Day 181: He Prospered Wherever He Went!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Thursday, June 30^th, 2016
2 Kings 17:1-18:12
Acts 20:1-38
Psalm 148:1-14
Proverbs 18:6-7
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1x5gwOH

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went.. – 2 Kings 18:6-7a

Hezekiah trusted God (v 5). He held fast to His commandments (v 6). As a result, he prospered (v 7).

The key to Biblical prosperity is 1) trusting God, and 2) doing what He says. If you are devoting your life to doing what God has called you to do, He will not leave you without the resources to get things done.

Trust God! He never fails. It really is just that simple.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. The world – and all that is in it – is Yours. Help me to always trust in Your provision! As I trust You and obey You, You will provide!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-181-the-one-true-god/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-181-true-freedom/

Day 180: Knowing Him

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Wednesday, June 29^th, 2016
2 Kings 15:1-16:20
Acts 19:13-41
Psalm 147:1-20
Proverbs 18:4-5
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1z2il0N

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” – Acts 19:15

Power comes from a personal relationship with Jesus. The sons of Sceva tried to exercise demons in the name of Jesus without truly knowing Him. They relied on the Jesus whom Paul preached (v 13), instead of receiving Jesus for themselves! The result was danger, not deliverance.

Mooching off someone else’s relationship with God is not enough! Jesus wants to know you. Without Him, you cannot exercise power. Without Him, you cannot be saved. Knowing Jesus is different from knowing about Him. If you do not know Him, you cannot use His name. But once you know Him, if you ask anything in His name, it is done (Jn 14:14)!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for meeting me face to face. Thank You that I get to have a personal relationship with the Father of lights: the Maker of heaven and of earth! Thank you that at the name of Jesus, every knee must bow.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-180-you-are-loved/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-180-connected/

Day 179: Be Passionate!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Tuesday, June 28^th, 2016
2 Kings 13:1-14:29
Acts 18:23-19:12
Psalm 146:1-10
Proverbs 18:2-3
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1lDo4oz

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.” – 2 Kings 13:18-19

Whatever you do, do passionately.

Elisha told Joash to strike the ground. As Joash completed this prophetic act, Israel’s victory over the Syrians was solidified. But Joash struck the ground three times, and then stopped. Elisha was enraged! Joash, “…should have struck five or six times; then [he] would have struck Syria till [he] destroyed it” (v 19)!

God will answer your prayers only as passionately as you pray them. He will fulfill your destiny only as swiftly as you walk it out. If you need breakthrough, pray hard! Don’t stop when you get tired, like Joash; but keep pounding the pavement until your victory is assured!

If your prayers don’t move you, they won’t move God! But when you pray passionately – fervently and effectively (Jas 5:16) – God will answer in kind.

Prayer:

Father, help me to pray bold prayers! I know I can pray with passion, because I am filled with Your Holy Spirit. Make me a passionate prayer warrior, in Jesus’ name!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-179-be-contagious/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-179-handkerchiefs-and-aprons/

Day 178: A Bold Witness

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Monday, June 27^th, 2016
2 Kings 10:32-12:21
Acts 18:1-22
Psalm 145:1-21
Proverbs 18:1
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1jShohJ

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

…Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” – Acts 18:5-6

When Paul shared the Gospel with the Jews at Corinth, they rejected Jesus. But Paul didn’t take it personally. He shook his garments, and reminded them that this was their decision to make. They would receive eternal life if they received Jesus, and condemnation if they did not.

Our responsibility as Christians is to preach the Gospel with boldness: to, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15). Some people will say yes and receive Jesus, and some will say no and forsake Him.

When they say no, take heart. Do not get discouraged. Your responsibility is to share the Good News. Whether or not they receive Jesus is their decision, not yours. If you plant the seed, God will water it. Keep it simple: share the Gospel, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest!

Prayer:

Father, remind me to keep it simple. I’m going to share the Good News with everyone I possibly can, and I know You will do the rest!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-178-in-this-city/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-178-gods-timing-your-timing/

Day 177: Just Can’t Stop Sinning

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Sunday, June 26^th, 2016
2 Kings 9:14-10:31
Acts 17:1-34
Psalm 144:1-15
Proverbs 17:27-28
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1miM6jR

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin. – 2 Kings 10:31

When Jehu assumed the throne, he was zealous for the Lord. He dealt with Ahab’s household exactly as God had instructed. He permanently expelled everyone who worshiped Baal from the nation of Israel. Jehu was on fire for God!

Yet even after all this, Jehu fell. He knew the consequence of not following the commands of the Lord God, and worshipping idols; yet sin was so pervasive in Israel that he could not help himself.

Your environment matters. If you find yourself in a place where sin happens regularly, you will be inclined to sin. When someone comes to me and asks, “How can I stop doing (insert sin here)?” my first response is: change your environment. Change your surroundings. Be smart about the people you hang out with. If you avoid people & places that usually cause you to sin, you won’t be sinning anymore!

Prayer:

Father, give me wisdom to flee from sin. If anything I’m doing is going to be damaging to me, I ask that You would strip it from my life completely, in Jesus’ name!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-177-got-an-itch/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-177-deciphering-scripture/

Day 176: The Anointing Can Be Messy

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Saturday, June 25^th, 2016
2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Acts 16:16-40
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 17:26
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1qveF2Q

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“Then take the flask of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I have anointed you king over Israel.” ‘ Then open the door and flee, and do not delay.” – 2 Kings 9:3

The prophet Elisha instructed his servant to anoint the next king over Israel. But this wasn’t going to be a nice, clean & neat procedure. The whole flask of oil was to be poured out on Jehu’s head as he was anointed. The anointing is messy!

The oil represents the Spirit of God: God’s manifest presence settling over Jehu to equip him for the task to which he was called. Jehu didn’t get upset that his shirt was ruined; he arose strengthened, covered by the Holy Spirit, and full of power. Because of the anointing, he was ready to do God’s work!

The anointing can be messy; and that’s ok! God may be calling you out of your comfort zone, and asking you to worship in a way that makes you uncomfortable. He may show up in such a way that your eyes start leaking tears in the middle of worship or prayer – and that is ok! The anointing can be messy; but messy is required if you are going to answer the call God has on your life.

Prayer:

Father, I invite You to impact me however You see fit. The anointing is messy; and that is OK! I receive everything You have for me; even if it doesn’t come in the nice, neat package I expect.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-176-shaken/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-176-power-in-his-name/

Day 175: Follow-Up Care

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Friday, June 24^th, 2016
2 Kings 6:1-7:20
Acts 15:36-16:15
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 17:24-25
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1e2qnAk

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” – Acts 15:36

Paul knew the importance of follow-up. We cannot simply lead men and women to Jesus Christ, and then leave them to their own devices. We must follow up and minister to them as they walk out Christian life. When you lead someone to the Lord, do you still talk with them six weeks down the road? How about six months, or six years?

Every surgery requires post-surgical therapy. Surgery is immediate; but therapy takes time. If you have a hip replacement, you will require months of physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and tendons around the site of surgery. If you have shoulder surgery, physical therapy will be required to regain your full range of motion. Receiving Jesus is nothing short of heart surgery: God exchanges your heart of stone, and gives you a heart of flesh (Ezek 36:26). So why do we think we can get away without follow-up care?

Follow-up is hard. It requires the one thing none of us can spare: time. Jesus gave people His time by always stopping to love those who needed it most. So should we!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for reminding me how important it is to invest time in the people around me. Nothing can replace a face to face interaction. Help me to realize that it is always worth stopping for the one; and then returning to him or her to handle any follow-up care required.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-175-overwhelmed-by-kindness/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-175-mandatory-participation/

Day 174: Jesus + Nothing = Everything

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Thursday, June 23^rd, 2016
2 Kings 4:18-5:27
Acts 15:1-35
Psalm 141:1-10
Proverbs 17:23
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1pYBgH8

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” – Acts 15:1

Men will always seek to return to the Law. Different denominations list different requirements to be saved; yet the Biblical requirement is to believe in Jesus, and confess your belief in Him (Rom 10:9). You have a choice: you can either live under the Law, or under grace. However, you cannot mix both. If you choose the law, you are a debtor to the whole law (Jas 2:10); and if you choose grace, then nothing else is required!

Live your life in true freedom, knowing that just as Abraham was righteous by faith, you are righteous by faith. If you believe, it is finished!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for simple faith. I believe in Jesus. Period.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-174-heavy-burden/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-174-what-does-healing-look-like/

Day 173: A Merry Heart

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Wednesday, June 22^nd, 2016
2 Kings 3:1-4:17
Acts 14:8-28
Psalm 140:1-13
Proverbs 17:22
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1lX1h1W

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. – Prov 17:22

To be merry means not just to feel joy, but to show joy! When you are demonstrably joyful and visibly glad, your body will respond. It will be like medicine, washing over every part of you to heal and restore. The people around you will also respond! They will want to know why you are so full of joy, and that will be a perfect invitation to share the Gospel with them.

A broken spirit, however, has the opposite effect. A bad attitude sucks the life out of the room, and causes your soul to wither. Wouldn’t you rather go through life feeling good, than feeling like your spirit is broken?

Whenever King David had a broken spirit, he encouraged himself to be merry: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him…” (Ps 42:5). And when you’re anything but merry, you can do the same!

Prayer:

Father, give me a merry heart. I am making a decision today: I am going to be merry, in Jesus’ name! And nothing I am going through can change that!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-173-importance-of-worship/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-173-so-the-oil-ceased/

Day 172: Double Portion

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Tuesday, June 21^st, 2016
2 Kings 1:1-2:25
Acts 13:42-14:7
Psalm 139:1-24
Proverbs 17:19-21
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1iv0tXp

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” – 2 Kings 2:9

God rewards persistence. Elijah told Elisha to stay put three times: first at Gilgal (v 1), then at Bethel (v 3), and finally at Jericho (v 4). But Elisha was zealous to serve. He refused to leave Elijah’s side, because God had instructed him to serve! Because he would not give up on service, he received a double portion (v 9)!

Elisha was a simple man. He, “…poured water on the hands of [his master]” (2 Kings 3:11) for years with no reward. But after years of persistent service, God rewarded Elisha by giving him a double portion of the anointing.

Are you zealous for the things of God? Are you willing to stop at nothing to pursue more of His presence? Serve zealously. Serve persistently. Your reward is coming when you least expect it.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. – Matt 7:7

Prayer:

Father, strengthen me to serve zealously, with no ulterior motives! Make me a selfless servant, in Jesus’ name. Point me to people whom You want me to serve, and I will serve You with all my heart.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-172-go-to-god-first/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-172-by-gods-grace/

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