Numbers 36, Deuteronomy 1, Luke 5:29-6:11, Psalms 66:1-20, Proverbs 11 :24-26

What God said to me – An oxymoron is a figure of speech that seems contradictory – like a “jumbo shrimp” or “terribly good”.  In Proverbs it says that the one who scatters what he has will increase what he has but the one who holds on to what he has ends up in want.  Think of the farmer – he needs seed to grow crops but what if he just kept the seed in his barn?  He’d never have any crops and the seed would rot, but if he would scatter the seed, his seed supply would dwindle, but in the end, he would gain more crops and more seed.  In your life don’t hoard what I have done for you physically or spiritually but share generously.  Give and minister graciously to those I bring to you.  Share what I have done in your life and how I have blessed you.  David said, “I will tell of what He has done for My soul.”  He didn’t just share the “good” things – he told of his trials and how I refined him as silver – how he was oppressed by men, but I brought him through.  Don’t sugar coat your testimony but share your trials and struggles and how I was always faithful.

Numbers 33:40-35:34, Luke 5:12-28, Psalms 65:1-13, Proverbs 11:23

What God said to me – Have you ever gotten something in your eye that you couldn’t get out?  It’s so small and yet it hurts so much – your eye is constantly watering and every time you blink, you feel it.  It gets “gunky” and blurs your vision so you’re constantly wiping it so you can see.  What about a pain in your side or neck – whether it’s a pulled muscle or a pinched nerve or a rib out of place, every time you move it hurts.  It hurts even to lie down so you never really rest well.  Did you know you can get spiritual pricks in your eyes or thorns in your side when you allow sin to remain?  I told Israel that when they went into the promised land, they needed to destroy all of the idols and places of worship of the people in the land, or they would be drawn into their sins of idolatry and immorality.  They would become like pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides, always causing pain, always causing discomfort and never allowing them to rest and fully possess the land I had given them.  When you allow sin to remain in your life, even when you don’t succumb very often, it will become like that for you – a prick in your conscious – a pang of disappointment and defeat in your soul – never being able to fully enjoy the rest and peace of being wholly devoted to Me.  You must tear down all the idols of your old life once and for all.  You be holy because “I AM” holy.

Numbers 32:1-33:39, Luke 4:31-5:11, Psalms 64:1-10, Proverbs 11:22

What God said to me – The motto of the three Musketeers is “all for one and one for all”.  That should also be the motto of My people.  As My child you are not alone but are part of a body with each member an important part and contributing to the health of the whole body.  As Israel approached the promised land after wandering forty years in the wilderness, some of the people wanted to remain in the land they had captured from the Midianites.  Moses told them they could keep the land, but they still had an obligation to the rest of the tribes to go with them and fight to capture the promised land.  In My church I have given each one a spiritual gift and a place of ministry within the body of Christ.  No gift or ministry is more important than another – all are necessary to equip My people for the work of service to build up My body, so each one becomes a mature believer.  The things you go through in your life and the lessons I teach you along the way are not just for your life, but so you can come along side others and teach them and encourage them as they grow and mature as believers.  Church is important.  Ministry is important.  Build one another up.