Listening to the Word

Numbers 24-27; 1 Corinthians 13   “Moses said to the Lord, ‘May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.’ So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua, son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him…commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority…’” Numbers 27:15-20 It was Moses who asked the Lord to appoint a man to replace himself. Moses understood that all people have a living spirit that comes from God and will return to God. We belong to the Lord, whether we worship God or not. Moses asked God for his replacement to have the heart of a shepherd. God made sure Moses’ replacement was someone “in whom is the Spirit” (Numbers 27:18), not just a spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who can lead through us, and give us the heart of the Shepherd. Moses laid his hand on Joshua...

Numbers 21-23; Mark 6,7   “…a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter…’Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’” Mark 7:25, 26, 28 Jesus came for the lost sheep of Israel. However, his Gospel of the kingdom of heaven was also open to all who would believe. The Syro-Phoenician woman pursued Jesus for the ‘crumbs’ of his time and healing power. She compared herself to a dog under the table waiting for a crumb or scrap of food to fall. Do we see ourselves approaching God that way? Are we under the table? – Or seated at the table? Jesus healed this woman’s daughter as well as many other Gentiles. He later said that the tax collectors and prostitutes were entering the king’s banquet hall ahead of the children of the covenant. Why? Because the Jewish religious leaders were letting go “of the ...

Numbers 19-20; Psalms 28; Mark 5 “Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’…The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’…The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned…Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.” Mark 5:9, 12, 13, 17 The Decapolis was a Greek/Roman region with a pagan religion including the worship of Zeus and Pan. The pigs were used, not only for food, but also for pagan sacrifices. People in the region were afraid of the potential wrath of these pagan deities. When all their pigs died, they pleaded with Jesus to leave their region. The demonized man, who had been freed from a legion of demons, was sent by Jesus back into the Decapolis cities to share his story, including the Gospel. What gods do we worship with our time, money, and ‘sacrifices’? Are we prepared to do whatever it takes to get freedom from lust, se...

Numbers 17-18; Psalms 29; Mark 4    “The Lord said to Aaron, ‘You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.’” Numbers 18:20 The Levites and the descendants of Aaron were dedicated to the service of the Lord. He was their inheritance. Jesus’ call to his disciples was to lay down everything and follow him. They, too, were to find their inheritance in Christ. While this is still Christ’s call to all who will follow him, those in vocational ministry experience the reality of Jesus as they share their portion, their inheritance, at another level. When we focus on our earthly inheritance, we find our heart and attention are here. When we live for an eternal inheritance our heart and thoughts and focus turn there. What is the term of return on our current inheritance investments - short term, long term, or eternal? “Lord Jesus, you are my inheritance. All I have is yours, for your glory.”...

Numbers 14-16; Mark 3   “Korah…Dathan and Abiram…became insolent and rose up against Moses…They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far!’…When Moses hear this, he fell facedown…Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’” Numbers 16:1 - 4, 23, 24 The people were led in rebellion by Levites who felt their leaders had gone too far. Sometimes leaders have gone too far, but it was the Lord’s direction and leading that got them there. In those circumstances, who decides whether Moses or Korah is right? Moses’ humility in falling down before the Lord and not defending himself meant that Korah had to deal directly with God. Are we trying to defend ourselves, or our ministries? When we humble ourselves before the Lord, our critics can actually motivate us toward greater intimacy and dependency on the Lord.   When was the last time we fell face down in surrender and worship before...

 Numbers 12-13; Psalms 90; Mark 2    “’But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.’” Number 13:28 “Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them…’Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?’” Mark 2:3, 9 The Anakite descendants in Hebron were giants, the offspring of the Nephilim, and feared by all who knew them. They were demonically strong and intimidating. What giants oppose the purposes of God today? Jesus faced impossible illnesses, and more importantly, the reality of man’s sinfulness. Who can face the ‘strongmen’ of sin and disease? Jesus overcame both. He forgave the sins of the paralytic man and healed his body, transforming his life and his eternity. What giants are we facing this day? What word is Jesus speaking into our situation in light of his victory over sin and death? “Lord Jesus...

 Numbers 10-11; Psalms 2 7; Mark 1   “’…I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.’” Numbers 11:17 “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.” Psalm 27:3 “…the Spirit descending on him like a dove…he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.” Mark 1:10, 22 There is no more essential equipping for ministry and for carrying the burden of leadership than the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s empowerment was the key to Moses releasing the ministry to seventy elders. The Spirit’s anointing was David’s source of strength when hunted by Saul, and in every other attack against his leadership. Jesus spoke and ministered with authority that came from the Spirit of God. Christ’s prayer for the disciples and for us is that we, too, would fully rely on the Spirit...

Numbers 8-9; Acts 28   “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.’” Numbers 8:1, 2 Why were the seven lamps set up to light the area in front of the lampstand? The purpose of the lamps was to provide light for the priests who were serving in the tabernacle. Behind the curtain, the Lord himself filled the Holy of Holies with light. There was no need for lamps if the Lord was the only person dwelling in the tabernacle. Neither light nor darkness is relevant to the Lord as he can see all things, in all conditions, and in every place. The seven lamps symbolized the seven-fold Spirit of God which flowed like oil or fuel to keep the lamps burning. Our lives are now like those lamps burning with Spirit-fueled light in the darkness of this world. We, too, are to shine brightly and not under a bushel or covering. We are to shine so others will benefit and be drawn to God. Can others see evi...

 Numbers 7; Psalms 23; Acts 27   “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 “’But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.’” Acts 27:22 Paul’s confidence in the storm was not in the ship, but in the Lord. He had walked with the Lord “through the valley of the shadow of death” before, and Paul knew the Lord had conquered death so there was nothing to fear. This confidence in the presence of the Lord and his Word gave courage and confidence to the other 276 people sailing on that ship. Our confidence today cannot be in our jobs, our bank accounts, or any other ship we are trusting to take us safely to port. Our confidence must be in the Lord. We all face stormy seas. Those whose confidence is in the Lord and his Word become a source of courage and strength for others when the storms of life come. ...

Numbers 5-6; Psalms 22; Acts 26   “’the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’” Numbers 6:26 Peace with God is available through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. He paid the price for our sins, “…the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Peace with God brings his peace into our lives. This deep state of inner rest and peace transforms our thought life, our relationships, and our capacity to sleep at night, and it transforms our health. Are we at peace? When we invite the Holy Spirit to lead us, we are like sheep in search of a shepherd. We find the source of peace at the feet of Jesus. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He is our Deliverer, our Shepherd, and our Refuge. What is God inviting us to surrender to lay down, confess, or accept in exchange for his peace? “Thank you Lord Jesus, that you give me your peace as I give you my life and all of this day’s challenges, for your glory.”

 Numbers 3-4; Acts 25   “’This is the service of the Gershonite clans as they work and carry burdens: They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting…You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry…Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.’” Numbers 4:24, 25, 27, 32 The specific assignments God gave the Levites by clans, families, and individually, served the whole community, enabling them to meet with God. The kingdom of God still functions with specific assignments for those who live under God’s authority. There are still burdens we are given as we pray - burdens for specific outcomes, Gospel assignments, and even specific mission locations and people God is reaching out to. As we carry these assignments from the Lord, we are required to be yoked with Christ. He promises us that his yoke will be easy and his burden light (Matthew 11:28-30). Do we know our specific assignments and are we sharing them with Christ? Have ...

Numbers 1-2; Acts 24   “From the descendants of Dan: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.” Numbers 1:38, 39 Despite having the second largest number of fighting men after Judah, the tribe of Dan failed to possess their allotted inheritance. Their inheritance included the fertile coastal plain next to the Philistine cities that were populated by giants. Unlike the tribes of Judah and Simeon who teamed together to fight for their inheritance, the tribe of Dan struggled alone. Their sole deliverer was Samson, a leader who fought alone. The size of our ‘army’, our individual gifts, or our strength, is less relevant than our capacity to work in teams and together help one another possess the inheritance. Many are battling lust, fear, generational sin, and pride on their own. God calls us to humble ourselves, love one another enough to...

Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23   “Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, ‘My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.’” Acts 23:1 Paul’s posture, gaze, and words were not of a guilty criminal, but of a man confident in his right standing with God and men. This confidence in front of the most powerful body of leaders in Judaism infuriated the Sanhedrin’s leadership. How do we approach challenging or even hostile environments? Paul lived free in his spirit and straight in his demeanor. Shame causes us to avert our gaze and avoid direct communication. Paul looked straight, spoke straight and lived straight. What challenges are we avoiding, or what assignments are we ‘ducking’ because we lack the inner resources to walk straight into the fray? Paul’s choice to face the Jews in Jerusalem was connected to his shameless defense of the Gospel and the power of God to transform lives. What is God inviting us to say or do, ‘straight up’? “Lord Jesus, yo...

Leviticus 25; Psalms 25-26; Acts 22   “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way…Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chose for him…The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” Psalm 25:9, 12, 14 While it might seem natural for us to only trust God once he proves himself to us, David called us to respond in the opposite way. It is with humble hearts before God, fully surrendering our will to him, that God will teach us his ways, instruct us, and covenant with us. Our quest for guidance from God can feel more like a vending machine than a relationship if our hearts and will are not fully surrendered to the Lord.   Are there any areas of lives not yet fully surrendered to the Lord? Do we see how that negatively affects God’s counsel and instruction in our lives? With humble hearts, let us offer all to God, and discover the wonder of the Lord confiding in us. “Lord, you are my source and ...

Leviticus 23-24; Psalms 24; Acts 21   “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” Psalm 24:1 David’s declaration, that the Lord as Creator of all was the Lord of this world and all who live in it, is a declaration of God’s authority. Satan, as a usurper, has been seducing the nations into worshiping him through idolatry and false religions. Adam and Eve were seduced into rebelling against God and rejecting his authority; however, David returned to the beginning and affirmed the authority of God over all. With Christ’s atoning sacrifice for sin, all who receive that sacrifice for their sins, by faith, come under God’s authority personally. David’s statement of God’s authority can now be personalized through Christ. This reality of God’s authority over creation and authority over our lives personally changes how we pray. The curse of sin has been broken, the rebellion can end. ...

Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20   “’You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publically and from house to house…For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.’” Acts 20:20, 27 What makes us hesitate when it comes to communicating God’s truth to others? We can fear rejection by them, or insecurity if they are in some way contributing to our support. Paul’s testimony after years of ministry in Ephesus was that he had held nothing back. He felt free to let the Spirit of God speak through him in every context, circumstance and relationship. Can we say the same? The freedom to communicate fully the whole will of God as we understand it requires great humility and courage. Ministry was not about Paul, and it’s not about us. It’s about the glory of God and his kingdom coming and his will being done here as it is in heaven. “Lord Jesus, I pray for your boldness to speak your heart and will in each circumstance, for ...

 Leviticus 18-19; Ps 13; Acts 19 “…the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds…In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” Acts 19:17, 18, 20 The Church in Ephesus experienced revival once their hidden sins were openly confessed and they repented. The evidence of revival was that both the Word of the Lord and the name of the Lord were honored and understood to have power to transform lives. When hidden sin, including witchcraft, is tolerated, God’s Spirit is grieved. With open confession and deliverance come the love, joy, and peace of God’s presence. It’s not enough to preach the Word of the Lord with great eloquence of fervor. We must pray for hidden sin strongholds to be exposed and lives set free. It is the anointing and work of the Holy Spirit who inspired the Word of the Lord which is needed to apply the Word to our lives unto transformation. What’s holding back the spreadi...

 Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18   “…when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’…They arrived at Ephesus…He [Paul] himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews…’I will come back if it is the Lord’s will.’…” Acts 18:6, 19, 21 Paul’s statement in Corinth that from “now on I will go to the Gentiles”, didn’t prevent him, once he arrived in Ephesus, from going first to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. The Jews were Paul’s people. No matter how broad the scope of our ministry, we cannot abandon the Gospel to our own culture and people. Do we love ‘our people’ no matter how they treat us? Christ’s call to his disciples to begin their Gospel ministry in Jerusalem, then Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, was also a call to begin with their own people. When we love our own people, as well as the ‘Samaritans’ ...

 Leviticus 13,14; Acts 17   “Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women…Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:4, 11 The Thessalonian Jewish community largely rejected the Gospel through jealousy and fear. They stirred up the crowds against Paul and led a riot to drive Paul and Silas out of the city. Yet, it was the Church in Thessaloniki which Paul later commended as a model and example to the whole world in his letter to them. The initial composition of the Thessalonian Church was mostly God-fearing Greeks. These new Christ-followers embraced a Gospel marked by power, the Holy Spirit, and deep conviction. They witnessed Paul’s life and the price he had paid for the Gospel in Lystra and Philippi, and they, too, surrendered all ...

Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16   “…having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia…During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” Acts 16:6, 9 There is a higher priority than preaching the Word. It is obeying the Lord. The Lord of the harvest has a strategy for each location and season. Will we seek his counsel and direction and be open to significant shifts in strategy under his leading? Troas, where Paul received his Macedonian call, was a peripheral outpost. Mission often includes a call to and from the margins, or seemingly insignificant areas. Will we be willing to join the Spirit of God in reaching out to the margins of our world? Will we listen to the Lord before we preach to people? The Macedonian call led Paul straight into more persecution for the Gospel, a severe flogging, and a prison cell in Philippi.   Maybe Paul needed that significant level of confirmation i...

 Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15   “’We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you…’…Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.” Acts 15:24, 25, 32 The controversy in Antioch created by Pharisees, who followed Christ from Jerusalem, tested the early Church in their understanding of authority. Who spoke for the Church, and more importantly, who spoke for God? These converted Pharisees were teaching both circumcision and forgiveness in Christ; however, they were not teaching with the authorization of the Jerusalem elders. How much pain and confusion have been created today in the emerging Church of the Global South by self-proclaimed teachers from the West who bring a gospel other than the costly Gospel we see in Christ? Healthy missionaries must be both called and sent. The ministry and message of...

 Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14 “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul…Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said.” Acts 14:19, 21, 22 Paul’s preaching and Gospel-centered approach to Church-planting attracted new disciples, but also persecution. Threatened with stoning in Iconium, Paul moved on to Lystra where the fickle mob switched from worshiping Paul to attempting to kill him. The constant harassment and threats from jealous, angry Jews followed Paul wherever he went. Instead of avoiding Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, the very places he had faced persecution, Paul returned to these cities and reminded the new disciples that they had embraced a costly Gospel.   When we avoid the reality of the cost of the Gospel for every disciple, are we really strengthening and encouraging ...

 Leviticus 1-3; Acts 13   “Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you…’” Acts 13:9-11 There is a time to directly confront not just evil behavior, but evil itself. The political advisor and sorcerer, Elymas, or Bar-Jesus, was opposing Paul’s witness to Christ and undermining the faith of the proconsul. Paul’s direct rebuke was empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit. Are we confident in the Lord’s presence and empowerment so we, like Paul, can stand firm when our Gospel witness is opposed? The same hand of the Lord which empowered Paul, opposed Elymas. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, but there are no other hands into which we should trust our lives. When we live with ful...

 Ex 39-40; Psalms 15; Acts 12   “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle…whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;…” Exodus 40:34-36 The Israelite tribes tented around the tabernacle as their center. The primary feature of the Tent of Meeting was the living presence of God expressed in a cloud which rested on the tabernacle. It’s interesting that when the glory of God filled the tabernacle it was impossible for Moses to enter, even though it was called the Tent of Meeting. Are we centered on the gloried of God regardless what that means for our worship? - Or have the rituals of singing, preaching and giving actually become our focus, rather than the glory of God? When was the last time we sensed the glory of God in a physical experiential way? Is the glory of God our...

    Ex 37-38; Psalms 19; Acts 11 “’As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us…who was I to think that I could oppose God?’...When they heart this, they had no further objections…When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them…” Acts 11:15-18, 23 Salvation and the infilling of the Holy Spirit are evidenced by the fruit and gifts of the Spirit. This is so that observers can testify that what they see in our lives is evidence of the grace of God. Peter’s testimony about the salvation story of Cornelius’ household hinged on the outward evidence that they had received the Holy Spirit. Barnabus’ investigative trip to Antioch to follow up reports of Gentile believers also hinged on the evidence of the grace of God in their lives. Witho...

Exodus 35-36; Acts 10  “Then the voice told him, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ ‘Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.’ The voice spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’” Acts 10:13-15 When we are raised within a theological and religious tradition there are rules that govern what is clean and unclean. These boundaries have a rationale and history in our traditions. However, the Lord of the harvest calls us to follow him into relationships and experiences that can stretch our boundaries as we join God’s mission.   Will we, like Peter, be willing to travel to ‘Cornelius’ house’ and eat with him? Eating with someone is an intimate sharing of our life with one another. As Jesus’ followers, we have the freedom to eat with all people and bear witness to the life, forgiveness, and freedom we’ve received. Who are the Cornelius’ that God is inviting us to eat with and introduce to the Author of life...

 Exodus 33-34; Psalms 16; Acts 9   “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16:5, 6 When we make the Lord and his kingdom mission our inheritance, he promises to take care of our portion our cup and our lot in life. God assigns provision protection and even pleasant places to his servants who surrender their lives to him. When we live for the Lord’s inheritance, he makes us his inheritance. This is an amazing truth that never ceases to amaze us. We need the ‘eyes of our heart’ enlightened to know “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18). We have eternal value to God, even as we fully invest our life’s inheritance in the Lord and his mission. In what ways is the Lord inviting us to invest in a new and eternal inheritance? In what ways is the Lord inviting us to trust in the sufficiency and delight of his i...

Exodus 30-32; Acts 8   “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.’” Exodus 31:12, 13 The Sabbath day of rest was a sign of the covenant God made with Israel that they were set apart from the nations and belonged to God. It was the Lord’s Sabbath day and he gave it to them as a reminder that he created for six days and rested on the seventh day. When Jesus came, he proclaimed the good news that a relationship with God was possible through a new covenant in his blood. He declared he was Lord of the Sabbath and often healed on the Sabbath day. This fulfillment of the Sabbath doesn’t eliminate the observance of the Lord’s Day for followers of Jesus. However, it does point to the principles found in the Sabbath as being set apart and resting in the work of God and of relationship with him. A day of rest and renewed intimacy...