Praying with holy boldness!

A person of immature understandings recently said, "I don't pray much because I believe God has already decided what will happen." She were sincere, but had missed much of what the Bible teaches us about how God works. An authority no less great than Jesus Christ told us, "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”" (Luke 21:36, NIV) Yes, we must pray!

I hear other Christians talk about the Lord and listen to their prayers that reveal their terribly inadequate understanding of God's vast power and wisdom. They have no assurance that He is sufficient for their needs. We need to pray because in our prayers God's work is done and our lives are changed, but we need be desperate or afraid, for God is greater and even supplies us with the faith to pray.

A good pastor friend, who is of the Reformed persuasion, likes to remind me, good naturedly, of his convictions about the 'sovereignty' of God- that all things are governed and happen in the purposes of God. I remind him of human 'free will,' that our day to day decisions have real and lasting consequences, for which we will be held accountable. The Bible offers plenty of evidence that both ideas are true. How can that be since they seem to contradict each other? That is a debate that has occupied great minds for a long time, so I won't try to solve that riddle in these few lines.

My aim, in this TFTD is to encourage us to faith-filled and constant prayer that is focused on the sufficiency of Christ Jesus, the Lord.

Let me illustrate the tension of these ideas from a couple of representative passages of Scripture. In the book of Daniel, a king who has encountered the power of God says- I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He has the power to do as he pleases among the angels of heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop him or challenge him, saying, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’" (Daniel 4:34-35, NLT) That is wonderfully true! God does what He pleases because of His omniscience and omnipotence. That is a comforting thought and gives those who trust in Him great assurance.

By contrast, we read these words in the book of Joshua, Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness... serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,...we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15, NIV) James likewise cautions against blaming God or fate for choices that we make. "Remember, no one who wants to do wrong should ever say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either. Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires." (James 1:13-14, NLT)

Wayne Grudem, a well-respected theologian, writes I affirm that God causes all things that happen, but that he does so in such a way that he somehow upholds our ability to make willing, responsible choices choices that have real and eternal results and for which we are held accountable. Exactly how God combines his providential control with our willing and significant choices, Scripture does not explain to us. But rather than deny one aspect or the other (simply because we cannot explain how both can be true), we should accept both in an attempt to be faithful to the teaching of all of Scripture. (http://www.seegod.org/god.htm)

Are you praying bold prayers that are an expression of your faith in God? OR,
When you pray, are you fearful and pleading, because you mistakenly think that your passion is the key to receiving an answer to prayer?

We must pray, but not with 'faith in faith.' We must pray with faith in God.

Such prayer is marked by confidence, and truly does change us and our world. So, "since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV)
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Let Your Glory Fall

Father of creation,
Unfold Your sov'reign plan.
Raise up a chosen generation
That will march through the land.
All of creation is longing
For Your unveiling of pow'r.
Would You release Your anointing?
Oh God, let this be the hour.

Ruler of the nations,
The world has yet to see
The full release of Your promise,
The church in victory.
Turn to us, Lord, and touch us;
Make us strong in Your might.
Overcome our weakness,
That we could stand up and fight.

Let Your kingdom come,
Let Your will be done.
Let us see on earth,
The glory of Your Son.


Author: Ruis, DavidCopyright: 1993 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)

"Come, follow Me!"

When I was a little boy, my Dad took me to Wyoming, to remote areas far off of the roads, where we visited shepherds tending large flocks of sheep! Yes, it's true. There in the mountains near Buffalo, WY, were men who lived alone in little houses on wheels, caring for their sheep 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They were Basque immigrants, from an ancient culture in the Pyrenees Mountains on the border of Spain and France. Their people had a long tradition of being outstanding shepherds. These men, helped only by their amazing dogs, made certain that the sheep in their care were kept safe and provided with pasture. Their constant presence caused those sheep to respond even to their voice! I watched as a single shepherd called his flock, sent his dog to round up stragglers, and moved hundreds of sheep from place to place in open range. It is an amazing memory still vivid in my mind after 40 years time.

Jesus says to us, "Come, follow me!" He defines His relationship to us saying, "I am the Gate for the sheep. ... Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. ... I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary." (John 10:7-11, The Message) Go back and read that passage again.

Many voices call to us, inviting us to follow them. There are dictatorial voices that demand much of us, but return nothing, wanting only to selfishly take from us. There are deceptive voices that want to mis-lead us into destruction, their plans shaped by twisted purposes of evil. There are conflicting voices, a cacophony of noise that leaves us spinning in confusion if we try to follow them. But there is One Voice that invites us to - "Come, follow me. ... I am the Good Shepherd." Sheep, left alone on the open range, without a shepherd will come to a terrible end! Predators will kill them off, one by one. They will stay in one area, over-grazing the land, until they have exhausted their food supply. But, a well-shepherded flock, thrives.

"Come, follow me." Will you take Jesus up on His invitation? It's an invitation to adventure, to life that is purposeful and meaningful, and - best of all - to a relationship! He promises that if we follow Him, He will never leave us. He does not promise that we will never be attacked by wolves, go through violent storms, or experience difficult days! He says we won't face those challenges alone. "I'll be there," He says, "caring for you." Don't let the drive to 'do something for God" obscure the invitation to "know God!" Yes, as follow the Good Shepherd, there will be service we do for Him and in His Name, but relationship with Him, must precede the mission for Him.

Worship Him. Listen to Him. FOLLOW Him. And, you will 'have real and eternal life, more and better life than you ever dreamed.' That's the truth.
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The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death,
I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23, NLT)

A day to remember

Every generation has 'marker' days, days on which an event that changed the course of history occurred. My generation will always remember September 11, 2001 simply as "9/11" the day that terrorists brought their hatred to the United States - killing thousands. My grandparents' generation remember December 7, 1941 as "Pearl Harbor Day." This was the day that brought American public support around for entering World War 2 and war was declared a few days later. Tragically, the deaths of thousands of sailors could have been avoided IF the commanders of the Naval bases there on Hawaii had been vigilant, but they did not take the threat of Japanese hostility seriously. The common assumption was that the Japanese navy simply could not cross thousands of miles of open ocean to attack U.S. bases without being detected. But, they did; and that beautiful Sunday morning, in 1941, thousands died and our Pacific fleet was almost completely destroyed.

Amazingly, most marker days in history have to do with death and destruction, sorrow and loss! Christians are in the Season of Advent preparing to celebrate a marker day that is different, very different. Christmas (yes, I'm aware that 12/25 is not really the day of Jesus' birth, but rather a day chosen for the celebration!) is a marker day that is about LIFE! A devout old man named Simeon captures the importance of the event. He met Joseph and Mary at the Temple days after Jesus' birth and held the baby boy in his arms. The Holy Spirit revealed the identity of the infant to this old man who declared, “Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:29-32, NLT)

The significance of the event is of such importance that even our Western calendar dating system is built around the birth of Jesus Christ! We live in 2005 Anno Domine (A.D.) which is a Latin phrase meaning, "year of our Lord." Those who might think that the birth of Jesus is just a day of importance to Christians, or that it is just a day of sentimental significance, need to be reminded that the birth of Jesus is the event that changed history. His teaching about the value of individual persons, about compassion, about God's gracious love form the basis of our Western culture! This fact is largely forgotten as our society becomes increasingly secular, blind to the impact that the eternal and spiritual has on the temporal world.

The passing of time blurs our grasp of facts, sometimes even erases our memory. We forget the events that caused the shape of current cultural, moral, political, and spiritual concepts and practices. The costs, often terrible and bloody, of radical change, are forgotten as subsequent generations enjoy the benefits that come from the sacrifices of those who went before them.

So, let me wrap up this TFTD with a two-fold appeal:

a. Remember Pearl Harbor Day, and those men and women who endured the terrible war that followed, out of which grew the present world order which has provided us with great freedom and prosperity.

b. Remember Christmas! Yes, remember, with joy, the baby in the Manger, the song of the angels, the visit of the Magi. Take stock of the hope and peace that you know as result of knowing Jesus as your Savior. But, remember, too, the wide ranging impact that His Life has had on the world in which we live.
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"Father, thank you for sending Light into a dark world.
Help me to keep the Light blazing.
Don't let me forget-
the love of Jesus who came to earth,
at great cost to Himself.
Don't let me forget the sacrifice of those who kept the faith alive
through hundreds of years,
so I could know of Your love today.

As I remember your Gift, let me receive Him anew,
and change me from the inside out,
from sinner to saint,
by the power of the Spirit.
Then, make me a person of transformation,
who make a difference...
to my friends, my family; yes, Lord,
to the world of which I am such a small part.
In the Name of the Lord Jesus, I pray.
Amen."

VNP or VEP?

Joy in serving?

Groundhog Day, a 1993 comedy, is a parable. Seen it? Bill Murray plays the role of Phil Connors, a TV reporter who finds himself in a time loop, reliving Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA, over and over again. At first Phil responds with frustration to being trapped. Then, he decides to live selfishly, eating all he wants, stealing, and taking advantage of women. He selfishness leads him into suicidal despair! Finally, he realizes that since he knows exactly what is going to happen in this town on the day he lives again and again, he can step in and serve, helping to change lives. He becomes a hero by serving others, accidentally finding joy in a situation that he would not had chosen for himself.

Fantasy? Of course, but sometimes life feels like an endless loop, doesn't it? We awaken to meet the same responsibilities, to go through the same chores, in the same ritual - day after day. Many of us respond to life in much the same way as Phil Connors! We grumble and complain about our place, our position, and our possessions. We look for diversions that are expressions of selfishness, believing we will find happiness in a new toy, an escape to some vacation spot. Do we? Yes, there is a temporary emotional lift, but does it last? Apparently not! Depression is America's most common mental health issue. On average, we're richer, more traveled, and more well fed than any previous generation but it doesn't seem to me that we are happier.

Here's God's wisdom. Joy is found in finding our God-given purpose and fulfilling that calling faithfully, day by day. Purpose, not indulgence, is the path to satisfaction, because satisfaction comes from sensing God's approval. That's the Jesus model! When some of the men who lived with him, learning from him, asked for privileged positions in the kingdom of God which they thought he was about to establish, he reminded them of the true nature of his calling -- "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”" (Matthew 20:28, NLT) His purpose was to give away his life, on the cross. And why did he do it? Hebrews says, "for the joy that was set before Him... he endured the cross!"

People live on a scale that has as its ends - VNP's (Very Needy People) who drain energy and life from others and VEP's (Very Encouraging People) who pour energy into others. Depending on the circumstances in which we find ourselves from time to time, we slide toward one end of the scale or the other. At times, when we're knocked off our feet by tragedy or storms, we really do need to be carried by others ! However, I find that the cluster tends to be larger toward the VNP end of the scale all of the time. Why? Because our sinful nature leads to self-centeredness.

"Feed me! Take care of me! Help me! Notice me!"- is the infantile cry of many who continue to live as VNP's though they should have long ago become helpers, mature, and capable of drawing on the resources of the Holy Spirit for themselves. We need to grow up in Christ. After receiving, by faith, the new life of the Spirit, we need to learn the principles of the Word. As mature Christians who have accepted the Spirit's work that heals our hurts and makes us wise, we begin to be VEP's that pour life into others, that bring light to dark places. Believe it or not, that kind of service is the way of joy!

During this Season of Advent, make it your prayer that God will help you to live on the VEP end of the scale! Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of the opportunities to make a difference that exist around you. Prayerfully, overthrow self. When you're tempted to tear down, to criticize, to whine, or to demand that somebody comfort you and meet your need, choose to be mature. Serve, not dutifully, but joyfully! Keep a journal and then let me know how you're feeling about life right after January 1. I know it works - it's the Jesus model for a life of joy!

Peace on earth

I long for peace; not peace merely expressed as in the absence of conflict, but the peace that is described by the Hebrew word, "shalom." Shalom, translated most often as 'peace,' has a richer meaning including wholeness, completeness, prosperity, settledness of mind and heart! When the Hebrew Scripture promises us a "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9.6) - the promise is about more than a Man who will blow the whistle and make the noise stop for a while! Jesus Christ is the One who is promised to bring us 'shalom.'

What is it about humans that makes us so 'un-peaceful?' Conflict is everywhere. Nations war. Families feud. Spouses battle. Sibling spar. Even we Christians, who claim to be led by the Peace-maker, fight frightfully for foolish frivolities! Congregations are destroyed by wars of words over the tempo of the music used in worship, the color of the carpet, and such matters of eternal importance. Relationships that are supposed an expression of the bond of the Spirit die because of a moment of hasty words leading to hurt feelings.

It is the lack of internal peace that is most painful, and the cause of most of our external conflicts as well. When a man has not anchored his soul in Christ, when he has not answered, in Him, the question of why he exists and for what purpose he walks the face of the earth, living in peace is an impossible dream! This person is constantly evaluating his accomplishments, the amount of his possessions, his position in the pecking order against those of his neighbors. The inevitable result of this insecurity is envy and jealousy and from that, says James, comes 'every evil work!' (James 3.16)

Isaiah writes, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!" (Isaiah 9:6-7, NLT) What a glorious promise! But before we apply it to the nations, we need to apply to our heart!

The Messiah, God's Messenger of Peace, came to be our 'shalom.' He came to bridge the gap between the Father and us, restoring us from the dis-inherited state into which our disobedience has sold us. He came to establish the rule of the Spirit, our Mighty God, so that we would not continue as slaves of sin. He came to be our Counselor, so we could know how to live wisely and purposefully, with insight to discern the way of Truth! Yes, He is our Peace.

Are you conflicted today?
Do you want more -- respect, things, possessions, power, comfort, pleasure, control -- because you think that such things will finally let you feel 'at rest?'
Dear friend, that is a mirage! If you should get that desire, the shimmering waters that promise refreshing would still be on the horizon.

Peace, true settledness and wholeness, comes through Jesus Christ. "Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices." Yes, they chanted this birth announcement from the skies over Bethlehem - “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14, NIV)
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O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt His worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Truly he taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name

Fall on your knees!
Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!