Inquire of the Lord (Devotional Thought for June 20)

Posted on June 20, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Psalm 136:1-9 | 1 Kings 22:1-53 | Acts 13:16-41 |Prov. 17:17-18

Today’s Scripture Focus:  1 Kings 22

“Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.  But Jehoshaphat also said to the King of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the LORD.”
(1 Kings 22:4-5, TNIV)

 

Ahab and Jehoshaphat were ready to join forces to recapture Ramoth Gilead.  Jehoshaphat made one wise request before pledging full support, “Let’s seek the counsel of the LORD.”  He knew that to make a decision with out inquiring of the LORD was to make a decision too quickly.

The LORD’s wisdom includes information about the seen and the unseen.  We see only part of the picture.  God knows what will happen.  He knows the hidden purposes he will accomplish.  His ways are higher than ours–but he has promised to reveal his wisdom if we ask for it.

The LORD’s wisdom isn’t always what we want to hear, either. Ahab was hesitant to call on the prophet Micaiah. He always prophesied what Ahab didn’t want to hear.  We sometimes surround ourselves with counselors who will only tell us what we want to hear.  But there is wisdom in seeking the LORD’s counsel from one who has the integrity to tell us the truth–even when the truth hurts.

Micaiah was asked by the messenger who sought him out to speak the same words as the other prophets.  His response was filled with wisdom, “As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me.”  To speak in any other way is to become a false prophet.

Seek the LORD and his counsel.  When he speaks, listen, even if it isn’t what you want to hear.

When you are asked for counsel, seek the LORD and his wisdom first.  Don’t presume to know his will without seeking his counsel.  Don’t just tell people what they want to hear. Hear from the LORD and speak the truth even when it isn’t popular.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 136:10-22
2 Kings 1:1-2:25
Acts 13:42-14:7
Proverbs 17:19-21

©2005 by Jeffrey R. Syverson. Feel free to share with others, but give credit where credit is due

 
Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Leave a comment

Surprise! (Daily Devotional for June 18)

Posted on June 18, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Today’s Scripture Readings:

Psalm 135:8-14 | 1 Kings 19:1-21 | Acts 12:1-23 | Proverbs 17:14-15

Today’s Scripture Focus:  Acts 12

“Peter is standing at the door!”
“You’re out of your mind,” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”
Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally went out and opened the door, they were amazed. Acts 12:14b-16, NLT

James had already been killed.  Now Peter was in prison and a similar fate was expected.  The church called a special prayer meeting.They gathered and prayed at Mary’s house (mother of John Mark): “…the church prayed very earnestly for him.” (5)

Despite the earnest praying, they still stood amazed at the answer.  Let’s be honest, we are sometimes amazed too when God answers.

Often we pray more out of desperation than in expectation.  We pray more because we feel overwhelmed than because we are overflowing with hope.  Their disappointment at the death of James, surely weighed heavily on them. In times when we feel confused and overwhelmed by that which we don’t understand it’s sometimes hard to hold on to hope.

Still, whatever deficiency there may have been in regard to their expectation, God did answer their prayer.  Peter was awakened by an angel of the Lord.  His chains fell off and he was led to safety.  Peter went to tell the others.

He knocked on the door and the servant girl answered.  She was so amazed and overjoyed that she left Peter at the door knocking while she told the news to the others.  Despite their fervent praying, they couldn’t believe their ears.

Finally they had to see for themselves.  Opening the door, they were completely amazed to find Peter without a scratch.

God answers prayer.  Pray fervently and expectantly.  And don’t be too surprised when the answer you are seeking comes knocking at the door.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 135:15-21
1 Kings 20:1-21:29
Acts 12:24-13:15
Proverbs 17:16

Copyright 2005 by Jeffrey R. Syverson. Feel free to share but give credit where it is due.
Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The God Who Answers (Daily Devotional for Jun 17)

Posted on June 17, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
The God Who AnswersToday’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 135:1-7  |  1 Kings 18:1-46  |  Acts 11:1-30  |  Proverbs 17:12-13

Today’s Scripture Focus:  1 Kings 18:1-46

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (21)

“LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” (36-37, TNIV)

His bold faith brought him to a dangerous place.  Elijah took on King Ahab and the prophets of Baal.  He called them to reject Baal worship for the living God.  He challenged them to a “duel” where the true God would answer by sending fire.

The prophets of Baal did everything they could to get their god’s attention. Louder, Even Louder they cried.  Then in desperate measures, even cutting themselves to try to gain Baal’s attention.  But there was only silence. “But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.” (29)

Elijah rebuilt the altar of the LORD.  He placed the sacrifice on the altar and then to make it harder, he had them pour water–lots of water–on the sacrifice.  Then he prayed.

This time, there was an answer.  The living God showed himself to be a God who hears and answers prayer.  He answered by fire, consuming the sacrifice.

We often find it convenient to worship other gods–often gods of our own making or imaginations.  These gods bring us some pleasure or satisfaction, but in the end they cannot save–they bring no real hope.  When we really need someone to be there, someone to answer, we are left with silence.

How good it is to know that there is a God we can always turn to.  One who always listens.  One who is able to save us no matter what dangerous place we find ourselves in.  We have every reason to stop wavering between false gods and the living God.  With confidence, we can devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the one who loves us and hears and answers our prayers.

Cry out to Him today.  He hears.  He will answer.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 135:8-14 | 1 Kings 19:1-21 | Acts 12:1-23 | Proverbs 17:14-15

©2005 by Jeffrey R. Syverson. Feel free to share with others, but give credit where credit is due.

 
Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Hello world!

Posted on June 15, 2012 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Welcome to Pastor Jeff’s Neighborhood–the blog edition. I used to have a website called Pastor Jeff’s Neighborhood at pastorjeff.com. It was a rather eclectic place with daily devotionals, sermons, quotes, and then there was the funny stuff…neighborhood news and  “the Playground.”  I got too busy to update the site and eventually closed it down.  Every once in a while I have someone asking me for a resource that used to be online at Pastor Jeff’s Neighborhood… so I decided to start making them available.  Not all at once, but little by little, I’ll roll out some classic stuff…and try to add some new stuff along the way too.  Hope you enjoy it.   To begin with I’ll start with today’s entry from my daily devotional (Open Up Your Heart).  These devotional thoughts were originally sent out as an email list to my church members to encourage them to read through the Bible in a year.  I committed to sending out a daily reminder of the verses…and that led to sharing a devotional thought on that day’s reading that came out of my own reading of the texts.  So, if you read through the suggested texts, you will read through the Bible in one year.

Hope you enjoy it  (much more to come)!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment