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  

Our Gifts for His Kingdom..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Our Gifts for His Kingdom

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Many people hear the word "serve" and feel that they do not have the necessary qualities to make a difference in others' lives. This is true - apart from God. But He has gifted each of us in unique ways with a purpose in mind. His plan for us involves using these talents to serve Him for the good of others.

Satan would like us to believe otherwise. Our Enemy wants us to notice what others are doing and then to feel inferior. For instance, I have heard women say, "I am just a homemaker." They see people preaching and singing in the choir and wish they could accomplish something so great for God. Friends, there could be nothing further from the truth. An enormous responsibility rests with those who train their children in righteousness.

In fact, the Holy Spirit has gifted each believer for specific work in God's kingdom. Scripture explains this idea by a comparison with a human body: each person has gifts and purposes that make the entire system function well. But if the heel wants the eye's role, the whole being will lose balance.

Each part is crucial, even though some are less noticeable than others. Truthfully, those with less apparent talents have an advantage because pride and self-sufficiency may be less of a temptation.

Notice how Peter defined himself: "a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 1:1). He was no longer a man motivated by self-interest. Once He followed Jesus, he saw himself as a servant of God. We, too, are called to serve the King of Kings with whatever abilities we are given.

When Do We Look the Most Like God? By Lynette Kittle

 When Do We Look the Most Like God?

By Lynette Kittle

“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” - Genesis 1:27

Scripture tells us we are made in God’s image, but when do we look the most like Him? We often think our physical likeness resembles Him most, like our hands. Psalm 118:16 says, “The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” As well, Psalm 34:15 refers to His eyes and ears: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.” We relate to being made in His physical image and through the abilities we have that are like God, such as hearing, seeing, and listening. These are capabilities that seem to come naturally to most of us.

Reflecting God
When do we look the most like God? Does being made in His image go deeper than our physical qualities and capabilities? Do we favor Him the most when we love each other? Is compassion a clearer image bearer of Him than our talents and abilities? Do we resemble our Father in Heaven more closely when we forgive one another? Finally, how is the image of God within us most clearly conveyed to the world? The following are three aspects to consider.

God Is Love
1 John 4:8 tells us God is love. So is it when we love others that we are the closest to resembling Him? Many of us have met someone who reminds us of someone we know. Often it’s not because of how they look but usually more about how they speak, move, and think. When we love others, we help to turn others’ thoughts to God by reminding them of Him. Corinthians 13 explains if we can do all kinds of things, but they aren’t accomplished with love, then we’ve fallen short. This includes failing to bear God’s image accurately.

God is Compassionate
Psalm 103:8 describes a compassionate God. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Do we most accurately display the image of God in our lives when we walk in compassion? Jesus modeled compassion on earth, and as Colossians 1:15 tells us, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Many verses in the Bible also note His compassion towards men, women, and children. For example, Mark 8:2 describes how Jesus expressed God’s compassion up close to the multitudes at the feeding of the 4,000: “I have compassion for these people, they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.”  

God Forgives…and Forgets
More Christians are willing to jump on the boat when it comes to being loving and compassionate. But often, when it comes to forgiving, they have reservations, conditions, and an unwillingness to do so. But what if forgiving others causes us to bear His image most deeply? Forgiveness is so much a part of God’s image that believers can’t escape how He is known for forgiving and forgetting. Hebrews 8:12 explains how perfectly and completely God forgives us: 

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 

So is it when we not only forgive but forget, by not holding sins against others, that we bear God’s image most closely? Colossians 3:13 urges, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” What if bearing the image of God most accurately involves forgiving others?

Intersecting Faith and Life: 
Are you bearing God’s image through loving others, showing compassion, and forgiving those who’ve hurt you? If struggling, ask God to help you become an accurate representation of Him on earth, along with giving you opportunities to live them out in your daily life.

He Lives in You..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 to Overcome Worry..Jessica Van Roekel

 A Prayer to Overcome Worry

By Jessica Van Roekel

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”- Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV

The nighttime sounds of the house filled my ears. The furnace cycled in and out. The digital clock lit the dark room, and my mind whirred like a blender. I didn’t know how to manage the next several weeks because of many commitments and responsibilities. When I’m stressed, my mind becomes a battleground, and the war occurs at night when I want to sleep. Thoughts of I’m not good enough, I’m all alone, and I’m going to screw up explode in my mind. I counterattack with positive affirmations like I am enough, I can do this, and I don’t have to be perfect. And yet, the unwanted, discouraging thoughts keep coming like a tank bent on destroying my peace and confidence. Worry wins and robs my todays of their beauty and goodness.

One of the original meanings of worry is to gnaw. Our family’s dog loved to gnaw on his bone, but the more time he spent outside, the less he gnawed on his bone. Sometimes when worrying, I spend too much time in my head. I entertain “what-ifs” and “what-thens,” creating made-up scenarios where my worst fears come to life. They play across the movie screen of my mind, and I try in vain to shut it off. Jesus gives us wise words about worry in Matthew 6:25-34. He doesn’t tell us it’s wrong to plan to provide for future physical needs. Instead, he addresses the worry that reveals a lack of faith in God’s love and care. Within this passage, we discover how worry prevents faith from growing. It stands in the way of seeking God and his righteousness with our whole hearts. When we focus on who God is and what’s important to him, we find freedom from worry.

A peaceful sleep free from worry brings rest, but what do we do when the battle rages in our mind, and we enter a war for our peace? Spiritual warfare may take place, but we are not defenseless. God gives us armor, and the Apostle Paul lays out the details in Ephesians 6. Our plans and strategies may fail us, just like my positive affirmations were inadequate against my middle-of-the-night worries. I am not enough for the tasks ahead of me, but God is. For example, the belt of truth is an allegiance to God’s truth, and his word declares in 2 Corinthians 12:10 that when we are weak, he is strong. Situations that task our strength allow you and me to see God’s strength on display.  

I might feel alone, but God is with me. For instance, we have the shield of faith. This pictures the large Roman shield, covered in leather and often soaked in water to extinguish the flaming arrows from their enemies. Bold faith believes in God’s promises which help us deflect enemy attacks. When we hang onto the promise of God’s presence in good and bad times, we employ our shield of faith to extinguish the worrisome idea that God has abandoned us. I probably will screw up, but God doesn’t call me to be perfect. He calls me to obedience and to trust in him. This means I wage war in my mind and need the helmet of salvation. Being renewed in our minds and confident in our relationship with God protects us in these battles. It enables us to follow God’s strategy of victory.

Paul opens his treatise on the armor of God with these words, “Be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Worry is one of the devil’s schemes, but we don’t have to succumb to him. It is God who is strong, and it is his might flowing through us. We dress ourselves in his armor, and then we stand. We can bring him our concerns and surrender our desire for control over outcomes by exercising faith in his love and care for us.

Let’s pray:
Holy God,
My worries keep me up at night. It feels like an onslaught of negativity, and I struggle to stand. Forgive me for looking to my strengths and solutions. It is only through you that I find lasting peace. I surrender my will and my ideas of how things should be. I give you my anger over situations I have no control over. I refuse to believe I am alone because you promise you are with me. I’m going to stand firm in you. I’m choosing to trust you. You are loving and kind, and I will focus on your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.