Day 3–Power to Assist the Hurting
Scripture reading for February 18: Matthew 10:5-8 “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” You received without paying; give without pay.”
Each time a call for help comes in over ‘911’, responders are dispatched to go and help. Their training and equipment and authority from their position enables them to go and deal with whatever problem is needing assistance. We are not to show favoritism towards any nationality or social status, but help whoever is in need. As volunteers, we don’t do what we do for money and that is true of the vast majority of those receiving a salary. We are there to help because of a calling on our lives and have freely given of our time and effort. We go to those in need with ‘good news’ that someone in the community cares about them and is there to help.
Jesus sent out the twelve first disciples giving them specific instructions that were for them at that time. They were to go only to the house of Israel, not to Samaritans or other Gentile peoples. Their assignment was to proclaim the kingdom of heaven to those who had been prepared by their calling and training through Scripture. As a demonstration of the kingdom, Jesus empowered them with authority to heal those who were sick or afflicted. They were empowered to raise the dead and to cleanse those with the destructive disease of leprosy. Finally, they were given authority to cast out demons. The kingdom of heaven present meant that the old order of darkness and death must go. The results amazed everyone, including the disciples!
As a ‘faith’ responder, are you aware of the authority and calling that God has given you as a disciple of Jesus Christ? If you are also a first responder, do you seek guidance from the Holy Spirit for your response to each incident?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your people out to reach others who are hurting, and now to every nationality or background or age. Give me new boldness to apply Your Word to each incident and seek to bring the kingdom of heaven near to each person in their need. Amen.
Day 2–Being a Witness
Scripture reading for February 17: Acts 1:8-9 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And when He had said these things, He was lifted up and a cloud took Him out of their sight.”
As a responder, how we conduct ourselves is vitally important to doing our job with excellence and representing our department well. We may rush to the incident, but we are not so hurried that we don’t take time to assess the situation and communicate with those in authority over us and with those in need. In an accident or medical emergency we keep calm and work methodically and carefully with compassion and respect for the individual’s involved. We treat our team members courteously and professionally, avoiding the use of foul language or derogatory attitudes. We should humbly serve, counting those we are serving as more important than ourselves. We enter dangerous situations to save lives and restore order. Our attitudes, actions and demeanor communicate care and proficiency and bring calm to the incident and those affected.
God works to empower His people from the inside out. His gift of the Holy Spirit indwells or clothes each person with God’s character, gifts and graces. God wants us to represent Him well and accurately and the Holy Spirit works inside us to transform us into Christ’s image and character of holiness. We work out our salvation and transformation as God works inside us by His Spirit. (Philippians 2:12-13) We are to be witnesses, not just ‘do witnessing.’ This involves changes inside us that we can’t do by ourselves. We can yield to the Holy Spirit and invite Him to give grace to make changes.
The mission Jesus shared with His disciples was to send them first to their immediate countrymen in Jerusalem with the message. Next they would go to the Samaritans and share and finally to the ends of the earth to all people. They could not do this on their own. God’s power and presence would be with them to give direction, authority, conviction and miraculous signs. (Mark 16:20)
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for the Holy Spirit Who is always with me to guide me and empower me. I invite You to work into my heart and character the traits of Jesus Christ that I might represent Him with excellence as I serve others as a responder. Amen.
Week 8–Day 1–The Authority to Serve
Scripture reading for February 16: Luke 24:45-49 “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
As first responders, we need power at several levels to enable us to do our job. First, we are given authority to respond by becoming members of a fire department, sheriff’s department, EMT unit, or Highway Patrol. We are given official identification as members of the department and assigned under a command structure where we are accountable to a senior leader. We must have physical strength to do the job of handling heavy equipment, power tools, and driving trucks and vehicles. We learn the knowledge of what to do in various emergency situations and how to work as part of a team and maintain good relationships.
Jesus Christ equipped those willing to follow Him in each area with the authority and strength and understanding to do their job. He also taught them the importance of working together in teamwork and accountability. A major part of this empowerment was the promised Gift of God the Father, the Holy Spirit. The original disciples were told by the resurrected Christ that they must wait in Jerusalem for this ‘Promise’ and that they would be clothed with power from God’s throne itself. The purpose of this authority was to empower them to become witnesses who could effectively proclaim the Gospel message of forgiveness of sin through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
To be an effective member of a team of responders, we must understand authority. All of us are under God’s authority and those He has placed in authority over us. We voluntarily act in obedience to those over us and the framework of directives defining our mission. We are thankful for our leadership and support them fully.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for empowering those responding to You with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for those in authority that You have placed where You want. Teach us all to respect authority and work together to accomplish the mission. Amen.
Day 5–Faith moves mountains!
Scripture reading for February 13: Matthew 17:18-21 “And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say unto you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew records the story of a failure in the rescue of a young boy with epilepsy. This young boy’s father brought the boy to the disciples to deal with the disease which caused the boy to be thrown into the fire and into the water, endangering his life and peaceful existence as well as his family. We don’t know for sure where Jesus was, but the disciples failed to help the boy. When Jesus arrived and the father told them of the failure, Jesus rebuked the disciples as part of a ‘faithless and twisted generation’ that He was weary of bearing with. He had given them instructions before. They had gone out and applied what Jesus taught and modeled earlier. (Luke 10:17-20) Why couldn’t they use their faith to bring healing here?
This story contains lessons for us as first responders. There are times when we are called to help when we may try but seem to fail. We apply what we know, but don’t truly know what we should have learned. Like the disciples, we try but are failures and wonder why we failed. Sometimes an older and wiser responder takes us aside and explains where we went wrong. Sometimes, another team member with more experience and training provides the help needed and we can learn again the correct procedures.
When I face incidents where I am in over my head in training or ability I don’t despair and give up. My confidence is in my Lord and His promise of mountains moving even if my faith or personal ability is small. I speak to the Lord about the problem and invite Him to give me strength and ability or send help. Mountains move and nothing is impossible with Jesus.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for being with me in my weakness and even my failure. Thank You for correction and encouragement to get up and get going again, trusting in You. Amen.
Day 4–Study the Word!
Scripture reading for February 12: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
We live in a world where knowledge is increasing at lightning speed. Every field of study is constantly adding new information and there are new books based on the latest research and trends in the culture. For first responders the same is true. In my short time at the fire department, there are now classes that we take to deal with fires caused by lithium batteries in electric vehicles and their charging systems. This was not taught ten years ago. We have new foam, new protective gear, and more powerful battery operated tools to deal with car wrecks. In the medical field, we have defibulators, drugs to combat overdoses, ventilator packs and many other tools that must be mastered by those volunteering to use them to help others. Study is required and refreshers on all tools and procedures are part of regular training.
As a faith responder, we are called to study the Scriptures. Paul reminded Timothy, a young pastor that he had mentored, to continue in what he had learned early in life from his godly mother and grandmother and Jewish rabbi’s. They taught him Scripture and he became wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Faith comes by hearing God’s Word. (Romans 10:17) Paul told Timothy that all Scripture was ‘breathed out by God’ through those called to write down God’s Word. All Scripture is profitable to those reading, applying and teaching it. It teaches us truth and corrects us when wrong. It leads us into righteousness that comes through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Scripture has the ability to make completed people equipped for good works.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Scripture that You breathed out for us. Thank You that Scripture is profitable for us and makes us wise for salvation. Thank You that Scripture produces faith that brings salvation and pleases You. Teach me, reprove me, correct me, and make me complete. Amen.
Day 3–Multiply by Mentoring!
Scripture reading for February 11: 2 Timothy 2:1-2 “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
It is a tried and tested truth that we learn best when the majority of our physical senses are allowed to participate. If we just listen to a speaker, it is not as effective as having the ability to see, hear, and then watch someone demonstrate what is being taught. It is better yet to do it for yourself under supervision. Communication is only eight percent words we hear, the rest is body language, tone of voice and spiritual perception. That’s why Jesus chose those He wanted to become disciples and invited them to be with Him. He taught them in various locations and settings. He taught them in various ways, from lecture to questions and answers, to visible demonstrations of healing and casting out demons, to allowing them to go out and apply what He had taught and modeled. When they returned, He would reinforce what they did right and correct their mistakes. (Luke 10:17-20)
Paul also learned from Jesus and taught others how to apply Scripture to life and ministry to reach lost and hurting people. As a young man, Timothy joined with Paul and became like his son. He listened to Paul teach and saw Paul minister to people. At the end of his ministry, Paul wrote this letter to his understudy. He reminded Timothy to be strengthened by grace, not religious rules or laws. He instructed him to find other men (and women) whom he would teach spiritual truths and Scripture. These, in turn, would also be able to teach others.
Multiplication of ministers and ministry through mentoring was used by Jewish rabbi’s, Jesus Christ and His followers to train new believers in applying God’s Word. First responders have also been applying the mentoring principle to train those entering this field. This develops healthy relationships and fosters teamwork.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the pattern of personal relationships You use to train new believers for growth and ministry. Thank You for those who You have used to mentor me over the years. It is my greatest blessing to offer myself to share the truths You teach with others who will also teach. Amen.
Day 2–Blessed to hear and apply!
Scripture reading for February 10: James 1:22-25 “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
We as responders must be continually listening and applying what we already know with the new information we are receiving as we respond to each incident. We listen to the incident 911 dispatcher’s instructions and directions. We act by following the directions to the incident scene after procuring the needed equipment and tools. On the scene, we report new information that may help others respond with needed skills or other equipment. If there is a person in distress, we ask questions to determine how to best help that person in the most timely manner.
As faith responders who are learning to follow Jesus through the leading of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, listening and hearing are critical to success. We can hear but not listen, resulting in our knowing information but failing to act on that information. God’s Word says we deceive ourselves when we do not apply the instructions or corrections God gives us. If we lack wisdom on applying God’s Word, James tells us we must ask God in faith for help and He will generously give what we need. (James 1:5-6) But if we ask for wisdom and receive it, we should act on it not just hear the words. That is unbelief and not faith. Procrastination and fear of failure often hinder us from acting.
As we are with Jesus through the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we can have wisdom and new insight as needed. The perfect law of love for God and love for others will motivate us to always seek loving responses to meet the needs we face.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the perfect law of love expressed to us in the death of Jesus Christ and Your Gift of the Holy Spirit. We have liberty to love others and trust You for the wisdom and direction needed through Your Word and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Week 7–Day 1–Learning the Ropes!
Scripture reading for February 9: Mark 3:13-15 “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority over demons.”
When we volunteer or are hired to fill a position as a first responder, we automatically understand that part of the job is continuous training to sharpen our skills and develop teamwork and relationships. We may take required classes from a school or college or on-line. Where I volunteer at my local fire department we also have regular monthly training and special week end training events that enable us to simulate emergency situations and go over proper procedures and learn to use the tools we have to perform rescues, put out fires, work with wrecks and go on medical calls. Although we are volunteers, we want to respond with proficiency and excellence.
Jesus Christ studied those around Him and knew each person and their giftings and talents. He also knew their weaknesses and what they needed training in. As a Master Teacher, Jesus used an invitation to those whom He desired to follow Him. He wanted them to be with Him and observe His attitudes, actions, and gifts in action. He wanted them to see His mission to reach lost and hurting people walked out in the countryside, villages, and cities of their land. He desired to spend time with them and teach them the Word of God. He loved asking them questions to help them think. He told them stories (parables) and invited them to enter into the stories and learn God’s ways. (Mark 4:1-3)
Jesus’ goal was to multiply workers who would adopt His mission and carry His love for the lost. This was best learned through relationships. Questions and stories opened hearts and minds to make the needed changes and additions to skills and attitudes that would bring proficiency and lead to reaching those lost and hurting.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for taking time to invest in each person by calling them to spend time with You and teaching us the ‘ropes’ of following Jesus. Help me to set aside time each day to learn Your will and ways through reading Your Word and gathering with Your people. I want to be excellent in my calling! Amen.
Day 5–Blessed Assurance of Eternal Life
Scripture reading for February 6: 1 John 5: 11-13 “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”
When you work in a dangerous field like most first responders, there is always uncertainty of whether or not this day will be your last on earth. Each incident has the potential to threaten your life or your ability to continue doing your job. But responders have learned to face each incident with courage and optimism. We are realistic about the dangers, but chose to live fearlessly trusting that everything will work out. We respond with hope and courage that keeps us calmly rendering assistance.
But our Chief Responder, Jesus Christ, doesn’t want any of His followers wondering or worrying about their lives or fearful to give their lives as they serve. When we put our trust in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is given as a Gift from the Father to each believer. The Spirit testifies with our human spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:15-16) The Spirit testifies that God gave us eternal life in His Son. (1 John 5:6-10) The Spirit moved on John to write down these words for one purpose: “I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God that you may now that you have eternal life.” The Spirit testifies we belong to God. The Word of God proclaims that as we believe in Jesus, we have eternal life.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the blessed assurance of Your Word and the Holy Spirit Who testifies that I am in God’s family. Because of these assurances, I can face any incident or difficult circumstance and respond in faith that You are in me and will guide me through. Give my brothers and sisters who are fearful this assurance of eternal life. I am available to share Your gift of life. Amen.
Day 4–Believing in God’s Son
Scripture reading for February 5: John 3:16-18“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God.”
To become a person of faith, we must believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. We respond to God the Father’s great love for all mankind demonstrated by sending His only Son to provide escape from eternal damnation as the penalty for our sins. Our sin is recorded in heaven and would be used to determine our eternal punishment if not paid for. Jesus’ stated mission was to seek out and save the lost. (Luke 19:10) Scripture plainly teaches that all have sinned, there is no one who is without sin and we are under guilt and condemnation that we cannot remove ourselves. We have no sacrifice or good works we can do to pay the penalty of sin which is death and eternal separation from God.
Believing is more than just acknowledging Who Jesus is. We must admit our sins, confessing them and then turning away from them to Jesus as our only hope of payment. Faith works by love. Love of God is a choice we make when we change our minds about who is in charge of our life. We move the central focus of our thinking from ourselves, me and I, to Jesus Christ, Son of God Who loved me and gave His life for me and the whole world. Faith rests in Who Jesus is and what He said; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have eternal life.” All we can do is say ‘amen.’ If we chose not to believe in Jesus Christ and His Word, we are under condemnation still. Truly believing in Jesus is the only way to become a Faith responder.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your only Beloved Son to seek and save lost people, of which I was one. I confessed my sins to You and asked for Your mercy and cleansing from guilt and shame. I now have Your assurance that I will not perish but have eternal life! Praise Jesus! Amen!