Day 202: Unity => God’s Presence

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Thursday, July 21^st, 2016
2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11
Romans 7:1-13
Psalm 17:1-15
Proverbs 19:22-23
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1otyZC6
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

…indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord…, that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.- 2 Chron 5:13-14

When Solomon finished the temple, God’s presence fell like never before. The whole temple was filled with a cloud of God’s glory. God’s manifest presence was so tangible that the priests could not even continue ministering! Wouldn’t you like His presence to impact your life in such a mighty way? Wouldn’t you love His presence to impact our nation in such a mighty way?

There were two necessary conditions for God’s glory to fall like never before. First, the priests tore down denominational walls. They were “present…without keeping to their divisions” (v 11). Second, all the people of Israel sang, “as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord” (v 13). The spiritual leaders united together and led the people in worship. When the people stepped outside denominational lines and worshipped together, God put His power and His presence on display!

Unity attracts God’s glory. Right now, our country is divided – black versus white, civilian versus law enforcement, Democrat versus Republican. Our cities need unity. Our nation needs unity! If we really want to see the power of God impact these United States, we have to get outside the four walls of our churches and worship together. When we are united as one, just as Jesus and God are One (Jn 17), God’s Holy Spirit will overwhelm us: not only in our sanctuaries, but also in our cities!

Prayer:

Father, bring us together as Your body. I pray that you would tear down denominational walls and remove every impediment to churches worshipping together! Forgive us for our pride. Help us to lift our voices in unison, and welcome Your presence as people who are united by faith in Jesus Christ.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-202-glory-cloud/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-202-attracting-his-glory/

Day 201: Freed From Sin

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Wednesday, July 20^th, 2016
2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17
Romans 6:1-23
Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 19:20-21
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1lHYjzv
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

For he who has died has been freed from sin. – Rom 6:7

Paul does not say that sin no longer exists. He simply specifies that we, through Jesus Christ, are free from it. Just because you are tempted, does not mean you have to sin. Sin no longer has any hold on you! Where temptation exists, grace to overcome every temptation exists all the more.

Just as sickness no longer has any power over a dead man, sin no longer has any power over you! You were crucified with Jesus: buried with Him through baptism into death (v 4). You were raised from the dead with Him by the glory of the Father. When you trust in Jesus, you will walk, “habitually in newness of life, abandoning your old ways” (v 4, Amplified).

Prayer:

Father, thank You that I am freed from sin! Sin has no power over me, in Jesus’ name! Thank You that I am free to live out my life according to Your will.

View today’s post on our website: https://citylightnyc.com/blog/day-200-giving-with-joy/

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-201-dead-to-sin/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-201-share-the-wealth/

Day 200: Giving with Joy

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Tuesday, July 19^th, 2016
1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30
Romans 5:6-21
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 19:18-19
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1Akrqml
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own.” – 1 Chron 29:16

Everything you “own” is a gift from God. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps 50:10). And guess what? He owns the hills too! Every good and perfect gift is from Heaven (Jas 1:17). It should be our joy to give back to Him.

God asked David and the leaders of Israel to provide offerings for the temple. Why would God involve them? Why wouldn’t He just build the temple Himself? Because God desires partnership with His children. When we offer to God willingly out of the vast sums He has given us, we can do it “with joy” (v 17). Giving produces a joy that would otherwise be impossible!

Give to God with joy. Everything you have is His; but He has given it to you so you can have joy.

Prayer:

Father, help me to give with joy! I don’t want to give out of obligation; I want to give willingly, with joy in my heart.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-200-write-it-down/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-200-do-it/

Day 199: Faith vs. Hope

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Monday, July 18^th, 2016
1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34
Romans 4:13-5:5
Psalm 14:1-7
Proverbs 19:17
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1pjliVL
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

[Abraham], contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” – Rom 4:18

Abraham’s belief was “contrary” to hope. In other words, belief and hope are different. Hope is a vague admission that things could be better under the right circumstances. Belief, on the other hand, is confident and permanent trust in God: the decision that things will get better because He said so. Hope leaves room for debate; belief does not.

Abraham would not settle for hope. Instead, while still hoping, he added belief to the mix. He made the decision to trust God more than he trusted himself, his circumstances, or anyone else! He oriented his life in accordance with God’s promises, so he would be ready to receive God’s blessings as they arrived.

If Abraham had settled for hope, he would not have become the father of many nations. But because he made the decision to believe, God’s promise was activated. Because he believed, he became the “father of many nations” (v 18), just as God had promised. Abraham gave glory to God – he praised Him – until he was “strengthened in faith” (v 20). As his faith grew, he became “fully convinced that what [God] had promised He was able to perform” (v 21). And once he was fully convinced, there was no turning back: God’s destiny unfolded in front of his eyes.

Are you actively believing God’s promises? Or are you simply settling for vague hope that things might get better? The key to answered prayer lies in the difference between faith and hope.

Prayer:

Father, help me to move from hope to faith. I don’t want to just hope things will get better; I want to believe Your promises with all my heart. Thank You for being moved by my faith!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-199-faith-is-not-denial/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-199-faith-is-not-denial-2/

Day 198: How to Be Righteous

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Sunday, July 17^th, 2016
1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11
Romans 4:1-12
Psalm 13:1-6
Proverbs 19:15-16
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1tObkNa
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” – Rom 4:3

Belief is all you need for righteousness. “Believe” is the Greek word pisteuo (Strong’s G4100), which means to put your confidence in someone or something. To believe God means to put your confidence in Him: to trust Him more than you trust yourself.

Believe in Jesus. Trust Him! Faith made Abraham righteous before the law; and faith still makes your righteous after the law. God calls you righteous because of the Cross.

Prayer:

Father, I believe in Jesus! I know that faith makes me righteous, with no strings attached. Help me to enjoy my salvation, because it truly is a free gift!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-198-the-choice/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-198-music-as-prophecy/

Day 197: You Need A Savior

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Saturday, July 16^th, 2016
1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32
Romans 3:9-31
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 19:13-14
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1rfffoc
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… – Rom 3:23

You are not perfect, and neither am I. You have made mistakes, and I have too. But that presents us with a problem. When God judges our deeds at the end of our lives to decide whether we will end up in Heaven or go to Hell, it won’t be a relative comparison. You and I won’t be compared to an axe murderer, or Bernie Madoff. Our purity will be measured on an absolute scale. We will be compared with Jesus! If you’re not completely sinless (100%!), you’re a sinner; and the final resting place for all sinners is Hell.

But Jesus came to redeem your sin. When Jesus died on the Cross, He took on the punishment you deserve for every single bad thing you’ve ever done. He took the weight of all your sin squarely on His shoulders. He died in your place, and received the eternity of suffering you justly deserve for your imperfection in one infinite moment. He did it so you could be saved – so you could be free!

Without Jesus, all of us are lost. But when you believe in Him, “…your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3). God no longer sees your sin; He sees His Son. Jesus took on the punishment you deserve, so you could enjoy Heaven with God. All you have to do to accept Jesus in your life is pray one simple prayer:

Father, I admit that I am not perfect; but I declare that I don’t have to be! Jesus was perfect – He Is perfect – for me. I receive the gift of salvation! I believe in the finished work of the Cross! I receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-197-by-faith/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-197-a-little-known-prayer/

Day 196: Don’t Take It the Wrong Way!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Friday, July 15^th, 2016
1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30
Romans 2:25-3:8
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 19:10-12
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1oGaFZO
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Did his servants not come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” – 1 Chron 19:3

David intended to honor the new king of Ammon. He said, “I will show kindness to Hanun…because his father showed kindness to me” (v 2). He sent messengers and brought gifts to the new king, intending to start out on the right foot. But everything he did was misinterpreted, and taken for evil! The new king’s servants questioned David’s intentions, and rejected the gifts.

No matter how hard you try to do the right thing, some people will misinterpret your loving actions. Take heart. The response undoubtedly has much more to do with what they’re going through – their own insecurities – than it has to do with you. Do not let one bad reaction ruin your willingness to honor the people God asks you to honor!

In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. – Ps 109:4

Prayer:

Father, I know not everyone will understand my actions and hear my heart. Help me to love them anyway, even when I am misheard!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-196-something-for-nothing/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-196-inside-out/

Day 195: Every Day’s Work

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Thursday, July 14^th, 2016
1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17
Romans 2:1-24
Psalm 10:16-18
Proverbs 19:8-9
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1yhDP8O

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required… – 1 Chron 16:37

Ministry to God never stops. Worshipping and serving are not tasks you can ever cross off your to-do list. They are called daily disciplines because, in order for spiritual growth to occur, they must happen every day!

But do not worry. God will bring you joy as you study His word and pray. Discipline does not restrict freedom; it creates freedom. The more you read God’s word and pray, the better you can step into your calling and live out your divine design! Your life serving God will bring you abundant joy you never thought you could have.

Prayer:

Father, help me to find joy in the daily disciplines of reading Your word, praying, and praising Your holy name. I don’t want to just go through the motions. I want to live with a joy only You can provide!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-195-god-is-good/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-195-building-gods-house/

Day 194: Carrying His Presence

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Wednesday, July 13^th, 2016
1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36
Romans 1:18-32
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 19:6-7
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1ozSBAz

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. – 1 Chron 15:25

Carrying God’s presence should bring joy!

The ark of the covenant housed God’s presence. Wherever it went, blessing and prosperity followed. David and his men were so excited to bring up the ark of the covenant – to be carriers of God’s presence – that they started shouting, making music and dancing (v 28)! They didn’t see carrying His presence as a burden, but a blessing! They didn’t need to worry about the presence being heavy, because “God helped [the men] who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (v 26).

The moment you accept Jesus, you are a carrier of God’s presence. You are filled with His Holy Spirit, which means you take the very essence of God with you everywhere you go. You never have to worry about getting weighed down by the responsibility of representing God well, because He will help you, just as He helped the Levites. Your simple task is to joyfully carry God’s presence into your workplace, your home, and everywhere else you go.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for making me a carrier of Your presence. I pray Your presence never feels like a burden. I pray Your presence always brings me joy! I know the more joy I have, the more I can share with the people around me.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-194-do-it-right/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-194-preparing-for-his-presence/

Day 193: Understanding the Times

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Tuesday, July 12^th, 2016
1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17
Romans 1:1-17
Psalm 9:13-20
Proverbs 19:4-5
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1jAgSus

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

..of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command… – 1 Chron 12:32

The sons of Issachar had, “…understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” “Understanding” is the Hebrew yada (Strong’s #3045), which means an intimate knowledge that can only be gained through experience. What you should do is dependent on the place and time in which you live; and when we ask God to help us understand our decision-making context, He will tell us exactly how to respond to current events!

This is a relevant verse given the murders of innocent men we saw on our streets last week. The only way we will know what the United States “ought to do” in response to these atrocities is to ask God to help us understand the times. We should never rush to respond to any event before we ask God to help us understand the times. We don’t have a protestor problem, and we don’t have a police problem; we have a love problem. Pray that God would show us how to love each other like never before!

Prayer:

Father, show me how to love like never before. Move me with compassion for the people you have placed in my life – black, white, civilians, and law enforcement. Give me an understanding of the times so I know what to do!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-193-matching-game/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-193-understanding-the-times/

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