As I said in Part 1, I have been praying for an unbridled revival for several months. At the end of December, when I awoke one morning, God spoke to me that unbridled revival comes from unbridled love. That has set me on a path in my prayer life and meditations that is steadily changing me. The other day, God dropped this statement into my spirit. "If you are not experiencing a life-changing unbridled revival, the first life that needs to change is yours." How true, my friends. I'm not waiting for a church, pastor, or an evangelist to bring revival my way. I'm going to worry about bringing Henry into a life-changing unbridled revival and carry it around with me 24/7.
In Part 1, I talked about walking in unbridled love. The first challenge God put before me was to take the bridle off of my love. That meant to get rid of all anger, hurt and unforgiveness. That meant I needed to learn how to love the people that have hurt and offended me. As you know, it's a tall order to walk in agape love. However, it does become easier the deeper you fall in love with Jesus. Here's some steps to help the process.
Think way back to your first real love. For most of us, it was when we were teens in high school. Think about the process. Here you go ditty-bopping down the hallway in between classes, when this cute girl smiles and waves at you. (I'll talk from the male perspective, of course.) This happens several times. It dawns on you that it is not just a smile and just a wave. There is something "extra' to it. You begin to wonder if she has a "crush" on you. Now, remember, remember, remember, remember. You had never really thought about this girl before. Your mind was on a multitude of other things.
But, now, your whole thought process changes forever. You can't get her out of your mind. Although you go through the same lifestyle, doing the same things as before, your thought pattern changes drastically. Your thoughts turn to her. You don't think about how bad things could be. You don't think about how sad things could be. You don't think about how your whole world is about to come crashing in. On the contrary. You begin thinking of how sweet it might be to have fellowship with her. You think about how happy the two of you could be together. You don't think of arguing. You don't think of fighting and cussing each other. You think about how much fun it would be if you spent more time together. You begin to think of how sweet it would be to hold her hand. Listen and think back for a moment. You begin to think about how much joy, peace and happiness she could bring into your life. Then you begin to think of all the things that you want to do for her to bring joy into her life.
When we begin to think these same thought patterns about Jesus, our lives will change forever. Up to this point, just like I used to do, my thought pattern kept turning to how much I have been hurt by others and what I would like to say to get them back. But, this monkey has taken his hand out of that jar. (See Part 1 for this explaination.) 2 Cor 10:5-Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; Boy! Paul was trying to tell us something there. A life-changing unbridled revival revival starts with life-changing unbridled love....the unbridled love of Jesus. Listen to me. Not only for the lost, but for us. If we are not desperately in love with Jesus and don't know way down in our heart of hearts that He is desperately in love with US then revival will never come. John the beloved said it like this--1 John 4:16--And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. How can we know of His love for us? We do that by thinking or meditating on Him and His love. In the natural, that is what brought us together with our spouses. Our thought patterns.
Bring your thoughts into captivity. Instead of thinking of how hurt we are and any other thoughts that stir anger. Think about His love and begin declaring to Him, "I love you, Lord."
Stay tuned for Part 3. It will bless you even more.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Prayer Request From Indonesia
Java Evangelism
We ask for your prayers as we begin a new program at IHOPP (International House of Prayer and Peace) here in Ambon. From Monday (16th) through the following Sunday (22nd) we will be registering 3 and 4 year olds for an English course. It is our intention to totally immerse them in English from day 1. We think they will learn quickly. There seems to be a great deal of interest. One of the purposes is to help fund other IHOPP programs. We are, also, praying that there will be non-Christian families who send their children and who will be blessed through the program we call FAST START, and through the friendships that will develop with staff.
Bethany will use her educational background to coordinate all aspects of the program. Oma and Opa will help by reading stories, and being "general flunkies".
Please pray especially for Mey L, pictured above, who is our lead teacher. Mey is pictured studying hard during our Kairos mission course about six months ago. This young widow will soon complete her degree in English. She hopes to defend her thesis this month. She will be assisted in the classroom by Nori who has set in on many of the teacher upgrading Bethany taught for an NGO in Maluku. Mey T will do the administration.
Would you pray for this to be more than an educational venture. We are praying and promoting to have Muslim children in the classes. On Friday we spent an hour in front of the largest mosque in town handing out fliers which were well received.
You may recall that when we rented the house selected for IHOPP, we bemoaned the fact that we had only been able to find a facility in a nominally strong Christian community. We'd rather be in a mixed community, but they are increasingly rare in Ambon bcause of recent communal stresses.
Please join us in prayer for for all the personnel involved; for the right students to come; for a good mix ethnically and religiously; and for it all to be used to change lives for eternity
Until all Hear,
Dennis and Lynn
We ask for your prayers as we begin a new program at IHOPP (International House of Prayer and Peace) here in Ambon. From Monday (16th) through the following Sunday (22nd) we will be registering 3 and 4 year olds for an English course. It is our intention to totally immerse them in English from day 1. We think they will learn quickly. There seems to be a great deal of interest. One of the purposes is to help fund other IHOPP programs. We are, also, praying that there will be non-Christian families who send their children and who will be blessed through the program we call FAST START, and through the friendships that will develop with staff.
Bethany will use her educational background to coordinate all aspects of the program. Oma and Opa will help by reading stories, and being "general flunkies".
Please pray especially for Mey L, pictured above, who is our lead teacher. Mey is pictured studying hard during our Kairos mission course about six months ago. This young widow will soon complete her degree in English. She hopes to defend her thesis this month. She will be assisted in the classroom by Nori who has set in on many of the teacher upgrading Bethany taught for an NGO in Maluku. Mey T will do the administration.
Would you pray for this to be more than an educational venture. We are praying and promoting to have Muslim children in the classes. On Friday we spent an hour in front of the largest mosque in town handing out fliers which were well received.
You may recall that when we rented the house selected for IHOPP, we bemoaned the fact that we had only been able to find a facility in a nominally strong Christian community. We'd rather be in a mixed community, but they are increasingly rare in Ambon bcause of recent communal stresses.
Please join us in prayer for for all the personnel involved; for the right students to come; for a good mix ethnically and religiously; and for it all to be used to change lives for eternity
Until all Hear,
Dennis and Lynn
Monday, January 16, 2012
Unbridled Revival Part 1
Most of you know that I have been getting up around 4:30 every morning to get in some prayer time and Bible study before I face the day. It has been a life changing experience to say the least. As my relationship with Jesus has deepened so have my requests. About three months ago I began interceding for an "unbridled revival." I'm not talking about a series of meetings that gets everybody worked up and lathered for a couple of weeks. I want to see a lifestyle change of people constantly coming to the Lord. I don't want to see temporary "I am sorry I got caught" changes, but life-long changes that reduce crime and degradation. I don't want to see it just in my community but in every place where Christians congregate. That means all over the world and to every creature. Now, if you don't believe this can happen, please get off my blog and don't waste your time on reading anything else I have got to say. Thank You. Whether or not the whole worlds receives Jesus is immaterial. I am going to pray and seek Him for an unbridled revival anyway. When He comes or takes me home, He will find me persuing that very idea.
Late last December, as I woke up, He spoke a word to me that has set me on a life changing quest. There is so much to this, that I will have to give it to you in parts. But hold on to your hearts because this is going to take you farther inside yourself than you have ever been. Why? Because Jesus has always been ready to pour out His presence without measure. We are the ones that are holding back an unbridled revival. I hope you meditate on these lessons and put them to good use. Feedback is always welcome.
The first thing He told me was that unbridled revival comes from unbridled love. Ouch! That hurt me real bad. I have had a life-long habit of holding grudges, unforgiveness and harbouring hatred in my heart. I didn't know all that until He said it. In just five short seconds, He preached me a five hour sermon. Has He ever done anything like that to you? If so, you'll never forget it. Everyone knows me as a pretty nice guy. I try to be pleasant to be around. I try my best to show people how a Christian should act and re-act. The way I figured it, I was about as good if not better than about 75% of the Christians walking the earth today. But you know what? Seventy five percent of the Christians walking around today aren't reaching the lost for Jesus, either. Seventy five percent of the Christians walking around today probably haven't been praying for an unbridled revival.
The point that the Lord was making to me was, if I wanted unbridled revival, I had to walk in unbridled love. That means love with no strings or reins attached. Don't we choose the people we like to talk to and be around? That's love with a bridle on it and you're pulling on the reins. Are there some people in church that we would rather not be around? That's bridled love. Here's a piece of scripture: Rom. 5:8-But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. His love was unbridled. He loved His enemies. He loved the ones that nailed Him to the cross and asked the Father to forgive them for what they were doing. I had to come face to face with the fact that I wasn't there, yet. However, I want unbridled revival so I have to walk into this unbridled love thing. Here are some steps that I took.
I don't know why I never have thought about, or ever heard a sermon about this very thing. God showed me that I was like the monkey with his hand in the jar. When the natives want to trap a monkey for dinner or just to capture it as a pet, they do it like this. They put a piece of fruit in a small mouth jar and tie it to a tree. The monkey comes along and smells his favorite fruit in the jar. He sticks his hand through the mouth of the jar that is barely big enough for him to squeeze his hand into. When he grabs the fruit and makes a fist, he cannot get his prize out of the jar. The natives are then free to saunter up to this monkey which is screaming at the top of his voice and thrashing around in great fear. But, he never lets go of the fruit. The native can stand there and watch him. He can laugh at him. He can jab him with a stick. He can scare him. He can tie him up. He can bash his brains out. He can watch the monkey as he does himself physical harm while he is thrashing around trying to get away from the native. The native can do anything he wants to and the monkey is as helpless as can be as long as he holds on to something he thinks he cannot do without. We are like that monkey. We think we just can't do without our grudge. We think we just can't do without harboring bad feeling toward somebody. We think we just have to hold on to our unforgiveness. And all the time, this native, i.e. the devil, can walk up to us and torment the stew out of us about things. He can keep us tore up with anger. He can keep us tore up with doubt and fear. He will stand there and torment us with ideas brought on by that root of bitterness (Heb 12:15) that we absolutely have to hold on to. We wind up doing more damage to ourselves before the devil kicks our brains out. It brings on destroyed fellowship and causes us to fret so much that we get sick.
When I saw that very good description of me, I decided to get rid of grudges, anger, and unforgiveness. I no longer wanted to be tormented and beat up. I let go of those feelings that I thought were normal and I just had to have. I have made a decision that if I was going to hold on to something, I was going to hold on to Jesus. Am I there yet? No, but I am well on my way.
You can't just let go of these things and leave your heart and emotions empty. You have to fill your heart, your mind and your emotions with Godly stuff. If you don't, the devil will see that your house is swept and clean and he will come back worse than ever. See Matt. 12:44 and 45.
In part two, I will share with you some things that I have found helpful in filling up my empty space. You are going to find that these things are so simple and easy that it will not be hard at all to implement them.
Late last December, as I woke up, He spoke a word to me that has set me on a life changing quest. There is so much to this, that I will have to give it to you in parts. But hold on to your hearts because this is going to take you farther inside yourself than you have ever been. Why? Because Jesus has always been ready to pour out His presence without measure. We are the ones that are holding back an unbridled revival. I hope you meditate on these lessons and put them to good use. Feedback is always welcome.
The first thing He told me was that unbridled revival comes from unbridled love. Ouch! That hurt me real bad. I have had a life-long habit of holding grudges, unforgiveness and harbouring hatred in my heart. I didn't know all that until He said it. In just five short seconds, He preached me a five hour sermon. Has He ever done anything like that to you? If so, you'll never forget it. Everyone knows me as a pretty nice guy. I try to be pleasant to be around. I try my best to show people how a Christian should act and re-act. The way I figured it, I was about as good if not better than about 75% of the Christians walking the earth today. But you know what? Seventy five percent of the Christians walking around today aren't reaching the lost for Jesus, either. Seventy five percent of the Christians walking around today probably haven't been praying for an unbridled revival.
The point that the Lord was making to me was, if I wanted unbridled revival, I had to walk in unbridled love. That means love with no strings or reins attached. Don't we choose the people we like to talk to and be around? That's love with a bridle on it and you're pulling on the reins. Are there some people in church that we would rather not be around? That's bridled love. Here's a piece of scripture: Rom. 5:8-But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. His love was unbridled. He loved His enemies. He loved the ones that nailed Him to the cross and asked the Father to forgive them for what they were doing. I had to come face to face with the fact that I wasn't there, yet. However, I want unbridled revival so I have to walk into this unbridled love thing. Here are some steps that I took.
I don't know why I never have thought about, or ever heard a sermon about this very thing. God showed me that I was like the monkey with his hand in the jar. When the natives want to trap a monkey for dinner or just to capture it as a pet, they do it like this. They put a piece of fruit in a small mouth jar and tie it to a tree. The monkey comes along and smells his favorite fruit in the jar. He sticks his hand through the mouth of the jar that is barely big enough for him to squeeze his hand into. When he grabs the fruit and makes a fist, he cannot get his prize out of the jar. The natives are then free to saunter up to this monkey which is screaming at the top of his voice and thrashing around in great fear. But, he never lets go of the fruit. The native can stand there and watch him. He can laugh at him. He can jab him with a stick. He can scare him. He can tie him up. He can bash his brains out. He can watch the monkey as he does himself physical harm while he is thrashing around trying to get away from the native. The native can do anything he wants to and the monkey is as helpless as can be as long as he holds on to something he thinks he cannot do without. We are like that monkey. We think we just can't do without our grudge. We think we just can't do without harboring bad feeling toward somebody. We think we just have to hold on to our unforgiveness. And all the time, this native, i.e. the devil, can walk up to us and torment the stew out of us about things. He can keep us tore up with anger. He can keep us tore up with doubt and fear. He will stand there and torment us with ideas brought on by that root of bitterness (Heb 12:15) that we absolutely have to hold on to. We wind up doing more damage to ourselves before the devil kicks our brains out. It brings on destroyed fellowship and causes us to fret so much that we get sick.
When I saw that very good description of me, I decided to get rid of grudges, anger, and unforgiveness. I no longer wanted to be tormented and beat up. I let go of those feelings that I thought were normal and I just had to have. I have made a decision that if I was going to hold on to something, I was going to hold on to Jesus. Am I there yet? No, but I am well on my way.
You can't just let go of these things and leave your heart and emotions empty. You have to fill your heart, your mind and your emotions with Godly stuff. If you don't, the devil will see that your house is swept and clean and he will come back worse than ever. See Matt. 12:44 and 45.
In part two, I will share with you some things that I have found helpful in filling up my empty space. You are going to find that these things are so simple and easy that it will not be hard at all to implement them.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Praying for Muslims
Java Evangelism
We love to share Speedy's messages with you. On January 8th he wrote of Nawang bringing another young man to whom he was witnessing to Speedy for further instruction in the faith. Adho was reborn of the water and the Spirit that day. Speedy goes on to thank God and praying people for the good results being seen among the Bees of late.
A long time worker among the Bees recently wrote in a prayer guide that more Bees came to the Lord in Pleasant Port in 2011 than in all of Beeland in the previous 10 years. Whether that is totally accurate or not, we do know God is working because folk like you are praying; and folk like Speedy are faithfully sharing the Good News.
We would like to make a couple of tools available that can enhance your prayers for Muslims in Indonesia and elsewhere. There is a prayer movement encouraging concerted prayer for Muslims on their special day of worship, Friday. These guides will help you learn more about Muslim faith and practice. The suggested prayers will bless your prayer life. We have several booklets available and would be thrilled to mail you one. Send us your address and our forwarding agents will get one off to you. You can also access the material on-line (sharifbible.com). When you see Arabic writing that looks like hen-scratching to those of us who can't read it, be patient, scroll down the page and you will find a click-able table to access weekly prayer guides.
The good folk at Mission Services Association are printing and distributing copies of a prayer guide for the Bees revised by long term workers among them. Again please contact us for a booklet to be mailed to you. I hope we will be able to make some soft-copies available soon.
Thank you for praying. Prayer is the essential ministry. Activity is often the "mopping up" operation.
As you pray, please remember our efforts in Ambon. A missions course is planned for February. Our United for the Nations prayer times faces challenges in forming a solid core of prayer warriors. The holiday season set back our plans for an agricultural project among a neglected people group. We are starting an English Club for small children, pray that Muslim families will also participate. Ask God to give us wisdom. Ambon is currently in a state of guarded peace.
In Him,
Dennis and Lynn
We love to share Speedy's messages with you. On January 8th he wrote of Nawang bringing another young man to whom he was witnessing to Speedy for further instruction in the faith. Adho was reborn of the water and the Spirit that day. Speedy goes on to thank God and praying people for the good results being seen among the Bees of late.
A long time worker among the Bees recently wrote in a prayer guide that more Bees came to the Lord in Pleasant Port in 2011 than in all of Beeland in the previous 10 years. Whether that is totally accurate or not, we do know God is working because folk like you are praying; and folk like Speedy are faithfully sharing the Good News.
We would like to make a couple of tools available that can enhance your prayers for Muslims in Indonesia and elsewhere. There is a prayer movement encouraging concerted prayer for Muslims on their special day of worship, Friday. These guides will help you learn more about Muslim faith and practice. The suggested prayers will bless your prayer life. We have several booklets available and would be thrilled to mail you one. Send us your address and our forwarding agents will get one off to you. You can also access the material on-line (sharifbible.com). When you see Arabic writing that looks like hen-scratching to those of us who can't read it, be patient, scroll down the page and you will find a click-able table to access weekly prayer guides.
The good folk at Mission Services Association are printing and distributing copies of a prayer guide for the Bees revised by long term workers among them. Again please contact us for a booklet to be mailed to you. I hope we will be able to make some soft-copies available soon.
Thank you for praying. Prayer is the essential ministry. Activity is often the "mopping up" operation.
As you pray, please remember our efforts in Ambon. A missions course is planned for February. Our United for the Nations prayer times faces challenges in forming a solid core of prayer warriors. The holiday season set back our plans for an agricultural project among a neglected people group. We are starting an English Club for small children, pray that Muslim families will also participate. Ask God to give us wisdom. Ambon is currently in a state of guarded peace.
In Him,
Dennis and Lynn
Friday, January 13, 2012
Love and Pray for Your Enemies
Mt 5:44--But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Out of all the scriptures I have read, this one is the hardest to comprehend. Why would Jesus say to love, do good, and pray for people you would just as soon see shoveling coal (if you get my drift). All of us have people that, to us, seem to be anointed of some kind of god to cause us harm and not good. Or, to say it another way, they get their jollies out of hurting us in any and every way they can. I can see some reason in it. I don't really agree with it sometimes, but He is God and I am not. (Let all my enemies praise Him.)
It did not seem fair that Pharaoh chose to make slaves out of God's people. Surely that could not be the will of God for them. But, that is what God allowed. For one reason, (look it up if you feel you want to challenge me) God told Abraham that that is what would happen. But He also told Abraham that He would bring them out with great substance. He gave His Word that Abraham's children would indeed inhabit the promised land and that they would be rich when they did it. Well, where did their riches come from? Yes, their captors were made rich by their slavery. BUT, at God's appointed time, their captors became obedient to God and His Word. God said that they would come out so, God MADE them willing to let them go. God said that they would come out with great abundance so, God MADE them willing to give to the Hebrews their great wealth. So, in essence, their captors (enemies) were MADE to be obedient to the Word of God.
What about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ? It did not seem fair to beat, slander and crucify the Son of God. However, that was what God said needed to be done to redeem mankind. It did not scare Jesus because His mind was made up to "live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." That was God's Word/will for Him. In essence, the priests and Roman rulers at that particular point in time became unwitting servants of the most High God by beating and crucifying Jesus.
What Jesus was saying to love and pray for was that our enemies follow God's plan for YOUR life all the way. Did God destroy the slave-mongers and the religious biggots? Yes, because they had ample time to repent. Because of their ungodliness, God still showed them His grace and mercy towards His people. Yet, they refused to repent and continued on their evil ways. Did that stop God from carrying out His Word and raising Jesus from the dead? Nope. Did Jesus enter into a greater power realm with God? Yep. Read Hebrews 12:2. Jesus endured the cross and despised the shame because He had His eyes set on JOY. The joy He anticipated was what was going to happen AFTER the pain and suffering. The slave-mongers and religious biggots were just pawns in God's hands.
Did some repent to serve God? Yes, they did. Remember the soldier at the cross? Remember the thief who was hung with Jesus? Had Jesus never been willing to show love and compassion when He was being wronged, these, and others, would not have been saved. After all, it's not about you or me, it's about Him and the lost. If you don't meditate on anything else in this blog, meditate on that last sentence alone.
So, love and pray for your enemies. Pray that God would bless them real good. You might just get their gold. For sure, you'll get their goat when God brings YOU out of bondage and leaves them OUTSIDE of His blessings.
C'mon now. Shout and pass it on. You know you want to.
Out of all the scriptures I have read, this one is the hardest to comprehend. Why would Jesus say to love, do good, and pray for people you would just as soon see shoveling coal (if you get my drift). All of us have people that, to us, seem to be anointed of some kind of god to cause us harm and not good. Or, to say it another way, they get their jollies out of hurting us in any and every way they can. I can see some reason in it. I don't really agree with it sometimes, but He is God and I am not. (Let all my enemies praise Him.)
It did not seem fair that Pharaoh chose to make slaves out of God's people. Surely that could not be the will of God for them. But, that is what God allowed. For one reason, (look it up if you feel you want to challenge me) God told Abraham that that is what would happen. But He also told Abraham that He would bring them out with great substance. He gave His Word that Abraham's children would indeed inhabit the promised land and that they would be rich when they did it. Well, where did their riches come from? Yes, their captors were made rich by their slavery. BUT, at God's appointed time, their captors became obedient to God and His Word. God said that they would come out so, God MADE them willing to let them go. God said that they would come out with great abundance so, God MADE them willing to give to the Hebrews their great wealth. So, in essence, their captors (enemies) were MADE to be obedient to the Word of God.
What about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ? It did not seem fair to beat, slander and crucify the Son of God. However, that was what God said needed to be done to redeem mankind. It did not scare Jesus because His mind was made up to "live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." That was God's Word/will for Him. In essence, the priests and Roman rulers at that particular point in time became unwitting servants of the most High God by beating and crucifying Jesus.
What Jesus was saying to love and pray for was that our enemies follow God's plan for YOUR life all the way. Did God destroy the slave-mongers and the religious biggots? Yes, because they had ample time to repent. Because of their ungodliness, God still showed them His grace and mercy towards His people. Yet, they refused to repent and continued on their evil ways. Did that stop God from carrying out His Word and raising Jesus from the dead? Nope. Did Jesus enter into a greater power realm with God? Yep. Read Hebrews 12:2. Jesus endured the cross and despised the shame because He had His eyes set on JOY. The joy He anticipated was what was going to happen AFTER the pain and suffering. The slave-mongers and religious biggots were just pawns in God's hands.
Did some repent to serve God? Yes, they did. Remember the soldier at the cross? Remember the thief who was hung with Jesus? Had Jesus never been willing to show love and compassion when He was being wronged, these, and others, would not have been saved. After all, it's not about you or me, it's about Him and the lost. If you don't meditate on anything else in this blog, meditate on that last sentence alone.
So, love and pray for your enemies. Pray that God would bless them real good. You might just get their gold. For sure, you'll get their goat when God brings YOU out of bondage and leaves them OUTSIDE of His blessings.
C'mon now. Shout and pass it on. You know you want to.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Don't Let Today's Events Shape Your Future
We have just past the time of the year when our thoughts were turned to the Nativity. The songs we sang, our Christmas cards, our Christmas plays, the live Nativity scenes all reminded us that Jesus was born in a lowly stable. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger. That's exactly what the angel told the shepherds. We know that these shepherds came and worshipped Him. We know that a couple of years later, wise men came and worshipped Him. And yet, how many of those shepherds and wise men realized that before Jesus would be declared the King of kings as promised, He would go through three years of 'stinky town?'
At the age of twelve, Jesus spent three days in the temple at Jerusalem asking questions to the scribes and priests. They were amazed at His knowledge and questions. Yet, how many of them recognized Him as the Saviour of the world? How many of them realized that in just twenty years, this knowledge-hungry young man would be considered a criminal to be hunted down and slaughtered?
We know the end of the story and in a few months we will rejoice over His resurrection. As we read the New Testament, we know that all these things were prophesied about Him. We are content to read that the ugly things that happened to Jesus happened for a reason and eventually worked out for OUR good.
Consider the apostle Paul. When God knocked Paul off of his horse on the road to Damascus, He told Ananias to pray for Paul because Paul was going to carry the message of the gospel before kings. Before Paul ever got before the kings, he had to go through stonings, beatings, shipwrecks, prisons and had to run for his life on several occasions. Read through the book of Acts and you will find that Paul went through a lot of 'stinky towns.' However, he did not let these things take his eyes off of the promise of God that God and himself had 'set' before him. (See my previous blog.) As previously mentioned, Paul talks about rejoicing in the Lord always, giving God thanks in everything and living in a daily fellowship with the Father.
The single thing that kept Jesus and Paul on God's course for them is the same thing that will keep every successful Christian on course. They did not let the day's events shape their future. If we let the newspaper headlines be our gospel, then let's all get drunk and drop out of church. That seems prevalent, now doesn't it? What the events of today ought to make us do is make us take a long drink from the wells of salvation (Is. 12:3). The events of today ought to make us drop to our knees and boldly declare 'This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it' (Ps118:24).
We should get up enough nerve and tell the devil that he is not the lord of our lives and that God has great and wonderful things planned for him.
Finally, in Mt 16:33, Jesus told Peter to quit talking like the devil. In essence, Jesus was saying, "Don't try to keep me from my cross. My death on the cross doesn't shape my future. My obedience to my Father's will makes me WANT to go to the cross, this stinky town. Going through the cross I will get my thrill of destroying the devil's power for all mankind. That is my joy that my Father has set before me. I have set that as my joy also."
Let us do likewise. Get a hold of God's promises and SET them as your joy. Then, don't let anything that happens to you today, stop you from rejoicing about the outcome of God's Word. What God has spoken, He is faithful to do. Amen and Amen.
At the age of twelve, Jesus spent three days in the temple at Jerusalem asking questions to the scribes and priests. They were amazed at His knowledge and questions. Yet, how many of them recognized Him as the Saviour of the world? How many of them realized that in just twenty years, this knowledge-hungry young man would be considered a criminal to be hunted down and slaughtered?
We know the end of the story and in a few months we will rejoice over His resurrection. As we read the New Testament, we know that all these things were prophesied about Him. We are content to read that the ugly things that happened to Jesus happened for a reason and eventually worked out for OUR good.
Consider the apostle Paul. When God knocked Paul off of his horse on the road to Damascus, He told Ananias to pray for Paul because Paul was going to carry the message of the gospel before kings. Before Paul ever got before the kings, he had to go through stonings, beatings, shipwrecks, prisons and had to run for his life on several occasions. Read through the book of Acts and you will find that Paul went through a lot of 'stinky towns.' However, he did not let these things take his eyes off of the promise of God that God and himself had 'set' before him. (See my previous blog.) As previously mentioned, Paul talks about rejoicing in the Lord always, giving God thanks in everything and living in a daily fellowship with the Father.
The single thing that kept Jesus and Paul on God's course for them is the same thing that will keep every successful Christian on course. They did not let the day's events shape their future. If we let the newspaper headlines be our gospel, then let's all get drunk and drop out of church. That seems prevalent, now doesn't it? What the events of today ought to make us do is make us take a long drink from the wells of salvation (Is. 12:3). The events of today ought to make us drop to our knees and boldly declare 'This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it' (Ps118:24).
We should get up enough nerve and tell the devil that he is not the lord of our lives and that God has great and wonderful things planned for him.
Finally, in Mt 16:33, Jesus told Peter to quit talking like the devil. In essence, Jesus was saying, "Don't try to keep me from my cross. My death on the cross doesn't shape my future. My obedience to my Father's will makes me WANT to go to the cross, this stinky town. Going through the cross I will get my thrill of destroying the devil's power for all mankind. That is my joy that my Father has set before me. I have set that as my joy also."
Let us do likewise. Get a hold of God's promises and SET them as your joy. Then, don't let anything that happens to you today, stop you from rejoicing about the outcome of God's Word. What God has spoken, He is faithful to do. Amen and Amen.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Exodus--40 Years To Make A One Year's Journey
My daily Bible reading this morning was in 1 Corinthians the tenth chapter. You would do well to slowly read through it some time in relation to what I have been talking about. You could find out a lot of answers to the questions, "Are we there, yet" and "Why did we go this way?"
When they came out of Egypt, God said, move when the cloud moves and stay when the cloud stays. The cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night was God's way of leading His people from point A to point B. We know that they wandered for 40 years. A one year's journey took 40. Why? All two million plus of them doubted God could or would do it, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. Can you guess which of those two million people were the ONLY ones who got there? Caleb and Joshua. The rest of them died in that God-forsaken wilderness.
One of the things I have said in my previous blogs is that we need to set before us what God sets before us. Only two out of the two million did that. The rest of them doubted, slandered God and His leaders, rebelled against God's leadership, walked headlong into sin and wished that they were back in Egypt. God graciously provided all of them with the cloud by day for shelter from the sun and the fire by night to warm them in the cold desert nights. God graciously gave them all more than enough manna and quail to eat. Yet, two million failed to make it to the promised land that God had already prepared for them.
Think about it for a minute and recalibrate your faith, your hope and your joy as you ring in this new year. The promised land had been prepared already for them. God had been working on it for the four hundred years they were in bondage. For thirty-nine years, they could have been satisfied with the goodness of the most fertile land available. They could have been living in big houses inside of big cities. Their children could have had lots of room to play. But they didn't. Not because God was not God. It was because of their own doubts.
Caleb and Joshua set their hearts, souls and minds on God's promise. The others had their hearts set on doubts, complaining and how they could sin. Caleb and Joshua kept day-dreaming about the living in the land of more than enough. The others kept looking around them at their circumstances and found new reasons to complain, rebel and sin.
What are you going to do this new year? Are you going to be like the ones who missed it when they could have been enjoying it? What have you set your heart on? If you are one of those who make new year's resolutions? Then be resolute about God's promises. Set your heart, your soul and your mind on what He had promised you. Remember, His heart, mind and soul is already made up. He told us so in His Word.
May 2012 be filled with all the goodness of the Lord in all of our lives. My prayer is that revival spread like wildfire and that souls come flooding into the arms of the Lord.
When they came out of Egypt, God said, move when the cloud moves and stay when the cloud stays. The cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night was God's way of leading His people from point A to point B. We know that they wandered for 40 years. A one year's journey took 40. Why? All two million plus of them doubted God could or would do it, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. Can you guess which of those two million people were the ONLY ones who got there? Caleb and Joshua. The rest of them died in that God-forsaken wilderness.
One of the things I have said in my previous blogs is that we need to set before us what God sets before us. Only two out of the two million did that. The rest of them doubted, slandered God and His leaders, rebelled against God's leadership, walked headlong into sin and wished that they were back in Egypt. God graciously provided all of them with the cloud by day for shelter from the sun and the fire by night to warm them in the cold desert nights. God graciously gave them all more than enough manna and quail to eat. Yet, two million failed to make it to the promised land that God had already prepared for them.
Think about it for a minute and recalibrate your faith, your hope and your joy as you ring in this new year. The promised land had been prepared already for them. God had been working on it for the four hundred years they were in bondage. For thirty-nine years, they could have been satisfied with the goodness of the most fertile land available. They could have been living in big houses inside of big cities. Their children could have had lots of room to play. But they didn't. Not because God was not God. It was because of their own doubts.
Caleb and Joshua set their hearts, souls and minds on God's promise. The others had their hearts set on doubts, complaining and how they could sin. Caleb and Joshua kept day-dreaming about the living in the land of more than enough. The others kept looking around them at their circumstances and found new reasons to complain, rebel and sin.
What are you going to do this new year? Are you going to be like the ones who missed it when they could have been enjoying it? What have you set your heart on? If you are one of those who make new year's resolutions? Then be resolute about God's promises. Set your heart, your soul and your mind on what He had promised you. Remember, His heart, mind and soul is already made up. He told us so in His Word.
May 2012 be filled with all the goodness of the Lord in all of our lives. My prayer is that revival spread like wildfire and that souls come flooding into the arms of the Lord.
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