Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Genesis 22-Day 22 of 90 Days of Faith
Faith Giving: Overcoming our fear of trusting God with our resources I commit to trust God for 90 days and give 10% of what He gives me.
Faith Sharing: Ask God to give me someone every day to share my faith with.
Faith Building: Read one chapter a day for 90 days starting at Genesis through Exodus. Attend Church every Sunday & attend a bible class every week.
Verse:
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have
done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in
the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/22.html
THOUGHTS: Abraham received abundant blessings because he did not hold back, but obeyed God. First, God gave Abraham’s descendants the ability to conquer their enemies. Second, God promised Abraham children and grandchildren who would in turn bless the whole earth. People’s lives would be changed as a result of knowing of the faith of Abraham and his descendants. Most often we think of blessings as gifts to be enjoyed. But when God blesses us, His blessings are intended to overflow to others.
PRAYER: Father, I thank You that through the Holy Spirit I am guided, not in my own strength or wisdom, but in the knowledge and wisdom of the omniscient God. It is not by might, nor by power, but by Your Spirit that I can stand against the tactics of the enemy. I thank You for being the God –who-provides and I know that I am blessed to be a blessing. Like Abraham, may my first impulse be that of prayer and my second, that of obedience. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Genesis 21-Day 21 of 90 Days of Faith
Faith Giving: Overcoming our fear of trusting God with our resources I commit to trust God for 90 days and give 10% of what He gives me.
Faith Sharing: Ask God to give me someone every day to share my faith with.
Faith Building: Read one chapter a day for 90 days starting at Genesis through Exodus. Attend Church every Sunday & attend a bible class every week.
Verse:
6 Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." 7 And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."
http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/21.html
Thoughts: After repeated promises, a visit by two angels, and the appearance of the Lord Himself, Sarah finally cried out with surprise and joy at the birth of her son. Because of her doubt, worry, and fear, she had forfeited the peace she could have felt in God’s wonderful promise to her. The way to bring peace to a troubled heart is to focus on God’s promises. Trust Him to
do what He says.
PRAYER: Lord, I pray that You would give me a confident heart in Christ. Take me beyond believing in You to truly believing You. Help me rely on the power of Your promises and live like they are true. You say blessed is the one who trusts in You and whose hope and confidence are found in You. Those who hope in You will not be disappointed, because You work all things together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. When self-doubt tells me I can’t overcome my insecurities, I will believe Your promise that all things are possible to whoever believes. I will not throw away my confidence, because You say it will be richly rewarded. I will persevere so that when I have done the will of God, I will receive what You have promised. My confidence is in Christ and I am no longer one who shrinks back and is destroyed, but one who believes and is saved! In Jesus’ name, Amen
Monday, February 20, 2012
Genesis 20-Day 20 of 90 Days of Faith
Faith Giving: Overcoming our fear of trusting God with our resources I commit to trust God for 90 days and give 10% of what He gives me
Faith Sharing: Ask God to give me someone every day to share my faith with.
Faith Building: Read one chapter a day for 90 days starting at Genesis through Exodus. Attend Church every Sunday & attend a bible class every week.
Verse:
2. and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her… 6. Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/20.html
THOUGHTS: (V.2) Abraham had used this same trick before to protect himself (12:11-13). Although Abraham is one of our heroes of faith, he did not learn his lesson well enough the first time. In fact by giving in to the temptation again, he risked turning a sinful act into a sinful pattern of lying whenever he suspected his life was in danger. No matter how much we love God, certain temptations are especially difficult to resist. These are the vulnerable spots in our spiritual armor. As we struggle with these weaknesses, we can be encouraged to know that God is watching out for us just as he did for Abraham.
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(V.6) Abimelech had unknowingly taken a married woman to be his wife and was about to commit adultery. But God somehow prevented him from touching Sarah and held him back from sinning. What mercy on God’s part! How many times has God done the same for us, holding us back from sin in ways we can’t even detect? We have no way of knowing – we just know from this story that he can. God works just as often in ways we can’t see as in ways we can.
PRAYER: Lord, You know the temptations that I am facing today. But your Word promises that I will not be tempted beyond what I can bear. I ask for your strength to stand up under the temptation whenever I encounter it. Your Word also tells me you will provide a way out of the temptation. Please, Lord, give me the wisdom to walk away when I am tempted, and the clarity to see the way out that you will provide. Thank you, God, that you are a faithful deliverer and that I can count on your help in my time of need. Amen.
Mountain View Community Church
26201 Ynez Rd. Suite 104
Temecula, CA 92590
Main: (951) 693-0771
Office Hours: Mon-Thu / 9am - 5pm (PST)
Service Hours: Sun / 8am & 11:30am
G.R.O.W. Classes: Sun / 10am
