The Example of Moses..Craig Denison Ministries

 The Example of Moses

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Living an unveiled lifestyle is the way in which we experience the fullness of what’s available to us in our restored relationship with God. It’s a powerful lifestyle of faith, direct encounters with our heavenly Father, and life transformation. It’s when we live our lives in light of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus that we begin to experience all his death was purposed to bring us. God longs for his children to walk in intimacy with him directly connected to his wellspring of love for us. May you experience a more tangible, loving, and powerful connection with your heavenly Father this week.

Scripture:“Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” >Exodus 34:29

Devotional:

We find in the character of Moses a man transformed by a face-to-face, unveiled encounter with the living God. Exodus 34:29-35 says:

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them.Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that theLordhad spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.Whenever Moses went in before theLord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Moses serves as an important example for you and me. Moses was a man chosen to go before God on behalf of his people and relay the will and heart of God back to them. And by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are now chosen and transformed to live out the same calling. In 1 Peter 2:9 Peter declares that we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that [we] may proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light.” We are to operate in the same capacity that Moses did. We are to be children of God that bear the image of our heavenly Father and declare his grace, love, power, and goodness to a world in desperate need of relationship with him. What happened to Moses in Exodus 34 holds true for you and me today: when we meet with God we take on the image of his glory. The difference is that the glory of God now dwells internally rather than externally by the powerful sacrifice of Jesus. As Moses’ face shone with the glory of God, our new nature is now meant to shine, declaring the immeasurable grace and power of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” The glory of God now dwells within us. And we are to contain his glory as water in jars of clay, that we would pour out his love and grace for all to see. Just as the people of Israel saw the face of Moses and knew he had met with God, we are to meet with our heavenly Father face-to-face and be transformed by his presence for all to see. Jesus’ death has paved the way for you to meet with God face to face–unveiled. Take time in prayer to see the face of God and allow him to transform you into the likeness of Jesus.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on Exodus 34:29. Allow Scripture to stir up your desire to meet with your heavenly Father face-to-face.

“Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” >Exodus 34:29

2. Renew your mind to your new calling in Jesus. Allow Scripture to fill you with faith to encounter God unveiled.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” >1 Peter 2:9

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” >2 Corinthians 5:17

3. Spend time meeting with your heavenly Father face-to-face. Ask him to reveal his nearness to you. Rest in his presence and allow it to lay a new foundation for you. Ask him to make you more like him. Ask him to show you how to be a reflection of his glory to the world around you today.

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” >2 Corinthians 4:6-7

May Jesus’ declaration about you in Matthew 5:14-16 serve as a constant reminder of your new calling here as a child of the living God:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Extended Reading: 1 Peter 2

He Lives in You..by Adrian Rogers

 BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’” – Galatians 4:6

He Lives in You
By Adrian Rogers

“Heavenly Father, fill our hearts with your spirit. Let us face the day with the knowledge that you are with us always. Amen.”

When I first got saved, I learned about Jesus in the Bible, and that was wonderful to me. And then as I began to live the Christian life, I would see what Jesus would do in the lives of other people, and I saw Jesus in history and Jesus in action, and that was wonderful. And then as I studied more, I began to learn about Jesus in heaven, ruling and reigning from His throne, and that was wonderful.

But I’ve learned a great truth, and that is that Jesus is in the Bible, and Jesus is in history, and Jesus is in heaven, but—here’s the great truth—Christ lives in me. He has possessed me. I am His purchased possession, and therefore, I am under new management.

If you have made Jesus your Lord and Savior, He lives within you. You can rejoice today with the apostle Paul who said, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

A Prayer for Fathers on Father's Day..By Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for Fathers on Father's Day

By Emma Danzey

Deuteronomy. 6:6-9 says, "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

It’s time for Father’s Day again. This is a time when we celebrate the men in our lives who have parented us, mentored us, and loved us. Whether you have had a positive or negative experience with a biological father, we can all thank God for the men who have fathered like Him and loved others as their own. Ultimately though, only God the Father Himself is the perfect dad.

Statistics in America show that about 25% of every home is absent a father. As Christ-followers, we know that the Lord established the home to be with a father and a mother. However, due to brokenness and sin, this is not always the case. Today, we are going to take time to pray for the fathers who are active in their children’s lives and for the men who step up as father figures.

Let's Pray:

Dear Father,

We thank You for the gift of fathers. Thank you for creating the family unit. We praise You for present dads who are spiritually investing in their kids. We pray for protection from the work of the enemy in their homes. We pray that you would give these men wisdom and insight with every situation that comes their way. We ask that these men know that they are valued and seen. We pray for them to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We pray that they would be men of integrity to model You. We ask that you would give them patience, compassion, and mercy. 

God, we pray for men who are parenting alone. Would you help them to know that You are near? Give them strength to love like You. We pray for men who have abandoned their homes. Please transform their hearts by the power of Your Holy Spirit to repentance. Bring them to a healthy place and help reconciliation occur. We pray over those men who are not biological fathers but have stepped into someone’s life as a father. Would you bless them and help them to feel loved and accepted in this role. Guide them with Your Spirit to make decisions that would honor and point to You. Please be with fathers who have regrets. Help them not to focus too much on the past, but to humbly ask forgiveness, live in the present, and work toward the future. Please comfort the fathers who have lost children. Help them to mourn and grieve in the safety of Your arms. 

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 reminds us that fathers are to actively share Your gospel to their children each day. Your Word is so important in the home. We pray that fathers will hide Your Word in their hearts. We pray that they would share these truths with their kids. We pray that they would regularly model faith and teach the gospel in their homes.

Lord, You say in Psalm 103:13. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.” Please enable fathers to have compassion for their children. Help them to remember how much mercy and kindness You have shown to them. 

Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.” God, You tell us that fatherhood is a heritage and a reward from You. Children are a blessing and a joy to have in life. Help fathers everywhere remember that this role comes with a lot of responsibility, but a lot of blessings too. Amen.

Accidental Shopping Trip..by Lynette Kittle

 Accidental Shopping Trip 

by Lynette Kittle

“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” - Psalm 91:4

Have you ever felt when something unexpected happens like a natural disaster, car accident, or violent act that God let you down? During these events, have you ever felt like maybe He didn’t care what happened to you, or somehow you were being punished for something you had done?

Just Another Lovely Day
It was a beautiful sunny, bright Saturday Spring afternoon when three of my four daughters and I were returning from a fun-filled shopping outing at the local mall. Just minutes from home, we had spent the day finding bargains, eating lunch, and being together. Driving back the fun continued in the car as we discussed sales we found and sang along to our favorite songs on the radio.

Then suddenly our leisurely trip home changed as we spotted cars stopped in multiple lanes and debris strewn across the roadway. Slowing down to miss hitting the vehicles and debris, before we knew what was happening, a truck made a u-turn crossing the median and headed straight towards us with no intentions of stopping. Coming windshield-to-windshield, we could see the frantic look on the driver’s face

Although hitting our bumper head-on, he continued to step on the gas, smashing and ramming into the front of our car, making no effort to stop or swerve away from us, seeming like he was going to keep pushing our car down the street. For us, it seemed to be happening in slow motion like a movie, as we watched in disbelief. Although a frightening situation, none of us screamed or panicked during the accident. Rather there was a calmness and peace surrounding us, tucking us in around the edges and buffering us from the impacts.

Instead of fear and panic, we experienced what John 14:27 describes. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Help from Strangers
Soon nearby witnesses in other cars ran to the truck, opening the driver’s door, turning it off, and pulling out the keys. With this action, the driver jumped out of the truck and took off running down the street. As the driver ran, strangers came over from their cars and off the street to see if we were okay or needed help. Soon the police showed up to assist us.

“We’re okay,” we answered and none of us were injured. Before leaving the scene, we learned we had been hit head-on by a drunk driver, one who had hit several cars in front of us before making a U-turn and hitting us.

God Had Us Covered
Later I discovered how just minutes before the accident, one of my daughters sitting in the back seat had an unusual experience concerning our safety in the car. “All of a sudden, a fear and panic tried to come over me,” she recalled, “but I thought, ‘no,’ I don’t need to be afraid. We prayed for God’s protection before leaving today and everything is okay. We’re safe.”

Gratefully, I believe my daughter’s strong resistance to panic’s call to be afraid, along with her confidence in God’s divine protection over us, helped us to experience and rest in His peace during the accident. Just like Philippians 4:7 explains, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Consider times when the unexpected has happened in your life. Although you may have been surprised and caught off guard, are you able to look back and see how God prepared you ahead of time to go through the experience? Like our family’s prayer before going shopping, what are ways you can prepare you and your family to be ready for the unexpected? Like Philippians 4:9 suggests, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Further Reading:
Isaiah 26:3
Romans 15:33
Isaiah 41:10