Day 180 "Blessings are not disguised; we just often overlook them."

Day 180 Matthew 22:1-10 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.’” But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. If we keep the message of this passage in context (as we should always first view every passage), we see that, once again, Jesus is warning and at the same time predicting the Jewish peoples response to Christ's proclamation as the coming Messiah. The chosen people, the ones on the guest list, didn't want to come to a banquet that would cause their thinking to be challenged or changed; therefore, they rebelled, and as a result, those who were considered unworthy to receive were now chosen to do so and, hence, replaced the once-honored guests. Yet today, if I may, I would like to relay to you a story of how a very similar situation was played out in our own community a few years ago. We had invited a very dear and talented young lady and her husband to come and lead two nights of worship and ministry as a way of blessing the body, as well as lifting up the name of our Lord. While our intention and hearts were to minister to the body, the body was not who God had intended this to be for. Realizing this, we went out to the streets, the local mission, and the poorest areas of our city and invited everyone we could to a free concert. When I showed up at the mission with our van, I immediately realized that we needed more help. The people were lined up around the block waiting to go out for the night; they were genuinely excited and honored to be invited to the event. You see, for them this was something special, something they would not feel comfortable attending; however, now they were the honored guests, and they, as well as we, were truly blessed as a result. During the two nights of ministry and worship, one woman who needed hip surgery was completely healed, many were delivered from drug and alcohol dependency, there were countless people who made both first time and re-commitments to the Lord, broken families were united, and lives were truly changed! One man we ran into 6 months later who had been homeless, destitute, and separated from his family, told us how he had received Christ that night and now has a home, a job, is a full-time student at Chico State and has his entire family living with him. Praise God! You see, far too often, we forget that those in the church can become numb to the things of God. If you are constantly given the opportunity to be blessed, you are more likely to take the blessing for granted. However, if an opportunity for blessing is a rare occurrence, you will often take advantage of any opportunity to be blessed, no matter how small or large. Be cautious and protect yourself from becoming numb to the opportunities around you to bless God, others, or even yourself. You may be surprised at how selfish you’ve been or what you have missed out on as a result. Daily Prayer: Father, may we never miss the blessing you have in store for us because of our lack of faith, inability to sacrifice, or for any other reason. Father, may we always be ready to feast upon You, Your Word, and Your blessings. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Blessings are not disguised; we just often overlook them." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 179 "The cornerstone will hold You in the storm and keep you resting in calm waters."

Day 179 Matthew 21:40-46 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. While we all know and understand by this passage that Jesus is very specifically speaking about the denial of Him as Messiah by the nation, Israel, and in particular its religious leaders, the truth is, without this denial, we Gentiles would have no apparent hope of salvation. Therefore, while I feel remorseful for the nation and the leaders, I am thankful that the grace of God allowed us, by their rejection, to have access to that same grace, mercy, and consequent salvation. The key point to this passage for me, however, is the importance of Jesus as the cornerstone of our salvation, beliefs, and consequent existence, for without Him, we have no foundation. The cornerstone of any structure truly is both the beginning and the end of its existence. You see, in order to erect a structure, you must have a starting point. For example, if I have decided to build something, first of all, I must decide where it will begin and what is the place of origin? This is the first and foremost question, without which we can no longer progress. Once we have established the starting point, we begin the process of working outward, reaching in every direction toward the boundary which we have also preestablished, and ultimately, we return to the cornerstone or beginning point in order to anchor our structure. Therefore, having gone full circle, we establish our boundaries, our foundation, and, of course, our place of origin and completion, which are, together, yes, you guessed it, our cornerstone. Those of us who are believers in Christ have accepted and acknowledged the fact that He is both our beginning and our end; He is the cornerstone of the foundation of our beliefs. If everything we do radiates out from and returns to that cornerstone, we as believers are truly undefeatable. Our strength will rival anything this world can throw at it. You see, our life begins with our acceptance of Him (our rebirth), and our life will end with Him, either at His return or upon our leaving of these bodies, where He will greet us with the reward of eternity with Him. However, if we reject the cornerstone of Christ, we will never begin with Him, yet we will end with Him, by His judgment and our eternal separation. If Jesus is, in fact, our cornerstone, our foundation, and, hence, our boundary, then all we strive to do should help us remain inside the four walls of that boundary, should it not? Our God is an amazing God, capable of anything and everything, and He is inviting us to receive the blessing of having His hand hold us and go before us–all we need do is stay anchored to Him. So, how are you doing? Daily Prayer: Father, thank you for being our foundation, our strength, our wisdom, and our all in all. Help me stay anchored to You this day and every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "The cornerstone will hold You in the storm and keep you resting in calm waters." Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 178 "Guilt and shame are pathways to the pit of destruction."

Day 178 Matthew 21:33-39 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.” As we read this passage, it is ever so obvious how Jesus is using this parable to illustrate exactly what the people He is addressing are plotting out in their hearts, and yet still they press on with their plan. And, yes, we know that their plan was actually God's way of allowing them to act out the evil in their hearts in order to fulfill His perfect will. But what if they had listened; what if Israel had repented and received Christ as the Messiah? The truth is I doubt we will ever know. However, this does make me think back on my own life and wonder in some ways where I have missed it. I wonder were there ever times where God laid out the plans, prepared the way, allowed me to share in the work of something, and when it came to harvest time, my flesh got in the way, and I missed the mark? I'm sure that if we allowed ourselves to go down the road of "what if," the enemy would have a heyday with our minds, and soon we would be focused on the failures in our lives rather than the successes. When we get focused on our failures, we tend to become guilt-ridden, depressed, and withdrawn from God and others who would encourage us. We draw within, and in some ways we become very prideful because, once again, it becomes all about us. The truth of the matter is that, yes, we have all failed and continue to fail; however, that does not make us failures–it can rather make us successful, stronger, and more able to be used by God for His glory. The Old Testament is filled with stories of people who failed at life and yet were mighty for God. The law was more than they could handle (as it was for all mankind), but God didn't give up on us as a result. No, He made a better way through the sacrifice of His Son. God saw that man would never be able to succeed in this world without giving in to the multitude of temptations and constant barrage of opportunities to fail that the enemy would send our way, yet again, knowing we would fail, He made a better way–He gave us the redemptive power over sin! Our Father does not want us separated from Him by sin and failure; He wants fellowship; He wants what is best for us; He wants us to be joy filled and lights in a dark world, and the enemy wants the opposite. Therefore, let us become people who recognize our failures, acknowledge our imperfections with remorse and give them to Jesus to take care of; then we will become power-filled believers, able to impact our world for the Kingdom! Daily Prayer: Father, please help me to recognize, acknowledge, and seek forgiveness for my failures, and keep me from wallowing in the pit of despair. I need You, Lord; I need Your encouragement, and I need the blood of Your Son Jesus to cleanse me of my sins, my guilt, and my shame. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Guilt and shame are pathways to the pit of destruction." Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 177 "There is only room for one to be worshipped in the Christian life."

Day 177 Matthew 21:28-32 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.” Which is better, to be right in the eyes of those who would, in some form, worship you on earth or to admit your failures before men, yet be righteous in the eyes of the one who created you? One road leads to eternity in torment; the other leads to eternity in joy. The Pharisees made their choice: to be worshipped on earth and to walk in their own righteousness. I believe with all of my heart that pride is a death sentence to many who walk this earth; however, I also believe that many of them do not even realize it to be so. Pride comes in so many forms it can be easily dismissed or looked upon as something else, when all the while it's an infectious disease–like status is being increased. As a leader of many, I find myself often the subject of praise or adoration of one form or another, and while I admit that my flesh often enjoys it, my spirit is more often than not very uncomfortable with it. You see, I have witnessed what praise and adoration can do to Godly men, and I really don't like it. I have seen far too many Godly, Spirit-filled people become so addicted to the praise that they cannot live without it. A few years ago, one of my favorite musicians and I were on a stage when, at the end of the set, he abruptly ended and walked off stage. As he went by he told me "I can't take any more of this," and immediately I knew what he was speaking of, for I had felt it as well. Even though he was leading the group in worship of our Holy God, many of them had begun to worship him, and, quite honestly, it was very repulsive. I, too, could not get off the stage quick enough. I admire this man more than ever for what he chose to do, for few can understand the torment that comes from being sold out to a Holy God, lifting your praise to him, coming with a pure heart to lead others to a place of praise to your King, and having them then place you in His place. Yes, it is repulsive, as it should be! For anyone who leads others to glorify God, whether it is through worship, preaching, or teaching, there is always the danger of allowing themselves to be exalted into the place of one’s heart and mind that is reserved for a Holy God, not man. This exaltation is one that comes in various forms–whether it is praise, adoration, gifts, or dependency– they are all very much the same, and we, as ministers of the gospel, must not allow ourselves to fall into such traps. Recently, someone asked me how I know when God is sending me money for myself or for the ministry and if I am supposed to accept it. My answer was actually quite simple: if I have been praying for it, I receive it freely; if not, I interview the person who gave it to decide if we are to accept it. The temptation is to receive everything, as if God were just showering blessings upon me, just because He wants me to have them; however, if they are not from Him, then they are coming from places I do not desire to receive from. Let me give you an example of how this works. Six years ago on the way to a breakfast meeting, the Lord told me the person I was meeting was going to give me a large sum of money, which I had been praying for. I asked the Lord to have this man confirm that He was hearing from the Lord by using the exact same phrase I was using as I had been praying for the funds. Sure enough, during the meeting this man used exactly the same phrase, word for word, and offered the funds! I shared the story and my prayer with him as an opportunity for both of us to give praise to the God who had placed this ministry opportunity upon our hearts. No, I should not get praise for my great prayers no more than he should for his. We are two men serving a Holy God who deserves all of our praise and adoration, and that's all there is to it. "There is only room for one to be worshipped in the Christian life." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 176 "Our accusers will fall into their own trap if we will be willing to get out of the way."

Day 176 Matthew 21:23-27 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet. So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” The authority by which any believer operates within the world’s system should always be that of the Master, not that of their own. Jesus demonstrates quite clearly how one who is operating under proper authority responds to those who are questioning their authority. His example is one that bears further review by all who operate as believers. First of all, we see that the divine authority of God in His house is not something open for debate; it is, after all, His house, not ours or anyone else's. Therefore, everything that takes place in the house of the Lord is under His authority and should be held to the standard which He Himself has set; hence, the reason Jesus entered the temple and restored proper order and authority. We must acknowledge, however, that Christ had been given this authority by His Father, the master of the house; therefore, He was acting under the covering and at the direction of the Master. In our houses of worship today, God has appointed certain individuals to be the ones who represent God as the authority over them. He has given them the responsibility to hear His voice, follow His direction, and ultimately be responsible for the outcome of those decisions. The senior pastor of any congregation truly is the one whom God is holding accountable for what occurs in that body of believers, both good and bad; hence, this is, of course, a very serious responsibility for those who are called to shepherd. Jesus, being wise and led by the Spirit when His authority was questioned, did not go on the defensive. He did not try to make His point nor did He argue for His rights. He, instead, listened to the Spirit and allowed His accusers to trap themselves. Jesus was the master at allowing others to trap themselves when, in fact, they were seeking to trap Him, something all of us could learn from. The primary point here, I believe, being that He did not go on the defensive. He didn't argue nor did He play their game. He, instead, took control of the conversation and led His accusers into a trap of their own making. How often do we fall into a trap by reacting in the flesh when, if we allow the Spirit to lead, our captors would be the ones trapped? Far too often, I'm afraid. You see, when we are confronted about an issue or our authority is questioned, our tendency is to go on the defensive, raise our voice, change our posture, and attempt to convince people we are correct by our actions and our emotions. However, when we wait upon the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, the conversation takes on quite a different tone. He takes over, gives us confidence from above, and moves us in a far wiser direction that tends to disarm our attackers; hence, giving us the victory and God the glory. The only negative being that rather than being able to brag about our great battle, we now must acknowledge that without Him nothing good would have come from the confrontation; hence, recognizing our own weakness and need for our savior. By the way, if you're confused, yes, admitting our need for Him is not a bad thing; I can think of no one I respect more than those who are willing to admit that without God there is no battle they can win in the eternal perspective of things. Let’s face it, we are ill equipped to go head-to-head with the enemy of our souls as long as we leave God out of the equation; however, when we allow Him to be our strength, we cannot be defeated. How about you? Who is fighting your battles? Daily Prayer: Father, please forgive me for those times I have fought on my own against this world. May You always be my strength and my direction as I submit to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Our accusers will fall into their own trap if we will be willing to get out of the way." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 175 "Strength in Christ will always prevent withering in the flesh."

Day 175 Matthew 21:18-22 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” So why did Jesus curse the fig tree for not having fruit? Figs are one of the few varieties of trees that grow their fruit either before or in conjunction with their leaves; therefore, when you see leaves on a fig, you can assume there is fruit. Maybe He was mad because the tree was not bearing fruit while professing to, or possibly He was using it to make a comparison between the tree and the Jewish people, or maybe He just wanted to give one more lesson to His disciple’s on faith and prayer. The truth is we can only guess. Today, I'm feeling led to share about prayer and believing God because, quite honestly, without the practice of prayer and faith, we are just like the fig tree, looking good but producing no fruit; unable to quench the hunger of ourselves or others. An effective prayer life truly does cause our fleshly reactions to situations to be replaced by Spirit-led reactions to challenges and situations we face. Everywhere we go we can see people reacting to situations in the flesh. Anger, frustration, and jealousy are ever-present emotions in our society, and they are constantly being expressed in not so joyful ways. However, the rare spiritual and Godly response to daily challenges is not the norm; hence, when it is seen, it truly has a greater impact. Personally, my greatest struggle in daily life is driving, and the enemy knows it, while God wants me to grow through it. This is not a healthy combination. You see, when God wants you to grow through something and the enemy knows he can tempt you to fail, you have no chance; you will do one or the other–the only way to defeat it is to learn and overcome. Otherwise, you will be caught in the mire of confusion between the flesh and the Spirit; tormented one minute, convicted the next. As I said, driving is my greatest challenge, and everywhere I go I am faced with the challenge of growing in God through it. Either it’s the person driving under the speed limit in the left lane or the one cutting me off to get there ahead of me. The circumstances really don't matter. What matters is my response–will I bear good fruit, exercise Spirit-led guidance, or will I be like a cursed and withered fig tree? The choice truly is mine, and I made it long before I faced the challenge. You see, I made my choice when I decided whether or not to seek the Lord before my day began, when I decided whether to practice faith in prayer or to face the day on my own. By the way, the word withered means to lose vitality, force, or freshness, or to be made speechless or incapable of action. Are you withered? Don't let the world dry you up. Face each day with a renewed freshness in Christ; exercise the faith of seeking Him and His will for you each and every day. By doing so, you will forever bear fruit and never wither. Daily Prayer: Father, I pray for the strength and the desire to practice my faith first through prayer and then by the leading of Your Spirit. Thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Strength in Christ will always prevent withering in the flesh." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 174 "Testimonies bring great joy, and joy is something we all desire–share a little."

Day 174 Matthew 21:14-17 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there. Have you ever wondered why we don't see more blind, lame, or sick people in the church today? Or have you noticed that in many churches today there seems to be little joy in worship? Could it be that the two go hand in hand? Bear with me a moment while I walk through this because, honestly, I'm not sure where this is going either. Let's look at those who are lame, blind, or disabled in some way. I can think of no one who would have a greater desire or would be more appreciative of a healing. Deliverance from bondage, whether it be physical or spiritual, causes great joy and celebration. When miraculous things are happening you cannot help but be excited. However, if you have little desire to receive and see few others with that desire, then the chances are there will be little cause for celebration. Let’s face it, if you are physically challenged, it can take a great amount of energy and sometimes even suffering to even come to a church service, and while, yes, fellowship is important, you can get the message on cd or listen on the Web or radio, so why go through the hassle and pain of going to church? However, if by chance there is a move of the spirit, if by chance people are seeing the miraculous, many of those same people who stay home for comfort’s sake would crawl to church in hope of a healing or a meeting with God. Those same people would be singing and praising the greatness of their creator rather than feeling somehow less than perfect in the eyes of Him and the people around them. When there are miraculous things going on in the church, people feel victorious, and they become eager to learn more of the Word; they desire to fellowship with other believers. They can't help but express their joy with nonbelievers, and the body continues to grow. Is this to say that without miracles we cannot have church? Of course not. I'm not only speaking of the miracles of healing. What about the accident that was avoided, or the bills that were paid, or the child that was born, or the job that came from seemingly nowhere? Yes, God is working in all our lives every day, but for some reason we have decided not to talk about it. Maybe we’re afraid of what people think or maybe the church doesn't want to be viewed as too charismatic–whatever the reason, they all have the ability to take the glory from God. Are you seeing God in the little things? Are you celebrating His faithfulness, and are you telling others about it? Good questions to ask ourselves today, are they not? Daily Prayer: Father, may we believers be excited about You. Help us, Lord, to see you in all things and share our joy with others without fear of ridicule. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Testimonies bring great joy, and joy is something we all desire–share a little." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 172 "A fast drop causes fear while a slow descent can quell it."

Day 173 Matthew 21:12-13 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” One of the most irritating and frustrating occurrences for me on our trip to Israel actually happened on the Temple Mount. As we entered the area, we were immediately greeted by the Muslim men who were in charge, and right away it was unpleasant. First, they started by yelling at our wives and the women in the group whose shoulders were not covered sufficiently for them; there was nothing polite about the encounter, nothing Godly; it was simply a very unpleasant experience. As we continued touring and looking over the grounds, we were constantly accosted by men selling postcards. Now, mind you, they were not simply asking, they were coming inside of our tight circles and literally shoving the cards in our faces. As I stood and watched, I thought of this very passage we have just read. I wondered what Jesus must have thought as He entered His house of worship and saw a very similar situation. Men who had made rules in order to profit from the law of God were waiting to accost the people who had come to pray and honor their God. The sanctity of a house of worship is not, I believe, something to be taken lightly. The purpose of a house of worship is exactly that, a place set aside for people to come in peace and without distraction to worship and pray to their God. Far too often, we find that in order to get into the place of worship, we must run the gauntlet of the foyer making our way through those seeking to gather funds for their cause or ministry. And, yes, I will be the first to admit that I, too, have participated in such acts; however, today I am being reminded of the distraction that this can cause to those who are coming to worship. How do we get the word out? How do we inform people? How do we raise funds? Yes, these are very good questions and, quite honestly, I don't have the answers. However, I do know this–God's house is a place of worship and prayer and when that is the focus, God will honor it; when it is not, I doubt that He will, at least not to the same degree. Yes, these people had gone to an extreme and, yes, their hearts were turned to self profit, not service to the people, and by and large, the church of today has not fallen into the same trap; however, it is always good to remember a slow descent is nonetheless a descent. A slow indoctrination and change causes people to continue their descent without fear. I guess our question for today is this: are we being lulled into situations slowly that we would never jump into knowingly? Daily Prayer: Father, I pray for wisdom and understanding every day. I ask You, Lord, to reveal any areas in my life where I am being lulled into a place that could cause my fellowship with You to suffer. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "A fast drop causes fear while a slow descent can quell it." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 172 "If I seek and pray, I have a say."

Day 172 Matthew 21:10-11 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” Verse 10 tells us that "… all the city was moved" by Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; after all, He was surrounded by people singing psalms and waving branches; however, the people of Jerusalem, remember, did not know who He was. Why is this so significant? In reality, there is only one way that the religious leaders could not know who Jesus was and that is that God did not allow them to (Luke 19:42). Oh yes, they were more than willing to ignore the fact that Jesus arrived exactly at the time Daniel prophesied He would in Daniel 9:25-26, not to mention the fact that He arrived during the Passover. Remember that the first Passover took place in Egypt, and the people were saved by placing the blood of the lamb over their doorpost and lintels. Jesus is the lamb, as well, and soon He would be shedding His blood as the sacrifice for all–the ultimate Passover. However, again, we must remember that the Lord allowed them not to see in order that His will would be accomplished. No matter how foolish we may think these people were for not realizing what was going on, we must remember not to judge them for it; something that is truly not easy, especially when you are in Israel. Why do I bring up this point? Soon, our Nation will be faced with the decision of choosing a new President. The tendency for some is to cry wolf and fear the consequences of having a leader who is very liberal with questionable moral convictions, rather than one with solid conservative beliefs. Now, before you get defensive, let me make very clear the point that I am not using this as a political forum, nor will I. The point is that we are called to make Godly, informed, Spirit-led decisions as believers, which can only be done through prayer and time with the Lord. Then, if things turn out differently than you had hoped or prayed, you continue to pray, and you trust that God is in control, that His will is being done, and that He has your eternal best interest at heart. If the religious leaders had accepted Christ as the savior, if they had acknowledged who He was, the outcome would truly have been much different than it was, and I dare say not so well for us Gentiles. So, the point for us is, again, to pray for wisdom, pray for direction, and make solid moral decisions based upon the Word of God, all the while trusting that our God is ultimately in control. By the way, isn't this the way we should live our lives every day? Daily Prayer: Father, I ask that Your will would be done in my life every day, that Lord, You would direct our Nation and our world, and help me to trust that ultimately everything truly is under Your control. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "If I seek and pray, I have a say." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 171 "The next time He comes it will not be in peace."

Day 171 Matthew 21:6-9 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” A few years past, I was standing on the Mount of Olives not far from where Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As you stand there looking across the Kidron Valley toward the Temple Mount, you cannot help but be moved as your mind naturally recreates in its own way this amazing scene. It is as if you are taken back in time. You begin to see the people coming from all directions headed back to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. There is a natural excitement in the air; the streets are crowded, old friends young and old are reuniting; the city is alive! Suddenly, to the east there begins a small commotion, almost unnoticed at first, as a man riding a donkey appears making His way toward the city. What are those people shouting, you wonder? What's all the excitement about? Then you hear the words "Hosanna to the Son of David." Why are those people are shouting "Save us, we pray!" and calling this man “the Son of David," our Messiah? Look, they’re even throwing their coats down before him and waving palm branches. Why, that’s a sign of defiance to the Romans! Who is this Man? Possibly, they get the attention of Caiaphas, whose house is on the hill facing directly to the east–the commotion cannot be missed. Does he notice or is he wondering what all of the excitement is about; certainly, he does not know what lies ahead. Back on the road, the people who have followed Christ are filled with joy and excitement as well. How will He save us, some wonder? Will He drive out the Romans and establish His rule? Where is His army? How will the rebellion begin? Will He perform more miracles? Who knows what was going through their minds. And all the while, Jesus sits quietly upon the colt being led to the city and the people He loves enough to soon die for. Needless to say, the days ahead will hold many surprises, and many lessons will be learned. Yes, to be in this land is magical; to walk where He walked a blessing; yet even today, they, the people of this great city, are still waiting for their Messiah, largely unaware that He has already come and gone. However, let us not forget that He is coming soon again, and while, yes, there are many lessons to be learned, we do not have the guarantee of tomorrow so be watchful and wary, for your King is on His way. Pray for the peace of Israel for He is coming soon; this time on a white horse, and no man will miss His coming the second time. Daily Prayer: Father, we anxiously await the return of Jesus. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the salvation of Your chosen people. May You be glorified in all we do. In the name of Jesus our Lord we pray these things. Amen. "The next time He comes it will not be in peace." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 170 "Opulence and excellence should never be confused nor should taking and giving."

Day 170 Matthew 21:1-5 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” As I read this passage, I am reminded of so many wartime movies where the conquerors are preparing for battle, they saddle up their white horses, and in all of their splendor and glory they attack their enemies with all they have, hearts set upon destruction, dominance, and defeat. Once their enemy has been defeated, they proudly parade themselves down the main streets again on their great white horses stained with the blood of the people who are now forced to bow at their feet. They overcome their enemies without remorse or feeling, and, using utter brutality, they force them into submission to their form of government, taxation, and slavery; the ultimate intent being personal gain from the labors of others. The weak and submissive submit sheepishly, the opportunists join forces and sell out, and the rebels wait for an opportunity to gain freedom and ultimately defeat their captors. A stable form of government this is not, nor will it ever be, for it is based upon those who have made unwilling sacrifices and are now forced to be something they have not chosen to be. Now we go to the scene described in this passage. Here we have Jesus sending His disciples to gather a colt in order that He may make His triumphal entry; His steed, the colt of a donkey–a sign of peace; His purpose–to surrender himself as sacrifice for all mankind, requiring nothing of his followers. No brute force, no death (other than his own), no armies, no swords; just a man on a donkey. While, yes, we have the benefit of knowing the end of the story, the people of this time had no idea of the power of what was about to happen; all they know is that for some reason Jesus wants to ride a donkey. Can you imagine their conversations? Questions like, "Maybe His feet are hurting" or "Go get him a camel instead," or who knows what else, but one thing is for certain, they didn't know that the greatest battle of all time (to this date) was about to be waged. They didn't know that as a result of what they were witnessing and about to witness, all captives would be made eternally free, but we do. Our savior came in peace and left in peace, yet the battle He won changed mankind for eternity. The question is this, "Are we riding in with all our splendor on a great white horse or coming in quietly on the back of a colt?" Recently, I have been convicted by the Lord about how we represent ourselves, both in the church and as the church. There is no place for opulence in the Kingdom, and opulence loves to disguise itself as excellence. Let us not be confused. Daily Prayer: Father, please forgive me for my failings of the past, and keep me from opulence, while holding me to excellence. May I never take anything in Your name, but rather receive all things as from You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Opulence and excellence should never be confused nor should taking and giving." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 169 "Being familiar with God is good; forgetting who He is, is not."

Day 169 Matthew 20:29-33 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be blind? I know I have, and no matter how much I imagine or how long I keep my eyes closed, I still have absolutely no comprehension of what it would be like to be unable to see things at will. One reason it is impossible to recreate the experience is because I always have the option of opening my eyes. I am never desperate for sight. I have never experienced the frustration or fear of blindness, nor any of the other multitudes of emotions disabled people feel. Therefore, I cannot experience blindness in the true sense of the word. However, it is apparent to me that even though these men were blinded in the visual sense, they were more than able to see clearly in the spiritual sense, for they knew who this man was. Oh yes, I am confident that everywhere Jesus went there was a buzz; multitudes of people talking about His miracles and speculating about who He was; therefore, they certainly heard people speaking of Him. However, the words they chose to describe Him with are those which are used to describe the Messiah, a word that we have heard truly very little in the proper sense to this point. You see, when someone said "Son of David," they were making a direct reference to the one who would come from the seed of David to set the captives free–the Messiah! When you precede this statement with the word "Lord," now you are first acknowledging that this person has power and authority over their realm. So, in essence, their acknowledgement of Jesus was something like this: Jesus, who has power and authority over all things and is the deliverer of all mankind, "have mercy on us." Obviously, as I mentioned above, these men were not blind in the spiritual sense; they knew who Jesus was and acknowledged Him as such and, hence, they received His attention. The reaction of Jesus in the midst of this throng of people is something we, too, should be taking a serious look at, for I believe that we, too, can learn from these men. They first fought for the right to be heard against all odds, for the multitude was attempting to quiet them. Secondly, they acknowledged Jesus for who He was and addressed Him as such, then they made petition of Him and, lastly, they followed Him. How many times when we bring our shopping list to the Lord do we forget to acknowledge Him for who He is? I would say far too often in my case. Can it be that our lack of acknowledgement of the rightful place of God, the confession and remembrance of who He is, has impeded at times our prayer life? I would never propose to you that God has placed this example here in order to get us to call Him by a particular name or use a particular word to coerce God; however, Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9: "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name…" I would suggest to all of us that the proper way to address our God in prayer is with first acknowledging Him for who He is; after all, it does help us keep things in perspective as well. Maybe we have been a little blind. Daily Prayer: Father, I ask Your forgiveness for those times I have disrespected Your name and forgotten Your majesty. Help me to remember in the future how to address you and, while I need to be intimate and close to You, may I never forget who You are. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Being familiar with God is good; forgetting who He is, is not." Pastor Gene Burroughs

What is happening with the Burroughs Family?

Dear Friends and Family I wanted to take some time and fill you in on the latest happenings in the Burroughs household as you can imagine it has been filled with sufficient excitement and activity. You may or may not have yet heard Deborah and I have stepped down as the Senior Pastors of Calvary Chapel New Beginnings Shasta Lake, our last day will be Sunday February 26th 2012. The Lord has been preparing our families spirits for change for quite sometime, and now He has revealed to us the purpose of His stirring. In June of this year we will depart for Navarre Florida, a town about 25mi east of Pensacola Beach. We are being sent out from SLCC as missionaries based in Navarre Florida, and will be known as New Beginnings Navarre. Our mission is three fold: first of all we will be ministering to military personnel and their families in regards to “life after loss”. Far too many of our military are suffering loss in the forms of death, divorce, and most commonly PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These young men and women are returning from duty often in a state of complete numbness unable to remain in touch with their emotions. All to often the ending result is their leaving, (often suddenly) the family unit. As you can imagine the grief that ensues is filled with guilt, fear, doubt, hopelessness, and judgment, issues our family is all to familiar with. In addition to the military ministry we have been asked to pray and Partner with men seeking to begin a National Men’s Ministry designed to teach men to be the spiritual leaders of their homes. Our desire is to expand this to a National Women’s ministry as well within a short time frame. Finally Debbie and I will (as the Lord leads) be sharing at Camps, Retreats, Churches, and Festival’s etc. as our first book is nearing completion and two others are in the works. All of this said I will of course return to the ministry of evangelism, doing outreaches and speaking at every opportunity of the saving grace knowledge of Jesus. We are so grateful to the Lord for our Church family in Shasta Lake. The time spent there has been a tremendous blessing and we have made many new friends, seen many lives changed, and have learned much. We are also blessed to be leaving the Church in a new building and prayerfully soon (as the bldg sells) with no debt, a nest egg, and a new Senior Pastor and wife who truly love the Lord and are Shepherds at heart. I am equally grateful for the family at LCC, the thirty plus years we spent attending and serving truly were in all ways a blessing to us and we are who we are in Christ largely as a result of that time. We cannot take the time to thank everyone individually even though we would so love to, please accept our apologies if we are unable to visit face to face and know that we love and appreciate each and everyone of you. Our family will be taking this journey completely on faith, we have no ministry positions or jobs awaiting us and we are trusting that the Lord has made provision for the cost of moving, a home, and for monthly support. We therefore ask if you would pray about joining us in our adventure through your prayers and possibly financial support. Please believe me when I say we desire that everyone seek the Lord and only if He directs, then they would support us in this ministry. At present those who are led to do so can make checks payable to CCSL (Calvary Chapel Shasta Lake), and mail them to 22577 Knollwood Way Palo Cedro 96073 please write New Beginnings in the memo. Within a few weeks we will have our new account set up and will inform you of the changes. We covet your prayers and promise to keep all who desire to, up to date and informed about the ministry. Therefore if you desire to pray or support us in any way please fill out the following information and reply via email. We will do our best to keep you up to date as things progress. In service to Him The Burroughs Family, Gene, Deborah, Natalie, Michaela, Christil, and Malyja Email: outreachman@gmail.com The Burroughs Family New Beginnings Navarre Florida 22577 Knollwood Dr Palo Cedro 96073 outreachman@gmail.com After seeking the Lord for His will on your behalf our family is committing to the following: ________ Praying for your family and the ministry of New Beginnings Navarre _________ Committing to monthly financial support in the amount of $ ___________ Per Month _________ Offering this one time gift of $ ___________ _________ At this time we do not feel led to support the ministry through prayer and or giving. Please send our monthly update to the following location: Email; ______________________________________________ Mailing Address_______________________________________________________ City: ______________________________________ State: ______________ Zip Code: _________________

Day 168 "Desire to serve rather than rule–it is a far better way."

Day 168 Matthew 20:24-28 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” In this passage, we see the first true conflict between the disciples, and as the case in so many conflicts of our time, the basis is pride or a sense of entitlement. For the entire time that the disciples have been together, their primary function has been to serve both Christ and the people; it is only now when some desire to rule rather than serve that conflict arises. How often do we see this in day-to-day life and even more so in the Church? I would suggest far too often. One thing that makes people stand out in the body of Christ is their willingness to serve. When a true servant comes on scene, they are immediately held in high esteem. And it is more than just a selfish need-based esteem; it is an esteem that is based upon the apparent love this person has for God, their appreciation for His sacrifice, and their willingness to give all they have for Him–which is their true testimony. Without naming names, I can instantly think of at least a dozen people who fall into this category of true servant; while this may sound like a large number, it truly is not–remember, at the time of this writing I was serving in a church of over 4,000 adults. The true shame is not, however, that there are not more; the true shame is how many have forgotten the joy of serving. You see, I can count at least ten times as many people who have come under the spell of being rulers and completely lost track of servanthood. All too often, those who serve are placed in a position of authority, and upon doing so, they stop serving or lose the servant’s heart and, along with it, their passion and appreciation for salvation–and possibly even their zeal for God. Why? Is it because they have arrived or is it because they have become more focused on accomplishing the task as opposed to serving God, or do they so enjoy ruling that serving has long been forgotten? I can honestly say I have seen all three of these scenarios and more come to pass far more often than I care to. Jesus, in His last days of ministry in the flesh, is giving His disciples good and Godly counsel, and here He is warning them of desiring to be rulers, while reminding them that He, after all, was the greatest of all servants, desiring nothing but their, and consequently our, servanthood in the future. After all, is the servant above the master? How about you? Are you willing to serve or do you desire to rule, or maybe you have just forgotten how? If not you, maybe you know someone who has. Encourage them today to return to their first love–it truly is a better way. Daily Prayer: Father, help me to be mindful of servanthood. Protect me, I pray, from falling into the trap of desiring to be or becoming a ruler. May the joy of servanthood warm my heart and keep me from sin. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Desire to serve rather than rule–it is a far better way." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 167 "All of us have made choices; can we live with them or do we even want to?"

Day 167 Matthew 20:20-23 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” It is passages like this that give me great peace as to my own foolish thoughts and actions; after all, if men who were face to face with Jesus every day were able to act so foolishly, I may actually have a chance! It is ever so obvious that James and John had no idea what they were agreeing to; however, I doubt very much that in hindsight they would change their decision. When Jesus is asking them if they are able to drink of the same cup, they, of course, have no idea that He is referring to the upcoming humiliation, pain, and ultimate sacrifice that Jesus will be making (even though He has mentioned it often). They don't know that to drink of the cup and to be baptized with the same baptism is literally to feel the physical wrath of God upon sin. God will soon be unleashing His fury upon the body of His own Son to once and for all scourge men of sin. I'm sorry, but the thought of sharing in that wouldn't excite me. Most of us would rather pass on that one and be joyous to be in heaven rather than agree to the suffering in order to be exalted in heaven–either way we get there, right? So, what was their purpose or their motivation for encouraging their mother to ask for this favor? Was it the obvious possible pride issue or just a lack of understanding for what lie ahead? Obviously, none of us can know for sure; however, we can learn from it. James and John did both (it is believed) suffer the death of martyrs, and as we can later see, they did suffer greatly for the kingdom in life, while not to the degree that Christ did, they suffered greatly, nonetheless. Thankfully, Jesus did pay the ultimate price; one that no one will ever need to repeat; however, He did not close the door on persecution of believers but rather opened it. It is after the resurrection of Jesus that the persecution of believers unto death truly became a common occurrence, and in many places in our world, it continues and is increasing in severity today. We must never forget that following Christ is not intended to be easy, fun, or nonconfrontational. Until His return, each and every one of us who follow Christ will be persecuted in some form or another. The level to which we are persecuted, I believe, relates directly to the intensity and commitment to which we are following and representing Christ openly. If I am willing and called to preach the gospel in Tiananmen Square in China, there is a good chance I will be arrested, beaten, and incarcerated. If I am willing and called to preach the gospel on the steps of a Muslim mosque in Africa, there is a good chance that I will be killed. If I am willing and called to preach the gospel at work or on the streets, there is a good chance I will be fired and/or persecuted. Knowing this, do I avoid the preaching or sharing of the message or do I obey the particular call from God on my life and truly trust Him? The question has been asked; now the answer must come from within yourself, for no one can make this decision for you. In 1999, I told the Lord I would rather clean toilets in the Church than build mansions for man, all with the desire to share Christ and He who was crucified. Twenty minutes later, I received a call from the Church, and that day I was offered the job of cleaning toilets. Right then, I had to make the choice, and, yes, it included great sacrifice, yet today looking back, I would have done the same. Not everyone is called to follow my path, but each of us is called to choose one, have you? Daily Prayer: Father, with all my heart I thank You for Your Son Jesus who paved the way. I thank you Lord for those who have gone before me, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. May their sacrifices not go unappreciated or unnoticed in my life, and may I live worthy of the call You have for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "All of us have made choices; can we live with them or do we even want to?" Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 166 "No matter what we run from, we can never outrun it."

Day 166 Matthew 20:17-19 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” So, here we are, just the thirteen of us walking down the road, and you suddenly blurt out something like, "Oh, by the way, when we get to the town we’re heading to, I'll be mocked, beaten, and hung on a cross, but don't worry, three days later I'll come back from the dead. No biggie; just thought you might like to know." Whoa, wait just a cotton pickin’ minute, what did you just say? Yes, that would be an appropriate response; however, here we see no response at all–not one mention of a response to Jesus’ words. Why? We know that this is not the first time Jesus has mentioned it; however, it is the first time He mentions His scourging and resurrection. Isn't that enough to get someone to ask a question or respond in some other manner? Again, I ask, why not? Obviously, either they didn't believe Him, didn't want to hear it, or He didn't allow them to hear Him, which makes little sense. If He said it, then it was obviously intended to be heard. Could it be that Jesus was waiting to see if and how His disciples would respond? Could it be that He was fishing, or could it have been that since they didn't like the subject, they avoided talking about it? I believe the latter is the case; that it was easier to stick their head in the sand and deal with things as they came rather than talking about it and coming up with a plan. How would things have been different had they communicated more openly about what the future held for each of them? Maybe they would not have been scattered. Could it be if Peter had been more confident, he would not have denied Christ? Could it have prevented Judas from betraying Christ; therefore, allowing a different nonbeliever to do so? The truth is we don't know, and this is all speculation. However, that in itself is the issue. Why didn't they talk about it? What would it have hurt? Jesus obviously wanted to; after all, He brought it up. Sometimes the Lord brings up things that are tough in order for us to communicate with Him about them, and when we don't, we end up with whatever is left or the result of happenstance. Wouldn't it be better for all of us if we just had the courage to stand strong, be bold, and ask the questions of the Lord regarding tough issues in our lives? Sometimes we might be avoiding a wreck; you'll never know, will you, unless you ask? Daily Prayer: Father, give us the strength, I pray, to talk about the scary things you put on our minds. Help us not to run away from them but rather run to You with them and be blessed in the process. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "No matter what we run from, we can never outrun it." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 165 "Trusting God can never be considered failure; failing to always is."

Day 165 Matthew 20:1-16 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” I absolutely love this parable. It is by far one of my favorite illustrations of the sovereignty of God. Of the many lessons we can glean from this story, my favorite is the final sentence, even though I'm not sure as to why I feel this way. It may be that this final sentence is often overlooked and rarely preached upon or maybe there is no deep reason; it could be that I just like the way it sounds. Either way, let’s look at it together. First, the word “called” in this passage means, literally, "to be called" or to be asked to do something. In this case, the owner of the vineyard called upon various individuals to help him gather his harvest; he offered to pay each person a fair wage. You see, a denarius was a typical wage for a day's labor; therefore, those who came to work first agreed to a fair day's wages, as did the remaining workers who were promised "what was right." You see, all were chosen to receive a fair wage according to what was right in the mind of the master, not according to their own will. The men who came first agreed to a price; however, those who came later placed their trust in the master to be fair and honest. Those who were first received a fair wage, while those who trusted the master received the same wage for less effort. Now, before we build a new theology upon trusting the master and expecting him to respond to our plans, we must finish looking at this passage–remember how it ends: "but few are chosen." The word “chosen” again means just that, chosen for a purpose. In this case, the purpose was to be blessed. Is it because they placed faith in the master or is it because the master chose to bless for no particular reason? The answer actually is quite clear, only the master knows for sure. Hence, the true lesson: the master can and will do things according to His pleasure, and because this is true, the best thing for us to do is obey. The men in this story who went out late in the day were blessed amazingly, and I believe this was because they had total faith in the master. Those who went out first were blessed as well, but only to the point to which they trusted. You see, they limited their blessing by agreeing to a set and comfortable price; there was nothing left to the imagination and no need for faith. Get the point? I think we could all do well to just trust God to do what He wants rather than entering into a set agreement–sometimes He just wants to bless us. Going back a few years, my first wife and I realized that due to some commitments and ongoing expenses like taxes and insurance, we were in need of over $6,000 that we had no provision for, and we had only 6 months to raise the funds. We ran a number of scenarios, and I even attempted to make some extra funds by selling a few things. Well, that money went to other unexpected expenses, and soon we found ourselves faced with few options, yet I felt a very deep peace that the Lord would provide. Well, there we were, and somehow we were able to pay all of those expenses. Yes, there was little left; however, God provided in amazing ways and we were blessed beyond measure because we knew He did it all! Trusting God is never easy until you see His provision; however, it is always necessary because He is the one ultimately in control. Daily Prayer: Father, thank you that You choose to bless us when we need blessing, chastise us when we need chastening, and challenge us when we need challenging. Thank You, Lord, for choosing our ways. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Trusting God can never be considered failure; failing to always is." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 164 "Those you don't see produce most of what you do see."

Day 164 Matthew 19:27-30 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” One thing that strikes me very clearly in this passage is that there will be a certain hierarchy in eternity and varying degrees of blessing, yet all who believe will partake in the blessing of eternity with Christ. However, those who give their all on earth and forsake their earthly treasures will indeed be more than compensated for their sacrifice. As I read and write, I can think of many, some famous and some not so famous, who have done just that, given all they have for the furthering of the kingdom and the love of mankind. All whose names I will not mention for they are truly people of humility who desire to have their deeds left unnoticed in order that Christ may be more noticed. I believe that when Jesus ended this passage in verse 30, He was reminding us of two things: works will not gain us favor in the kingdom, and those who are known will not be; yet those who are unknown will be. The quietest of saints, those who have given all they have without fanfare or fame, they shall be rewarded accordingly, for theirs were hearts with pure motivation. I'm not suggesting that famous servants, pastors, and evangelists will not be rewarded for their efforts. First of all, it is not my place, and secondly, it would not be true. However, what I am suggesting is that those who seek fame, wealth, and recognition on earth and use the kingdom to gain it will, quite possibly, be at the end of the line in heaven. However, those who gave all they had, without seeking the fanfare or the recognition, may very well be the first in line, and I dare say we may be surprised at who they are. If you are one of those who serve in such a way, I desire to thank you today and encourage you in the faith. He knows who you are and you above all know that to be true, for I believe few hear Him better than those who seek Him in all humility and quietness. For the rest of us bold and open books, we, too, have the promise of heaven, and well, no matter where I am in line, I'll know I don't deserve to be there, but thank God by His grace I am! Daily Prayer: Father, I do thank you for those humble behind-the-scenes saints who seek Your face and Your desire alone. Please continue to surround us with them that we, too, might benefit from their labor, and teach me, Lord, to be more like You every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Those you don't see produce most of what you do see." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 163 "Even the breath I take is not possible without the will of God."

Day 163 Matthew 19:23-26 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Wow, did I have a cool awakening by the Lord! Well over 20 years ago, I heard our former senior pastor share on this passage, and he referred to the eye of the needle as either a spiraled, very tight or a very small gate within the wall of a city. In either case, the intent of the gate is to prevent the enemies of the city from entering in with great force or armament. These gates were often so small that one would literally need to crawl on their knees and either drag or push their possessions along with them for lack of room. Just the night before, we had a special guest who shared on this very passage and used a very similar description of what Jesus was referring to as the eye of the needle. He very creatively described how a camel would need to be removed of all burdens, and even then, it would need to crawl and crouch lowly in order to enter the city. I consider this analogy to be a very effective mind picture of how each of us should enter the kingdom of heaven; however, both may very well be inaccurate. Now, for the reason for my awakening. You see, I was very confident this morning that I could hear from the Lord and share with ease this very familiar passage; however, I am so grateful for God's faithfulness, for on my own I would have gone a direction He did not want this morning. That, alone, should for all of us be a reminder not to do what is familiar but to remember to wait on Him, to hear His voice, and then do His will, as I have done this morning. The word used to describe the eye of the needle in this particular passage in all of the gospels is rhaphidos, which, yes, you guessed it, is literally the eye of a sewing needle. Now, here is the amazing dynamic to this for me–suddenly it is not me that has any control on how or whether I enter the kingdom of heaven; suddenly our entire passage for the day takes on its very appropriate and, I believe, in-context meaning. You see, Jesus goes on in this passage to say, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Hence, the only way a camel will be fitting through the eye of a sewing needle is by a miraculous move of God, and the same can be said for a rich man. No rich man will enter heaven unless God, by His will, has given this person power over the influence of the pursuit of riches. I believe that Jesus is telling us that a rich man can enter heaven, and some will, but only because God has protected his heart and made him not love money for himself but rather what it can do and how it can be used for the kingdom. Additionally, I believe that this person must be submitted to that will and move of God. This should also serve as a stark reminder for each of us that it is not just the rich who will not enter without God making it possible, it is all of mankind as well. Daily Prayer: Father, thank you for allowing us to move beyond the knowledge of man and into the revelation of You. Protect us, Lord, from accepting this as we see or hear them, and teach us to seek Your will in all things. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Even the breath I take is not possible without the will of God." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 162 "A heart cannot help but be divided between riches and God."

Day 162 Matthew 19:16-26 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Upon first reading of this passage, one might consider that Jesus was not being clear in His answer to this young ruler; however, a closer examination of the passage reveals some very interesting facts. This young ruler, first of all, was obviously educated and versed in the law. He understood the Ten Commandments as well as the fact that the religious leaders had expanded Moses’ law to include other commandments; hence, the question, "which ones?" when he was referring to the commandments that he must keep in order to receive eternal life. As you probably know, there were only Ten Commandments given to Moses on the mountaintop, and while those ten affect all of our lifestyle choices, the religious leaders, much like our own legislative branch today, had taken much liberty with interpretations of the law. Jesus, by His final response to this rich young ruler, was cutting to the chase so to speak. He was asking this young man if He could follow what Jesus would later say in Matthew 22:39 was the second greatest of all commandments: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." He wanted this young man to know that love for your fellow man had to be above the love of money, for if this was not the case, you would not be able to follow the remaining commandments. When love of self and money outweighs our love for everything else, it is virtually impossible to obey the Lord, for He places all mankind above all things, and if we love Him, we will desire to be like Him. This is not to say that being rich is wrong. I know many who are wealthy that are also the most generous of people; however, in this case, to this man there was nothing more important. If he truly wanted eternal life and truly loved God, he would have obeyed and trusted that the Lord would be his provision, not because all rich people should sell everything, but rather because that is what Jesus had asked of this one rich man because of his love for money. In essence, this young ruler wanted to work his way into the kingdom on his own, and Jesus was reminding him that no one could do that, for no man is good enough to enter into eternal life; all men need a savior to open the door. May we all do well to remember that we need Jesus more than anything else, and nothing else will allow us to achieve what we truly desire. Are you on the right track? Daily Prayer: Father, thank you for reminding us that serving you and our fellow man is far more important than striving for things that will not sustain us or draw us closer to you. Teach me more, I pray, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen. "A heart cannot help but be divided between riches and God." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 161 "Innocence is not meant to be lost."

Day 161 Matthew 19:13-15 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. The culture of the times held very little regard for children, possibly because they were looked upon more as assets to the family as opposed to the treasures that Jesus saw them as. Whatever the reason, Jesus purposed to make it clear that He desired to have the children around Him and that He wanted to pray for them. One of the greatest challenges of being a father again later in life has been the toleration factor; you know what I mean, I'm older, more impatient, maybe a little more irritable, and yet the children are full of hope, energy, and excitement! The truth is I love it. I have purposed to embrace and enjoy it and to learn and draw from it; it brings me new life, excitement, and joy. Children are truly infectious: they see things so clearly and uninhibited, and we would do well, at times, to look at life more like they do. You see, they don't know all of the reasons that things can't be taken in a literal sense. They don't understand why yes does not always mean yes or why it's OK to tell a little lie–they are caught in their innocence. So why is it that we feel the overwhelming need as adults to steal or remove the innocence from a child? What is really wrong with such great literal faith? Sometimes I think we have fallen into the trap of believing (because the world tells us to) that children have nothing to offer and that their innocence is a deterrent to reality. It is often that this approach of innocence brings to light and reminds us of the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the ability to accept without doubt the fact that Christ died for us, that God created us, and that, yes, of course the Word of God is true. Jesus did not complicate the gospel–He simplified it; we, however, have managed not only to complicate it but to place conditions upon it as well. Maybe we would all do well to revisit our hard-felt views and return to a simpler view–one more like a child and one more in line with the innocence of the Lamb that was slain for us. Daily Prayer: Father, may I not forget that sometimes a rose-colored glass is appropriate to view You through. Help me, I pray, not to be so serious that I forget to enjoy my walk with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Innocence is not meant to be lost." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 160 "Those who love Christ are redeemed by Him, not by any man or his opinion."

Day 160 Matthew 19:11-12 But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” Jesus reminds us that, no, not everyone is the same and, yes, everyone is loved by God and to be accepted by men. Many of the people I know who are single have been subjected to out-and-out discrimination by those who think everyone is looking for a mate, when, in fact, this may not be true. For some reason, we have adopted the opinion that everyone must be married to be complete; however, this obviously is not a biblically based opinion. For people who have either chosen or by circumstance spend their lives single, we are instructed to allow them to "accept it," and we are to accept them as complete and whole brothers or sisters in Christ. Once we can accept them as complete in Christ, it will no doubt be easier for them to do so as well. Why do we struggle so much to do so? Is it because we think they’re unhappy single or that they feel incomplete in their lives? Maybe we would do well to remember what assuming does. The fact is that Christ sees every person in fellowship with Him as a whole and complete person. Yes, even the single, the skinny, the overweight, the young and the old, the Eastern, the Western, the Jew, and the Gentile, and since such is the case, so should we. Rather than trying to change everyone to be something we think they should be, wouldn't it be a more Godly approach to receive our brothers and sisters in Christ as just that, our complete and whole family? I speak from experience when I say that, yes, I struggle with my own issues such as my weight. I never stop fighting but it is a struggle none the less; however, my faith in Christ is not a struggle. Does that make me less of a believer? No, not at all, and the same can be said for anyone who is different than me. You see, we don't need to change people, we don't need to look for what others need, no, we would all be better served if we kept the focus on our own issues and let everyone else do likewise, all the while praying for wisdom. Daily Prayer: Father, help me to keep focused on those things with which I struggle rather than looking at the challenges others face. Show me my weaknesses, I pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen. "Those who love Christ are redeemed by Him, not by any man or his opinion." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 159 "The fall begins when we neglect the Word."

Day 159 Matthew 19:1-9 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” When Jesus is asked a question regarding issues of the day, there is a commonality to each and every answer: they are short, and they bear witness with the Word. I love how the Pharisees attempted to circumvent the Word with the Mosaic Law, yet Jesus took it right back to the Word. There is much to be learned by this. A few years ago, my first wife and I had been meeting with a growing number of couples whose marriages were coming apart at the seams, and each one had the very same commonalities. First of all, the couples neglected the Word and fellowship. By neglecting the Word and fellowship in a marriage, we allow feelings from the heart to dictate our actions rather than the truth of the Word. In addition, by starving our spirit of the Word, it becomes weak as the flesh continues to strengthen; therefore, it is again not long before our flesh has taken the upper hand and we are being led by it rather than by the Spirit. Truth becomes distorted and we react to everything from the flesh, thus leading to confrontation, sin, and lust, and, left unchecked, the flesh will destroy the marriage. The second commonality has been sexual immorality, which by the way, does not require intercourse with another person–sexual immorality does, however, include lusting after another. Don't be fooled by your flesh into thinking that viewing pornography is acceptable, even if it is with your spouse. If you need pornography for sexual arousal with your spouse, then your spouse is not the one you’re aroused by, which means you, not your spouse, have other issues to resolve. You cannot view pornography without lusting, and lust leads to acting out what you lust after in one form or another. Yes, according to this passage in the literal sense, sexual immorality is reason for divorce; however, Jesus said, "…what God has joined together let no man separate." He is not saying sexual immorality allows divorce; He is rather saying if you’re going to sin by divorcing, this is the only reason for it. Rather than get into a deep theological discussion, let me just say that God does not intend for people who are married to divorce for any reason; however, as He does with all sin, He will forgive a repentant heart. The third commonality in these marital challenges was that they had decided it was more important to fix the blame rather than the problem. When our goal is to fix the blame, we build a wall of pride around us that allows little or no reality or reasonable discussion to enter in. We become so fixated on being correct that it becomes all we care or speak of; there is no desire to fix the problem because the problem has suddenly become who is right or wrong, while the truth is both of you are wrong! If we purpose to fix the problem, then it becomes the focus of our energy and frustration rather than our spouse. Suddenly, we can partner together to defeat the problem rather than partnering together to destroy ours and the lives of our loved ones. Lastly, the word divorce has been allowed to enter into the discussion–suddenly it is an option. Divorce should not be a word in the vocabulary of a married couple unless used to describe a terribly horrific event in someone else's life. When we make a covenant before God, it is a permanent covenant with God and our spouse with eternal ramifications. If your relationship with your spouse has any one of these issues, fix it now and get back on track. You can rejuvenate your relationship and love for one another if you truly desire to. Daily Prayer: Father, I pray that each of us who are married would stay committed to keeping You at the center of our marriage for You, Oh Lord, are our hope and strength. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "The fall begins when we neglect the Word." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 158 "The fullness of forgiveness will never leave you empty, yet unforgiveness will never be satisfied nor fill you."

Day 158 Matthew 18:23-35 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” This passage is one of great peace as well as one of great warning for each of us. In my lifetime, I have witnessed many, including myself at times, who have acted just as this servant did: seeking with all fervency to be forgiven yet unwilling to do likewise for his fellow man. This is exactly how the world would have us act and, once again, completely contrary to how our Heavenly Father would have us respond. There was a story in the news a few years ago that was actually a very good example of this being played out: a certain politician, who in recent years had been campaigning for the presidency, is very emotional about family values and morality. He had been very judgmental toward the opposing party candidates, especially regarding these two subjects. In addition, his wife had been suffering from terminal cancer and short of a miraculous intervention from the Lord, her lifespan would be shortened. It was revealed that, during his campaign and his wife's and families struggle, he was having an affair. How often do we see this happening, where the person who is the harshest and quickest to judge on a particular issue is the last to admit that they, too, have fallen to that same temptation? Rather than having compassion on one who is caught in the same struggle as they, we instead attack them for their indiscretion. Could it be that we are attempting to divert attention from ourselves and possibly the anger that we often direct toward others is actually an extension of the anger we have toward ourselves in the midst of our failure? However, no matter what the reason, we have no right to throw stones. Jesus is telling us this story to remind us that just as we have been forgiven for our sins and transgressions, we, too, must forgive those who have likewise sinned or transgressed against us. Yes, we have obligations such as we have talked about the past few days; however, no matter the process of dealing with a brother or sister in their failures, the end result must be complete forgiveness. One thing to remember–if you cannot forgive someone else, then there is a great probability that you are not able to forgive yourself; therefore, you are not able to walk in complete redemption. Could it be that God in His infinite wisdom understands this to be true and because of His great desire for whole and complete fellowship with us continues to remind us of our need for wholeness through forgiveness of sin, both ours and that of others? Daily Prayer: Father, to forgive can be so hard at times, especially when our loved ones have been harmed by sin; however, Your Son was beaten and crucified for our sin, and yet You love us. Teach me, Lord, to love enough to forgive as You have in order that I may walk in the fullness of complete forgiveness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "The fullness of forgiveness will never leave you empty, yet unforgiveness will never be satisfied nor fill you." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 157 "Forgiveness and love walk hand in hand as we do with our creator."

Day 157 Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” My first thought is how interesting it is that the man who would deny Jesus three times would also be the one asking how often he was to forgive those who sin against him. Jesus knew Peter would deny Him, so could it be that His response was somewhat based upon His knowledge that Peter would soon need a greater understanding than most of forgiveness of offenses? You see, what Jesus was saying once again contradicted rabbinic law, which stated that you were to forgive a person three times and then you were no longer obligated to forgive. If Jesus had answered according to the law, Peter would have used up all of his forgiveness in that one day and, therefore, would be a man without the hope of salvation, for surely, as is with all of us, it would not have been long before he would once again have need to seek forgiveness. So the answer Jesus gave was literally a lifesaver for Peter prior to Peter needing to be rescued. This very fact should bring great comfort to every follower of Jesus. If there were a limit on grace, mankind would soon become hopeless, for surely most of us would use it all up; therefore, God has literally made it limitless as long as there is repentance. By saying seventy times seven, Jesus was saying you are to forgive as long as forgiveness is needed. We truly do serve a God of great mercy and grace; I pray that each of us can be confident of our God's great love for us. Daily Prayer: Father, may we walk in the confidence of knowing Your love for us. May we never need all of the grace you offer, and may we extend the same to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Forgiveness and love walk hand in hand as we do with our creator." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 156 "If we are not in one accord with God, it is truly by our own choosing."

Day 156 Matthew 18:18-20 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” With assurance, Christ promises us that whatever we bind and whatever we loosen shall be done; likewise, both in heaven and upon the earth. If this is the case, why is it that we see so little evidence of such great power? Can it be that we truly do not believe this promise to be so? Is it possible that our understanding of such power is so limited by our flesh and our knowledge that somehow we are the cog in the wheel? One thing is for certain: the issue is either with God or with man, so which is it? I realize that I am a very simplistic man. I believe everything that God tells us is to be taken in the literal sense, well at least almost everything, but one thing is for certain, I know of no reason not to attempt to the best of our ability to test everything that God tells us to do. There are far too many people professing to be believers who say things like, "Oh, God would never do that." Well, I'm glad you know the heart of God well enough to know His every action, because I sure don't. You see, God can and will do anything He wants to do, and more often than not (thankfully) it does not make sense in the human realm. Aren't you glad that God's ways are bigger than your own, that His plans are greater than yours? If I sound a little frustrated, it's because I am. I have grown very weary of hearing people complain about their circumstances when they have built so many walls of unbelief that faith has no way of getting through. There can be no revelation because deep in their heart they lack the ability to believe. How many times do we hear Jesus say, "Your faith has made you well" or similar statements? Yes, we hear them with great regularity. Why? Because it's true. Do you have the faith to believe that your words carry great power, that the things you bind on earth are also bound in heaven? If not, then why is His word your truth? One of the greatest blessing of spending large amounts of time with God is that we make far fewer of those prayers that are completely out of His will; our prayers suddenly become an extension of God's will rather than dreams or requests based upon circumstances. Therefore, we experience the joy of seeing prayers answered upon a more consistent basis, and our faith grows with every prayer. Suddenly, we are experiencing exactly what Jesus is speaking of in these passages–we are literally witnessing the hand of God in action! In Acts, when the people came together in one accord, the Church was forever changed; the power of God fell and many were saved, all as a result of people who were reading and hearing the Word daily, people who were committed to the call at all costs and people who were hungry for God's will. I believe that every prayer was inspired by the spirit of the living God. Jesus is foretelling that day in this passage; however, it was not intended to be a one-day event; it was intended to be a habit, a lifestyle. Yes, it is intended that every prayer of faith is to have an impact upon heaven and upon earth, and the only thing stopping it is us! Daily Prayer: Father, please help us to be people of great faith, people who are in one accord with You, knowing Your will, and praying Your will into existence. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "If we are not in one accord with God, it is truly by our own choosing." Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 155 "Train wrecks often hurt innocent bystanders; therefore, we must endeavor to keep the tracks clear."

Day 155 Matthew 18:15-17 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” Up until now, Jesus has been very careful about offending people. He has directed us to turn the other cheek, give more than what our enemy asks for, and He has even performed miracles in order not to be an offense to others. Why the sudden change? I'm sure many of you have already figured it out. Up until this point, Jesus has been speaking of how we relate to those who have yet to accept Christ as Lord; however, here He is speaking of how we interact when there is a conflict with another believer who has sinned against us. You see, our interaction with people has everything to do with their affiliation with Christ; if they know Him, they know better than to sin against a brother. If they do not know Christ, we are to help them through their sin in order to have the opportunity to introduce them to Him. While great in theory and principle, this is not something that is easy to accomplish in the real world; however, we are commanded to do so. In today’s ‘everything goes’ world, I have no doubt that there are many who would consider confronting someone over a moral offense as well offensive. And, if you went so far as to take them before the Church with witnesses, of course you would be considered judgmental or worse, and if you kicked them out of the Church, well, "How dare you think you are better than they!" However, again, we are speaking first of all about those who profess to be followers of Christ, and we are, each by professing such, held to a higher standard; hence, greater judgment. In addition, there is another contingency to this action: there must be two or more witnesses, a condition which God placed upon mankind first of all in Deuteronomy 17:6, which He continues to reiterate throughout the Word and even into Hebrews 10:28. The bottom line is this, when we sin against a brother or sister in Christ, we need to confess our sin to them and make restitution that leads to restoration, thus accepting the humiliation and embarrassment that comes with this action. Would it not be better to accept these consequences than to risk our heavenly rewards? And for those who refuse to accept the consequences, they are to be avoided and expelled from fellowship, for they are truly worse than a nonbeliever–they profess to know the Truth yet deny its power over them; hence, left alone, they would infect and affect the walk of others and possibly lead them astray. Yes, this all sounds very harsh; however, taken in the context of the previous passages in Chapter 18, it really does make sense, does it not? Just remember the first rule: we are to love one another with unconditional love, if you remember that and depend on the Holy Spirit God is faithful to lead. Daily Prayer: Father, may we be strong enough to hold our brothers and sisters accountable yet humble enough to love them through their trials. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Train wrecks often hurt innocent bystanders; therefore, we must endeavor to keep the tracks clear." Pastor Gene Burroughs