Saturday, October 9, 2010

New Testament Paradigm October 9th Devotional

Read:

Philippians 2:5

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Also Read:

1 Corinthians 11:1

1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ

We are living in a generation that has lost the importance and revelation of how God builds and the model of the cross that we should follow. The church has taken in paradigms that are not godly but rather humanistic and gnostic. We have lost the paradigm of the cross of Jesus Christ, and how we should follow Christ as He laid down His life. Like the Gnostic's, we have a revelation of Christ living within us, but it is more of a concept and teaching rather than knowing Him and the power of His resurrection. Within us is often a collection of teachings and our dedication to them, rather than to our risen Lord Who lives in us. The New Testament paradigm of the Cross and the risen Lord should be the focus of our devotion everyday. I find myself loving the idea of God at times, rather than keeping that pure devotion with Him, and then I have to repent and return to that first love with Him. The teachings that many minister's hold to and "defend" can be totally orthodox, but they lose the paradigm of love that Jesus portrayed, the sacrifice that He gave, and the ministry that He poured out to many. It seems to me that many minister's try and add to the gospel, and the paradigm for us to follow is so clear, yet we make it difficult. We can't build a paradigm upon a paradigm, and we can't change the gospel to make it fit our own agenda and what we think is right. Many churches have lowered the standard of what there church is to follow, and they make it an easy gospel. A paradigm is an example and model to follow, and the very foundation that was laid for us by the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone is the very foundation that we need to follow today. I have minister friends over seas that are powerful minister's of God, and I see a vast difference between some minister's here in the United States and those from overseas. I think that the biggest reason for this is that they haven't been tainted by other paradigms, but understood right off the bat that ministry is just following what Christ Jesus did. I think that one of the major errors we have gotten into, including me, is defending the gospel with the wrong approach. Sometimes we get so caught up with what we think is right, and we lose sight to what needs to be done to transform our nation, change our community, and make disciples. It is very important to defend the gospel and to flow in our gifts and callings. I'm just saying that we need to get our priorities in order as the church and understand that the new testament model for the church is to minister to our community and have outward ministry. It is extending our hands outside the four walls of the building and winning souls, feeding the poor, and making disciples, but yet done with love. It is following the paradigm of the cross. We've done all but make disciples. We have our programs, agenda's, and other things, but our focus needs to be on the Kingdom of God. I want us today to have a fresh insight as to what God has for us, and to ask God today to place us where we need to be as we play our part in following the cross.

Prayer:

Lord, we repent for any other paradigms that we have allowed in our lives, if any. Show us Lord if there is any way in us besides your way, and give us a fresh revelation of the only paradigm and foundation that we need to follow today, Amen.

by Keith Edwards

Friday, October 8, 2010

Example Of A Leader October 8th Devotional

Read:
15 But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

Setting an example as a leader is very important, especially for the world today. We need to set an example for those who watch and follow us. The definition for behavior here is anastrophe, and it means conduct or manner of life. We need to set an example by doing the right thing as a leader. I was a manager for about eight years in the grocery retail, and was training a young man that I lead to the Lord. I told him that I would clean up the meat cutting room so he could cut meat. After I got through he looked down at my shoes and said, "You don't mind getting wet do you?" I told him, son, a leader will do things that no one else wants to do. I'm doing this to set an example to you by not only making you a disciple in the spiritual things, but also training you in the work place so you can be ready, and advancing God's kingdom is at our workplace as well. It is so important to lay aside our pride and lead, but sometimes leading is humbling ourselves and doing things that is inconvenient to the worlds standards. We are not of this world and leading by the example of Christ will rub against the mainstream of the typical "get to the top" motivation. This young man has learned alot so far, and I am willing to invest in this young man. I want to encourage you today to lead by example. I need to do this more myself, and sometimes it is laying down our own pride and allowing others to do what we teach them. Show them and they will know, but allow them and they will do and be ready to teach others the same way we taught them. They will understand the importance of our conduct for others, and they will also understand the example that they need to set for the new converts that they will make. Lets see this scripture in a whole new light today, whether it is setting an example as a spiritual leader, or teaching them in the workplace through on the job training.

Prayer:

Lord, we ask that you will make us better leaders by setting a better example to others by our conduct and behavior. Help us to shine your light to others around us, especially those that we are leading.

by Keith Edwards

Thursday, October 7, 2010

River Of Ahava October 7th Devotional

Read:

Ezra 8:21

21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

Life can get so stressful at times. Things can change in an instant, and we need to know how to get strength from God in those rough times. We can learn a great deal about our daily walk with the Lord by looking at Ezra. Ezra is going to Jerusalem concerning the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Fifty-Thousand Jews come before Ezra to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem Eighty years before Ezra actually takes the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. When Ezra starts his journey to Jerusalem, he stops at the river of Ahava with the three-thousand he has with him. The hebrew definition for Ahava is "I Shall Subsist" and subsist means to gain nourishment needed to carry on. It was just as much a spiritual nourishment as it was concerning food and raiment. Ezra proclaims a fast, and he gathers leading men to lead with him. Ezra not only knew the importance of humbling himself before God to help them make it to Jerusalem, but he knew the importance of plotting leaders all around him to bind together as one as they carried on the journey. I want us to stop today and gain the nourishment needed to walk this Christian walk. Let's open our hearts today for His spirit to strengthen us and make us strong in Him. We need to stop at that place like the River of Ahava, and we need to draw strength from the Father. He is so willing and able to help us in trying times, and He can help us through restoration to build the little Jerusalem that we may have in our heart. We can also learn a great deal about Ezra here as we build the church of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the rock of revelation. Ezra plotted men around him. It is so important as pastor's to understand how God builds. If we don't have the revelation of how God builds, and how the church needs strong Godly leaders around them, then the church isn't being built upon that rock. There is a great deal of revelation from Ezra today that we need to understand, and we can gain that nourishment needed to carry on the great journey of spiritual growth with one another as the bride of Christ. Maybe you have a dream and you have given up on that dream. Maybe you are going through a very hard time right now and don't know what to do. Just reach out to God today, and gain the nourishment needed to go forward in the things of God.

Prayer:


Lord we ask for strength as we face another day. We stop to gain the nourishment needed to carry on Lord. Give us the power to walk out this walk in your grace, and help us to hear your voice and learn of your ways in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

by Keith Edwards

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Spiritual Water Brook October 6th Devotional

Read:

Psalms 42:1

1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God

Also Read:

14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Life can be so hard at times. Things can change in an instant, and if we don't have the foundation of Christ placed firmly in our soul, we will surely give up and possibly take our last breath here on earth. In psalms 42, David is running for his life. He has made some wrong choices while he was King in his palace, yet he found God's grace even under the law. David many times fell on his face before the Lord and pleaded for mercy, especially when Prophet Nathan came to him and spoke a hard word from the Lord to Him. David fell on his face before the Lord. Nathan told him that God is going to spare your life but that he will go through some things because of his sin. Here David is tired, weary, and he is thirsty for nothing but God. He says he is like a deer panting by a water brook. The story of a deer is interesting. The deer will run from the hounds, submerge itself under a river, and go as long as it can until it reaches a certain destination point. Then, by the time it reaches a water brook, it will pant from unbelievable thirst while it drinks of the brook. Then we read in John chapter four that God is our living water that we can drink from. There have been times when I can remember being by a spiritual water brook in my life from some wrong choices that I had made, and wanting nothing but a drink of the presence of God, wanting nothing but God's mercy and forgiveness by His blood. It may not necessarily be because of sin in our past that we find ourselves in a state of unbelievable thirst. When are heart is pure before the Lord, God will prune us and make us more like Him. When we seek His face we will find ourselves crying out to him as He sharpens us and clips things from His spiritual branches to be one with the vine. I feel like God is bringing the body of Christ to a place of oneness with Him like never before. God is breathing His holiness and alignment upon His body to get the mixture out, and things that are in need of filtering will bring forth that feeling of needing God more than anything. Are you facing that thirst in a certain area, and need a drink of His living waters today? Just reach out to Him and He will be there for you.

Prayer:

Lord we come to that living water today for a drink of that everlasting water that gives us that assurance of eternity. We put all of our mistakes and failures under your blood and give you all today. Lord you are the only one who can feel that void that we feel, and you are the only one who can give us that drink that we need in our life. Help us Lord to stop and evaluate our life as we drink of your presence. Amen.

by Keith Edwards

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Living Epistle October 5th devotional

2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

One of the greatest ways to win someone to the Lord is by being a living epistle. To be that light to someone who is in darkness is powerful when done the right way. You can talk about great revelations and how much you know, but people don't care how much we know until they know how much we care. I can remember my mom telling me the time when Dad worked at a factory. He was a pastor of his first church, and was on fire for the things of God. My father was a great man and he lived what he preached. The Lord spoke to him and he felt like the Lord wanted him to witness to one of his co-workers. He witnessed day after day for several months. One day my father said, "Lord this is getting old. I just don't feel like I'm getting through to him. He felt like the Lord told him that he was done with talking to this one particular employee. He went to work that next day. As he started out his daily routine, a man on a fork lift came riding up to him. He said, "pastor, I've been watching you witness to that employee day after day. I've also watched how you deal with your co-workers. I've seen you live out what you believe. I want this Jesus you have been talking about." My father led this man to the Lord and to this day I believe he is still living a christian life. I was only five years old when this man and his family would come to our church on Sunday's. I remember becoming friends with his family, and I can remember years after this me and my brother going to this man's house and staying a whole week there with his family during the summer. My Father has gone to be with the Lord but he has made an imprint in my life as his son. I'll never forget the great things he did to live out the gospel. I want to encourage you this morning to never underestimate the power of seed planting, but never underestimate the power of reflecting Christ by being a living epistle.

Prayer:


Lord we ask that you help us be that living epistle to those around us. Let your light shine from within us, and we pray God that you would help us to not only talk to those around us, but live a holy life right before the most worst sinners around us. it could be the least one we would expect Lord that comes crawling to you, or it could be someone peeking around the corner watching very closely. We pray Lord that our devotional life would be so strong with you to show forth character to an unbelieving generation. Amen.

by Keith Edwards

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Being Content October 3rd Devotional

Read:

Philippians 4:11

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Also Read:

Psalms 138:8

8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Have you ever felt like giving up on your dreams and goals in this life. God has put dreams and gifts' within each and every Christian, but we need to let God move us to that place we need to be to fulfill that which is within us. It can get so frustrating at times, but God sometimes has to deal with us about different things in our life so that those things won't become a hindrance down the road. I know from experience of great financial stress how discouraging it can get. Can I get a witness? You go through the Dave Ramsey course and drive an old "cash for clunker" type car, with the ceiling falling in your coffee on your way to work. Every time you push in the clutch it squeaks lol. You look up to God in your devotion and say, "Lord I just can't take it anymore!" I want to encourage us in our daily walk with the Lord to be content with what we have. Maybe you got to a certain place in your life and it has caused unnecessary pain. It brought your dreams and visions to a screeching halt. Don't give up. God promised in His word that He will perfect that which concerns us. He will open that door that once was open, and He will get you back to that place that will lead you to the fulfilling place that God has for us. The Lord didn't bring you all of the way here to just let you go. It's not too late for you and I. However, we need to stay totally focused on the Lord as we go through that door again. Sometimes that door of our dreams and visions may only be cracked open. We see a little bit of hope on the other side of that door, but we sometimes doubt if God is in the middle of the door opening up for us. God is for us and not against us. Have you gotten to this place friend where it just seems like you are at a dead end job. You failed somewhere and you find yourself settling for where you are at. Pray to God today to help you be content where you are at, but also pray to God that He will give us wisdom on how to pray for restoration in our life. The last thing I want us to see today is have a good attitude where you are at. Attitude is very important. Attitude and being content go hand in hand, and our good attitude along with that content heart will allow God to open that door just a little further each day, until one day you look and see you are in a place that God wanted you to be in. A teacher at the bible college talked to us about when he graduated from bible school and went to his pastor and told him, "Man! I know what God wants me to do now. He's called me into full time ministry." The pastor looked at him with that serious grin and said, "Good! now go get a job! God needs to shape and mold you before you step into the ministry." He did that, and worked at arby's scrubbing toilets and cooking arby sandwiches. We'll not in that order..lol. About three months after he got a job at arby's, God moved him out of there and put him into full time ministry. I feel something right now for you and I as I'm writing this devotional. God didn't move him out of arby's because of necessarily his calling. God moved him out of there into the place he had for him in ministry because of his attitude. Here is what I feel for us as we go through another day wondering why God hasn't totally moved us to that certain place here on this earth as Christians. It's all about attitude, and I said this in one of my devotionals but I want to bring it to the table again. Our attitude will affect our character, our character will affect our calling, and our calling will ultimately affect our destiny here on earth. We just have to remember that even when we are in that particular place that God has for us, we still have to be content in whatever state we are in. Sometimes we can get to a place where we feel like we don't need God. We have everything. This is a very dangerous place to be in. We need God in the good, bad, and the ugly.

Prayer:

Lord help us to be content with where we are at. Help us to be content even when we are feeling good. But we need you so much Lord in every situation. Lord help us to cry out to you in not only in the hard times, but good times as well. Help us to realize in whatever state we are in that we need you the same in any situation. Amen.

by Keith Edwards