12-18-2019, 03:52 PM
*CAC LIVING WATER*
*DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE*
*Wednesday, December 18, 2019*.
*TOPIC:**RETURN TO THE LORD*
*READ: Zechariah 1:1-6*
*Zechariah 1:1-6* - In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
*MEMORISE:*
*I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you" (Luke 15:18)*
*EXPOSITION*
God is interested in having deeper relationship with us as He did with our patriarchs of faith. His power remains the same (Heb. 13:8). But many of us are far from God, like the prodigal son in Jesus' parable. Unless we return to Him, we will never enjoy Him; neither would we experience His end-time apostolic, revival fire that we are waiting for.
To return, here, suggests that someone has left the right place. Majority of people that the Lord wants to use, have changed departments in the church because their former departments are not noticed and appreciated. They have changed to departments where people would see them and probably give them standing ovation. This is contrary to the call of God for their lives.
How fervent were you before, in God's presence? Remember those days when you first believed, how you passionately go out on evangelism.
How committed you were then. Remember how you were help to the helpless and poor, mouth to the oppressed, and voice to the less privileged, widows/widowers and orphans. Is the case not sadly different, now? Remember from the height you fell and return to Christ, your first love (Rev. 2:4,5). You cannot close your heart and eyes to these people.
Better not to aspire to be known by men while God's unhappy with your works.
A life outside God's will is full of sorrow and depression. What can the world offer you that can compare to what God has prepared for you, both here now, and in eternity? Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Return to Me," says the Lord of hosts, "and I will return to you," says the Lord of hosts' (Zech. 1:3).
*PRAYER POINTS*
1. Pray that the Lord should help you to be where He wants you to be.
2. Pray that the Lord should help us to return to Him and our places of assignments.
3. Let us intercede for the missionaries that are posted to unpalatable places that God should give them the grace, patience and tolerance to obey, in Jesus' name.
*EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Hosea 12:11 - 14:9; Joel 1:1 - 2:14; Revelation 6:14 - 7:17*
*HAVE A WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY......
....SHALOM*
*DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE*
*Wednesday, December 18, 2019*.
*TOPIC:**RETURN TO THE LORD*
*READ: Zechariah 1:1-6*
*Zechariah 1:1-6* - In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
*MEMORISE:*
*I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you" (Luke 15:18)*
*EXPOSITION*
God is interested in having deeper relationship with us as He did with our patriarchs of faith. His power remains the same (Heb. 13:8). But many of us are far from God, like the prodigal son in Jesus' parable. Unless we return to Him, we will never enjoy Him; neither would we experience His end-time apostolic, revival fire that we are waiting for.
To return, here, suggests that someone has left the right place. Majority of people that the Lord wants to use, have changed departments in the church because their former departments are not noticed and appreciated. They have changed to departments where people would see them and probably give them standing ovation. This is contrary to the call of God for their lives.
How fervent were you before, in God's presence? Remember those days when you first believed, how you passionately go out on evangelism.
How committed you were then. Remember how you were help to the helpless and poor, mouth to the oppressed, and voice to the less privileged, widows/widowers and orphans. Is the case not sadly different, now? Remember from the height you fell and return to Christ, your first love (Rev. 2:4,5). You cannot close your heart and eyes to these people.
Better not to aspire to be known by men while God's unhappy with your works.
A life outside God's will is full of sorrow and depression. What can the world offer you that can compare to what God has prepared for you, both here now, and in eternity? Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Return to Me," says the Lord of hosts, "and I will return to you," says the Lord of hosts' (Zech. 1:3).
*PRAYER POINTS*
1. Pray that the Lord should help you to be where He wants you to be.
2. Pray that the Lord should help us to return to Him and our places of assignments.
3. Let us intercede for the missionaries that are posted to unpalatable places that God should give them the grace, patience and tolerance to obey, in Jesus' name.
*EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Hosea 12:11 - 14:9; Joel 1:1 - 2:14; Revelation 6:14 - 7:17*
*HAVE A WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY......
....SHALOM*