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Saturday, February 28^th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 22:17-23:44
Mark 9:30-10:12
Psalm 44:1-8
Proverbs 10:19
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1cr9us2

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

“And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.” – Lev 23:28

Atonement is reparation for sin: the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ. Entire denominations of Christianity have been built around attempts to ‘earn’ our own salvation through works. Yet even under Levitical Law, God separated work from atonement.

Salvation is a free gift, and we should rest in it. Even under the Old Covenant, God set a precedent that work and atonement should be completely separated. How much more applicable is that division under the New Covenant?

Prayer:

Father, reconciliation doesn’t happen by my might or power, but by Your Holy Spirit and through Your Son Jesus Christ. Salvation is a free gift! Help me to accept it and rest, knowing that there is nothing I could ever do to earn my own salvation.

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Friday, February 27^th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 20:22-22:16
Mark 9:1-29
Psalm 43:1-5
Proverbs 10:18
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1fJwRl0

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” – Mk 9:23

Jesus did not say that some things are possible to those who believe. He did not say that a few things are possible to those who believe. He said that ALL things are possible if you and I believe!

We will all face situations in our lives when our faith is challenged. We may encounter some prayer needs that just seem too big. But God is a Big God, and nothing is impossible for Him!

Jesus encouraged the man in Mark 9:23 to believe. In response, the man “…cried out and said with tears, ‘…Help my unbelief!’” When we have trouble believing, we can ask God for help!

When unbelief surfaces, it does not mean that something is wrong with us, or that we have failed in any way. It simply means we need more help from God. Ask Him to help your unbelief, and He will delight in meeting your need.

Prayer:

Father, help my unbelief! I want to believe You for all the promises in Your word: financial blessing, physical wholeness, and healthy relationships in my life. I know that You and You alone can help my unbelief!

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Thursday, February 26^th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 19:1-20:21
Mark 8:11-38
Psalm 42:1-11
Proverbs 10:17
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1o4N9pm

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” – Mk 8:34

Jesus promises that when we seek Him first, everything else will fall into place (Mat 6:33). In Mark 8, He cautions us that if we seek to live for ourselves, we will find only death; but when we seek to live for Him, He will give us life.

To ‘deny oneself’ means to, “forget one’s self, lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests” (Strong’s #533). We have been given an incredibly important mission. The whole world is in danger of missing out on eternal salvation. They need to hear the Gospel message inside of us in order to be saved! There is no time to waste on worrying about ourselves: our own life ambitions, and any personal goals that fall short of the glory God has in store for us!

Jesus Christ already laid His life down for you. Are you ready to lay down your life for Him?

Prayer:

God, I say YES! Take my life and make it into exactly what You need it to be. I want to pursue the thoughts and plans that You have for me with reckless abandon. I want to put everything else down, and take up the cross You ask me to bear. I give my life to You, so that You can show me what it means to truly live!

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Wednesday, February 25^th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 16:29-18:30
Mark 7:24-8:10
Psalm 41:1-13
Proverbs 10:15-16
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/MWE3j9

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” – Mk 7:34

Jesus healed when He was moved with compassion. In Mark 7, a man was brought to him who was both deaf and mute. He touched (laid hands on) both areas in need of healing. Then, Jesus looked up to heaven, and He sighed.

To ‘sigh’ is the Greek word, stenazo (Strong’s #4727). It means to sigh or groan with grief. God’s Only Son was so profoundly upset by the lack of perfect health in this man’s body that the only action He could muster was to look up to heaven and groan. It broke Jesus’ heart to see one of God’s children in such a condition. From that place of perfect compassion, Jesus spoke healing into his body.

Sin, sickness, disease and death should upset us: so much, in fact, that our only reaction is to look up to heaven and groan. God’s will is to heal all His children. The enemy will do everything he can do stand in the way of our perfect health. However, when we adopt the perfect compassion that Jesus demonstrates, sickness will bow to His name.

Prayer:

Father, it breaks my heart to see sickness and disease all around me. Give me the compassion Jesus had for the sick. I want to sigh, and groan, and welcome in Your presence when healing needs to take place. I love you, Lord!

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Tuesday, February 24^th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 15:1-16:28
Mark 7:1-23
Psalm 40:11-17
Proverbs 10:13-14
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1dom1wF

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me! – Ps 40:13

Our God delivers. Whenever we are in the midst of a trial, He gives us the comfort we need to get through it. He makes haste – in other words, He acts quickly – to help us.

What’s more, God is pleased to deliver us. He does not rescue us from trials and circumstances reluctantly, with a roll of His eyes. He is not frustrated when we call on Him. He loves us more than we can imagine, and He actually takes pleasure in delivering us!

Ask God to deliver you from every trial and circumstance. Sometimes, He will allow us to go through a process that results in purification. But even in the midst of those trials, He promises us comfort.

Call on God, and He will be pleased to help you!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your everlasting love! You are pleased to help me in every trial and circumstance. When I am weary, I will call on Your name. I know you will make haste to deliver me!

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Monday, February 23^rd, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 14:1-57
Mark 6:30-56
Psalm 40:1-10
Proverbs 10:11-12
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1bWbjT9

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” – Mk 6:37

Jesus had just given His disciples power over unclean spirits, and sent them out two by two (Mk 6:7). They returned with amazing testimonies: signs, wonders and miracles everywhere they went! But it didn’t take long for them to forget about the power they had just been given.

As evening approached, the disciples asked Jesus to send the multitudes away so they could buy something to eat. But Jesus stopped them in their tracks, and reminded them of the power at their disposal. “You give them something to eat,” He said. You do it! The disciples had forgotten about the authority they had been given!

As the disciples handed out bread and fish to the five thousand, it multiplied. Multiplication takes place as God’s provision passes through the hands of His disciples. God will give us supernatural provision so that we might multiply it. He has certainly given us His Gospel – a revelation of Who He Is – so that we might multiply by sharing it with others!

Jesus has given you power and authority to declare God’s word out over your life. Use that power wisely; but don’t forget to use it.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the supernatural power in the name of Jesus! Help me to stop relying on others to take care of problems that You have given me to solve. I know that as resources pass through my hands, You will multiply them!

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Sunday, February 22^nd, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 13:1-59
Mark 6:1-29
Psalm 39:1-13
Proverbs 10:10
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1hhJYZm

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!” – Mk 6:2

The word “that” connects Jesus’ mighty works to His wisdom. Every man and woman who heard Him speak was astonished at His wisdom; and every person who saw Him heal marveled at His mighty works!

Wisdom and power are inextricably linked. If we seek to perform mighty works for God, but do not pursue His wisdom, we will be left neither. But if we seek His wisdom, and understand that power comes with it, we will see both in our lives!

Seek to understand God’s word. Ask Him for more wisdom in your life. Seek wisdom first, and mighty works will follow.

Prayer:

Father, I seek Your wisdom first. I want to see You perform mighty works through my hands; but I know that can only happen when I seek to genuinely understand You for all You are! Help me to seek wisdom first!

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Saturday, February 21^st, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 11:1-12:8
Mark 5:21-43
Psalm 38:1-22
Proverbs 10:8-9
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1nRZiOp

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” – Mk 5:36

All Jesus needs to perform miracles is our faith. Doubt is not the opposite of faith; fear is the opposite of faith. Fear cancels faith. Fear is the precursor to doubt. When we fear, Satan can operate and sow seeds of doubt in our lives. But when we remain steadfast in our faith, Satan’s hands are bound and the Holy Spirit is free to move, unhindered.

In Matt 6:25, Jesus commands us: “Do not worry.” The same way we turn away from sin, we must turn away from worry and fear. We must make the conscious decision to believe that God Is Who He says He Is, and refuse to accept any lie to the contrary. “Do not worry” is not a suggestion; it is a command!

The ruler of the synagogue did not fear. He ignored the reports of death from his family and friends, and pressed on towards the goal of healing by following Jesus. He believed, and his daughter was restored to life!

Prayer:

Father, help me to believe! I never want to doubt You. You are God, and You are capable of anything and everything as outlined in Your word. Help me to avoid fear, and embrace faith!

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Friday, February 20^th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 9:7-10:20
Mark 4:26-5:20
Psalm 37:30-40
Proverbs 10:6-7
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1c3L87s

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.” – Mk 4:26-27

A farmer plants, and then he waits. Worrying about the seed he has just scattered will not make it grow any faster. Staying up at night and refusing to sleep until he sees tangible growth will not help the process. The farmer’s responsibility is to plant the seed; the rest is up to God.

Much of what occurs after the farmer plants his seed happens out of sight. He will not see the seed taking root, or growing below the soil. But just because there is not growth above the surface does not mean that development is not taking place!

Our prayers are seed. When we pray, we are sowing seed, just as the farmer scatters seed in the verse above. Worrying and waiting for answers to our prayers will not make them come any faster; the timing is up to God. We won’t always understand the growth process, but rest assured that God has a plan through it all. Even when we can’t see what He’s doing beneath the surface, it doesn’t mean that growth isn’t taking place.

Pray with confidence. God is always at work, even when we don’t see the imprint of His hands. It is our responsibility to plant the seed; the rest is up to God.

Prayer:

Father, give me confidence to pray with boldness! I humbly ask that You would put prayer requests on my heart. Allow people to approach me with concerns that need to be brought to prayer. I will trust in You, and know that my seed is taking root!

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Thursday, February 19^th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 7:28-9:6
Mark 3:31-4:25
Psalm 37:12-29
Proverbs 10:5
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1kU6tsb

Commentary from Pastor Mike White:

“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” – Mk 4:20

The enemy will do everything in his power to prevent God’s word from taking root. As Christians, we often pray for opportunities to deposit seed – to share the Gospel. But sometimes we forget to pray for good ground – that unbelieving hearts would be softened and prepared for the deposit of God’s word.

God is in the business of exponential increase. When a hearing heart accepts the Good News, Jesus guarantees an increase of at least thirtyfold, but quite often much more than that. There is no limit to the number of lives we can change, and eternal futures we can impact, when we share the Gospel with everyone we meet!

Pray that the heart of every man and woman in your family would become good ground. Pray that the heart of every man and woman in your city would become good ground. Pray that the heart of every man and woman in this nation would become good ground! When God’s seed takes root, the world will be overcome with Kingdom growth!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for making my heart good ground. This morning, I pray for every single person in my life who does not know You. Make their hearts good ground: fully receptive to the Gospel message, and fully accepting of the finished work of the Cross! In Jesus’ name!