03/17 Reading - Thoughts & Comments DX3

17-Mar Deut. 5-6 2 Cor 1-2 Psalms 76-80 Proverbs 17

Deut 5:2-6 (NIV)2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 It was not with our fathers that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. 4 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. 5 (At that time I stood between the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said:  6 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Many people ride on the coat tails of historic success as long as possible.  Children ride alongside their parents, live on their success, enjoy free housing, food, insurance, and sometimes automobiles, clothing, etc. until they absolutely must spread their wings and try out adult responsibilities  for themselves.  Americans are still trying to live on the former success of the industrial revolution and hard working Americans from the 1900's which made America the greatest export and lending nation in world history.  Most people try to enjoy a good "former" thing as long as they can, until they are forced to take action and make life work for themselves.  For some, we live in the former shadows because of fear of failure, insecurity of our own relationship with God, immaturity, and some are just plain lazy.

The same was true for Israel.  God was confronting them about the difference between historical promises made to their forefathers, and "NOW" promises made to them personally.  He had met with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He made promises about a land of promise, and He blessed them mightily.  But there were 400 years of slavery between those promises made and now. Therefore God was renewing His promise to this generation, and telling them that they could have the promise if they would walk in covenant with Him "NOW".  He was speaking to them face to face, appearing before them in fire, and He wanted to take them somewhere.  But they would have to decide if they could walk out a real, personal covenant with Him, and to believe that His promises were for them, right now and right here.

You and I are faced with the same offer from God.  We cannot honestly live on the coat tails of our parent's faith.  We can't get to Heaven on someone else's salvation.  And we can't walk in divine success by just following a man who follows God.  We must bridge the gap, pull our relationship up to a personal encounter with almighty God, King of kings and Lord of lords.  We must walk into the fire, experience the power of the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ for ourselves, and fully identify with sonship in the kingdom of God.  We are coming to a day where our faith will be tested and we must not be calling on the God of our fathers! We must be calling upon Jesus whom we know personally!

Acts 19:13-15 (NIV) 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 [One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"

Jesus told Peter to get out of the boat in the middle of a choppy ocean and come to Him.  With out a personal relationship and full trust in Jesus, Peter never would have been able to trust his life with Jesus.  Remember that there were eleven disciples in the boat who didn't get out.  It was Peter's act of faith in a personal savior and commander Jesus which was recorded in world history that day when the miracle happened.  The Son of God walked on water that day, and a fisherman who trusted the Son of God also walked on water as long as he kept his eyes fixed on Jesus.

With your eyes fixed on Jesus, you are going to be called out of the boat and into stormy seas.  You will need to have your eyes fixed on THE ONE who can save you, and who is directing your steps.  This will absolutely require a personal, one on one relationship with the Son of God.  No one who follows on the coat tails of another's faith will get out of the boat.  Only those who make God's promises a reality for their own lives.

COMPASS GUIDE will help to direct you to God's promise which is hidden inside of you.  Once you uncover the gold, silver, and precious stones, you will begin to see God miraculously offer to walk with you and to personally help you to fulfill His divine dream for you.  COMPASS GUIDE puts your boots on the ground in building your relationship with Jesus and His miraculous kingdom.  COMPASS GUIDE also causes you to see and hear God's voice in the fire, just as Israel did.  

Revisit your 25 word core vision statement today.  Make a solid plan to activate that vision statement in your life this week.  Get that vision statement on the earth by walking it out with God leading the way and opening doors for you.  And by all means, make an effort to fulfill your short term goals this year, leading you to medium and long term goal fulfillment in the years to come.  Take a deep breath.  Accept the personal covenant that God has for you through Jesus Christ, and draw near to Him.  Make it personal, as you will need Him as a personal Father, mentor, friend, counsellor, and defender in the times to come.      

Tomorrow's Reading:
18-Mar Deut. 7-8 2 Cor. 3-4 Psalms 81-85 Proverbs 18
19-Mar Deut 9-10 2 Cor. 5-6 Psalms 86-90 Proverbs 19