

Ponder that for a moment…

When God gives you power he wants you to use it to help others fulfill their God-given purpose, and not use it for your selfish gain.

King Solomon was wealthy, and wise but became a fool because he allowed his obsession with ungodly women distract him from his calling. Are there any obsessions you have that are distracting you from your God-given calling?

If so, It’s time to let them go…

Take a deep breath, release it. With this, you release that distraction and take in God’s power.

You do not need to hold onto it any longer because God has a better future for you

Open your hands…with this you give God your obsession, and receive peace. Lift up your hands. Say, Lord, I receive Your peace and power.

Jeremiah 29:11 ” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Trust in God, don’t be distracted by the temptations, and threats of this world. God is the one who makes you successful, hold onto his promises with all your heart. Be filled with his presence, be filled with His peace, and be filled with His love.

Acts 10:34-35 (NIV)

…God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Let that sink in…

Some people ignore the truth because it comes from the mouth of people they despise or see as lower than them. b But the Bible says “ Pride comes before fall, and a haughty spirit before destruction ” ( Proverbs 16:18 )

Think about that for a moment…

We must be very careful not to forge in our own way. But listen carefully to the voice of truth. Proverbs 14:12 tells us “ there is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death”.

So how do we determine what leads to life?

Even in the most sophisticated airplanes today there is still a piece of old technology called the magnetic compass. If all the fancy electrical equipment fails, the pilot can still know True North by using the compass.

Inside of us, God has given us a conscience so when we see evil we can identify it, and stop it. But just like a compass, our conscience can also get interference from an outside force

In order for us to know what’s true, we have to check our motives and see if we are carrying something in our hearts that will interfere with our God-given conscience. These things can be lust, pride, envy, fear of people, greed, and idolatry. Also… we should also be careful of the influences we allow around us because they can also affect our spiritual compass.

1 Corinthians 15:33 says,

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character.”

In order for us to know what is truly good, we have to be aligned with God and remove any interferences that may cause us to deviate from walking down the path of truth.

Proverbs 4:27 says, Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

When we are aware of distractions and remove them from our hearts, then we can have a pure conscience not interfered with the distractions of the world.

Psalms 139 says, “ Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Take a deep breath, release it. With this, we let go of idols and anything that may interfere with our God-given conscience.

Open your hands, lift them up. With this, we give God all bitterness, hurt, anger, and rage to God, and we align ourselves with his grace.

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Let that sink in…

The NIV version says,

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction.

Hearing and seeing God is the most important thing we can ever do .” For in him we live and move and have our being”(Acts 17:28) .It is from God we get our identity, calling, and understand what we are to do in life.

Think about that for a moment…

Take a deep breath, let it all out. With this, we open our ears, and eyes to hear from God

Saul in the New Testament who became Paul in scriptures had a transformation because he had a vision of Jesus. While on his way to persecute Christians Jesus revealed himself, and asked Paul why he was persecuting him. Saul was struck with blindness until Ananias prayed for him, then he could see again. Because of this vision, Saul was transformed, and instead of persecuting Christians he became one and was used greatly for converting the non-Jewish world to Christianity. Also, Peter who was a staunch Jew got a vision of a sheet coming from heaven with all types of animals, and God told him to kill and eat. Peter said that he had never eaten any unclean animal, but God told him don’t reject what he had made clean. It was from this vision that God broke down the division and had Peter to minister to Cornelius a centurion in the Italian regiment in Acts 10. Cornelius also had a vision from the angel who gave him a message and directed him to Peter.

It was through these revelations, and visions from God that the church was established throughout the non-Jewish world, and the reason I speak to you today about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

It is on the revelation of Jesus Christ that you can have peace

Let’s Pray

Dear heavenly Father, we honor you. We say that you are above everything else. We receive your power, we receive your wisdom. May our eyes be fixed on you so we can understand who we are and break down divisions that separate us from working in harmony.

Have you ever acted like someone else in order to fit into their social group? You’re not alone in this. But… God wants you to be who he created you to be, and not what others expect you to be.

Matthew 5:13-14 (NIV) Jesus says,

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Many times people tried to get Jesus to become an earthly king, but that wasn’t his calling. His calling was far from what people wanted him to become and even what his family wanted him to become.

Jesus was called to suffer a temporary shame so that we may share in his eternal glory. Think about that for a moment…

As a follower of Jesus, there will be times when you face extreme pressure, scrutiny, slander, temptation, and people who want to hurt you because the devil in them is jealous of you. But don’t give in to the pressure to return evil for evil or hate for hate. Only love can defeat hate. Jesus says we are the salt, the difference makers, the preservers of culture. Don’t lose your love, because that love is your salt. Love conquers all. Love God, love others, and love who God created you to be.

Let that sink in…

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Think about that for a moment…

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Take a deep breath, release it…with that we’re letting go of all the ungodly expectations people have for us.

Take another deep breath, release it. With this, we are taking on our godly identity, and letting go of the world’s empty identity.

Open your hands…with this you forgive your enemies as God has forgiven you. Lift up your hands….with this you lift up to give yourself to God, and receive who he has called you to be.

Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Let that sink in…

The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Think about that for a moment…

Everything we do whether good or bad flows from our heart…are heart is our imagination or what we constantly think about.

We must be very careful what we constantly think about, listen to, and look at… and of the ideas, we allow staying in our heart.

The Bible is our filter to decide what we keep in and what we keep out.

Joshua 1:8  says,“ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Ponder that …

How can you meditate on God’s word day and night?

Jesus said, “ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. These are what defile a person; ” (Matthew 15:19-20)

In our world evil things exist, but they don’t have to exist in our thoughts and actions. We don’t have to perpetuate evil or give them life, but we can put them to death.

The Apostle Paul in the book of Colossians says, “ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” ( Colossians 3:5 )

Think about that…

The theologian Martin Luther said “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”

What steps do you need in order to keep “ Foul thoughts from building a nest in your mind?”

Take a deep breath, release it. With this, you release any impure thoughts you may have had.

You do not need to hold onto them any longer because God has something much better for you.

Take another deep breath release it. Imagine a clean white mist blowing through your heart wiping away every impure thought.

Open your hands…with this you forgive your enemies as God has forgiven you. Lift up your hands. Say, Lord, I receive your ways.

In the book of Isaiah 55:9, God says, ”As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Let the thoughts of God saturate you. Be filled with his presence, be filled with His peace, and be filled with His love.

Let’s Pray

Dear heavenly Father, we honor you. We say that you are above everything else. We receive your power, we receive your wisdom, and we will walk in your presence forever amen.

Let’s Worship

Take this time to go deeper. Worship, and give God thanks for all he’s done in your life. Offer yourself as an instrument of his grace. Thank him for the many blessings he’s given you.

"Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of will to his purpose—all this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable.”

- Archbishop William Temple:

Closing

Be fruitful and multiply. Stay planted by the Streams of Water