1 February Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

Transcription

1 1 February 2019 Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, God bless you richly as you study God s Word this month. Look at Psalms 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I am praying for God s Word to help you to know how He wants you to live as you study it this month. He will always speak to us through His Word. Gladly in His Service, Dr. Jason B. Brittain

2 Friday February 1 Scripture Reading: Exodus Matthew 21:23-46 Praise the Lord! We are working our way straight through the book of 2 Timothy. For today 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. We need ALL of the Word. It is ALL God-breathed. That means it originates with Him and the Life that It produces comes from Him as well. Thank God we can have all of it we want. Some of the religious leaders challenged Jesus authority to teach like He was teaching. He turned it back on them and asked them a question. Matthew 21:24-26, Jesus replied, I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John s baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men? They discussed it among themselves and said, If we say, From heaven, he will ask, Then why didn t you believe him? But if we say, From men --we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet. They were more afraid of what the people would think than anything else. We need to be more interested in God and what He thinks than anything else. Then Jesus taught a parable about some people who were not faithful. Look at what He said in Matthew 21:43, Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Jesus is interested in His people bearing fruit. The religious people we just talked about weren t producing any fruit. We need to live for Jesus and help others to come to know Him more. That is producing fruit for God. Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful for ALL of Your Word. Help me to consistently study it and help me to believe it all. I also thank You for always speaking the truth to me. I want to bear fruit for You. Help me to learn for myself and use me to help others to grow too. I know that You will always help me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

3 Saturday February 2 Scripture Reading: Exodus Matthew 22:1-22 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is Godbreathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. I know we covered this verse yesterday but I want to point out what the Word is useful for. It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and for training in righteousness. Think about that last one. It is through the Word that we know that we have been made righteous and it is through the Word that we can know how a righteous person should live. Thank God for the Word! Look at Matthew 22:15, Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. Now you know that their plans weren t going to succeed. Jesus was God, all-knowing and the Word made flesh. Here were mere humans with bad motives trying to trap Him. Look at Matthew 22:16-17, They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. Teacher, they said, we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? They started off saying some nice things about Jesus but they didn t really believe them. Then they tried to trap Jesus with a question that they didn t think He could answer. Look at what Jesus said in the next verse. Matthew 22:18, But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Jesus knew their evil intent. He spoke the truth to them and look at their reaction. Matthew 22:22, When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Prayer: Lord, help me to be trained in righteousness through Your Word. I want to know that I am righteous and I want to live righteously. I also thank You for always speaking the Truth. I choose to believe You and to base my life on Your Word. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

4 Sunday February 3 Scripture Reading: Exodus Matthew 22:23-46 Praise the Lord! Look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Through the Word we can be equipped for every good work that God wants us to do. That sure makes me want to study and know the Word more. How about you? I have been writing to you about some of the people who opposed Jesus and I want to show you something different from one of those times. Matthew 22:34-36 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Now it is clear that this man didn t have good motives but Jesus used this occasion to teach a very wonderful truth. Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Jesus told us to love God and to love people and we will be living like God wants us to live. Isn t this a wonderful truth? It came in response to a person with bad motives who tried to trick Jesus. If you ever needed an example of Jesus taking something bad and bringing good out of it this is it. Love God and love men and you will be living like God wants. Prayer: Lord, I want to be equipped for every good work that You have for me to do. Help me to study Your Word consistently and help me to really get the truths that You are teaching me. I want to love You and I want to love people like You say I should. Thank You for making these things clear and understandable for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

5 Monday February 4 Scripture Reading: Exodus Matthew 23:1-22 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:1, In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Paul was going to make a very serious charge to Timothy. Do you have people in your life who can speak to you about serious matters. You should and if you do take what they say to heart. They are trying to help you just like Paul was trying to help Timothy. Matthew 23:1-4, Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Jesus wasn t the only teacher around. These people were teaching but their teachings weren t really helping their listeners. Those who followed them ended up worse than when they started. Those who followed Jesus were set free. He said things like this, John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Thank God we are following Jesus! Look at Matthew 23:17, You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? Let me make an application here that you may have never thought about. We all have gold (money and finances). We are God s temple. The temple (us) determines wether our gold (money and finances) are godly or not. We do that by giving and using what we have in ways that are pleasing to God. Prayer: Lord, I thank You for all the ways You speak to me. Help me to listen to the Godly leaders You have brought into my life. I am so glad that I am following You. I want to live and I want to give like You want. Help me to have Life and Life to the full. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

6 Tuesday February 5 Scripture Reading: Exodus Matthew 23:23-39 Praise the Lord! Want to see some of the charges that Paul had for Timothy? 2 Timothy 4:2, Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. Preach the Word is a great charge for anyone who has opportunities to share with people. When you have people who consistently preach the Word to you it is a blessing. Be thankful. Matthew 23:27-28, Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. There are some people who look good on the outside and they may even say things that sound good but they are not good on the inside. These people are wrong and they are off track. Jesus said, Woe unto them. When Jesus approached Jerusalem He was sad for those who didn t know Him. Matthew 23:37, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Jesus wanted to help them but they were not willing to come to Him for help. Let s never make this mistake. Let s always run to Him for help. That starts with our being willing. Look at isa Isaiah 1:19, If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land. Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful for those who Preach the Word to me. Help me to learn from them. I also want to share the Word with people when I have a chance. Help me to always be willing and obedient to You. I know that Your ways are always right and I know that they lead me to Your best. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

7 Wednesday February 6 Scripture Reading: Exodus Matthew 24:1-22 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:2, Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. We need to be ready at all times. Here is how to stay ready. Store the Word up in your life all the time and you will be ready. When you live like that you will be blessed and you never know when someone will come along who needs just what you have. You may have thought you studied, memorized and meditated on those verses for yourself (and you surely did) but they were also your being ready to help someone else. In Matthew 24 Jesus is speaking about end times and His returning. Look at Matthew 24:4, Jesus answered: Watch out that no-one deceives you. We don t know when Jesus is coming but we know that He is. The way to be ready when He comes is to be ready all the time. I know this seems like a simple thing but it really is profound. If you are ready all the time you will be ready when He comes. It is the best way to live. Matthew 24:23-24, At that time if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! or, There he is! do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. These verses are describing some very dire times but don t miss the point that God is still looking out for His people through it all. Thank God that we have given our lives to Jesus. We can know that He is always with us and that He is going to help us no matter what we go through. Let s stay close to Him! Prayer: Lord, help me to store Your Word up in my life so I am always learning and so I am always ready to help others. I know sharing Your Word is always the right thing to do. I also want to be a faithful and wise servant. Help me to always know the truth that sets me free. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

8 Thursday February 7 Scripture Reading: Leviticus 1-3 Matthew 24:23-51 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:2, Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. We should do everything with the Word. Paul told Timothy to correct, rebuke and encourage with the Word. Matthew 24:45-46, Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. This is exactly what I just wrote to you about yesterday. Those who are faithful and wise will be ready when the Master returns. So, keep studying the Word and put God s ways into practice in your life. You will be ready for Jesus to come. You will hear Him speak Words of blessing and promotion to you. When we are faithful and wise we will be positioned to be used by God more. Look at the very next verse, Matthew 24:47, I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. I don t want you to miss this because it is very important. Those who are faithful and wise will be put in charge of God s possessions. That is an amazing promise and it is true. You see, God has so much that He wants accomplished and He is always looking for people to help Him with His work. He is looking for faithful and wise people. When we are faithful and wise in little things He knows we will be faithful and wise in bigger things. So, be faithful and wise right where you are today. God knows and sees what you are doing and He will use you more when you are ready. Prayer: Lord, I want to know Your Word more so I can use it more. I know that You are equipping me and I trust You. I trust You to teach me Your ways and I trust You to use me when I am ready. Help me to be faithful and wise in all things. I am so glad that You are my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

9 Friday February 8 Scripture Reading: Leviticus 4-6 Matthew 25:1-30 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:2, Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. We need to be patient. You may share God s Word with someone many times before it bears fruit but know that planting God s Word is want we need to be doing. Be patient and careful in your instructions. Also always remember that it is God who is doing the work. We need to do our part and then we need to trust Him. Look at Matthew 25:14-15, Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. Jesus taught this parable and I want you to notice how it was determined how much each person would get. It was, each according to his ability. One man had five talent ability, another had two talent ability and the last one had one talent ability. Now skip down in the story a little bit and look at Matthew 25:19-20, After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. Master, he said, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more. The man who started out with five talent ability worked with what he had and doubled the five talents into ten. Here s want I want you to see. As he was faithful his ability increased. So when we want to be used more we need to be faithful and God will increase our ability. Prayer: Lord, help me to be patient with people and help me to know that You are working with the Word in their lives. I know that You have given me ability and I know that I need to be faithful right where I am. Please help me to grow in my ability so I can be used by You more. I don t ever want to miss out on anything You have for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

10 Saturday February 9 Scripture Reading: Leviticus 7-9 Matthew 25:31-46 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:3, For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. Paul said the time would come when people would do these things and we sure see a lot of these things happening today. We need to stay steady with the Word. As we do that we will be safe and we will hopefully be able to help others. Matthew 25:34-36, Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Right after this the people asked Jesus when they did these things to Him and look at His answer. Matthew 25:40, The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. When we do good to God s people Jesus says we are doing it to Him. You see, Jesus knows that He and His people are one. Here s an example of this. In Acts 9 Saul was persecuting God s people and look at what Jesus said to him. Acts 9:4, He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Jesus asked Paul why he was persecuting Him. Prayer: Lord, I want to base my life on You and Your Word. I know that I will be safe and I want to help others to know You. I also thank You for helping me to love people and helping me to give them assistance when I can. Help me to be a doer of Your Word and not a hearer only. I love You! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

11 Sunday February 10 Scripture Reading: Leviticus Matthew 26:1-19 Praise the Lord! Paul is describing people who don t know God. 2 Timothy 4:4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. We know Jesus and we consistently turn to Him. These people don t know Him and they get further and further from Him. Let s stay close to Jesus and consistently study His Word. These things are a much better way to live Jesus came to die on the cross for the sins of mankind. Matthew 26:1-5, When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, As you know, the Passover is two days away--and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified. Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. But not during the Feast, they said, or there may be a riot among the people. Jesus came for this very purpose. Sometimes people get the idea that His life was taken from Him. He actually came and laid His life down. Matthew 26:17-19, On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover? He replied, Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house. So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. The disciples did what Jesus told them to do and it all worked out. This is how we should live. Hear from Jesus, do what He says and watch things work out. Prayer: Lord, I want to stay close to You and I want to keep learning from You. I am always going to turn to You and I am never going to turn away from You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to hear from You and I want to obey You quickly and completely. Thank You for being patient with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

12 Monday February 11 Scripture Reading: Leviticus 13 Matthew 26:20-54 Praise the Lord! Look at what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:5, But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. What do you think of Paul saying that we should, keep your heads in all situations? I think it is good advice. You see when a person panics or gives into fear they can get off track. When we keep your heads in all situations we will be able to hear from God and He will always be there to help us. Jesus was getting closer to dying on the cross. Those who were opposing Him were become more bold in their efforts to kill Him. Jesus told Peter than he was going to betray Him. Look at Matthew 26:33-35, Peter replied, Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. I tell you the truth, Jesus answered, this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times. But Peter declared, Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you. And all the other disciples said the same. Peter made a bold assertion here that he was never going to disown Jesus and all the disciples said the same thing. Matthew 26:39, Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. This is how Jesus prepared Himself for the hard things ahead. He prayed and He submitted His will to God s will. That is a great example of how we need to face hard things too. We should pray and submit our wills to God s will. Prayer: Lord, I want to keep my head in all situations. I know that I can always trust You and I know that keeping my faith in You will help me not to panic or not to get into fear. Help me pray more and to submit my will to You. I know that Your help is what I always need and I know that I always have it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

13 Tuesday February 12 Scripture Reading: Leviticus 14 Matthew 26:55-75 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:5, But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Did you know that in this life we will face hardships? I am sure you know that is true by personal experience. Here s the good news. We don t ever have to face hard times alone. Jesus will always be with us to help us and to give us strength. Matthew 26:55-56, At that time Jesus said to the crowd, Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. Jesus said these things were going to happen and all the disciples said they wouldn t happen but they did. Here are two points from this. First, Jesus knows what He is talking about and He is always right. Secondly, Jesus knew they were going to deny Him but He didn t quit loving them and He didn t quit working in their lives. Isn t this good news? You see, we have all let Him down at times and yet He still loves us and He is still working in our lives. Matthew 26:75, Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: Before the cock crows, you will disown me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly. Haven t there been times when you felt like this? Well, Jesus is still working in your life. I know He is because you are still studying His Word. Thank God for His love and His forgiveness. Prayer: Lord, I know that You are always with me and I am so thankful that You are always with me when I am going through something hard. Thank You for always loving me and for never quitting on me. I know that I can always turn to You for help and forgiveness. I am so thankful for Your love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

14 Wednesday February 13 Scripture Reading: Leviticus Matthew 27:1-31 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:6, For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. Paul knew that his time to die was coming. Here is what he was doing. He kept ministering to people. He didn t become distracted by focusing on himself alone. He knew what was coming and he was ready to go and be with Jesus. He used the time he had to help as many people as possible. Look at the last verse we covered yesterday, Matthew 26:75, Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: Before the cock crows, you will disown me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly. Peter did deny Jesus and He was remorseful. Now in contrast look at Matthew 27:1-5, Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. I have sinned, he said, for I have betrayed innocent blood. What is that to us? they replied. That s your responsibility. So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Judas also denied the Lord and he gave up. He committed suicide and closed the door to Jesus and God forever. Later Peter was restored and ended up being an Apostle in the Church. Don t ever quit. We have all let the Lord down but we need to keep turning to Him for forgiveness and restoration. Don t ever quit. Prayer: Lord, I know that focusing on You and Your good work in my life is always the best. Help me to remember this when I am tempted to focus on myself too much. I know that You always forgive me and restore me if I don t quit. Thank You for loving me so much. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

15 Thursday February 14 Scripture Reading: Leviticus Matthew 27:32-66 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Paul was ready to go. He knew that he would be with Jesus forever and he had done what God wanted him to do in this life. That is how we should all be at the end of our lives. Here s how to get there. Live for Jesus fully and never quit. You may have some setbacks along the way but never quit. We need to remember that Jesus went through everything He did for us. He was not arrested for His own crimes and He was not killed for His own sins. He went through it all for us. He died on the cross for our sins. Our sins had separated us from God and His death was the only way they could be atoned for and He willing did it all. Matthew 27:41-42, In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. He saved others, they said, but he can t save himself! He s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. Jesus could not save Himself because He was saving us. Don t ever doubt God s love. Jesus died on the cross and He was buried. Matthew 27:65-66, Take a guard, Pilate answered. Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how. So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. You know this but it is such good news that I want to remind you. Death, hell and the grave could not hold Jesus. When He had fully paid the price for our sins He was raised from the dead and He is alive forever. Our forgiveness and salvation has been completely paid for. Prayer: Lord, I want to live fully for You and I want to be ready to die like Paul was. I want to fight the fight and I want to finish the race. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins so I could be forgiven and born-again. I know that without You I was completely lost and I know that with You I am completely saved. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

16 Friday February 15 Scripture Reading: Leviticus Matthew 28 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:8, Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Paul had fought the fight and he had run the race. Now at the end of his life he knew that his rewards were secure in Jesus. There was a crown of righteousness waiting for him and it was going to be his forever. Let s live like he did! JESUS IS ALIVE! That was the greatest news 2,000 years ago and it is still the greatest news today. The guards in the natural did everything they could to keep Him in the tomb and I am sure the devil did everything he could do to keep Jesus dead but JESUS IS ALIVE! Matthew 28:12-15, When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, You are to say, His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep. If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. They did everything they could to keep this news from getting out but the news that JESUS IS ALIVE is still being spread today. Now, Jesus wants to use us. Matthew 28:18-20, Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Prayer: Lord, I know You are alive and I am going to tell others about You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

17 Saturday February 16 Scripture Reading: Leviticus Mark 1:1-22 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:9, Do your best to come to me quickly. Paul wanted Timothy to come and visit him and so he asked Timothy to do his best to come. Here s something we need to do our best at. 2 Timothy 2:15, Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Do your best as you study God s Word and as you live for Jesus. Mark was the first to write a Gospel account of Jesus life and ministry and it is a very fast paced book. Even though it is the shortest gospel, I get the feeling that he wanted to get as much as he could in his book because he didn t know there would be three more written. He recorded more miracles than the other Gospels. Look at Mark 1:16-17, As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. Jesus called others to come and follow Him. He knew that there would be a day when He would turn the ministry over to them. Here s something very important for us all to see in the very next verse. Mark 1:18, At once they left their nets and followed him. Jesus called them and at once they left what they were doing and they followed Him. I could write to you about them leaving everything or I could write to you about the fact that they became followers of Jesus but I want to comment on the first part of this verse. They left everything else and they followed Him, At once. They didn t debate and they didn t delay. They did what He wanted, At once. Let s be like them. Let s do what Jesus wants, At once. Prayer: Lord, I want to do my best as I study Your Word. I know that Your Words are Words of life for me. I want Your Word to set me free and to keep me free. I also want to do everything You want At once. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

18 Sunday February 17 Scripture Reading: Leviticus Mark 1:23-45 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:9-10, Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. There were some people deserting Paul and others had been sent off to other places. So, Paul wanted Timothy to do his best to come to Paul. Being in the ministry can sometimes be lonely. Paul wanted someone who knew him to come and encourage him. Be an encouragement to those who minister the Word to you. Mark 1:29-31, As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. When the disciples heard that Peter s mother-in-law was sick they told Jesus about her. Is this your reaction when you hear about someone being sick? Let s be quick to tell Jesus about our needs. Jesus healed her and she immediately started to serve. This is sure a good reaction. Look at what happened next. Mark 1:32-34, That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demonpossessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. Word spread and many people brought people with needs to Jesus. Again is this your reaction when you hear about someone who is in need? Prayer: Lord, help me to be an encouragement to those who are called to the ministry. I would love to help them and to lighten their load. Please help me to know how to do these things. I also know that turning to you when I am in need is always right. I want to bring people to You for help. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

19 Monday February 18 Scripture Reading: Leviticus Mark 2 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:11, Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. Can you sense that Paul wanted some people to rally around him. He had just said that he was ready to go to be with Jesus and it was natural for him to want some good friends and companions in the ministry to be with him. He said Mark was helpful to him in his ministry. Let s be helpful to those who minister to us. Mark 2:13-14, Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector s booth. Follow me, Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. When Jesus called people they followed Him. He had authority that people responded to. Let s be like Levi and respond to Jesus authority when He speaks to us. Mark 2:15-17, While Jesus was having dinner at Levi s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? On hearing this, Jesus said to them, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Some of the religious people didn t think Jesus should have been calling sinners but who else could He have called? He even made it clear that He came to call sinners and we should be very thankful that He did. Prayer: Lord, I want to be helpful to those You have called to full time ministry. Please show me how I can help them and bless them. I also thank You for calling me and I want to follow You in all things. Thank You for choosing me even though I was certainly a sinner. I am so glad that You have saved this sinner. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

20 Tuesday February 19 Scripture Reading: Numbers 1-2 Mark 3:1-21 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:12, I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. Tychicus was another man that Paul had raised up into the ministry. Actually I should say it this way. God had used Paul to raise Tychicus up. We need to know that God is the One who puts people in the ministry. When we remember that it will make it much easier for us to submit to those in leadership and we will be more ready to learn what God is sharing with us through them. Look at Mark 3:7, Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. I think that Jesus was wanting to get away with His disciples for a while but a large crowd showed up. Look at what He did. Mark 3:8-10, When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Jesus ministered to them and healed them. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and He was always ready to do it. Mark 3:20-21, Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, He is out of his mind. There were so many demands put upon Jesus and the disciples that they weren t even able to eat. Through this all Jesus made time to help people time and time again. Thank God that He is still meeting our needs. Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that those who are in ministry are there because You put them there. Help me to respect them and to help them more. I also thank You for always making time for people in need. I am so thankful that I have given my life to You. I love You and I love living for You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

21 Wednesday February 20 Scripture Reading: Numbers 3-4 Mark 3:22-35 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:13, When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. This is Paul asking for some things to be brought to him. When he mentioned the parchments this was probably the Word. Paul wanted the Word to be brought to him. He even said that he especially wanted the Word. Mark 3:22-26, And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons. So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. These teachers of the law were so blinded that they kept going further and further into error. They thought that Jesus was demon possessed when He was going around doing good. Mark 3:31-35, Then Jesus mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you. Who are my mother and my brothers? he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God s will is my brother and sister and mother. Let s be doers of God s will. When we live like that we are showing that we really belong to Him. Prayer: Lord, I know that I need Your Word and I ask You to keep teaching me Your ways. Please bless the men and woman You have brought into my life to teach me Your Word. I want to know Your will and I want to be quick to obey You in all things. I know that Your ways are always right. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

22 Thursday February 21 Scripture Reading: Numbers 5-6 Mark 4:1-20 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:14, Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. There is a very valuable truth for us to learn from this verse. Alexander was wrong. Paul knew that and God knew that. Paul was willing to let God take care of him. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. Believe me we should trust God to take care of people when they do us wrong. In Mark 4 Jesus taught the parable of the sower. It is a pivotal parable. Mark 4:13, Then Jesus said to them, Don t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? When we really understand this parable it will help us to understand many other things. Having said that let me tell you the main point of the parable. We all hear the Word. How we handle the Word makes all the difference in life. There are some who hear the Word but they let the devil come and steal it from them. There are others who hear the Word but when trouble or persecution come they give up. There are others who hear the Word and things like the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things choke the Word out. Then there is a fourth group who hear the Word, accept the Word and allow the Word to produce in their lives. Mark 4:20 describes these people. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown. When we are this kind of people the Word will produce in every area of our lives. Let s choose to be good soil for the Word and never quit. Prayer: Lord, I want to trust You more. I want to trust You to take care of people who may do me wrong and speak badly about me. I trust You to take care of me and them. I also want to be good soil for Your Word in every area of my life. Help me to get this vital truth and help me to apply it in my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

23 Friday February 22 Scripture Reading: Numbers 7 Mark 4:21-41 Praise the Lord! Paul had just written about Alexander and now he had more to say. 2 Timothy 4:15, You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. Paul was warning Timothy about Alexander so he wouldn t be able to hurt him. Did you notice what Paul referred to as being the more important? Alexander was opposing the Gospel. That was more important to Paul than the fact that Alexander was opposing him personally. Mark 4:24-25, Consider carefully what you hear, he continued. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. We need to make sure we are allowing only good things into our lives. Everything you let into your life will affect you. Some things affect in bad ways and other things are good. Choose the good! Look at Deuteronomy 30:19, This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live Choose life! You may think saying to choose life about the little things is kind of an over statement but it isn t. Choose life in the big things and the little things. Mark 4:41, They were terrified and asked each other, Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him! The disciples were terrified that even the wind and waves obeyed Jesus. When you think about this it really was pretty amazing. Aren t you amazed that Jesus can save you and change you in so many ways? Let s live fully for Jesus. He really is amazing. Prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding me that everything isn t about me. Help me to know that when someone opposes the Gospel it is more significant than when someone opposes me. I also want to fill my life with good things. Help me to know if there are any changes I need to make. I am amazed at how wonderful You are. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

24 Saturday February 23 Scripture Reading: Numbers 8-10 Mark 5:1-20 Praise the Lord! Paul is telling us about a time when he was being persecuted. Look at 2 Timothy 4:16, At my first defense, no-one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. Paul was being innocent and no-one supported him and everyone deserted him. That must have been hard but look at what he said next. May it not be held against them. Paul was forgiving them all. Examples like this should help us to forgive people when they do us wrong. I want to commend you for being in God s Word every day. This really is helping you. In Mark 5 Jesus set a man free from demon possession. Look at how bad he was. Mark 5:1-5, They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no-one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No-one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. Jesus set him free and look at what he wanted. Mark 5:18, As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demonpossessed begged to go with him. Now look at what Jesus said. Mark 5:19-20, Jesus did not let him, but said, Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you. So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. Jesus wanted him to share what He had done for him and Jesus wants you to do the same. Prayer: Lord, help me to forgive people and help me to share what You have done for me. I love You and I want to represent You well all the time. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

25 Sunday February 24 Scripture Reading: Numbers Mark 5:21-43 Praise the Lord! Look at what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:17, But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion s mouth. People had let Paul down and deserted him but he knew that the Lord would see him through. Thank God that you have people who will stand with you but never forget that Jesus is with you and He will see you through no matter what you face. There was a woman who was very sick and she had been sick a long time. Look at, Mark 5:27-29, When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. She heard about Jesus and it changed everything. It changed what she believed, what she thought, what she said and what she did. She had faith. She believed the right things, thought the right things, spoke the right things and she did the right things. Her faith paid off. She was healed! Then there was a man who had a need too. Look at Mark 5:35-36, While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. Your daughter is dead, they said. Why bother the teacher any more? Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, Don t be afraid; just believe. He needed to stand in faith too and he did. Here s how it ended. Mark 5:42, Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. Prayer: Lord, thank You for always being with me. I believe. Help me to have faith and help me to allow my faith in You to affect everything I believe, think, say and do. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

26 Monday February 25 Scripture Reading: Numbers Mark 6:1-31 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:18, The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Paul s trust and confidence was in Jesus and he was going to finish well. Thank God that we have all given our lives to Jesus and we have made a lot of progress in life. Let s finish well. There is a heavenly Kingdom in our future and we are going to make it because Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Jesus went to His own hometown and the people took offense at Him. Mark 6:4, Jesus said to them, Only in his home town, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honour. They took offense at Him and they missed out. Mark 6:5, He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. Jesus would have healed them and set them free. He came to destroy the works of the devil everywhere but they missed out. Now look at the next verse, Mark 6:6, And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went round teaching from village to village. Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith. There were other times when He was amazed at someone s great faith but not here. Let s have great faith in Jesus. Did you notice what the last part of this verse says? Then Jesus went on to somewhere else. He wasn t deterred from what God wanted Him to be doing. He went and and He even expanded His ministry by giving authority to minister just like He had been doing. If you ever face any hard times stay on track. You may need to move on to someone else but keep doing what God wants you to do. Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful that I have given my life to You. I am never going to quit and I am going to finish well. I am going to keep my trust, confidence and faith in You. Help me to stay on track and help me to keep doing what You have called me to do. Thank You for helping me in so many ways. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

27 Tuesday February 26 Scripture Reading: Numbers Mark 6:32-56 Praise the Lord! Paul is finishing up 2 Timothy and he is going to greet some people. 2 Timothy 4:19, Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Paul had written about some people who were not faithful but these people were and Paul noticed their faithfulness. Even more importantly God noticed their faithfulness. Let s live faithfully and know that God sees and notices what we are doing. Look at Mark 6:32-34, So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Jesus wanted to get away for some much needed rest. People showed up and Jesus had compassion on them and ministered to them. I often say that Jesus came to lay His life down and that includes times like this. Mark 6:53-56, When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countryside--they placed the sick in the market-places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. Do you think Jesus is still meeting people s needs like this? Can you believe it for your own life? Prayer: Lord, I want to live my life faithfully for You and those You have put into my life to lead me and to teach me the Word. Help me to know that You are always willing to help people. I know that You never change. I want to be used in Your process of helping people and I don t ever want to get too busy to do what You want. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

28 Wednesday February 27 Scripture Reading: Numbers Mark 7 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:20, Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Paul had said that he had run his race that that he was ready to go and be with the Lord. With those wonderful things ahead of him he was still looking out for people. He was having some people stay in places so they could carry on the work of God. You see, the work of God is not based on any one man. When Paul was gone the work of the ministry continued because that was God s plan. Some of the Pharisees challenged Jesus about clean and unclean things. I have made the point before that these guys were way out of their league and so they were never able to trap Jesus. Anyway, Jesus turned it back on them and pointed out that they were basing many of the things they believed on the traditions of men rather than the Word. Traditions aren t always bad but when they contradict the Word the Word needs to be what we believe. Mark 7:6-8, He replied, Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. Because they were believing the wrongs things their hearts were far from God. Mark 7:13, Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that. They were nullifying the Word of God. That is serious. Prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding me that Your work goes on and it will never end. I know that staying close to You is how I always need to live. I also know that Your Word is much more important than any traditions of men. Help me to base my life and everything I believe on the Word and nothing else. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

29 Thursday February 28 Scripture Reading: Numbers Mark 8:1-21 Praise the Lord! 2 Timothy 4:21, Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. This is about all we know about these people but I think it is significant that Paul sent a greeting to them. You see, he had pointed out some who were not faithful and who had let him down and now he is sending a special greeting to these people. Let s be faithful in everything we do. This is the kind of list I want to be on. Mark 8:1-2, During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. These people were hungry and Jesus wanted to meet their needs. You know the story. He took what they had and multiplied it to meet everyones need. Isn t Jesus wonderful? Look at this promise for you. Philippians 4:19, And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Can you believe it? Now right after this look at what the Pharisees did. Mark 8:11-13, The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it. Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. They tested Jesus by asking Him for a sign. I think they had just seen a sign if they had really wanted to see one. Prayer: Lord, I want to be on the list of faithful people. Thank You for speaking to me this month. I am going to be faithful to study Your Word next month. I also thank You for promising to always meet all my needs. I believe it! Bless all my brothers and sisters who are doing these devotions. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

30 Up and Coming Events BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS Every Wednesday morning at 7:30 AM the men meet for coffee and/or breakfast at Perkins and a time of fellowship. Contact us here at the Church for more information. WOMEN S BRUNCH The first Saturday of the month, the women of Creative Ministries meet for a carry-in brunch at 12pm. Contact us here at the Church for more information and location. We Have A New Mailing Address! Creative Ministries PO Box Cheyenne, WY Creative@CreativeMinistriesChurch.com Please visit our FaceBook page by scanning the QR code to the left or going to: Our Meeting Location!

31 Sunday Morning Event Time Location Main Service 10-11:30 A.M. The Training Center: LCCC Sunday School 10:45-11:30 A.M. The Training Center: LCCC Wednesday Night Wednesday Night Service* 7-8:00 P.M. Church Office *Coffee And Tea Will Be Provided *Starting Next Wednesday, we will meet at the new Church Office at The Colonial East Building 721 E. 16th Street Cheyenne, WY (Next to Baskin Robbins) Where the GOOD NEWS is: PREACHED to all who will COME! LIVED by all who will GROW! DEMONSTRATED to all who will RECEIVE!