Thursday, November 24, 2011
Are You Going to Worship The Storm or Worship Jesus?
At a family gathering in Green Cove Springs, Florida, a cousin of mine had some things on her heart that she wanted to e-mail me about. She is concerned about the hard times that seem to surround the church she attends. Here is the e-mail that I just sent her. As I reread the e-mail for errors before I sent it to her, I realized that a lot of churches are going through the same thing. You might find yours and the solution in this e-mail.
Cuzn,
Now it is my turn to apologize. It is so easy to get caught up doing this and that. Time slips by so easily.
First of all, there are hard times that come to all that call on the name of the Lord. We as individuals have rough times. Churches and organizations do, also. A lot of times these rough waters coincide with the economic times of the country. There were several occasions where Jesus and his disciples had to ride out storms on the sea of Galilee. In one particular instance, Jesus came to them walking on the water. Everybody in the boat thought that it was impossible for anyone to do that, so they figured that they were just seeing a ghost. Peter uttered the phrase, "If that's you, bid me to come." Jesus did and Peter walked on the water for a little ways. When one of the rough waves slapped him on the leg, he began to pay more attention to the storm than he did the Prince of Peace. He paid more attention to the danger than he did the One who had promised to bring him out of danger. Remember, Jesus' words to Peter were for him to come and walk to Him on the water. Jesus said nothing about Peter sinking or drowning. Jesus said nothing about the storm destroying anything that He had begun to do. Jesus knew that God had sent Him to earth to die on the cross. Therefore this storm might hinder Him but it wouldn't stop Him.
Here's where we miss it. Instead of keeping our eyes on Jesus, we seem to focus our attention on all the bad things that are happening around us. When a pastor and the leadership of a church do this, worship becomes stagnant. The blessings of the Lord are blocked because they believe the storm more than they do the promise.
On the other hand, when we keep our focus on Jesus and make our life's goal to serve Him, He will bring us through the storm and into peace. It is possible to have great peace and joy in the middle of the storm. Actually, when our focus is on Him, we realize that this storm will end at His discretion. We may as well praise Him while we wait out the storm. Joy becomes a way of life for us. As well, when we focus on Jesus instead of what is going on around us, His answers come more readily. His presence is more real.
I guess I can sum things up with that last sentence. You need to attend and work in a church whose focus is more on Jesus than on the problems they face. That's the decision that we have had to make. We've stayed in a church because we love some of the people there. However, they are like the one you are in. Stuck in a rut and not on Jesus. They name the name of the Lord. They are saved. But their focus is on their lack. In the middle of a storm, Jesus can still be real. If worship is not vibrant, if the pastor's messages are more about the problem than the Hope, then that church is not for you. We are also attending and working in a vibrant soul-winning church. The pastor and the leadership are filled with the love of God and keep their focus on the "main thing." I've heard the pastor say the same thing over and over. "We will keep the main thing the main thing." That "main thing" is reaching the lost just like Jesus' "main thing" is.
Pray about it. Don't get bogged down with the situation in the church. Instead, keep your mind on the Lord. Focus on Him and declare that He will lead you. Give Him praise that He has put you in the place that He wants you. He might need you right there. Then again, He might need you somewhere else. Keep the "main thing" in the foremost of your thoughts and prayers. People are dieing and going to hell every day. It's not time to dally around in a place that might not be keeping Jesus as the head of their lives. It is time to reach the lost. That is what is first and foremost in the hearts of our family. We know that there will come God's time when we can cut our ties to the dead church and will be able to focus all of our energies on reaching the lost while serving at Savannah Christian.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Keep me posted.
Love,
Henry
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Be Strong and Be Available
Eph 6:10--Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, begins to sum up his exhortations by telling them to be strong in the Lord and in His ability. It is with God's ability dwelling within us that we will overcome. It is His strength within us that gives us the courage to fight the good fight of faith. It is the strength of His love to us that He showers us with heavenly blessings on a daily basis. It is the strength of our love to Him that makes us persevere during trying times. It is because of the strength of His love that we sanctify ourselves and dedicate ourselves to His purpose.
Paul and the early Christians were given the task of reaching the lost. These lost were strong in other areas. Some were strong in their hatred for Christianity. There were a lot of religious people like that. There were some who were strong in their devotion to Rome and the Roman way of life. There people who were deliriously strong in their worship of idols.
In the Civil War, World War I, World War II and subsequent wars, we find people with different points of view strong in their hatred of each other. In our political arena today, we have several different groups that are strong in their opinions. The different camps cannot understand why the other camps cannot see their point of view. Each of these camps defiantly believe that their ideology is the cure for all of America's ills. Some are strong FOR taxes. Some are strong AGAINST new taxes.
Some are strong in their work ethic. Here lately, the news headlines are being captured by hordes of people with a strong LAZY ethic. Their strength lies in how much they can suck from the American economy while complaining about the hand that is feeding them. However, you might consider that a personal opinion. It happens to be a scriptural opinion that is not the topic of this blog.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, begins to sum up his exhortations by telling them to be strong in the Lord and in His ability. It is with God's ability dwelling within us that we will overcome. It is His strength within us that gives us the courage to fight the good fight of faith. It is the strength of His love to us that He showers us with heavenly blessings on a daily basis. It is the strength of our love to Him that makes us persevere during trying times. It is because of the strength of His love that we sanctify ourselves and dedicate ourselves to His purpose.
Paul and the early Christians were given the task of reaching the lost. These lost were strong in other areas. Some were strong in their hatred for Christianity. There were a lot of religious people like that. There were some who were strong in their devotion to Rome and the Roman way of life. There people who were deliriously strong in their worship of idols.
In the Civil War, World War I, World War II and subsequent wars, we find people with different points of view strong in their hatred of each other. In our political arena today, we have several different groups that are strong in their opinions. The different camps cannot understand why the other camps cannot see their point of view. Each of these camps defiantly believe that their ideology is the cure for all of America's ills. Some are strong FOR taxes. Some are strong AGAINST new taxes.
Some are strong in their work ethic. Here lately, the news headlines are being captured by hordes of people with a strong LAZY ethic. Their strength lies in how much they can suck from the American economy while complaining about the hand that is feeding them. However, you might consider that a personal opinion. It happens to be a scriptural opinion that is not the topic of this blog.
AMERICA IS BEING PULLED APART BY THESE CAMPS OF DIFFERENT OPINION
We, the Christians, know that the healing of our nation comes from a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Notice I said a strong personal relationship. There are many who go to church that have just a surface relationship with Him. The salvation for our communities and our nation comes from people who firmly believe that they can change bad situations. In each of the camps I mentioned above, there are closed minded individuals who refuse to see any other side of any question other than what they strongly believe.
Check your belief. What do you believe about America? Is your faith solidly planted in the idea that we are going 'down the tubes,' or 'to hell in a hand basket?' Have you given up your prayer life? Have you given up on worship? Some of you have probably dropped out of church because it no longer seems relevant. Our family was close to doing just that before we found a vibrant church that reaches the lost and is doggedly determined to make a difference against all odds.
God was doggedly determined to make a difference in the life of His love child. God sent His only begotten Son to die on a cruel cross because He STRONGLY believed that His actions would make a difference. Here is where the change for America hinges. Peter, Paul and all the early Christians STRONGLY believed that Jesus would make a difference in the direction of people's lives if only they would receive Him. They STRONGLY believed that their nation could be changed through lives changed for Jesus.
The early church felt that it was important to become STRONG in the Lord and in His ability. They prayed and sought Him and not just some form of doctrine. And then, they just declared themselves available for use by the mighty hand of God that was within them. Acts the third chapter records that Peter and John were just walking to church one day. They had done this many times. Passed by the beggars many times. But, on this certain day, when two men strong in the Lord passed by a certain cripple man, the STRONG Lord inside of them caused them to stop and heal the cripple. These men were STRONG in the Lord and in His ability and were just available.
In Acts 14, Paul was preaching away one day, when faith rose in a crippled man. Paul was STRONG in God's ability and was available for His purpose. That combination changed the crippled man and many others that day.
In these two occasions, men who had strengthened themselves in the Lord, men who had strengthened themselves with an idea that Jesus could change situations, and men who had made themselves available to Him, brought revival to whatever place they were. And, God will do the same here in America. When we quit allowing the TV news cameras to cause us to lose focus on Him, we'll change America. When we allow the Word of God and the Power of His Love to change us, we will begin to change America. The Father, the Son, Peter, Paul and many others brought a change in lives wherever they went. Why? Because, their belief in the ability of God's love was greater than what they saw happening. They STRONGLY believed God was greater than any circumstance they faced. When you and I STRONGLY believe the same thing and make ourselves available to Him, the headlines will read:
AMERICA IS DIVIDED NO MORE--JESUS IS LORD OVER AMERICA
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Remain In His Love
John 15:10--When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. (NLT)
John, chapters 13-17, is a record of some of the things that Jesus said to His disciples the night before He died. Several weeks ago, my pastor, Doug Patterson, spoke from several verses of these chapters. In his introduction to the message, he posed this question. If you knew you were going to die within the next 24 hours, what would you do and what would you say to those who are closest to you? I was so intrigued by that question, that I have spent most of the past weeks going over and over and over these few chapters. I have gone over some passages very slowly with the thought in mind that Jesus must have considered this extremely important.
Today, John 15:10 lit up inside me. Yes, I have read it numerous times before. But, today, it ministered to me in a stronger way. It reminds me that God is still in control of the circumstances around me. It encourages me in the fact that, even though it might look like things are headed in the wrong direction, His love is ever with me.
Jesus mentioned being obedient to His Father's commandments and remaining in His Father's love. All through His short ministry here on this earth, Jesus was never given full earthly credit for the good things that He accomplished. He healed people in the temple. He healed people in their synagogues. He supernaturally provided for their needs. Several times in the scriptures, it meantions that Jesus healed ALL that came to him. He turned several of the tax collectors into usefull and godly men.
Yet, in all of this, He was kicked out of their worship areas almost immediately after he healed some one. There was no standing ovation. The rulers of the synagogues never bragged on Him. The high priest never gave him a feast. People never gave Him the keys to their city. On the contrary, those that had the power to bless Him and honor Him refused to do so. Those that SHOULD have paved the way for His ministry always used whatever means they had to prevent Him from ministering.
Jesus' eyes and heart was not on the vanity of the praise of the people. His eyes and heart was on the heart of His Father. His Father hurt because His creation was being buffeted by an unfair power. Jesus spent His time looking for someone to loose from sin's captivity. He never waited on the "time to be right" or "when it looks like." He did what He was supposed to do when He was supposed to do it.
You see, in enduring those hard things, Jesus remained in His Father's love. Even though He never heard the plaudits of men as He should have, He had no problem hearing what His Father said about Him. He spent time with His Father every day. According to John 14:1, He refused to allow His heart to be troubled over the circumstances He had to endure. At the end of the day, He knew He had done the right thing.
You might have been passed over for promotion. A lesser talented person might have gotten the leadership role in the church you attend. It might not seem like the blessings are flowing to you as they should. There are any number of situations that "don't look like" God is pleased with you. I am going through several of those things I mentioned myself. The bottom line is not, "does it look like" but am I doing what God told me to do.
Jesus was doing exactly the things His Father asked Him to do. He, also, knew several other things. As He prayed to His Father, He enjoyed His love. He knew that He was going to return to His former glory with His Father. He also knew that those enjoying the "spotlight" would reap a future reward of their own. Therefore, Jesus ignored the contrary things people said about Him, and continued in the will of His Father.
Let us do the same thing. Know that you are right where God wants you to be. Enter His presence daily and rejoice in His love. As your relationship with our Father grows, you will know that your obedient efforts will not go unrewarded. You will walk knowing that Our God is Faithful.
John, chapters 13-17, is a record of some of the things that Jesus said to His disciples the night before He died. Several weeks ago, my pastor, Doug Patterson, spoke from several verses of these chapters. In his introduction to the message, he posed this question. If you knew you were going to die within the next 24 hours, what would you do and what would you say to those who are closest to you? I was so intrigued by that question, that I have spent most of the past weeks going over and over and over these few chapters. I have gone over some passages very slowly with the thought in mind that Jesus must have considered this extremely important.
Today, John 15:10 lit up inside me. Yes, I have read it numerous times before. But, today, it ministered to me in a stronger way. It reminds me that God is still in control of the circumstances around me. It encourages me in the fact that, even though it might look like things are headed in the wrong direction, His love is ever with me.
Jesus mentioned being obedient to His Father's commandments and remaining in His Father's love. All through His short ministry here on this earth, Jesus was never given full earthly credit for the good things that He accomplished. He healed people in the temple. He healed people in their synagogues. He supernaturally provided for their needs. Several times in the scriptures, it meantions that Jesus healed ALL that came to him. He turned several of the tax collectors into usefull and godly men.
Yet, in all of this, He was kicked out of their worship areas almost immediately after he healed some one. There was no standing ovation. The rulers of the synagogues never bragged on Him. The high priest never gave him a feast. People never gave Him the keys to their city. On the contrary, those that had the power to bless Him and honor Him refused to do so. Those that SHOULD have paved the way for His ministry always used whatever means they had to prevent Him from ministering.
Jesus' eyes and heart was not on the vanity of the praise of the people. His eyes and heart was on the heart of His Father. His Father hurt because His creation was being buffeted by an unfair power. Jesus spent His time looking for someone to loose from sin's captivity. He never waited on the "time to be right" or "when it looks like." He did what He was supposed to do when He was supposed to do it.
You see, in enduring those hard things, Jesus remained in His Father's love. Even though He never heard the plaudits of men as He should have, He had no problem hearing what His Father said about Him. He spent time with His Father every day. According to John 14:1, He refused to allow His heart to be troubled over the circumstances He had to endure. At the end of the day, He knew He had done the right thing.
You might have been passed over for promotion. A lesser talented person might have gotten the leadership role in the church you attend. It might not seem like the blessings are flowing to you as they should. There are any number of situations that "don't look like" God is pleased with you. I am going through several of those things I mentioned myself. The bottom line is not, "does it look like" but am I doing what God told me to do.
Jesus was doing exactly the things His Father asked Him to do. He, also, knew several other things. As He prayed to His Father, He enjoyed His love. He knew that He was going to return to His former glory with His Father. He also knew that those enjoying the "spotlight" would reap a future reward of their own. Therefore, Jesus ignored the contrary things people said about Him, and continued in the will of His Father.
Let us do the same thing. Know that you are right where God wants you to be. Enter His presence daily and rejoice in His love. As your relationship with our Father grows, you will know that your obedient efforts will not go unrewarded. You will walk knowing that Our God is Faithful.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Run Your Route!
Saturdays and Sundays during the fall in America, millions of people are glued to their TV sets watching college and professional football. It is during this football season that men will gather in packs and discuss briskly the wins, defeats, possibilities and plausibility’s of their favorite teams and hated foes. But, have you considered how much like football the Christian life is.
My favorite football player is Tim Tebow. I not only like him for his athletic ability, but I heartily applaud him for his high Christian standards by which he guides his life on and off the field. Yet, as good as Tebow or any other quarterback is, the game is not won or lost by one man. It takes an entire team dedicated to one purpose for that team to be successful. Yeah! You're talking about winning, huh? No, I'm not. I'm talking about being a team player.
A team player will always listen to and take his instructions from the coach. The coach is the one charged with guiding the team to win. I remember when Tim was touted to be the starting quarterback and then someone else was given the job. He was ridiculed about being third or fourth string. However, when the press questioned him about it, he said that it was, indeed, the coaches job to make the decisions and not him. His desire was not to be the starting quarterback but the do whatever the coach asked him to and to do it with a good attitude. That one statement of his brought me down several notches. Like many of us, I tend to get upset when someone with lesser abilities gets promoted, not only in the secular sector but also in the church. If the truth was known, there's a lot of people out there that need to repent of that sin as well.
What we need to understand is, that God, our head coach, knows us better than we do ourselves. If we consistently listen to and obey the coach, then He will see to it that we get promoted. Take the center of the football team for instance. He touches the ball just as much if not more than the quarterback. How many times have you seen any reporter run up to a center after the game and ask him how does it feel to be the most valuable player of the game? Right. None. At least, I've never seen it. But, if the center copped an attitude like the rest of us might, he might become sloppy in the way he delivers the ball to the quarterback or the punter. I have seen times when a miscue by the center cost teams plenty. So he is invaluable.
How about the guards or tackles that line up on both sides of the center. They NEVER get to touch the ball. On the contrary, they make physical contact with an opponent on every down that they are in the game. No lime light there, is it?
How about the receivers and backfield who bust it down the field and run their routes and never get the ball thrown to them? They could have been wide open but it seems like the quarterback never looks their way. They trot back to the huddle huffing and puffing only to have to do it again.
We could go on and on. It would be easy for each one of the players to take offense at how much they are not in the spotlight of the press. It would be easy for each one of them to kind of take the edge off of their game and not play up to their ability. Several things would happen when they do that. They could miss their assignments and help the team to lose. They could cause the other players to work harder to take up their slack. And, do you think that the coach doesn't see it? You'd better believe he does.
God sees our hearts, too. Sometimes the assignments He gives us are not spotlight assignments. Maybe there's not the glory or glamour in what He asks us to do that we thought there should be. Maybe this is the last test he is going to put you through before he either promotes us, benches us or decides to put us on waivers. Ouch! That could hurt.
The bottom line is, do as the coach asks you to. Whatever assignment He has given you, do it with a good attitude. Give your assignment your all. Run your route. Run it hard as if this was going to be the touchdown play. Even if it looks like He didn't see you, run the route. Cut to the inside or the outside like the play calls for. Even if you think it's a dumb play to call. Trust the coach. Do what He asks and do it with a good attitude.
Remember, He didn't pick David to be the king over His people because it looked like he was the best choice or that David was doing good at his outstanding job. Remember, he was only tending to sheep. David's characteristic that brought him to the head of the line was his heart. He had a heart that was tender towards God. God saw that this little shepherd boy could be trained. And he saw that David would run his route all the way to the end.
How about some scripture to back that up. In John's gospel, the 21st chapter, Jesus commands Peter three times to feed his sheep/lambs. Peter looks over at John the Beloved and basically asks Jesus if He's going to pick on John like that. Jesus told him in verse 22--Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me. In other words, Jesus told Peter to worry about running his route and let John worry about running the route that Jesus will pick out for him. Paul said in 2 Tim 4:7--I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Paul said that he had put everything he had into running the route that Jesus had set before him.
My favorite football player is Tim Tebow. I not only like him for his athletic ability, but I heartily applaud him for his high Christian standards by which he guides his life on and off the field. Yet, as good as Tebow or any other quarterback is, the game is not won or lost by one man. It takes an entire team dedicated to one purpose for that team to be successful. Yeah! You're talking about winning, huh? No, I'm not. I'm talking about being a team player.
A team player will always listen to and take his instructions from the coach. The coach is the one charged with guiding the team to win. I remember when Tim was touted to be the starting quarterback and then someone else was given the job. He was ridiculed about being third or fourth string. However, when the press questioned him about it, he said that it was, indeed, the coaches job to make the decisions and not him. His desire was not to be the starting quarterback but the do whatever the coach asked him to and to do it with a good attitude. That one statement of his brought me down several notches. Like many of us, I tend to get upset when someone with lesser abilities gets promoted, not only in the secular sector but also in the church. If the truth was known, there's a lot of people out there that need to repent of that sin as well.
What we need to understand is, that God, our head coach, knows us better than we do ourselves. If we consistently listen to and obey the coach, then He will see to it that we get promoted. Take the center of the football team for instance. He touches the ball just as much if not more than the quarterback. How many times have you seen any reporter run up to a center after the game and ask him how does it feel to be the most valuable player of the game? Right. None. At least, I've never seen it. But, if the center copped an attitude like the rest of us might, he might become sloppy in the way he delivers the ball to the quarterback or the punter. I have seen times when a miscue by the center cost teams plenty. So he is invaluable.
How about the guards or tackles that line up on both sides of the center. They NEVER get to touch the ball. On the contrary, they make physical contact with an opponent on every down that they are in the game. No lime light there, is it?
How about the receivers and backfield who bust it down the field and run their routes and never get the ball thrown to them? They could have been wide open but it seems like the quarterback never looks their way. They trot back to the huddle huffing and puffing only to have to do it again.
We could go on and on. It would be easy for each one of the players to take offense at how much they are not in the spotlight of the press. It would be easy for each one of them to kind of take the edge off of their game and not play up to their ability. Several things would happen when they do that. They could miss their assignments and help the team to lose. They could cause the other players to work harder to take up their slack. And, do you think that the coach doesn't see it? You'd better believe he does.
God sees our hearts, too. Sometimes the assignments He gives us are not spotlight assignments. Maybe there's not the glory or glamour in what He asks us to do that we thought there should be. Maybe this is the last test he is going to put you through before he either promotes us, benches us or decides to put us on waivers. Ouch! That could hurt.
The bottom line is, do as the coach asks you to. Whatever assignment He has given you, do it with a good attitude. Give your assignment your all. Run your route. Run it hard as if this was going to be the touchdown play. Even if it looks like He didn't see you, run the route. Cut to the inside or the outside like the play calls for. Even if you think it's a dumb play to call. Trust the coach. Do what He asks and do it with a good attitude.
Remember, He didn't pick David to be the king over His people because it looked like he was the best choice or that David was doing good at his outstanding job. Remember, he was only tending to sheep. David's characteristic that brought him to the head of the line was his heart. He had a heart that was tender towards God. God saw that this little shepherd boy could be trained. And he saw that David would run his route all the way to the end.
How about some scripture to back that up. In John's gospel, the 21st chapter, Jesus commands Peter three times to feed his sheep/lambs. Peter looks over at John the Beloved and basically asks Jesus if He's going to pick on John like that. Jesus told him in verse 22--Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me. In other words, Jesus told Peter to worry about running his route and let John worry about running the route that Jesus will pick out for him. Paul said in 2 Tim 4:7--I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Paul said that he had put everything he had into running the route that Jesus had set before him.
Let God Be Strong In Your Life
2 Chronicles 16:9--For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Here's the short version of the story behind this promise/warning to Asa, one of the kings of Judah. Instead of trusting God, he hired one of his enemy nations to attack Israel. Hanani the seer came to him and delivered to him this prophecy from the Lord. The essence of this prophecy is that we have two choices. We can either choose to trust God's supernatural ability or we can trust our own physical ability. When we trust our own ability, we begin asking for trouble instead of getting away from it.
If we were to take a look at all of the promises of God, we could sum them up like this. Man is able to do only the physical while God is able to do the supernatural. In this scripture, we find that a supernatural God is looking for a physical man whose heart is right so He can do some supernatural things for him that a physical man cannot do.
As we have discussed many times on this blog, Abraham and Sarah did what they could do. They believed God that His word was true. That's all God asked them to do. Believe Him. When it looked like their bodies had shut down for good, God supernaturally strengthened their bodies ABOVE their normal abilities and Sarah conceived and bore Isaac. It happened just like God said that it would.
Here is another scripture. Eph 3:20--Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Paul declares that this supernatural God could do more than the physical man could imagine. What it takes is for man to do all that he can do and trust that God will take over where man's ability ends.
Malachi 3:10 describes the promise. If we would physically bring our tithes to Him, He would supernaturally bless with an abundance.
It would take too long to list all of the promises that God has made and give examples of His faithfulness. Besides, you need to spend some time in the Word of God and find them out for yourself. The bottom line in every promise is that God is looking for and waiting for a physical man to meet His conditions of a promise. Then God will supernaturally do what He promised to do.
Let's have the boldness of Elisha. When God supernaturally took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, he dropped his mantle back down to his servant Elisha. Elisha picked it up and physically did what he had just seen Elijah do. He slapped the Jordon river with the mantle of Elijah and asked "Where are you God?" Notice that the physical did all that he could do and God supernaturally opened the Jordon River just like He had done for Elijah.
We have seen great revivals. We have seen miracles in the past. We have seen the hand of God move providentially. It all came about through prayer. We need the boldness of the saints. God is looking for bold prayer warriors that will come to the front and do the physical thing Ask in His name. Ask largely in His name. Ask boldly in His name. Hebrews 4:16. It is only when we physically come boldly to the throne of grace that God supernaturally shows up with more than enough of His grace to help us in whatever it is that we need.
God's looking for somebody to show himself strong to. Let's raise our hands in prayer and praise and say, "Here I am, Lord. I'm ready for Your supernatural power to be poured out."
Here's the short version of the story behind this promise/warning to Asa, one of the kings of Judah. Instead of trusting God, he hired one of his enemy nations to attack Israel. Hanani the seer came to him and delivered to him this prophecy from the Lord. The essence of this prophecy is that we have two choices. We can either choose to trust God's supernatural ability or we can trust our own physical ability. When we trust our own ability, we begin asking for trouble instead of getting away from it.
If we were to take a look at all of the promises of God, we could sum them up like this. Man is able to do only the physical while God is able to do the supernatural. In this scripture, we find that a supernatural God is looking for a physical man whose heart is right so He can do some supernatural things for him that a physical man cannot do.
As we have discussed many times on this blog, Abraham and Sarah did what they could do. They believed God that His word was true. That's all God asked them to do. Believe Him. When it looked like their bodies had shut down for good, God supernaturally strengthened their bodies ABOVE their normal abilities and Sarah conceived and bore Isaac. It happened just like God said that it would.
Here is another scripture. Eph 3:20--Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Paul declares that this supernatural God could do more than the physical man could imagine. What it takes is for man to do all that he can do and trust that God will take over where man's ability ends.
Malachi 3:10 describes the promise. If we would physically bring our tithes to Him, He would supernaturally bless with an abundance.
It would take too long to list all of the promises that God has made and give examples of His faithfulness. Besides, you need to spend some time in the Word of God and find them out for yourself. The bottom line in every promise is that God is looking for and waiting for a physical man to meet His conditions of a promise. Then God will supernaturally do what He promised to do.
Let's have the boldness of Elisha. When God supernaturally took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, he dropped his mantle back down to his servant Elisha. Elisha picked it up and physically did what he had just seen Elijah do. He slapped the Jordon river with the mantle of Elijah and asked "Where are you God?" Notice that the physical did all that he could do and God supernaturally opened the Jordon River just like He had done for Elijah.
We have seen great revivals. We have seen miracles in the past. We have seen the hand of God move providentially. It all came about through prayer. We need the boldness of the saints. God is looking for bold prayer warriors that will come to the front and do the physical thing Ask in His name. Ask largely in His name. Ask boldly in His name. Hebrews 4:16. It is only when we physically come boldly to the throne of grace that God supernaturally shows up with more than enough of His grace to help us in whatever it is that we need.
God's looking for somebody to show himself strong to. Let's raise our hands in prayer and praise and say, "Here I am, Lord. I'm ready for Your supernatural power to be poured out."
Friday, November 11, 2011
The Father Is The Gardner!
(NLT)
John 15:1--I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.
In my last blog, I was sharing my thoughts on why some churches don't grow. I would like to finish those thoughts on this one. Please do not take my remarks the wrong way. I DO NOT say that those who serve in these churches are not Christians. As I mentioned before, I have served as pastor in a few churches that just would not grow. I was a sincere Christian. The deacons, teachers and choir were all sincere Christians. Everybody wanted the church to grow. Everybody wanted souls to be saved. So, why not? Why couldn't the church grow? In the last blog, I suggested that they were plugged into something else besides Jesus. Next, we will deal with an even greater and more biting issue.
Notice that Jesus says in this verse that His Father is the gardener. In churches that don't grow, it is obvious that they someone or something else MUST be the gardener. I can irrefutably say that because the Father has never failed at anything He was allowed to do. Notice I said in anything He was ALLOWED to do. Just because you are a Christian, you are serving in a denominational church and the church has been around for ages, is NO proof that the Father is your gardener. You can start all kinds of ministries, churches, choirs and prayer circles and it doesn't mean that the Father is the gardener of it.
The question you have to answer is this. IF this church is plugged in to Jesus, and IF the Father is allowed to be the gardener, WHY AREN'T WE GROWING? Out of the three choices you have: Jesus, the Father and you, which one has proven to be the flop? Jesus proved Himself successful by doing exactly what the Father told Him and He got exactly what the Father had promised. The Father has been successful in carrying out His Word EVERY time that a servant would wholly lean on Him and do as He asked. That leaves me and you.
I can easily say me because I realized several years ago that there was nothing wrong with God SO there MUST be something wrong with me. I had prayed for years for a strong revival and for souls to be saved and nothing had happened. Nothing wrong with God must be something wrong with me. I remember the Saturday night that I was in prayer. I saw the utter uselessness of what I was doing. It was obvious that there was no increase. God dealt with me and told me to step down from my position at this particular church. The church thought I was doing a good job, but they weren't the gardener. The people liked the way that I lead worship, but they weren't the gardener. They even paid me a salary, but that wasn't a gardener either. God told me to go back to a church where I previously served as worship leader and serve in whatever capacity I was asked. When I obeyed over all the objections of the church I was serving, THEN I was allowing God to be my gardener.
He has pruned. He has pointed me in a few different directions. Even though this church that I am at right now is one of the many churches that do not grow, the Gardener is working in me. I am where He wants me to be and doing everything He wants me to do. Will He move me to where He needs me? Yep. When I am ready. Right now, I am seeking HIM, loving HIM and listening to HIM. I serve where He says to serve. I minister to people that I come across in my daily walk through life. I remain open to the Gardener and I trust Him to do whatever is necessary to His planting. Do I wish that I was pastoring again? You betcha! Would I want to lead worship at a vibrant church hungry for the Lord? Nothing gets past your lightnin' fast mind does it? Like the apostle Paul said in Phil 4:11--for I have learned, that whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
In essence, you don't grow because of your denomination. You don't grow because you have been a church for 100 years or more. You don't grow because your denomination sent you. You don't grow JUST because you have a position in the church. You don't grow because you have been a teacher for 25 years. You don't grow because your daddy puts in a lot of money to the church. You don't grow because your momma says you're called to preach. You don't grow through anything that you can accomplish.
Church growth comes from being plugged in to Jesus 24/7/365 and being obedient to the Gardener 24/7/365.
John 15:1--I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.
In my last blog, I was sharing my thoughts on why some churches don't grow. I would like to finish those thoughts on this one. Please do not take my remarks the wrong way. I DO NOT say that those who serve in these churches are not Christians. As I mentioned before, I have served as pastor in a few churches that just would not grow. I was a sincere Christian. The deacons, teachers and choir were all sincere Christians. Everybody wanted the church to grow. Everybody wanted souls to be saved. So, why not? Why couldn't the church grow? In the last blog, I suggested that they were plugged into something else besides Jesus. Next, we will deal with an even greater and more biting issue.
Notice that Jesus says in this verse that His Father is the gardener. In churches that don't grow, it is obvious that they someone or something else MUST be the gardener. I can irrefutably say that because the Father has never failed at anything He was allowed to do. Notice I said in anything He was ALLOWED to do. Just because you are a Christian, you are serving in a denominational church and the church has been around for ages, is NO proof that the Father is your gardener. You can start all kinds of ministries, churches, choirs and prayer circles and it doesn't mean that the Father is the gardener of it.
The question you have to answer is this. IF this church is plugged in to Jesus, and IF the Father is allowed to be the gardener, WHY AREN'T WE GROWING? Out of the three choices you have: Jesus, the Father and you, which one has proven to be the flop? Jesus proved Himself successful by doing exactly what the Father told Him and He got exactly what the Father had promised. The Father has been successful in carrying out His Word EVERY time that a servant would wholly lean on Him and do as He asked. That leaves me and you.
I can easily say me because I realized several years ago that there was nothing wrong with God SO there MUST be something wrong with me. I had prayed for years for a strong revival and for souls to be saved and nothing had happened. Nothing wrong with God must be something wrong with me. I remember the Saturday night that I was in prayer. I saw the utter uselessness of what I was doing. It was obvious that there was no increase. God dealt with me and told me to step down from my position at this particular church. The church thought I was doing a good job, but they weren't the gardener. The people liked the way that I lead worship, but they weren't the gardener. They even paid me a salary, but that wasn't a gardener either. God told me to go back to a church where I previously served as worship leader and serve in whatever capacity I was asked. When I obeyed over all the objections of the church I was serving, THEN I was allowing God to be my gardener.
He has pruned. He has pointed me in a few different directions. Even though this church that I am at right now is one of the many churches that do not grow, the Gardener is working in me. I am where He wants me to be and doing everything He wants me to do. Will He move me to where He needs me? Yep. When I am ready. Right now, I am seeking HIM, loving HIM and listening to HIM. I serve where He says to serve. I minister to people that I come across in my daily walk through life. I remain open to the Gardener and I trust Him to do whatever is necessary to His planting. Do I wish that I was pastoring again? You betcha! Would I want to lead worship at a vibrant church hungry for the Lord? Nothing gets past your lightnin' fast mind does it? Like the apostle Paul said in Phil 4:11--for I have learned, that whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
In essence, you don't grow because of your denomination. You don't grow because you have been a church for 100 years or more. You don't grow because your denomination sent you. You don't grow JUST because you have a position in the church. You don't grow because you have been a teacher for 25 years. You don't grow because your daddy puts in a lot of money to the church. You don't grow because your momma says you're called to preach. You don't grow through anything that you can accomplish.
Church growth comes from being plugged in to Jesus 24/7/365 and being obedient to the Gardener 24/7/365.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Why Doesn't Our Church Grow?
A cousin of mine e-mailed me this question yesterday. It just so happened that the chapter of the Bible that I read for my morning devotion was probably the best answer that could be given. I can report from experience because I pastored a couple of churches that never did grow. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of the churches in America are less than 100 in membership and never, never, never grow. And, there are reasons why. There are also reasons why some churches grow steadily.
John 15:1--I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Here ya go. Does everybody want to come up around the altar and repent in bitter tears? No? And, I know why. Just about every faithful church member in these go nowhere churches are going to tell me that they are plugged in to Jesus.
John 15:7-If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8--Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
So, Bro and Sis Gonowhere, are your prayers getting answered and are you bearing much fruit? I didn't think so. Like I said before, I pastored a few churches. Everybody, including myself, was convinced that we were abiding in the vine. The plain truth from the mouth of Jesus is, if that was true, your prayers would be answered and you would be bringing in the lost. If you are not, then plain and simple, you are not plugged in to Jesus.
What are you plugged in to? One of the things that you are plugged in to is the church itself. You judge yourself to be OK because you have been to that same church for years. You might have been born and raised in that church. Your mama and your daddy founded that church. Everybody watched you grow up in that church. It's YOUR church because everybody approves of you. If you dared to entertain the thought of leaving, everybody would be down your throat asking, "How can you even THINK of leaving? You were raised in this church. We need you here." Yep, you're plugged in to the church and not Jesus.
Paul was busy working in his home church in Tarsus. In Acts 11, Barnabas came and got him to come win the lost at Antioch. In Acts 13, God spoke for the two of them to begin a missionary journey. Were they doing good where they were? Yes. And yet, they were plugged in to Jesus enough to move on to a field that HE said for them to go to. If Paul had been plugged in to the local church, he might not have ever left home. Then again, his home church and the church in Antioch were plugged in to Jesus. Instead of balking at the thought of sending out "one of their own," they gladly sent them out because the church was plugged in to the vine.
It is great to be faithful to your church. It is greater to have your faithfulness plugged in to Jesus. He might not ever tell you to leave. He might not tell you to stay. Staying or leaving is not the question that should be asked. We should shape our lives by the question, "What do YOU want me to do today, Jesus?"
Our thoughts should never be how can I bless the church through what I do.
Being plugged in to the true vine means putting your complete trust in Him. We should come to Him every day and draw from His presence. We should never read His Word and think, "Boy, I know someone in the church that needs to hear that scripture." We should read His Word daily and ask Him, "Feed me on your Word. Jesus, even the scripture that convicts me would wind up building me up. Say anything You want to. I want to hear from You." Gauge your progress not on what the church would think but on what you KNOW Jesus thinks about it. When you do this, it will bring a whole new outlook on how you serve the Lord. It will make your service to the church you serve in more enjoyable because your are properly plugged in to the vine.
There is much, much more. Stay tuned.
John 15:1--I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Here ya go. Does everybody want to come up around the altar and repent in bitter tears? No? And, I know why. Just about every faithful church member in these go nowhere churches are going to tell me that they are plugged in to Jesus.
John 15:7-If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8--Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
So, Bro and Sis Gonowhere, are your prayers getting answered and are you bearing much fruit? I didn't think so. Like I said before, I pastored a few churches. Everybody, including myself, was convinced that we were abiding in the vine. The plain truth from the mouth of Jesus is, if that was true, your prayers would be answered and you would be bringing in the lost. If you are not, then plain and simple, you are not plugged in to Jesus.
What are you plugged in to? One of the things that you are plugged in to is the church itself. You judge yourself to be OK because you have been to that same church for years. You might have been born and raised in that church. Your mama and your daddy founded that church. Everybody watched you grow up in that church. It's YOUR church because everybody approves of you. If you dared to entertain the thought of leaving, everybody would be down your throat asking, "How can you even THINK of leaving? You were raised in this church. We need you here." Yep, you're plugged in to the church and not Jesus.
Paul was busy working in his home church in Tarsus. In Acts 11, Barnabas came and got him to come win the lost at Antioch. In Acts 13, God spoke for the two of them to begin a missionary journey. Were they doing good where they were? Yes. And yet, they were plugged in to Jesus enough to move on to a field that HE said for them to go to. If Paul had been plugged in to the local church, he might not have ever left home. Then again, his home church and the church in Antioch were plugged in to Jesus. Instead of balking at the thought of sending out "one of their own," they gladly sent them out because the church was plugged in to the vine.
It is great to be faithful to your church. It is greater to have your faithfulness plugged in to Jesus. He might not ever tell you to leave. He might not tell you to stay. Staying or leaving is not the question that should be asked. We should shape our lives by the question, "What do YOU want me to do today, Jesus?"
Our thoughts should never be how can I bless the church through what I do.
Being plugged in to the true vine means putting your complete trust in Him. We should come to Him every day and draw from His presence. We should never read His Word and think, "Boy, I know someone in the church that needs to hear that scripture." We should read His Word daily and ask Him, "Feed me on your Word. Jesus, even the scripture that convicts me would wind up building me up. Say anything You want to. I want to hear from You." Gauge your progress not on what the church would think but on what you KNOW Jesus thinks about it. When you do this, it will bring a whole new outlook on how you serve the Lord. It will make your service to the church you serve in more enjoyable because your are properly plugged in to the vine.
There is much, much more. Stay tuned.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Persevere For The Greater Joy
Ps 118:24-This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
John 14:27--Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:24--Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. But, how can we say that when it looks like things are getting worse and not better? Or, how can we maintain our faith when it seems like things are at a standstill and not progressing? All of us reach moments like this. And, sometimes these points turn from moments to years.
When I reach these times, I begin to ask the question ‘What is God doing?’ (Some of you might remember that I have a blog on this subject.) One of the first things we need to understand is that God never sleeps. Also, God hears and answers our prayers. You can have a valid argument by wondering where is the answer when you need it. I’ve been down that road several times myself.
One of the things that we must consider is that God is faithful. If He answers prayer for one person, He has to answer prayer for all. Let’s take the promise He gave to Abraham and Sarah. It was 25 years before Isaac was born. They went through a lot. Through that lot, their faith was tested. They stumbled but finally LEARNED how to walk by faith. I believe we might have touched on a key.
The prophet Samuel anointed David to be king of Israel when he was just a teen. As you remember the story, it was several years before God fulfilled that promise. David had to go through a rigorous training process. Mind you, it wasn’t a PHYSICAL training program. It was a training program that God designed to strengthen his inner man. There were hardships to go through as well as hatred and mistrust he had to endure. He had to learn to deal with poverty and with poverty-stricken people. If you remember, he was able to take a rag-tag band of miscreants and shape them into a lean, mean fighting machine.
God allowed His heroes to go through some pretty tough character building processes before He manifested His answer. Why did He wait so long? Did He just enjoy seeing them suffer? We’re back at those questions again, aren’t we. The answer is found in the scripture (John 16:24.)
Hebrews tells us that hope is the anchor of our soul (Heb 6:19). In previous blogs we’ve quoted Heb 12:2--Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.. God had a greater joy for them in mind. There were some things that God wanted to accomplish that would enhance the joy of His provision.
How much joy and/or glory did Abraham and Sarah enjoy when a child was born to them at an impossible age? Don’t you think that a whole lot of people’s ears perked up when the word got around that a 91 year old lady was pregnant with her first child? How much attention did that grab? I am sure that at Isaac’s birth, Abraham had a congregation set and ready to hear about how great our God is. As people who knew them saw the miracle before their very eyes, they would be hard pressed to say anything else but “It had to be God.”
As handsome and manly as David was, the people thought more of him as he overcame the obstacles he faced. They watched as he rose to glory and then faded from view as he lost favor with King Saul. Many of the people of that day were on King Saul’s side. They watched David as he waited on God’s answer. When God raised him to the throne, even a lot of his enemies had to admit that it had to be God that did it.
As I have mentioned in a previous blog, God was busy creating some ‘greater joy’ during the 400 years between Malachi and Matthew. Yes, I know the Greeks were doing their thing and the Romans were doing their thing. HOWEVER, God was orchestrating the whole 400 years to bring ‘greater joy’ to His apostles. In God’s scheme of things, He had to get a way prepared for His men and women to carry out His instructions. He knew that after the day of Pentecost, highways and by-ways would be filled with people that were ready to spread the ‘greater joy.’
Let’s digress for a few moments. Those 400 years were filled with hardships. The days of persecution after the day of Pentecost were not pleasant either. Understand, that hardships produce character and God was wanting to pour out His joy in an abundant measure.
Let’s rejoice in this day. God is working on something good for us. Dip into His peace and pull out a hunk of joy to chew on instead of chocolate covered yuck.
John 14:27--Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:24--Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. But, how can we say that when it looks like things are getting worse and not better? Or, how can we maintain our faith when it seems like things are at a standstill and not progressing? All of us reach moments like this. And, sometimes these points turn from moments to years.
When I reach these times, I begin to ask the question ‘What is God doing?’ (Some of you might remember that I have a blog on this subject.) One of the first things we need to understand is that God never sleeps. Also, God hears and answers our prayers. You can have a valid argument by wondering where is the answer when you need it. I’ve been down that road several times myself.
One of the things that we must consider is that God is faithful. If He answers prayer for one person, He has to answer prayer for all. Let’s take the promise He gave to Abraham and Sarah. It was 25 years before Isaac was born. They went through a lot. Through that lot, their faith was tested. They stumbled but finally LEARNED how to walk by faith. I believe we might have touched on a key.
The prophet Samuel anointed David to be king of Israel when he was just a teen. As you remember the story, it was several years before God fulfilled that promise. David had to go through a rigorous training process. Mind you, it wasn’t a PHYSICAL training program. It was a training program that God designed to strengthen his inner man. There were hardships to go through as well as hatred and mistrust he had to endure. He had to learn to deal with poverty and with poverty-stricken people. If you remember, he was able to take a rag-tag band of miscreants and shape them into a lean, mean fighting machine.
God allowed His heroes to go through some pretty tough character building processes before He manifested His answer. Why did He wait so long? Did He just enjoy seeing them suffer? We’re back at those questions again, aren’t we. The answer is found in the scripture (John 16:24.)
Hebrews tells us that hope is the anchor of our soul (Heb 6:19). In previous blogs we’ve quoted Heb 12:2--Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.. God had a greater joy for them in mind. There were some things that God wanted to accomplish that would enhance the joy of His provision.
How much joy and/or glory did Abraham and Sarah enjoy when a child was born to them at an impossible age? Don’t you think that a whole lot of people’s ears perked up when the word got around that a 91 year old lady was pregnant with her first child? How much attention did that grab? I am sure that at Isaac’s birth, Abraham had a congregation set and ready to hear about how great our God is. As people who knew them saw the miracle before their very eyes, they would be hard pressed to say anything else but “It had to be God.”
As handsome and manly as David was, the people thought more of him as he overcame the obstacles he faced. They watched as he rose to glory and then faded from view as he lost favor with King Saul. Many of the people of that day were on King Saul’s side. They watched David as he waited on God’s answer. When God raised him to the throne, even a lot of his enemies had to admit that it had to be God that did it.
As I have mentioned in a previous blog, God was busy creating some ‘greater joy’ during the 400 years between Malachi and Matthew. Yes, I know the Greeks were doing their thing and the Romans were doing their thing. HOWEVER, God was orchestrating the whole 400 years to bring ‘greater joy’ to His apostles. In God’s scheme of things, He had to get a way prepared for His men and women to carry out His instructions. He knew that after the day of Pentecost, highways and by-ways would be filled with people that were ready to spread the ‘greater joy.’
Let’s digress for a few moments. Those 400 years were filled with hardships. The days of persecution after the day of Pentecost were not pleasant either. Understand, that hardships produce character and God was wanting to pour out His joy in an abundant measure.
Let’s rejoice in this day. God is working on something good for us. Dip into His peace and pull out a hunk of joy to chew on instead of chocolate covered yuck.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
INVASION: A C.H.A.O.S. NOVEL
INVASION: A C.H.A.O.S NOVEL
By Jon S. Lewis
Colt McAlister didn’t want to go to the camp. When he found out that it was a military academy, he really didn’t want to go. It took quite a bit of nudging from his father just to get him to get out of the car. Even though He spent only a few moments of time inside the confines of Trident Industries, he realized that his life would be forever changed.
Rumors abounded that the comic books he read had their origins in reality. After all, a hero with a jet pack fighting an enemy that was experimenting with a mind control chip was just a figment of someone’s imagination, wasn’t it? What about all of those UFO sightings that seemed to abound lately? Then, Colt heard the most absurd rumor of all. Could it be that the stories of the Phantom Flyer swirled around the part his grandfather played in WW II?
Up until this book, I was not interested in science fiction novels at all. However, Jon S. Lewis’ writing style has brought in a new convert. This book is fast paced and has more than enough twists to keep you guessing. There was no cursing or ungodly actions portrayed in the story. I enjoyed it immensely and would suggest it to anyone who enjoys some action with just a little tinge of romance.
I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze@ in return for an honest review.
What Are You Thinking About
Ps 19:14--Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
You can always tell what a person has been thinking about by the way they act or talk. If a person is always thinking about food, that's what they will talk about and they'll probably be a little bit bigger than you are. If someone is talking about sports all of the time, then that is what is taking up a good portion of their cranial space. If you ever ask yourself the question, what was Obama thinking, then just look at his actions. When Pujols, Hamilton or Fielder hit a home run, you'd better believe that they were NOT thinking of striking out. Those people that do strike out are usually think about it. For you race fans, Kyle Busch deliberately ran into another driver. What was he thinking? The same thing most of us do. We let our anger, fear or doubt become the cornerstone of our thinking process. The result is that we wind up doing something that we would not normally do and later would regret.
David, the great shepherd boy who rose to be a great king, wrote a song that gave us insight to the mighty deeds that God wrought through him. The cornerstone question that he built his life around is found in the verse from Psalm 19 that I have quoted. As we examine his statement we would evaluate it with the following qualifying questions. What I am thinking about right now, is that acceptable to God? My soul and my innermost thoughts are always open to Him, is His stamp of approval on what I am thinking? How does what I think about line up with His Word, His promises and His admonition? If I gave Him my thoughts as a gift offering, would He accept it or just stand there looking at my soul as if He were displeased?
Let's examine the Goliath incident. David knew that God's covenant was for him and against God's enemies. God had declared time and time again that His people would be blessed. He knew that slavery and bondage to an ungodly nation was a curse and not a blessing. God had promised in His covenant that His people would be the head and not the tail (Deut 28). David became the hero of the day, not because he was the biggest man on the battlefield. He was an over comer in battle, not because he was the best trained fighter. He was a winner because he thought of himself in the light of God's Word. He knew he was smaller. He knew he was not well trained in battle. However, he was well trained in prayer and meditation. He thought of himself the way that God did.
John 14:10 gives us greater insight. Jesus said, "But the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." You see, a Word centered thought process was the cornerstone of Jesus' ability, also. David thought of himself as God did. Therefore, God was the one who orchestrated the battle and it was God working on the inside of David that brought the victory. When our minds line up with what God says and we start thinking the Word of God instead of the worry of the world, God begins changing our lives and our circumstances from the inside of us.
You might try to argue that you look at the circumstances around you and view the world situation and declare that all is impossible. Let's look at Abraham and Sarah for a moment. If anyone was going to place bets on who would be the father of a multitude, these two would be way down on the list. Los Vegas would put their odds at a gazillion to one. Those odds would go up each successive year, also. However, (Heb 11:11) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Sarah, thought God was faithful and, at God's time, her body received strength to conceive and bear a child. Her body kept getting older and deader. Her thought life was acceptable to God and her faith in Him kept getting stronger. Her faithfulness in her meditation brought her a supernatural ability to give birth when God's divine plan for her began to unfold.
What have you been thinking about lately? Have the problems of life and the condition of the world trained your thoughts? Down through the years has that process brought to you victory of any kind? Then, why not let your thoughts be acceptable to God and give Him and His Word a shot a straightening things out for you. Let the miracles begin.
You can always tell what a person has been thinking about by the way they act or talk. If a person is always thinking about food, that's what they will talk about and they'll probably be a little bit bigger than you are. If someone is talking about sports all of the time, then that is what is taking up a good portion of their cranial space. If you ever ask yourself the question, what was Obama thinking, then just look at his actions. When Pujols, Hamilton or Fielder hit a home run, you'd better believe that they were NOT thinking of striking out. Those people that do strike out are usually think about it. For you race fans, Kyle Busch deliberately ran into another driver. What was he thinking? The same thing most of us do. We let our anger, fear or doubt become the cornerstone of our thinking process. The result is that we wind up doing something that we would not normally do and later would regret.
David, the great shepherd boy who rose to be a great king, wrote a song that gave us insight to the mighty deeds that God wrought through him. The cornerstone question that he built his life around is found in the verse from Psalm 19 that I have quoted. As we examine his statement we would evaluate it with the following qualifying questions. What I am thinking about right now, is that acceptable to God? My soul and my innermost thoughts are always open to Him, is His stamp of approval on what I am thinking? How does what I think about line up with His Word, His promises and His admonition? If I gave Him my thoughts as a gift offering, would He accept it or just stand there looking at my soul as if He were displeased?
Let's examine the Goliath incident. David knew that God's covenant was for him and against God's enemies. God had declared time and time again that His people would be blessed. He knew that slavery and bondage to an ungodly nation was a curse and not a blessing. God had promised in His covenant that His people would be the head and not the tail (Deut 28). David became the hero of the day, not because he was the biggest man on the battlefield. He was an over comer in battle, not because he was the best trained fighter. He was a winner because he thought of himself in the light of God's Word. He knew he was smaller. He knew he was not well trained in battle. However, he was well trained in prayer and meditation. He thought of himself the way that God did.
John 14:10 gives us greater insight. Jesus said, "But the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." You see, a Word centered thought process was the cornerstone of Jesus' ability, also. David thought of himself as God did. Therefore, God was the one who orchestrated the battle and it was God working on the inside of David that brought the victory. When our minds line up with what God says and we start thinking the Word of God instead of the worry of the world, God begins changing our lives and our circumstances from the inside of us.
You might try to argue that you look at the circumstances around you and view the world situation and declare that all is impossible. Let's look at Abraham and Sarah for a moment. If anyone was going to place bets on who would be the father of a multitude, these two would be way down on the list. Los Vegas would put their odds at a gazillion to one. Those odds would go up each successive year, also. However, (Heb 11:11) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Sarah, thought God was faithful and, at God's time, her body received strength to conceive and bear a child. Her body kept getting older and deader. Her thought life was acceptable to God and her faith in Him kept getting stronger. Her faithfulness in her meditation brought her a supernatural ability to give birth when God's divine plan for her began to unfold.
What have you been thinking about lately? Have the problems of life and the condition of the world trained your thoughts? Down through the years has that process brought to you victory of any kind? Then, why not let your thoughts be acceptable to God and give Him and His Word a shot a straightening things out for you. Let the miracles begin.
Friday, November 4, 2011
What Did Jesus Think About satan?
John 13:3--Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything.
John 14:30--I don't have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me,
Have you ever watched episodes of "The Dog Whisperer?" Caesar is an amazing people trainer. And, he isn't too shabby at handling dogs either. If you watch the show closely, you will find the Caesar takes time to train the dog owners. He is always instructing them to remain in control. He tells them not to be afraid. Why? Dogs, and other animals can sense fear in humans. Caesar tells the owners to be more assertive because dogs also sense mastery as well.
Satan, also senses fear and mastery. In Matthew's gospel and the eighth chapter, Matthew gives his version of Jesus' encounter with a man possessed with devils. Everybody in the Gadara community was afraid of this guy. He was so mean and evil that he did not want to be around anyone. Therefore, he lived in a cemetery. Matthew says that this man was so fierce that nobody dared to come close to him. What was the difference between Jesus and everybody else?
According to John 13, Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything. That included the devil and his imps. To say that Jesus knew something would indicate that He thought about it and also, acted like it. Psalm 1 teaches us to meditate on the law day and night. I am sure that Jesus followed the commandments and followed the teaching of God. Undoubtedly, He must have been thinking that satan was a defeated foe. He undoubtedly thought that He was stronger than any devil around. There was no doubt in His mind that deliverance was coming for this helpless man. Why? Because, He did not allow His heart to be troubled about the situation (John 14:1, 27).
He pictured Himself casting those devils out. He thought about that man being freed and telling everyone about the mercy of God. He acted like He was going to cast those devils out. There was nothing in His facial expression that would even give the slightest hint of a doubt. The devils could not only see it, but, because they were spiritual beings, they SENSED the force of God's overwhelming power that was abiding within Jesus.
Jesus cultivated that power by meditating on God's word--day and night, just like Psalm 1 declared. Jesus cultivated that power by coming and refreshing Himself in His Father's presence. As He read and remembered what He was supposed to be like, as He fellowshipped with the Supreme Judge, there was no other way for Jesus to think or act. He also knew that NO devil had authority over Him. The devil did not have the authority to kill Him on the cross. Jesus went voluntarily. He GAVE His life. No one took it.
Satan saw it, sensed it and reacted to it. They forced this man to run up to Jesus and fall down before Him in hopes of throwing Him off the mark. It didn't work. Because of what Jesus KNEW and because of what He MEDITATED on day and night, there was only ONE action that Jesus would accept. That action was their departure from the man-child that God had created and was greatly in love with.
The devils believed in the power of God so strongly that their first comment to Jesus was not to torment them before their time (vs29). They knew something that Jesus had not even taught the disciples, yet. They knew their future. Jesus knew that there was a time of torment coming for them and they knew it, too. Jesus knew that they were going to have to release their hold on the man, the demons knew it, too. That's why they begged to go into the swine.
It's not what kind of situations you face that make or break you. It is how you face those situations. The more you meditate on His promises instead of the problem, the stronger your inner self will become through the power of God. The more that you spend time with Him on a daily basis, the more forceful His presence will become inside of you. The enemy, also, will begin to realize the power of God within you. Pray as if you will not take 'no' as an answer when it comes to the promises of God. Walk and talk with the assurance of a prayer answering God. Act like God is in charge and give the devil a heart attack.
John 14:30--I don't have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me,
Have you ever watched episodes of "The Dog Whisperer?" Caesar is an amazing people trainer. And, he isn't too shabby at handling dogs either. If you watch the show closely, you will find the Caesar takes time to train the dog owners. He is always instructing them to remain in control. He tells them not to be afraid. Why? Dogs, and other animals can sense fear in humans. Caesar tells the owners to be more assertive because dogs also sense mastery as well.
Satan, also senses fear and mastery. In Matthew's gospel and the eighth chapter, Matthew gives his version of Jesus' encounter with a man possessed with devils. Everybody in the Gadara community was afraid of this guy. He was so mean and evil that he did not want to be around anyone. Therefore, he lived in a cemetery. Matthew says that this man was so fierce that nobody dared to come close to him. What was the difference between Jesus and everybody else?
According to John 13, Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything. That included the devil and his imps. To say that Jesus knew something would indicate that He thought about it and also, acted like it. Psalm 1 teaches us to meditate on the law day and night. I am sure that Jesus followed the commandments and followed the teaching of God. Undoubtedly, He must have been thinking that satan was a defeated foe. He undoubtedly thought that He was stronger than any devil around. There was no doubt in His mind that deliverance was coming for this helpless man. Why? Because, He did not allow His heart to be troubled about the situation (John 14:1, 27).
He pictured Himself casting those devils out. He thought about that man being freed and telling everyone about the mercy of God. He acted like He was going to cast those devils out. There was nothing in His facial expression that would even give the slightest hint of a doubt. The devils could not only see it, but, because they were spiritual beings, they SENSED the force of God's overwhelming power that was abiding within Jesus.
Jesus cultivated that power by meditating on God's word--day and night, just like Psalm 1 declared. Jesus cultivated that power by coming and refreshing Himself in His Father's presence. As He read and remembered what He was supposed to be like, as He fellowshipped with the Supreme Judge, there was no other way for Jesus to think or act. He also knew that NO devil had authority over Him. The devil did not have the authority to kill Him on the cross. Jesus went voluntarily. He GAVE His life. No one took it.
Satan saw it, sensed it and reacted to it. They forced this man to run up to Jesus and fall down before Him in hopes of throwing Him off the mark. It didn't work. Because of what Jesus KNEW and because of what He MEDITATED on day and night, there was only ONE action that Jesus would accept. That action was their departure from the man-child that God had created and was greatly in love with.
The devils believed in the power of God so strongly that their first comment to Jesus was not to torment them before their time (vs29). They knew something that Jesus had not even taught the disciples, yet. They knew their future. Jesus knew that there was a time of torment coming for them and they knew it, too. Jesus knew that they were going to have to release their hold on the man, the demons knew it, too. That's why they begged to go into the swine.
It's not what kind of situations you face that make or break you. It is how you face those situations. The more you meditate on His promises instead of the problem, the stronger your inner self will become through the power of God. The more that you spend time with Him on a daily basis, the more forceful His presence will become inside of you. The enemy, also, will begin to realize the power of God within you. Pray as if you will not take 'no' as an answer when it comes to the promises of God. Walk and talk with the assurance of a prayer answering God. Act like God is in charge and give the devil a heart attack.
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