CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Malachi 3:1-4:6

Revelation 22:1-21

Psalm 150:1-6

Proverbs 31:25-31

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1HZwopy

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (Mal 3:10).

This year, we are making the commitment as a church to go deeper. Jesus is Lord; we all should know that very well by now. But more specifically, He is Lord of our lives. Say this out loud: Jesus is Lord of my life. That means we give everything to Him: our job, our finances, our relationships, our hopes, our ambitions, and even our dreams. When we give everything to God without reservation, He promises that He will open up the windows of heaven for us. He will make all the heavenly resources at His disposal available to us, so that we can use them to go out and expand His kingdom.

Happiness is only temporary; joy is permanent. Happiness comes from our condition; joy is a result of our position as children of God. Let’s resolve to make 2015 a year of going deeper: a year of giving everything over to God, so that He can fill us with eternal joy!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for an amazing year in 2014! Help me to love You like never before in this year that’s approaching. I want to worship You with abandon, and follow You closer than ever before, in Jesus’ name!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Malachi 1:1-2:17

Revelation 21:1-27

Psalm 149:1-9

Proverbs 31:10-24

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1BfT9U2

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4). Death, sorrow, crying and pain. These are all on the list of things that do not exist in heaven. This is the promise we have in Jesus Christ: that when we trust in Him, He will grant us a place in heaven, by His side and in the glory of God, for all eternity. This is worth celebrating!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for reserving a place for me in heaven! Thank You that even though I could never earn it, Jesus Christ earned it on my behalf. He paid the ultimate price, and served as my Sacrifice, so that I could gain entry into Your kingdom: a place with no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain. Thank you for promising me relief from all the things of this world, in Jesus’ name!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zechariah 14:1-21

Revelation 20:1-15

Psalm 148:1-14

Proverbs 31:8-9

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1tudk1S

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Satan’s punishment for centuries of deception is described to John in excruciating detail: “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev 20:10). Forever and ever is a long time. If you sit still long enough to try and wrap your mind around the concept of eternity, you will find yourself gasping for air. Too often, we put off thoughts of eternity because it’s an infinite concept: something that is too hard for us, as finite beings, to understand. However, we must urgently seek to understand that we will live for all eternity. That knowledge should guide our thoughts, and shape our actions, every single day of our lives.

I have met and known too many men and women who convince themselves that it is too early to start thinking about life after death: that they are too young to worry about eternity. Please do not allow yourself to live your life that way. Make a decision to live your life for God. Do it today. As soon as you do, He will transform your life for the better!

Prayer:

Father, help me to make a decision to live my life for You! I don’t want to settle for a natural life; I want my existence to be nothing short of supernatural. Move through my life, and impact me as only You can!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zechariah 12:1-13:9

Revelation 19:1-21

Psalm 147:1-20

Proverbs 31:1-7

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1wW886k

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (Ps 147:11). God’s people should have a healthy fear of Him. There is, however, such a thing as an unhealthy fear of God. So what’s the difference?

A healthy fear of God from a place of confidence in God’s ability to perform His word. It is reverential and worshipful, and based on God’s omnipotence. An unhealthy fear of God, on the other hand, comes from a place of shame in our inability to perform everything we desire to do. The former is based on God’s far-reaching ability; the latter focuses on our own shortcomings. Which fear of God drives you?

“But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared” (Ps 130:4).

Prayer:

Father, I want to fear You in a healthy way. I want my Godly fear to be one based on reverence and respect; never shame. Mold me into a child of Yours who truly understands how forgiven I am!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zechariah 10:1-11:17

Revelation 18:1-24

Psalm 146:1-10

Proverbs 30:33

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/13BX2av

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone” (Zech 10:1). Zechariah reminds us of a simple key to seeing God’s promises come to life: ask! We cannot receive that for which we do not ask. Yet when we ask according to God’s will, we are guaranteed the petitions that we ask of Him (1 Jn 5:14-15). We must remember to ask. God wants our whole hearts. He is waiting for an invitation to intervene on our behalf, and He is sure to accept when we extend that invitation to Him. So…ask!

“Pray, and let God worry.” ― Martin Luther

Prayer:

Father, help me to remember to ask for what I need! I know You are faithful to deliver that which You have promised; but I know I also need to invite You into my life. Help me to remember to ask, in Jesus’ name!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zechariah 9:1-17

Revelation 17:1-18

Psalm 145:1-21

Proverbs 30:32

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1vjmS9R

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you” (Zech 9:12). God wants you to experience double restoration. No matter how far gone you think you are, or how far from grace you think you have fallen, God promises to restore you to fullness when you rely on Him. The blood of Jesus Christ – the blood of our covenant with God (see v 11) – activates double restoration!

At the conclusion of the Book of Job, we see God’s double restoration at work. Job had everything stripped from him by Satan, but God restored double as Job continued to trust in Him. Return to God, for He is your stronghold. Do not be a prisoner confined to hope; but an overcomer freed by faith. God will restore double in your life.

Prayer:

Father, You are the God of double restoration! I have seen You do it in Job’s life, and I have seen You promise it through Zechariah. Make my life a testimony to Your desire to restore double, in Jesus’ mighty name!!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zechariah 8:1-23

Revelation 16:1-21

Psalm 144:1-15

Proverbs 30:29-31

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1AMDa1w

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“They shall be My people and I will be their God…” (Zech 8:8). God’s will has always been to dwell among His people. We see in Genesis that God’s original intent in creating Adam and Eve was to enjoy fellowship with them: to walk in the “cool of the day” (Gen 3:8) with man in the Garden of Eden. Even though sin has tainted our receptiveness to His design for our lives, God’s original desire still remains. He has moved heaven and earth to dwell among us. He sent His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to die for all our sins so that we might enjoy restored fellowship with Him! God made a way where there was no way. We have been purchased – redeemed into His presence – by the blood of Jesus Christ, for all eternity!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Only Son Jesus Christ! Thank You that Jesus paves a way for me to heaven. Thank You that He restores me to righteousness in You!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zechariah 6:1-7:14

Revelation 15:1-8

Psalm 143:1-12

Proverbs 30:24-28

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1CFAiD5

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“’Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother’… But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear” (Zech 7:8,11).

We have a love problem in New York City. We’ve lost sight of the greatest command of all: to love one another (Jn 13:34). We don’t have a police problem; we have a love problem. We don’t have a protestor problem; we have a love problem. Until we love each other, unconditionally, Satan is establishing a root of bitterness in our city that is preventing us from taking territory for God’s Kingdom. Keep it simple. Love one another. Make a commitment today to love every person God puts in your path: unconditionally, and without fail.

Prayer:

Father, help me to love the people around me with everything I have. I want to love every single person You put in my path, because You have put them there so I can love them. Help me to keep it simple, and focus on showing the world the love that Your Son showed to me!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zechariah 4:1-5:11

Revelation 14:1-20

Psalm 142:1-7

Proverbs 30:21-23

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1zRYGR8

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zech 4:6). Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, had started rebuilding the temple at Jerusalem. God needed Zerubbabel to know that he would finish the work he had started. He would not finish his undertaking, however, by his own might and strength; but only by relying on God’s Holy Spirit to work through him with supernatural power.

God has called all of us to ‘rebuild His temple’ by expanding His kingdom here on earth. We will only finish God’s work when we learn to rely on His Holy Spirit. Through our own might and power, we can do nothing; but God, working through us, can accomplish whatever pleases Him!

Prayer:

Father, I pray that You would remind me every single day to rely on Your Holy Spirit. I will achieve victory in this life, on Your behalf, in the form of dramatic Kingdom expansion. I will only do it when I learn to rely on Your Holy Spirit!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zechariah 2:1-3:10

Revelation 13:1-18

Psalm 141:1-10

Proverbs 30:18-20

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1zUWUQu

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes’” (Zech 3:3-4). Zechariah details a beautiful vision for us this morning. Joshua stands before the Angel of the Lord to be judged, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him of every bad thing he has ever done. The Angel does not even listen to Satan or his many arguments, but simply rebukes him. Without a second thought, He exchanges Joshua’s filthy (i.e. really, really dirty) garments, and clothes him with rich robes (i.e. really, really nice & clean).

This is exactly the exchange God wants to make for each and every single one of us. We are all filthy, and have done some despicable things. But Jesus does not listen to Satan as he accuses us of sin. Jesus immediately exchanges our filthy garments for robes of righteousness when we turn to Him. He immediately forgives the long list of not-so-holy things we have done, and wipes our record clean. Jesus not only gives us a better life; He gives us a brand new life.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that I am washed clean by the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. I know that because I rely on Jesus, You see me as You see Him. You have forgiven my sins, and You see me clean and spotless. Thank You, in Jesus’ name!