Romans 15 - 10.22.24
SCRIPTURE
Romans 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
OBSERVATION
Paul is speaking to the church in Rome and speaks to us wholeheartedly being not only filled in our walk with the Lord Jesus, as Christians, but filled with care and concern for others. Pointing out Jesus as the example, Jesus ALWAYS put others first. As is stated in Romans vs 3:
“For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
APPLICATION
Our hope is in Jesus Christ. What He endured as the promised Messiah is unfathomable. HE IS THE GOOD NEWS and the GREAT ENCOURAGER!! We are left with HIS Holy Spirit as our guide and comforter. Our HOPE is in His words and we are on fire to pour out this hope and encourage others when we see the needs and the trials they are going through. AND of importance, at least to me, is to recognize when I am being CRITICAL of others and CHANGE to see them as Jesus does. And encourage them. And claim the word ENDURANCE.
PRAYER
Lord, when I read these scriptures and I think of all You and the disciples went through and the people who know you today because of YOUR ENDURANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT given to these twelve men to carry on your work of salvation, I fall on my face with love and humble gratitude and tears. Thank you, Father!
From these twelve men after Jesus was resurrected:
2022 statistics of people who Identify as a Christian in the world with a 1.17 percent growth rate, almost 2.56 billion people will identify as a Christian by the middle of 2022. By 2050, that number will top 3.33 billion.
Lord, today let me/each of us review our walk in this life and Lord, give us your encouraging words for others and if there is any one we feel critical of let us remember a previous teaching of Pastor Levi, Amen!
Luke 6:41-42
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye
- Charleen Zakarian
Romans 14 - 10.21.24
Scripture
Romans 14:21
“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”
Observation
Paul is talking about Christian liberty and not using our freedoms as a means to make another brother or sister in the faith stumble (based on individual conscience). For example, some of the meat that the believers ate were apparently sacrificed to idols. The believers who did not eat the meat felt that it shouldn’t have been eaten because it was sacrificed to idols and therefore, unclean. (Drinking wine was also mentioned, as unclean for some believers, but clean for others—that’s still a matter of dispute today!)
Verse 5 is another matter in the church that Paul had to address, which is also current to today. It had to do with thinking that one day was more sacred than another day, while some believers believed that all days were alike! That reminds me of the Sabbath. Some people think that it must be Sunday, while others think it should be Saturday, yet others treat all days alike, so it could be any day in the week!
Paul says, “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food (Verse 5).” Basically, the church of God and our relationship with our brothers and sisters in the faith should not be destroyed over secondary issues!
Application
Our liberties should be used to build each other up, not tear each other down. (David Guzik on enduringword.com)
We all have liberties in the faith. Based on Scripture, that includes what we eat, what we drink (aka alcohol) and what day we consider holy. Regardless of our liberties in the faith, we are not called to be judgmental towards someone who takes a differing stance than we do on these issues. In verse 22, it says, “So whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God.”
There are so many other secondary issues that have caused division among brothers and sisters in the faith. At the end of the day, we need to operate in love towards each other and humbly serve one another in love by what we choose to do with our “freedoms.”
“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.” (Verses 17-18)
Prayer
Dear Lord, I know that the enemy uses so many tactics to separate Christ followers and the Church. Many of these are secondary issues, unrelated to You, salvation or sin. I pray that we would not judge one another based on what we believe, but rather serve each other humbly in love and consider each other better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Please reveal to me how I could better serve my brothers and sisters in Christ. May I always use my freedoms to build others up, instead of tear them down. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
Joshua 8 - 10.18.24
Scripture Joshua 8:1-2; 34-35 NIV
”Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”“
”Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.“
Observation:
Joshua has been told over and over again to be strong and courageous. I am thankful God knows our weakness and reminds us of the actions we need to take. In this instance he had a reason to be discouraged, Israel had lost a battle resulting in lives lost. The cause was discovered and dealt with, more death.
God told Joshua to go and fight Ai; they would be victorious. He also added another instruction, this time they could take items and livestock for themselves. So sad that Achin could not have waited. God planned to bless them when the time was right. He gave a Joshua a plan. They were to set an ambush behind the city. Joshua bravely carried out this plan and they were victorious. Soon after he built an alter, inscribed the 10 Commandments in stone for all to see, and read all the words of the law to the people. He recognized the importance of the people knowing God’s Word.
Application:
God wants me and you to be strong and courageous. One mix up does not nullify God’s plan. There will be consequences if we disobey, but we can repent and move forward in victory. God is there waiting to give us direction. It is vital that we hear and know God’s word. I want to seek God first for His will. Struggles will come, but He has a plan to defeat the enemy.
What a great reminder as we journey through the 3-day Ascent how Joshua brought Israel together to hear the Word. God gives us all we need to be successful. It is important to take time out to seek Him.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I am in a season where I need to be strong and courageous. There are things I’m facing that seem impossible. Thank you for your words of encouragement. As I seek you, you give me a plan. Help me learn from your creativity. Sometimes the key is to ambush from behind.
Be with the DSC church family as they fast and pray. Help all who need direction from you. Give us wisdom to follow your Word and correction where needed to get on the right track. You have so many good things ahead. Thank you! Amen
- Cindy Howard