STEWARDING GOD'S FAVOR. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE - Numbers 27:5-9
5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites."
6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron's staff was among them. 7 Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

8 The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD's presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his own staff.

OBSERVATION
Very often God may choose few among the many in order to let his will be understood. Among all the leaders of Israel he chose Aaron in order to extinguish the grumblings of the people against the leadership. Aaron's staff sprouted, budded, blossomed and produced almonds overnight. This miracle was a sign that Aaron's success came from the Lord, not from his own efforts. And people had to recognize and agree that the Lord's hand of favor was upon Aaron to do the ministry he was called to do.

APPLICATION
I love the way the Lord chooses and blesses those in leadership. Many are called but few are chosen. He determines and separates those he wants to have a unique calling. He will bring a supernatural harvest in their lives so people can see that their blessing comes form the Lord. So when I see someone else's staff sprouting and giving fruit supernaturally, do I become jealous or do I give the honor and respect that person deserves? What about my own life? I can see God ringing a supernatural harvest in my ministry while other faithful people that are better and smarter than me are still waiting. In my flesh I may want to brag about it, but in my spirit I have the the desire to respond to God's favor with more faithfulness and sacrifice in the ministry.

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for your undeserved favor in my life and for the supernatural way you have blessed my life and ministry. Certainly I cannot earn so much blessings. I may not understand the reasons why you favor me, but my heart is to remain faithful to you, humble before you, and living as if your favor depends on it. Please never let let me become arrogant about your favor, or to feel entitled to your blessings. Please use the fruitfulness of this season to touch other people around me. Use me to inspire other leaders. We are all special and we have favor before you. Help me to motivate them to expect a supernatural harvest in their own lives. Amen!

BLAMELESS. By Pastor Jan Tomai

SCRIPTURE - Acts 25:27

“For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

OBSERVATION

The governor of the province, Porcius Festus, had to write up charges against Paul. But, he could find no blame in this man! To relieve himself of this responsibility, Festus took Paul to various other people for confirmation of his findings. Festus was in a quandry...he did not know what to do. Faced with truth, Festus searched for redemption in his position as judge everywhere but in Christ. Festus judged Paul as “out of his mind” to protect himself.

APPLICATION

Even though I try my hardest, I know that there are times when put under the stress of a situation and in my own efforts to avoid confrontation, I do not hear someone out. Once that happens, I have lost part of the truth of any given situation. Decisions are made on a partial truth which really is not truth at all. Paul was blameless. I want to be blameless as well in making decisions in Christ and not in my flesh.

PRAYER

Lord, help me to hear others clearly and completely. Sharpen my listening abilities so that my decisions reflect the whole truth and not my flesh. Strengthen me to trust You in confrontation and not myself. I know that You can teach me this if I will but listen.

ATTITUDES OF BLINDNESS. By Pastor Mark

SCRIPTURE - Acts 22:10-11

What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. "'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' ¹¹My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

OBSERVATION

Paul relates his conversion experience to the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. As part of that story, he tells them how he was struck down to the ground and blinded by an intense light. His response to this event and Jesus speaking to him in verse 10 is significant. He says to Jesus “ What shall I do, Lord ?”

APPLICATION

Paul’s blindness was caused by the intense brilliance of the light of Christ shining into his life. Imagine you’re on a trip, doing what you think is the work of God like Paul was - when suddenly you are struck down to the ground and blinded by someone who says – “Heh, Saul, why are you persecuting me ?!” Saul’s first reaction seems pretty typical – “who are you ?!” I would want to know that as well. But then when he finds out who it is, he asks a significant question - “What shall I do Lord ?” Remember, Paul wasn’t even a believer yet. He was on the way to persecute the Christians in Damascus. Yet he asked - “what shall I do Lord ?”

I know in my own life, even though I am a believer and I have the Holy Spirit living in my life, when something traumatic happens to me, my first question often is - “Why, Lord ?” I don’t always react the way Paul acted – immediately asking the Lord what to do. My attitude is somewhat similar to blindness. I am blinded to God’s working in my life and react with the same attitude the Jewish crowds had - with anger, thrashing out against whatever is interfering with my plans. I mean, if I had been on that road to Damascus, I probably would have said something like – “Heh, Lord, what’s the deal ? I’m on the way to take care of those awful Christians who are perverting the scriptures and going against the law of Moses. Why are you messing with me ?!!”

Paul was blinded in his eyes by the intensity of God’s light. But much worse is the blindness in my heart when I close up to what God is trying to do in me. I am blinded in my heart and don’t allow him access - to mold, shape and change me into the man He wants me to be. When things happen in my life that may cause some discomfort, I so often ask the question “why Lord” instead of asking the much more appropriate question – “what should I do Lord ?” I forget God’s loving purpose in my life – working all things in my life to accomplish his perfect will - changing me into the image of Christ. I must learn to remember that as I walk along the “road to Damascus”.

PRAYER

Father in Heaven, help me to stop asking the “why” questions when something happens in my life that I don’t like. Help me to turn toward you with the same question that Paul asked – “what do you want me to do, Lord ?” Keep my heart open and searching for you all the time. Don’t allow my heart to grow blind to you and forget your loving grace and mercy in my life. Keep my spiritual eyes open, in every single thing that comes my way in this life you have called me to. In Jesus name, Amen

BLAMELESS. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE - Psalm 19:13-14

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

OBSERVATION
In this Psalm, David recognizes the magnificence of God in nature and in the perfection of His precepts. He realizes that his best way to respond to God's greatness is to become a blameless man. So he prays for God to keep him from intentional sins, and requests that his words and thoughts become pleasing to God.

APPLICATION
I always admired this portion of Scripture as a goal for my life. Unfortunately, over and over again my spiritual journey has been tainted with intentional, willful sins. Certain sinful habits have ruled over my life and I have felt disqualified from becoming a blameless person. It's almost as if the enemy has convinced me that this cannot be done. But then David recognizes that God is our Rock and Redeemer. This is huge! First of all, God is more interested in me than in the law. So even when I walk in disobedience, He is my Rock and my Redeemer. He wants to restore me so I can become blameless once again. The key is for me to run and be safe under the shadow of His wings. In Him I can find refuge from the consequences of my sin and assurance that my wrongdoing has been forgiven and forgotten. And my proper response is not to abuse such amazing gift of mercy and keep sinning willfuly. Rather, my response should be more surrendering to His perfect will.

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, your love and mercy always leave me speechless. Every time the enemy wants to make me believe that I cannot be restored and healed from my compulsions, you come with your grace to destroy all those hellish arguments. Please continue your work of redemption over my life. You are my Rock and my Redeemer. My trust is in you, not in me. Let me walk blameless before you not because I have to but because I want to. And give me a consistent victory over the things that have ruled over my life in the past and that continue taunting me every day. I love you Lord! Amen.

PRESERVATION. By Pastor Jan Tomai

SCRIPTURE - Psalm 16:1-2

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’"

OBSERVATION
We think about preserving food, time, ourselves in health and beauty, possessions and even memories. Sometimes, a lot of time and money is spent on exercise, looking just right, education, vacations, therapists. There is an overwhelming need to control our minds, bodies, and emotions. Philanthropists abound adding accomplishments to their names. But, God cuts to the quick...no matter how diligent we are at preserving what we see as ours, there can be nothing good that comes from ourselves. Only God brings the good.

APPLICATION
Sometimes, I think that I so desperately need to preserve things...especially memories, certain sounds or smells. I am not saying that memories are bad, but they do not necessarily bring good into life. In fact, some memories bring regrets, deep unbearable sorrow, and can even paralyze one’s ability to act. What if I used the yardstick of good coming from the need to preserve? What part does God play or is God apart of me in these endeavors? I think finding refuge in God would then become more a part of my life. It is something I greatly desire. For me, it is much like sitting in a dark room, comforted and content with nothing but God’s presence. Bathed in peace with no need to think at all...

PRAYER
Lord, help me to take refuge in You. To lay aside trying to do so many things apart from You. My only hope of preservation is in You and having favor in your eyes. Thank you, Lord, for being my Savior.

JESUS, MY INTERCESSOR. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE - Exodus 32:9-14

⁹ "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. ¹⁰ Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

¹¹ But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? ¹² Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. ¹³ Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' " ¹⁴ Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

OBSERVATION

Israel was quick to forget the Lord's provision of protection and deliverance. The amazing miracles and demonstrations of God's power were not enough to soften their hardened hearts. So at the first opportunity, the Israelites quickly turned away from God and made a golden calf to worship. God's anger was so strong that he decided to destroy everyone. But Moses here intercedes for the people in such persuasive way that God changed his mind.

APPLICATION

In my daily life I often forget quickly who I am and fall back into temptation and sin. Even though I don't walk away from God, I feel like I have disappointed Him. I'm sure that my sin grieves the Holy Spirit and angers the heart of my Heavenly Father. My only hope is in the current ministry of Jesus, interceding on my behalf before the throne of God, just like Moses did for Israel. Jesus is my High Priest, with direct access by the power of His blood, to redeem my life and secure forgiveness and mercy for my life. This is confirmed in the book of Hebrews...

⁵Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. ⁶But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Hebrews 3:5-6.

¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. ¹⁶Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the ways I fall back into my sinful behaviors and satisfy my selfish nature rather than your will for my life. I have nothing to say on my behalf, but to trust by faith in the ministry of my Savior Jesus Christ, who is faithfully in your presence defending me from my accusers and hiding me by the power of His blood. You love me, regardless of my sinful choices. And even though I'm aware of the consequences that my disobedience brings, I can rest assure that my trust in Jesus will give me the victory as new trials and temptations come in the future. Please Holy Spirit, forgive me for grieving you and for resisting you. Restore unto me your anointing and continue guiding me, convicting me, strenghtening me when I'm weak. I need you more than ever before. In Jesus name! Amen.