I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Acts 16-17 and 1 Thessalonica 1-2

 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*".

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day three focuses on Paul's first missionary journey, and the various converts made during this journey, including Lydia, Paul and Silas' jailer, and the Bereans. Lucado reminds us of how God and the Holy Spirit work - that we are not converting anyone but either planting or watering a seed but God is the one responsible for growing and harvesting the seed.  Lucado also wants us to keep in mind that we are never fully aware of the impact others have had on our lives and the impact we have had in others' lives yet we may come to more fully understand this impact when we reach Heaven. We are encouraged to plant and water seeds. 

Whatever our role in the Great Commission and in spreading the gospel, we all have a role and it is to be a light. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and I am deeply grateful for the many brothers and sisters in Christ You placed in my life to plant and water seeds in my life for my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I do hope that I can be that same blessings for others.  Yet I am undeserving of the many blessings You pour out for me - I worry and I am often harsh with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

Revelation 8-11

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

Session #6 of  David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 8-11. 

Key Reminder: The purpose of this book, is not to promote speculation about the future; we must be compelled to act in the present. 

Chapters 8-11, use trumpet blasts to warn of coming judgement and to signal salvation/victory. These trumpets use imagery use similar imagery from the Egyptian plagues (Exodus 7-13) and Joshua's victory at Jericho.  These trumpets represent:

• 1-4: systematic physical judgements across creation; do not put your ultimate hope in created things
• 5-6: terrifying personal judgments for idolatry and immorality (8:13); woe spoken to unbelievers throughout Revelation; demonic forces unleashed under the authority of God; third of mankind wiped out (9:15); despite harmful effects of idolatry and immorality rebellion continues (9:20-21) - this is a scene today!
• God is giving the world warning!  Turn from sin!
• God is calling the church to war; we are not at peace time with the spiritual forces of evil.

Revelation written to compel us to act in two ways:  

• Fervently pray for God's kingdom to come
• Fearlessly proclaim God's gospel to all

Our battle is fierce and the spiritual demons want to destroy us.  However, our prayers are effective (8:2) - return of Jesus and judgement is result of our prayers!  Our cries go up and His kingdom comes down!

Our God is faithful - responds to our prayers.  He will demonstrate His power over the gods of this world. He will vindicate His people amid opposition in this world.  He will extend His mercy to sinners around the world.  He will uphold his justice amid sin in this world.

We must fearlessly proclaim God's gospel to all.  In chapters 8-11, words prophet and prophecized repeatedly used representing how God's people proclaim God's word and truth in the midst of judgement.  Although our suffering is expected, our lives are secure (11:18)!  Out task is prophetic!  Don't stay silent!  Our message is clear!  Our light is unquenchable and our souls are touchable (11:5-6).  Our power is invincible and our death during the end times will be temporary (11:11-12).  Our resurrection will be sure! V15 represents how our mission will be complete and our God will be glorified! We will behold His majesty! His judgement will be final and His servants will be rewarded and His enemies destroyed.  We will be welcomed by His mercy.

My Prayer: Jesus - You are indeed a great God and Your will reign forever and ever and I am grateful that You have adopted me into Your family!  I am not deserving of salvation as I still sin!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.

Mark 6

And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. v11

We as believers hope that everyone will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior - yet we should continue to pursue others with whom we can share the gospel in the hope that they can accept Jesus as their Lord Savior.  We are messengers but Jesus does the saving...

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has blessed me with great friends and family who support me in so many ways...thank You Jesus! Yet I am undeserving of such blessings because I worry and miss the mark daily with so much more sin then I can care to admit or even realize.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me be humble.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.

Ezekiel 2

And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. v6

Ezekiel is called to be a prophet - to deliver God's words to the Israelites.  In the Old Testament, God spoke directly only to select individuals and through prophets.  The Israelites at large learned of God's words through these prophets and later through teachers of the law.  Although God led them out of Egypt through Moses, Aaron and Joshua, the Israelites rejected God as their king and instead asked Samuel to appoint an earthly king. With a few clear exceptions, including David, this decision by the Israelites marks a turning point and a turn from God and His rule to monarchy and a reliance on earthly power.

Ultimately, God's plan includes raising up His Son as the King of Kings and through Jesus, the Holy Spirit, His Word, etc., God can talk directly through and to us...and Jesus wants us to talk to others about Him...and just as Ezekiel 2:6 states, He wants us to speak boldly and fearlessly (see Acts 4:20).

Some of us may be gifted with the ability to prophecy (see 1 Corinthians 12-14) but I would highly recommend a watch of this interview with John Piper on the difference of prophecy between the New and Old Testament.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You sent Your Son so that we may have the same power - the Holy Spirit - that raised You from the dead available to us.  Thank You Jesus!  What an amazing God!  I love You Jesus.  Yet I am not worth all that You do for me.  I miss the mark - I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...[F]or my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Isaiah 56

...[F]or my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. v7

We are commanded to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ - see Matthew 28 and the Great Commission.  Yet I know for myself that I often make judgements of who would be good candidates to receive this Good News.  This is NOT what Jesus asks of us as Jesus is for everyone.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You saved me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act - I judge others and I worry, among my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Proverbs 24

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? v11-12

There are those in my life who I know are being led away towards death...those who are staggering towards slaughter.  Yet I not only know this is going on, I have done little to nothing about it.  Shame!

God wants me to be a light and to share the light with others.

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Read The Great Commission in Matthew 28.

See also Ezekiel 2, and Jude 1.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God worthy of my life as a living sacrifice and my full attention.  There is no God like You and I desperately need You to save me my the sting of sin and death and to direct my steps and my path. Thank You for snatching me from the fire.  Forgive me for not being the man You intend for me.  Help me be that man.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal  and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

Proverbs 3

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. v27

Needs can be visible and less visible (although rarely invisible).  Whether it is a physical or emotional need, there are needs all around us and it is important to be both aware and attentive to the needs around us.  In our family, in our neighborhood, at work, at church, etc. we must see everyone as God sees them as worthy of a savior as we are.  

The good referred to in today's verse can be encouragement, fellowship, or it can be kindness in any number of ways - physical needs, etc.

See also posts from:
1 John 3
Jude 1

In particular, this morning the following verse pricks my heart:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who came not to be served but to serve.  You serve me every day and You suffered and died for me....and You continue to pour out Your love, compassion, patience, mercy, etc. for me even though I am totally undeserving.  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for my worry and my stress.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.