Here is the third in the Steve Tanner series on Psalm 119. If you have not had a chance to read the entire Psalm yet this week, why not take a few moments now. Enjoy the reading and thanks again Steve:
Psalms 119:65-104
Key verses: Psalms 119:87-89 (New American Standard) They almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts. {88} Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. {89} Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.
Bro. Bob recently shared a message from Romans about how God uses suffering in our lives. He pointed out where the Apostle Paul speaks to what suffering can produce in the life of a Christian: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; (4) perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4 NIV). (emphases mine)
When is the last time you suffered? When is the last time your faith got you “in trouble?” When is the last time you were singled out for persecution simply because you believed in God? In nations today where the Church is persecuted daily, one hears statements like “well, the LAST time I went to jail for reading a Bible....” Can you imagine that? I point that out not to diminish the sufferings we endure, but to point out that people really do suffer for their faith in this dawn of the third century since the birth of Christ.
For whatever reason you suffer, you, as a believer, can claim God’s promise that the suffering will produce perseverance, character, and hope. And did you notice how the psalmist dealt with the sufferings he experienced? Verse 88 says “I did not forsake Your precepts.” Precepts is one more way to refer to the Law or Word of God. And if God’s Word is sufficient to cling to in times of distress, surely it is sufficient to cling to for revival. In other words, if God’s Word will lead us out of the dark valley, surely it will also lead us to the mountain top.
Perhaps it is the lesson in suffering that brings about the reality of revival.
Pray today that you will remember God’s Word in the midst of suffering and in the desire for revival.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
A Video Message and Psalm 119 Reading
Here is the second devotional in the series from Steve Tanner, great stuff and very encouraging. Thanks again Steve. Also, if you did not get mey video email yesterday I posted it at the end of today's blog:
Psalms 119:33-64
Key verses: Psalms 119:37-38, 40 (New American Standard) Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways. {38} Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You. {40} Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness.
What are “God’s ways?” If you were to describe “God’s ways” to someone, how would you do it?
Perhaps you listed some attributes of God, such as loving, righteousness, all-knowing, gracious, almighty, and patient, just to name a few.
When we seek revival, we must seek it through God’s ways. Our ways, while probably easier and possibly quicker, are temporary and incomplete. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NNAS) That means that however and whenever God chooses to revive us it is with the sustaining power of the Almighty. And it is with the righteous reasons of the One who is perfect; “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul.” (Psalms 19:7a NNAS)
Isn’t it comforting to know that the One who is to revive us will do it for exactly the right reasons, at exactly the right time, in exactly the right way?
It is important for us to seek God in revival. Not seeking blindly, but seeking with the knowledge of the Holy One established in us, His servants.
Pray for God to establish His Word in you. The Word that brings about revival.
Psalms 119:33-64
Key verses: Psalms 119:37-38, 40 (New American Standard) Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways. {38} Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You. {40} Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness.
What are “God’s ways?” If you were to describe “God’s ways” to someone, how would you do it?
Perhaps you listed some attributes of God, such as loving, righteousness, all-knowing, gracious, almighty, and patient, just to name a few.
When we seek revival, we must seek it through God’s ways. Our ways, while probably easier and possibly quicker, are temporary and incomplete. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NNAS) That means that however and whenever God chooses to revive us it is with the sustaining power of the Almighty. And it is with the righteous reasons of the One who is perfect; “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul.” (Psalms 19:7a NNAS)
Isn’t it comforting to know that the One who is to revive us will do it for exactly the right reasons, at exactly the right time, in exactly the right way?
It is important for us to seek God in revival. Not seeking blindly, but seeking with the knowledge of the Holy One established in us, His servants.
Pray for God to establish His Word in you. The Word that brings about revival.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Freedom and Blessing
What a great weekend we had here at Alive. We started a new series called "I Love My Church". A behind the scenes look at who we are and why we do what we do. This last weekend we talked about Biblical authority in our lives and how it leads to freedom and blessing. My challenge for everyone this week is to read Psalm 119, I ended the message with a portion of that chapter.
So, here is something to help on the journey this week. Steve Tanner is a friend and leader here at Alive and has written several daily readings to go along with Psalm 119:
REVIVAL THROUGH THE WORD
Psalms 119:1-32
Key verses: Psalms 119:25b (New American Standard) Revive me according to Your word.
The Psalm focuses on a love for the Word of God.
We often think of “the law” as something negative. We tend to want to focus all of our attention on the grace relationship we have, as believers, in Jesus. We properly understand that our ability to have and maintain a relationship with God is not contingent on our adherence to the law, but on the free gift of grace through Christ Jesus.
So... why would the Psalmist, in the very first verse of this longest chapter in the Bible, state “blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD” ? Blessed, in this case, is often translated as “happy.” Happy in the law? Say what?
But, what is the law? Referring to God’s law is another way of referring to God’s Word. The “Law” was given to Moses and the Israelites at Sinai. God did an extraordinary thing in giving to His people a direct revelation of Himself. The Psalmist is speaking to the immeasurable riches and fulfillment found in the Word of God.
The Word of God is really the gift of God. Without His Word, how do we know anything of Him. Without His Word, how do we know anything of what He expects of us? Without His Word, how do we know anything of how we can have a relationship with Him?
In verse 25 The Psalmist seeks revival through the Word of God. He knows that it is in God’s Word and only in God’s Word that he will find true and lasting revival in his life.
Pray today for a love of God’s Word. That is one prerequisite for revival.
So, here is something to help on the journey this week. Steve Tanner is a friend and leader here at Alive and has written several daily readings to go along with Psalm 119:
REVIVAL THROUGH THE WORD
Psalms 119:1-32
Key verses: Psalms 119:25b (New American Standard) Revive me according to Your word.
The Psalm focuses on a love for the Word of God.
We often think of “the law” as something negative. We tend to want to focus all of our attention on the grace relationship we have, as believers, in Jesus. We properly understand that our ability to have and maintain a relationship with God is not contingent on our adherence to the law, but on the free gift of grace through Christ Jesus.
So... why would the Psalmist, in the very first verse of this longest chapter in the Bible, state “blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD” ? Blessed, in this case, is often translated as “happy.” Happy in the law? Say what?
But, what is the law? Referring to God’s law is another way of referring to God’s Word. The “Law” was given to Moses and the Israelites at Sinai. God did an extraordinary thing in giving to His people a direct revelation of Himself. The Psalmist is speaking to the immeasurable riches and fulfillment found in the Word of God.
The Word of God is really the gift of God. Without His Word, how do we know anything of Him. Without His Word, how do we know anything of what He expects of us? Without His Word, how do we know anything of how we can have a relationship with Him?
In verse 25 The Psalmist seeks revival through the Word of God. He knows that it is in God’s Word and only in God’s Word that he will find true and lasting revival in his life.
Pray today for a love of God’s Word. That is one prerequisite for revival.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Outfitting Men As Shepherd Warriors
His Man began Monday evening with 93 men packed into our Continental Ranch campus. For me this is the beginning of a vision that God gave me over 10 years ago to begin "outfitting men as Shepherd Warriors". We had a lot of laughs and God gave us some challenges as we laid out the vision for His Man. Thanks to everyone who was there for the first gathering - you are a part of the beginning of what God is wanting to do in and through the men here at Alive!!! Mark your calendars for our next gathering and invite another man to come along. I will be giving out the details of the night as we get closer. 3rd Monday of the month: Aug. 16th at 7pm at the Continental Ranch campus.
This week we are beginning a new weekend series: I Love My Church. I know many of you are finishing up family vacations before the kids get back in school, or simply to get out of the desert heat for awhile - so don't forget you can join us online wherever you are by logging into our online campus at www.alivechurch.com
As we shift toward the fall there are a couple of things that are on my short list that I want to tell you about;
First, we are going to be doing a Spiritual Growth Campaign beginning the weekend of Sept. 11/12 called Livin What You Know. You will be hearing a lot about this over the next several weeks, it will be a time for us as a Church to take some great spiritual strides in our journey.
Second, the Go Team for South Africa is in full throttle mode as they prepare for the South African Missions trip scheduled the first two weeks of October. They will be on location with our missionaries there, Joe and Averyl Morris. Besides prayer one of the ways we can all be a part is by donating goods for their big garage sale: bring donated items to our Oro Valley campus on Friday, Aug. 6th from 9am to 3pm. By donating stuff that you do not need or want you will help in feeding, caring for and educating on aids the refugees in S. Africa.
Want to know some of the mindless stuff that happened at His Man? Watch this video we showed on Noodling:
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