Monday, March 29, 2010
Live life in Christ's strength
I am strong for all things in the One who constantly infuses strength in me. Philippians 4:13 - Wuest's Expanded Translation
Wow... It's been a bit since I read from the Wuest translation.. I for got how much I like it! When I read this scripture I heard the Holy Spirit say to me;
Are you finding yourself weary in what you are doing?
I have been doing a lot of work lately getting ready to and painting the Power Tower, the churches 24 hour prayer ministy. Needles to say I have been really sore! When I read this scripture it reminded me that I need to look to Him for my strength. I needed to, in prayer, ask Him to exchange my weakness for His strength.
When things seem to be overwhelming, It could be because you're trying to live and work in your own strength! As Christians we need to be living in a flow of Christ's strength. We need to be going to the Lord in prayer, laying down our burdens at His feet and seeking His strength.
The Lord has given us a precious promise, "Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you". Psa.55:22.
As a young Christian I took a lot of falls by not knowing where my strength had to come from. Then as I started to mature, I was reading what Paul said about where he was drawing strength from and realised how much I was living in my own strength.
Thinking about it, I could see what a strain it was putting on myself. What a release it was to change and start to ask Him to make me strong!
I turned to the Lord's strength. As a result, my daily weariness went away! Life's pressures had gotten in the way and kept me from living vitally united to the Vine, Jesus Christ.
When I drew from the Vine I experienced His strength at work in me sustaining me. John.15:5.
If there was ever a Christian who might have been qualified to do all things in his own strength it was Paul.
Paul seemed to have everything going for him in the natural. Nevertheless, as he testifies in his letter to the Philippians, he didn't attempt to do all things that way, he did them instead in the strength of the One who constantly infused strength in him. May you live that way too.
Ask the Lord for His sustaining strength. May God by His Spirit make you strong in the Lord! Phil.3:4-6, Eph.6:10.
Live life in Christ's strength
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Being faithful in Prayer!
~~~~~
Colossians 1:7: Just as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf... (ESV)
Epaphras is a pastor mentioned in scripture. In Colossians 4:12 Paul wrote, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God."
This man would not give up when he was praying for a person! He would wrestle that thing until he got the victory in prayer on your behalf!
In these two passages from Colossians, twice Epaphras is referred to as being a faithful minister of God. The word "faithful,l" whether translated in the Hebrew or Greek, is referring to consistency. Epaphras was consistent day after day. He was a plodder.
A plodder will not dwell on how far he has to go; instead, he looks at how far he has come. A plodder is faithful to take one step at a time without getting frustrated. Often in the Christian life we can become frustrated about how far we have to go.
In counseling married couples, at times they will get discouraged about how far they have to go in their marriage. Instead, they should rejoice each day over another step taken toward a healthy marriage.
The way God's will is accomplished is one step at a time. We often want to skip steps to get somewhere more quickly. The Word of God works consistently in our lives. Often, blessings that come quickly can be lost quickly.
The Bible warns about quick riches. Riches gained quickly can flow right through our hands. God sends riches that are durable. Often, they don't come overnight. They come here a little, there a little, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Or as Romans 12:2 says, "...the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
God wants you to prosper and be in health as your soul prospers. Prosperity of the soul comes day-by-day. Perhaps you have not reached some of your short-term goals. You may blame yourself or get frustrated and blame God. Instead of getting upset about how far you have to go, why don't you rejoice in how far you have come!
When you pray, sometimes it seems like you are ploding along, we want instant success! But some times prayer takes an investment of time, YOUR time before you see an answer.
In the case of the plodder, it was the tortoise not the hare that won the race. I like to encourage you to look back five or ten years from now and see who is still in the race.
If you are tempted to become discouraged about where you are, instead, thank God for every day you have taken a step closer to fulfilling His call. Focus on the progress you have made and remember: it is not those who start the race that is important; it is those who finish the race that count.
God is looking for those who will finish the race.
Today is not a day to be frustrated.
Today is a day to rejoice in the Lord and call to remembrance the things God has done for you and how far you have come.
He has brought you this far. He will not forget you or abandon you.
He Who has begun a good work will also complete it!
Colossians 1:7: Just as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf... (ESV)
Epaphras is a pastor mentioned in scripture. In Colossians 4:12 Paul wrote, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God."
This man would not give up when he was praying for a person! He would wrestle that thing until he got the victory in prayer on your behalf!
In these two passages from Colossians, twice Epaphras is referred to as being a faithful minister of God. The word "faithful,l" whether translated in the Hebrew or Greek, is referring to consistency. Epaphras was consistent day after day. He was a plodder.
A plodder will not dwell on how far he has to go; instead, he looks at how far he has come. A plodder is faithful to take one step at a time without getting frustrated. Often in the Christian life we can become frustrated about how far we have to go.
In counseling married couples, at times they will get discouraged about how far they have to go in their marriage. Instead, they should rejoice each day over another step taken toward a healthy marriage.
The way God's will is accomplished is one step at a time. We often want to skip steps to get somewhere more quickly. The Word of God works consistently in our lives. Often, blessings that come quickly can be lost quickly.
The Bible warns about quick riches. Riches gained quickly can flow right through our hands. God sends riches that are durable. Often, they don't come overnight. They come here a little, there a little, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Or as Romans 12:2 says, "...the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
God wants you to prosper and be in health as your soul prospers. Prosperity of the soul comes day-by-day. Perhaps you have not reached some of your short-term goals. You may blame yourself or get frustrated and blame God. Instead of getting upset about how far you have to go, why don't you rejoice in how far you have come!
When you pray, sometimes it seems like you are ploding along, we want instant success! But some times prayer takes an investment of time, YOUR time before you see an answer.
In the case of the plodder, it was the tortoise not the hare that won the race. I like to encourage you to look back five or ten years from now and see who is still in the race.
If you are tempted to become discouraged about where you are, instead, thank God for every day you have taken a step closer to fulfilling His call. Focus on the progress you have made and remember: it is not those who start the race that is important; it is those who finish the race that count.
God is looking for those who will finish the race.
Today is not a day to be frustrated.
Today is a day to rejoice in the Lord and call to remembrance the things God has done for you and how far you have come.
He has brought you this far. He will not forget you or abandon you.
He Who has begun a good work will also complete it!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Lord who delivers
~~~~
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19 - NKJV
I'm enjoying life.
I have a life filled with peace.
I am happy to let anyone know that I am blessed.
On the other hand, it's not that I don't have any problems!
Like anyone living in this world I get lots of them.
Nevertheless, there's something going for me that countless others in the world don't have.
I have the Lord.
And I have prayer.
And I talk to Him...
And He hears me!
I have the Lord who delivers me out of all my afflictions.
You have Him too if you're a believer! Heb.7:25.
God's deliverance is sure!
Let your faith be the evidence you need that His deliverance is on its way.
But remember you have to go to Him in PRAYER and make your requests known to Him.
Does He not know what you have need of? No He knows, but He wants you to ask Him.
Sometimes His deliverance is immediate, other times you have to wait awhile.
In waiting the genuineness of your faith is examined.
In the waiting time, it becomes clear whether or not you are letting what God's Word says be good enough evidence for you.
In the waiting time, there's a work out for your patience. Patience is your power to see things through.
Its power increases as you let it have its work out.
Let your patience have a work out and you'll come out of it stronger, more enduring and soon experiencing a victory that otherwise you would have never known. Heb.11:1, 10:35-36.
In time of trouble, look up! Look up to the Lord, not only for His patience but also for His counsel.
To do that you have to talk to Him.. that means you have to pray!
Often the Lord gets you out of trouble by guiding you out with the light of His word. His Spirit is the Comforter who brings to you God's Word. He is there to comfort you in time of trouble telling you that there is a way out and that soon you will know the Lord's deliverance. Heb.12:1-2, 2Cor.1:4.
Rejoice that Jesus brings you through
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19 - NKJV
I'm enjoying life.
I have a life filled with peace.
I am happy to let anyone know that I am blessed.
On the other hand, it's not that I don't have any problems!
Like anyone living in this world I get lots of them.
Nevertheless, there's something going for me that countless others in the world don't have.
I have the Lord.
And I have prayer.
And I talk to Him...
And He hears me!
I have the Lord who delivers me out of all my afflictions.
You have Him too if you're a believer! Heb.7:25.
God's deliverance is sure!
Let your faith be the evidence you need that His deliverance is on its way.
But remember you have to go to Him in PRAYER and make your requests known to Him.
Does He not know what you have need of? No He knows, but He wants you to ask Him.
Sometimes His deliverance is immediate, other times you have to wait awhile.
In waiting the genuineness of your faith is examined.
In the waiting time, it becomes clear whether or not you are letting what God's Word says be good enough evidence for you.
In the waiting time, there's a work out for your patience. Patience is your power to see things through.
Its power increases as you let it have its work out.
Let your patience have a work out and you'll come out of it stronger, more enduring and soon experiencing a victory that otherwise you would have never known. Heb.11:1, 10:35-36.
In time of trouble, look up! Look up to the Lord, not only for His patience but also for His counsel.
To do that you have to talk to Him.. that means you have to pray!
Often the Lord gets you out of trouble by guiding you out with the light of His word. His Spirit is the Comforter who brings to you God's Word. He is there to comfort you in time of trouble telling you that there is a way out and that soon you will know the Lord's deliverance. Heb.12:1-2, 2Cor.1:4.
Rejoice that Jesus brings you through
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Travel "through" with the God of grace!
~~~~~
After you have borne these sufferings a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to share his eternal splendour through Christ, will himself make you whole and secure and strong. 1 Peter 5:10 - J.B. Phillips' translation
We all go through hard times at some time or another in our life.
The pressure, the affliction, the temptation or the attack might come through people or through circumstances or just your perception of things.
Nevertheless, whatever form it takes your "going through it" should be stamped "a little while" and once that little while has passed you can be out the other side and into a place where your God has made you whole, secure and strong. Psa.84:5-7.
When you enter a country they stamp your passport with a date of entry... they you have only so long you can stay there and then you have to leave.. you are just visiting! You can't live there!
When you face hard times remember you are not a citizen of that... but of the kingdom of God and you are just visiting! After a certain time... YOU MUST LEAVE!
The way you face life and its events is important. The story of Esther provides a good illustration. Esther went through a preparation in her life.
First, through the spiritual mentoring of her uncle Mordecai so that the favour of the Lord might be on her.
Second, through the oils and fragrances of the palace so that king Ahasuerus' favour and heart might be towards her.
From these preparations come provision and the prevailing of God's kingdom through her life and victory for God's people. Esther 2:12.
How does your story sound?
Are you giving time for a sweet preparation of God's Spirit in your life?
God has a plan of deliverance and beauty for your life. His plan is one of you getting under the comfort and counsel of His Spirit. When you do that He places you under the flow of His anointing. He pours on you the fragrance of Christ. He makes crooked places straight before you and He makes darkness light! He counsels and consoles you. 1 John 2:20, 2 Cor.2:15, Isa.42:16.
The only way this will happen is if you get on your knees and pray it through!
That is an old fashioned term the the Saints from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the 1900's use to use. They would pray and pray and pay until they got the victory and a knowing in their spirits that the victory had been won.
They didn't pray just one time and "stand in faith". They were not praying and praying because they didn't know if God would answer them, or they doubted that the prayer would be heard. They prayed to break through the strongholds of the enemy who would withhold the answer from coming.
This is what Daniel had to do, he prayed for 21 days and when the message was delivered the Angel said that he had been dispatched the moment Daniel prayed, but that he was fought by the devil who tried to stop the answer from arriving!
So get on your knees in prayer and push through in prayer!
Travel "through" with the God of grace!
After you have borne these sufferings a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to share his eternal splendour through Christ, will himself make you whole and secure and strong. 1 Peter 5:10 - J.B. Phillips' translation
We all go through hard times at some time or another in our life.
The pressure, the affliction, the temptation or the attack might come through people or through circumstances or just your perception of things.
Nevertheless, whatever form it takes your "going through it" should be stamped "a little while" and once that little while has passed you can be out the other side and into a place where your God has made you whole, secure and strong. Psa.84:5-7.
When you enter a country they stamp your passport with a date of entry... they you have only so long you can stay there and then you have to leave.. you are just visiting! You can't live there!
When you face hard times remember you are not a citizen of that... but of the kingdom of God and you are just visiting! After a certain time... YOU MUST LEAVE!
The way you face life and its events is important. The story of Esther provides a good illustration. Esther went through a preparation in her life.
First, through the spiritual mentoring of her uncle Mordecai so that the favour of the Lord might be on her.
Second, through the oils and fragrances of the palace so that king Ahasuerus' favour and heart might be towards her.
From these preparations come provision and the prevailing of God's kingdom through her life and victory for God's people. Esther 2:12.
How does your story sound?
Are you giving time for a sweet preparation of God's Spirit in your life?
God has a plan of deliverance and beauty for your life. His plan is one of you getting under the comfort and counsel of His Spirit. When you do that He places you under the flow of His anointing. He pours on you the fragrance of Christ. He makes crooked places straight before you and He makes darkness light! He counsels and consoles you. 1 John 2:20, 2 Cor.2:15, Isa.42:16.
The only way this will happen is if you get on your knees and pray it through!
That is an old fashioned term the the Saints from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the 1900's use to use. They would pray and pray and pay until they got the victory and a knowing in their spirits that the victory had been won.
They didn't pray just one time and "stand in faith". They were not praying and praying because they didn't know if God would answer them, or they doubted that the prayer would be heard. They prayed to break through the strongholds of the enemy who would withhold the answer from coming.
This is what Daniel had to do, he prayed for 21 days and when the message was delivered the Angel said that he had been dispatched the moment Daniel prayed, but that he was fought by the devil who tried to stop the answer from arriving!
So get on your knees in prayer and push through in prayer!
Travel "through" with the God of grace!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Rise and pray
~~~~~~~
Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."Luke 22:46 - KJV
I have been teaching a class at the bible school at our church on the Birth of Christianity. It covers the last week of Christ life. Years ago when I was studying this time in Jesus life one thing stood out to me. His request for his "buds" to pray for Him and His finding them sleeping instead of praying!
He then told them to basically pray for themselves and not him! What would they have avoided if they had only prayed!
Bob Dylan sang in the 1960s, "The times they are a changing". The times certainly were changing and look at the way they have continued to change. Today we are still in times of change and many of those changes are not good.
The earth is groaning from famines and pestilences, from earthquakes, from wars and rumours of wars, from evil men and from economic uncertainty. All around us we hear news and calls of change. But if we will listen with the ears of the spirit, we hear the summons to prayer.
This time is a time for prayer.
Make time and make space in your life for prayer!
Pray in the Spirit.
Pray with your understanding.
Pray for all men.
Pray for those in authority.
By prayer with heartfelt intercession and thanksgiving even it times of great change you'll still be living in quietness and peace. What's more by prayer the Church of Jesus Christ moves back the gates of hell. Jesus gives keys to the Church so that in prayer we can have powerful influence on what's going on around us. Mat.16:18-19, 1Tim.2:1-4, Ro.8:26-27, 1Cor.14:15.
In Psalms who does it tell us will not be afraid of the terror by night?
He tells us it's the one who lives under the shadow of God Almighty.
That person is hidden from terror in the secret place of God.
What brings that person into that secret place?
It's his prayer life.
His prayer life is consistent and it is characterised by worship and devotion. Commit yourself to such prayer and you will dwell in that secret place of God.
God will hide you from evil in His pavilion. Indeed, He will set you high on a rock out of harms way. Psa.91:1-6, 27:4-5.
Seek the Lord in prayer
Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."Luke 22:46 - KJV
I have been teaching a class at the bible school at our church on the Birth of Christianity. It covers the last week of Christ life. Years ago when I was studying this time in Jesus life one thing stood out to me. His request for his "buds" to pray for Him and His finding them sleeping instead of praying!
He then told them to basically pray for themselves and not him! What would they have avoided if they had only prayed!
Bob Dylan sang in the 1960s, "The times they are a changing". The times certainly were changing and look at the way they have continued to change. Today we are still in times of change and many of those changes are not good.
The earth is groaning from famines and pestilences, from earthquakes, from wars and rumours of wars, from evil men and from economic uncertainty. All around us we hear news and calls of change. But if we will listen with the ears of the spirit, we hear the summons to prayer.
This time is a time for prayer.
Make time and make space in your life for prayer!
Pray in the Spirit.
Pray with your understanding.
Pray for all men.
Pray for those in authority.
By prayer with heartfelt intercession and thanksgiving even it times of great change you'll still be living in quietness and peace. What's more by prayer the Church of Jesus Christ moves back the gates of hell. Jesus gives keys to the Church so that in prayer we can have powerful influence on what's going on around us. Mat.16:18-19, 1Tim.2:1-4, Ro.8:26-27, 1Cor.14:15.
In Psalms who does it tell us will not be afraid of the terror by night?
He tells us it's the one who lives under the shadow of God Almighty.
That person is hidden from terror in the secret place of God.
What brings that person into that secret place?
It's his prayer life.
His prayer life is consistent and it is characterised by worship and devotion. Commit yourself to such prayer and you will dwell in that secret place of God.
God will hide you from evil in His pavilion. Indeed, He will set you high on a rock out of harms way. Psa.91:1-6, 27:4-5.
Seek the Lord in prayer
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