Friday, July 23, 2010

Being with HIM...IN LOVE!


[This is an article I wrote awhile back, but never ended up publishing. I thought I'd go ahead and share it here as I hope it will be an encouragement to many!]


“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame, before Him in Love.” Eph 1:4


If not already IN LOVE, most of us dream about LOVE! That’s just the way God made us…He made us to be fulfilled by giving and receiving love! But thankfully, He didn’t just stop with that…He also showed us how.


First off, let’s take a quick peek at my newly-wed friends, Todd and Lisa.

~

After the fairy-tale wedding and blissful honeymoon were over, Todd and Lisa began to settle into what they know would be the life of their dreams. They already had a beautiful home of their own, complete with a white picket fence in a friendly neighborhood, and they both had secure jobs in great working environments. They had the support and blessing of family and friends, all the resources needed to help build a great marriage, and a mountain of new gifts and gadgets to meet their every need. But most important of all, they had each other…and they were committed to meeting each other’s needs, for they were in LOVE!


Fast forward five years:


Todd and Lisa still live in the same cute house with the white picket fence, but life has become very routine. They now have two toddlers, and it seems that expenses are multiplying now that Lisa is no longer working. They still have the support and blessing of family and friends. They still have the same great resources for building a “healthy marriage” and they are still using some of their wedding gifts. But, for some reason something is different…


Lisa is exhausted a lot of the time from trying to keep up with the kids, and resents the fact that she and Todd hardly ever get time to really talk like they use to. Todd on the other hand feels that the kids are the only thing Lisa really worries about now and so he has become more and more consumed with his work. In fact, he often doesn’t come home until quite late. By the time he does get home, Lisa is too tired to say more then a “hi” and barely gives him a quick peck on the cheek as she falls exhausted into bed. And so, day by day their routine life goes…and they drift father and father apart. “What’s wrong?” they each wonder… “Are we falling out of Love?”

~

Now to those of us looking on, it’s pretty obvious what at least one part of their problem is! They may be professing Christians with a great foundation, and they may have been given all the tools they need to keep their marriage “healthy, zesty, and alive!” But…if they don’t consistently make time BEING THERE for each other, guarding their relational intimacy, and making each other’s needs their top priority, sooner or later, their relationship will drift apart. It’s just a given. It’s just the way life happens…


[Of course, deeper than just "Being there for each other" though - what about their experience "Being there" with Christ? If that is lost in the day to day and the mundane, they for sure wont be able to give what they need to each other. For they must be filled with a overflowing and supernatural strength that comes only from Christ. But I have digressed....back to point here!]


So how can you expect to stay in LOVE with someone you barely talk to or listen to? How can you expect to stay in LOVE with someone that you don’t spend time “being with” anymore? How can you expect someone to stay in LOVE with you when all you have to offer at the beginning or end of the day is a quick kiss and a brief “hi honey”


From the outside looking in, we all know…no relationship will survive (let alone thrive) on these terms! It just doesn’t work!!! Yet, interestingly enough, time and time again…when it comes to the spiritual realm, and to our relationship with God, isn’t this EXACTLY what so many of us try to do?


At first, of course, when we give our lives to the Lord, everything is wonderful…and we are in LOVE! We’ve just pledged upon the altar of our hearts to surrender our life to Him forever. We’ve pledge to serve Him and to love Him until the end of time…and what a great feeling we have. Our sins have been forgiven, and our burdens have been taken away. Our life is not our own anymore, it is His. We do not have to walk this path alone. What peace and joy and happiness this new relationship brings.


O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the [woman] that trusteth in Him.” Ps 34:3-5


“The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Prov 4:18


Truly this is what God designed each and every day of our lives with Him to be! It’s a glorious experience…a beautiful journey and love relationship that should only get better with each passing day. But, as with all LOVE relationships…it takes commitment, consistency and most importantly, a continual “dying to self!” In fact, as I’ve been realizing more and more…keeping this deep intimate walk with God is not just a peaceful ride down the stream (as many Christian teachers might lead us to believe). It is outright WAR – war against the powers of darkness, and war to protect the throne that belongs only to our God.


Finally, my [sisters], be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6: 10-12


As one Christian author translates for our modern times:


“An intensity such as never before is taking possession of the world. In amusement, in moneymaking, in the contest for power, in the very struggle for existence, there is a terrible force that engrosses body and mind and soul. In the midst of this maddening rush, God is speaking. He bids us come apart and commune with Him. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Ps 46:10)


Although living the life of a young single, I have to admit I spent far too much of my early years and walk with Christ living just like Todd and Lisa in my walk with God. It wasn’t that I didn’t love God, but I just got distracted and busy - often busy doing very good things. And over time, I would find myself drifting farther from God, til it was becoming a "form" rather than a relationship. While professing to live for God, I discovered, I didn’t really KNOW HIM as I should! Thankfully, once I realized my condition, time and time again, God rescued me and drew me back to Himself.


Thankfully…no matter our past or present failures, we have great hope for the future, for we are promised:


“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!” Rom 10:13

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9


However, as I’ve been learning over the years, there’s more to being a true Christian than just calling upon the Lord, and confessing and forsaking our sins: We have to learn to Be with the Lord…continually!


It’s what Eric and Leslie always talk about when they say “abiding with Him.” And this truly is the KEY! However, just recently my brother pointed out a verse that I’d never really noticed before. It’s Mark 3:14-15 and it goes like this:


“And He ordained [or chose] twelve, that they should be with Him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.”


At first I didn’t catch the significance…then he compared this verse with Matt 7:21-23.


“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”


As I noticed here, both groups are seeking to DO the same work. For all practical appearances, the fruits of their life seem to be the same. (“By their fruits you shall know them!” right??) But as we see, it’s so much deeper than that. Jesus says, “You can’t just call upon me, but you have to do the will of my father…and you can’t just do it (for these professed “to do” just that), but you have to first BE in a knowing relationship with ME! For if you don’t KNOW me…all your doing will count for nothing!”


So, just as Jesus didn’t just ordain or choose twelve disciples to go do good works and save the world. He chose and ordained these men (as He’s also chosen you and me) to first BE in a relationship with Him! Of course, if we have that relationship with Him…it’s only natural that those good works follow. But they will follow in His strength and power and for His glory, not for our own.


His first call upon our life is sooooo simple that most of the Christian world has tripped right over it. It’s simply to BE WITH HIM!


“Be still and know that I am God.” Ps 46:10


Why is this sooooooo difficult today???


I think the following quote gives us part of the answer:


“Many, even in their seasons of devotion, fail of receiving the blessing of real communion with God. They are in too great haste. With hurried steps they press through the circle of Christ’s loving presence, pausing perhaps a moment within the sacred precincts, but not waiting for counsel. They have no time to remain with the divine Teacher. With their burdens they return to their work. These workers can never attain the highest success until they learn the secret of strength. They must give themselves time to think, to pray, to wait upon God for a renewal of physical, mental, and spiritual power. They need the uplifting influence of His Spirit. Receiving this, they will be quickened by fresh life. The wearied frame and tired brain will be refreshed, the burdened heart will be lightened. Not a pause for a moment in His presence, but personal contact with Christ, to sit down in companionship with Him—this is our [greatest] need. “


God is calling each of us (single and married) to a beautiful fulfilling love relationship with Him! Better than any human groom could or ever will provide. He’s calling us to a relationship that’s so strong it will carry us through the storms of life, a relationship of such deep sacred trust that it will never be broken, a relationship filled with intimacy so sweet that it will endure throughout all eternity!


“As the apple tree among the trees of the wood,

So is my Beloved among the sons.

I sat down under His shadow with great delight,

And His fruit was sweet to my taste.

He brought me to the banqueting house,

And His banner over me was love.” Song of Sol 2:3


He longs for this relationship…and He’s created us as human BE-ings, for this relationship. So let’s relish this verse one more time, with the proper emphasis:


“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame, BE-fore Him [with Him]… IN LOVE!” Eph 1:4


Ahhhhhh….I just love dreaming about this LOVE!


Practical Tips for getting your Spiritual Love-life in line :


1. Write out a list of all the time consuming things you do in your life that aren’t essential to life. (For example, sleeping and eating are essential for life, but other things, like the following, while important, don’t keep you physically alive: working, spending time with family, watching television, talking on the phone, devotional time with God, e-mail, chat, spending time surfing the Internet, time in deeper Bible study, witnessing/outreach, shopping, cleaning house, scrap booking, facebooking etc etc).


Now, number each item in order of spiritual priority…For example, #1 for things of extreme eternal priority, and #10 for those of least eternal/spiritual priority. Now…place these items in level of spiritual importance on your schedule. You may find that you have to cut some things out of your life when you do this (maybe even learn to do more without) but you will discover in not too long, that those things (distracters) really weren’t that important after all. For as you make Christ the center of your life and everything you do, you will find a fulfillment and joy in life like you’ve never had before!


“I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved…God is my strength and my power, and He maketh my way perfect!” Ps 16:8 & II Sam 22:33


2. Make time for “routine dates” out with God. Yes, you heard me right! Just like you need extra routine quality time doing special things with your spouse or best friend to keep the relationship thriving…you also need this time with God. Time above and beyond your daily devotions…time out to really learn about each other, to take time to journal answers to prayer, to make collections of your favorite “love letters” or promises from His Word, time to memorize scripture, or just look up at the sky and think of all the things you love about Him. Maybe this will be a routine day, like His Sabbath, or just a special evening here or there that you carve out, free from distractions, for just the two of you. Whatever the case, you will find this “time out” to be such a refreshing experience…and after you’ve done it a few times, I promise you will BE even more…In LOVE!


“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3


3. When we’re in LOVE…we can hardly stop talking about the object of our affection to anyone within listening range. But what about our LOVE with God? Seek to cultivate the habit of sharing the blessings of God with others. As you speak of His goodness and love, your own faith and love will be strengthened and invigorated…and you may also bolster the faith of those around you. This isn’t preaching…this is sharing from the abundance of your heart, what God is to you!


“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. Mark 5:19


“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 10:32


4. Last off: Stop putting your expectations for happiness and fulfillment in Human Love for you will always be disappointed! Instead, continually seek to put your heart and needs completely in God. Test Him! Try Him! He will be faithful, for He is the only LOVE that truly satisfies!


“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” Ps 16:11

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Feeling a little "barren"??


This past week I heard a sermon called "Grace to Overcome - Wrestling til the breaking of the day." It was talking about the battle of Eph 6 and how like Jacob wrestling with the angel (Gen 32), we can't give up...but must persist until the blessing comes. The speaker brought out some interesting points that I hadn't thought about before.

All through scripture we see different woman in the "agony of barrenness" - they desperately wanted children, but they could not have children. And yet, it was from these very woman that men of supernatural strength, power, and blessing of God were born. Take a look!

For starters, we have Sara - who was barren until she was 90. Of herself she was incapable of having children, then God intervened and Isaac was born. Rebekah was barren, then Isaac prayed for her and Esau and Jacob (Israel) was born. Then Rachel was barren, then God blessed and Joseph and Benjamin were born - Joseph later being a deliver of Israel. Monoah's wife was barren and then she birthed Samson (another deliverer of the nation). Then Hannah was barren and then after pleading with God, she had Samuel, a prophet of Israel. Ruth was barren & widowed (double curse), and then she found mercy with Boaz, and they begat Obed who begat Jesse, the father of King David which was in the line of Christ. Elizabeth was elderly and barren, then the Spirit of God intervened and she had John the Baptist. Mary...well, she wasn't exactly barren, but she hadn't had relations with any man...and yet she received the crowning gift of all mothers - she received seed of the Holy Spirit itself. And of course, Christ was born!

The significant thing to note though, is that ALL of these woman were unable of themselves to have the child that God intended them to bear...most all of them (besides Mary), the world termed "Barren & unfruitful." (And then Mary, they labeled an Harlot - how much more shameful would that be....it's not that you couldn't have children, but you went and had one illegitimately!!)

Anyway, not to digress. Each of these woman could have remained barren, and accepted their lot with complacency...and yet they were NOT willing to stay in this state. They cried out to God, pleaded with God, like Jacob wrestled with the angel, for God's blessing. And God heard. He was just waiting for them to ask....for He had special plans for them, and it was their barrenness that he turned into glory as He birthed supernatural men from them - all important leaders in Israel and the nation!

Rachel's actual cry to God was, "Give me children or I die!!!"

As I've been realizing more and more the calling God has on each of our lives, I've been realizing more and MORE how utterly impossible this calling is for us to fulfill. IMPOSSIBLE!!! Yes, totally impossible, at least in our own strength! What God wants to do in and thru our lives can ONLY be birthed supernaturally, by His spirit and power...but how do we grab hold of His Spirit and power? It seems impossible...and as we wrestle with the Holy Spirit, we realize the significance of our own barrenness. We know what God is calling us too...but it's preposterous! We just can't do it!!!!!

"This day is a day of trouble and rebuke and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth and there is no strength to bring forth." Isa 37:3

Yep, that's us...God wants to birth something supernatural through our lives, but there is no strength to bring forth this "child." As the speaker challenged:

Are we shamed over our childlessness? Do we weep in the anguish and shame of our ministries that conceive not the new life, the new birth in others? Are we not grieved over our impotence, our infertility, our inability to beget children in the faith? Are we not yet fed-up with our weakness to pray and see liberty won and captives set-free? Are we not yet sickened that this world sees nothing marvelous or powerful in our lives to cause them to wonder what it is that we possess? Are we not shamed that this world sees us not as a threat, but merely as a nuisance? May we, the barren in Israel, cry out in supplication. May we echo the demand of Rachel unto our Bridegroom – “Give me children or I die!”


God has incredible things in store for our lives.....SO MUCH BIGGER than anything we have yet seen or comprehended....yet we too often have settled, not realizing that there is sooo much more and we must seek after it, plead for it, pray for it, cling to the promises until God brings this forth.

The Blessing is for those who overcome. If we don’t persevere until the breaking of the day, we cannot expect to receive this hallowed name reserved for those willing to prove the glory of God in their spirit, soul, and bodies. The Christ-Life is a life of wrestling in Faith. First, we wrestle for the power and then we wrestle, enabled by the power of God, against all that would dare stand against His rule and reign, His Kingdom and His Glory.

"Through faith, Sara also herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised." Heb 11:11

Sara had FAITH...faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the WORD of God...and she clung to God's promise until He proved faithful!

The following are some challenging thoughts that the speaker shared that I think we should all contemplate:

You Have Not Because You Ask Not

You only possess that which you have faith to possess

§ What do you believe God’s inheritance is? How far do you believe it reaches this side of Heaven?

§ Do you believe God is able to perform that which He promises?

§ Do you believe enough in your God to actually do what He asks you to do in order to see those promises realized in your life?

§ Are you willing to wrestle for the blessings of God’s Kingdom? Are you willing to travail in order to prevail? Or are you one that believes baby’s are delivered by storks?

§ Is it possible that what the Bible promises is actually true even though we haven’t witnessed it personally in the Church’s we attended growing up?

§ Are we willing to be like the first generation of Israel to cross-over the Jordan, and allow God to do things before our eyes that we, personally, had never seen Him do before? May the reality of the Kingdom come to earth in our generation, and may we not just talk about the reality of the Kingdom in eloquent prose.


This should be soooo encouraging to all of us...for while we've seen a lot of the "faith life" in our generation, we must realize there is sooooo much more! (And I want the MORE!!!) However, as I'm reminded anew, we can't birth what God wants to bring in our lives to in our own strength. It is only when we cry out to God in shame and anguish, pleading for MORE, and recognizing our own inability...then when we have come to the END of self, the end of our own strength, He can step in with all His almighty power!

So, my encouragement to all of you...in the past, you may have looked at this "barrenness" as simply a curse - but it's actually an exciting thing - because IF you FEEL BARREN right now spiritually, that means you are at the point that God can actually BIRTH something supernatural in your life...it's an opportunity for God to work miracles and wonders. But we MUST cling to Him, plead with Him...search for Him, seek for Him... "Give me Children, or I die!"

Then, when the child comes forth, we will rejoice that God allowed the season of "barrenness" to bring us to HIM...for truly, no good thing can come, except by HIM!!!

[Come to think of it, both my brothers were born from a time of "barrenness." After I was born, my mom had been told she probably wouldn't be able to have more children due to her health struggles. She didn't even have a "monthly menstrual cycle" for years. So we adopted when I was about 10 years old since she couldn't have children! Then.... "Wah-lah" - she got pregnant. No warning or anything! Brother number one was born. Then the next year, she got pregnant again with number two! It was suppose to be physically impossible...yet it happened! That means God must have some supernaturally special purpose for BOTH of my brothers and for their lives. For, if it had been left to the natural and to the doctor's predictions, they would never have been born! But God knew better!!!!!

Wow!!! I need to call and tell them about this amazing discovery!!]

Sunday, July 18, 2010

The Prayer Path...and the prayer of Power...


Can you see the circle in the grass above? It's not just any circle, worn by some wild creature around a treadmill...it's a prayer path, worn through by a man passionate as Jacob, wrestling and pleading for His God to come and dwell among us, pleading for the blessing. Yes indeed....this very path worn through on the front lawn as a testimony to my heart of what it means to tread the earth all hours of day and night, interceding for the salvation of those we love...

Prayer is one of those spiritual gifts that I have always loved...yet I've come to realize how little I know of this gift. I'm learning to love it more...more than I ever have before...and yet, I'm realizing, I've only barely begun to taste of this great JOY...

Power of Prayer & the Prayer of Power

Recently, I finished another little manuscript on prayer. Much of it was your typical standard devotional...good, but not extra-ordinary. However, amongst all the usual thoughts were a few things that stuck out to me. So I share the following, some in my own words, and some directly quoted from the book:

Why do I have so little victory over sin. Why do I win so few souls to Christ? Why do I grow so slowly into the likeness of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? And God answers in the words of our text, "Neglect of Prayer. You have not because you ask not."

We do not live in a praying age. I think it would be perfectly safe to say, that the church of Christ was never in all its so history so fully and skillfully organized as it is today. Our machinery is wonderful, and it is just perfect; but alas it is machinery without power; and when things do not go right, instead of going to the real source of our failure, our neglect to depend upon God and to look to God for power, we look around to see if there is not some new organization that we can set up, some new wheel that we can add to our machinery. We have altogether too many wheels already. What we need is not new organization, not some new wheel, but the "Spirit of the living creature in the wheels" which we already possess. Prayer has as much power today, when men and women are themselves on praying ground and meeting the conditions of prevailing prayer, as it ever had. And yet...it seems the very last thing we turn to!

Your growth and mine into the likeness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be in EXACT proportion to the time and heart that we put into prayer. "Take time to be Holy" - I wish we sang this hymn more in these days. It takes time to be holy; one cannot be holy in a hurry! And for sure, one cannot become holy without time with God in prayer.

John Welch put in on record before he died, that he counted that day ill-spent that he did not spend seven or eight hours in secret prayer. [What, seven or eight hours??? And most of us can barely do ONE?]

As he quoted: "I pray for as long as the Holy Spirit leads me to pray, not for a certain amount of time!" [What a model for all of us. What is probably a big problem with us though, is that we have soooo many breaches in our lives, that the Holy Spirit isn't allowed full access. So, it isn't He that is directing our prayers, but our own heart of flesh...so of course, there's only so much you can pray about while living in the flesh.]

Four aspects necessary in true prayer:

1. Unto God

The prayer that gets what it asks for is unto God. Stop a moment and think. It is not often the case when men stand up to pray in public, or kneel down to pray in private, that are thinking far more about what they are asking for than they are of the great God who made Heaven and earth, and who has all power. We may be making requests, but our minds are wandering, and we have no real conscious approach to God in our hearts. We have to really come into the presence of God. We should not utter one syllable of prayer, either in public or private, until we are definitely conscious that we have come into the presence of God and are actually praying unto Him.

Question: How to get into the presence of God.

Hebrews 10:19, "Having therefore brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest...by the blood of Jesus." This is the first part of the answer. We come into the presence of God by the blood of Jesus....and we can come in by no other way. Secondly, in Ephesians 2:18 it says, "For through him we both have access in one Spirit unto the Father." So we come not just through Christ, but we come in One Spirit. But not just ANY spirit, His Holy Spirit. It is the work of the Holy spirit, when you and I pray, to take us by the hand as it were and lead us into the very presence of God and introduce us to Him, and to make God real to us as we pray. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to literally INTRODUCE us to God....

Next...

2. With Intense Earnestness

"Without ceasing" - "fervent" - "Persevering" - all descriptions of the tenacity and persistence that we must pursue God in prayer if we desire answers. Acts 12:5 tells about how the believers prayed without ceasing for Paul. The word "without ceasing" comes from the Greek word "ektenos" - which literally means "stretched-out-edly." Not so much as a extended period of time, but praying with a soul stretched out in the intensity of its earnestness toward God. It's not something we muster up to appease God, it's not a work of the flesh. It's the deepest soul cry of a genuine heart seeking after God. And He promises us that those that seek Him WILL find Him!

3. Of the Church

A prayer that God particularly delights to answer is that of UNITED prayer. "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in Heaven." God delights in the unity of His people, and He does everything in His power to promote that unity. But it must be real unity. Typically someone comes and asks you to pray with them for a topic, and you do. You are agreed in praying, but you are praying because they asked you to. The real unity comes when BOTH of you feel the burden together "as touching" what you ask...in other words, both of you are in like heart because the Holy Spirit has put the same burden and longing upon both of you for this request. Then it is you are United and together!

Now, the last part of the four aspects of prayer.

4. For Him

Definite and for Him. Oh how general and vague many of our prayers are. They are pretty and charmingly phrased, but they ask no definite specific thing, and they get no definite specific answer which would be for His glory. When you pray to God, you should have a definite clear-cut idea of just exactly what it is you want of God. And then when He answers, the glory will be to Him.

In all these phases, there is only one way to reach them according to God's standard...by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the only one that enables us to pray "unto God," it is only the Holy Spirit who leads us into the presence of God and makes God real to us. It is only the Holy Spirit who gives intense earnestness in prayer that prevails with God. Still again, it is only the Holy Spirit that can bring about true unity, and it is only the Holy Spirit that shows us the definite things we should pray for that would be for His glory! In short - we must have the Holy Spirit!

Hindrances to prayer!

Ever feel like your prayers are just hitting a ceiling. Going no where? If that is the case, there are several factors that could be prohibiting your prayer.

1. Wrong motive in prayer. "Ye ask and receive not because you ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." So, the first thing that hinders our prayers is praying from a selfish motive. As it says in Cor 10:31, all that we do must be to the glory of God, not our self. Self must get out of the way.

2. The second big thing that hinders our prayers is sin in the heart and life. "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isa 59:1,2 The problem is not with God. The problem is with us!

3. This goes along with the second, but is on a larger scale, and that is, we have "idols" in our heart. Ezekiel talks about this. "Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat down before me. and the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?" 14:1-3. The elders had come to Ezekiel for him to pray over them...but it was very clear that because of their idols, they could not entreat the Lord, even through Ezekiel. Idols are more then petty sins, idols are objects that take the affections and throne of our hearts. They are ultimately what we put all our thought, focus and passion towards. They could be our husbands or wives, our children, our job, a position or status...anything. Worst of all, they could be OUR-self! The idols and altars must be torn down.

4. Another roadblock to prayer is an Unforgiving Spirit. "And when you stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your father also which is in Heaven may forgive your trespasses." All of God's answering of our prayers is upon the basis of God's dealing with us as forgiven sinners, and God cannot deal with us as forgiven sinners while we are not in return forgiving those that have wronged us. I believe "bitterness of heart" is one of the single most destructive things to an open and fruitful prayer life.

5. Another roadblock to prayer is "Stinginess of our giving." Prov 21:13 says, "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." Those that are stingy and niggardly in their giving cannot be mighty men of prayer. The Bible tells us, "Withhold not good to them in whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." Prov 3:27. Another powerful verse says, "To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17 In other words, even if someone doesn't ask us...but we know they are in need or struggling...whether financially, physically, or spiritually...if we know and we hold back our hand to give what God has freely given us (For all our might, wisdom, gold and riches are His), then we have blocked the channel of open communication with our King. [Ouch! No wonder there is so little answers to prayer in our homes and churches! We hold on too tightly to what God has given us to be freely shared.]

Great men of prayer are all great givers, givers according to their ability. George Mueller of Bristol England was, as far as we know, one of the greatest men of prayer of the last generation. He obtained the English equivalent of more than $7,200,000.00 by prayer alone. For about sixty years he carried on a most marvelous work in supporting and training the orphans of England, oftentimes housing two thousand or more orphans at one time, feeding them three meals a day. Yet God supplied every penny which came for the support of the orphans, and for the support of the other work which he felt responsible. No appeal was ever made to anyone, no collections or offerings were ever taken, and yet the money never failed. Sometimes it seemed up to almost the last minute that it would fail, but it always came. He would ask God for a hundred pounds of sterling, and it would come, and he would pass it on. He would later ask for sixty thousand pounds sterling, and it would come and he would pass it on. In all, as already stated, he asked for over $7,200,000.00 and it came and he passed it on. That was the reason why it kept coming, because he kept passing it on. None of it stuck to his fingers. When he died he barely had enough money to pay for his funeral expenses. But isn't this the way it should be...?? Too often, we ask, we get, and then we keep...and so God ceases to give.

Many a professedly Christian woman spends every year of her life focusing more on investing in a few single items of vanity or fashion then she does in giving away to missions or those in need. And men the same. They invest in the latest technology, the top-of-the-line name brands, while just outside their doors, people are struggling to pay their bills, and starving for more of Christ. And we wonder why God doesn't answer our prayers??

6. Other roadblocks in prayer have to do with how we treat our family members. The scripture specifically mentions those in the marriage covenant. "Likewise, husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." Of course, as the author shared, the same goes to the wives. "How many a professedly Christian woman today is sweet as summer morn, as winsome and alluring as a June breeze when she is in church fellowship, or at a public gathering, or with friends, or even out doing errands and business...but how different she is at home - cross, peevish, nagging, moody. She does little to serve or encourage her husband or family, but instead focuses on herself and her own whims and desires. Yet, when facing the world, she is all sweetness. This too will create a wall in prayer."

The author continues: "Again, how many woman will fix themselves up and make themselves beautiful when entertaining guest or going out with friends, but when home alone with her husband or family, she pays no thought, for after all, it is only her husband at home with her, it is only her children...what is the big deal? The husband too has forgotten the little courtesies and kindness in which he won his wife's heart...and he treats strangers with more respect and gentleness then he treats his wife. How are we as Christian families, christian husbands and wives to expect God to answer our prayers when we don't take our christianity into the daily details and interactions of our home life. If our prayers are to be answered, the home life must be sweet, our interactions a taste of heaven, our marriage alive and thriving as "lovers and best friends." How long should the honeymoon last? Most people says it fades after a few months or years. But if we live according to scripture, and have communion with God, it should never end, but only get deeper and more sacred as time goes on. Every year the married life and family life should be more loving and tender and thoughtful than the year before...it must be this way if we are to have real power in our prayers."

So - if there are hindrances, and every other way is clear, then look into your home life. How are you living as a Christian at home?!

Now let's talk about revival...This is what the book shared as the results of true revival?

1. The first results are seen in the ministers of the gospel.

In times of true revival the minister has a new love for souls. We in general have no such love as we ought to have, for such love only comes from above.

When in true revival, the minister gets a new love for God's Word and a new faith in God's Word. Revivals make minister who are loose in their doctrines orthodox.

Revivals bring to ministers new liberty, new joy and new power in preaching.

2. Now let's look at the results in revival to general Christians.

In times of revival, Christians come out from the world and live separated lives.

In times of revival, Christians get a new spirit of prayer.

In times of revival Christians go to work for the lost with a new zeal.

In times of revival, Christians have new joy in the Lord Jesus.

In times of revival, Christians get a new love for the Word of God.

3. Now let's look at results of revival on the lost world.

Revival brings a genuine deep conviction of sin.

Real revival brings about conversions and regeneration.

Beyond a doubt, one of the great secrets of the unsatisfactoriness and superficiality and unreality and temporary character of many of our modern, so called revivals, is that so much dependence is put upon man's machinery, and so little upon God's power, sought and obtained by the earnest, persistent, believing prayer that will not take no for an answer. We live in a day characterized by the multiplication of man's machinery and the diminution of God's power. The great cry of our day is work, work, work, organize, organize, organize, give us some new society, tell us some new methods, devise some new machinery. But the great need of our day is prayer, more prayer, and more persistent earnest prayer.

Brothers and sisters, let us STOP talking about prayer and LET US PRAY!!!!

Monday, July 05, 2010

In the middle of the Stream...

Seems in some ways I am growing in leaps and bounds spiritually, and in other ways I feel like I am still trying to climb up an unscalable wall, that is too high for me to get over!! (And if you understand God's calling on your life, you realize, it IS TOO HIGH for us to crawl over! He has to pick us up and carry us over!!!)

Anyway, last Thursday I was really struggling and I felt like I needed some time AWAY to process. So my friend and I headed to Rocky Mtn Natl Park. I've been up there tons of times, so I know my way around. But this was Tessa's first time, so it was fun to show her a few sights. After we drove around a little and I showed her some scenic points, we found a beautiful rushing stream on the drive up towards "Bear Lake" - for those of you that know the park! It was gorgeous....

I started reading "Absolute Surrender" by Andrew Murray - and it was EXACTLY what I needed to hear....it was sooo powerful!!! Check out chapter 5-7 on the Surrender section, if you have the book. It was talking about the struggle of Romans 6-8....dead to flesh, alive to Spirit and what that means. I've read these passages hundreds of times before, but it spoke to me again! Just what I needed today....as I've been battling against my flesh and seeking to submit to the Spirit. It was just what I needed!!! PTL!!

I sat for a loooong time out in the middle of the stream on a rock that was shaped perfectly for me to sit in. There was a road nearby with tourist driving by, and while I had been sitting beside the stream, I could hear all the traffic noise. But now that I was in the middle of the stream of rushing water, I couldn't hear anything but the rushing water. It took all the surrounding noise and distractions away! As I sat there thinking and reflecting on the promises of God, I realized that God was speaking to me. "Melody.....you are frustrated with your fleshly inclinations, and you are frustrated that you keep getting caught up in the distractions of your relationships, your life, and ministry. But I want you to know, that if you immerse yourself and surround yourself with ME.....you wont hear the distractions anymore. You may see them.....you may still work among them, but they wont control you. Their voice will be mute. You will only hear me, just as you only hear the stream now that you are out in the middle!"

Wow!! So profound......and so true, huh?!

So it was just the encouragement I needed, to step back from it all and immerse myself even more in God and His Word and give a deaf ear to distractions. I only want to be controlled and propelled by Him, not my own desires....however sanctified they may be!

So that's why it's been a few days since I've posted anything....and if things stay a bit quiet for a time, don't worry. I'm still here! God's just taking me into the middle of the stream to grow me, and I probably can't hear as much from the outside world while I am there. But it's a wonderful place to be. If you've never been there...you need to go find a big rushing stream, and get in the middle. You'll find that you'll never be the same again! :-)

The Preacher and the Birdcage




"The Preacher and the Birdcage"


There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit.

Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak..."I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there, son?" "Just some old birds," came the reply.

"What are you gonna do with them?" I asked.

"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time" "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?"

"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."

The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?

"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"

"How much?" the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.

Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teachthem how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"

"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.

"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked

"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"

"How much?" He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.

The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.