The Daily Word: Saturday, August 11^th, 2018
Nehemiah 1:1-3:14
1 Corinthians 7:1-24
Psalm 31:19-24
Proverbs 21:4
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” – Neh 2:5

Jerusalem was in ruins. When Nehemiah found out, he “sat down and wept, and mourned many days…fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Neh 1:4). When Nehemiah heard about calamity, he dropped what he was doing and did something about it. He fasted and prayed! But he didn’t stop there.

Jerusalem needed to be rebuilt; so Nehemiah volunteered to go. What has God called you to do? What neighborhood, region, or people group, has He given you the grace to serve? When He needs to send someone to do His work, will you raise your hand and volunteer to go?

Many are called; but few ask to be sent. It’s time to step into your destiny. God will send you! But first you have to ask to go.

Prayer:

Father, send me! I know there is much work to do. Send me! Use me as a vessel of Your love. Send me into places where hurting people need a touch of Heaven the most! Send me, in Jesus; name.

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

The Daily Word: Friday, August 10^th, 2018
Ezra 10:1-44
1 Corinthians 6:1-20
Psalm 31:9-18
Proverbs 21:3
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. – Prov 21:3

Obedience activates the Kingdom of God. Obedience – doing what God has asked you to do – is the best way to invite His blessings into His life. Obedience is certainly not popular; but it is absolutely effective.

Faith is simple. Do the right thing: “do righteousness and justice.” Do simple things well! Yes, God responds to grand, sweeping gestures; but He also responds to simple, obedient faith. Just do the right thing! God will take care of the rest.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for honoring obedience. Thank You that righteousness and justice are more acceptable than sacrifice. I want simple, obedient faith, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Thursday, August 9^th, 2018
Ezra 8:21-9:15
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
Psalm 31:1-8
Proverbs 21:1-2
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers.” – Ezra 8:28

How can you encourage someone to do the right thing?

Ezra was taking a leap of faith. He had a huge sum of money to send to Jerusalem for building the temple. He was trusting the priests and the Levites to bring the whole donation to Jerusalem on his behalf. Ezra wanted to encourage the priests and the Levites to do the “right thing:” to steward the funds well so nothing went missing!

But Ezra encouraged them instead of warning them. He didn’t say, “You had better not screw up!” Instead, he said, “You are holy.” He reminded them of their identity. He demonstrated and communicated complete trust in them, instead of implying or verbalizing any concerns.

The best way the change behavior is to instill identity. Remind people who they are, and change their perception of whom God calls them to be! Reinforce the reality that they are created in the image of God, and they will rise to the occasion! When people are reminded who they are, they will embrace a new standard of holiness.

Prayer:

Father, help me to encourage the people around me instead of scolding them. Thank You for our Biblical identity: we are sons and daughters created in the image of God. You trust me even though I don’t deserve it; so help me to extend the same courtesy to others, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Wednesday, August 8^th, 2018
Ezra 7:1-8:20
1 Corinthians 4:1-21
Psalm 30:1-12
Proverbs 20:28-30
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. – 1 Cor 4:19-20

Paul didn’t want to be known for words; he wanted to be known for power. Power is the Greek dunamis (Strong’s G1411), which means “strength, power or ability to perform miracles.” Paul wouldn’t settle for simply knowing about God; he insisted on demonstrating His power. Paul wouldn’t settle for talking about miracles; he wanted to see them everywhere he went!

You were born to walk in power. God is powerful; and you are made in His image (Gen 1:27)! You don’t have to settle for merely intellectual faith, where you know what God is capable of, but never see it in your life. Ask God for life-changing miracles, and He will put His power on display!

Prayer:

Father, I want to see Your miracle-working power in my life. Let me see miracles everywhere I go, wherever the Gospel is preached, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Tuesday, August 7^th, 2018
Ezra 4:24-6:22
1 Corinthians 3:5-23
Psalm 29:1-11
Proverbs 20:26-27
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? – 1 Cor 3:5

We should never follow men; we should follow God! Paul is nothing! Apollos is nothing! But God is everything.

We live in a day and age where many people follow a strong leader instead of a strong God. These things should not be so! The task of every minister is to encourage people to put their eyes on Jesus. As a pastor, my job is to put myself out of a job: to teach people they can have a life-changing relationship with Jesus through an encounter with God’s Holy Spirit, with or without me!

Congregants: Don’t get so lost following a minister that you lose sight of God.

Pastors: The congregants in your church are not your people! They are God’s! He has given them to you, and it is your joy to encourage them to believe in Him.

Prayer:

Father, I want to follow You and You alone. I don’t want to follow a man, because no man can save me! I want to follow Jesus, because in Him I am saved.

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

The Daily Word: Monday, August 6^th, 2018
Ezra 3:1-4:23
1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4
Psalm 28:1-9
Proverbs 20:24-25
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, – Ezra 4:4

The more God’s people made progress, the more the enemy tried to discourage them. At first, the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin didn’t trouble them as they rebuilt God’s temple; but as soon as the builders started making real progress, their enemies tried to frustrate them!

The more progress you make, the more the enemy will try to discourage you. If the enemy causes you trouble, take it as a compliment: it means you are doing good work! Don’t get frustrated because obstacles arise; be encouraged, because you are on the right track. Just keep building, and everything will fall into place!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for progress! Slowly but surely, I know I am doing the work You have called me to do. Bless me, protect me, and shield me from discouragement, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Sunday, August 5^th, 2018
Ezra 1:1-2:70
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
Psalm 27:7-14
Proverbs 20:22-23
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. – 1 Cor 1:18

Do your friends think you’re foolish for believing in Jesus? Does your family give you a hard time because you go to church? Do your co-workers question your decisions because you love the Lord your God with all your heart?

Who cares what they think!! Scripture prepares us for the reality that people who don’t know Jesus will think we are foolish for following Him. But what they think doesn’t make the Gospel any less true. What they think doesn’t make the Cross any less powerful. What they think doesn’t make Jesus anyone less than King of kings and Lord of lords!

From this day forward: live your life free from the opinions of others. God loves you; and that is all that matters.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your power! Thank You that the Gospel means I am Heaven-bound. Your grace means I am free from sin! When I chose to believe in Jesus, everything changed; and I thank You for it, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Saturday, August 4^th, 2018
2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23
1 Corinthians 1:1-17
Psalm 27:1-6
Proverbs 20:20-21
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. – 2 Chron 36:15

If you are on the wrong track, God will warn you. He will send you messengers to encourage you to give up unfruitful pursuits, and pick up God’s mantle for your life. His Holy Spirit – who lives in you – will tug on your heart and ask you to ignore the distractions, and spend more time with Him.

Warnings are not bad; they are good! Warnings help you to avoid disaster by putting your eyes back on Jesus, and getting back on track.

When the Holy Spirit warns you, don’t ignore Him! Stay humble, and be open to His instruction. God’s warnings will keep your destiny on track; and they might even save your life. Make the decision to listen, and do what God says!

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights. – Prov 3:11-12

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your divine warnings! I pray my heart would be humble enough – and my ears would be open enough – to listen at all times!

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

The Daily Word: Friday, August 3^rd, 2018
2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33
Romans 16:10-27
Psalm 26:1-12
Proverbs 20:19
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes. – 2 Chron 34:19

King Josiah heard the word, and he tore his clothes. The word of God is powerful! As Shaphan the scribe read the Book of the Law for King Josiah, he was convincingly convicted. He immediately repented: he tore his clothes to represent a separation from his old ways, and a commitment to wholeheartedly follow God!

Do you want to follow Jesus like never before? Read the word. Do you want to win people to Jesus like never before? The word of God is enough! You don’t need an argument; all you need is the word. Read them the word, and watch their lives transform, in Jesus’ name!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your powerful word. All I need to see real change happen in my life is consistent exposure to Your word. Give me a passion to read – and to hear – like never before, in Jesus’ name!

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