God, I don't deserve this!

Bev and I are walking through the deepest valley we have ever experienced together. Despite knowing better, I let myself wonder what we did to deserve this awful circumstance. The next stop on that ride is - ‘this is so unfair!’  When I take my eyes from my Father and start looking at myself a kind of pride takes over that and I think, wrongly, “We’re the good guys, Lord. Why are You letting this happen to us?”  With that thought, I play right into the schemes of the Devil.

Our Adversary wants us focus on being 'good enough' for God. He cheers our religiosity, but fears our relationship with our Abba. He wants us to believe that our goodness is producing the blessing of God, or conversely, that our hard times are the direct result of His anger.  From personal experience, I will tell that that if you go there – you will lose the assurance of faith. Yes, of course,  we suffer when we sin, because of the ancient law of the harvest. We reap what we sow! If we plant rebellion, resistance to God's will, and selfishness; we will create situations where we will find misery. If we plant seeds to produce spiritual fruit, we will find love, joy, and peace. The Word says, "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:8, NIV)

However, there is a mystery in the purposes of the Father that demands faith which is His gift, too.  We glimpse this in the story of a blind man. "His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?”  (John 9:2, The Message) Jesus answer surprised them and challenges us to greater faith. "Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do." … "He said this and then spit in the dust, made a clay paste with the saliva, rubbed the paste on the blind man’s eyes, and said, “Go, wash at the Pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “Sent”). The man went and washed—and saw. Soon the town was buzzing." (John 9:3, 6-8, The Message)  As ‘unfair’ as it may seem to us, God chose to glorify His Son through the man’s blindness.  Frankly, I don’t like the story, but I get the principle.

Our Father asks humble obedience and reliance.  We live for His glory and therefore, it’s not about us!  Every day we simply present ourselves to the Lord, thanking Him for His love, and asking the Spirit to guide us, to help us say a ready 'yes, Lord!' when He speaks to us. And, He will! The Bible says, "For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed." (1 Corinthians 1:5-7, NIV) Yes, we must recognize that the 'you' that is the subject of this verse is a collective describing the Church. But, you and I am 'in the Church' and we can claim the promise of being empowered for a life of wholeness and holiness personally! Do you?

Like most Christians, unconsciously I try to make God my servant, praying that He will do my will, relieve my suffering, give me blue skies and bright sunshine.  Like it or not, that is not His promise!  There is peace and joy but it is in knowing that we are centered in Him, glorifying HIM.  True prayer aligns us with His purposes, opens our heart to His Presence, and strengthens us to live for His glory.  He has called us and He declares, "I will enrich you in every way!" That is why we must confess our weakness and claim His strength.  These days, when overwhelmed by my fears,  there is serenity for my soul. It rests on the assurance of the Scripture that "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6, NLT)

Here's a Word to take with you today...

“God "chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"?
That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God.
Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.
That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God." (1 Corinthians 1:28-31, The Message)

________________

Make My Life a Prayer to You

by Keith Green

           

Make my life a Prayer to You,

I want to do what You want me to.

No empty words and no white lies,

No token Prayers, No Compromise.

I want to shine the light You gave,

through Your Son, You Sent to Save us

from ourselves and our despair.

It comforts me

to know You're really there.

Well, I want to Thank You Now,
for being patient with me,

Oh it's so hard to see,

when my eyes are on me.

I guess I'll have to trust and
just believe what You say...

Oh You're coming again,
coming to take me away.

I want to die, and let you give,

Your life to me, that I might live.

and share the hope You gave to me,

the Love that's set me Free.

I want to tell the world out there,

You're not some fable or fairy tale,

that I've made up, inside my head,

You're God the Son,

You've Risen from the Dead.

The GIFT of Waiting

It is said that ‘seeing is believing,’ but that was not the experience of the disciples after the Resurrection. They struggled to make sense of it all for weeks. Luke says that even when Jesus stood among them, “They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish." (Luke 24:36-42, NIV)   Before you criticize them too harshly, remember the times in your own life when it was hard to trust His promises. Breaking out of the boundaries of what we think we know, of trusting our senses, is never easy. Faith does not arrive in our lives fully mature. God develops it in us.

Before His friends could take on Jesus’ command to ‘go in all the world and preach the Good News,’ they had to grow up in faith. In the natural, they just were not ready or even capable.  I understand! Even after 40 years of ministry work, representing Christ is a high calling that is daunting to me. I love that even Paul wonders out loud "who is equal to such a task?" (2 Cor. 2:16) How can I even think of accepting the privileged responsibility to stand before a congregation to teach God's truths?  But, I also know this: When we come to the end of ourselves and acknowledge the persistent power of sin at work in us, we are in the place where God can use us. Yes, the Word says 'when we are weak, He is strong!'

Just before He ascended to Heaven, leaving a little group of all-too-ordinary people to carry on the work of the Kingdom, Jesus promised, "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49, NIV) Luke continues the story (Acts 2) telling us that a few days later, the Holy Spirit flowed into that Upper Room and rested on those men and women in a life-transforming way. Were they made perfect in that instant? Hardly.  In Acts, which tells the story of the first generation of Christians, we read of their disagreements, watch them work through misunderstandings, and cringe as they deal with sin. Through it all, we see them filled with God's power, again and again.  Because of the Spirit's power, they turned the world upside down in a generation!

Christianity has not survived for 2000 years because of the greatness of Christians, but because of the faithfulness of God.

After the high moments of the Resurrection celebrations, are you feeling overwhelmed by life?

Now that ordinary life has resumed, do you find yourself wondering if you're up to doing anything useful for the Lord?
Have you failed Him in some way?

Take heart! Those first disciples felt all the same things!  They wondered and wandered for several weeks, processing what they had seen and heard.  Even when Jesus showed up, they struggled to believe.  So, God gave them the gift of waiting.  When we read about that time, it looks like they’re stalled – going home to Galilee, doing nothing. But, God was doing something inside their hearts. Gradually they came to a place where they were totally dependent on His power.  That is where He can use us most effectively.  

Before you give in to that temptation to quit, find some time to get alone with the Word and wait on the Lord.  Those first disciples had to wait in the Upper Room for days. God, the Holy Spirit, came in HIS time, not theirs!

Here's a word from the Word to keep in your mind today:
 "Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
God can do anything, you know-
far more than you could ever imagine or guess
or request in your wildest dreams!
He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit
deeply and gently within us.
 
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes! " (Ephesians 3:19-21, The Message)

__________

Deeper

Deeper, deeper,
in the love of Jesus

Daily let me go!

Higher, higher,
in the school of wisdom,

More of grace to know.

Deeper, deeper
blessed Holy Spirit,

Take me deeper still.

Till my life is wholly

lost in Jesus

And His perfect will.

Deeper, deeper,

though it cost hard trials,

Deeper let me go.

Rooted in the holy

love of Jesus

Let me fruitful grow.

Deeper, higher

ev'ry day in Jesus

‘Till all conflict past;

Finds me conqu'ror

and in His own image

Perfected at last.

O deeper yet I pray,

And higher ev'ry day.

And wiser, blessed Lord,

In Thy precious holy Word.

Charles P. Jones

Public Domain

_________________

Jerry D. Scott, Pastor

Faith Discovery Church

Washington, NJ  07882

http://www.FaithDiscovery.com

When the party is over

Resurrection Day brought all kinds of energy to ‘church.’   The sanctuary was full.  We sang exuberantly, declaring our hope of life eternal.  And that is as it ought to be. Now,  is ‘the day after.’ Everybody has gone home, the music is still, the decorations will be stored away today.  Now what? 

Two disciples were walking outside of Jerusalem, on the road to Emmaus on the day after. The crucifixion had drained them of all hope.  Jesus, the One who filled them with dreams and hope, died on a Roman cross in disgrace.  All those dreams of a new Kingdom died with him.  While they walked they were trying to make sense of the weekend’s tragic events.  How had an entry in Jerusalem filled with shouts of “Hosanna,” kingly greetings, turned into a hateful scene in Pilate’s courtyard where people screamed, “Crucify Him!”? 

Let’s pick up Luke’s story - "As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

“What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”  (Luke 24:15-24, NLT)  The report of the Resurrection was already circulating, but it was being rejected.  Everybody knew that dead meant dead.  Yes, there was an empty tomb and stories of angels who said He was alive, but… well, who could  believe such things?

Later, over dinner, the Man offered prayer and broke the loaf of bread and they realized it was HIM! “Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.”  (24:27) He encouraged them, then as suddenly as He came, He was gone! But, they were changed and they headed back to Jerusalem with yet another amazing story about the Risen Lord.

On this day after, are you tending to discount the reports?  As you hear echoes of “Christ, the Lord, is risen today…” are setting the wonder aside for another year until Easter rolls around again?  I suggest a different choice today.  In prayer and meditation, go back again to the Story. Think it through. The second look will provide greater clarity.  Ask, ‘what does this mean for my life now?’ 

The Resurrection is the cornerstone of our hope.  Because He lives, we will live also. That supernatural event turns a story about a kind Teacher into a compelling Gospel of a Living Lord.  "If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man. Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ." (The Message 1 Corinthians 15:19-22)

Fifty days after the Resurrection, at the Feast of Pentecost, God, the Holy Spirit, fell on the disciples and the rest is history!  "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:43-47, NIV)  On this day after, let’s not settle back to the routine.  Instead, let’s invite a new Pentecost.  Lord, pour out Your Spirit on us!  Fill us with the power to take your good news to our world.  May  Your kingdom be born anew in us, we pray. Amen.

Let’s live what we celebrated.

_______________

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

The sun comes up

it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass
and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing
when the evening comes

You're rich in love
and You're slow to anger

Your name is great
and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons
for my heart to find

Bless the Lord
O my soul, O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day
when my strength is failing

The end draws near
and my time has come

Still my soul
will sing Your praise unending

Ten thousand years
and then forevermore

Worship Your holy name

Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

© 2011 Said And Done Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

SHOUT! Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Like Him, choosing the Father’s will

Think of the choices you make to go through a time of difficulty to own a better outcome.  You endured surgery to replace a knee to regain mobility. You went through counseling and worked at change to overcome a life-controlling situation. You stuck with a friend in a dark time to help him back to the light.

Jesus was willing to descend into a darkness that was incomparably worse than any choice we could make. He told His friends, "As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." (Matthew 26:2, NLT) Though we make much of his physical torment (and it was beyond our comprehension), it was being ripped from the Father’s fellowship by our sins that was the greater suffering for Him!  He knew the Cross was His destiny and He knew the Resurrection was His hope. But, even with that hope, it was hard. He was filled with dread. He prayed, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (Matthew 26:39, NLT)

Today think deeply about His sacrifice. It was not forced on Him. He willingly embraced it for me, for you, because of love. (Communion worship at  Faith Discovery tonight at 7) He made the choice to descend into the darkness, not for Himself, but for us. His loss was our gain. His obedience bought our salvation from sin, death, and Hell! He bridged the chasm that sin had carved between the Father and His Creation. Oh, praise Him! The Cross is ugly, but we must not rush past it to get to the Empty Tomb! The glory of the Resurrection morning is possible only because of Good Friday's gloom.

Are you are confronted with some very difficult choice in your life?  
Does the will of God lead against your desires?
Is His will and purpose taking you directly toward self-denial, even death to Self?

Will you willingly descend into the dark of that situation, so that He can lead you into the Light of His purposes?

The Word encourages us with this pattern.  "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)

Look past the pain to the Glory!

Grasp the promise of abundant life - presently and eternally - and present yourself as a 'living sacrifice.'

My prayer for you is this:
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant
brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21, NIV)
_______________

Jesus Christ,
I think upon Your sacrifice,
You became nothing,
Poured out to death.
Many times I've wondered
At Your gift of life,
And I'm in that place once again.
I'm in that place once again.

And once again
I look upon the cross
Where You died,
I'm humbled by Your mercy
And I'm broken inside.
Once again I thank You,
Once again I pour out my life.
Thank You for the cross,
Thank You for the cross,
Thank You for the cross, my Friend.

Now You are exalted
To the highest place,
King of the heavens,
Where one day I'll bow.
But for now,
I marvel at this saving grace,
And I'm full of praise once again.
I'm full of praise once again.

Once Again

Redman, Matt
EMI Christian Music Publishing
© 1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055