Psalms 111:10 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever."  

Observe

True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.  In following His commands, you can develop a good understanding about life.  To do both - fear the Lord and follow His commands - His praise will endure forever.

Apply

Many people search their entire lives to be wise, to have understanding, and to receive praise from people.  How can we truly acquire these things?  This verse makes it clear.  True wisdom begins when we realize the power of God, even though we can't fully fathom it.  If we have that wisdom, we want to follow His commands.  His commands - specifically to love God and love people - aren't meant to harm us, but to give us meaningful lives that can witness to others.  If we posses both a fear of God and obedience to His commandments, we will have His praise forever.  What an amazing thing!  To have the praise of The Almighty God - forever!  How would our lives be changed and fulfilled!  

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to truly fear You, and to follow Your commands.  Help me not do this out of "it's what I have to do" but a genuine love for You - who will give praise forever.  Thank you for your blessing of Godly wisdom and understanding.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

1 John 1: 7 - "But if we walk in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all our sin." 

Observe

God is Light.  If we walk in His light we will have true fellowship with others.  His Light will even help us heal broken relationships.  Jesus' blood cleanses us from all our sin.  

Apply

All of us have brokenness in our lives.  Sometimes we have brokenness in our relationships.  However, God is Light.  His light can flood over all brokenness.  In Him, we can overcome any darkness or brokenness and have true fellowship with others.  How does this happen?  Knowing and believing Jesus Christ - that He cleanses us from all sin and darkness.  

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you that You are Light.  There is no darkness in You.  Thank You that in You we can have true fellowship with others.  In You we can overcome any darkness in our lives.  Help us look to You and rely on Your Light for our lives. 

In Jesus' Name,

Amen 

"He (Jesus) said to him (Peter) the third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love Me?'  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, do you love Me?  And he said to Him, 'Lord you know all things; You know that I love you.  Jesus said to him - 'Tend My Sheep.'"  

Observe

Jesus is asking Peter 3 times if he loves Him, just as Peter denied Him 3 times.  Peter, I'm sure is trying to forget what was not his best moment as a disciple.  He is grieved.  Yet Jesus tells him - if you love Me - tend My sheep.  Take care of them.  Watch over them.  Lead them.  If we love Him, we are to do the same.

Apply

Jesus asks all of us - do we love Him?  If our answer is yes - and I hope it is - he calls us to be in relationship with others.  If we love Him, we are to go and make disciples.  Jesus is asking us - lead My sheep.  Take care of my sheep.  We are to do the same.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help us always respond to You.  In so doing, help us to answer Your call in leading others, growing others, and being in relationship with others to grow Your Kingdom. 

Thanks You that You allow and give us strength to do this.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen 

John 14: 6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."  

Observe

Jesus is clear.  This verse speaks for itself.

Apply

A wonderful verse, a clear verse, one that needs little explaining.  Yet how do we apply it to our lives?  Jesus is the way - the way to know God, to find life, to live for eternity.  He is the direction and path we must choose.  Jesus is the truth.  In a world seeking truth and questioning if there is truth, Jesus says I am truth.  And Jesus is the life.  He is the life we all seek.  Now in the present and in the future for eternity.  True life with Him is abundant - even if we don't get all our desires and even if bad things happen to us, we still have life in Him.

A final note - this verse has often been used to exclude.  To say - you don't get it, you don't have it!  The way, truth, and the life is instead wanting others to know this truth and reaching out to them with the love of Christ.  

Prayer

Dear Jesus, I give You thanks for who You are, and the truth You bring.  Help me to know it more abundantly, and share You in a loving way with those who don't.  

In Your Name,
Amen 

John 12: 32 - "And I, if I, am lifted up from the earth will draw all men to Myself." 

Observe

Jesus is saying - as I will be raised from the dead - I will begin drawing all people, all over the world, to Myself.

Apply

This is a fascinating and often controversial saying of Jesus.  "I will draw all men to myself."  How?  First in the power that a man would be literally raised from the dead.  That very fact draws men to Jesus - wondering how such an incident would be possible.  Second by the power of the Holy Spirit, working in the world today, as it draws the hearts of men and women to Jesus.  They may ultimately reject Him, but the Holy Spirit is working to draw people to the person of Jesus and His resurrection.  Third, and finally, His Church today.  By its works, prayer, worship, and life the global Church is drawing people to Jesus every day.  This will not stop until Jesus returns again and reigns on earth.  

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for your complete desire for all to know You.  Help us, as Your Church to work in drawing people to You.  And help us know, that despite our efforts, Your Holy Spirit is working to stir souls and change hearts.  Thank You that we can be part of Your work.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen 

Observe

With the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day.  The Lord is patient towards all of us, wishing all would come to repentance.  

Apply

How can we ever fathom the mind of God?!  When to Him a day is like a thousand years and vice versa.  What is even more amazing though, is that God, in all His greatness, is so patient and loving with us.  He wants all to come to repentance.  In our own lives, we should follow His lead with patience and love to those who don't know Him - to help them see the patience and love of their Heavenly Father.

Prayer

Dear Lord, all of us have people we'd like to give up on.  Give us your supernatural patience and love - never giving up and hoping all would come to know repentance.  

Thank you for your patience and love towards us, even while we are sinners.  Thank you for never giving up.  

In Jesus' Name,
Amen 

Observe

Peter, and the other followers of Christ, did not go around to communities and families making up tall tales about Jesus and His life.  They were there.  They stood beside Him, ate with Him, laughed with Him, and shared life with Him.  They were direct first-hand eyewitnesses to His majesty.

Apply

Today, in the New Testament, we don't have a lot of half-truths and stories that might be true.  We have first hand accounts of Jesus, by people who loved Him and ultimately died for Him.  It is an eyewitness account of Christ and His glory.  We can look to this account to learn about Him, how to live for Him, and to know He will come again.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word, and for those who have lived and died to pass it on.  That Your Word is Truth and that it is a direct account of Christ.  Help me to learn from it, live by, and discover anew each day the Risen Christ - His power and His coming again.  

In Jesus' Name,
Amen 

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy.

Observe

Don't be conformed to how you were.  If Christ is in your life, there is to be a change.  A change towards holiness - because that is who Jesus is.

Apply

Holy isn't the most popular word.  In fact, it has negative connotations - strict, rules, no fun, boring.  But true holiness is something we are called to be as followers of Christ.  We are to change, and to move towards holiness.  And, it's not supposed to be restrictive or boring or no fun.  At its essence, holiness is to be life giving and fulfilling.  It is the new person one is in Jesus.  It is new life.  And it is better than how we were before.

Prayer

Dear Lord, lead me more and more to holiness in Christ.  Help me and us as a church to show others that true holiness is life giving, and not restrictive.  Thank you that we can be changed, holy, and new people in Jesus.

In His Name,

Amen

James 5: 16 - "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." 

Observe

The need for us to confess our sins to those who we are close with in the church.  To pray for each other.  That prayer can accomplish a great deal if we have faith and strive to live in a Godly way.

Apply

Three vital things for our lives, and Christian walk - 1) The need for close relationships to help you grow and stay accountable.  This is why we emphasize our Bellwether groups.  We need each other, and we need people who will keep us on track.  2) The need for us to repent our sins to those whom we have close relationships with.  Repentance is a big deal.  We need relationships where we feel comfortable confessing.  3) Finally, and most importantly in my mind - prayer.  We underestimate the power of prayer - in our lives, and our churches.  The effective prayer of righteous people can change the world.  Seriously.  We need to be about prayer and be in prayer.

Prayer

Dear Lord, grow us into prayer warriors, where we believe and witness the power of prayer in our lives.  Help us encourage one another to pray and be in relationships with people whom we can pray with, and who will hold us accountable.  As a church body, help us to live by faith and prayer.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Observe

God is there for us, always, especially in times of trouble.  He never changes.

Apply

How often can we forget this simple verse!  He is our strength.  A present help in times of trouble.  When life throws us a "curveball" or even a "sinker," God is our present help and strength.
All things change.  Today is our last Sunday at the Lakeland Courthouse.   However, God remains our source and strength.  He is our constant.  On Him we take refuge, and He will guide us through.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I give You thanks for the blessing of the Courthouse.  Let this last day be a good day for our church family.  

In the coming months, in this time of change, let us as a church family look to You as our refuge and strength, knowing You never change and are our very present help - at all times.
Thank you for Your many blessings.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen  

"What use is it, brothers, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works?  Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warm and be filled', and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself."

Observe

Faith comes first, not works, in a relationship with Christ.  But, genuine faith should lead to works, and those works should glorify one's faith in Christ.

Apply

We can't just say - 'I have faith' - that's enough and our life not reflect our faith by how we live.  Yes, faith is primary.  But faith should lead to a life of action that glorifies Christ - to other people, to our families, and to those in need.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me never just say - "I have faith," but always put my faith in action.  Live my faith.  Help us to be about leading people to faith in Christ, but that they would realize what true faith is - how one lives, not just what one says.  

In Jesus' Name,

Amen 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

Observe

If you seek wisdom, ask.  God gives it generously to all.  But we must ask in faith, without doubting, believing it will be given to us.  

Apply

What do we seek?  Riches, fame, position?  What about Godly wisdom? We can receive this gift from God - if only we ask with faith.  He wants to give it to us, and He will give wisdom by the Holy Spirit.  But we must believe that He can, He will, and that we can receive it.  

Prayer

Dear Lord, in faith, I ask for Your wisdom - to help in challenging situations, relationships, and daily decisions I face.  I believe You have a wisdom we cannot fathom, and you want to give it to us Your children.  I thank you for Your generosity to give it to those who truly seek it.  Help my faith be stronger in knowing if I ask, you will grant divine wisdom.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen 

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Observe

Show hospitality to strangers.  In doing so, we could be entertaining angels. 

Apply

I've always loved this simple verse.  Many of us have heard stories of "angels in disguise" and I believe they are completely possible.  And in our own hospitality we may be entertaining angels.  However, more importantly, we should always be kind and hospitable to others, showing the love of Christ to all as a witness to Him.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for the angels who watch over us. Give me Christ-like hospitality to all, so that I may show Jesus to so many who need Him.

In His Name,

Amen

Scripture:  Hebrews 1b-2

"let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Observe

Let us endure the race we are on, focusing on Jesus, who endured the cross, for the joy He knew would come for many who would believe in Him.

Apply

Have been talking about faith recently at Bellwether.  Bottom line - faith always looks forward.  Faith is always hope in an unseen future.  Here, we have the Supreme Model of faith in Jesus Christ, who endured so much in the cross, scorn, and persecution - because He had faith.  Faith in a future where He would be with God, and faith in the many who would come to know God in a fuller deeper way because of the cross.  

Therefore, let Him be our example as we endure the race we are on - with faith in the future of God's promise.

Prayer

Dear Lord, give us great faith.  Thank You for Jesus' faith, even as He endured the cross.  Help us look to Him for strength in anything and everything life throws at us.  

In His name,

Amen 

Scripture:  Hebrews 10: 24-25

"Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." 

Observe

Paul calls us to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.  To not stop meeting together, but instead "getting together" and encourage one another.

Apply

We can't do it on our own.  Our faith in Christ is not a solo act.  We need people, other believers to strengthen our walk and encourage us during the hard times.  This is not as easy as one would think.  Often our tendency can be to retreat on our own.  But Paul writes we have to be intentional to get together with brothers and sisters in Christ - so you can be encouraged and challenged to love and good deeds.  
This is why it is so important to have a church home - to be part of a family of believers, and to go even further in being part of a smaller group to share, learn, grow, and serve together.  To get where we want to go in Christ - as a spiritually mature person who can help others - it is essential to have people beside you growing together.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you that we don't have to go through this life on our own.  You give us plenty of opportunities to connect with believers to help us.  Help us to see and act on those opportunities.  And help me be about relationships with others - supporting, encouraging, and loving them - and connecting them to a church family and group of believers where they can discover more and more the life You have for them.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen 

Scripture:  Hebrews 6: 1-2

"Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement."

Observe

A weak foundation is repentance from "dead works."  Maturity in Christ is faith in God, the laying on of hands in prayer, knowing the dead will rise, and that we will all be judged by God for eternity.

Apply

It's difficult to leave the elementary things behind.  To think and feel like we always have to do do do to please God and receive His acceptance.  But that should never be our foundation.  We should build our lives on the reality of faith in Him, prayer, a bodily resurrection, and a final eternal judgement.  

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me not get caught up in always trying to do for you.  Help me rest in faith as my foundation, and the knowledge of blessings to come in the resurrection.  

In Jesus' Name,
Amen 

Scripture:  Hebrews 5: 9

"And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation"

Observe

Jesus is perfect.  To all who obey Him, He is the source of eternal salvation.  It starts with Him.

Apply

Jesus is our only source of eternal salvation.  We are to follow and obey Him. To learn about His life. To listen to His words - in the Bible, and as He speaks to us by the Holy Spirit.  When we give our life over to Him, He becomes the source for our salvation.  But just as a river has its source, and grows deeper and stronger, so we too - obeying and abiding in Christ - will grow as His followers.  Our lives can become powerful tools for Him - seeing things, affecting people, serving, growing, and loving.  Our salvation begins with Him and can start anytime.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for Jesus - a perfect model to follow.  Help me obey Him more in my life, so I can experience even more the gift of life-changing salvation and help others find it.

In His Name,
Amen 

Scripture:  Psalm 73: 21-24

"When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.  Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.  With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterwards receive me to glory.

Observe:

In this Psalm David sees men and women who are manipulative and conniving, yet gain wealth and status.  It makes him mad.  Yet, he realizes bitterness will only lead to senselessness and ignorance.  If He instead looks to God, and gives His frustrations to God, He will take his hand, guide him, and receive him into glory.

Apply:

A bitter heart is a bad thing.  It can be easy to be bitter, especially when we see people who may be far from God receive accolades and rewards.  This Psalm tells us bitterness leads to nothing good.  Our focus should remain on God, He will guide us and be with us, and ultimately be the judge of everyone. 

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me not to fall into the trap of bitterness and resentment.  Instead, give me a peace to know You are with me and will always guide me if I look to You.  Let my heart be completely devoted to You.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen 

Scripture - Hebrews 3: 12-13

"Take care, brothers, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.  But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today' so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."  

Observe

Paul calls them, and us, to encourage one another day after day - for as long as it's still called 'today.' We do this so no one becomes hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  To encourage each other, because sin initially deceives us, and then hardens us.  We need one another, a church family, to be encouraged so we will not fall prey to the deceit of sin.    

Apply

What are we doing today?  Do we see others around us who need encouraging?  Whose heart may have fallen away from the living God?  Who do we know who needs encouraging?  As a church, this is part of our call - to seek out, uplift, and encourage one another in faith, so no one will fall.  For as long as it is called 'today.'  So, what are we doing today?

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me be an encourager.  Help me see people who need encouragement and reach out to them, so they might be able to be a little closer to You.  Thank You for the opportunities of encouragement You present daily.  Help me to make the most of them.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen