INTRODUCTION Welcome to iJourney 2011! Every person is on a spiritual journey. Our journeys are laced with challenges, changes, and choices every day. The way in which we each navigate our journey will have lasting effects throughout eternity. It is therefore imperative we see our journey from the right perspective and then proceed down the right path in order to fulfill the purposes for which we have been created. Your journey traces the story of your life. Every twist and turn, every hill and valley, and every person and place, converge to define the story of your life. Your life story, though unique, fits within a much more grand story – God’s Story. Since the beginning of time God has been unveiling His grand story for all creation. The Bible is God’s journey with man as He unveils His story. In Genesis, God tells us how His story begins. And in Revelation He tells us how it will end. His story is a love story, with Himself as the hero and people as the heroine in need of rescue. Within this love story your story fits and comes to life. iJourney has been developed to help you better visualize and navigate your story within God’s story. To assist you on your journey this year we are walking through the Bible chronologically. In doing this you will experience God’s story from beginning to end historically. For instance, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah were preaching during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Reading the prophets within their historical context will give you a better feel for their messages and a better understanding of their meaning. iJourney is designed, however, to help you do more than simply gain a better understanding of the Bible historically. iJourney is an opportunity for you to engage God personally. Jesus said that real life is knowing God intimately (Jn 17:3). Most Bible readers never move beyond reading the Bible for information. Through iJourney you will be challenged to move from reading for information to revelation. God is a talker. He is always speaking. The problem is not with his voice, but with our ears. To the seven churches in Revelation Jesus said the same words. He said, “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” (Rv 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22).
The Lord wants to guide you on your life journey. He wants you to discover your journey within His story. He wants to walk with you as you fulfill your purposes. Reading for revelation is hearing God’s voice and then following God’s path as He unveils His plans to you and through you. iJourney 2011 includes three weekly sections along with your daily reading plan. The first section is Cross Walk. In the same way cars are to yield at designated crosswalks when they see pedestrians, Cross Walk is written for you to slow down and see Jesus. In each weekly reading a Cross Walk has been written to help you see Jesus and His redemption throughout Scripture. The second section is Scenic View. When traveling the country you will see areas along the way marked Scenic View. These are places where you can pull over to view the beauty of an area. Each week a Scenic View has been written to help you discover the beauty of a particular reading. The final section is Journaling. Like any traveler, this section is for you to journal any thoughts, comments, or observations made along your journey. Blessings! David Jett Senior Pastor
CROSS WALK
SCENIC VIEW
Our Sacrificial Redeemer (Genesis 3:15-4:16)
Undoing the Babylonian Heart (Genesis 11:1-9)
The Bible begins by describing a creation that God calls “very good.” We read of the beauty and simplicity and begin to wonder what happened. No shame, no sin, and no separation. What went wrong? We barely get those words out of our mouth before we come to Genesis 3. Suddenly, the stark reality of self-centered rebellion casts an eerie shadow over Eden’s beauty. Innocence is shattered on the altar of self-indulgence.
There is within all of us a longing for belonging. We each aim for fame. Oh, our fame may not be see in neon lights by millions or known among the world’s elite, but the desire still remains. We all have within us the desire to displace God and make a name for ourselves. This desire for life without God is the Babylonian heart.
When the Lord discovers man’s sin, He turns to the deceiving Serpent and makes a declaration and a promise. He declares to the Serpent that He will send a Redeemer through the woman and this Redeemer will crush the head (authority) of the serpent (Gn. 3:15). This declaration has been called the proto-evangel, or first mention of the Gospel in Scripture. Following this declaration the Lord then turns and makes a promise to Adam and Eve. The Lord kills an animal and takes the skin to make coverings for both Adam and Eve (Gn. 3:21). In the slaying of this animal the Lord shows the necessity of a sacrifice to cover sin. Rather than leave mankind in an eternal state of sin and separation, the Lord declared He would cover us. The slaying of an innocent animal for the covering of sin became God’s accepted way to be worshiped. Cain’s worship (Gn. 4) of offering the works of his hands (picture of religious works) was not acceptable to God. The Lord will only be worshipped through sacrifice. All the sacrifices found in the Old Testament were temporary coverings for God’s people until the One true Sacrifice could be offered to God by God Himself. Jesus, the Son of God, came and fulfilled God’s promise of redemption through His sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus is God’s Sacrificial Redeemer who paid the penalty of our sin against God and at the same time redeemed mankind from the tyranny of the Serpent (Satan).
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS
The scene in Genesis 11 begins with all the people of the earth speaking one language and having one unified heart. The heart of the problem in this story is the problem of their hearts. We see the symptoms of their heart problem in verse 2 where “the people migrated east” and “settled” in Babylon. The migration east was a sign of them moving away from God (see Gn 3:24; 13:10-12; 25:6; 29:1) and their settling in Babylon was in direct disobedience to God’s instructions to Noah (Gn 9:1). Like Adam and Eve before, man was once again choosing to live life apart from God. We see this Babylonian heart further unveiled as the people attempt to make a tower reaching into heaven. In doing this they are declaring man’s ability to become his own god. This Babylonian heart is seen throughout the history of mankind. With a brick in one hand and mortar in the other, man is always attempting to build his towers. In response, we see the Lord stooping down to see this tower and then stopping their work by confusing their language. This move by the Lord was an act of grace. In verse 6 God is not admitting to man’s unlimited abilities to reach god-like status, but rather man’s hard-hearted stubbornness toward rebellion. God, in His great mercy, brought confusion and division until such time as He would become man’s unity. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, God became our Cornerstone – our brick and mortar, unifying mankind together in Himself (Acts 2:5-12; Eph 4:3). In Christ, believers have received a new heart (Ez 11:19), and filled by the Spirit, we may experience intimacy with God and unity with one another.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS
January 1
January 2
January 3
January 4
January 5
January 6
January 7
January 8
q Gn. 1:1-3:24
q Gn. 4:1-6:22 q 1 Chr. 1:1-4
q Gn. 7:1-10:32 q 1 Chr. 1:5-23
q Gn. 11:1-14:24 q 1 Chr. 1:24-27
q Gn. 15:1-17:27
q Gn. 18:1-21:7
q Gn. 11:32 q Gn. 21:8-24:67
q Gn. 25:1-26 q 1 Chr. 1:28-34
CROSS WALK
SCENIC VIEW
Asking What nNot Why (Job 38:1; 42:5)
Praying Like a Priest (Job 42:8)
Job found himself in a place where his theology of God could not answer the questions he had about God. The only question he could ask was “Why has this happened to me?” The “why” question is one we will all ask at some point in our life, but like Job, we will probably get no answer.
Job’s friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—were like most of us when we go to comfort a friend who is struggling or suffering. With all their hearts, they sought to answer Job’s questions without understanding all the details of Job’s circumstances. We have the resources of Job Chapters 1 and 2 to help us understand his situation, but Job and his three friends had only their limited experiences and a finite understanding of God. They tried to explain things that defy human explanation.
Instead, God appeared and spoke to Job out of a whirlwind. This appearance was a theophany, an Old Testament visitation of Jesus prior to His incarnation. Jesus did not come to answer Job’s “why” questions, but to declare His absolute sovereignty to Job. His biggest need was to understand that God was utterly different from him and his friends. Job needed a new revelation of God and in His grace, Jesus came to give him that new impartation. Job had no answers for the questions Jesus asked. Actually, He never expected Job to have the answers. His point was to silence Job’s crippling inward focus and force him to turn his attention outward and his gaze upward. He needed to realize there was only One who could restore him and meet him at his deepest need. Job’s response was classic—“I’ve heard of You, but now I see You. I repent.” A fuller revelation of God was enough. “Why” is our attempt to understand—to make sense out of what is happening all around us. It is the typical human response to a seemingly out of control situation. “Why” is an honest response, but often it hides a darker unspoken question, “Why is this happening to me?” That question is a recipe for disaster and a revelation of a far deeper problem called self-righteous pride—“God, I deserve better than this!” A better question when we find ourselves in unexplainable circumstances is, “What are you teaching me through this, Lord?” When we ask that question with a pure heart, God will answer it every time.
The best thing we can do in a situation like Job’s is to wrap our arms of love around that individual or family and pray. There are some questions only God can answer and often He is uncomfortably silent on these occasions. Prayer should be our first line of ministry, not our last ditch effort when we run out of answers that won’t resolve the heart cry of suffering. God used the act of intercession to do two things in Job’s life. Like a priest, Job stepped between God and the sins of his friends. Through his intercession, the friends who had badgered and berated him were restored in their relationship with God. As Job was praying for them, God also began the restoration of Job. His obedience in prayer resulted in a double portion of God’s grace. The act of prayer forced Job to consider the needs of others when his needs were at their highest point. God has called each of us to act as priests through the ministry of intercession. Our calling is not to have all the answers. That responsibility produces a fear that paralyzes most people from ministering, or worse, forces them to give answers that trivialize a tragedy in the worst way. Our job is to pray, and God will do the rest.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS January 9
January 10
January 11
January 12
January 13
January 14
January 15
January 16
q Gn. 25:27-28:5
q Gn. 28:6-30:24
q Gn. 30:25-31:55
q Gn. 32:1-35:27
q Gn. 36:1-43 q 1 Chr. 1:35-2:2
q Gn. 37:1-39:23 q 1 Chr. 2:3-6, 8
q Gn. 35:28-29 q Gn. 40:1-41:57
q Gn. 42:1-45:15
JOURNALING
JOURNALING
_________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
JOURNALING
JOURNALING
_________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
CROSS WALK
SCENIC VIEW
Imagine (Genesis 22:8)
Promise-Keeping God (Genesis 21:1)
Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” Can you imagine Abraham’s emotional state as he packed the donkey with everything needed to make the sacrifice the Lord had asked him for his only son? Every step he took toward a mountainside he had never seen before, called for more faith. But he had seen God’s faithfulness too many times to turn back now. Full of faith, he climbed that mountain knowing God would provide a lamb - and Jehovah Jireh did indeed provide the Lamb.
A promise is a declaration that something will or will not be done. How many times have you seen promises go unfulfilled? When they are made by other living, breathing people, I’m quite sure you’ve seen countless promises go unfulfilled. Many of us have lost the comfort that comes in a promise. But be encouraged - there is comfort and assurance that can be found, especially if you find yourself sitting on the other side of a promise from God.
Scripture says, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). In Genesis 22, we see the beautiful picture of substitutionary atonement. God provided Abraham a ram in the thicket to take the place of his son Isaac. Even greater is what the Lord provided for all of mankind. God gave His Son to be laid on a wooden cross and become the sacrificial Lamb so that all who trust in Him as Savior could be one with Him again. Can you imagine God the Father’s heart as He sent His baby boy to this planet to take on the sinfulness of mankind while bearing the fullness of His wrath? This was not emotionless for God the Father. Be assured the pain that Abraham came close to feeling, our Father in heaven felt to the greatest degree. Let’s take a moment to see what’s portrayed in Genesis 22 that is a shadow of what would be perfectly fulfilled by God the Father and God the Son. It should remind us of the judgment that we so rightly deserve that was taken by the perfect spotless Lamb of God. Praise His Name!
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS
Sarah found God to be a promise-fulfilling God when it came to having children. God promised her a son and he delivered. In worship to the One that gave her that son, she named him Isaac which means laughter. God had taken Sarah’s laughter in unbelief when she first heard God’s promise and turned it into laughter of pure joy. It’s good to find yourself on the other side of a promise being fulfilled. Of course celebrating the fulfilled promise isn’t hard at all but waiting for it sure is! Think about this: even though Sarah had a promise from God about her baby boy to come, she still had to wait. She waited at least nine months, not including a conceiving time, before she could hold her personal promise from God. Many of us have a promise from God - a personal promise that God spoke into our spirit that aligns with His Word and His heart. Yet we haven’t seen it or held it. This can become incredibly discouraging and even frustrating. Be encouraged - you’re not the first person that has had to wait before God’s promise became a reality. Truth is, when God makes a promise it is already a reality even before you see it. So hold on to that promise…keep your eyes on the One who made it and one day you’ll hear the beautiful cry of that promise being birthed!
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS
January 17
January 18
January 19
January 20
January 21
January 22
January 23
January 24
q Gn. 45:16-47:27
q Gn. 47:28-50:26
q Jb. 1:1-4:21
q Jb. 5:1-7:21
q Jb. 8:1-11:20
q Jb. 12:1-14:22
q Jb. 15:1-18:21
q Jb. 19:1-21:34
CROSS WALK
SCENIC VIEW
Jacob Wrestles with God (Genesis 32:24-32)
Joseph Interprets the Pharoah’s Dream (Genesis 41)
Jacob left his mother’s apron strings under distress. He had joined her in a conspiracy to deceive his father so that he could cheat his brother of his birthright. When Esau promised to kill him, his mother encouraged him to leave and move far away.
He was despised by his brothers, thrown into a pit to die, sold as a slave, relocated to Egypt, and falsely accused of rape - yet never embarrassed his boss by exposing his wife’s guilt. He was subsequently placed in prison, promoted to prison manager, excelled as a leader there, and interpreted dreams for influential prisoners.
While away, Jacob marries two wives and amasses great wealth in livestock, but the Lord speaks to Jacob and tells him to return home. Aware of Jacob’s fear, the Lord promises to be with him. As Jacob arranges his caravan, he devises a scheme to protect himself. He divides his family into groups, led by his two wives, Rachel and Leah, and his servant wives. He then places staggered groups of animals (gifts to Esau) between him and Esau, thinking they would appease his anger. If not, should one of his wives fall under attack, the other could flee. Finally, cowardly Jacob trailed the caravan! In the evening, he camped on one side of a great gulf with his caravans on the other side. Safe from Esau, the mastermind, reclined to sleep. If he heard the noise of battle he could flee! Yet in the night, he was attacked not by Esau, but by the Lord. As a father wrestles with a child - allowing an extended struggle yet in full control and unchallenged - the Lord wrestled with him. When he realized that it was the Lord, he asked for a blessing, forgetting the Lord had already promised him safe passage. The Lord Jesus obliges, but takes one thing from Jacob before leaving - his mobility, that in which he had trusted. The Lord touched his hip and gave him a limp.
As a lad he had been given a vision that confirmed that he would be exalted above his brothers and parents. Finally the King of Egypt, Pharoah, called for his help. He had traveled this road for twelve years from the pit to Pharoah’s prison, yet the Lord had not forgotten him. When no one in Egypt could neither correctly reveal to Pharoah his haunting dream, nor interpret it accurately, Joseph’s relationship with God placed him in a position to be able to intercede for the nation. He took no credit for hearing from God and was careful to use the circumstance for God’s glory. The twelve long years of thankless service and impeccable devotion to the authorities placed over him, prepared Joseph for this day. He had suffered injustice and had maintained a wonderful attitude despite horrible conditions. Because he had been willing to be under authority, he was about to be placed as second command over all Egypt. Explaining to Pharoah that there would be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of drought, allowed the nation to prepare for hard times. This resulted in salvation for the region, solidified Pharoah’s leadership, and ultimately resulted in Joseph’s promotion as Pharoah’s right hand.
What others might view as an injury was actually Christ’s blessing. That morning the coward in him died. He chose to lead his caravan, unafraid to meet Esau. Now he trusted the Lord, with whom he had wrestled. There is nothing wrong with wrestling with the Lord so that He can touch your life, but you could simply abandon your contingency plan to avoid the pain. The cross calls us to die to our faithless options.
The Lord had engineered circumstances to develop his character and competency, and to position Joseph in a rich land. This would lead to the emergence of a blessed nation descending from him and his brothers. At the perfect time, God exalted him. Sometimes the most obscure paths lead to the most delightful, powerful blessings. When we resist the path to the cross, we abandon our blessing. Are you willing to trust the Lord regardless of the path that leads to His intended destination? Enjoy the journey.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS
January 25
January 26
January 27
January 28
January 29
January 30
January 31
q Jb. 22:1-25:6
q Jb. 26:1-29:25
q Jb. 30:1-31:40
q Jb. 32:1-34:37
q Jb. 35:1-37:24
q Jb. 38:1-40:5
q Jb. 40:6-42:17