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November 13: The Spiritual Battle 1 Kings 18:1–46 Sometimes our work for God requires severe actions. In these times—ones that we can’t possibly prepare for—we need to rely on the Spirit and its work to empower us. I have always admired Elijah the prophet because he goes into firestorms with little, if any, preparation. The Spirit of God is his leader, sword, and shield. One of the most frightening moments in Elijah’s life is his encounter with the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. How could Elijah prepare to face 450 prophets from the enemy nation who are endorsed by Elijah’s own king? He faced certain death. Perhaps he had even reconciled himself to the idea that his life would end on that mountain. Elijah’s supreme confidence in Yahweh is inspiring. He instructs the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are the majority, and call on the name of your god, but don’t set fire under it” ( 1 Kgs 18:25 ). After the other prophets fail t...

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November 12: Exclusivity Mark 9:38–10:16 We often think that God needs us—that we are His arms rather than His agents. When we see our work as integral to God’s kingdom , thinking that God needs us, our vision, our doctrines, or our ideas in order to further His kingdom , we might be guilty of something else entirely. These feelings are often motivated by our own feelings of inadequacy. We can sometimes be more concerned with proving ourselves than honoring God . When the disciples learned that others were casting out demons in Jesus’ name , they tried to prevent them. “We saw … and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us,” they told Jesus ( Mark 9:38 ). But Jesus only rebuked them: “There is no one who does a miracle in my name and will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, truly I say to you that he will never lose his reward” (...

November 11 Lesson 11 PAUL SURVIVES A SHIPWRECK DEVOTIONAL READING: Romans 1:13–17 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Acts 27 ACTS 27:1 , 2 , 33–44 1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band. 2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. 33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. 37 A...

Garment of Death Genesis 50:26 “So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.” Over the past few weeks, we’ve walked beside Joseph through the ups and downs of his life. Out of jealousy over Joseph’s favored relationship with their Dad, Joseph’s brothers ripped his robe off of him, soiled it with the blood of a goat and threw him into a pit. With his garment of favoritism, they deceived his father, telling him that Joseph was dead. But Joseph wasn’t dead. His brothers sold him as a slave to an Egyptian caravan. In the beginning, Egypt wasn’t all that bad for Joseph. Sure, he missed his father and longed for home, but he had a good assignment-watching after Potiphar’s household. He’d done well for himself and became head over the entire household. Potiphar didn’t keep anything from him, except of course, his wife. Potiphar’s wife had another idea. She found Joseph attractive and made a pass at him. “But Joseph re...

November 11: Traditions and Miracles Mark 9:2–37 In the face of perplexing situations, we naturally respond with what we know and understand—we even take refuge in familiar traditions. This is precisely how Jesus’ disciples respond when Jesus is transfigured before them. After Jesus is transformed and Moses and Elijah appear, Peter says, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! And let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah” ( Mark 9:5 ). Peter is drawing on the Festival of Tabernacles (or Booths) , which celebrated God’s dwelling among His people ( Lev 23:42–43 ). Peter isn’t certain how to respond, so he evokes a tradition. At least Peter understands that this confusing event shows God at work among His people . But is Peter’s response the correct one? Mark gives us a hint in an aside: “For [Peter] did not know what he should answer, because they [Peter, James, and John] were terrified” ( Mark 9:6 ). It’s not surprising that Peter has troub...