"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:2, NIV).."

Some days it is easy to away with a song in our heart and praise on our lips, however, there are times when a day seems to hit us right between the eyes. We oversleep, are rushed in getting ready, miss our quiet time with the Lord, and everything seems to be a mess before we even begin to make a mess on our own. In Genesis 1:2 we read that God was faced with an earth that was formless and empty. There was no light, the water and the earth were one big glob, there were no plants, animals, sky, etc. It was one big muddy mess.

Genesis 1:2, also gives us some neat things to consider. First, the Spirit of the Lord was hovering over the waters. It may not have looked like anything special was taking place, but the Spirit of the Lord was hovering or "brooding" (KJV) over the waters. When we have a day that really seems like things are all wrong, out of place, and seems like it would be better if we just went back to bed and woke up tomorrow, we need to remember that as Christians, the Spirit of the Lord is brooding over our muddy mess just like He was over the big ball of mud before the seven days of creation. Let's note some interesting facts into the change from "formless and empty" to "it was very good" (1:31). We may see some keys that will make our tasks see the power of the Spirit of God and turn into something very good.

1. Do not try to fix everything at once. Of course, God could have fixed everything all at once, yet he only dealt with one thing at a time. Too often our big muddy mess is more in our mind than an actual fact because we get overwhelmed at the task.

2. Prioritized your tasks. God set priorities on what needed to get done first. Before he could create man and animals there needed to be plants for him to eat. Before plants, there needed to be dry ground and seas, etc. He decided what needed to be done first and then went at the task according to priority.

3. Bring proper organization to the mess. Day one He took care of the lighting problem and then separated it into day and night. Day two, God put an expanse between the water in the sea and the water in the sky. Day three he separated the water into dry ground and the seas. You might call this the grandest filing system ever created. All this organization of night and day, sky and sea, ground and seas had to take place before any plants or animals could survive. Many of us are unproductive or frustrated with our day because we need to learn some organization skills to increase our effectiveness and productivity.

4. Save the best for last. Often we do the thing we love the most first. God saved man, the one that he would have intimate fellowship with till last. Rather than do the easiest thing first and have the worst task hanging over your head the rest of the day, why not knock off the worst tasks first, and then save those that you really find fun as a reward for the end of the day?

5. Speak creatively. We have tremendous power in our words. By our words we are justified and by our words we are condemned. Just as we see the saving power of God when we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth, we need to realize the creative power God has given us in the words that we speak. If we wake up and moan and groan, grumble and declare that this is a rotten day. We will get it because we have faith that we will have a rotten day. We believe in our heart that it is a disaster and confess with our mouth and so we have it! However, we need to get our minds and hearts in the Word of God and find out that this is the day that the Lord has made, and just go ahead and rejoice and be glad it it! Open your mouth and begin to thank God for His miraculous power that He is going to show this very day and as you speak faith with your mouth, your words can begin to make a difference.

6. Realize the Holy Spirit is waiting for your words. Note that the Holy Spirit did not do anything until the word from God came forth. When the word was spoken, the Holy Spirit sprang into action and the miracle took place. When you wake up to a day that seems pending with disaster, remember that the Holy Spirit will begin to release the grace and power of God as you begin to speak your words of faith. I fear that many miss the miraculous, sustaining grace of God in their lives because they fail to renew their minds with the Word of God and as a result they speak from their own emotion, mind, and will.

God wants to turn your "day of disaster" into a day that you see the grace and power of God in action in your daily challenges of business and work. He wants to you be able to say at the end of the day, "it was very good" because of what you allowed the Holy Spirit to accomplish.

How often do we fail to fulfill the mission that God has for us to accomplish in our place of business or work because we fail to incorporate this six simple things into our lives. Read over them again and ask the Lord if there is not one or two of these that He wants you to take hold of and to incorporate into your daily work situation.

The most important thing you can do today is to fulfill the mission that God has for you. The enemy may throw a lot of muddy messes your way. Don't let them deter you from the mission God has ordained for this day in your life! Go from muddy messes to fulfilling your mission today!

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. (Genesis 2:2, NIV)."

We are all familiar with the passage in Genesis 2:2 where we learn that on the seventh day of creation, God finished the work he had been doing and on the seventh day he rested or ceased from his work. Many of us then take this passage and translate it into our own setting and think that proper application of this passage is to go to church on Sunday and do something fun for the rest of the day, take a nap, and possibly go to an evening service.

While this may have some application, I would like to bring to our attention a disease that eats away at our lifestyle in such a subtle way that many of us don't even think about it. Hebrews 4:1-11 talks about entering into rest and tells us that in reality, the kind of rest that God wants us to enter is not just for a day a week, although that is an important concept, but that we are to enter into a rest that is not automatic. In verse 1, the writer tell the Christian reader that there is a promise of entering into rest, but we need to be careful so that we are not found falling short of the rest we are called to. This rest comes through faith and we need to make every effort to learn to rest and to cease from our constant striving.

Our society seems to be in a tremendous hurry--one thing that seems to be completely absent from the Master's lifestyle. In fact, we seem to buy into the illusion that hurrying will buy us more time. It is interesting that in the 1960's, expert testimony was given to a subcommittee of the Senate on time management. The conclusion was that by the 1980's people would have to radically cut back on how many hours a week they worked and figure out what they would do with their excess time. Thirty years later our primary time challenge does not seem to be too long days, but too short days and too few days in a week. so we buy anything that promises to help us hurry. We worship the golden arches not because the food is so good or so cheap, but because it is "fast" food. We invented the drive thru so families could hurry on through on their way to yet another soccer practice, and then hurry on to another rushed event. Cell phones and pagers enable us to hurry more and more.

Ironically, instead of producing more time, more peace, more rest, we seem to have a "hurry sickness." This is nothing new. In Mark 6:31 we read,

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Whether we are involved in ministry or business, we need to do something. Jesus was aware of the problem and constantly withdrew from the pressure of go, go, go. If we want to follow Jesus, we must be careful that we don't go faster than He goes. You can follow someone by going ahead. Yet, how often do we rush ahead of the Lord? Jesus was often busy, but he was always at rest and never hurried., Being busy is outward activity, but rest is an inward condition as is hurriedness. God wants to teach us to walk in His rest and peace even when we have much to do.

What are some symptoms of "hurry sickness" and not walking in rest? Read through the following ideas and score yourself.

You have the fear that you will never have enough time to accomplish what needs to be done.

You chafe when you have to wait, whether at a stop light, a grocery store line, etc.

You find yourself constantly doing or thinking about more than one task at a time such as driving,eating, and talking on a cell phone or watch TV, eat, and carry on a phone conversation.

You are cluttered.

Your time organizer is half the size of your family Bible.

You come home after work and those who need your love the most end up getting leftovers.

You rush around at home even when there is no need to.

You convince yourself that as soon as you get done with this project, things will be okay.

You try to escape by indulging in too much TV, abuse alcohol, drown yourself in overeating, or scan the web in sites unfit for Christians.

You resent people that you should be showing the love of Christ to.

You look at people as how they can produce for you, not how can you serve them.

How did you do in the above 11 categories. If we are honest, most of us have anywhere from a mild to severe case of being hurried. Remember, being hurried is different from being busy. It is an attitude of heart that is contrary to what Christ exemplified. He was busy, not hurried. How can we be cured from this disease?

1. We need to trust God to be the one that causes us to accomplish what needs to be done. Hebrews 4:4 reminds us that on the seventh day God rested from all his work and verse three tells us that we enter rest through believing. Rest is a product of faith and trust that God will cause us to accomplish what His purposes are for our day, week, and life.

2. Learn to spend time alone with God on a daily basis. Ps 62:1 reads, "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him." Also in Ps 62:5 we find, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." We need to realize that real rest comes from God. Spending time with Jesus is an act of faith that will bring peace and rest to your soul. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus encourages the weary and burdened to come to him and find rest for their soul. If we don't come to Jesus, we will not find rest. If you feel weary and burdened, make sure you spend quality time in the presence of the LordÉHis yoke is easy and His burden light.

3. In times of crisis remember what God has done for you in the past. Psalm 116:7 says, "Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."

4. Learn to set apart an entire block of time, possibly a day, an entire morning, or a complete afternoon or evening to go someplace where there are no phones, clocks, pagers, etc. Start the time asking God to bless it and tell him you want to devote the time to him. This time is your gift to God, and equally, God's gift to you. Spend time taking a walk, read and meditate on scripture taking time to stop and reflect on different verses. Write down any thoughts that come to you. Take a nap. Think about goals and priorities that arise from your day and write down these goals and priorities in a notebook.

Isaiah 28:12,13 tells us that there are some that will not accept the rest that God has. As a result their entire experience will boil down to a list of do's and don'ts, and rule upon rule, devoid of the real peace and rest of the Holy Spirit that comes from a heart that is tender to the Lord and to others. In the end they will fall backward, be injured, snared, and in bondage to the enemy. That is the end result of a hurried life. That is the end of someone who refuses to deal with their hurriedness and does not learn to rest. Rest is not idleness or laziness, let us not confuse it with that. It is an attitude of heart that Jesus exhibited no matter how busy He was. Rest will be reflected in our love towards others and our ability to perceive their needs. Let us labor to enter into that rest.

Finding Joy in Your Work

Genesis 1:31

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31, NIV).

In Genesis 1:31, we find that God looked at his work and found great satisfaction and joy in His work. Many people today do themselves a great disservice: they endure their work. They only work in order to have enough money to live. Once they have enough money so they can "retire" they plan on quitting work and dropping out of a productive lifestyle. We should not work to live. We should live to work in this respect: God made me to be productive, creative, so we can make a difference in this world. It is important to have chosen work that matters.

We can lose our joy in what God has called us to do if we don't remember how good it is to be doing it, that is if we refuse to be thankful for the small details of life. Thankfulness inspires joy. As we speak out thankfulness, joy begins to bubble forth, for joy is deeply connected with the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22 tells us that a fruit of the Spirit is joy. If you want real joy you need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. One way that you do it is to express thanks to God and to others for even the small details of life. As we practice gratitude even when we don't feel like it, we obey the Word of God to give thanks in everything, and in doing so release the power of God into our situation so that the joy of the Holy Spirit can spring forth in our heart like a bubbling river.

Zig Ziglar tells of a lady he met who hated her joy and asked for help. He told her to get out a sheet of paper and write down everything that you like about your joy. She thought that it would be easy because she did not like anything about her job. Zig reminded her that they paid her and she liked being paid. So that was one thing that she liked about her job. So in ten minutes she found 22 things that she liked about her job. She was then instructed to go home and get in front of the mirror, look herself in the eye and say, "I love my job because the pay me. I love my job because they pay me above average for working there. I love my job because I have a three-week vacation" and on and on till the 22 things were stated. She was to do this every day for 30 days. She was also instructed to always carry the list because the next day she might discover something she liked about her job. Six weeks later she was grinning so wide and ecstatic. She could not believe how much those people down at work had changed! Verbally giving thanks had released joy in her work as well as the power of God to change her and her coworkers!1

There are certainly times that we must go through torturous situations. It is in those times of great personal agony that it is important to not lose our joy. Hebrews 12:2 shows how Jesus is our example:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2, NIV).

For the joy that was set before him, Jesus endured the torture of the cross. Jesus never lost sight of the fact that God was going to use the valley of death He was passing through for the good of others. Thus, he could go forth in peace. Paul is another example. He wrote the book of Philippians from prison, yet the book is filled with joy. It is noteworthy that he begins his letter in 1:3 with, "I give thanksÉ " The way he could have joy was because he remained grateful and thankful. He knew that the tough things he was going through would be for the benefit of the kingdom of God (1:12). Thus he could be thankful for his chains.

The psalmist tells us that we enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts and into His courts with praise. If we enter God's presence with thanksgiving, where do we find joy? "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalms 16:11, NIV). So we are filled with joy as we enter God's presence through thanksgiving.

When was the last time you shook off the despair, selfishness, hopelessness, ungratefulness the enemy would like to shroud you with and instead of complaining, entered God's presence with thanksgiving? When was the last time you were thankful for the job that God has given you to do? Why not sit down right now and begin to enumerate all the things you are thankful for in your job? If you do and begin to thank God for those things you will find that you will learn to develop joy in your work. God has called us all to work. In Genesis 1:13, we find that God gave Adam the task of working in the Garden of Eden. This certainly was not a punishment but a fulfilling task that he could find joy in.

If you are not finding joy in your work, first take a look at yourself. Are you being grateful? If not, repent for your complaining, grumbling, unthankful spirit and begin to put on a garment of praise and thanksgiving. As you obey God's word, you will begin to find joy in your workÉsomething that God desperately wants to help you find.

When God Says NO

Genesis 3:1-19

"And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:16,17, NIV).

With all the blessings that God gave Adam and Eve, there was one tree that they were not allowed to eat. Of course, with our inquisitive human nature we seem to be drawn to the forbidden. Eve took a look at the fruit and saw that it was"good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom" so she took some, ate it, and gave it to Adam. She and Adam crossed the line that God had written in the sand, and as a result had to pay the consequences of their actions. God had set a choice in front of them, just as he sets choices in front of us every day.

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19).

When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, He made all kinds of trees with delicious fruit for their enjoyment. They were free to eat of any tree without any effects on them, other than receiving strength for their physical bodies. There were two trees in the middle of the garden, however, that were different. One was the tree of life; the other was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If Adam and Eve ate of either of these trees, then not only their bodies would be affected, but also their spirits and souls as well.

We all know that they ate of the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We think, "Why did they do such a stupid thing? They had it so good, why didn't they eat of the tree of life instead?" We criticize them, yet many of us make the same decision every day.

God has given us His Word. Jesus said His words are spirit and life to us (Jn. 6:63). As the Word of God is quickened by the Holy Spirit, we receive life from God. In this way we eat of the tree of life that God has given us. Yet, how many times have we known God wanted us to spend time in His Word, and instead we ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. How many times at work are we forced to make a decision? When we make a decision in our work or business we need to understand that we are often making a choice between releasing God's approval and Life or releasing bondage of the enemy in our lives.

Often it is easier to just go along with the crowd, or do the thing that will seemingly benefit us financially, rather than control our desires and do what the Holy Spirit would have us to do. Today you made the choice to spend time in God's Word. That choice will release life and blessing. At times you will have to make the choice between keeping your promise and what seems to be a bad business or career decision. Choose life and blessing.

Eve chose that which looked like it would bring her benefit from her own analysis. The problem was that it went directly against what God had said. Thus, she brought death and curing upon herself. When you choose to do that which is holy, just, honest, and pure you release blessing, no matter what the worldly business philosophy tells you. Will you cave in to the pressure around you as Eve caved in to the worldly philosophy around her, or will you believe God's Word and by faith do that which is right no matter what the consequences may seem. In the end you will find that you are making the right choice.

When God draws a line and says "No!" Let us take heed and learn from Adam and Eve to choose life and blessing, not death and cursing.

Cain and Able

Genesis 4:1-16

But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (Genesis 4:4,5, NIV).

Modern science has done wonders in developing inoculations for all kinds of diseases that were once killers to many in our society: small pox, scarlet fever, mumps, and many others. They way this is often done is to give the body a small dose of the virus so that our wonderful God-given immune system will develop antibodies that will attack whatever virus has been introduced into the system. Then when one comes into contact with this virus, the body immediately fights off the plague and the body remains healthy and strong. A very small dose inoculated the body from a larger dose that would infect the entire body.

While this is a wonderful thing in have taken place in our bodies, the same thing can happen in our spiritual lives. For instance, how many times have you heard the historical account of Cain and Abel? Many have heard it from childhood. That have had small doses of this truth so that when they hear the account or come to it in the Bible they have effectively become inoculated from being impacted by further truth God may want to reveal from this account. They begin to speed read, gloss over, or their mind goes into some kind of auto pilot so that they are actually thinking on one thing while reading about another.

God wants to continually open up to us new aspects of Himself, who is Truth. Familiarity can breed contempt. As we look at the story of Cain and Abel, and every other passage of Scripture, let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal new truth to us that we have not seen in the past. As we meditate and pray over the Word we will find that the inoculation against more truth will be broken and we can truly be affected by large doses of truth from the Lord.

One thing that impresses me in this account is how often this same thing happens over and over again in the work place. Two people are given similar tasks and make their presentation to their boss. Abel and Cain each had a presentation to make to their Boss, the Lord. Cain was given correction and instructions for doing the job right the next time. Abel was accepted and commended by the Lord and won the favor of the Lord. Instead of realizing that if he made the right changes, he too would be accepted, Cain grew angry and attacked Abel.

It is natural for us to want to be accepted. Abel had taken of the fat portions of his flock. The fat portions were considered the best. He took those fat portions from the firstborn of his flock, which were also considered the most valuable. Abel gave of his very best, whereas we see that Cain just gave what he had. There is a big difference in the workplace between those who give their best and those who just put in their time. Those who just put in their time often get mad at those who excel and like Daniel become the brunt of angry attacks for their spirit of excellence.

Because of the way he responded to correction, Cain was cast out of the presence of the Lord. In the workplace situation, one could say he was fired and forced into a career change due to his failure to find out what his Boss wanted and failure to give of his best.

How are you at work. Have you ever been up for a promotion and were passed over for another person? How did you respond. Instead of rejoicing for the other's success, did you develop anger and an attitude of bitterness? Remember, that to hate someone is just like murder in your heart and will be dealt with the same by the Lord. When someone tries to give you correction, to you listen and learn or do you go and backbite about someone else who you think needs correction more than you?

May God help us to have the spirit of Abel instead of the spirit of Cain.

Complete Obedience

Genesis 6:1-22

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, (1 John 5:3).

The story of Noah is a precious one, for Noah shined as a beacon in the midst of a dark and depraved society. It was a society where everyone did what they wanted to do without regard for others. Second Peter 2:5 tells us that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. He could preach righteousness because he was convinced of the importance of righteousness in his own heart. God's own testimony about Noah was that he was a just man, that he was perfect in his generations, and that he walked with God.

As Noah walked and fellowshipped with God, he began to know the King of the universe. He realized God is not harsh but full of compassion and love. Noah knew that God's commands were not burdensome but that they were given so that things would go well with those who followed them.

God gave Noah specific commands about how to build an ark. It had to be 450 feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high. It had to have three levels, a roof, one door, and a place to let light in. God was very specific about the wood, the construction, and the filling of the ark. Genesis 6:22 says that Noah did ALL that God commanded him. Nothing was left undone.

Why did God command Noah to build an ark? So his neighbors would laugh and mock him, to give him something to do, or just because God wanted a boat built? Of course not! God gave Noah His commands so that Noah, his family, and the animal kingdom might be spared.

When the door was shut and the rain began, Noah was glad that he had done ALL that God had commanded. The wrong size, the wrong kind of wood, or the wrong construction would have been a disaster to his life and posterity. Things went well for Noah because he obeyed ALL that God commanded him to do.

I have seen employees who desire to have the benefits and privileges of their job, but when they are given a task to do, they seem to pick and choose as to which ones they will actually do. They are almost like the child that seems to hear very good whenever Mom is talking about cookies, but when she is talking about cleaning up their room they seems to not be able to hear well at all. If we tend to be that way with our boss or manager at work, you can guarantee that you are that way with the Lord as well. Do you pick and choose what you want to obey out of God's Word? Many try to do that, failing to realize that God's commands are given to them so that they can benefit.

Noah gladly work for many years on a huge task and completed every detail he was given. In the end it was his salvation. Your diligence to your work and the details of your work will always bring good to you in the end. In the short term it may seem like it just brings you more work or a lot of hassles, but remember that your are doing this, not just for your employers, but for the Lord. Noah's sons all worked for their Dad. It was Noah's vision. It was Noah who gave them the plan. It was Noah they had to answer to. It was Noah who made them redo it when it was not right. Noah was their earthly boss, but they were really working for the Lord and in the end it paid off.

You may seem like you are just a cog in a wheel. You are working for another whom God has given a vision to do something. Yet, if you are faithful, God will certainly reward you. Matthew 24:37 tells s "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." That means there will be some like Noah and some like the rest of the crowd. Which will you be like? Remember to be like Noah and give attention to ALL the details so that your work can truly be of an excellent quality, pleasing to the Lord, and the vehicle for your salvation (or raise, promotion, self respect, etc.)

Critical Timing

Genesis 8:1-18

My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning ,(Psalm 130:6).

What an exciting day it must have been to finish the task God had given them, see the animals obediently come to the ark and load themselves and to enter the art. When all were in, Genesis 7:8 tells us that God shut the door. Now no one else would be able to come in. The storms that beat around them could not touch them for they were safe in the ark that had been the result of their obedience. Many don't realize that obedience is building an ark of safety from the storms of life that might tear their way through our society. God shut them in and they knew they were safe.

After time, the exhilaration of being shut in began to wear off. Yes, they were thankful for their protection, but the ark became more of a prison than a vacation cruise. We see Noah's anxiousness as he sends out the raven, then he sends out the dove who returns the first time. He sends her out again and this time returns with a freshly plucked olive leaf. The third time the dove did not return. Then Noah knew the waters had receded. Why was God keeping him and all these animals locked in this ark? He waited another week and then the family removed the cover off of the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. Yet, he stayed in the ark. He waited 57 more days till finally God told Noah to come out of the ark.

Many times we are put into situations that are not pleasant. We may feel cramped, confined, and anxious to get out. Yet, God wants us to wait on Him. If He has placed us in a situation, then we should wait until He says we can leave that particular situation.

God is looking for those who have learned to wait for Him. In Isaiah 64:4 the Lord says that from the beginning of the world men have not heard or seen or comprehended all that God has prepared for those that wait for Him. Have you learned to wait on the Lord, or do you plow into something without waiting to see what God thinks?

God is looking for those that will wait for Him. Let us be like Noah who for 120 years patiently built the ark and who then patiently waited in the ark until the Lord released Him. Don't leave a situation God has placed you in just because it is confining or uncomfortable, or you may abort the virtue God is attempting to work into your heart. He has a perfect timing. If we wait for Him, then we will see His wisdom in having us wait for His timing.

Covering Another's Nakedness

Genesis 9:18-27

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain," James 1:26.

Three times in Genesis 8 and 9 God gives the command to Noah and his sons to be fruitful and increase in number. We know that eventually this began to take place, but it seems as if this process was slow. In Genesis 9 we find a tragic incident that most of us would just skim over if there were not grave consequences associated with this action. In Genesis 9:22, Ham saw the nakedness of Noah and went and told his two brethren. One could long discuss why Noah was drunk, or how our society has gotten very adjusted to nakedness, but the lesson for us today is found in Ham's actions. Ham knew of something true and told others of his father's nakedness. In God's Word, nakedness can speak of faults that someone may have.

Since none of us are yet perfect, we each have areas that need adjustment in our character. We uncover another's nakedness as we see a fault in a Christian leader or brother and commence to broadcast it with our tongue. In a sense, we are cursing the man, even though we speak religiously of it as a prayer request (see Ja. 3:9,10). The problem for most of us is that we forget to concentrate to being fruitful and increasing in number. We forget to realize that God's priority in our lives to develop the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts and to have us focus on bring new babes into the kingdom of God through spirit led evangelism. Instead we fall into the trap of uncovering the nakedness of those around us. At work we love to speak of the faults of others and their weaknesses rather than focus on the character God wants to develop in us and on reaching out to others with the good news of Jesus' saving power.

Shem and Japheth covered their father's nakedness when they heard of it. Oh, that we would respect and love parents, pastors, and brethren to such a degree that when someone speaks evil of them we would cover that person by speaking of their good and not on the areas of their lives that God hasn't dealt with yet.

In John 8:1-11, Jesus is confronted with the Pharisees who were ready to stone the adulterous woman. He said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." They all had areas in their lives that they needed God to change, so they should have restored her in a spirit of meekness knowing that they yet had weak areas in their lives as well. Let our attitude be like Ben Franklin's who said, "I will speak evil of no one, not even in the manner of truth, but I will excuse the faults I hear and speak the good."

Let us speak only that which is edifying that it may encourage and give grace (enabling power) to those who hear it (see Eph. 4:29).

How's Your Tower Coming?

Genesis 11:1-9

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

Mark 16:15

Three times after the flood, God commanded Noah and his sons to be fruitful and to multiply so that the earth would be replenished with life. Consequently, they began to reproduce and to develop into nations. As time went on, the population spread out southeast to the plains of Babylon. There the people decided that they did not want to spread out over the whole earth, but they wanted to build a city and a tower, whose top would reach up to the sky, to make a name for themselves. Their real motive was their desire for fame, and their object was to build something so large that others would be impressed. But, God had commanded them to spread out over all the earth, and undertaking to centralize the world around themselves could only bring the judgment of God.

Many times Christian businessmen and women and even churches commit the same sin that took place at the tower of Babel. Instead of looking outward and seeking to preach the gospel to every nation, they get caught up in building their own retirement program, income, reputation, and activities.

Many get caught up in the worldly way of thinking that it is important to build bigger and better homes. By constantly borrowing money for building, churches often lessen their missionary giving for the next twenty years. Homeowners take on tremendous mortgages that strap them financially, and they cannot fulfill the great commission in the way God wants. They build their tower and city but fail to replenish the earth.

The result at the tower of Babel was confusion and division. In the same sense, we often lose our focus that we are here on earth to accomplish eternal purposes and reach the lost with the power and love of God. Instead we see churches that have grown inward often have tensions, factions, cliques, and eventually splits. If we are not focusing on fighting the kingdom of darkness, we will end up fighting ourselves.

Are you out to build a reputation for yourself, your business, or your church? Do you want a large successful business, or church building so that people will collect at your church, or do you have a vision to touch others? If God has given you a business, the purpose is so that you will have a greater opportunity to touch others with the power of the gospel. Not only does He want your family to be blessed, but He desires to see you lift up your eyes to the harvest field.

What is your Tower of Babel? Is it your new car? Is it your home, business, standing in the community? Have you become ingrown so that only you and your little group, church, or community matter? God judged those at the tower of Babel because the refused to spread throughout the earth. God still wants us to be fruitful and reach the entire earth with the gospel of His kingdom. If we learn to give to others, to start new churches, to do missionary work, and to preach the gospel, then we will find that God's blessing will be upon us and that He will bring in more than we ever send out.

Leaving Prosperity

Genesis 12:1-9

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing," Genesis 12:2, NIV.

With Abraham there opens a new chapter in the history of the human race. We find him living in Ur of the Chaldeans, a land of idolatry, yet history tells us that it was also a land of plenty and prosperity. Although this city is now just a few mounds of ruins rising out of the flat marshy ground on the western bank of the Euphrates, not far above the point where it joins its waters to those of the Tigris and goes on to the Persian Gulf, in the time of Abraham , Ur was the capital city which gave its name to one of the most populous and fertile regions of the earth.

The high civilization that this land enjoyed in the time of Abraham has been disclosed in the abundant and Babylonian remains which have been recently brought to light through recent excavations. They had a tremendous social order that was in some respect admirable, but also shocking immorality that was somewhat familiar to heathen religions. Yet, Abraham was willing to leave the land that had benefited him so much and had brought much increase to him and his family. All he had was a promise from God that God would bless him, make him a great nation and cause him to become a blessing to others.

The choice that loomed before Abram who was experiencing a measure of prosperity in Ur is a choice that has often been repeated down through the ages. It is a choice towards financial gain that comes from being entrenched in the world system and way of doing things or intimacy with God and all that God promises to those who are willing to take up their cross and follow him daily.

We have been duped by the world system into thinking that our goal in life is a solid IRA instead of the solid Rock. We spend our time pursuing what only intimacy with Jesus Christ can give, yet we often go about it in a way that is the very opposite of what Abram chose so long ago. It is only intimacy with God that will truly bring to pass all that is good and wonderful. It is only as we follow God with all our heart that God will truly be able to bless us in order to make us a blessing. Many want the blessing of God, but the problem is that they only want the blessing of God to enjoy for themselves. James 4:3 speaks of that kind of attitude that was in the church even at the very beginning. "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Why do you want God's blessing? Is it so you can be a delight to the Lord and be a blessing to others, or do you want it for your own pleasure? That is what separates the Abram's from those who love the prosperity of Ur. Abraham received tremendous blessing, riches, and honor, but it was never hoarded, never for his own pleasure and never held tightly with an iron fist. What he was looking for was a city, whose builder and maker was God. What he desired and went after in faith for all those years was intimacy with His Master. Are you willing to turn your head from the vision of worldly wealth to a vision and purpose of intimacy, and blessing that truly comes from seeking first the kingdom of God? May we receive the grace Abram received that we, like him, and be a blessing to many.

The Financial Crisis

Genesis 12:10-20

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing," Genesis 12:2, NIV.

After a great start in the walk of faith, Abram hits a crisis. In fact, his crisis was an economic crisis. A famine was in the land and Abram begins to make a few decisions. First, he decides to head to Egypt. It is interesting that in the Bible, Egypt often speaks of the world and the world's system. Here we have the man of faith going to a world system very similar to the one that he came from. He knew that this world system of Egypt may not have been the best idea, and in his flesh decided to conjure up a story about Sarai being his sister.

Thus, when the pressure of the financial crisis came to Abram who was just learning how to walk, Abram caved in. He left his walk of faith, went down to Egypt, and would have to bear the consequences of his decision. It was in Egypt that he picked up new slaves, one being Hagar, who would give birth to Ishmael. Abraham was all alone. There was Lot, but he was carnal and not a real spiritual counterpart. He did not counsel with his wife, but merely told here what she was to do. Thus Abraham walked alone, away from the land of faith in the time of crisis in his life.

We all have times of crisis. There are all kinds of crisis that we go through. Abraham went through a financial crisis that caused him to take his eyes off the the Supplier and look towards natural solutions for his financial crisis. This is a temptation that many of us fall into when we are in financial crisis. When we are feeling pressure in our finances it is easy to move geographically, take another job, try something else instead of waiting before the Lord and hearing His voice. In fact, all of us would have to admit that it is much harder to discern the will of God when we are in a crisis.

We have a tremendous advantage over over Abraham, yet many of us refuse to take advantage of this advantage. What is this advantage? It is the body of Christ. Can you imagine Abraham talking a spiritual advisor, "I'm thinking about lying about Sarai being my wife.What do you think is the mind of God on going to Egypt and lying about my wife?" Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Yet, when we go to another Christian and begin to voice what we are about to do in the middle of a crisis, often our actions become very clear to us. Often, another's simple encouragement is all we need to begin to show us the follow of our fleshly choices and to steer us back to the path of faith that we were on.

Crisis come and go. Of course, in the middle of a crisis we feel like this could last forever. The best thing to do when a crisis comes our way is to not deviate from the last thing God has showed us. It is very hard to hear from the Lord when our emotions are flaring and it is hard to quiet our spirit before the Lord. Look back and remember what the Lord last spoke to you before the crisis erupted. As you walk in faith and obey what the Lord last told you to do you will come out on the other side. Don't head to Egypt when the crisis comes.

Grasping or Releasing

Genesis 13:1-18

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38, NIV).

In his problem with Lot, Abraham shows his great faith by holding the land loosely and by offering the best land to Lot. God had promised Abraham the land, and he could have clutched to it with all his strength. But he realized that what God had promised to him was not contingent on his getting, but on God's giving. Clutching and holding on is a natural reaction. It is the direct opposite, however, of what God tells us is the Divine principle for releasing provision. Luke 6:38 tells us that if we want plenty to be given to us we must first give, not hang on tightly. Giving requires faith that God will be the one who sees and blesses.

Real faith brings with it a peace and rest that comes from knowing that what God has promised He will do. Some these days who claim to be great in faith are seemingly striving in their own strength to make sure God does His part, when actually they should be concentrating on meeting His requirements in character and lifestyle. We have a generation of workaholics who feel that they must neglect other areas of their life in order to be successful in business. While hard work is Biblical and important for our character development, promises are inherited by faith when we have fulfilled the conditions. Faith and patience are often linked together in God's Word for a very important reason--it often takes the waiting and testing period to mature the character of the Lord more fully in our lives.

Think over what God has promised you in your life, church, and family. You need not to strive but know that God's promises "in him [Christ] are yea, and in Him Amen," (2 Cor. 1:20). During the trial or waiting period, invite the character of God to be developed in your life as it was in Abraham's.

Victory Over Discouragement

Gen. 15:1-16:6

"...and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way."

Numbers 21:4b.

One of the greatest tools of the enemy is discouragement. In Genesis 15, Abraham had a vision of the Lord and entered into a covenant with Him. Sometime later he had a visitation by something else--a spirit of discouragement. Things weren't happening as Abram and Sarai thought they should and their souls were discouraged because of the barren path God was leading them on. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick..." (Pro. 13:12a), and like Abram, we are often attacked after a mighty spiritual victory or special meeting with God. Let us not make the same mistake Abram did. In a time of discouragement, he implemented his own way to fulfill what God had spoken. The result was Ishmael, the father of the Arab nations, who have been a thorn in Israel's side from the beginning.

Never make a move or decision when discouraged. The spirit of discouragement is from Satan, and if we make a decision while discouraged, it will be the wrong one. When discouraged, we must recall the last direction we received from God and continue on that path, eventually we will come out from under the cloud. This is where we put to practice walking by faith. It is easy to walk on the path that we know God wants us to when things are going well, everyone thinks well of us, and we enjoy the path. It doesn't take faith to walk until we are hit on every side with doubt, discouragement, and we wonder what the best thing is to do.

There was a couple on the mission field that met with some circumstances that left them confused as to what they should do next. While laying on their cot, they saw a line of ants come to a path of spilled kerosene. The kerosene fouled up the ants' sensing devices, and the result was pandemonium. A few ants continued on, however, and went through the kerosene and picked up the scent again.

When you have a "kerosene of discouragement," don't change the direction of your life or make crucial decisions. Just continue on the path you are on and eventually you will pick up the "scent" again. Go back to the last direction you had from the Lord and continue in obedience trusting the Lord to continue to lead you as you walk in obedience. The Lord wants us to be called, chosen, and faithful (Rev. 17:14) especially in times of discouragement.

Get Ready To Fight!

Gen. 14:13-20

".Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. "

(1 Timothy 6:12, NIV).

Abraham, the father of faith is brought a new problem. His nephew, Lot, has been captured and is in the hands of the enemy. Lot and his family were set to be enslaved for the rest of their lives. This would have happened if the man of faith had not risen to the challenge to go and fight the enemy for his family and loved ones that were captured by the enemy. Abram had been living peacefully when he heard about the attack on Lot's family, all their possessions as well as Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram could have decided that since the enemy was not attacking them, he would continue to live in peace, for Lot, Sodom and Gomorrah certainly deserved to take full penalty for their rejection of God's best.

There was no hesitation in Abram's response. He immediately arose with 318 trained warriors born in his household and pursued the enemy, attacked them and recovered all the goods and brought back Lot, his possessions and the others. Abram went to FIGHT. He was ready to fight and realized that he would have to fight, thus he was prepared with 318 trained warriors that had been born in his house. These would be the most loyal of all fighters for he had a lifelong relationship with them.

There are many Christians that get lulled into sleep and a false peace, not fully taking into consideration that we are called into a WAR and are commanded to "FIGHT the good fight of faith." (1 Tim. 6:12) Paul told young Timothy to FIGHT twice in his first letter to him. Timothy, apparently was the shy, timid type who needed to be told in Second Timothy that God did not give us a spirit of timidity (2 Tim. 1:7).

Everything that is worth having needs to be FOUGHT for. This is true in spiritual things as well as in business dealings. Not that we fight others, but there are spiritual forces of darkness that want to keep others as well as ourselves in slavery to sin, poverty, sickness, depression, discouragement, confusion, and all other kinds of bondage. It is a spiritual principle that if you choose to allow the enemy to stay in the land he will eventually overcome you. This happened with the Children of Israel who failed to completely drive out the inhabitants of the Promised Land. Those who were allowed to remain became thorns in their sides and led them astray time and time again into idolatry.

I have been involved in the development and marketing of various new products and businesses. One thing I have always seen is that for everything new their is a FIGHT that needs to take place. It is won through prayer, perseverance, and continuing in obedience to the Lord in the path that you are on.

You cannot afford NOT to FIGHT. Everything is at stake. It takes prayer and perseverance to stand and claim the ground that Jesus Christ has purchased for you. It takes a FIGHT of faith to become all that God has called you to become. When the pressure is on to quit, you need to stand and believe God and FIGHT the good fight of faith. Don't give up. Don't be a spiritual wimp and lay down, loving personal peace more than advancing in the Kingdom of God.You have a command from God: FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT the good fight of faith.

Why Are You Running!

Gen. 16

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is. . . ."

Hebrews 10:25

As Abram and Sarai grew older, the hopes of Sarai becoming a mother grew less and less. Sarai finally suggested to Abraham that her slave girl, Hagar, become his wife. The child that came from that union was to be raised by Sarai as her own. Here Abram made a tragic mistake. Instead of asking God about the matter, impatience influenced his decision. Impatience in awaiting the fulfillment of God's promises is a sign of unbelief. As a result, Abram and Sarai moved in the wrong direction: a direction that ended up bringing them much misery.

When Hagar conceived, she began to look upon Sarai with contempt. She considered herself superior to Sarai and did not want her child to be considered Sarai's. As Sarai complained to Abram, Abram gave Hagar to Sarai to do to her as she pleased. But Hagar would not put up with the abuse and ran from Sarai. She fled towards Egypt where she had come from.

But God met with Hagar in the wilderness. Hagar had had no respect for the covenant God had made with Abram. She was not concerned that the child in her was Abram's seed. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and told her that she must return and submit to her mistress.

How could the Lord give her such an order after she had received such harsh treatment from Sarai? Because it is better to be part of the family of faith and to suffer injustice than to not be a part of the Lord's covenant at all. Hagar would have to bury her pride and pay the price that was required. To comfort her, God extended a blessing to her child Ishmael.

There is a lesson here for all of us. At times God's people may unjustly treat us due to their lack of maturity. We are then faced with the same decision Hagar had to make. Will we leave the church, or will we count it a privilege to be part of the household of faith no matter what? God told Hagar to return and to suffer any ill treatment her attitudes had brought upon her in order that she might remain with the covenant family.

God is going to fulfill all His promises through Jesus Christ and through His church. Let us not desert the local church, but let's be where God wants us to be that we might be partakers of His promises. We will find that any ill treatment we may suffer will be surpassed by the benefits that we will enjoy.

There are times when people will treat you harshly at your work, and yet that job is God's provision for you. Will you run from one job to another, failing to fully realize the blessing that God has for you. Just as some run from church to church and never fully realize their potential, others run from job to job, not realizing that the fullest blessing God has for them may be linked to someone whom God has commanded a blessing. Those under him may not act properly and may even hate you, but your blessing is linked to the one that God has called to be a blessing.

Power of Prayer

Gen. 19:1-29

" . . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

James 5:16

After Abraham's time of intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah, his nephew Lot had two visitors. Two angels came to warn Lot and his family that they must leave the city. In the morning, the angels urged Lot to hurry, for the Lord was about to destroy the city. When Lot hesitated, the angels grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and led them to safety. Once they were out of the city, they were told not to look back but to flee to the mountains.

Here again, Lot's carnality surfaced. He argued with the messenger of the Lord who had just rescued him from judgment. Lot asked to go to a small city named Zoar. The angel granted his request and then said something very interesting: "Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither." The angel said that he could not judge Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot was safe.

Why could the angel not touch those cities until Lot had been rescued? We find the answer in 19:29. When God destroyed the cities, He remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. Abraham had prayed in chapter 18 for those cities, for his nephew Lot was there. Although the Lord would not spare the cities, He did spare Lot.

Here we see the tremendous power of the prayer of a righteous man. The angel could not destroy the cities until Lot was safe because Abraham was bombarding heaven for Lot's deliverance.

Do you have relatives and friends that need to be delivered out of a wicked situation. Begin to pray! God will hear and show mercy on those you are praying for. Let's be a follower of Abraham, the father of faith, and begin to pray for our loved ones in need.

How Are You Leading?

Gen. 19

"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

Luke 17:28-30.

According to Luke 17, the days of Lot are a picture of the time of the Lord's return. Second Peter 2:7,8 tells us that Lot was a just and righteous man whose soul was grieved by the evil around him. He continued, however, to live in Sodom, raising his family in the influence of its wickedness. Lot had a love for righteousness, but a love for the world as well. When we let our love for the world grow, it grows until we, like Lot, eventually lose all we have.

"If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire," (1 Cor. 3:15). The context of this passage is judgment of a Christian's work. Just as Lot lost everything, even so all our works that are birthed from our desire and ambition will be destroyed, but those birthed and continued in God's way will have eternal reward. Let us beware that we don't slip into worldly or earthly desires as Lot. Let us note his progression: he pitched his tent toward Sodom (13:12); he dwelt in Sodom (14:12); and he sat in the gate of Sodom, which was a place of prominence (19:1).

There are many who spend their lives as Christians struggling to climb up the social, financial, or corporate ladder. Though they believe in Jesus, they have adopted the mind set of the world around them forgetting that James 4:4-6 tells us that friendship with the world is hatred towards God. The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God (1 Cor. 3:16), yet many Christians live trusting in their own ability and strength instead of living by faith and trusting God.

The result of Lot's desire for Sodom was the tragedy in his family. His daughters who grew up in Sodom were kept virgins in that immoral city, but the effect of their father's compromising spirit later resulted in their depraved reasoning and immoral relationship with their father. The antithesis of this is seen in God's reason for showing Abraham what He was going to do: "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment," (Gen. 18:19).

Let us remember that the choices we make today affect what choices our children will make in the future. They affect the choices those around us at work will make. These last days are likened to the days of Lot. Will you lead those around you like Lot, or will you lead your coworkers and family into God's ways and safety in time of judgment?

Controlling or Releasing?

Gen. 21:9-13; 22:1-14

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."

Philippians 3:8.

While Lot clutched tightly to his goods and lost them, God was training Abraham to hold things loosely, even that which was the very dearest to him. This is the difference between control and sacrifice, between greed and faith. God called Abraham to offer to Him his land, his family, his nephew Lot, his son of his concubine Hagar, and finally his son Isaac, whom he loved (22:2). Lot held with a clenched fist the things of the world which are as sand. The tighter a person clenches sand the more it squirts out of his hand.

Although God will not require us to offer up our sons on a stone altar, He does ask us many times to give things to Him, until eventually all we have is His and His alone.

At salvation God asks for our heart and comes and indwells us by the Holy Spirit. But, then God requires us, like in Abraham's walk of faith, to turn over every area of our lives to His control--finances, family, friends, job, eating habits, time, etc.

Control is a big area of our lives. Who is in control? Because of past hurts and disappointments, many people fall into the trap of trying to control others. This happens to pastors, business managers, husbands, wives, and all kinds of human relationship. Yet, control never releases the power of God, but always brings hurt and harm. Christian leadership, whether at home, workplace, or the church is not an exercise in control, but an outworking of servant leadership. That is the opposite of control. It is laying down your life, your rights to serve others and the Lord. It is sacrifice.

As Abraham gradually gave more and more to the Lord, God gave Abraham more and more precious promises. As Hudson Taylor said, "God gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him." Let us learn to trust God in every area of our lives, so that we can be a recipient of all the goodness that God wants to bestow upon us. Control is the opposite of faith. It takes no faith to try to manipulate people and situations. In fact, control is actually motivated by fear. Fear can never release the power of God to change people and situations, only faith can bring those kind of results. Let's trust God to fix things, not our own schemes and control. As we yield, even as Abraham did, we too, can release God's power in every situation.

The End of the Trial

Gen. 22:1-14

"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."

Psalm 40:8

In Genesis 22, we find one of the most outstanding instances of obedience recorded in God's Word. Verse 1 says that God came to test Abraham, and Abraham passed the test with flying colors. God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the long awaited promise of God and also the son whom Abraham loved. He was to offer Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord.

Abraham did not hesitate. Early in the morning he arose and set out on the journey. There was no struggle as to whether he would obey God or not. That question had been settled long ago. There was now simple faith and obedience to what the Lord desired. He trusted in God's love and wisdom so much that he obeyed without arguing or reasoning with the Lord.

Many times the Lord comes and tests His children. If we have not settled the issue of who is boss in our lives, then we will have a battle as to whether we will obey Him or not. We must decide before the time of testing. Is Jesus Lord of our life, or not? Maybe we have not really come to a full surrender to God. Perhaps all that we are and all that we have is not yet laid upon the altar of sacrificial love and devotion.

After Abraham's obedience was proven, God spoke and provided a ram to be used as the sacrifice instead of Isaac. During this moving experience, one of the covenant names of the Lord was revealed: Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord our provider. The sequence is significant. When we surrender our all to the Lord, we will be able to receive from Him. If Abraham would not have been willing to give his son to the Lord, then he would never have seen God as Jehovah-Jireh.

We can see that it was wise for Abraham to obey and to surrender to God, for we can see the end of his trial. You may not be able to see the end of your trial, but you can know assuredly that if you will surrender all and completely obey the Lord, you will also come to know God in a way you have never known Him before.

Faith is requires us to act as if we can already see God's victorious victory at the end of the trial. What trial are you presently in? Are you acting and confessing God's victory? Have you surrendered your control? Or are you still struggling with total surrender. If you want to know Him more and see his provision, begin to trust him and obey him now.

A Constant Change

Gen. 26:1-25

And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua....and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel."

Judges 2:7a,10b.

It has been said that every generation needs a revival. Abraham had mighty meetings with the Lord, had trained and raised Isaac to walk with the Lord and to meditate on Him, yet Isaac needed to seek for a fresh experience in his walk with the Lord. In Genesis 26, God appeared to Isaac twice--once when in need of making a major decision and another after he had struggles with the Philistines. God will at times bring us to a point of desperate need so that we have more sensitivity to Him.

This is seen in the business world as well. One idea or strategy may be given by the Lord for a business, but it is not the end of the matter. Horse and buggy manufacturers needed to change or go out of business. Typewriter manufactures needed to change with the coming of computers. There is a constant need to keep a listening ear to what the Lord would say and have the flexibility to change as he directs. A business needs to keep ahead of the competition and not stay stuck in a rut and never change their product, marketing plan, or service.

Churches lose their life and become dead when those who have had an experience with the Lord cease to press on and cease to have fresh meetings with God on a regular daily basis. There are Christians that are constantly reminiscing on the good old daysÉhow thirty years ago they met with God, how the meetings were filled with life, and how God used them mightily. But God desires for us to be constantly having a present experience with Him and to be always growing in our love and relationship with the Him. A church falls into a trap when they are constantly trying to recreate last week's service, or what God was doing ten, twenty, or thirty years ago.

Just as every generation needs a fresh revival and moving of the Spirit in the church corporately, likewise, we as individuals need to continually be quickened by the Lord through spending time worshiping Him and waiting in His manifest presence. As we allow him to change us, we will see it affects every area of our life, business, work place, and church.

Out of Control

Gen. 32:1-28

"But by the grace of God I am what I am...."

1 Corinthians 15:10a.

Jacob was a man who could scheme to do almost anything he desired. But now on his return to Canaan, he faced something out of his control--the prospect of an angry brother. At this crisis point in his life, Jacob came to a realization that God was his only hope. He acknowledged that he was not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth God had shown him (32:10), and he cast his fate into the hands of a merciful and loving God.

Here, God emptied Jacob of all he had. Jacob sent all his flocks, servants, and family before him over the ford Jabbok (Gen. 32). Jabbok means "emptying." Not only was Jacob free from his natural things, but also God was showing Jacob his great need to hope only in Him and to recognize the strength of the flesh was useless.

Jacob had lived a life of deceiving and scheming. Now, he realized the weakness and futility of his own plans. He was facing a situation that he could not control and was desperate for God. Many of us go for years being able to "fix" things our self without relying on God's power. Sure we pray, but if God doesn't come through we have plan B, plan C, etc., which we often implement because we are not really depending on the Lord, we just pretend we are. When He doesn't perform according to our timing and our criteria, we step in and try to orchestrate our "solution".

Jacob wrestled all night with God, not willing to let Him go until God blessed him. He knew that in order for him to make it to where God was leading him, he needed God to touch his life in a fresh way. God did touch him and left him with a new name (speaking of a change in character) and a limp to remind him forever that he had to lean on God. Before new power of God is released in our lives, there is by necessity an emptying of our old man so that the new life of Christ has room to increase. "He must increase, but I must decrease," (Jn. 3:30).

There is a distinct difference in the walk of someone who has allowed the Lord to cause them to truly depend on Him. Jacob had a limp. Have you come to a point of desperate daily dependence on Jesus Christ, or is He merely another option in situations you face? If we are really honest, we often make Jesus an accessory instead of our only Solution. Do you want real power? It comes from real dependence and faith. Would you be willing to pray the following prayer? "Lord, I give you permission to apply pressure on my life that I may be emptied of self, rely on you, and be filled with your power and love."

A New Beginning

Gen. 32

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

Jacob was not looking forward to his homecoming confrontation with Esau. The last that he knew Esau had been bent on killing him. But, God had told him to return to the land of his father, so here he was. Jacob knew that he needed a fresh touch from the Lord. His past sins loomed like a mountain ahead of him. He needed God to break forth in his life like never before.

Coming to the Jordan River, Jacob did some things that caused the release that he needed. A new day arose in Jacob's walk with God (Gen. 32:31). There are many times in our lives and businesses that we need new releases, a new fresh start, and new touch or direction from the Lord. The principles work for every area of our lives. Many times we try to keep spiritual principles in church, rather than realize that God's Word and power works in the business realm, in relationships, and in other areas just as it does in our spiritual walk. Let's note what gave him a new release that we may come into a new day ourselves:

1. HE HUMBLED HIMSELF. Jacob humbled himself before his brother, Esau, calling him lord. He said he was Esau's servant and sent presents ahead. In 32:10, we see that he also had humbled himself before God and that he had realized that he was not worthy of the blessings God had given him.

2. HE PRAYED. In his prayer in 32:9-12, Jacob reminded God of His promises, confessed his own lack, and prayed for his deliverance.

3. HE WRESTLED WITH THE LORD. Jacob knew that he would never be anything on his own. He wrestled with the Lord all night and sought the Lord's blessing on his life. We need to seek the Lord as well that we might obtain what we need from Him. Jacob was desperate for the Lord. Too often we aren't desperate for the Lord, we stop and ask, but don't wrestle with the Lord.

4. HE RECEIVED A NEW WALK AND A NEW NAME. Jacob's name means "deceiver." As he confessed his name and his sin, God cleansed him from it (see 1 Jn. 1:9). He received a new name which signified that he had turned from deceit to lean on the Lord. This was a change of character by the grace of God he received as a result of humbling himself, praying, and seeking the Lord.

We can see how these four points relate to Second Chronicles 7:14 where we are called to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek God's face, and to turn from our wicked ways. The promise given there is a new release from the Lord comparable to Jacob's release here in Genesis 32.

Do you need God to release you into a new day? Do you need a new fresh walk with Jesus? Begin to obey and draw near to the Lord as Jacob did and as Second Chronicles 7:14 directs. God's Word is true. He will hear from heaven, forgive your sin, and heal your land so you can have a new beginning as well.

Making It Personal

Gen. 33

"And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel."

Genesis 33:20

In Genesis 33:20, Jacob built an altar. Just prior to this, he had wrestled with the Lord and had obtained a blessing. Something about meeting with the Lord had changed him. Previously, Jacob had seen the Lord in a dream (28:12), but he had never had a face to face encounter. But at Peniel, Jacob saw God face to face (32:30). After that encounter, God preserved Jacob in the confrontation with Esau that he had feared, and He granted him peace in the land. He moved to Shalem, a city whose name means "at peace."

At Shalem, Jacob, who was now named Israel, built an altar. The name of the altar was El-elohe-Israel, which means, "God, the God of Israel." Before this, Jacob had always referred to the Lord as the God of Abraham and Isaac (32:9; 31:53). But something personal had taken place in his relationship with the Lord. It was no longer just what his father and grandfather had taught him. It was no longer just something others had told him about that he chose to believe. He built an altar and declared to all that the Lord was his God. God had been patient and faithful with Jacob, and finally Jacob made Jehovah his God as he had vowed to do in Genesis 28:20, 21.

It is wonderful to have parents, Sunday School teachers, or pastors teach us about the Lord. Yet, it is not enough to just have others give us facts and lessons on the Lord. We need to meet with the Lord in our daily troubles and crisis situations that we go through. There comes a time in our business and jobs that we are tested and find out that we need more of God than we have ever had before. Just as Jacob was tested, found that he was lacking, and laid hold of God like never before, so at every test and trial we are faced, we have an imperative to meet with the Lord in a new fresh way.

We ought to be constantly meeting with the Lord afresh. Do you have a fresh testimony of God's grace and power in your life? Or are you trying on live on grace from times gone by? We need to be able to declare to the world that the Lord God is our God and that He has done mighty things for us, not just for our father or grandfather, and not just yesterday or yesteryear.

"Lord, let us meet with you and see your power in our present situations that we can say without a doubt that you are our God, TODAY, and that we are wholly yours."

Broken Promises

Gen. 35:1-15

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

John 4:24.

In Genesis 28:18-22, Jacob vowed that when he came again to his father's house in peace, he would go to Bethel (house of God) to give the tenth to God. However, after coming in peace to Esau, he settled in Shechem and erected an altar there (33:20). Yet, his promise was to go to Bethel to worship and to give his tenth. Jacob was worshipping God, but not where God wanted him to worship, and he was not giving his tithe.

Jacob was like many who in times of distress make promises to the Lord. Many have made promises of honoring God with their increase while their job or business was in danger of failing, yet when things are going well and God has answered their prayer and they are once again at peace, they forget their promises to the Lord.

While living at Shechem, things went from good to bad for Jacob. His daughter Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land or (as Josephus, the historian, tells us), she went to take part in a feast of the Shechemites. This was certainly some kind of heathen worship festival and led to the ruin of Dinah and the cruelty of Simeon and Levi. Jacob remembered this cruelty even to his death (Gen. 49:5,6).

After the disaster at Shechem, Jacob made his household put away all idols (35:2), and he came to worship and met God at Bethel. We can glean some principles of worship from this:

1. We must worship God how He wants to be worshipped, not how we want to worship Him.

2. True worship is pure. We must come with clean hands and a pure heart (Ps. 24:3,4).

3. We must worship with giving of the substance God has given us.

4. We must worship God in the particular place He calls us to.

Notice that after Jacob worshipped God in the way God desired, he received a blessing from God (35:9). Are you interested in seeing the blessing of the Lord? God is interested in pouring out His abundant goodness upon us. Let us worship in spirit and in truth.

Extreme Pressure

Gen. 39:1-23

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

1 Peter 5:10.

God had a plan for Joseph's life far beyond what Joseph could anticipate. God had called him to the throne, and at age seventeen, God began to show him in dreams that he was to rule. Young Joseph must have been elated at the promise, yet it is doubtful if he gave much thought to the qualifications of rulership, or the cost of obtaining to such a position.

While Joseph is being put through the school of affliction, we see Judah disqualifying himself for the double blessing of God through immorality. Reuben, the eldest, also had forfeited the birthright (double portion) by immorality (Gen. 49:3,4). Simeon and Levi were disqualified through deceit, anger, and cruelty. Joseph, the firstborn of Rachel, is being tried and tested to see if he is willing to be molded into a king. Each of the brothers was put in positions that they had choices to make that would affect their future inheritance.

God calls us all to be kings and priests with Him and to reign on the earth. The sad fact is that many will not go through the preparation needed to be an overcomer. David spent years being hunted as an animal, and he was tried and tested to see if he would kill Saul. It was only after his years of affliction, he emerged as a man with a tried and yet a heart after God's own heart.

We learn from Psalm 105:17-19 that during Joseph's testing "they afflicted with fetters his feet, the iron entered his soul," (literal translation). An iron-like steadfastness in the ways of God was worked into his soul. Second Timothy 2:12a states "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him...." The qualifying factor for rulership is pressure in our lives.

Are you under extreme pressure? How are you holding up under your training for reigning? Are you following th elead of Reuben, Simeon and Levi, or are you responding like David and Joseph. Each day tests come our way. Our future and our spiritual inheritance, as well as our natural is affected by our response under pressure. Learn to respond to God, and He will begin to work a quality of His life in you that will enable you to rule with Him.

The Power of Blessing

Gen. 39:1-23

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."

Romans 12:14, NIV

Joseph had been sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood, unjustly put into prison by Potiphar, and forgotten by the butler for two years. Finally, the day came when God delivered him out of prison, and he was made a ruler over Egypt. Now he had power, prestige, and authority. He could have begun a campaign to eliminate all those who had treated him wrongly. Yet, he did not, for he knew God had chosen his path for him.

Joseph named his first son Manasseh, for God had made him forget all his trouble and all his father's household. God had granted him divine forgetfulness to forget the pain and sorrow that he had gone through. Ephraim was Joseph's second son, whose name means "fruitful." God had made Joseph fruitful in the land of his suffering.

How was Joseph able to be so abundantly fruitful in a land that was designed to crush him and destroy him? One key was that Joseph was able to bless others where ever he went. He was first sold as a slave to Potiphar. Instead of harboring bitterness and despising his master, Joseph made it his ambition to bless his master. In prision Joseph sought to bless others, not wallow in despair or self pity.

Many Christians have not learned the power of blessing their enemies. We go the path of the unbelievers who get bitter, harbor unforgiveness, and become unproductive and ineffective for the kingdom. We get so wrapped up in our own problems that we stagnate in our walk with God and our fruitfulness as Christians. Joseph learned to bless in the toughest of situations and as a result, he released the power of God into his situation and inherited the blessing the God had for him all along. Many of us are in danger of never inheriting the blessing God has for us, not because of our failures, but because we fail to bless our enemies and never learn to live to be a blessing.

Who is attacking you right now? BLESS THEM. Yes, I mean right now! Ask God to bless them financially, spiritually, emotionally, in their work, in their business. Do you have a unscrupulous competitor who aggravates you? Ask God to bless them. Do you have a co-worker that snubs you, ridicules you or belittles you? Ask the Lord the heap blessing upon them. Matthew 5:44 instructs us to love our enemies and to pray for those who attack or persecute us. Romans 12:14 specifically commands us to bless those who attack or persecute us. Are you blessing or cursing? Are your releasing the power of God or are you releasing a curse?

Is there anyone that at times comes to your mind and causes you to feel bitter? Ask God to forgive you for your unforgiveness, and begin to bless them and release the power of God in your situation. God can give you divine forgetfulness to cause you to forget the pain and hurt that you have felt. As you forgive and forget, God will cause His fruit to grow and develop in your life.