Extreme Humility

"Now Moses was very humble--more humble than any other person on earth."
Numbers 12:3 NLT

Moses was a great leader of God's people with a unique relationship with God. Yet he was also amazingly humble. His brother and assistant Aaron and his sister Miriam were jealous of Moses' position and privilege so they began to criticize him. Moses' humility was expressed in the fact that he did not try to defend himself or his position. But God stepped in and defended Moses and secured Moses' position as leader. (Click on the reference to read the story in Numbers 12).

Jesus, the even greater servant of God, surpassed Moses in humility (see Philippians 2:5-11). Humility that does not seek to exalt or defend oneself is a key characteristic of leadership in God's kingdom. If we walk in humility we do not seek to secure our position but leave it in God's hands and we do not seek to silence our critics but let God deal with them. Our focus is to walk with God in His service and trust Him to handle these things in His way and His time.

Father, help me to walk in the genuine humility of Christ, as Moses did, seeking only to do Your will while leaving my security in Your hands.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Sharing the Load

I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you. I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone. Numbers 11:14-17 NLT

Moses felt the incredible weight of leading and caring for God's people. He came to realize that he alone was not sufficient for the task. He complained to God and God graciously provided 70 Spirit-filled men to share the load with Moses.

Leading and caring for God's people is never a one person show. God provides His church with many Spirit-filled people who are capable of helping to lead and care for His people. Along with with the pastor God provides other ministers and deacons t0 serve Him in the church. But in addition to these God gifts every member to share the load of ministry. Each Christian is called to ministry and the church is blessed when each one exercises their gift in Christ's service to build up the Body. "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another" (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).

Father, strengthen and guide those who lead our church that they may faithfully carry the load and lead Your people. Help me to faithfully use the gifts You have given me to serve Your Body and share the load of ministry.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Morning and Evening

And whenever the Ark set out, Moses would shout, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!” And when the Ark was set down, he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel!” Numbers 10:35-36 NLT

As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness toward the Promised Land, Moses began and ended each stage of the journey with a prayer. In response to Moses' prayers, God went before Israel by day leading the way and protecting them and God watched over Israel at night as they camped.

Perhaps as a child you were taught to say morning and/or evening prayers. Do we ever outgrow the need to begin and end the day with prayer? In the morning ask God to lead you through the day guiding you in His will and protecting You from the enemy. In the evening thank God for His grace through the day and ask His watch-care through night. Morning and evening prayer will create a greater consciousness of God and dependence on Him in your life.

Father, I need You morning and evening. I need You every hour of the day. Lead me out this morning and protect me from the enemy who prowls about like a roaring lion. Watch over me this night and keep me in Your peace.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Christians

"The disciples were first called Christians as Antioch." Acts 11:26 NIV

The name Christian was first spoken as a term of ridicule by unbelievers toward the disciples of Jesus. Christian simply means one who follows Christ. Though it was once spoken in ridicule it is a title that defines our life and one we greatly cherish. What an honor to be identified with Christ!

However, it seems the name Christian is tossed around lightly today. We call anyone who professes any kind of belief in Christ a Christian even if there is no evidence in their life. When the unbelievers called the disciples at Antioch Christians it was because they saw something distinctive in their life. It was obvious that they not only believed but were committed to following Jesus. We would do well to remember the honor and responsibility of bearing so great a name and to pray it would be evident in our lives that we follow Jesus Christ.

Father, I thank you for the name Christian. I am proud to be a follower of Your Son. May my commitment to Him be obvious to a watching world and may they be drawn to Him through my life.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Tuning in to God

"The next day as Cornelius' messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon..." Acts 10:9 NLT

As a Christian, Peter continued to observe the Jewish practice of regular hours of prayer. In his set time of prayer at noon God spoke to Him and prepared him to participate in something significant--the conversion of Gentiles in the household of Cornelius.

A regular pattern of prayer keeps our life in sync with God and prepared for His use. He speaks to those who regularly tune in to hear Him through Scripture and prayer. Not every prayer time will be filled with such specific instructions as Peter's was on that particular day. But every prayer time can be filled with real communion with God and on some days He will draw us into something significant if we are tuned in to Him.

Father, I want to be regular in prayer and always receptive to Your leading. Keep me in step with You today and use me for Your purposes.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Don't Coast

"So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers." Acts 9:31 HCSB

After the conversion of Saul the once fierce persecutor of the church to faith in Christ, the church enjoyed a period of peace before the next wave of persecution came. During this period of peace the believers did not sit back and coast. It was a period of dynamic growth spiritually and numerically. As they lived in a reverent relationship with Christ as Lord and responded to the activity of the Holy Spirit in their midst they were built up and others were won to Christ.

The church in America lives in relative peace. In our peaceful state, are we coasting or growing? It is far too easy to coast when there are no troubles challenging and strengthening our faith. But we need to take advantage of our peace to grow in a reverential relationship to Christ as Lord and to respond to what the Spirit is doing around us. These are good days to grow up spiritually and to grow out through sharing our faith. Don't let the peace pass without profit.

Father, I'm blessed to live in a peaceful state but help me to grow and not coast during these days. Help me to grow up in Christ and to grow out by sharing Him with others.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Divine Appointments

"The Holy Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and walk along beside the carriage.'" Acts 8:28 NLT

Philip was led by the Holy Spirit to get close to the Ethiopian Eunuch's carriage. Once Philip was close he overheard the Ethiopian man reading Isaiah and this opened the door for a conversation which resulted in Philip leading the man to faith in Christ. It all started with Philip being sensitive and obedient to God's leadership.

If we desire to be used by God to help others know Christ, He will use us. If we pray for Him to lead us to people and opportunities to share the faith, He will lead us. Some of the seemingly smallest steps of obedience to God's voice may be the very thing that puts us in position to participate in a divine appointment. A divine appointment is a meeting engineered by God between a willing witness and a seeker.

Prepare yourself to be used by God through walking in daily fellowship with Him. Pray for divine appointments and the ability to recognize them when they come. Be sensitive and obedient to God's leadership in your life and you may be surprised to see how God uses you.

Father, lead me and use me to help others know Jesus. Help me to have a responsive heart, listening ears, and open eyes today.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark