Eternal life-Do you seek it? The Rick Young Ruler did in Mark 10:17-22. The Bible states, this young man came "running" and "knelt" down before Him (Jesus). This young man wanted religion. He wanted church membership. He wanted to be accepted into the party. He wanted Eternal Life-a life lasting forever. The words this man used shows us something of his heart, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life" This young man was full of legalism-a system of works. Works can never make us holy nor gives us eternal life. Eternal life is not about something we do but about someone who Is. Eternal life is Christ alone.
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."John 17:3
"That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:15
"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." John 10:26-28
"And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11
"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 1John 5:13
"And we now that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may now Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20
Have you entrusted your entire spiritual well being to Christ? Have you laid yourself, your works, your good deeds upon His alter? Surrender to His Lordship today.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Oswald Chambers Quotes
But You O LORD are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts my head.
Psalm 3:3
Thought I would share a handful of Oswald Chambers quotes this morning. Hope all have a God filled day!
The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of a personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is salvation Himself. Jesus is the gospel of God.
Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not. But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.
In the beginning Moses had realized that he was the one to deliver the people, but he had to be trained and disciplined by God first. He was right in his individual perspective, but he was not the person for the work until he had learned true fellowship and oneness with God.
Our Lord's primary obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of people-the saving of people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father.
The secret of a disciple's life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of that life is its seeming insignificance and its meekness. Yet it is like a grain of wheat that "falls in the ground and dies"-it will spring up and change the entire landscape.
Our Lord's primary obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of people-the saving of people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father.
The secret of a disciple's life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of that life is its seeming insignificance and its meekness. Yet it is like a grain of wheat that "falls in the ground and dies"-it will spring up and change the entire landscape.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Creature Comforts and Me
Who knew creature comforts and routine were so important to me! But man, I am out of my routine this morning. I slept in a small bed and woke to "Dog the Bounty Hunter". Have you ever tried to have prayer/quiet time with the "Dog" in the background? Maybe at my house God would win but this morning "Dog" was the winner. I guess I am blogging right now because I feel lost in this environment. You see my parents do not know Christ. We have no point of reference or common ground in our daily walk together.
"Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them, they have no delight in it." Jer 6:10b
I know many of you are in the same situation, either you are married to an unbelieving man, live at home with unbelieving parents, or God has called you out to the mission field. The common ground among the three is unbelieving souls and darkness. This home is my mission field for the next two days. For me to survive and be a light in this darkness, I must not "float" along spiritually. It would be easy to sleep in, watch the tube, and veg but what a miserable place my soul would be, for I have tasted and seen that my LORD is good!.
So here is the plan, to find a sanctuary-a place set aside for me and the Lord to meet each morning. To purposely locate the place and plan to meet there before anyone else is up. That is what I do at home, so why would it be different here? In reality it should be all the more important here.
"You have made known to me the ways of life: You will make me full of joy in Your presence. Acts 2:28
So here is my encouragement to you all-find your sanctuary. Find a quiet place to pray, read and draw strength from the Lord. Find a place even if that means waking very early to meet with your God. My parents need the Lord. I cannot allow the "Dog" to crowd Christ out of my life.
The power of Christ comes in our life, when we spend quality time in His presence! It is the light of Christ that pushed back the darkness. "He (Holy Spirit) will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement. He will guide you into all truth." John 16
Happy Thanksgiving!
"Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them, they have no delight in it." Jer 6:10b
I know many of you are in the same situation, either you are married to an unbelieving man, live at home with unbelieving parents, or God has called you out to the mission field. The common ground among the three is unbelieving souls and darkness. This home is my mission field for the next two days. For me to survive and be a light in this darkness, I must not "float" along spiritually. It would be easy to sleep in, watch the tube, and veg but what a miserable place my soul would be, for I have tasted and seen that my LORD is good!.
So here is the plan, to find a sanctuary-a place set aside for me and the Lord to meet each morning. To purposely locate the place and plan to meet there before anyone else is up. That is what I do at home, so why would it be different here? In reality it should be all the more important here.
"You have made known to me the ways of life: You will make me full of joy in Your presence. Acts 2:28
So here is my encouragement to you all-find your sanctuary. Find a quiet place to pray, read and draw strength from the Lord. Find a place even if that means waking very early to meet with your God. My parents need the Lord. I cannot allow the "Dog" to crowd Christ out of my life.
The power of Christ comes in our life, when we spend quality time in His presence! It is the light of Christ that pushed back the darkness. "He (Holy Spirit) will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement. He will guide you into all truth." John 16
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Pride or Humility
Even if all are made to stumble because of You,
I will never be made to stumble.
Matt. 26:33
Pretty arrogant statement on Peter's part and if we think about it we are really no different than Peter at times in our life. It seems Peter was overzealous and always putting his foot in his mouth. Overconfidence in our self always leads to pride. Luke 22:33-34 Peter states, "Lord I am ready to go with you, both to prison and death.." And as we know in Scripture, when the heat was put upon Peter he ran and denied Christ.
Scripture tells us in many places that "pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Prov. 16:18-19
Our pride will bring us embarrassment , because it will take us places we never intended to go. Pride will keep you from God. No mortal man can stand before His throne. Pride will keep you from bowing your knee. Pride will keep you from praying. Pride will destroy families and friends. And if you are a child of God, pride will find you out. You will not be able to hide for empty boats floats high but heavily laden vessels are low in the water. (Charles Spurgeon)
It takes humility to bow before the throne of God. It takes humility to be vulnerable before others. If I am honest before God, He extends His hand of mercy and forgiveness. When my heart is forgiven and clean before my Creator the opinions of man are of no longer importance.
The humble in spirit will retain honor. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way...
Child of God, will you bow your knee to fall before the Prince of Peace? Will you cry out for God to show and take from your heart every form of pride? Now it is going to hurt. Somethings will be brought to your mind and you will have a choice to surrender. Other times you will walk, trip, and fall but God's grace is available for both. We must be humble, confess our sin, and look to the cross. Ask God to awaken the depths of humility in your heart so you will be open to His light and Holy Spirit.
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes. And I have walked in Your truth. Psalm 26:2-3
Scripture tells us in many places that "pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Prov. 16:18-19
Our pride will bring us embarrassment , because it will take us places we never intended to go. Pride will keep you from God. No mortal man can stand before His throne. Pride will keep you from bowing your knee. Pride will keep you from praying. Pride will destroy families and friends. And if you are a child of God, pride will find you out. You will not be able to hide for empty boats floats high but heavily laden vessels are low in the water. (Charles Spurgeon)
It takes humility to bow before the throne of God. It takes humility to be vulnerable before others. If I am honest before God, He extends His hand of mercy and forgiveness. When my heart is forgiven and clean before my Creator the opinions of man are of no longer importance.
The humble in spirit will retain honor. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way...
Child of God, will you bow your knee to fall before the Prince of Peace? Will you cry out for God to show and take from your heart every form of pride? Now it is going to hurt. Somethings will be brought to your mind and you will have a choice to surrender. Other times you will walk, trip, and fall but God's grace is available for both. We must be humble, confess our sin, and look to the cross. Ask God to awaken the depths of humility in your heart so you will be open to His light and Holy Spirit.
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes. And I have walked in Your truth. Psalm 26:2-3
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Your Life Story
Priscilla Shirer shares in the Bible study, "Jonah" these words. "Your life is God's story being told and His character being displayed. This thought has made me stop and think about my life. Priscilla goes on to ask these following questions. How does your life read? What is your life telling others about the God you serve? As a result of your decisions, do they get to see Christ displayed in His best light? Have you ever thought about these things?
The different people recorded in the Bible are real people living real lives just like you and me. Maybe our lives will not be journaled in a book for others to see, but people are watching now. A story is being told. The question is...Who's story? Your story or God's story?
Do you see God' sovereignty in your life? Do you see God's hand of grace writing paragraphs in each chapter of your life? Would you take time this week as we approach Thanksgiving to think about these thoughts? Our life and blessings are really not about us at all. They are about the eternal God who has called us out of darkness into light, to display His mercy, grace, and glory. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Christ Jesus and this gave Him great pleasure. Eph 1:5 As each chapter of our life is being written, God's hand must be seen. In our chapters of sin and rebellion and in our season of grace and forgiveness, God's hand is weaving the story. It is a beautiful story of God's grace, mercy and love. It is all about God. I forget this truth many times and turn my life about me, my wants and desires. May God forgive us and open our eyes to His hand upon our life. May He open our eyes to His hand writing the story.
As we meet with family and friends this week, let's consider whether God has the title role in the story of our lives. Let's consider whether He is the main character. Our lives reveal what we believe about Him. Our lives reveal whom we trust. I pray the world sees His true character through us. Surrender your hearts and lives today. May God's story go down in history!
The different people recorded in the Bible are real people living real lives just like you and me. Maybe our lives will not be journaled in a book for others to see, but people are watching now. A story is being told. The question is...Who's story? Your story or God's story?
Do you see God' sovereignty in your life? Do you see God's hand of grace writing paragraphs in each chapter of your life? Would you take time this week as we approach Thanksgiving to think about these thoughts? Our life and blessings are really not about us at all. They are about the eternal God who has called us out of darkness into light, to display His mercy, grace, and glory. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Christ Jesus and this gave Him great pleasure. Eph 1:5 As each chapter of our life is being written, God's hand must be seen. In our chapters of sin and rebellion and in our season of grace and forgiveness, God's hand is weaving the story. It is a beautiful story of God's grace, mercy and love. It is all about God. I forget this truth many times and turn my life about me, my wants and desires. May God forgive us and open our eyes to His hand upon our life. May He open our eyes to His hand writing the story.
As we meet with family and friends this week, let's consider whether God has the title role in the story of our lives. Let's consider whether He is the main character. Our lives reveal what we believe about Him. Our lives reveal whom we trust. I pray the world sees His true character through us. Surrender your hearts and lives today. May God's story go down in history!
Spurgeon Devotion
Sunday, November 21, 2010
This Morning's Meditation
C. H. Spurgeon
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit."—Ephesians 4:30.
LL that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all blessings thus flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of you in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious act, apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if the good seed be sown in you, yet it lies dormant except He worketh in you to will and to do of His own good pleasure. Do you desire to speak for Jesus—how can you unless the Holy Ghost touch your tongue? Do you desire to pray? Alas! what dull work it is unless the Spirit maketh intercession for you! Do you desire to subdue sin? Would you be holy? Would you imitate your Master? Do you desire to rise to superlative heights of spirituality? Are you wanting to be made like the angels of God, full of zeal and ardour for the Master's cause? You cannot without the Spirit—"Without me ye can do nothing." O branch of the vine, thou canst have no fruit without the sap! O child of God, thou hast no life within thee apart from the life which God gives thee through His Spirit! Then let us not grieve Him or provoke Him to anger by our sin. Let us not quench Him in one of His faintest motions in our soul; let us foster every suggestion, and be ready to obey every prompting. If the Holy Spirit be indeed so mighty, let us attempt nothing without Him; let us begin no project, and carry on no enterprise, and conclude no transaction, without imploring His blessing. Let us do Him the due homage of feeling our entire weakness apart from Him, and then depending alone upon Him, having this for our prayer, "Open Thou my heart and my whole being to Thine incoming, and uphold me with Thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in my inward parts." 
Friday, November 19, 2010
♫ "Christmas Offering" - Casting Crowns ♫
Just wanted to share this song. I know it is not a new song but it is powerful to me. So enjoy!
Be Faithful
As I read this morning and pondered my day yesterday, I ran across something interesting in the book of Matthew. Read Matthew 25:14-30. This is the parable of the "Talents". This parable is sandwich between the second coming of Christ and the judgment of Christ. I don't know Bible history to know if this is the way it was lined out in the original text but I am going to pretend it is. (Someone out there in blog land can let me know-please)
I notice in the passages before Matthew 25,"Parable of the Talents", we are told to look for Christ's return--"Watch for you do not know the hour your Lord is coming." After the parable of the "Talent" is the judgement--"All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats"
Let's look at the parable:
Each person has natural abilities and special gifting from the Father. We are each given different levels of responsibilities toward His kingdom work. All He calls us to do is be faithful in what He has given us. If you can preach, be faithful and do it. If you can give, be faithful and do it. If you can extend mercy, be faithful and do it. If you can teach, be faithful and do it. Faithfulness is the key here. Notice in the passage one man is given five talents and one man is given two talents but each man received exactly the same reward, indicating that the reward is based on faithfulness and not results.
We are to be faithful with the call God has placed on our life as we look for His return knowing we will hear these words, "Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."
There was one more thing I noticed...In chapter 26, after Jesus shares the plot of His Crucifixion...Mary sweet Mary comes with the costly oil to pour out upon her Jesus. Notice what the disciples did (not the scribes and pharisees) in Matthew 26:8-9."But when His disciples saw it,they were indignant, saying, "why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor."
Do you see it? We are to be faithful to the Lord in which He has gifted us as we await for His return. We are to be devoted to Him as Mary was as she poured the fragrant oil upon Him. Friends do you want to be faithful? Pour your life out upon Christ. Put your devotion upon Him. Be faithful to Him. It is Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit that produces fruit in your life. Yes, the world and even God's own people may question...but in the end, may Christ find you and me faithful!
I notice in the passages before Matthew 25,"Parable of the Talents", we are told to look for Christ's return--"Watch for you do not know the hour your Lord is coming." After the parable of the "Talent" is the judgement--"All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats"
Let's look at the parable:
Each person has natural abilities and special gifting from the Father. We are each given different levels of responsibilities toward His kingdom work. All He calls us to do is be faithful in what He has given us. If you can preach, be faithful and do it. If you can give, be faithful and do it. If you can extend mercy, be faithful and do it. If you can teach, be faithful and do it. Faithfulness is the key here. Notice in the passage one man is given five talents and one man is given two talents but each man received exactly the same reward, indicating that the reward is based on faithfulness and not results.
We are to be faithful with the call God has placed on our life as we look for His return knowing we will hear these words, "Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."
There was one more thing I noticed...In chapter 26, after Jesus shares the plot of His Crucifixion...Mary sweet Mary comes with the costly oil to pour out upon her Jesus. Notice what the disciples did (not the scribes and pharisees) in Matthew 26:8-9."But when His disciples saw it,they were indignant, saying, "why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor."
Do you see it? We are to be faithful to the Lord in which He has gifted us as we await for His return. We are to be devoted to Him as Mary was as she poured the fragrant oil upon Him. Friends do you want to be faithful? Pour your life out upon Christ. Put your devotion upon Him. Be faithful to Him. It is Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit that produces fruit in your life. Yes, the world and even God's own people may question...but in the end, may Christ find you and me faithful!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Are You In?
Tonight's message was worthy of note taking and I took several pages. As I filter through these notes I think they are worthy to share along with my many questions and thoughts. The first part is something I long to understand and desire the skills to apply. The speaker touched on discipleship-pouring your life into someone and then the person pours their life into someone else. To reproduce ourselves - actually Christ into an others life. I have attempted this many times but since I have no example for myself, I feel I am just treading water. You cannot take someone further than what you understand.
The passage of the message was Luke 9:57-62. "Are we all in?" Have we let go of our very life to follow Christ? Have we truly surrendered to Him? Surrender means yield to the power of another. Have you completely yielded to the power of Christ? Do not look to others in comparison to see how you are doing but look to God's Word, it is the standard of perfection. God know our hearts. He looks past our words into our hearts. Yes-would be an easy answer but I believe for me to get to this place of total abandonment - it is going to take some wrestling with God as Jacob did. My flesh keeps crawling off the alter. It does not want to die.
I am thankful we are not left to our own devises in dealing with our flesh. "I have been crucified with Christ , it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." God has given us a deposit of our inheritance - the Holy Spirit. He lives inside us and He convicts of sin and He gives the power to overcome the flesh.
Friend be willing to lay down your life, God by the Holy Spirit will enable you to crucify the flesh and live an abundant life!
The passage of the message was Luke 9:57-62. "Are we all in?" Have we let go of our very life to follow Christ? Have we truly surrendered to Him? Surrender means yield to the power of another. Have you completely yielded to the power of Christ? Do not look to others in comparison to see how you are doing but look to God's Word, it is the standard of perfection. God know our hearts. He looks past our words into our hearts. Yes-would be an easy answer but I believe for me to get to this place of total abandonment - it is going to take some wrestling with God as Jacob did. My flesh keeps crawling off the alter. It does not want to die.
I am thankful we are not left to our own devises in dealing with our flesh. "I have been crucified with Christ , it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." God has given us a deposit of our inheritance - the Holy Spirit. He lives inside us and He convicts of sin and He gives the power to overcome the flesh.
Friend be willing to lay down your life, God by the Holy Spirit will enable you to crucify the flesh and live an abundant life!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Jesus My Everything??
I have a question running through my mind this evening. I think it is a great question to ask. At first glance the answer would be yes. How many of us ask a question, give a quick answer and move on with our lives? The Bible teaches us something different. We are to ask God to search and know our hearts. We are to lay a question before Him. We are to ask if our lives are lining up to the truth of His Word. When the answer comes we need to be obedient as James 1:22-25 explains:
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."
When you walk past a mirror and notice chocolate on your face or bleach on your shirt, you immediately stop and try to remove the stain. This is how it should be in our spiritual lives. The Bible teaches that obedience brings freedom and blessings. God's Word is our mirror. As we read, He shows us the sin in our lives. The Holy Spirit becomes our wash cloth as we agree and confess our sin. By His Spirit, we are washed clean.
So here is the question, I am laying out before the Lord..."Is Jesus my everything?" This thought and conviction came as I worshipped in song tonight. As I pondered this question and looked intently into the Word, I have my answer-"no". Would you do the same? Jesus gave His life for all of us - for me. Why is it so difficult for me to give my all to Him? Pray for me and with me as we go through this week. I do desire Jesus to be my everything. As I pray, read, and confess I am confident "He who began a good work in me will complete it to the end:!
.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."
When you walk past a mirror and notice chocolate on your face or bleach on your shirt, you immediately stop and try to remove the stain. This is how it should be in our spiritual lives. The Bible teaches that obedience brings freedom and blessings. God's Word is our mirror. As we read, He shows us the sin in our lives. The Holy Spirit becomes our wash cloth as we agree and confess our sin. By His Spirit, we are washed clean.
So here is the question, I am laying out before the Lord..."Is Jesus my everything?" This thought and conviction came as I worshipped in song tonight. As I pondered this question and looked intently into the Word, I have my answer-"no". Would you do the same? Jesus gave His life for all of us - for me. Why is it so difficult for me to give my all to Him? Pray for me and with me as we go through this week. I do desire Jesus to be my everything. As I pray, read, and confess I am confident "He who began a good work in me will complete it to the end:!
.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Broken Pots
A broken clay pot sits on my shelve in the kitchen as a visual reminder of what the Lord desires from me-from us - brokenness. This pot was once used as a drinking vessel in Egypt, given to me by a dear friend. Through the years it has fallen, cracked, and broken into pieces. A perfect picture of what our life should be before the Lord. I have heard it said, "God will not give us more than we can handle" but I think I disagree. God will allow things to come into our life to break us. To break us from our sinful desires and pleasures. To break the selfishness and break through our cold hard hearts. If we are never broken, we can never be fixed and never used as a vessel in God's hands.
Brokenness, brokenness is what I want
Brokenness is what I need
Brokenness is what YOU want from me
Take my heart and form it
Take my mind and transform it
Take my will conform it to YOURS
To YOURS, To YOURS oh LORD
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
This word brokenhearted means to burst, to crush, to destroy. If your heart is bursting open, hemorrhaging as you read this blog, know I have been there as well. I am sorry for your pain, and I pray you will cry out to the God who understands your pain. You see our life can be compared to the water pot in my kitchen. It was doing it own thing, holding water for people. Then circumstances came and crushed the pot. The pot will need to look to its maker to make it whole again.
We must do the same. We must look to our Maker. We must give Him our pain. When we cry out to Christ Jesus, He is faithful to draw near. He takes His nail scarred hand and covers our bleeding heart. Only His hand can stop the bleeding. He bandages up those wounds. He is the lifter of our head. He puts us in a place where our feet will not slip. He cradles us in His arms. He collects our tears. He loves You dearly and understands all the pain.
In time when your heart is healed, when you have been whole and new by your Maker. He will fill You afresh with the Living Water to be poured out as a refreshment to others.
Jesus keep us broken and dependant upon YOU!
Andrew Murray Devotion
This is a devotion from the book, "Teach Me To Pray-Andrew Murray"
Intercession for Individual Souls
Yet the time will come when the LORD will gather
them together one by one like handpicked grain. Isaiah 27:12
Many individual believers do not understand that it is necessary for them to testify to others in order to strengthen their own spiritual lives as well as to bring others to Christ. Intercession for those around us, and for the church and its mission, needs restoration to its right place in the Christian life!
Prayer is indispensable to what God in heaven desires to do on earth. Intercession is the main element in the conversion of souls. All our efforts are in vain without the power of the Holy Spirit given in answer to prayer. When ministers and people unite in a covenant of prayer and testimony, the Church will flourish.
What can we do to stir up the spirit of intercession? Begin to get an insight into the need and the power of intercession. Intercede on behalf of single individuals. Pray for your children, your relatives, friend, and for all with whom you come into contact. If you feel you don't have power to intercede, ask the Holy Spirit for that power. God wants every redeemed child of His to intercede for those who do not know Him.
Pray fervently that God will give you the power of His Holy Spirit for this ministry of intercession.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A Tube of Heart
"In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19
Have you ever heard yourself talk? Have you ever listened really listened to words coming out of your mouth? I had the awesome privilege of seeing this verse (Prov. 10:19) played out in my life this morning. I know you are thinking,"she held her lips, she is so wise!" Ya right! I think you will understand what I mean by a privilege as this blog rolls along.
Look at Matthew 15:11
"Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man,
but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
Guys, our words reveal our heart.
Take this illustration, You want to brush your teeth.
You grab the toothpaste and begin to squeeze.
What comes out of the tube?
Toothpaste, correct!
Why did toothpaste come out of the tube?
Because that is what is in the tube.
What ever is inside the tube must come out.
If it was a tube of steroid cream and you squeezed it..steroid cream would come out.
Do you understand that? You see my friends, when words come out of our mouths they reveal what is deep within our hearts. So let me ask you, When you are squeezed with the pressures of this life, what comes out of your mouth?
I have noticed in my life it is the small irritations that reveal my true heart. In my case it is usually people related and that was the case this morning. As I was sharing with a friend some concerns I see, I had an opportunity to listen to my words. The more I talked the more I saw the ugliness of the words and instantly knew my heart was in need of repentance.
"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death." 2 Corinthians 7:10
Now we are starting to see why I believe this morning was a privilege. God choose to convict my heart with the truth of His word. He did not leave me in my state of sin. God in His great grace and mercy allowed me to hear my heart through my words.
So I ask you today...please listen to your words. Know the words coming from your mouth are revealing your heart. Bow your knee to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and remember the words of 1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Have you ever heard yourself talk? Have you ever listened really listened to words coming out of your mouth? I had the awesome privilege of seeing this verse (Prov. 10:19) played out in my life this morning. I know you are thinking,"she held her lips, she is so wise!" Ya right! I think you will understand what I mean by a privilege as this blog rolls along.
Look at Matthew 15:11
"Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man,
but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
Guys, our words reveal our heart.
Take this illustration, You want to brush your teeth.
You grab the toothpaste and begin to squeeze.
What comes out of the tube?
Toothpaste, correct!
Why did toothpaste come out of the tube?
Because that is what is in the tube.
What ever is inside the tube must come out.
If it was a tube of steroid cream and you squeezed it..steroid cream would come out.
Do you understand that? You see my friends, when words come out of our mouths they reveal what is deep within our hearts. So let me ask you, When you are squeezed with the pressures of this life, what comes out of your mouth?
I have noticed in my life it is the small irritations that reveal my true heart. In my case it is usually people related and that was the case this morning. As I was sharing with a friend some concerns I see, I had an opportunity to listen to my words. The more I talked the more I saw the ugliness of the words and instantly knew my heart was in need of repentance.
"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death." 2 Corinthians 7:10
Now we are starting to see why I believe this morning was a privilege. God choose to convict my heart with the truth of His word. He did not leave me in my state of sin. God in His great grace and mercy allowed me to hear my heart through my words.
So I ask you today...please listen to your words. Know the words coming from your mouth are revealing your heart. Bow your knee to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and remember the words of 1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Revival
I don't think I have ever heard a Casting Crowns song I did not like! Look at these words.
If We've Ever Needed You
Hear our cry, Lord, we pray
Our faces down, our hands are raised
You called us out, we turned away
We've turned away
With shipwrecked faith the idols rise
We do what is right in our own eyes
Our children now will pay the price
We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light
If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out
All our hearts, all our strength
With all our minds, we're at Your feet
May Your kingdom come in our hearts and lives
Let Your church arise, let Your church arise
If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out
We're reaching out
If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out
If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, reaching out
We need You now
Revive us now
We need You now
This song is on my heart as I think of our scheduled revival this month. Man may prepare and pray for revival but true revival is the work of a sovereign God. Revival comes when Christians are longing for God and God alone. Brian Edwards' gives a definition of revival in his book, "Revival A People Saturated With God"
"A true Holy Spirit revival is a remarkable increase in the spiritual life of a large number of God's people, accompanied by an awesome awareness of the presence of God, intensity of prayer and praise, a deep conviction of sin with a passionate longing for holiness and unusual effectiveness in evangelism leading to the salvation of many unbelievers."
How I long to see this happen in America. Let's prepare our hearts and pray. May God rend the heavens and come down.
"Restore us again, O God our Savior
and put away your displeasure towards us.
Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that Your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
and grant us Your salvation. Ps 85:4-7
If We've Ever Needed You
Hear our cry, Lord, we pray
Our faces down, our hands are raised
You called us out, we turned away
We've turned away
With shipwrecked faith the idols rise
We do what is right in our own eyes
Our children now will pay the price
We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light
If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out
All our hearts, all our strength
With all our minds, we're at Your feet
May Your kingdom come in our hearts and lives
Let Your church arise, let Your church arise
If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out
We're reaching out
If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out
If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, reaching out
We need You now
Revive us now
We need You now
This song is on my heart as I think of our scheduled revival this month. Man may prepare and pray for revival but true revival is the work of a sovereign God. Revival comes when Christians are longing for God and God alone. Brian Edwards' gives a definition of revival in his book, "Revival A People Saturated With God"
"A true Holy Spirit revival is a remarkable increase in the spiritual life of a large number of God's people, accompanied by an awesome awareness of the presence of God, intensity of prayer and praise, a deep conviction of sin with a passionate longing for holiness and unusual effectiveness in evangelism leading to the salvation of many unbelievers."
How I long to see this happen in America. Let's prepare our hearts and pray. May God rend the heavens and come down.
"Restore us again, O God our Savior
and put away your displeasure towards us.
Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that Your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
and grant us Your salvation. Ps 85:4-7
A Life of Faith
I am reading a biography on the life of George Muller. Mr. Muller was an incredible man of faith. He was responsible for the care of thousand of orphans in Bristol, England in the 1800's. and he never asked another person for financial help in this endeavor. He went to God for the every need and God always provided. Through the many trials and testings God walked Mr. Mueller through, he was able to learn and trust God's amazing character. George Muller learned God is faithful. This did not come easy in Mr. Muller life.
It appears by reading the book, Mr. Muller was just an ordinary sinful man, saved by radical grace and as He walked each step with his Lord, His faith grew and he was able to trust his God more and more. One characteristic I see of Mr. Muller is he was a man of believing prayer in connection with the Word of God. I don't believe Mr. Muller woke one day and decided he would be fully dependant upon the Lord. I believe it happened slowly as God began to reveal Himself through His word and prayer. As George Muller spent hours in prayer and in God's word, he heart began to soar and faith was being built. As the many trials came, he turned to prayer and the word and God increased his faith and answered his prayers.
As Mr. Muller continued walking with His God, he began to look to God instead of men to give him spiritual direction as well as to provide for his physical needs. This is the first step toward a life of trust.
"The real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character must be proven as trustworthy in our own minds." Oswalt Chambers Our faith must be tested and tried. It is very easy to say I trust God when the mortgage is paid and food is on the table, when the children are young and walking under our authority, when our health is good or when our friends and family are surrounding us with their love. But when we are hungry or in George Muller case, when all money and food is gone, are we able to go to God, ask Him to provide and know He will? I tend to go to God, ask for my need, then walk away and make it happen. This is not a life of faith.
Do you want to walk a life of faith? Begin by increasing your time in prayer and in God's word. Take His promises at face value. Believe them, pray them, mediate upon them. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
It appears by reading the book, Mr. Muller was just an ordinary sinful man, saved by radical grace and as He walked each step with his Lord, His faith grew and he was able to trust his God more and more. One characteristic I see of Mr. Muller is he was a man of believing prayer in connection with the Word of God. I don't believe Mr. Muller woke one day and decided he would be fully dependant upon the Lord. I believe it happened slowly as God began to reveal Himself through His word and prayer. As George Muller spent hours in prayer and in God's word, he heart began to soar and faith was being built. As the many trials came, he turned to prayer and the word and God increased his faith and answered his prayers.
As Mr. Muller continued walking with His God, he began to look to God instead of men to give him spiritual direction as well as to provide for his physical needs. This is the first step toward a life of trust.
"The real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character must be proven as trustworthy in our own minds." Oswalt Chambers Our faith must be tested and tried. It is very easy to say I trust God when the mortgage is paid and food is on the table, when the children are young and walking under our authority, when our health is good or when our friends and family are surrounding us with their love. But when we are hungry or in George Muller case, when all money and food is gone, are we able to go to God, ask Him to provide and know He will? I tend to go to God, ask for my need, then walk away and make it happen. This is not a life of faith.
Do you want to walk a life of faith? Begin by increasing your time in prayer and in God's word. Take His promises at face value. Believe them, pray them, mediate upon them. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Monday, November 1, 2010
Desperate
Wow I went to bed last night with a melancholy heart and confusion in my mind. Thankfully I have lived long enough to know when I feel this way at night, I must go to bed to rest and deal with it all in the morning. We find a promise in Lamentations 3:22 "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion's fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Yes, when I awoke this morning...the melancholy was still showing its ugly face, but I was fresh and with the promise of God's mercies being new, I think I am ready to face my problem.
Friends, how desperate are you for God, not necessary how desperate are you for God to change you.or your circumstances but how desperate are you for God Himself?. How desperate are you to experience His manifested presence in your life? How desperate are you to used of God, for His living waters of life to flow out through you to a lost and dying world? If you are in a time of spiritual dryness, confusion, and melancholy, again God's word has the answer.
"I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word." Ps. 119:147
I get myself out of bed! Let's lay legalism aside and think this through. "I rise before the dawning of the morning." Temptation was great this morning to sleep through the alarm. I anticipated it would be since I went to sleep so blah. I could have justified staying in bed and spending time with the Lord later in the day, after all I don't want to be legalistic about this. But there are many Scriptures that address this same issue, to rise before the break of day to seek God's face. So let's be obedient and move on.
Now that I am up, it is time to sit at Christ's feet and cry out for His help. But here is the problem, many of us cry out for help and then we walk away to begin our day. I know the day must start at some point but I also know it takes time for our hearts to settle down to be quiet enough to hear the Lord speak. So what we need to do is wait. To sit at Christ's feet, to read His word, to be desperate enough that we are not leaving until our hearts are one with His.
Let's look at Psalm 123:1-2 "Unto You I lift my eyes,
O You, who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to
the hand of their masters.
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the LORD our God,
Until He has mercy on us."
Sometimes this will take weeks for God to break through our cold hard hearts, so come each day and allow yourself a little more time in His presence. He will break through but again I ask how desperate are you for Him.
Since this blog is getting lengthy, let's look at a couple more passages and then call it a day. Mark 7:24-30.
One more passage, then we quit. Luke 18:1-8
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” "
Friend God hears and will answer our cry. The question is - Are you desperate enough to cry out and WAIT upon Him?
Friends, how desperate are you for God, not necessary how desperate are you for God to change you.or your circumstances but how desperate are you for God Himself?. How desperate are you to experience His manifested presence in your life? How desperate are you to used of God, for His living waters of life to flow out through you to a lost and dying world? If you are in a time of spiritual dryness, confusion, and melancholy, again God's word has the answer.
"I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word." Ps. 119:147
I get myself out of bed! Let's lay legalism aside and think this through. "I rise before the dawning of the morning." Temptation was great this morning to sleep through the alarm. I anticipated it would be since I went to sleep so blah. I could have justified staying in bed and spending time with the Lord later in the day, after all I don't want to be legalistic about this. But there are many Scriptures that address this same issue, to rise before the break of day to seek God's face. So let's be obedient and move on.
Now that I am up, it is time to sit at Christ's feet and cry out for His help. But here is the problem, many of us cry out for help and then we walk away to begin our day. I know the day must start at some point but I also know it takes time for our hearts to settle down to be quiet enough to hear the Lord speak. So what we need to do is wait. To sit at Christ's feet, to read His word, to be desperate enough that we are not leaving until our hearts are one with His.
Let's look at Psalm 123:1-2 "Unto You I lift my eyes,
O You, who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to
the hand of their masters.
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the LORD our God,
Until He has mercy on us."
Sometimes this will take weeks for God to break through our cold hard hearts, so come each day and allow yourself a little more time in His presence. He will break through but again I ask how desperate are you for Him.
Since this blog is getting lengthy, let's look at a couple more passages and then call it a day. Mark 7:24-30.
"Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone".
In this passage a Gentile woman is coming to Jesus to heal her child. She is desperate for this child and will not leave Jesus alone until He grants her request. Macarthur says, "this indicative of the woman's humble faith and worshipful attitude. She knew she was sinful and undeserving of any of God's blessing. Her response was characterized by a complete absence of pride and self-reliance, which Jesus answered by granting her request." One more passage, then we quit. Luke 18:1-8
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” "
Friend God hears and will answer our cry. The question is - Are you desperate enough to cry out and WAIT upon Him?
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