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.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, September 2, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
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!
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!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
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!
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!
Monday, August 22, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
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!
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!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
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"
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"
Friday, August 12, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
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.
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.
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