Good morning Lord Jesus, Yours is the Lordship I choose to obey as I begin my Day. Give me the strength through your Spirit to obey you only today.
“ Any weapon that is forged against you will not succeed, and any tongue that rises up with you, you will find guilty. This is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness from me, says the Lord.” V. 17
I love this verse! It powerfully sums up and concludes this chapter: Whoever attempts to use a weapon or tongue against the people of God will not succeed, as all things must eventually serve God’s purpose. They may be able to injure God’s people, and appear to destroy them, but they will never be able to do so. It appeared Babylon had destroyed Israel, but God delivered them. In modern times, it appeared the Nazis and their holocaust had destroyed Israel and Judaism. Yet the main final result of its horrific acts was the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel, which had not existed for 2,000 years.
This morning, I pray this verse over the country and people of the Ukraine “ Any weapon that is forged against you will not succeed, and any tongue that rises up with you, you will find guilty. This is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness from me, says the Lord.” V. 17. Lord Jesus, we pray a prayer of protection over the people of Ukraine against the attacks of Russia. Send your warring angels down to fight for them.Release your created forces of nature against them. Empower us watching this horrific event in comfort with the boldness to do the next right thing in support and assistance of our brothers and sisters in the church of Jesus Christ who are being persecuted and suffering as a result of Russia’s evil actions. Lord have mercy on them, Christ have mercy on them, Lord have mercy on them.
My family, This is verse is the inheritance of those in the family of God, those in Christ Jesus, this is the inheritance of you and me!!! You may find your self in a situation now that is destroying your joy. It may even be one as the result of your deliberate sin. Israel’s exile into Babylon was a result of their deliberate sin against God. But when you repent and turn back to God, turn back to Christ, the destruction stops and healing begins as your relationship to God is renewed. I pray this verse this morning over your lives as well, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and experiences on fasting in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC / Toney UMC
Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
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Good morning Jesus, Let your Spirit blow on me and through me to breath live into me as I begin my day
“Servant” is the theme of this chapter. However Isaiah’s focus on this theme of “a servant”is not on servants as we generally think of them. “Servants” as people who are passive and weak, who’s destruction and captivity is evidence of the failure and inability to be delivered by the lesser gods they followed. In this chapter Isaiah introduces to us the “Servant,” the true representation of Israel, who comes with power and who will be God’s agent and bring His covenant to the people and restore justice to all the nations. This Servant of Israel will Himself lead Isreal and it’s people to become what they had always desired to be.
The mighty hand of God is about to be revealed in His deliver of Israel. But instead of it being a military, armor bearing,, laced boot, ass-kicking destroyer of the enemies of the nations, he will be a tender plant, a shoot off Jesse’s root (11:1), an apparent failure, a meek lamb to be slaughtered, However, he will be the one to atone for the sins of the nation and those of the world. And beginning here and in the chapters to follow, salvation is no longer something to be anticipated and longed for but now Israel is being invited to participate in something that has already been achieved. What is the means it will be achieved? The substitutionary death of the Servant for Israel and the world.
God has said that the lives of His people in Israel, because of the atoning sacrifice of the Servant, would be the evidence to the world that he alone is the Holy One. Our lives as people of God, because of the atoning sacrifice of the Servant, who’s name we know, Jesus, are to be the evidence to those we encounter in our daily life that God alone is the Holy one and Jesus is Lord. What God revealed to Isaiah and which Isaiah then spoke about as a future prophecy to come, Jesus confirmed, spoke into and lived out in reality:
As we begin another week of Lent, Isaiah’s prophecy speaks into the season to reflect on an pray over the saving acts of our suffering servant, who became our sacrificial lamb on the cross, and by His resurrection, this servant became our savior and redeemer,
My family, Jesus“ main characteristic by which He was known was that of a servant. God sent Him into the world to serve. In Lent, we not only give up things and fast to re-connect with Jesus, we take on ways of serving our neighbors as well. As Jesus said, “Just as the Father sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world…. “I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony…. so that the world will believe that you sent me.” ( John 17:18-22). I pray as you begin your week you will seek out and enter into ways to serve those in your community and be a tangible example of the sacrificial love of Christ in their lives, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and experiences on fasting in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC / Toney UMC
Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
“Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or carefully measured the sky,
or carefully weighed the soil of the earth,
or weighed the mountains in a balance,
or the hills on scales?
Who comprehends the mind of the LORD,
or gives him instruction as his counselor?
From whom does he receive directions?
Who teaches him the correct way to do things,
or imparts knowledge to him,
or instructs him in skillful design?
Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales.
He lifts the coastlands as if they were dust.
Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice;
its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings.
All the nations are insignificant before him;
they are regarded as absolutely nothing.
To whom can you compare God?
To what image can you liken him?
A craftsman casts an idol;
a metalsmith overlays it with gold
and forges silver chains for it.
To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot;
he then seeks a skilled craftsman
to make an idol that will not fall over.
Do you not know?
Do you not hear?
Has it not been told to you since the very beginning?
Have you not understood from the time the earthʼs foundations were made?
He is the one who sits on the earthʼs horizon;
its inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him.
He is the one who stretches out the sky like a thin curtain,
and spreads it out like a pitched tent.
He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing;
he makes the earthʼs leaders insignificant.
Indeed, they are barely planted;
yes, they are barely sown;
yes, they barely take root in the earth,
and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up,
and the wind carries them away like straw.
“To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?”
says the Holy One.
Look up at the sky!
Who created all these heavenly lights?
He is the one who leads out their ranks;
he calls them all by name.
Because of his absolute power and awesome strength,
not one of them is missing.
Why do you say, Jacob,
Why do you say, Israel,
“The LORD is not aware of what is happening to me,
My God is not concerned with my vindication”?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is an eternal God,
the creator of the whole earth.
He does not get tired or weary;
there is no limit to his wisdom.
He gives strength to those who are tired;
to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.
Even youths get tired and weary;
even strong young men clumsily stumble.
But those who wait for the LORDʼs help find renewed strength;
they rise up as if they had eaglesʼ wings,
they run without growing weary,
they walk without getting tired.:
they walk without getting tired.Like the two wings of an eagle (Isaiah 40 12-31)
The description of who God is in the verses above reminds me of all that is “God”. It both brings me to my knees in awe over who you are, and compiles me to leap for joy as I am reminded who is the God that is on my side! Like the wings of an eagle Your Word and Your Spirit lift me and move me, empower me and guide me, in a life that freely and fully soars in Your will. As I embrace the good gifts of Your Word and Your Spirit, You move mightily within me and move mightily for me to align my life with Your good will. "The Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.... He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:28-31). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray the truth of the Word of God, of who God is, and the empowering Spirit of God would lift you up today and every day and cause you to soar into the fullness of the good life the Lord has for you in the center of His good will for you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and experiences on fasting in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC / Toney UMC
Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Isaiah Chapter 44
“This is what the Lord, the one who made you, says-
the one who formed you in the womb and helps you:
“Donʼt be afraid, my servant Jacob,
Jeshurun, a whom I have chosen”
Chapter 44 continues the same subject of chapter 43, the completely unmerited nature of God’s salvation. God through Isaiah reminds the people that their sin has removed any obligation He has whatsoever to them: they cannot demand anything from God especially that He deliver them. But this does not mean that God will not deliver them, it means that what He does is a free, unearned gift flowing out of his own love.
What is the message God wants his people, the Israelites to hear,? Do not fear! V.44:2 The world says to the Israelites that God has rejected them. That they are an abandoned widow and their reputation is rotten and they are to be mocked and put to shame. God however speaks to them words of encouragement. He says they are his chosen one, and that “I will pour water on the parched ground and cause streams to flow on the dry land” v.3
The images of water in a dry land are all throughout the book pf Isaiah. It is a metaphor for the pouring out of God’s spirit, his water of life into hearts that are dead from sin and dry from no hope in life. God’s outpouring of his Spirit was ultimately fulfilled on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out into all humanity and made life-giving water available to those dead in sin.
Today as you pray:
Remember, the salvation you receive today is a total gift of grace out of God’s amazing love for you.
Remember: God’s message to you today is do not fear!
Remember: The refreshing water of the Holy Spirit is available to pour into the “dry places” in your life and heart if you ask, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me!
As and as we remember these things, let us give thanks and praise to God!!It is God’s desire to bless you my friends
Good morning Lord Jesus,, lead me toto the place people and practices that will glorify you today
“I, I am,. the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior.
I declared and saved and proclaimed,
when there was no strange god among you;
and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.” 43:11-12
This chapter reminds us that God’s act of salvation on our behalf and our cal by Him to be his chosen people, was an act by God out one of purest grace. God’s saving act in Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago and today was not because of anything people have done. It is not because the people 2,000 years ago or we today have become more perceptive of God or more obedient towards him. Nor was God’s salvation made conditional on their repentance back then or ours today. He did not require that the world to repent before He sent the Son. Actually, they rebelled while God sent His Son and they killed Him. God does not condition his sending of the Son into the world today on its repentance, as the world still rebels against God. This chapters overall theme is the gracious (un-earned, un-deserved gift) salvation of God and that God’ has the ability and desire to save. The problem is not on God’s side, it is on ours.
Isaiah also announces to Israel, and reminds us, that God created and shaped their nation, He created and shaped you, and desires to have a special relationship with you where you experience His grace. And that God’s people need not fear that His acts of discipline or correction signals a negation of their salvation or a suspension of God’s loving care and grace towards them. Just as the corrections a mother gives her child do not signal a lessoning of her love for her child. But rather the opposite.
People say to each other, “Have a blessed day!” or simply, “God bless you!” like it is an option or that God will or wants to bless you. God desires to bless you today with the grace of his salvation and have you experience it and live in it! So let him! Let him! I pray you will, in Jesus’ name. Please pray that I will as well. God bless you my friends!
As we read through Scriptures together it is not my intention that it be a lecture or a blog, but a conversation. I hope you will start posting your thoughts and reflections as well in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney United Methodist Church
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Acts 24
Good morning Lord Jesus, fill me with the hope that can only come from your presence in my life as I begin my day…
"I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people....While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” vs. 15-16,25
I am not a "hell and damnation" preacher. I don’t pretend to know anything concrete about the referent to that word “hell” so carelessly tossed around by some Christians. But I do know that it has a referent. And there is enough description surrounding it to indicate that whatever hell is, it is a big problem. I also know that I am not God, so how I may handle this problem is irrelevant. God handled it by sending his Son to be killed by and for the world. He only requires the gratitude due, which, if genuine, will produce a commitment to the truth and a commitment to the way. Only to the grateful will the resurrection of life be granted.
I cringe inside when some uses manipulation like, "If you get hit by a bus tonight, do you know where you will go?". Jesus, Paul, never used shamed to coerce people into belief. Yet Paul reminds us that when we die, none of us will just be dead as dirt. We all, both righteous and unrighteous, will be resurrected to a coming judgement. Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29). Paul knows that everything he does will be revealed to God. He understands that he is an eternal being. He also understands that all people he has contact with are eternal beings. So that all his actions and interactions with people have eternal consequences. This understanding dictated every decision he made in his life. While Paul was discussing this as the bases of his daily quest for righteousness, self-control, and a clear conscience before God, The Governor Felix became convicted, frightened, and sent Paul away.
How often thoughts of resurrection enter into and mold the the basis of my interaction with people? How often do I remind myself that all people I also contact everyday are eternal beings and that all my actions and interactions with people have eternal consequences? Not often enough unfortunately. If Paul was discussing resurrection, righteousness, self-control, and having a clear conscience before God with me, I would probably be uneasy, and send him away as well. Telling him we will talk again when the time is better. When the Holy Spirit starts the same revelation in my heart, I usually do not follow him, or use rationalization, or comparison of myself to others to justify myself, and then go in another direction. I am a person of the Creed. We are a church of the Creed. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. I need to let this sink in and affect the way I live today, not just after I die.
My existence, your existence, the existence of all Christians and Christianity itself rests completely on the hope of the resurrection and Living in that hope today as resurrected people, and the future hope with those who are in Christ Jesus.
My family, take time in silence to ponder the resurrection of Christ. Take time to ponder your resurrection in Christ. As your knees get weak as you try to take in the enormity of it all, be thankful. Be thankful to the Father who's unbelievable love conceived it. Be thankful to the Son who's unbelievable love endured it. Be thankful to the Holy Spirit who's unbelievable love empowered it.
Pray that you and that our churches full of thanksgiving, can be a visible and living testimony to the resurrection hope in Christ to the world. Pray that the Holy Spirit will remind you and give you an eternal perspective with every person you encounter in your day today and everyday, in Jesus’ name. Please,please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!.
Please share your thoughts and comments on chapter 24 with others and myself in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.
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Acts 22:19-21
And I said, 'Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.' And He said to me, 'Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"
In Chapter 22 Paul gives his testimony. Paul tells how he came face to face with Jesus and heard his condemnation, ““I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (v 9:5) He also heard Jesus' calling upon his life, to get up and go where I tell you. He then he went to Annais, and he was baptized and confirmed the calling on his life. (9:18) Later he went to church (the Temple) and he was praying to Jesus, and Jesus again called to him. And what was Paul’s response? He looked back into his past, and focused on his past, the things he had done in his past, and tried to back out of his calling. Jesus, however saw his future and the things he would do. Paul saw his past. Jesus saw his future. Paul focussed and lived into his past failings, and misguided plans. Jesus focussed lives into his future successes and great plans for him. Paul remembered and retained. Jesus forgot and forgave. Paul saw himself through eyes of condemnation. Jesus saw Paul through the eyes of grace.
Paul accepted Jesus' grace and forgiveness. He surrendered his past to Christ and Jesus then anointed his past, covered it with his blood, broke any chains it held on Paul, and sanctified it as an instrument to be used to his glory and the spreading of the gospel of grace and forgiveness. Paul accepted Jesus as his Lord, and surrendered everything to Christ including his past, and the result was this amazing testimony of his we are reading about now in Acts.
My family, Insert your name into these three versus and read them slowly out loud to yourself for a few minutes. And embrace the truth Jesus is speaking over you.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Therefore if _________ is in Christ, he/she is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Revelation 21:5
And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making _________ new "
Romans 8:1-2
Therefore there is now no condemnation for ________ who is in Christ Jesus.
If you accepted Jesus as your Lord, then you need to surrender everything to Christ including your past. The result will be an amazing testimony of how Christ used you to spread his gospel of free grace and forgiveness. We are in a time of praying together as a church to be guided by the Holy Spirit into new areas of ministry for us. This is only possible if we step out of the old areas. If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord and allowed him to set you free from your past, please pray into that today.
Now, go back up to the three verses and insert the names of at least one friend, co worker, family member, or someone you know who needs to hear these words, and pray these versus out loud over them. Ask the Holy Spirit for the boldness to call/text and share these versus with them, in Jesus’ name. Please pray I do the same. God Bless you my friends!
We are in the final chapters of Acts. Remember we are committed to:
Spend time daily in searching in the daily chapter reading.
Fast one day a week in prayer.
Spend at least one solid hour a week in prayer.
Add a lunch + prayer over your church and your ministry.
As we begin these last chapters, please share your reflections from this time in Acts, I would love to hear any revelations or calling The Holy Spirit has given you. Post them in the comments box below to encourage others as well.. I would love to hear from you.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.
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Acts 21
Good morning Lord Jesus, their are things in my life only you can deliver me from sin today, deliver me my Lord and my God!
“They are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs…” vs.20-21
Paul returns to Jerusalem and spends time with James and the council telling them all the great things God has been doing in his ministry. They spend a few moments to praise God for these things, but then they push on through it to the more important issue to them: which was not the divine workings of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, but the man made workings of their traditions and customs.
The Christian church had been established in Jerusalem for many years now and existed in relative peace with the Jews. Paul also is a Christian, however when he comes to the church in Jerusalem, all the Jews want to beat him and stone him. Why do they want to stone Peter and yet leave James who is Jesus’ brother,, John, and the council and church in Jerusalem alone? All were followers of Christ. And actually it was the Christian church itself in Jerusalem that was also bringing charges up against Paul. Why?
Because the church in Jerusalem still followed the law of Moses. These Jewish Christians remained close to their Jewish practices, customs, and traditions after becoming believers. They “blended in” with non-Christians enough to be ”ok” in their eyes.
Paul however, proclaimed a gospel of free grace and forgiveness. And he may have been ok if he stuck to proclaiming to only the Gentiles that they did not need to become like Jews first in order to become Christians. But he started “meddling” and went farther than that. The big issue and charge was that Paul was also teaching the Jews in the Diaspora (Jews dispersed in other regions and countries) that became Christians to abandon the law of Moses and being bound to its required practices, customs, holidays, and traditions. It was Paul’s “meddling” with church practices, and traditions that riled the Jews up enough to want him dead.
We in the church get riled up in the same way today. When I pastored a local church, one Sunday I moved the altar from behind the rail you kneel at to in front of the rail for a sermon on the Lord’s Supper I was doing that day. I was practically charged with committing heresy for doing it! One Sunday I read the Scriptures from my cell phone and two people left the church because I did not read from a leather and paper Bible. For years our house churches have gathered on weekday evenings. When I tell people this I do not know how many people reply back to me in shock, “You do not meet on Sunday mornings?!?”
The church in Jerusalem praised God and wanted Paul to continue efforts to make disciples that imitate Christ, however it maintained those disciples better imitate them as well or else we will take you out. In most churches today is this attitude. Though If it is not openly declared, is firmly instilled in the norms, polity and DNA of the church. We want you to make new disciples that conform to the image of Christ, so long as they conform to the way we pray, worship, our polity, practices, customs and traditions as well. Or else the church will overtly or covertly make it known to you that you have crossed the line.
To Paul, such religious practices such as the circumcision of the Gentile converts were a kind of "insurance policy," incase faith should be insufficient in itself. He denounced this as a departure from the purity of the gospel, of Simply Jesus.
My family, this morning pray over your personal relationship with Jesus. Are there any religious practices you are clinging to as an insurance policy, incase your faith should be insufficient in itself? Are your steadfast in your obedience to Scripture and Christ, yet flexible enough to allow, accept, invite and even join in with others who’s practices and customs differ from yours. Paul was flexible enough to worship with Jewish Christians and gentile Christians. Are you? Pray over any past or current areas in you faith where you have shown prejudice, resisted fellowship with, or been negative towards other Christians or churches because of personal practices, customs, or traditions, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections on chapter 21 with us.
Reminder of the 5 Spiritual acts we are committing to do while reading through Acts together.:
1. Spend time daily reading and meditating on the daily chapter of Acts and then praying over your ministry and you church.
2. Start up/join in a Band Group. A band group is the Wesleyan name for accountability groups of 2-3 people of the same sex that meet weekly. We need to both encourage and hold each other accountable to time in the Word, Prayer, and our daily walk with Christ. Do not delay, pray to God who to ask you which one or two persons to invite to join you, and do it. Ne excuses, no delays.
3. Set aside just one hour a week (you can do more than one) away from distractions and spend that hour in solid prayer. Use the Prayer Wheel if you like as a guide.
4. Fast one day a week in prayer. Read Isaiah 58 on fasting for guidance or contact me if you have questions on fasting.
5. Daily Lunch + prayer: Everyday when you sit down to lunch, you pray over your meal. After your prayer over the meal, and a 30 second prayer over our and its ministries for God’s vision and leading.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.
CICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning Lord Jesus, mold my heart today not around Black Friday, a day we celebrate materialism and selfish desires, but around Good Friday and/or selfless sacrifice of love for me..
“Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,” v24
The events of Acts 15 and the gathering of the council of Jerusalem was such an important event to Luke that he took great care to write about. Paul in Galatians 2:1-14 gives an autobiographical narrative to this event and provides some details. I suggest you read it.
Some people came from Jerusalem “sent by James” Paul says and persuaded Peter to withdraw from the fellowship of the table with the gentiles. Paul saw Peter’s, and later Barnabas’s actions as a threat to the liberty of the gospel for the gentiles. He publically called Peter out on this saying it was wrong for Peter to force the gentiles to adopt the Jewish way of life to be saved. Peter was distressed by the conflict his actions caused. Since it all started with messengers, people sent by James, then the matter had to be taken up with James and the Council in Jerusalem that was under the chairmanship of James, who was the brother of Jesus.
The council’s decision basically was to have the gentiles prohibit Idolatry, and sexual perversion and fortification. Where true religion and basic Christian ethics were involved, Paul was strong on teaching gentiles to avoid idolatry and fornication. But in matters of food and drink which were religiously and ethically neutral, he refused to lay down the law. No food or drink he maintained was “unclean”, even if it had been previously forbidden by the law of Moses. Even if the food had come from an animal sacrificed to a pagan divinity. It was human beings that mattered, not food and drink. If a Christian was considering whether or not to eat this or drink that, the decision should depend on the conscience of the fellow Christian. Paul always argued from the order of creation and the ethical implications of a law-free gospel. To which I say Amen!!!
Which brings me back to the verse I quoted above, “Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,” v24
There are unfortunately way to many persons and voices in the church today going out and saying troubling words and saying unsettling things which God gave them no authority to say, Scriptures gives them no authority to say, but they are claiming authority based on what religion, tradition, and personal preferences have to say. They declare and prohibit restrictions on not only food and drink, but dress codes, worship places and styles, restrictions on the means of grace of who can baptize, celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and pray prayers of reconciliation. These things hinder people from encountering the gospel and encountering Christ. Paul was saying to the council that these things will turn away the gentiles, those that don’t know the gospel and Jesus, before they even hear it and then burden them while they try to listen the gospel. The same holds true in the church today. Most people today who do not attend church, who leave the church and walk away from the gospel, do not do so because they encountered Jesus and found him to difficult, but because they encounter at the door of the church hoops to jump through and restrictions to receiving the gospel and Jesus. They walk away from the church disturbed and troubled, never having encountered Jesus. A pole was taken asking people about spirituality, Jesus, and Christians. When asked about spirituality, people responded positively, there is a need for spiritual growth in people. When asked about Jesus, people responded positively. Jesus and what he represents has a positive image and message. When asked about Christians, the responses was negative. Why, when spirituality and Jesus are supposed to be at our core and what shapes and defines us do people have a negative response of Christians??
As I said in my previous post, because we have gone away from The Church being about and simply proclaiming simply Jesus: the simple gospel of Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, ad the forgiveness of sins.
My family, I pray you will reflect over what people and voices are you listening concerning The Church and your call to be a disciple of Jesus that have no authority by God or Scripture to put their laws, personal preferences of traditions on the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. Honestly reflect if any of these extra voices in the church are coming from you? What hoops do we we at our church have in place that can keep people from encountering Jesus we need to remove?
Please share your reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.
Today I would like us to begin a time reading through Luke’s book of The Acts of the Apostles. I would like us to use this time as we begin the New Year, to as a community a spend 28 days of prayer and fasting over The Church in the World. our individual churches that are part of the body of Christ, and each of us as its members.
Yesterday my sermon was on Epiphany, the revelation and manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world. I am asking all of us as a church, as a family, as a community of faith to come together as we begin 2022 and pray over a new revelation, a new manifestation of Jesus into the vision and ministries of our churches and our lives. I would like us to dedicate ourselves to pouring ourselves into his word and prayer as we seek God’s will and direction for our lives. To aid us in this I am asking us to commit to one another and join together in these 5 things:
1. Starting this Monday, Jan 1oth, spend the 28 weekdays that follow reading through the Book of Acts of the Apostles. There are 28 chapters in Acts, so we will read one chapter a each week weekday for the next 28 weekdays.
2. Start up/join in a Band Group. A band group is the Wesleyan name for accountability groups of 2-3 people of the same sex that meet weekly. We need to both encourage and hold each other accountable to time in the Word, Prayer, and our daily walk with Christ and to discern what we hear Christ speaking into our lives.. Do not delay, pray to God who to ask you which one or two persons to invite to join you, and do it. Ne excuses, no delays.
3. Set aside just one hour a week (you can do more than one) away from distractions and spend that hour in solid prayer.
4. Fast one day a week in prayer.
5. Daily Lunch + prayer: Everyday when you sit down to lunch, you pray over your meal. After your prayer over the meal, and a 30 second prayer over your church and its ministries for God’s vision and leading.
I pray your will join in covenant with each other in these 5 things. I desire us to see and be part of amazing transformation of our lives, our churches, and those in our community. This is God’s desire as well.
If you have any questions or comments, please get with me and I would be more than happy to discuss them with you.
PIntro to Acts:
The Book of The Acts of the Apostles, or as commonly simply called “Acts” picks up where Luke’s Gospel leaves off, recording the birth of The Church and the early progress of the gospel as Jesus’ disciples took it from Jerusalem throughout Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the Mediterranean world. The story begins with Christ’s ascension and the events of Pentecost. As Gentiles begin responding to the gospel, the focus shifts to Paul and his missionary journeys. Acts forms a bridge between the four Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, showing how the apostles carried on Christ’s work and providing a historical background for Romans through Revelation. The Acts of the Apostles is the second of two New Testament books written by Luke. Like his Gospel, Acts was a letter to Luke’s friend Theophilus, written sometime in a.d. 62–64.
Today, as we read Acts chapter 1 and pray, some thoughts to pray on:
Pray over and into your personal, and church’s collective "Baptism of the Holy Spirit." v.5
Pray into the the power each of you received by the Holy Spirit v.8
Pray over your personal and our collective call as a church to witness to your community, the surrounding communities, our state and country, and unto the nations.v. 8
Pray for the return of Jesus. v.11
Pray that every member of your church will take seriously and embrace this call to pray and fast, and we will seek with one mind God's anointing and calling on us. v.14
Pray over your personal call to be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. v.22
Pray over the leadership role in your church God is calling you to take up and step up into. v. 24
Pray, as we begin this time together, that each of us individually and as a church will seriously commit to devote time to reading and praying through Acts to understand what God wants us as a church to fulfill.
I want this to be as much a community reflection time together as possible. So please share your reflections, thoughts and new revelations Jesus is speaking to youwith each other in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.
Good morning Lord Jesus, i seen to hear your heart beat this morning to tune mine to its rhythm.
As we come to the end of the first full week in 2022 I want to encourage you be saying I love you all and I was so blessed by your friendship, love, and life we shared together in 2022. However, I am EXCITED at the sense I have of what God has in store for us this coming year. I also sense it may be the most trying season of our life, but I know it will be one we will never forget and we will recount to all as a time God made himself known to us.
[18] … Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. [19] “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)
Lord Jesus, as I begin one of the first of many mornings in 2022, let my soul awaken as I speak out Your name and lift up my heart in the communion of prayer with You, Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in a manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about the Child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them" (Luke 2:15-18).
The shepherds couldn't wait to go and see what God had done! They "went with haste" to see what was said. The word of the Lord, spoken through the angel of the Lord, who broke into their loneliness of life, "living in the fields," changed their fear to faith and they said, "Let's go now" and see! (v. 8)And when they had seen the Child who brought such "good news of great joy for all the people," they couldn't wait to go spread the word (v. 10). "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen" (v. 20).
Holy Spirit, as I read the words of the Christmas story again; my prayer, my desire, my "New Year's Resolution" for the coming year is that you awaken my soul again with the excitement of faith! Return to me a longing for my first love! (Rev.2:4) Stir up my spirit to go share all You've done for me! Like the shepherds, change any fear in me into faith. And forgive me for holding back the good news of great joy from others that turns their fear to faith and loneliness to praise! Let me truly be amazed at all You have done and be excited to go and see this God at work in my Community. This God who longs to bring into my life and those around me that same good news and great joy, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My brother and sisters, I pray this morning you will hear and receive the good new and great joy that angels are still proclaiming over your life today. I pray the Holy Spirit will use this eternal love song of joy to awaken your soul with an excitement of faith and a passion to tell all what the God of good news and great joy has done for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Begin The Year With A Gift!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Hey my church family and my friends,
I went to the Waffle House this morning and sitting at the low bar listening to people talking thier main conversation was about the upcoming College Football National Championship Game next Monday Jan 10th. This was no surprise and anyone whoknkows anything about sports and life in Alabama, knows that college football is king. So I want to remind all of my college football fanatics of the opportunity night Monday night provides you.
This is the perfect event to use to connect with friends, co-workers, and those who do not know Jesus with this custom made event! Especially us ling in Alabama! We need to leverage this “cultural event” as it is the perfect excuse you have been looking for to Make a Friend, Be a friend, and then lead a friend to Christ.
1. Throw a Party
The reason is that it gives you plenty of ways to bless people and the excuse you have been looking for around a common interest to invite them into your house. Be like the Apostle Matthew and invite 3 types of people to your party: non-believer friends, Jesus and a few followers.
10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”
Matthew 9:10-12
When you invite others, you get to choose the crowd you hang with. Usually, for Christians, this is a bad thing as we over filter who we invite. But notice who was at Matthew’s party: Scum, Jesus, disciples. All mixed, partying like it’s 31AD! Now, I am not saying some of my friends are “scum,” LOL! However, The more this crowd: of Jesus, followers and not yet followers hang out together, the better.
2. Encourage Story
Encourage story with everyone. Walk around asking people “story” questions, or ask people, “have you heard his story, it’s awesome…” Get your guests talking and listen. You learn so much about them during these stories. Be the story encourager at your party. Ask questions like:
1 How’d you and your spouse meet?
2 Why did you choose your career?
3 Who is your favorite NFL (College) team and why??
4 What do you like most about living here?
Really, any open ended question will work. However, don’t be weird about it. It’s not to bait and switch them from talking about beer and chicken wings to talking about how unless you eat Jesus’ body and drink his blood you can never be one of his followers. It’s so you can actually get to know them and their story so that when the opportunity comes, you know where their story needs redemption and who or what is their functional savior so you can point to the one and only Saviour who brings eternal redemption, now and forever. You’ll know how to serve them, love them and show them Jesus in the ways that will tell a story that will hit their heart.
3. Go Overboard with Food
You ever been to a party where there isn’t much food? It Sucks right? Don’t be that party…be a party that points to the Great Wedding Feast. Not only that, but take into consideration who is coming. Ask if any have allergies, or a special diet. When you take others into consideration, it shows you actually care and desire for them to be comfortable in your house. It also gives you yet another connection point to their story.
However, Don’t supply all the food though. Request and encourage people coming to bring food. Have people bring a main dish. The reason is that a main dish usually has a story behind it. Either of how they grew up, who taught them how to make it or nothing at all. But I usually simply ask, “Does this dish have any significance to you?” You’d be surprised how much story can come from chicken salad.
4. Connect Another Way
If for some reason you can’t invite them into your home, try to connect with them in another way. Ask them, “what are you doing for the game? Maybe they will invite you to a party they are having. Maybe you decide to meet them at a sprotsbar of other place to watch the game together.
5. Ask the Spirit For Guidance
Who is pushing into you currently for relationship? Ask the Spirit to show you these people. Maybe for you it is your CrossFit gym. Invite all 400 members. Or invite your whole office or class at school. You know that 95% of them aren’t going to come, so you will have 15-20 attend. But it gives you an open to invite them into a relationship with you, and is a personal invite.
Ask the Spirit for time with those people who are personally pushing into you and your family for relationship so you can ask them personally as well. Don’t let them merely get the Facebook invite, do it “old school” and personally ask them if they are coming and that it’d be great if they did. Everyone I have been given by the Spirit, and asked personally to come, almost everyone one of them has come. It’s awesome, even if one of them is a fan of my opposing team.
Ask the Spirit for guidance on listening to their story at the party and what you should say, or how you should listen or how to encourage further relationship. Remember, yes be competitive and scream at the TV, however this isn’t about a football game. This whole party is wrapped up in story, so use this to learn other’s stories. Maybe you do get into a deep spiritual conversation, but maybe you don’t. Don’t beat yourself up. The Spirit will tell you when to speak, when to listen, when to keep it surface level and when to go deep. Just because you don’t present all of the Romans’ Road to them doesn’t mean you should feel guilted and shamed. The Spirit doesn’t guilt and shame you, that’s the devil’s game.
The more the devil can guilt and shame you the more you will see them as “a project” and you’ll have an agenda instead of listening to the Spirit on how to just love them and show off Jesus. Sometimes silence is the loudest witness. Don’t let the devil fool you into thinking you have to speak the name of Jesus at every party for it to be a “successful” party. But, always be thinking, how can I make this party be a shadow of our feasting and banqueting God that wants everyone invited to his party?
Take some time this week to ask, “Spirit, how can I ensure that what I say and do Monday night will be a shadow of your Story” (It’s a good thing to do everyday!)
Listen. Then obey what the Spirit gives you.
If you do that…no matter what happens, your gathering will not be a failure, but will have happened by the power of the Spirit to bring people along as far as he wants them to so they might know more about the only story line that ultimately matters. And who knows…maybe he’ll show you even more about his Story so you can marvel at how large his Story really is, yet how much he carefully and specifically loves and hears your specific “small” requests.
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Please share your thoughts or comments
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/ Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please begin 2021 by a commitment to partner and support myself and my ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End and Everything in between (Revelation 1:8). Be with me this day and every day, from beginning to end and every moment in between. ...
"And He said to me, 'It is done! I Am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:6-8, NKJ).
Lord, I thirst.... I thirst for the water of life that flows freely from Your fountain. I thirst for Your "living water" (John 4:10). Let me drink deeply every day -- drinking in Your Word, drinking in Your Spirit, drinking in the Presence of God here in my heart, mind, soul and strength. You are the Fountain of the Water of Life. You are "the Fountain of Living Waters" (Jeremiah 2:13). "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:9). So as I open wide my spirit to You, let Your water of life "become in (me) a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).
Lord, refresh my soul and renew my faith with the fullness of Your life. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart so that I desire and choose the things that lead to life and not to death. Empower me to overcome. Align my heart and soul to "inherit all things" You've prepared for me and for all love You and honor You by embracing Your grace to give You our hearts (Revelation 21:7). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will be filled to overflowing with the living waters from the One who is the Fountain of the Water of Life so you can pour out living waters today bringing life to all the Lord touches through you today. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to start my day in the communion of prayer, in the intimacy of personal, spiritual relationship with You -- heart to Heart, spirit to Spirit. Make me one with You, one with Your Body of Christ, one in ministry to all the world until I feast with you at Your heavenly banquet in final victory. ...
"Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4).
Now is the time to have settled in our hearts the question of who is Lord of our lives. Now is the time to choose whether I would surrender my life rather than renounce my Savior. Let me have the humility to choose now so that I will have the courage to choose then on a day that may come when I find out just how sincere my faith truly is and what a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ I truly am.
Many are already being forced to make that choice today in our generation. Many will be forced to make that choice in the times to come, according to Your Word:
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:7-14).
Lord Jesus, give me grace to hold fast to You, that I many endure to the end -- not only enduring, but faithful to be proclaiming with my life the good news of Your mercy and love throughout the world, to the ends of the earth, in testimony to all nations. Draw me closer to You every day that I will have to the courage to die for You if that day may come and the courage to live for You every day that comes now. Give me courage to overcome. Give me the grace to stand firm in my faith no matter what may come. Give me the conviction to be convinced of the truth that Jesus is Lord and worthy of laying down my life even in the face of death. As You said long ago: "If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:34-38). You asked Your first disciples, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8) I pray You will find faith in me on that day to come and find faith in me every day between now and then (Luke 21:27).
"Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:5). Lord, let pleasing You be the central desire of my life. May I die to self to I can live for Christ. By the power of Your grace, may I be able to say with the sons and daughters of God, the disciples of Christ of every generation, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is not longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who love me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-20). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, embraced in the strong arms of your heavenly Father, to endure in your vibrant, personal, intimate faith in Jesus Christ until the end. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my spirit; stir my heart; order my steps; lead me to honor You through my life today. ...
" 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready; to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure' -- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints" (Revelation 19:6-8).
With the body of Christ that is whole, with the bride of Christ that is holy, I want to be ready for the coming of Christ on the Day of the Lord (Ephesians 5:25-27). And at the same time, I want every day to be the Day of the Lord in my heart and through my life now (2 Peter 3:1-18).
Every day counts; every moment matters; every choice has consequences. So let me "be careful then how (I) live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time.... (Let me) not be foolish, but understand with the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-17). "The world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever" (1 John 2:17). So as best as I can and all by Your grace, let me be ready. Let reprioritize the things I put on my slander to remember as important those things that are important to building your kingdom. Let me use my time well let me use it to do the will of God, Let me live out my salvation daily that lets me live forever, and let the Almighty One who reigns forever live in me now. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be whole and holy, ready for the coming of the Lord, now and forever, living out the will of God today all by the power of the grace of God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. Be King and Lord of my life today. ...
"They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).
Every day the world is at war with our faith. The wisdom of the world is at war with the wisdom of heaven; the ways of the world are at war with the ways of heaven. But we should not be surprised, as if something strange were happening. You said from the beginning, "In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
You have overcome the world. You are the King of the kingdom of God and "(Your) kingdom not is of this world" (John 18:36). And now through faith in You, Your kingdom is within me (Luke 17:21). Because You have overcome, I can overcome, for You are in me and I am in You (John 15:5). In relationship with You and by the Presence and power of Your Spirit at work within me, I am one of Your "called and chosen and faithful."
You've not called me out of this world, but to overcome this world--all by the power of the grace of God at work within me (John 17:14-19). Empower me to overcome the wisdom and ways, the temptations and trials, of the world around me today. Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done, here in my heart in the midst of my world today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray this morning you will take time in Scriptures and prayer to connect with the Spirit of Christ within you to overcome the spirit of the world around you, as You make Jesus King of kings and Lord of lords in every area of your life. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for the leading of Your Holy Spirit, here in the embrace of my heavenly Father. ...
"When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake" (Revelation 8:1-5).
As I woke this morning, I thought of the cross. I thought of Your suffering and sacrifice, Your mercy and love. I thought of Your holy humiliation that our human minds can't begin to comprehend as You cried out from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). And then these words came to my heart: "Astonished Silence."
Your Spirit brought to mind the silence of heaven when You opened the seventh seal in the Apostle John's Revelation. There were "peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake" (Revelation 7:5). It was the same on the day of Your death at the cross: "Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed His last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split" (Matthew 27:50-51).
Every prophecy is ultimately fulfilled in You, as are "all the Scriptures" of the Word of God (Luke 24:27). You are the very Word of God, the Word made flesh (John 1:14). And this morning, I see a parallel in this prophecy of Revelation and a partial fulfillment--one in the eternal realm of heaven with the Lamb of God who stands at the throne and one in the historical realm of earth with the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (Revelation 5:6; John 1:29). And in my heart I hear, "Astonished Silence."
In the midst of the earthquakes and darkness on that holy day of Your sacrifice and death at the cross, and in the midst of the ultimate judgments that must come upon the earth and upon those who would reject Your mercy and love, I sense the "astonished silence" of heaven. With all of heaven, I'm astonished that God would die for me, astonished that the fury of hell and the mercy of heaven could meet at the cross--at once, both cruel and beautiful, at a moment in time on this earth but forever timeless in the eternity of heaven--and astonished that all will not humble their hearts to receive all You've done for us at such a cost. With the silence of heaven, I am astonished at Your sacrifice of love I have no words to express. ...
As I ponder these thoughts in my heart this morning, I can hardly speak at all. I simply say, Thank You, Lord Jesus….. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you experience the mercy and love of the One who sacrificed so much for you at the cross--at once, both cruel and beautiful, yet necessary for the salvation of your soul and mine, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me be single-minded and wholehearted in my intentionally-directed focus on You alone in these first moments of my morning. ...
"... These are the words of the holy One, the true One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: 'I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut'... " (Revelation 3:7-8).
Lord, You are holy and true. Your heart is good and Your motives are pure. You can be trusted in every way with everything. You see the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end ... and everything in between.
And You know me. You know every desire I'll ever have, every thought I'll ever consider, every choice I'll ever make. You know the thoughts and intents of my heart better than I can ever discern or understand. You know what's of the Spirit and what's of the flesh; You know what comes out of selflessness and what comes out of selfishness. You rightly discern and You rightly judge, for You alone are the holy and righteous One.
So I trust You and I ask You to open the doors before me that align with Your perfect will and plan for me. And I trust You and ask You to shut the doors that do not. In all honesty I admit I have much to learn, but this much I know: You know what's best. And I want Your best. It's in Your best for my life that I'll know the fullness of Your peace and joy for me and everyone around me. That's the desire of my heart, as best as I can discern and believe; and that's my prayer. So I believe by faith that will and that has come to pass (Psalm 21:2). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will trust God with all your heart and ask Him to go before You opening and shutting doors to help direct your steps into His perfect will for your life. May you know the fullness of all His peace and joy for you and all those around you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
