December 31

If you put on a blindfold and walk around, what will happen? How about if you were blindfolded and went shopping – for cloths? How do you think that would go? I was even thinking about paying at the store, you wouldn’t know if you were being taken or not. Why? You can’t see! You will be robbed blind – I mean you’re blind so you get robbed – blind!

1 John 2:11 (NIV84) — 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Hate = blindness. Sure even in the dark you can see some things, but you are blinded of many things and the details in the things that you can see you can barely make out. The fact is that if you have a hating heart toward ANYONE, you are presently IN darkness. I know how to get out – to turn the light on – to live in the sonlight – love!

1 John 3:1 (NIV84) — 1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!...

The last day of the year I want you to be enveloped in the love of God! Get raptured in it – think about it all day – think about it all 2012! He loves you so much! Get His love in you, more and more, day after day, then loving one another will be your only option. You won’t be able to hate, resent, become bitter or judge others without the message of love and grace pouncing on that judgment and eviscerating it! Oh to have His love, its full revelation working within me. I would love others more unconditionally, love myself more unconditionally and love God with greater passion – it would all be His love flowing through me to someone else! How great a year that would make! Imagine those things that people do that frustrate you, they would be nothing compared with your love for them. How about it? Will you eagerly desire a greater revelation of God’s love?

Ephesians 3:17–19 (NIV84) — 17 … And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

December 30

Sin is “acting contrary to the will of God”. It comes from an archery term to miss the bull’s eye. I think we have taken that term a little too far. Outside the bull’s eye are several more concentric circles, (five by most that I saw). I think we have assigned certain sins to certain circles. What I mean is that some sins are acceptable or nearly acceptable. They are understandable, only human, and fall under the category of, “hey I’m not perfect”, or “everybody…”. My friend Wendell once said that the only hate that is completely allowed in the church is hating your ex. WOW! That’s a stinger! How about hating Pres. Obama? Acceptable? Cheating on your taxes? Am I getting warm? There are things that we “excuse” that cause us death! The things we say about one another and to one another causes so much pain, bondage and death, yet although we would say it is wrong to gossip or be critically judgmental, we may not rank it with getting drunk. In fact, I will wager that we may have talked behind someone’s back critically or gossiped about them doing something like getting drunk (or anything out of the will of God) to others not realizing that in doing so we too were “sinning”.

We need to reexamine what our definition of sin has become and bring it back into line with God’s definition. While getting drunk may ruin many things, backbiting WILL bring death to MANY. I am not advocating getting drunk – do NOT be drunk but be filled with the Spirit! What I am saying is that we have “pet” sins that we think of readily like drinking, drugging, sexing and especially homosexuality. While all these are definitely acting contrary to the will of God, so is cowardice and fear, resentment and judgmentalism and the like.

The book of 1st John is about LOVE! God IS love! I would encourage you to re-read it if necessary and discern what it is saying about God and about us, what His will is for us. Then go back to 1 Cor. 13 and read what love is again, what it does, what it looks like. Oh church, to be rooted and grounded in this love, nothing would stop us!

Psalm 133 (NIV84) —1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!... For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

December 29

At least a portion of 1st John is written so people won’t sin.

1 John 2:1 (NIV84) — 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

My question to you as you read this book is; What in this book motivates us not to sin?
Search this out.

Sin has become this word that is associated with those things we think are REALLY wrong. It has evolved over the years, and I fear it has become something that it wasn’t intended to be. Words paint pictures right? I am not so sure that “sin” paints the proper picture in the mind of the west.

By many in and out of the church, it is almost dismissed (the word sin) and glossed over. Its consequences have been long forgotten - which is the point! So many acquaint sin with bad but stop there. May I suggest that sin = death, so sin is death. One may saying, “hey, stop killing yourself” and it would be accurate. To the one slamming drugs into the veins we would easily say that, but how about to the one who is complaining to you about someone else? The one who hears “you are killing yourself”, may awaken to the fact that “missing the mark of God” or not doing what God wants is really costly and not merely “bad”. God doesn’t want us not to “sin” because He wants morally upright people, He doesn’t want us to sin because we were made to contain His glory and not death! Yes we all physically die, but there is so much more than the physical! God wants you to do His will because it is the BEST for YOU! It is what He created you for. It will get you to the destiny that He has for you which will bring you the highest satisfaction possible. Not only that, but you will make the mark, an eternal mark that you long for because you were created for that! Our significance is tied into being eternally fruitful. God’s problem with sin surrounds the fact that it hurts the ones He loves. Not only does it hurt us when we do it, but it often hurts others around us. It causes death! No wonder God hates sin – He LOVES US!

December 27

If find it interesting in Nehemiah that the Jews who lived outside the city came and helped build the wall. If we can see the imagery here we would see a lesson for us. The walls, those things that protected people, were in ruins. They had been ruined in the takeover and exile of the Israelites and also after Ezra’s efforts to rebuild the wall. This meant that the people of the city AND the place of worship were left unprotected and thereby in disgrace. Nehemiah was changing that through building up the wall of protection for all to see the greatness of God and that God was again with the Israelites. There is some good stuff there. But check this out:

Nehemiah 3:5 (NIV84) — 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

There were some people who were above (in their heads) the task of rebuilding a wall for someone else. These men were from a city that was 12 miles to the south and although there were plenty of Jews who did help from Tekoa, the nobles didn’t! Whether they didn’t care or didn’t want to get dirty or didn’t think it was a worthy cause, we don’t know. What we can deduct is this – they wouldn’t help others. They were involved with themselves. Hmmm…. Imagine being mentioned in the Bible… now imagine that you were mentioned because you wouldn’t help.

Others are unprotected and it is our job, our ministry, our right and privilege to help build them up so they can be self-protected. That is discipleship!

Dec 26

Hebrews 13:7 (NIV84) — 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Woe, hoe, wait a minute here. Does this mean what I think it means? Yep! Leaders are expected to live a life of EXAMPLE that can be IMITATED! People are supposed to continue to think about the way a leader conducts their lives and conduct themselves in the same way. I don’t know about you, but that scares me! I would like people to work as hard as I do, to care as much as I do, to own the ministry of the Kingdom as much as I do, to love worship as much as I do and so on…, but there are things about me that I would like everyone to forget! Seriously, my manner of life isn’t always, ahhh… wonderfully godly! This is a lot of pressure here! Jesus, help me – help us!

James 3:1 (NIV84) — 1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

As if we needed more, God continues to warn us in James about being a leader who teaches. I am not sure whether the judgment will come from God or from man, but as I have experienced in ministry, it sure does come from man. There is a lot expected of me! I am under scrutiny more than most! My small mistakes get magnified and remembered and sometimes brought up again and again. It is all too much!

However when I think about the grace of God and His forbearance and love for me, I remember my call with delight. Leading is a privilege, but is not to be taken lightly. I am looked at and talked about, but I lead and teach for Jesus. How about you? The yoke of Jesus is easy and His burden is light. These verses are not BURDENS to be worn, but warnings to be heeded. We cannot take lightly, the call on our lives as leaders. We must respond to it with sincerity and wonder, in awe that God would choose us to lead anybody! He has chosen you (if you are a leader or teacher), because He sees something in you that CAN DO this and thinks you can live a life that is worthy of your calling. God believes in you! So lead, teach and live under the power and mighty working of God and leave the rest up to grace. Give your all to Him!

December 25

I can’t get the song “A Little Longer” out of my head. The lyric, “What can I do for You?
What can I bring to You? What kind of song would You like me to sing?... I can’t thank you enough.” It is the heart cry of someone who is very grateful and just wants to do something for the one they love. What a beautiful picture of a heart of love!

Then the song changes course and the artist sings the Lord’s response. “You don’t have to do a thing, just simply be with me and let those things go, they can wait another minute…” I realize this isn’t scripture, but scripture backs it up! It is such a wonderful picture of our Lord and His heart of love for us. The song continues; “Wait... this moment is too sweet. Would you please stay here with Me, and love on Me a little longer…”

Today is Christmas day – we celebrate Him. May I suggest 2 things? First, spend a little time with Him today and let those “things” wait another minute. I know you have a lot to do, say no to them for a minute and love on Jesus. The second thing is spend some time with those you love. Not just being in the same room, but looking eye to eye and conveying love to them. Let them feel soaked in your love.

Merry Christmas

December 24

Hebrews 12:15 (NIV84) — 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

I come along these passages that I have quoted for years, or half quoted as in this case (the latter half) and my eyes see something that I have never seen before. I got the whole bitter root thing, that it causes trouble, it’s a growing thing, it defiles many and a couple of other life points, but it was the missing the grace of God that jumped out at me. Let me put it in a simple equation:

Missing the grace of God = a growing root of bitterness

Simple yet crazy! It is when we miss, (hustereo- to fail in some measure to attain some state or condition—‘to fail to attain, to not attain, to be behind in) the grace (undeserved or unmerited favor or kindness), we fall into the trap of being bitterness. Bitterness comes from OUR failing to attain a posture of undeserved kindness towards other people (or even ourselves). We tend to treat others as they deserve, or according to what they have done in the past, but that is opening the door for bitterness, and we know that bitterness will cause trouble for MANY people!

Here is a good New Years (New Man/Woman) resolution – extend undeserved kindness to everyone and don’t treat them as their sins deserve! After all, that is what God has done toward us, the least we can do is to do the same to others in honor of Christ.

December 23

We have talked a lot about finances and planting seeds through giving, generosity, hard work and so on in the past month. We all want to reap a good harvest of good things – right? We want a material harvest so that we would be supplied for and beyond that, we want to be a supplying part of God’s arm to others who are in need. There is more to be harvested than that, and those things are more important! We want a harvest of eternal riches – of peace, righteousness and joy in the Holy Spirit! As much as we would like to believe that all we have to do is believe, that isn’t right, we have to obey. That means we have to submit, even when we go through tough times.

Psalm 34:19 (NIV84) — 19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

One of the tough things that we MUST do to get what we ultimately want and need for this life is to be put under discipline. Sometimes we spend our time running from His discipline, which is fruitless. Going through hard times are not to always be avoided. In training my body, I put it through difficulty! I am about to go to the gym right now and for 45 minutes to an hour, I will push it to its breaking point, lifting weight until I can no longer lift. I will reap a harvest physically for it and that is what I want.

Hebrews 12:11 (NIV84) — 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

You can go through discipline and not be trained by it and have it produce NOTHING! The word for trained (gumnadzo) means vigorous training and control, so if you don’t go through it controlled or put yourself under its control, you will not reap (literally, give back to you, like an exchange). So lean into the discipline, enduring it like a professional athlete or soldier and reap a great harvest!

December 21

Hebrews 11:11 (NIV84) — 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.

There is a lot written and said about faith so what I am pointing out is not some new revelation, but nonetheless, it is good stuff from the Spirit. Sarah and Abraham were ENABLED (dunimas – translated power and ability) by something or someone. We know that it was God who did it, that is a no brainer, but the phrasing here is something we should consider, “because he considered him faithful who had made the promise”. That is powerful!

Faith sometimes gets put in the abstract for us. It becomes that “thing” that we have to have or attain. This phrase really connects some dots for us. Faith is considering something or someone faithful who made a promise. So faith in God is trusting God to deliver on what He said. In this case, there was nothing that Abraham and Sarah could do but have relations with one another and believe that God would perform a miracle! But get this: God was enabled to fulfill His promise to Abraham and Sarah because of their faith! It isn’t as though God NEEDS our faith to operate – that is silly. However He does fulfill His promise to us WHEN we have faith. Although some may be uncomfortable with this, I am not because I understand that God HAS ALL the power and His power is not limited by me! However, if I don’t believe for salvation, do I attain it? No! Therefore, I can limit the operation of God’s power by my lack of “considering Him faithful to fulfill His promise” to me. Think about it.

December 20

Chapter 10 of Hebrews is one of my favorites! It is such LIFE for those who can understand it! It brings a new view of God towards us, how He sees us, and how we ought to see ourselves.

Hebrews 10:2–3 (NIV84) — 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,

First we see that the sacrificial system was all about reminding people they were missing God’s mark. We also see here that the ultimate goal of God is for us (His people) to be cleansed once for all, and no longer have guilty feelings (or realities) for our sins! YEA! That is some good news isn’t it?

Hebrews 10:14 (NIV84) — 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Whohoo! Here is more good news! We have been perfected forever! That is how God sees us, that is our standing before Him! Perfect! Obviously that doesn’t mean that we are perfect in our conduct, but it does mean that we have the opportunity to live a life of holiness and guiltlessness. We can stop calling ourselves failures, sinners, bums and the like and start calling ourselves, victors, saints and overcomers! Maybe if we call ourselves and think of ourselves in this light, we may even start acting like that!!!!

So… if God see us like that, shouldn’t we see one another like that? If He sees my kids like that (since they are saved by the blood), shouldn’t I see them like that instead of… How about that person at work or in church that you don’t “care” for too much for because of some behavior that have exhibited in the past or currently - do you see them how God sees them – or do you define them by what they do? Ouch! I am resolute to see people how God sees them and understand that like me, they just need training.

The bottom line is here, how dare we think of ourselves or anyone else with anything other than God’s thoughts. I encourage you to apply this scripture to everyone in the family of God.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV84) — 11 For I know the plans (THOUGHTS) I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

December 19

As I enjoyed the worship, the new songs, the skits, the dance and solo and of course the crescendo of balloons dropping, my soul was satisfied! The satisfaction came from knowing that we did well at pleasing God through the sacrifice of ourselves in worship. I must admit, the attendance was disappointing, and the fact that nobody responded (to me) for the salvation call bummed me out. I wanted our whole church there and so many were missing. People had invited many friends, but few came – HOWEVER – I was looking at the wrong thing! Really! If we only look at the results that we can SEE we are destined for failure and depression!

Someone came up to me after the service and said that they haven’t cried and surrendered like that for a long time. As they sang Surrender, they really had a moment with the Lord. I didn’t see that, but it happened. How about the camaraderie of all the players from sound and projection to set building (wow – were those sets great or what!) to actors to worship team to all the participants who pulled it off and did it well on Sunday? You can’t underestimate what putting a production like this together does to people. As well as people did this unto God! Nobody did this for fame, they did it for God! How awesome is that?! As a pastor, that is satisfying!

We had another incredible production full of high quality performances that (if I can be honest in comparison), you would see at a church 5-10 times our size. That fact is that Hope Chapel Orange Coast is so blessed with great people who have undeniable talent and they use it to perform for the King of Kings! I am proud to pastor such a great people! To everyone who had a hand in this wonderful Christmas production, thank you and I want you to know, heaven enjoyed it too!

December 16

The Word of God is amazing! I was reading Psalm 25 this morning and it is so full of hope, so full of love, so FULL! God’s desire is for us, for us to prosper, for us to know His love, for us to have a good life and not be put to shame! This life doesn’t come without trials and sufferings nor without difficult lessons, but they are all designed to bring us to God and to be more refined! (Psalm 66)

This Psalm talks about the one who lifts his soul up to the Lord. We learn that he is in trouble and has many enemies, but he recounts the Lord’s mercies, His promised intervention, His forgiveness, His protection, and cries out to God in confidence! He fears the Lord and then states that the fear of the Lord brings, instruction, direction, prosperity, release and that God will confide in the person who fears Him!

Lift your soul up to Him today, fix your eyes on the finisher of our faith, recall and proclaim His promises and His covenant with you! Tell Him what you need today and watch God come to your side and deliver, not like some butler, but like a Father who loves His kid!

December 15

We have a God of comfort right? That means that God comforts us right? How did that get translated into God wants us comfortable – all the time? Aren’t there a few scriptures about suffering and enduring?

1 Peter 4:12 (NIV84) — 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

Does that sound comfortable to anyone? If we are honest, nearly everything we have changed or God has changed in our lives has been, ahh… “uncomfortable”. So where do we get the idea that church should be comfortable? I mean I am all into nice comfy chairs, but as far as our practice, sometimes it is going to get uncomfortable. God is going to ask you for commitment beyond your comfort or He is going to tell you to minister to someone beyond your comfort, or worship wildly beyond your comfort or…, you get the point.

I ran across an uncomfortable verse:

Hebrews 5:7 (NIV84) — 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Praying with loud cries and tears huh, well that’s uncomfortable! Imagine getting that emotional and noisy – some are glad Jesus doesn’t go to their church. My theory is this, either you will intercede as the Spirit flows through you, which at times (many) will be loud and passionate, or you will have to be brought to the place where it is unavoidable – where you must cry out loud for help! Choose option #1

As far as comfort goes, we are people of God who are willing to be uncomfortable for the Kingdom. Whether it is ministering to somebody, taking on responsibility, being like David (I will be more undignified than this – talking about his worship of God), in worship or anything else, we are conquerors and will do what it takes to live in that victory.

December 14

It’s Christmas time! A time of joy and giving and peace on earth – well at least peace in my heart – right? The smell of pine in our concrete jungle and the expectancy of children who are giddy with delight for you to open their gifts to you. Ahh… Christmas! Then it happens, a masked man steals the joy and it all becomes a burden to bear. It’s supposed to be fun decorating, but it is another thing on the checklist that looks like Santa’s list for the continent of Asia! What happens on the way to Christmas? The same thing that happens all year long – we become a victim to our “to do” list and our joy gets ripped off.

By 51 you would think I would be out of process and into mastery, but no. Still in process! How about you? If you can admit that you have the same problem, then God can give you a solution – His joy. I was reading the other day and found this:

Hebrews 1:9 (NIV84) — 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

It seems that Nehemiah who wrote by the Spirit:

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV84) — 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Had something too – a key to the Kingdom way back then. There is something about joy that the enemy of your souls MUST steal! It is too powerful and able to give you strength and set you above others. It is a power that others cannot ignore. When you are in a room and have joy, especially God’s joy, you stand out, you are magnetic! So don’t let your joy be stolen this season or any other season. Tame whatever beast is trying to steal, or has stolen it. Joy is yours to have and exercise in all situations!

Psalm 28:7 (NIV84) — 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

December 10

2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV84) — 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Most of us know the above scripture. It is a popular one because of its richness. It comes right after the Spirit warns us to watch out for imposters and deceivers. Paul continues to write about the greatness of the scriptures and how they have made us wise unto salvation. The Word of God cannot be underestimated. It is the power of God unto salvation! The Words of God have power – for us who believe. We know that God created everything with Words. He didn’t need to speak, He could have just thought and motioned with His hand, but He spoke and hopefully we understand this important concept of the Kingdom.

Rarely do I hear verse 17 quoted with verse 16 of 2 Timothy. It finishes the thought, and it is aligned with what God has given us as a theme for this year (and hopefully for our lives until we see Jesus), …”grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” It is the work, this “ergon” or “energeo” (we get the English word energy from this word), that God is wanting ALL to enter into.

2 Timothy 3:17 (NIV84) — 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

You can see that the scripture is good for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, and that all of this is for something – so we can do our work as equipped people. Although the Kingdom of God is NOT about doing this and doing that or keeping this rule, it is about expending energy in its function and for its (the Kingdoms) expansion. God has chosen us to partner with Him to do the stuff! This isn’t some list that we have to keep or accomplish, but neither do we get saved and learn the Word for knowledge sake. The Kingdom of God MUST move through us towards the world, it presupposes that action! It comes naturally to us! We will not be those who become deceived that it is all about us. Our rich partnership is here, and the Word of God is here to equip us thoroughly.

December 9

I was trying to find the verse “except for the grace of God, there go I”, but I couldn’t find it. I have come to the conclusion it is a godly saying, but not explicitly in the Word of God. However, I could prove the concept over and over again from the Word.

The reason I bring it up is recently the Lord “tuned me up” (as a good friend of mine says), because of a lack of mercy and compassion. I had become a bit callous towards people who either live on the street or are beggars. The Lord stiffly rebuked me and then He gave me a second chance to show mercy.

Proverbs 21:13 (NIV84) — 13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

Proverbs 19:17 (NIV84) — 17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.

I am not poor, homeless or have ever begged for food, nor will I ever. Not because I am so awesome, but because of the promise of God that He will fulfill. That doesn’t equate to me having any disdain or impatience towards people who are or do. In fact, as you can see, one of the ways to be rewarded in life, is to have compassion on the poor. It is hard to do that when you are criticizing them.

Today I am giving thanks that I have all that I have and the fact that I am irreversibly connected to a supplier that will never run out of supply nor love. I want to be like Him.

December 8

2 Timothy 2:6 (NIV84) — 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

My son told me of a comedian that he heard talk about the “occupy” people. He said that this was the first generation of people who received participation trophies in sports. That is interesting isn’t it? I don’t know if it necessarily connects, but it resonates with me. I have been a longtime critic of participation trophies. Can you imagine if the Olympics handed out participation trophies, or maybe the NFL? Can you see it now, after whoever wins the Superbowl, all the NFL teams come a get a trophy at midfield?

Sometimes I think this same mentality has crept into the body of Christ. Some think that coming to church and praying irregularly (though they truly believe in Christ), that they should have the same “blessings” that others have. It’s like people who say they don’t hear God. How long do you invest REGULARLY praying and listening to Him? How frequently do you meditate on His Word? How much time do you spend in His presence? Some want patience without being put in the pressure cooker, or abundant love for people without having the hard to love people around. Some want to be rich by just naming what they want. Geeezz…

We are a people of destiny, a people who don’t mind using a lot of energy for the purposes of God. We do not expect something for nothing, but we do expect that when we invest our time, energy and resources in the Kingdom, that we will get a return, whatever that return is. We are people who aren’t afraid to endure trials and suffering to be conformed into the image of Christ. We do not want a participation trophy, we run the race to WIN! We are not survivors, we are victors!

December 6

Don’t you wish you could control God? What I mean is that you would be able to do or be or whatever, so God would do whatever. Most of you are saying no, you don’t want to control God, but I would challenge you to think about it for a minute. Sometimes, in our desire to be in the thick presence of God we want to know the how. In other words, we want it at the time when we want it and we want to know how to get it. That doesn’t seem like I want to control, but that is exactly what I am asking for. What button do I have to push to have the manifest presence of God come out? I am talking about worship and His presence, but you could apply this to many areas of our lives.

I think there is a fine line and we have to be careful not to cross it. The fine line is that place between acting in accordance with what we know to be true and trusting God will do His part, that He will keep His Word, and formulizing a life that will bring a result from God. The difference really is heart. In worship, He WILL be enthroned, however, we can’t control how it will “feel” or what that will look like. I don’t mean that feeling is the desired result, but sensing the presence of God is one of the ways we enjoy Him. In heaven we will feel (in our hearts and spirits), and sense (with all of our senses) His presence, (and who doesn’t want that as a part of their heavenly experience!) and I just want to experience Him here on earth as well – feel me? So what do I have to do or be or whatever?

First I have to determine NOT to try to control Him and just live for Him as He has created me to BE. Secondly, when I pray or worship Him, I do it for HIM and not ME. However, I know that I will have a benefit, but I will leave that benefit up to Him. If I feel it, great, if I cry or laugh or become a shouting fool, wonderful. If I just spend time with Him and don’t feel much of anything except satisfied, great. One thing I do believe, is what God Himself said:

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV84) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

December 3

Philippians 4:5 (NIV84) — 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

As I read that this morning I stopped and my heart went uggghhh. I say that because I am not so sure that my gentleness is so evident to anybody! So with that I searched to learn what gentleness was exactly. There is, within my mind, a definition that I don’t like, it just isn’t too appealing for a manly man like I think I am. (That cries too much). So I found out that the word properly means being gracious and forbearing, not insisting of every right. Further Kittle writes : “epieíkeia (gentleness) is thus a complement of heavenly majesty. The weak want to assert their dignity; Christ, having divine authority, shows saving clemency (a disposition of mercy). The community shares his glory and should thus display the same epieíkeia”. So rather than some mamby pamby gooeyness, gentleness is properly showing mercy and grace to people and not insisting for them to attain every ideal of behavior. If I am weak in gentleness, I assert my dignity over others, but if I walk in divine authority, it is easy to give others this gentleness. I can do that!

God, help me to disassociate myself, my thoughts, my dignity from the actions of others and to show them this gentleness that you have so often shown to me.

December 2

Do you know that cowards won’t inherit the Kingdom of Heaven? (Rev. 21:8) Why? Because you can’t be a coward and a Christian! First of all with Christ living in you and God conforming you into His image, you can’t stay cowardly because Jesus was brave and courageous! Secondly, you won’t survive as a Christian if you are a coward. You will deny the faith or at least not confess your relationship with Christ. You, like me, have probably kept silent when we should have spoken up – next time we will speak up!

Philippians 1:20 (NIV84) — 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

It takes sufficient courage or literally, all boldness to make a matter known publically, so that Christ will be exalted! We have to have the courage of a lion in order to publically make a stand for Christ because…

Philippians 1:28 (NIV84) — 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you….

People are going to oppose us. Heck, people oppose us who are “Christians”. Maybe you have been opposed by someone who is close to you and is supposed to be supporting you as a brother or sister in Christ. Remember this, our real opposition is the spirit of this world, the spirit of Lucifer and the principalities that do his bidding. So take courage and fight spiritually. Take courage so you will never be ashamed and Christ will be exalted.

December 1

Ephesians 6:16 (NIV84) — 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

It occurred to me when I was reading today that I only get stung or affected by the arrows when I am not standing in faith. The picture of course is one of arrows that are on fire from hell being shot at you. These arrows strike the shield and fall to the ground. In other words, they don’t penetrate you, but you know you were shot at. We all get arrows shot at us from all different directions, some more than others and some days are certainly worse than others, however if we are standing in faith, the arrows never reach our bodies (our soul). It is only when we don’t trust God for our everything that we are hit and wounded. When someone challenges your life with a stinging accusation and you stand in faith in His righteousness, then the arrow falls to the ground. When some kind of worry or anxiety tries to take over you, you stand in faith and trust God to take care of the concern. When you are rejected or shunned, you stand in faith with the surety of God’s unending love and its sufficiency. Of course there is a difference between the loving rebuke of our Father in Heaven and an arrow from hell. You may receive a reproof or some correction from God, but it will bring LIFE not a burning arrow that’s very purpose is to disable you. Stand if faith, trusting God for everything and just watch the arrows fizzle on the ground in front of you.

Novermber 30

Ephesians 4:16 (NIV84) — 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Let’s look for some insight as we look a little closer at this verse. First of all we see that Jesus is the REAL subject. It is from Him that everything comes from. Even as we do our part, it is His supply, energy and ability that makes things happen.

Next we have this word sunarmŏlŏgĕō: to join together so as to form a coherent entity. This word is compound made up of harmeo – which we get the word harmony from. Held together is interesting, sumbibadzo - : to bring together into a unit—‘to bring together, to cause to be a unit, to unite, to combine. Bibadzo has the meaning of forcing things together which brings an interesting twist. It is as if Jesus is pressing us together by the power of His love with the purpose to be joined together to form a harmonious entity which operates….

Ligaments are connective tissue, very strong ones that hold bone to bone. These ligaments that Jesus is talking about have a supply line that fulfills the “joined and held together” operation that comes from Jesus himself. So who or what are the ligaments? Why don’t you answer that!

The next phrase in the Greek is by the operation (energy) of each one (person), as in not the whole, but as individuals uses their energy (work) to do something, which is that which Christ has called you to do. The point here is that EACH ONE, not some, work. That is God’s plan in order to bring…

As the believers in Christ are joined together in a group, with each part having a particular function, they cause (because of operating in their function with the energy of God) to increase is size and dimension and also to increase the potential by building something that wasn’t there, all within the context of unconditional (not judging people according to the flesh) love.

Now, put this all together and see what you come up with! I bet it will be a people who can no doubt change the world.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16 NIV84)

I think God is giving us this verse as a theme for our church in this next season.  We all want to grow and be built up!  We want to see the church grow and be built up!  Who wants to stay where they are right?  There is this magnificant priviledge that God has given us to grow into something bigger and better, fulfilling more of God's call on our lives - thank God for that!  So let's do it right?  Let's see ourselves and the church become more of what God has intended!  Let's watch the church grow numerically as we have to add another service to accomodate the people.  Let's see the church grow spiritually as people realize who they are in Christ, the depths of God's love for them, the authority and the ability to change things on this earth as God's representative.  We want to see an "open heaven" and experience the touch of the Spirit regularly to save, deliver and heal those who need it, and for any who comes to have an undeniable sense of God's manifest presence.  We want to be built up into a fantastic organization and organizm that functions like a "well oiled machine" so nothing hinders the ministry, and more than that, that the ministry is all the more propelled! Sounds good huh?  It will only happen as ".... as each part does its work.  Everyone is important here - EVERYONE!  If we are to attain the goals of our hearts in Christ ----

Ephesians 4:16 - ...... grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it work.

November 27

There is a concept of nearness (closeness) that few have understood and few have meditated on. I encourage you to meditate on this today.

Ephesians 2:13 (NIV84) — 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

God is everywhere right? He is omni-present. Colossians tells us that He “holds all things together”, so it makes sense that He is everywhere. He is like the gravitational force that actually keeps our bodies from coming apart and floating away. This verse in Ephesians and others(like in James 4), talk about the distance we are from God. If He is everywhere, then how can anyone be “distant” from Him.

Think about your relationship with a spouse or someone who is close to you. Have you ever been in their presence and yet there has been a distance between you? Let’s take it further, even though there is come closeness that takes place, can’t there be a “closer” closeness? It seems that in a marriage, that may never end. By my observation, there is always a “closer-ness” that is to be attained. It is the same with God.

Some people don’t get why we worship and pray and just spend time in His presence – it is all about getting closer! First we were far away from Him, then He brought us close through Christ. Now He continues to draw us closer to Him and when we respond, we become closer. We can also get further away from Him through our own devices, but our life must be spent getting closer – and when we think we are really close, we see there is still a “closer-ness” to be attained. Get in His presence and experience Him close, and then go closer still.

November 26

Galatians 6:14 (NIV84) — 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

This morning I can’t help but yearn to be different, to be completely sold out. I don’t have glaring “worldliness” as we would think of (those who are in Christ), yet I know that I have so far to go. When I read this passage I felt this yearning inside of me to be more sold out. There is within me a remnant of this world (the system of practices and standards associated with secular society), and in order to operate in the Spirit like Paul did I must get rid of it. Maybe being in danger of death all the time was helpful for him to make the cut with all of it, I don’t know. I just know this – I want more of God, more of the Spirit, more of Jesus shining through me, and in order for that to happen “I must decrease and He must increase.” Come Lord Jesus!

November 25

Galatians 5:17–21 (NIV84) — 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

There is a battle that goes on between the flesh (sinful nature of ours) and the Spirit (our new nature from God), we all get that. We all understand and shun sexual immorality and all that sex sin stuff along with idolatry, witchcraft, drunkenness and the like. Yet something tells me that we have allowed in some of the other 8 things that have to do with interpersonal relationships as something that is acceptable or things that are not good, but tolerable. As long as you are not getting drunk and having a threesome, you are doing ok. After all, everyone struggles a little with not liking someone, (conflict, resentment and ill will) it’s only human! Right?! It is the base or lower part of our humanity and it all comes from us setting ourselves up as judges and holding others to our laws. When we operate in the sinful nature we cannot operate in the Spirit! Our problem is that we think we can compartmentalize our sinful nature, (especially the part that is acceptable) and then we can turn on the Spirit and flow in the anointing – WRONG! Paul goes on to warn that those who operate continually in the sinful nature (hold their judgment against a person which produces all kinds of sickness) will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. He seems to be talking about heaven, but could it be that he is talking about the Kingdom of God on earth, exactly what Jesus came to bring to the earth? Could it be that people who are drunkards and people who “have a problem” with someone will NOT be able to walk in power and display the Kingdom to others? It is something to think about. (I would also challenge you to define all words in verses 19-21, I think you will surprised)

Galatians 5:24 (NIV84) — 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Here is the freedom right? If you belong to Christ, you don’t struggle with this anymore because your sinful nature is DEAD! So if you are feeling anything but love toward anybody, the KILL YOUR SINFUL NATURE. That is what you do because that is who you are, a person that says NO to the feelings of anything but love toward another. Enjoy walking in the Spirit today – it feels so good to be free from any ill feelings towards another!

Thanksgiving

I have a Thanksgiving challenge for you! Be thankful – continually – all day – only thankfulness. Last night at Life we enjoyed being thankful. It was meaningful and fun to do. Today – be thankful! Start with what you are thankful that God has done. Be thankful for His work in your life, what He brought to you with NO help from you. Then expand it to include His work in your life and include the things that you do partner with Him in. Then thank him for your surroundings, including but not limited to the material things. After this you may need a drink because you have probably gone on for close to an hour. Don’t just hit the big stuff, think small as well. Thank him for your body and all that you are able to experience in this life because of it. Thank him for the things you don’t experience because of where you live and the time in which you live. Finally, thank Him for the things that you know are coming. They are promises either in His Word or what He has spoken to you. Thanks is the language of faith – so speak some faith!

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 24, 2011

Galatians 4:15 (NIV84) — 15 What has happened to all your joy?.....

When we start following rules and regulations, religious dogma that is based on keeping something, or the law itself, then we lose our joy. It shouldn’t be hard to understand why. It is precisely because we become a slave again and who doesn’t lose their joy when they are in slavery. It is so insidious, so slick, so controlling that we tend to be swooned away by what sounds good only to be enslaved into some behavior by rule. It is not the behavior that is necessarily wrong, it is our motivation, where our heart is, that establishes us under slavery of “DOING” again.

Galatians 4:30 (NIV84) — 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

God wants us to “BE” and not “DO”! There are any number or reasons for this but I’ll give you a big one, because being will always end up doing something accordingly, while doing will never change who we are in Christ.

November 23

Galatians 3:16–17 (NIV84) — 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.

Galatians 3:26 (NIV84) — 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,

Hidden in Christ really comes into play here doesn’t it? Being hidden or “in” Christ is vital! It is the very WAY we participate in the Abrahamic covenant. You may have thought that those promises were to Israel, but if you will examine verses 16 & 17 you will see that some of those promises in the covenant are made to us who are in Christ. We ought to search out and see what is included in the covenant that God has with us – don’t you think? You will have to make some distinctions between the “seed” and his bodily descendants, but I think you will find some wonderful promises to stand on, especially having the full rights as sons!

November 22

Galatians 2:20 (NIV84) — 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

This is the point! We and all of our preconceived notions about how things should be done are dead. We aren’t living anymore without Christ, or more properly it is Christ who is living through us. We live a life of faith and not law.

Paul confronted Peter, which is interesting as to why the Holy Spirit included it in the scripture. What has happened is that people and ministries have now been built on the premise of open confrontation. Never mind what the rest of the Word says, (doing it in love, in person and so on), the practice of public vilification seems to be growing. Here is the issue, Paul confronted Peter because he was being legalistic, applying an old religion to the new life of the New Covenant, and shunning people publicly. That was the egregious thing that Peter did to deserve a write up. Are you getting this? Peter was acting as though he believed he was ABOVE those other people and thereby he shunned them publicly. Isn’t that what is happening today by the people who are publicly calling out others by name? We put rules on how people preach and minister and we can barely find anything wrong with their doctrine, and when we have a point of disagreement, they are called out and made to be akin to the devil.

Jesus and Paul strongly resisted the religious people of the day because of the death that religion causes through the pride of “being good”, and through the guilt of “being bad”. Let’s not use this instance as a pretext to call people out, but rather guard ourselves against drowning in guilt or thinking we are better than we ought.

November 16

Galatians 1:4 (NIV84) — 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Jesus gave himself up for us! There are so many things that He did it for – so many benefits, but here Paul through the Holy Spirit gives us such an important one! Let me give you the literal translation of “present evil age”. “The time period which we are in which has a system of practices and STANDARDS that are morally bankrupt and evil.” Jesus gave Himself up so we would be “set free from the danger” that comes from the effect of sin. Our sin makes us open to the system of practices and standards of this world that are evil (by the way they all are evil – all the practices and standards of this world), and Jesus wanted to set us free so we were not taken in by them. Did you get that? We are not supposed to practice or shoot for the standards of this world! Whether or not we are talking about outright evil or falling short of the standard and practices of God, we have been set free from the draw that woos us into settling for anything less than what God has for us.

It is the will of God that we live way beyond the world’s standards and practices. God has so much for us, so much promise, so much blessing, so much favor – why settle for less? Since we have been set free, I think we should act like it and live in the full blessing of God!

November 10

How has your time been going? As always, mine has been tough to tame, especially after teaching on it. However, nothing has “gone off schedule” this week. Do you hear what I am saying? I think sometimes all goes as planned in our week and we still don’t “feel” like we have accomplished enough. What gives?

Wonder Woman had a cool invisible plane, but Superman didn’t need a plane. In fact, Superman could fly around the world so fast that he could turn time backward. I think my problem is I think I am Superman! I may not be flying around the world but I fill out my calendar according to my priorities from the Lord, stay that course and I am still unsatisfied – I am insatiable! Maybe you don’t even care if you get anything done – I would rather be me – except in the stress department. Would you join me in loving mercy and justice and walking humbly before our God? Isn’t that what He requires? I guess we could talk about all the things that God requires and many I am sure would be right. However, if we made a list of what the Bible says, I doubt very seriously that anything about fulfilling your weekly schedule perfectly, or even exceeding it would be on our list. I think loving Him would be at the top of the list. Loving Him……

November 1

Are we really in November? Just thinking about the holidays gives me shivers. Thinking about that (that I have shivers) draws me to think about keeping my focus on Jesus Christ and His Kingdom and His righteousness.

It seems the older I get the less I like the holidays. My question is who stole my joy! The holidays are fun and enjoyable! I see people I don’t see that often, I spend more time with my family, I intentionally bless people with gifts, I see people come to church who normally would not, and I get the shivers because…? If you are older like I am you can probably guess the answer. It means I have to shell out more time and money and I am a little short on both! What in the world are we talking about here? Could it be that 2 “gods” are ruining what THE God wants for my life? YES!! God wants me to enjoy today but I am think about tomorrow, and tomorrow’s tomorrow! In fact I am thinking all the way to Christmas! There is no doubt that we have to plan and think forward, but instead of strategy, we tend to project stress and projected stress always stresses us out today!

Matthew 6:33–34 (NIV84) — 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Each day has trouble. So what? With effort go after the Kingdom of God! Think about your righteousness – the one God has put on you because of Christ! The battle for the holiday joy is in the mind – you CAN win it. Focus on the Kingdom!

October 29

When you read big chunks of Isaiah, you begin to get a feel for what God is saying and the great promises found in the chapters of the 50’s. What great promises! There are so many things that the Lord wants to give us including an everlasting joy, but it was Isaiah 55 that hit me. It is where we are as a church.

Isaiah 55:1 (NIV84) — 1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

How in the world are we going to buy without money? Who will provide for us? Look at the first line, “come, all you who are thirsty”. Are you thirsty? That is the key! Do you thirst for God? When you do you realize you have nothing to trade for His supply, for His goodness, for His forgiveness!

Isaiah 55:2 (NIV84) — 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

We chase after things that satisfy us and we don’t find them! God wants to give us what is good! Our souls will delight in the richest of fare! Up until this point there has been a lot of judgment and Assyria has taken God’s people captive, but after the redeemer comes, there will be no more captivity except that which we ourselves enter into. God tells us to come out – He wants to satisfy us. Did you get that? He wants to satisfy you! Tell Him you are thirsty for that, and then tell Him what will satisfy you. You may think about money or beauty or material things or correcting circumstances, but if your soul is satisfied, you will live on a level of satisfaction that no outside circumstances can shake.

Cory Asbury’s song: “My soul sings, my soul sings, my soul sings, how I love you.”

October 25

President Clinton instituted a policy that in the White House, people were allowed to "dress down". Dressing down for the White House was basically that men didn't have to wear ties. People still looked sharp, but not so formal. He was trying to change the culture of the White House. He tried to change the culture, by changing the atmosphere which would change the climate of things. Once he had climate change, then the culture would follow. Boy did he take some flack! He was rocked over it and probably decided that it wasn't worth the trouble. The ties and jackets eventually became a fixture – again, but there was a change that trickled down into some of corporate America. Casual Fridays are still happening across this land. Even though He didn’t completely change things, there was an effect that has lasted.

God wants to change the culture of His church. He is pouring out His Spirit in ways that changes the atmosphere. The question is whether or not we will respond and give way to what He is doing. Unlike casual Fridays or being able to eat in the White House Cafeteria with the President, we are talking about the Kingdom of God, and God is trying to show us He wants more of its effect on the earth! He wants us to live supernaturally! In fact, He wants supernatural living to become natural for His people! So when you notice a difference in the atmosphere, a different climate, like a different season is coming, then become a part of the culture shift. Don’t fight it like a young man fighting the fall temperatures by maintaining his short and flip flops attire, but enjoy the move of God and become raptured in it.

October 22

I read this today - I thought you might enjoy it!

The word of God was never meant just to be remembered, but also to be experienced and assimilated until it becomes flesh and walks among us as it did in the days of Jesus. If knowing the Bible were synonymous with knowing God, the Pharisees and Scribes would have rocked!

Oh that we would allow it to take over us - that when we speak it, lifeless things would come alive and cloudless skies would rain!

October 21

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV84) — 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

How have we forgotten this? Honestly! Prophecy is fun, exhilarating and a wonderful chance to partner with Almighty God! How great is our God?! How have we forgotten this exhortation?

1 Corinthians 14:39 (NIV84) — 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

I can only start a fire – which is by the Holy Spirit. You have to continue it. The culture cannot be changed by one man, although one man can begin the change. I am leading a change, creating an atmosphere, but you have to be a part of the culture shift. Leaving the fire to itself is saying that you want it to go out. In other words, not becoming a part of the shift, or in this case obedience to the Word of God, is the same as saying I don’t want it to happen. The Word is telling us to especially desire prophecy and to be eager to prophecy. That is the culture that we want at Hope OC.

When I was a child I remember when my mom would take me to Disneyland. We usually went every other year. In the days leading up to going, I would be so eager to be there. I wanted to ride the rides and experience all Disneyland had to offer. I was VERY desirous of Disneyland! Maybe you can relate to that, or maybe it was something else for you. Church, that “I want to go” or “I can’t wait to go” feeling inside of me (us) is so similar to what God wants us to have for the gift of prophecy. Ask Him for a Word – be eager to get one and then give it away! Partnering with God is like hitting the jackpot!

October 20

Watching the prophetic moving last night at Life was awesome! Many, even most had words and visions for one another! How great is our God! I am so proud to pastor such responsive people! It truly was wonderful!

We often teach things in the church and then go on to the next subject. The heart of God is for us, when we gather, to build up, encourage and edify one another. Of course that is my job as well, but it is not ONLY my job/ministry. I don’t mean that I have other things to do, but YOU are gifted to be involved in the supernatural ministry of the prophetic. It is amazing to be the one to speak into people’s lives via a Word from the heart of God. That is what we can do! If we will continue in doing it, it will become common place and even expected. Imagine that, expecting God to do something that He told us to be zealous to do! He will do it! Seek Him and pursue prophetic words from heaven – He will give them – He committed Himself to do just that. “Every one of you has a prophetic word”. Imagine a church where you are excited to go to because you are sure to get a Word from God. How awesome would that be?

October 19

It has been quite some time since I have entered a blog post. It seems that the new groove that God has asked of me isn’t as easy as one might think. It takes so much more effort to change what you have been doing compared to the amount of effort that it takes to continue in a certain direction. Honestly, it was great to have the blog subject picked for me every day by the scripture I read. The Holy Spirit did need to quicken me to the portion of scripture or subject matter within the scripture to write on, but it was much less effort than asking God what the next post is to be.

I do feel bad for those of you who do look to the blog for encouragement. My apologies go out to you. I have found that this new order of things is very difficult and takes way more effort than before.

Just yesterday I was talking to the Lord about this and feeling like I have failed Him. I want to go back to the old way of doing things because it was, well…. Easier. He isn’t too concerned with how easy it is for me, He has a plan that He wants me to carry out. That plan includes difficulty and that difficulty is going to stretch me and build into me what I need for the future.

I can’t help but ask you if you are supposed to be attaining your next level by changing what you have been doing. Maybe not, but if you stop and listen, maybe God is asking you to go to the next level of difficulty, the one that requires more depth and more sacrifice. Why not go for it? If you fail at it at first, just keep going! His grace is enough!

October 6

Worship #4

The very word used for worship in the Greek is a verb (proskuneo) which means to come toward, to bow down, to kiss, to adore, to worship… It is a verb first and foremost. Remember that song by DC Talk, “Love is a Verb”, well let’s write a new one, “Worship is a verb”. It is something you do, something that others can see you are doing. As we discussed before, it is not an act of singing (although it could be), but it is a way of living. It is a constant in our lives that is too often segmented to church and singing. However you look at it though, you and others should be able to see it and tell me what it looks like.

You might say that John 4 says that Jesus said we should worship in spirit. How do you see that? Glad you asked. There is no disconnect between your spirit and your body (or for that fact any other part of you). Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Who you are inside is what shows on the outside because they are one and the same person. You can’t be “worshiping” God in your spirit and be a cranky critical person. The two are juxtaposed to one another. It’s is like saying I have faith that God will supply and having a nervous breakdown with worry that you won’t make your mortgage.

All of this is to say this: The spiritual shows up in the physical. In other words, what is going on spiritually with you, will manifest (show – be brought to light – revealed) in the physical realm for all to see. When we sing in worship and you sit with your legs crossed looking around wondering when the music is going to stop – you are NOT worshipping! You might say do I have to act like a wild Pentecostal to be worshipping? No, you have to act like what your spirit is doing! The acts of raising hands, dancing, kneeling, laying prostrate, clapping, shouting, singing, praying, waving and the like are done to express the inward function of your spirit and your now engaged mind, will and emotions! They in turn engage the body so what is going on in your spirit is SEEN. You may weep, you may laugh or everything in between, but you will DO something if you are worshipping the Lord. Some may say that you don’t have to do those things. I would so strongly disagree because of what the scripture has to say about it. We are so tied up with worldliness and our own ideas that we are held back from a full submission of our TOTAL personhood in worship in the context of a church (type) worship time. Let go people of God! Get recklessly abandoned to the One who deserves more than you can give or do!

There is a bleed over of course. What bleeds over to what, I don’t know. But if people can’t worship at church fully engaging all of themselves, they usually can’t live a life of worship. Maybe it is vise-versa, but either way the principle is true. What is happening in the spirit of a man, manifests in the physical. In fact what is happening in the spirit realm is manifested in the physical realm.

September 30

Worship #3

Spiritual worship has come to mean all kinds of things. In Charismatic circles it went through some evolution from emotional worship to a spiritual "mood" worship to a spiritual "shaking" worship, to prove God was in it, and I think now it is maturing to a worship that is emotionally engaging. I don't decry the process. Sure it would be great to begin with perfection and stay there, but in case we haven't noticed, we aren't perfect yet! This means that the church and the individual have to grow into what true "spirit" worship is. Thank God for the folks who engaged their emotions and not just their minds, but Jesus said that there is a lot more still.

When you think about the phrase of Jesus - John 4:21–23 "Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." - it is more simple than we think. Spirit worship is worshipping from your spirit. I am not talking about a dualistic approach (the spirit and the body being totally separate), but a holistic or total person approach that originates in the spirit. Doesn't Paul write (under inspiration) that it is the spirit of a man that knows that man? Aren't our spirits the part of us that was raised from death to life when we were saved? Doesn't the Holy Spirit properly dwell in our spirits? It is the spirit of a person that propels the rest of the person (soul, body) to be completely abandoned and in service and worship to God.

To worship from your spirit is to worship without any non-sense or fleshliness. It is the connection with God by the part of us that is directly connected to God and some would even say, perfected by God! The tricky thing is to not disengage the whole of our lives but to allow the spirit to lead us in all of our lives. It was the Samaritan Woman who talked about worship as an event. All of us need to "line up" with our spirit man so to speak. Worship is not about getting pumped up through jumping around or humbled by kneeling down, it is a way of life that is led by your spirit which is lead by the Spirit of God. Your mind, your will, your emotions, your heart and soul AND body will be led by your spirit to truly worship the Lord. Spirit worship is true worship - everything else is substandard.

Let's not seek a "place" to go worship the Lord, but worship Him at all times through a life that is led by the Spirit.

September 27

Worship #2

Jesus spoke of the concept of truthful worship. He said that the day will come when God will be worshipped in “spirit and in truth”. I suppose there are several meanings that could be and should be applied to this prophetic word from Jesus.

Firstly, Jesus came to reveal the Father. He said if you have seen me you have seen the Father. He came to straighten out people’s image and view of the Father. Their revelation was incomplete and wrong. Jesus was the embodiment of the Godhead and therefore people from His day forward would have a greater revelation and an more easily grasped accurate picture of who God is. That matters with worship because when we worship in “truth”, we must have an accurate view of God, whom we worship. The Samaritans in particular, represented a people of mixed religion because of their past. Here we are, in the year 2011 as Gentiles, and our knowledge of God “could” be so great, but we are in many cases held back by the “unauthorized” teachings of who God is. I am befuddled on how few people want to get into the presence of God and just sit there with Him. Remember that “worship” isn’t necessarily singing, it is coming toward, to bow before, to kiss. You can’t really worship God if you don’t believe, or won’t believe, that you have a place at not only His feet, but at His side – holding His hand! He loves us so! I pray we get this revelation so we can draw near and receive from Papa – but it takes the truth of who He is in order to truly draw “near” and sit on His lap.

If you don’t have that truth about God you will keep your worship as religious as possible, maintaining that God should not be approached without proper sacrifices and denials of self, and then only so close. (Like sitting across the board room from him). The truth of the matter of the worship of that day was that they performed service to God instead of wrapping their arms around Him. He had clearly revealed himself in the gentlest of terms, saying that he walked them out of Egypt by the hand, (think about a dad and a 2 year old walking hand in hand together), and he stated that he carried them on “eagles wings”. He revealed himself so tender, so loving, but they didn’t get it – at least not many of them. He sent His Son to show them His loving care for even their physical bodies, healing all who came to Him, delivering them from demons, preaching the message that they had waited for – but “in service” to God, then killed Jesus. Why? Because their worship was service and not relationship! Services always ends up to be service to your own self and your own self-interest. Without a clear relationship with our loving Heavenly Father, our own service to Him will end up a burden and it will be a self- satisfying act performed for us to feel good about ourselves. The truth of worship has nothing to do with religious duty, keeping rules or automatically (with no heart) generated praise. Worship is an act of the truth of our hearts in devotion and humility giving back the love and the sacrifice of praise of a life that is sold out to the God of all Gods! Hold nothing back – He gave all – it is our ONLY worthy response!

September 20

Worship #1

In John 4 Jesus and the woman at the well talk about worship. She talked about where to worship and Jesus talked about how to worship. She divided people and Jesus united people. She talked about religious protocol and Jesus talked about worshipping truthfully and with our spirits.

There has been so much talk about “how” to worship, meaning the “type” of music we play at church. I think it is funny that it is only the “church” music that is discussed rather than an emphasis given to our whole lives. Worship – coming near to (towards) God, is so under-emphasized. There are people that I know that always have a song on their lips, and some of them can’t carry a tune in a bucket! However, they carry an attitude of coming towards God, to bow before Him, to kiss Him and to adore Him throughout their day. Worship must not be an exercise that we only perform on Sundays or Wednesdays! It has to be a way of life. As I write this, the lyric is being sung, “come be the fire inside of me, come be the flame upon my heart”. May that be our cry all day long. Let’s decide that we aren’t going to be like the woman at the well who had decided where to worship (kind of), but let’s be a people who worship the Lord all day long. As the Word says:

Ephesians 5:19 (NIV84) — 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

Colossians 3:16 (NIV84) — 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

September 16

Jesus said "lift up your eyes and look" to the dicples. He was talking about the fields of souls that are ripe for harvesting. The NIV puts it "see and look". It is an amazing thing for Jesus to say because He is talking about seeing with our eyes, but really He is talking about looking with our Spirit. There is a connection between our physical ability to see and our spiritual ability to see. It is not that the physical influences the spiritual but rather the spiritual that enables the physical!

To see with our physical eyes and see through our flesh (our human ability) is to disregard our spirits. Jesus in John 4 say we must worship in spirit - why? Because the spirit realm is what is real and lasting. Our physical bodies worship, but they only reflects our spirits.

We have got to listen to our spirits which have been born of God and stop looking and seeing through our eyes and our flesh. Life is in the spirit! So see with you eyes and look with you spirits what God is doing in the realm of the spirit. There you will find truth and life.

September 10

I have been meditating on this verse today:

You drive the women of my people
from their pleasant homes.
You take away my blessing
from their children forever. (Micah 2:9 NIV84)k

I have been thinking about "taking away my blessing". That is not a concept that we often hear about. We hear how to attain the blessing of the Lord, but I would like to postulate that we (if you are His kid) already HAVE the blessing in many things! We not only have the opportunity to block the blessing that is already ours but we have the ability to hinder the blessing that is supposed to be passed on to our children. It sure puts some pressure on us - right? I don't think so. If we would live and trust God and do not turn away from Him then the blessings would not only be realized but caught by our children. We have the power!!! We can't blame God for not seeing the blessing through when we have already inherited it! Let's stop trying to earn them and stop praying like they aren't already released!

September 6

In Mark 14 Judas gets offended at a woman pouring expensive perfume on Jesus. That was it for him, he went to the chief priest and plotted to give Jesus up. Judas regularly helped himself to the "ministry fund" and now he was upset because someone else was extravagant in their giving to Jesus. Hmmm.....

Judas was religious and not a true follower even though it looked like he followed. A religious person (really a religiously spirited person - if you know what I mean) gets upset when others are extravagant in their giving or service to God. We have got to keep alert over ourselves and watch for this insidious attitude and thinking. May God purge us of the spirit that would criticize others when they are going all out for God , no matter how "out there" it may seem to us.

September 3

Now rather than abstract, let me share from the heart about the challenge of the Word of God.

Mark 4:24–25 (NIV84) — 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Have you ever come to a point of "I quit"? I mean you have been standing and having done all to stand you have continued to stand and then when it seems like it was going to turn around you were laid out like a boxer who just got hit in the sweet spot. You are on the ground and unable to put together what exactly happened and NOBODY is coming to see how you are or to help you up. Of course God is there, but nobody else. Have you been there? I am.

All of a sudden this verse comes back to my mind with full force and I am obligated to interact with it and make a decision. Do I, knowing full well the potential for me to get knock down again or even knocked out, get up, wipe off my gloves and get ready to fight again? Or do I look to my corner and pray they throw in the white towel signifying surrender? Right now I want the white towel, but I know it is not an option. It would not just mean that I give up, it would mean that I am not going to apply the Word of God to my life! It would mean that further revelation would be hindered, and it would mean that the revelation I have right now very well may be taken away.

We have but one choice - apply the Word of God, believe against all odds (according to this world) and contend for the miracle - the change - the win! My heart is saying it won't happen, but my spirit is screaming trust God! I want more of God, so I must stand and fight. Come Lord Jesus.

September 2

Isaiah 7:9 (NIV84) — 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ ”

We have a decision to make don't we? There is either standing firm or not standing. It really struck me - the absoluteness of this statement. Stand of fall. Trust or be crushed.

We all wonder from time to time about when God doesn't move, or at least it seems like He isn't. I wonder how many of those times people (or myself) , were not standing in full assurance of God coming through. I understand that there are other reasons why the perfect will of God isn't enforced, but instead of getting bogged down in that, let's reason together according to the scripture. We have to stand firm in faith in order to not get knocked down! I don't say this in the abstract, I have to live it too and it is NOT EASY! But that is our choice.

September 1

It is incredible how God will give you revelation, have you meditate on it and then, thinking you have it all figured out, give you a fresh revelation because you are painfully applying it to your own life.

At first the revelation was for people who are been saved for years and are still stuck in the same place they have been for years. It seems that only their Bible knowledge has grown. Then it broadened as a principle for life that would bring life! Then it was a challenge for my own life - whether I would stand in faith based on the revelation I have received or not. So here it is:

Mark 4:24–25 (NIV84) — 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

When God gives us revelation into His Word, will or Kingdom, we need to carefully consider it and not just file it for a game of Trivial Pursuit or a church member discussion. We are supposed to USE it! If we use it, we will be given more! If we don't use it, even the revelation we have will be in a sense "taken away". It's not that we won't "know" it anymore, but we will consider it something that needs to be put on a back up drive rather than in our RAM (memory that is quickly assessable for application). It is therefore incumbent on us who want to GROW into the image of Christ and live a life of victory after victory to USE what we have been given.

They say that if you don't exercise, you will lose function at some point. They also say that if you don't use your mind in certain ways (reading, logic problems, memorizing) that you will lose some functionality. This passage is clearly saying that if you don't use what God has given you it will be like you never got it. The converse of this is that Jesus tells us if we DO use it, we will get even more!

August 24

I was in the church and denied myself the pleasure of opening my email, straightening my desk or tending to any business except for writing down what came to mind that had to be accomplished today. Why? Because I was being drawn to spend time with Papa. For an hour or so I spent time worshipping, crying, praying and reading Nahum. I didn't pray for my family or the church, I communed with God.

As I write this I still almost feel guilty because I lavished my love on the Savior of my soul and thought about Him - Him and me. I would like to suggest that if you don't have those times then you will cease to be a lover of God and end up in a partnership. Don't get me wrong, I am His partner and He is mine - but that is not what defines my relationship with Him. What defines our relationship is the love that we share.

There has to be times where we stop doing for anybody but Him - in fact stop "doing" for Him and just enjoy Him. Weep at the thought of His great love and let your soul long for more of Him and to be more like Him for the simple fact of being able to love Him more.

August 23

On September 18 I will preach a message for the many people who will be coming back to church. It is "Back To Church Sunday" which was created as an outreach opportunity to connect with all the people who have "fallen" away from God. (I have always found that phrase "victimesk"). Today's reading will most certainly be used as one of my Biblical backdrop to show that God is a God of second chances.

Jonah 3:1 (NIV84) — 1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:

Same word. Same speaker. Same hearer. It is not too late for you to hear God's Word to you and to act on it. You could always wait to spend some time in the belly of a beast of some sorts that vomits you up at God's intended destination, but you don't have to! Just do what He is asking and save yourself the bath in stomach acid! It's gross, but you know I am right!

August 22

I have been thinking about the Nex-Gen service yesterday. There was such a anointing on the whole thing that it is hard to narrow down my comments to one particular thing. Today however, I am struck by the sheer power of the Holy Spirit that was present. I personally think that it was our best service this summer! By that I don’t mean that it all went off without a hitch, because it didn’t. The sort of problems that we experience on Sundays were present. When I say best I mean the presence of God was present in a more tangible way and the ministry of His Kingdom went forward in a greater degree. Please don’t interpret that is a slam on anybody else, these are just the facts.

Acts 4:32–33 (NIV84) — 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

There was a simple unity among everyone who ministered that morning, and by ministered I mean they worked (exerted energy to accomplish a task). The speakers were in early praying and worshipping, the worship team was in early practicing, and nearly everybody was on time and ready (and excited), to minister for the Lord. They all were for one another, in unity and they had much grace among them. The power of God was in the worship, in the preaching and even in the prayer for the offering. There was a prophetic mantle on the whole service! And we haven’t even talked about the 30+ minutes a powerful ministry time!

Honor. They were honored to serve. They were honored to do their part. Sometimes we forget how honored we are to be able to serve a cup of water in the name of Jesus, take an offering, lead, teach and minister, partnering with the King of Kings. It really is quite honoring. Just think how honored you would be to throw the first pitch out in a playoff game in the major leagues. How much more to serve one another and the King of the Universe.

Aug 16

Now that we are half way through revelation, don’t you feel like you are reading about a train wreck from a dozen different perspectives? My goodness, as I read I said to the Lord, how is anyone supposed to understand this book? I mean really? Men and women through the ages have come up with different understandings of it and what is the common man suppose to make of it?

Revelation 1:3 (NIV84)
3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Notice it didn’t say, “blessed are those who understand fully what this book really means.” Read it and take it to heart. That means we are to first read it, and then let it permeate us. Why? So we will be affected by it! Even if we don’t understand a trumpet or a bowl or what order that it will happen, we are suppose to be impacted by the immensity of the calamity that is going to come on this world! This thing is crazy! There is within us, a natural expectation of the end and this book, among other things, is supposed to stir us up! Let it stir you and spur you on to the Father’s business. With an event (or events) like this coming, we have got to stay on fire!

August 14

I have come to a fork in the road in my life and in the format of this blog. It was the beginning of this year, actual the end of 2010 that God spoke to me about an emphasis on prayer. I sensed that at the end of the first half of this year, I was supposed to transition to a different type of blog. To be honest, it was easier to continue doing what I had been doing for 1 ½ years than to change. Another reason not to change things up was I didn’t want to discourage anybody from reading the Bible through because I value it so highly. But the more I get into this half of 2011, the more I sense that I have disobeyed my Lord, and with that I am going to change the blog a bit. Doing what God says, even if it seems harder, is where the MAX life is – and I want maximum life for myself and for those who read this blog. I also want to obey because He deserves it! I do sense that the life will go much further those of you who read it and spread out into the church and hopefully even further than that.

The subject of my blogging will now be according to God’s Spirit. As I have found out as a teacher, teaching through a book is much easier that teaching topically. The biggest reason is that when you are teaching topically, you really have to hear from the Lord on where to begin and which direction to go as opposed to teaching on the next verse or chapter. That means that the blog will not be necessarily themed or linear. Some days I will blog on the scripture, (I will still be reading through the Bible) and some days it will be the insights God is giving me, still other days it will be encouragement from a shepherd and others it will be statements of faith with some cheerleading. Honestly, I don’t quite know what to expect myself except that God will tell me what to write. If I am not getting it or not hearing it a particular morning, then you will find nothing written, I don’t want to be a rambler.

It has been my practice for quite some time to spend 30-60 minutes with the Lord each morning reading and talking about that reading with God. Sometimes as I write I get the revelation that even surprises me! My practice won’t change much, just what I write. I pray that you not only enjoy it, but that it brings you life and something to meditate on for the day.

Aug 13

1 Kings 21:9–10 (NIV84)
9 In those letters she wrote:
“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”
This is how Jezebel operates. She (it - because it is a spiritual force of wickedness) sets up and takes you down. But notice how she took down Naboth. She got two people to lie about him and then turned the community against him. It just takes a couple of "scoundrels" to stir up a whole community to be lead astray towards the plan of evil principalities.

Do you ever find yourself in some sort of predicament and you can't figure out how you got there? I am not talking about being blind to something that you have done, I am talking about serious innocence and all of a sudden you are in trouble. I remember being suspended from work for supposedly telling a deli manager that I should be getting free food because I worked to provide security (for the whole Marina and him) during the Toyota Grand Prix. I told my Sgt. that it wasn't me and he said it was. I told my boss over the whole Marina that it wasn't me and he said he didn't care. But I lost a lot of hours (overtime hours) and I didn't even go in that deli! Like my dilemma, it is often a spiritual force that is trying to control you or take you down. Ask God how to pray!

"Stand therefore! After you have done everything to stand, stand firm"

Aug 12

1 Kings 19:2 (NIV84)
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

After one of the greatest victories in all of the Bible and praying in the rain and having supernatural strength to run a great distance faster than a chariot, Elijah, the man who hours ago taunted the prophets of Baal, having such great faith that God would answer by fire from heaven on the sacrifice he prepared, is now running like a child who is surprised in the dark. Why? A threat from Jezebel. In Elijah’s defense, this is more than a woman, it is a high ranking controlling spirit that it making this threat, and Elijah wasn’t ready for that. This was a spiritual attack of powerful forces of darkness who were speaking to Elijah, not just a queen who was ticked off.

Are you applying this to your life? There are people who threaten us and we give it no or little attention, but there are those people in whom there is power when they disapprove or belittle or threaten that sends a chill up our spine and if we are not on guard, they (it) will send us to a place of hiding and even to a place of suicide! There is much to say about the spirit of Jezebel, but let’s see how it was overcome.

1 Kings 19:5 (NIV84)
5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

1 Kings 19:9 (NIV84)
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1 Kings 19:15 (NIV84)
15 The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.

First Elijah needed to physically recuperate from his spiritual warfare. Then he needed a Word from the Lord. Then he needed his next assignment. Are you getting this? Physical recuperation, hearing God speak to you and your next assignment are essential to battle depression, anxiety and the oppression of something or somebody trying to exert control over you.

Aug 11

1 Kings 17:9 (NIV84)
9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.”

The Word of God came to Elijah and said that. There was something that struck me about the phrase, “I have commanded”, because it didn’t seem like the widow was acting like she had heard God. When Elijah talked to the woman, her plan was to make some bread for her and her son and then die. I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t seem like she had heard any type of command about anything to do with feeding the prophet. Are you with me? Doesn’t it seem like that to you?

Here is what the Spirit told me, sometime people have not “heard” God but the Lord has made a way for them to accept what you are about to say. It’s like if you needed a car and the Lord said, go to so and so, I have commanded them to give you a car. When you go to them and ask them for a car, they say, that is ridiculous, I need my cars. Then a few days later they come back to you and say, here is a car. The point in other words is that God gives you FAVOR and that favor has been commanded. It is going to happen even if the people don’t know it yet! The trick is to go the person who God has given you favor with. I completely believe that we have an incredible amount of favor dripping from us, but there are those people who are predisposed to being open to what we are asking for, whether it be help, partnership, material goods or an opportunity to share the gospel, God is preparing people for YOU! Get in your prayer closet and get your next assignment from the Lord.

Aug 10

2 Chronicles 16:7 (NIV84)
7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.

Asa started out well! He got rid of all the idols and even the Queen Mother and worshipped the Lord. For 36 years he relied on God and God gave him victory, prosperity and rest from his enemies. Then something happened in Asa’s heart and he thought the King of Aram was more valuable that God to have on His side. Get this: He took what was God’s and gave it to the King of Aram so he was assured a victory! Did you get that? He took what was God’s and gave it away for prosperity! Have we done the same? Have we taken the tithe and given it to another so we could prosper?

2 Chronicles 16:12 (NIV84)
12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.

Asa also didn’t even seek God when he was sick! He ONLY trusted doctors. Do we? What happened to Asa? I’ll tell you one of the things that I believe. He had rest and prosperity and didn’t have to rely of God much throughout the years of his reign. He forgot God! He got used to trusting man for everything because there was nothing HUGE that he needed God for. So when the time came that he needed help, he turned to man instead of God. Makes you think doesn’t it?

So what was at the end of Asa’s journey? He was angry at a messenger that brought God’s message to him. When people’s lives are in the dumper because they have forgotten God, they become haters of the church and it’s pastors and even their brothers or sisters who encourage them to repent and seek the Lord.

2 Chronicles 16:10 (NIV84)
10 Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.

Aug 9

Revelation 5:8 (NIV84)
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
The “harp and bowl” model has been around for years. Simply put, it is worship and prayer. Before it was popularized it was around for millennia. Now of course we have places like IHOP who never stop and haven’t stopped the worship and prayer for over a decade.

Teachers emphasize how important teaching is, evangelists emphasize how important evangelism is, but the book of Revelation emphasizes how important worship is. We see in these 2 chapters (4 & 5) that there is a lot of worship going on. Many might say that since worship is in heaven, we ought to do what we won’t be doing there (worship). Let’s not occupy too much time worshipping and get out and do something for the Lord. I suppose I understand what they are saying, I just disagree. We are a Kingdom of priests and one of our privileges is to worship and pray! We proclaim Christ as King and reign with him on the earth!

Revelation 5:10 (NIV84)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”

We pray heaven on earth all the time. Jesus taught us to and we continue to do just that. Well, what is happening in heaven right now? I will tell you, worship! If we want heaven on earth we had better start modeling heaven and what heaven is doing – worshipping the Savior, worshipping the Father, singing new songs for the new things that He (they) do!

Revelation 5:14 (NIV84)
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Finally, I noticed this, everyone keeps falling down before Him. Again, do we want to model heaven? If so seek extended times of worship, develop regular times of worship, and when you do, fall down at His feet.