The Daily Word: Saturday, June 30^th, 2018
2 Kings 17:1-18:12
Acts 20:1-38
Psalm 148:1-14
Proverbs 18:6-7
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods… – 2 Kings 17:7

God had freed His people from Egypt; but now Israel was going back to Egypt and asking for help! Assyria was attacking Samaria, and King Hoshea didn’t know what to do. So instead of seeking God, he sought man! Instead of going to God and asking for help, he went back to the king of Egypt!

Just because something is familiar doesn’t mean it is best for you. God delivered His people from Egypt on purpose. If they had come to Him for help, He would have gladly delivered them! Yet they compounded their problems by asking their former captors for deliverance.

Don’t go back. You don’t need the bottle to manage your stress. You don’t need that unhealthy relationship to keep you from feeling alone. God delivered you from those things on purpose: so you would come to Him, instead of going back to them! You are free; so stay free, in Jesus’ name!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for delivering me. You have brought me through some incredible obstacles, and caused me to conquer in the face of incredible odds. Help me never to turn back to the same old vices for help. I want to turn to You instead!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, June 29^th, 2018
2 Kings 15:1-16:20
Acts 19:13-41
Psalm 147:1-20
Proverbs 18:4-5
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. – Ps 147:1

Your praise is beautiful to God. Your voice may not be perfect; but your praise is! No matter where you are at in your life, your praise is beautiful. No matter what you’re struggling with, your praise is beautiful!

So are you ready to change your day? Lift up your voice. Start out your day by signing praises to God. Sing them in the shower. Sing them on the train! Sing them in your office. Praise Him with your whole heart, and watch how your day changes for the better.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. – Heb 13:15

Prayer:

Father, thank You for filling me with praise! I love You; and I love to praise You! Remind me to praise, every second of my day, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, June 28^th, 2018
2 Kings 13:1-14:29
Acts 18:23-19:12
Psalm 146:1-10
Proverbs 18:2-3
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. – Acts 19:10

Wherever Paul went, he preached the Gospel. When Paul came to Ephesus, he “spoke boldly for three months” in the synagogue (v 8). Some received the message and accepted Jesus; but others did not. Either way, Paul made sure of one thing: everyone got the message.

This was Paul’s testimony: that “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus.” What will your testimony be? Will all who are in your family hear the Gospel? Will all who are in your office or workplace hear the Gospel? Will all who are in your neighborhood or apartment building hear the Gospel?

You are a powerful messenger, everywhere you go. Preach the Gospel with boldness, in Jesus’ name!

Prayer:

Father, I want my testimony to be like Paul’s. I want to be a bold witness, in Jesus’ name! Give me the strength and the courage to make sure everyone hears the Gospel, everywhere I go.

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, June 27^th, 2018
2 Kings 10:32-12:21
Acts 18:1-22
Psalm 145:1-21
Proverbs 18:1
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. – 2 Kings 11:2

Joash had an amazing destiny; but the enemy tried to squash it. Joash was just a boy; but he was born to be king! So when Athaliah came to kill him, his aunt (Jehosheba) stole him away. Joash was not old enough to protect himself, so someone older (i.e. more mature) protected him.

You were once young in your faith. When you weren’t mature enough to stand up and defend yourself, someone more seasoned stood in the gap and contended for you. You wouldn’t be here – in love with Jesus – if it wasn’t for them! That means two things:

1) Be Grateful. Your are here because of God’s grace, not because of your performance.

2) Pay It Forward. You know at least one person – maybe several – who need your prayers. When the enemy comes for them, they will need your protection! Back them up in prayer.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the people You sent to protect me. I needed them, even if I didn’t know it. Help me to turn around and do the same for someone else, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, June 26^th, 2018
2 Kings 9:14-10:31
Acts 17:1-34
Psalm 144:1-15
Proverbs 17:27-28
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining. – 2 Kings 10:11

Even Ahab’s “close acquaintances” were killed for Ahab’s wickedness! This would seem to suggest that we should avoid people who are far from God: that if we hang out with wicked people, we are in danger! Yet Jesus was the “friend of sinners” (Matt 11:19). He constantly spent time with men and women who were wicked!  If we are going to fulfill His mandate to preach the Gospel to all the world, we have to become “close acquaintances” with the wicked if we want to see them saved. So where do we draw the line? How close is too close?

Here is the difference. Jesus spent time with sinners who didn’t know the goodness of God; yet Ahab’s circle was full of people who did know God’s Word, yet deliberately chose to ignore it. If someone knows God’s goodness – the Gospel – but deliberately chooses evil instead of good – death instead of life, time and time again – we have to be careful!

Be careful whom you call friend. We must be friends with sinners if we ever want to see them saved; but our own walk can be compromised if we associate with wicked people too closely. Let the Holy Spirit lead you every step of the way!

Prayer:

Father, help me to choose my relationships wisely. I want to be a friend of sinners; but I know I must avoid the wicked who will never turn to You. Help me to make the right choices, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, June 25^th, 2017
2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Acts 16:16-40
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 17:26
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. – Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas were arrested (v 20), beaten with rods (v 22), thrown in into prison, and put in stocks (v 24). Their ribs were probably broken. Their backs were surely torn to shreds! But no matter what, they worshipped.

Paul and Silas made a decision: no one was going to steal their worship! They knew that worship would give them strength. They knew that worship would heal their bodies! They knew that, even in prison, someone would hear their worship and come to know the goodness of God.

Whatever you are in the middle of: are you ready to worship? You see, though Paul and Silas were physically bound, they were spiritually free! Though they were trapped in a literal prison, they had been loosed from an eternity of suffering! Salvation always puts our current troubles in perspective. Whenever you are tempted to fear, remember everything Jesus has already done! Then, make a decision to worship.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the power in worship. Thank You that worship heals my body and my soul. Thank You that worship facilitates breakthrough, and invites Your Holy Spirit to rush in and move! Make me a worshipper, in Jesus’ name.

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, June 24^th, 2018
2 Kings 6:1-7:20
Acts 15:36-16:15
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 17:24-25
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” – 2 Kings 6:15-16

Elisha’s servant panicked because he could not see what God was doing. He woke up one morning in Dothan, and an entire army surrounded the city. Because he could not see how Heaven was moving in his midst, he did not know that victory was guaranteed.

Yet Elisha, is master, did not fear. Why? Elisha saw what God was doing. His spiritual eyes had been opened to the move of Heaven. He already saw, “…the mountain…full of horses and chariots of fire all around [him].” Elisha saw; so he was not afraid.

The key to fearlessness is seeing what God is up to. Ask God to open your eyes. Ask Him to show you what He is doing. Ask Him to remind you that what He is about to do for you, is far greater than anything the enemy could ever do to you!

Prayer:

Father, open my eyes! I want to see what You are doing. I want to trust You like never before. Show me what Heaven is doing, so that I might live without fear!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, June 23^rd, 2018
2 Kings 4:18-5:27
Acts 15:1-35
Psalm 141:1-10
Proverbs 17:23
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. – Acts 15:2

You will have questions. You will have doubts about your faith! You will have moments when you wonder how to apply what you believe to your life. The question is not, “Will those moments come?” It is, “What will you do when they arrive?”

Paul and Barnabas had help. They had apostles and elders to think through problems with them, and weigh in on major choices. They had people they could trust to point them in the right direction!

Do you have elders to whom you can go for help to decipher God’s will? Do you have people in your life who provide a safe emotional space to explore your questions and doubts? If not: Is it time to pray God would send some of those people into your life?

Prayer:

Father, send me wise counsel. Send me people who will help strengthen my faith. Send me men and women to whom I can turn whenever I have a question, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, June 22^nd, 2018
2 Kings 3:1-4:17
Acts 14:8-28
Psalm 140:1-13
Proverbs 17:22
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. – Acts 14:8-10

Here was a man in Lystra who had been crippled from his mother’s womb. He needed a creative miracle in his feet! And he was about to get one. Paul saw, “…that he had faith to be healed” (9). Then, Paul commanded the man to stand, and the man was healed!

But take note: the miracle started when Paul spoke up. Paul never would have prayed if the man didn’t have faith to be healed. The man would have never had faith if he hadn’t heard the Gospel. He would have never heard the Gospel if he hadn’t heard Paul speaking! It all started because Paul spoke up!

Don’t you see? It all starts with you opening your mouth and telling someone about the goodness of God. Aren’t you tired of meeting other Christians by accident? Of finding out a co-worker is also Christian after years of working together? Of “working on” your friends and family for years before finding the perfect moment to share the Gospel?

It’s time for bold faith. Don’t apologize for the message God has given you. He is good, and Jesus is Lord; and the world needs to know! It all starts when you make a decision to speak up!

Prayer:

Father, help me to speak up! I want to pray with passion. I want to preach with boldness! I want to share the Gospel: everywhere I go, without reservation, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, June 21^st, 2018
2 Kings 1:1-2:25
Acts 13:42-14:7
Psalm 139:1-24
Proverbs 17:19-21
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight.” – 2 Kings 1:14

You can learn from your mistakes. But even better to learn from the mistakes of others!

The army captain who came to Elijah had witnessed two small armies be consumed by the fire of God. Instead of meeting the same fate, he made a decision: I will learn from their mistakes. Instead of proudly trying to arrest the prophet Elijah, he bowed the knee to God. He confessed his weakness to Elijah, and asked for mercy; and he and his men were saved!

You do not have to allow yourself to be consumed by the same fires that consume other men. Learn from their mistakes. Stay away from the traps into which they fell.  Honor God the way they should have honored Him. You will be better for it!

Prayer:

Father, help me to learn from the mistakes of others! I don’t want to fall into the same traps that sidetrack other people. I want to do better, and be stronger, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.