To Pray Like Jesus Prays

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray. 'He took Peter and the two
sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.' Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'"
Matthew 26:36-39 


One day...That's how much time Jesus had left on the earth. He would be tortured, beaten, mocked, and killed. His death would come as he hung on a cross, nailed there with spikes through his hands and feet. It was the most horrible death imaginable. In fact, it defies imagination. Jesus knew exactly what he would face. There in the dark, in the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed. He was full of sorrow, he was troubled. Today we might say that he was depressed. this drove him to his knees as he appealed to his Father. 
    He asked the Father if it would be possible for him to not have to go through such a horrible death. His humanity cried out as he prayed. Yet in his heart he knew there was a greater purpose, a higher plan than that. He knew that his violent death would be the salvation of all mankind. And even though he struggled to accept it, he knew that he must die. So he told his Father, "Yet, not my will, but as you will." He submitted to the Father. He gave up himself for the greater purpose. He knew that God's will was much bigger than his desire to escape death. He had the authority to deliver himself from death. He could have called legions of angels to rescue him. But he submitted to the will of God. He called on God's will to be done on the earth, in his life. Jesus practiced what he taught us. He told us to pray, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." He practiced what he preached. 
    None of us have ever faced the kind of trauma that Jesus faced that day. None of us know our future like Jesus did. Still, we face difficulties that cause us to ask God the same thing Jesus did. We ask him to deliver us from the struggle. "God, if it's possible, don't make me go through this. Take me out of this circumstance now!" But unlike Jesus, we sometimes find it difficult to relent. Instead of giving up ourselves for God's ultimate will to be done, we labor in the same prayer over and over, asking God to deliver us. What if God has a greater purpose for our struggles? What if the world will change if his will gets done? God's will is so much bigger than our circumstance that we must, in faith, submit to his will. Though we don't know what will come, we do know that God is in control, even though we fail to see how. Our struggles are real, but they are orchestrated by God. He has a plan.
    Let's be intentional. It is okay to pray for deliverance. God is not offended when we ask him to remove us from the hardship. But he longs for us to submit to him by realizing that the greater cause is for God's will to be accomplished here on earth, in our lives, in our struggles. When we release God's will, we release him to do greater things, different things, unexpected things. And this is joy of following Christ. This is the adventure. Pray for deliverance, but release the will of God into your life. The results will be beyond what we can possible imagine. His will is greater than our struggles.

Knowing

"Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 'Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?'
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, 'Why are you thinking these things?'"
Mark 2:6-8 


Four men heard that Jesus had come to their town. They had a dear friend who was paralyzed and lay on a mat all the time. So they brought him to the place where Jesus was. But there was such a large crowd that they could not get inside the door. So, climbing onto the roof, they dug through and lowered their friend down to Jesus using ropes. Jesus, moved by their great faith, said to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven." Of course, this upset the religious leaders and they thought evil thoughts about Jesus. This is where we pick up the story in the scriptures above. There is something here that applies to all of us and we must follow the example of Christ.
    The phrase that strikes me as vitally important is this: "Jesus knew in his spirit...". According to the story, the teachers of the law never said anything out loud, they thought these things. But Jesus knew in his spirit. It's easy for us to accept this. Of course he knew, he was God! Although he was indeed God, he was a human just like us. He had been filled with the Holy Spirit the day he was baptized in water by John. He underwent the same process we have. The same Holy Spirit that lived in him is the one who lives in us now. Jesus knew what they were thinking because the Holy Spirit told him. 
    We sometimes forget that Jesus chose to set his deity aside and live as a man on the earth. He was tempted in the same ways we are. He dealt with the same situations we do. Yet he lived without sin, taught with absolute authority, and performed many signs, wonders, and miracles. He did this because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit. Now here is the great truth we need to hear: We are empowered in the same way Jesus was. The Holy Spirit who lives in us empowers us to hear and do the same things Jesus did. Yet we still struggle with our own minds. When the Holy Spirit speaks, we don't recognize it because it is mixed up with all the other flesh and worldly thoughts in our heads. But we can learn to hear him.
    There are keys to hearing the Holy Spirit. One key is to pay attention. Often we don't hear him because we aren't paying close enough attention to him. Another key is to remove the flesh from our ears. When we are consumed with fleshly thoughts and sin, it is difficult to hear clearly. So we must remove these issues. Stephen told the Pharisees that they had uncircumcised hearts and ears. For this, they stoned him to death. But it was true and is still true today. We must circumcise (cut away the flesh) from our hearts and ears. Then we will hear clearly what the Holy Spirit is saying. We do this by confessing sin daily and then walking in repentance by turning away from those sins in both deed and thought. This is the way we learn to hear the Holy Spirit as Jesus did. Practice listening for his voice. When he speaks, it is more than just another thought, it is a deep kind of 'knowing.' He reveals things we did not know before. Listen, hear, and know.

No Going Back

"If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"
Number 11:4-6 


So you wanna go back to Egypt, where it's warm and secure.
Are you sorry you bought the one way ticket when you thought you were sure?
You wanted to live in the land of promise, but now it's getting so hard.
Are you sorry you're out here in the desert, instead of your own backyard? 
'So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt' by Keith Green/Melody Green

Although the Israelites had been miraculously delivered from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, they grumbled. The desert was a difficult place. They had to depend on God for everything; food, water, guidance and shelter. When the going became difficult, they thought of the old life. Even though they were slaves, they still ate well and enjoyed the benefits of the Egyptian kingdom. So they grumbled and longed to return to the bondage of slavery. The Promised Land lay ahead of them, but the path to get there was strewn with daily manna, the dry heat of the desert and endless days of travel. Are we sometimes like the grumbling Israelites?
    In all the things that God has promised us, he has never said that the Christian life would be easy. In fact, he has told us that we must persevere. He has warned us that there will be trials and difficulty. We have been forewarned. Yet sometimes in the middle of the spiritual desert, we complain and long for the old life because it was easier. Before we chose to serve Christ, we had it all our way. We could do whatever we wanted and not face consequences--so we thought. But the reality of the old life remains. We were slaves, bound by the devil and destined for hell. There was no rescue for us except one, life with Christ. So we chose this life. God didn't force us, we chose it. The rewards are already ours, but the greatest is yet to come. We have a promised land that is far greater than the Israelites'. It is a reward that is unparalleled by anything the old life has to offer.
    If you sometimes have thoughts of returning to the bondage of the old life, give it up. Though the Christian road may sometimes seem narrow, rocky, and uphill, the reward at the end of that road is glorious. And while we are on the road, God will provide. The manna given to the children of Israel was God's provision and he is still providing manna for us today. He will sustain us. We only need to serve him and follow the path of life he gives us. Though it looks like a desert, if we look carefully, we will see the blooms of life around us. These are the markers of God's presence. He is always with us and he is intimately involved in all of our lives. For us, there is no going back! 

As Unto God

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ."
Ephesians 6:5

I find it amazing that the Bible teaches about virtually every area of life. Any subject or relationship that you can name is covered. God has direction for all of these things because the Bible is intended to teach us how to live. Some may say it is a historical book, others may say that it is simply legends that were passed down through the years. But when the Holy Spirit inspires the words that are written, the Bible comes alive and gives us insight into every situation.
    Concerning the relationship between employees and employers, there is plenty of insight and direction shared. The scripture above is but one reference of many regarding that subject. Instructions are given to both employees and employers. Of course, we don't have slaves today, even though we may sometimes feel that way, but the directions given apply to the workplace which many of us are found. It changes our perspective when we realize that we are to work at our jobs as if we are working directly for God. The workplace may be a difficult place. The boss may be a hard man, fellow employees may be difficult to cooperate with, conditions may be difficult. But all of that must be prioritized below the fact that we are working for God.
    I know human nature. I know that we have tendencies to grumble and complain. We gossip and say negative things about our employers and coworkers. All this is part of the old nature that we need to defeat. Others live this way because they do not have the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We do. So it is time to stop the complaining and begin working as unto the Lord. Whether we agree with the boss or not, we must respect him or her because they have been placed as authorities over us. We are to follow them and obey what they say in the same way we follow and obey Christ. This may be difficult to receive because it hits us right where we live. We go to work every day and face the struggles of the workplace. But even in this daily grind, God has given us clear direction.
   Let's begin to think of our job as something that we are doing for God, not a distraction from serving him. This may just change our attitudes. It may change the whole atmosphere of the companies we work for. After all, there are few who act this way. We will stand out and others will wonder what the difference is. The peace that follows believers is contagious. It will cut through strife and it will convict those who gossip and complain. I say let's try it. Like everything else involved in being a Christian, it requires us to change our minds about the situation. Once we do it, things will change. So let's start thinking that we work as unto God.

Strength in Weakness

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
2 Corinthians 12:9

There are times when we are weak. We are people of flesh and that flesh fights against the strength of life in the Spirit. We continue to sin, even though we desire to be holy. We struggle in our faith even though we proclaim the victory of Christ. Our earthly life is sometimes difficult and we face times of extreme weakness. But there is a Rescuer, One who will never leave us or forsake us. He is not ashamed of our weakness, rather, he is glorified through our weakness and his power is made perfect in us.
    Jesus lived a sinless life. The Bible tells us that he was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, yet he did not fall into sin...not even once. This example is to be our goal as Christians. We simply cannot remain in our sin. If we receive Christ and pass from death to life, but continue to live the same way we did before, there is something wrong. The one who has truly received the grace of Christ will hunger and thirst for righteousness. Still, we face times of weakness. How do we overcome?
    In times of weakness, God's grace is sufficient for us. We must learn to lean on that grace. We often view our weakness as failure. We think we have disappointed God by not living up to his standards. But the truth is, no one in the course of history has ever lived up to the standards of God. It is impossible. So in those times of weakness, God says that his strength is revealed through his grace. His power is made perfect when we are forced to rely on his grace. There is not one thing more foundational than the grace of God. That grace manifested because of his great love for us is the heart of relationship with God. Without grace, we are all doomed to die fires of hell. Thank God for his grace!
    Rather than shrinking under condemnation because of our weakness and sin, we ought to be boasting and proclaiming the saving grace of God. The ultimate expression of God's power was the victory of the cross. Raising Jesus from the dead ushered in the season of grace. We have the unprecedented blessing of living within the powerful grace of God. We can never be strong in the face of the weakness of sin, but God can. It is for that sin that he gave the ultimate sacrifice. We should strive to live a holy and righteous life, but in the times of sin, we rely on the grace of God. This is how the world sees that God is loving and powerful. We can take no credit, he deserves it all, for he has covered our sin and used our weakness to show himself perfect in strength. Praise God that in the time of our weakness, he is perfect in strength!

Save Me, O God

"Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.  I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My  eyes fail,  looking for my God."
Psalm 68:1-3 


Have you ever felt like David did when he wrote these words? Sometimes it seems as if we are literally up to our necks in the mire of life. It seems that we are so low that we have to look up to see anything. We feel lonely, abandoned and desperate. Is there an answer for such a predicament? Is there a way out that we just can't see? Is God willing to help us? Such questions cross everyone's minds. We have all faced times like this.
    The miry pit can be a lonely place. It is a predicament that causes us to do whatever we can to get out of it. When it seems that there is no one to help, we depend on our strength, but in the end it fails. We simply are not strong enough to get out on our own. David knew this and so he cried out to God. But even in that, he found little comfort. Sometimes we don't find it either. When we are in the pit, our prayers seem like loud cries for help that echo off the barren hills. No one is there to answer. And so we come to a place where there is no more strength, no more voice, no more crying, no more hope for rescue. 
    There are some who, when in such a place, simply ignore God. It is tempting to say, "God isn't helping me, so I might as well look somewhere else." This is exactly what the enemy would like us to do. But we must never lose the hope that God will rescue us. I think that sometimes, God wants us to come to a place where there is absolutely nothing we can do to fix the situation. We don't have the strength or the resources. We pray prayers that bounce back at us. We search for God, but cannot find him in the situation. It is truly a desperate place, clouded by the mire around us. 
    There remains only one thing to do. With our last bit of strength, with a voice barely strong enough to whisper, we cry out: "Save me, O God!" It may not be an eloquent prayer. It may not express all the things we want to say to God. But it is effective. It moves God. Most of all, it removes all our own ideas about how he should help us. We have prayed all those prayers already and nothing happened. So with desperation, we simply give up, releasing God to save us in whatever way he desires. Again it makes me think of God's kingdom. We think we must be strong, but the greatest blessings of God come when we are exceedingly weak. Weakness in our flesh is great strength in the kingdom. So I release all my ideas and desires to God. Today I am content to say just one thing to God: "Save me!" If you find yourself in the mire, join me in this heartfelt petition: "Save me, O God!"
   

The Greatest in the Kingdom

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"
Matthew 18:2-4 


My daughter and her husband recently got a kitten. They have three little girls, the youngest being three. Of course the kids were delighted when they saw the cat, and loved it from the first day. One day my wife was talking to my daughter and happened to ask about the cat and how the girls were doing with it. My daughter said that the older two girls loved the cat, but that the three-year-old was mean to it. Later my wife told me about er conversation and asked why I thought our little granddaughter would act that way toward the cat. I replied, "Well, it's the first time she has had any seniority!" I think this may apply when we consider the scripture above.
    My granddaughter looks up to everyone. Her parents, her grandparents, even her sisters, are all bigger, taller, and more knowledgeable. That little girl has lived her whole life humbled by those around her...until the cat showed up. The point Jesus made when he spoke these words to the disciples was exactly the same. Unless we become as little children, completely humble, we will not be great in the kingdom of heaven. It is the humble one who is the greatest. 
    Jesus said, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Emphasis mine). Like my granddaughter, once we feel like we have some seniority or think of ourselves better than someone else, we have forfeited our great place in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, we must change to become like that little child. We have to take back what we gave away. The only way to do this is through the help of the Holy Spirit. It takes a conscious effort in agreement with him in order to change and become like a humble child again. We are to be so humble that we consider everyone greater than ourselves. We all recognize and know that God is greater, but do we position ourselves as humble servants before people? Jesus did, and we are called to do the same. This is what makes us a person of standing in the kingdom of God. 
    It is easy to say these words, but much more difficult to do. We have learned to be selfish over a long period of time, getting back to the humility of a child takes time. But it is a moment by moment decision. Think about it. Consider the powerful message Jesus delivered that day. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you become like a little child, humble in all you do and say. It will take a strong resolve. Living like this runs completely opposite to what the world will tell you. Everything in God's kingdom is opposite to the ways of the world. It is not selfish to want to be the greatest in God's kingdom, because when we are, many people will join us there. And I believe that is the ultimate goal.

Fear of the Unknown

"During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It is a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.'"
Matthew 14:25-27


As I was reading this morning, I came across the scriptures above. Nearly two years ago, I had written in the margin of my Bible these words: "Sometimes it's scary when Jesus is coming." I don't remember what was happening in my life at this particular time, but the truth of what I had written caught my attention again today. There is an element of being a follower of Christ that is, in a sense, scary. When I trust my life, my future, my hopes, and my dreams to someone else (God), it becomes an out of my control situation. In that, there is certainly an element of apprehension and fear. 
    The truth is we don't really know what the future holds for us. Our eternal future is set, we know that. But what happens in this life is unknown. Some people ride through life seemingly without any issues or difficulties. But most people go through seasons of struggle or change. So the issue becomes: Do we really trust God?" The things he does, the things he has prepared for us, the destiny that is already set for us is murky and unknown. So when he comes, we, like the disciples struggle with fear. Is this God's will or something else?, We ask ourselves this question because we don't always understand. 
    It seems that we must get past the element of fear that keeps us from receiving what God has for us when change comes. There is one thing that we can be sure of. God will let us know when he comes. Notice that Jesus announced himself as he approached the boat. He knew that they were fearful and he wanted to relieve their fears and give them full assurance that he had come to calm the storm. 
    So when life seems uncertain. When circumstances seem out of your control, understand that you have given the control of your future to God. He is bringing his will for your life down to earth. If you find yourself full of fear or if you are apprehensive about your future, rest in the words of Jesus as he says to you, "It is I." You may not know exactly what the future holds, but as the saying goes, 'you know who holds the future.' Be secure in the loving promise of God that he has your future in his hands and has planned the best for your life. Then put to rest your fear of the unknown.

The Agony of Defeat

"As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated."
2 Chronicles 20:22

We know that we are not defeated. We are victorious through Christ. If we feel defeated it is usually because we are thinking that way. If we don't see the answer right away, we think the enemy has won. If the direction isn't presented immediately, we say we feel deserted by God. Today, we need to understand that we are never defeated. We walk in the same victory that Christ does. He won that victory at the cross. In the Old Testament, there are several stories about God giving direction to his people when they faced a daunting enemy. The scripture above is one of them. There is a key found there that will help us walk in the victory we already have.
    There are two ways to fight a battle: One way is to go out there yourself bearing your own sword. If you have more strength than the enemy, you may win. The other way is to allow God to give you direction about how to fight the battle. Remember, Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual rulers. So your battle is never about a person. Even if someone appears to be your enemy, it is because that person has been influenced by our real enemy, the devil. So we must first understand that our battles are spiritual ones rather than physical ones. When we understand this and we stop fighting the battles ourselves, it opens up a whole new dimension of victory. God knows the best way to fight the battle. In some cases, you will not have to fight at all. God will win the battle.
    The key I would like us to see today is this: In our scripture, they began to sing and praise God. The result of this was victory over their enemies. Notice that they did not fight at all. It says that God laid the ambushes against them. All this happened because the people praised God. It is so important to praise God. It is the one thing he really desires. God does not impose his will on us. He wants to bless us and see his will accomplished on earth, but he will not force it on us. In the same way, God does not force us to praise him, but he wants us to. So when we face battles that seem impossible to win, our first course of action should always be to praise God. We praise him for who he is, for what he has done already, and what he is going to do. This releases the armies of heaven to go before us and fight. The agony of defeat is never ours to endure. If we will allow God to fight for us, we win...every time.

Overflow

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Luke 6:45

Common to humanity is the truth that we speak what is in our hearts. Although many people will refuse to acknowledge that their soul dictates what they say, the truth remains. Those without a relationship with God, have dead spirits. Those with a relationship have a live and growing spirit within. It is from this place that the soul which consists of our minds, our wills, and our emotions, receives life or death. This then is transferred to our mouths and we speak what is within our souls (hearts). Clearly, Christians should have good things coming out of our mouths because our living spirit, infilled by the Holy Spirit is speaking to our souls all the time. So the things inside us are good.
    We know that people who do not know God will speak vile things. This is nothing new. But what about Christians? I'm not here to say that all Christians speak evil. Sometimes we do, because the sin nature is still working within us. But there are many good things that come out of our mouths because of the work of God in us and the Holy Spirit within. When our lives are changed, our mouths change, too. The thing that bothers me has more to do with the way we feed ourselves spiritually. You see, it takes spiritual food to feed our spirits. This food fills us and overflows to our souls. Then what we talk about reflects the fact that we are full of God and his Spirit. But what happens we are not feeding our spirits? What happens when we give out more than we are taking in?
    I have been in a struggle to control my weight for my entire life. In the course of this, I have learned that if I consume more calories than I burn via exercise, I gain weight. When I expend more calories by exercise and eat fewer calories, I lose weight. In the flesh, it is generally a good thing to lose excess weight. But in our spiritual lives, the opposite is true. We are to delight ourselves in the richest of fare. God gives us the finest and richest spiritual food. This is intended to fill us up and be stored in us. In this way, when it comes time to speak to others, our mouths speaks out of what we have stored up inside. What God has done, said, and shown us spills out to others. If we don't feed our spirits on the Word of God and the words of his Spirit, we often will expend more 'spiritual words' than we have to give. Soon, we find ourselves without any stored up spiritual fat. The things we say become empty because there is no life behind the words.
    Trust me, I have been there. As a pastor required to preach and teach on a weekly basis, I have faced the grim task of sharing from a heart that is not full. In the end, these words have little value because there is little life. So I have learned that anything I teach, preach, or share with others must come out of my full heart. So I feed myself. I have learned to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit, I have learned that I must take in God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to quicken it to my life. In this process, everything that comes out my mouth is seasoned with the salt of the presence of God. The things shared are valuable because they have already worked in me. They have already changed my life. The words have God's power because they are alive in me.
   I encourage you to feed your spirit. Let the things of God overflow into your soul and then out of your mouth as you share the gospel of the kingdom. There are no spiritual diets. We are never to limit our intake of spiritual food. Enjoy the spiritual feast that God sets before you. Eat it until you are stuffed. Then get some spiritual exercise by speaking out what has filled you up. This is healthy overflow.

Our Need to Remember

"Joshua set up twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day."
Joshua 4:9

After a long time in the desert, the Israelites finally crossed the Jordan River. God did a miraculous thing and they walked across on dry land. Joshua set up the twelve stones to be an altar, a memorial before God. He told the people that when their children and children's children asked what the stones were, they would always remember that this was where God performed a miracle, the place where they were delivered and brought into the promised land.
    I have times and places in my life where I have seen the miraculous hand of God. These were times when we needed him to show up and he did, times of breakthrough and deliverance. I have learned to set up altars. These altars need to be strong enough to withstand time and distance. They must be visible to me at all times, so I can say, "This was the time God delivered me." I set up altars by writing the events down on paper. For me, this is how I remember what God has done.
    God speaks to all of us. We hear words of direction, promises for our future, and encouragements to change our old ways. But sometimes we forget what God has said. In my life, God does not give me all the direction at one time. He speaks something that gives me direction and then at a later time, it is clarified more. If I do not pay attention to these and set up altars of remembrance, I will not be able to make sense of the things that are happening in my life. God will speak what he is going to do, and then he will do it. If we forget what he has said, we may feel lost in the events of life. We must remember so we can look back and see the hand of God moving on our behalf. 

    I know that all of us have memories of when God did something amazing for us. Go back and set up altars to commemorate those times and places. Remember what he has said, so that when change happens, you are not lost in the struggle. Pay attention to the direction he gives. Show the altars to your children, loved ones, and friends. Let them be visible enough that you never forget what God has done and said. You will be blessed, your children will be blessed and generations to follow will remember the legacy you left...remembering God.

This is Perfection

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 5:46-48

I think that most of us would agree that we love our families and friends. There may be times when they seem a little unlovable, but when it comes down to it, we love them and will walk with them through both times of fire and times of joy. There are many unbelieving people who do this, too. Fathers love their children, mothers love their children, husbands love wives, wives love husbands etc. This kind of love is common among all people. We say that we love the brothers and sisters in the church as well. We greet them with hugs and warm hand shakes. We smile when we see them. But Jesus made it clear that even non-believing people do these things. They love their family and friends. It's our nature. But what must set us apart from the rest of the world is our love for those who don't love us back.
    Jesus spent much time talking to us about loving our neighbors and our enemies. This is where it gets difficult. I have a tree in my back yard that is extremely large. It grows prolifically and sometimes encroaches on my neighbor's side of the fence. Several times, he has made the trip to my door to remind me that the tree is getting out of hand. We are cordial when we talk, but I have found it difficult to love this person. Other neighbors have trees that encroach on my side of the fence, but I don't bother them with it. I simply cut back the branches. So why does this neighbor need to be so difficult? The problem is not him, it's me. I have no reason to expect that he will love me, but I need to love him. This will be the greatest witness of God's love that he may ever see. I have the responsibility to love him. In this is found the perfection that God requires of us.
    I don't have the space to write about all the times I have shouted at the other drivers through closed car windows, or the times I have said dishonoring things about other people. These are shameful and I resist talking about them. I know that I am not the only one who deals with these things. We are all guilty from time to time. But God has been speaking to me relentlessly about my need to change. You see, I have allowed these kinds of behaviors to reign in my life for a very long time. Getting rid of them is difficult. But when I confess and repent, the Holy Spirit is there to remind me of my new resolve to love my enemies. 
    I am confident that many can relate to my story. The way we can find perfection like God, is to love our enemies. Why? Because God does. Let me be clear, we will never be like God. He is absolutely perfect, we are not. But in this area, we have been empowered to love perfectly as God does. But we have to make a choice. Every time the driver cuts us off, every time the neighbor complains, we decide whether to love them or not. It seems like such a simple and small thing, but it is one of the measuring rods God uses to judge. Let's resolve to be people who honor God, follow Christ's example, and live lives of love for others, regardless of whether they are friends or enemies. We can be perfect, but it takes a conscious effort. God will remember, for this is perfection to him.

Empty Promises

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."
1 Corinthians 1:17

There is one great truth that separates Christianity from all other religions, doctrines, wisdom, and teaching. This truth is the fact that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, ascending to the right hand of the Father. The power of the cross is beyond what we can comprehend or even imagine. It is time that we as Christians, begin to put full confidence in the cross of Christ and what it has accomplished in our lives. All other teachings, including the wisdom of the world must be removed from our thinking. This wisdom that does not come from God is nothing more than empty promises. We will never gain any eternal value through living by this kind of wisdom.
    You know some of the teachings of the world. Some of them are so deep set in us that we forget that they really are worldly things. Statements like: "Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" are opposed to the power of the cross. "God helps those who help themselves" is contrary to the Word of God. "The one with the most toys, wins" promotes a selfish life that will come to nothing in the end. These are but a few of the things that have made their way into our thinking. It has to change.
    The cross of Christ is powerful. There is no way that it can ever lose its power. The only way we can forfeit this power is to speak and live by the wisdom of the world. The cross is the centerpiece of the restoration of God's kingdom that Jesus accomplished through his incarnation and victory over the enemy. We must learn to live according to the power of the cross and the principles of God's kingdom instead of the worldly teachings that are relentlessly pounded into our intellect. All we need do is look at the lives of those who lived by faith as recorded in the Bible. They did things that completely opposed human thinking. They sacrificed their homes, their ways of life, their bodies, their wealth, their reputations and more to follow the ways of the kingdom. Christians are not supposed to exist within the culture of the world, we are to CHANGE the culture of the world!
    Is the cross emptied of its power in your life? have you chosen to live by the standards of the world instead of the way of the cross? Have you compromised the power of the cross by watering it down with the wisdom of the world? These are things that can be corrected. It takes confession before God, repentance and willingness to change, and a faithful heart that will passionately seek after God and his kingdom. With all confidence I can tell you that the wisdom of the world will empty the cross of its power in your life. If you eliminate this worldly wisdom, the cross and the work of Christ will manifest in glorious victory. The ways of the world will become poison to your life and the ways of God will be like the sweet fragrance of heaven. So give up the empty promises of the world and receive the truth of the power of the cross!

What Have You Done Lately?

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done."
Revelation 20:11&12


I have never been a teacher of religion. We simply cannot earn favor with God by what we do. The only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ, his Son. We know this to be true. If eternity could be gained by good deeds and religious service, none of us would have a chance. We fall far short of the perfection God requires. Our guarantee of eternal life is found only in receiving the work of Christ on the cross as our sacrificed Lamb, resurrected and ascended to the right hand of the Father. 
    This scripture reminds us that we will all be judged based on what we do. Notice that there are two books listed in the scripture above. The Book of Life is all important. Those whose names are found there enter into God's heavenly kingdom. Those who are not, are destined for eternal fire. But both will be judged on what they have done, their good or bad deeds. It is interesting that there is no reference made to different judgements. Those in the Book of Life and those who are not, still must face the judgement of God concerning their deeds. 
    You see, God is holy. He is compelled by his own holiness to judge all people. No one will be spared the judgement of God. But those who are righteous because of the blood of Jesus will be saved. When we stand before our holy God, we will only be able to say, "It is by the blood of your Son that we stand in righteousness before you." But still, there is the matter of our deeds.
    I believe the deeds that God will judge are based on the things that Jesus taught. He will ask these questions: Did you love your neighbor as yourself? Did you love your enemies? Did you treat others as the Good Samaritan treated the wounded traveler? Husbands, did you love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her? Did you do to others as you would have them do to you? These are simple things, but they are important to God. I think those who will receive the greatest rewards in heaven will be the ones who least expect it. Those humble people are the ones with a generous, giving heart, who do these things without thinking. It is not about how well we speak or how many times we go to church, it is about the simple kindnesses Jesus asks us to display. 
    Do some self-examination. Consider your salvation and thank God for it, but consider what you have done with the great salvation you have been given. Ask yourself the questions. Thank him for his grace, but commit yourself to fulfill the words of Christ. All will be judged. Make yourself ready. 

A Proclamation

"I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips as you know, O Lord. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart. I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly."
Psalm 40:9&10 


At one time, I got involved in a multilevel marketing company. We sold nutritional products that were highly regarded as some of the best manufactured. My wife and I attended several sales training sessions. I remember one speaker who talked about how to share with others about the product. One of the foundations of the company was the telling of stories; how the products had helped us. As the speaker made his point he asked, "Wouldn't you want to tell someone about a great movie you had seen, or a great book you had read?" Well of course we would. His point was, you could honestly tell others about a product you have used that actually helped you. In fact, you would want to, so they could see the same results. I wonder if we Christians need to learn this? We have the greatest news the world will ever hear. Shouldn't we be telling others?
    Some Christians are great at selling religion. They tell others about how they live; not doing certain things that may be harmful, and doing things that are beneficial. This is the propagation of rules. Although these certainly are important things to living a healthy spiritual life, this misses the point. The good news is the story of Jesus and what he has done for us. Over a thousand years before the birth of Christ, the Psalmists, David knew that the proclamation of the glory of God was absolutely essential.
    We cannot be silent about our wonderful God. We must, like David declare his righteousness, his faithfulness, his salvation, and his love. These are the things that will cause people to want a relationship with God. There is nowhere else that they can find such a complete salvation. The key is to look at ourselves. It is critical for us to examine our own lives from time to time. It is important to remember from what depths we were rescued. When we do, we see that God's righteousness has saved us, his faithfulness has never let us down, his salvation has granted us eternal life, and his love sustains us through everything we face. How great is the Father's love for us! When we are excited about how God has changed our lives, we will want to tell others about it. Revelation 12:11 says, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." We know that the blood of Jesus has set us free and given us eternal life. This is a fact. But people need to see how God has changed our lives. What did God deliver you from? What has changed in your life since you came to Christ? This is what we share with the world. 
    I encourage you to not be silent any longer. These are the days of the great harvest. God is going to use us to draw many to him. You don't have to be a theologian. You don't have to be a preacher. All you need is Christ in your life and a testimony about what he has done for you. You may think that you will never have a hand in changing the world, but this one thing will change the world. It will mean eternal life for those who hear and obey God. It will mean that God's kingdom is closer to the earth. This is world-changing, and you can be a part of it. Simply make some proclamations!

The Key of David

"These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Revelation 3:7&8 


In the second and third chapters of the book of Revelation, there are letters written to seven churches. The apostle John recorded the letters as he heard them uttered by Jesus himself. John was on the island of Patmos when he received the Revelation. he saw Jesus who told him what to write to each of the churches. The scripture above is from the letter written to the church at Philadelphia. I believe these words apply to us as we walk on the Christian journey of life. 
    No one really knows what the "Key of David" is. This phrase only appears this one time in the Bible. Although we don't know exactly what is meant by the phrase, we can deduce that it refers to the fact that Jesus holds the keys to doors that only he can open and shut. These things concern our future, our destinies. Only God knows the future and only he has written our destinies. Although we may try to kick open doors in our own way, it never really quite works. God's will for us is unstoppable. He always brings us to a place where he has an open door for us to go through and he keeps us from kicking open doors that he has closed. 
    Although we may be as one who has little strength, we are still able to walk through the doors that God opens for us. In fact, I receive this scripture as a direct word to me from God himself. By faith I know that there is a door standing wide open that God has placed in front of me. I have tried many of the closed doors and they will not open, because I do not hold the key, Jesus does. I may not see the open door because I am looking for something else. I may not see the door because I don't want to go where it may lead me. But the reality remains that God has opened a door for me and in order to walk in his will, I must go through the door. 
    If you have little strength, if you are wondering where the open door is, if you have tried every door and all seem closed, then this scripture is for you. This word from God is pointed toward you. Don't worry about your future, for God has it in his hands. Don't be concerned when every door seems closed, for God has an open one waiting for you. The only key that you have is the key of faithfulness. If you remain faithful to God, he will direct you to the door. Please don't waste your life pounding on doors that will never open. Go where God leads and walk through, into the place he has prepared. Remember, he holds the Key of David. He opens and closes doors. There is no person, including you, who can open what he has shut, or can shut what he has opened. Trust him, ask him where the door is, and walk through it. He is faithful to you, be faithful in your pursuit of him.

A Blessing

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."
3 John 2

All through the Bible, we find that blessings are very important. In the Old Testament, blessings were always pronounced on children and grandchildren as one neared death. God pronounced many blessings throughout his Word. God is a God of blessing. He wants to bless his children and he sometimes uses us to pronounce those blessings for him.
    The scripture above was written by the apostle John. He was very close to Jesus and had insights into the life of Christ that no one else had. I believe that while he walked with Jesus, he learned the importance of pronouncing blessings. In this verse, John is pronouncing a blessing over the health of a man named Gaius, to whom the letter was written. When John wrote, he was declaring that his friend's health would be blessed as much as his spirit had already been blessed. He was speaking a blessing that said, "I am believing that your health is going to prosper even as your soul, your spirit, has already prospered." He knew that the same God who transforms our souls is fully capable of transforming our sickly bodies to be in good health.
    John made it clear that he was praying for his friend. The blessing he pronounced was a direct result of the prayers he had uttered many times. All this can only happen when one person genuinely loves another. To pray for someone out of love holds great power in the kingdom of God. John did not use phrases like, "I hope," or "I want." No. He said, "I pray..." There is no greater love than to honestly give up your time and your agenda to pray for a friend. More is accomplished in a person's life through prayer than we will ever know in this lifetime. But eternity will tell the story of those who were changed simply because someone prayed for them and blessed them in the name of Jesus.
    It seems simple, and it is.Praying for someone and blessing them is a simple thing to do, but it cannot be done with only a passing thought. It takes a genuine love for someone, a heart for God, and a desire to see the best God has for a person. Let's start thinking of others, praying for them, and then blessing them because of our love for them. It is easy to get caught up in our own world. Our prayers are often dominated by our own needs. But when we begin to look outside ourselves and develop God's heart for others, our prayers change. Pray for those you love. Bless them in the name of Jesus. Eternity will be changed because of one act of selflessness. And just think, someone is praying for you, too.

Rejoicing with Others

"We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests."
Psalm 20:5


King David, the man after God's own heart, wrote these words. He was a man who had faults. He fell into sin and suffered hardships because of it. But still he was a great man of character. No other Bible character has been given the respect David received. There are many stories about David. We have good insight into his life. But the Psalms he wrote give us insight into his character. Through the Psalms, we gain insight into why he would be called 'a man after God's own heart.'
     This is one of my favorite passages in the Psalms. David is declaring that he will rejoice with others who are rejoicing. This is an important part of the Christian life and David modeled it for us. The statement he made is absolutely genuine. No one made him write this, it was in his heart. He was saying that he and those around him would be genuinely excited for the one who would be victorious. They would rejoice with them and praise God because of the victory in their lives. I wonder if we feel the same way when we think of other Christians?
    When others gain victory, do we rejoice with them? Are we excited to see our brothers and sisters succeed, even though we may be struggling? Sometimes we look at the successes of others, and instead of rejoicing with them, we say things like: "Why doesn't that happen to me?" or "I wish I had what they do." These responses come from the old nature that has been defeated within us. These responses are the kinds of things that the world says. Jealousy and envy have no place among the people of God. Instead, like David we are to rejoice with others who are victorious. Our response will either be a fruit of the Spirit or a worldly jealousy.
    Since David was a man after God's heart, we ought to imitate him. We ought to respond in the same way he did. When others prosper, succeed, or gain a great victory, we ought to rejoice with them because they are sons and daughters of God, members of the same family. Our response is an indicator of our relationship with God. You see, if the Holy Spirit is living in us and we are cooperating with him, the fruit of the Spirit will be a normal part of our lives. We will respond with joy and kindness when others succeed. These responses are born out of a heart that genuinely loves and honors others. Whether they are friends, acquaintances or people you barely know, your response says more about you than you can imagine. Don't be distraught if you have responded negatively, simply ask God to give you a heart like David's and rejoice with those who are rejoicing.