TIME AWAY
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
I spent the last few days moving into a new apartment with the help of my sister and youngest brother. In all honesty, the move went very well. We were able to get the furniture and boxes moved within two trips and no one got seriously injured. In fact, the only known casualty discovered so far was a lamp, which probably needed to be replaced anyway based on its age. But even with the Christian radio station playing in the background as we moved stuff out of one place and into another, I realized something. I realized that even one day away from the Word was one day too many.
One of the greatest benefits about writing these daily devotionals is that it keeps me daily in God’s Word. This makes for a great method of accountability. But, like a pitcher of water, water can only be given out from the pitcher if water continues to be poured into the pitcher. Therefore, in order for me to be able to share anything with you I must be being filled myself. It needs to be a continuous flowing. This idea seems to follow the words of Paul in Ephesians 5:18 where he tells us to be being filled with the Spirit. This must be a continuous action. If we fail to allow it to be continuous, then we become stagnant.
Yet going back to my realization from this weekend, I see now how desperately I need God’s Word. And although hearing others speak the Word is good, I see how I need to read and study it for myself. Statistics show that a person can go three days without water and about twenty-one days without food. My last moment where I sat down and read God’s Word for myself was back on Saturday. After three days of no nourishment from God’s Word, I honestly felt drained, parched, and famished. As I was thinking about this fact this morning, I began to see how the lack of God’s Word as my substance changed the way I reacted to my kids over the past few days. My fuse seemed to grow shorter, my frustration seemed to come sooner, and my overall level of stress sky-rocketed. I wasn’t just having a bad day – I was having empty days.
Getting back into God’s Word this morning was like eating a steak after a three week fast. I tasted it anew, craved it like never before, and had no problem with taking seconds. But it took me being starved to understand how much I needed and missed it. It took me being away to realize just how powerful God’s Word is for the nourishment of my body. It took me missing it to see what the author of Hebrews explains in Hebrews 4:12. The Word of God is nourishment. His Word is living and active. His Word goes into the crevices, into the streams of my physical body and spiritual being to rightly divide the fatty waste from the muscle. His Word judges my sin and grows me into the man He is calling me to be.
I cannot afford to be absent from His Word even one day, for one day is one day too many. I cannot afford to let the sin and starvation of life in when He offers such nourishment and life in His Word. I cannot afford a vacation from Him, or any time away, because when I do allow this I find myself depleting and spiritually dehydrating quickly. If I want to grow in His ways then I must eat and drink of His Word. There is no other place but in His Word that I find true life giving nourishment. Oh, I am hungry again. Excuse me while I go back to the buffet.
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
SEEDTIME AND HARVEST part 3
“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, ‘Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to the seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.’”
Genesis 13:14-17
We end our series today with the final two principles of seedtime and harvest from the Genesis 13:14-17 passage. To recap what we have looked at already, we find the first principle as needing to leave Lot, or anything not of God, behind. God must be the God of our life as opposed to anyone or anything else. Secondly we must change our focus and lift our eyes up to see God in the right light. Third, our vision must be updated to where we see the promise in faith in order to receive it in reality. Fourth, even though our physical position may not match the promise God had given, we must still hold on to the words of God, for they are life. In order for this to happen we must be prepared for distractions. Related so closely to the fourth principle is the fifth that states we must endure.
Now with ourselves caught up we look at number six in our list of principles that states we must learn how to operate in God’s system. Once you realize the enemy is trying to keep you joined with Lot, or keep your eyes down, or even distracted, then you will also begin to see the traps the enemy uses to make you forfeit the word given to you by God. But what the enemy knows, and we sometimes forget, is that a system goes into place when God makes a promise to us. Our end result is tied to how we possess that promise. Two systems already exist. A worldly system is working to split us from God while a system of God is based on a faith in the word of God. An example of this can be found within our finances. The worldly system encourages us to save. While there is wisdom in this, the system God works on tells us that He is our provider and that we are to give it away, helping the orphans and widows, seeding into the Kingdom of God, and doing things unto the least of these. Keep in mind that you can be a Christian in the world’s system, or you can live by faith according to what seems like upside principles.
I am not saying we must be broke financially, but that our dependence should not be in our money and the world’s ways. To be honest, this is where I struggle the most. My car may have a major issue that I do not have the funds for. The kids may need braces. Hospital bills may be populated overnight based on some freak accident. I have this tendency to want to save, save, save for the what-ifs. It is the lack of balance that causes the error. The world shoves the balance all the way to the save and riches end. Many preachers preach the other extreme of poor life. The balance is in finding the ability to fully have faith that God already knows about these things, and already has the answer in the works concerning these things. This is my challenge. As such, it makes it hard for me to obey and give away when He prompts me too. But I have seen the benefit of such a thing over the past two months. As scary as it can be, I am encouraged to continue.
So then we come to what I have found is the final key. Abram was told by God to walk the land and everywhere he placed his foot would be his. Simply put, God declared, “’… for I will give it unto thee.’” Abram had to do his piece in walking to have his inheritance. We then are challenged much the same way. In Matthew 6:33 the words of Jesus read that all these things will be added unto us. That is the promise of the inheritance, but what is our part? Our part, the walking, is found in the command, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” All that we need to live, be productive, and enjoy life comes from God, not our savings account. He will bless us with life and enjoyment if we walk correctly according to His standards.
In applying these principles we become farmers. As the farmer expects a harvest for his work, so we can expect a harvest in applying these principles within our own life. Do not forget that God’s desire is to bless us and prosper us, in body and soul. If we are not living right, however, we damper that. Recently I wrote that the enemy wants to scare us into believing that living for God is more dangerous than living for the enemy. In this aspect it is so true. The enemy wants to wave his carrot before us in hopes that we will see it and be satisfied. But in the end he will only tease and taunt us. God, however, waves no carrot. His promise for our prosperity is true but will cost us obedience and faith. Whose will you decide?
“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, ‘Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to the seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.’”
Genesis 13:14-17
We end our series today with the final two principles of seedtime and harvest from the Genesis 13:14-17 passage. To recap what we have looked at already, we find the first principle as needing to leave Lot, or anything not of God, behind. God must be the God of our life as opposed to anyone or anything else. Secondly we must change our focus and lift our eyes up to see God in the right light. Third, our vision must be updated to where we see the promise in faith in order to receive it in reality. Fourth, even though our physical position may not match the promise God had given, we must still hold on to the words of God, for they are life. In order for this to happen we must be prepared for distractions. Related so closely to the fourth principle is the fifth that states we must endure.
Now with ourselves caught up we look at number six in our list of principles that states we must learn how to operate in God’s system. Once you realize the enemy is trying to keep you joined with Lot, or keep your eyes down, or even distracted, then you will also begin to see the traps the enemy uses to make you forfeit the word given to you by God. But what the enemy knows, and we sometimes forget, is that a system goes into place when God makes a promise to us. Our end result is tied to how we possess that promise. Two systems already exist. A worldly system is working to split us from God while a system of God is based on a faith in the word of God. An example of this can be found within our finances. The worldly system encourages us to save. While there is wisdom in this, the system God works on tells us that He is our provider and that we are to give it away, helping the orphans and widows, seeding into the Kingdom of God, and doing things unto the least of these. Keep in mind that you can be a Christian in the world’s system, or you can live by faith according to what seems like upside principles.
I am not saying we must be broke financially, but that our dependence should not be in our money and the world’s ways. To be honest, this is where I struggle the most. My car may have a major issue that I do not have the funds for. The kids may need braces. Hospital bills may be populated overnight based on some freak accident. I have this tendency to want to save, save, save for the what-ifs. It is the lack of balance that causes the error. The world shoves the balance all the way to the save and riches end. Many preachers preach the other extreme of poor life. The balance is in finding the ability to fully have faith that God already knows about these things, and already has the answer in the works concerning these things. This is my challenge. As such, it makes it hard for me to obey and give away when He prompts me too. But I have seen the benefit of such a thing over the past two months. As scary as it can be, I am encouraged to continue.
So then we come to what I have found is the final key. Abram was told by God to walk the land and everywhere he placed his foot would be his. Simply put, God declared, “’… for I will give it unto thee.’” Abram had to do his piece in walking to have his inheritance. We then are challenged much the same way. In Matthew 6:33 the words of Jesus read that all these things will be added unto us. That is the promise of the inheritance, but what is our part? Our part, the walking, is found in the command, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” All that we need to live, be productive, and enjoy life comes from God, not our savings account. He will bless us with life and enjoyment if we walk correctly according to His standards.
In applying these principles we become farmers. As the farmer expects a harvest for his work, so we can expect a harvest in applying these principles within our own life. Do not forget that God’s desire is to bless us and prosper us, in body and soul. If we are not living right, however, we damper that. Recently I wrote that the enemy wants to scare us into believing that living for God is more dangerous than living for the enemy. In this aspect it is so true. The enemy wants to wave his carrot before us in hopes that we will see it and be satisfied. But in the end he will only tease and taunt us. God, however, waves no carrot. His promise for our prosperity is true but will cost us obedience and faith. Whose will you decide?
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
SEEDTIME AND HARVEST part 2
“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, ‘Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to the seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.’”
Genesis 13:14-17
Continuing on in our study, I want to bring our attention to the forth principle that I have learned. In reading the above passage we see God give Abram the promise of land and of child. His land would be composed of everywhere he placed his feet, and his offspring would be so numerous that counting them would be impossible. Yet when God gave this promise to Abram, he was a childless old man who had no land to call his own. His physical position didn’t match the promise God had given. Yet he held on to the words of God, for they were life. In this stance lies the forth principle – be prepared for distractions.
I have seen in my own life this principle at work. As I have shared in the past, at a young age it was prophesied over me that I would be a pastor. Once I embraced the calling I began to pursue the training and practice needed for the call. But as I was training for the call, the enemy was at work to steer me from the call. My teenage years were pretty tame, but still I was bombarded over and over with distractions and ultimately an addiction that stayed with me for several years. The addiction was not from God; never did I feel that it was Him testing me. But instead I knew it was the enemy. And why not? The enemy does not want to see us victorious over him.
We must keep in mind that when God gives us a revelation the enemy will send whatever he can our way to nullify God’s word. He did this in my life, bringing about an introduction to pornography soon after God brought His calling to me. And he did this with Abram as well. As we read further in the account of Abram we see that the enemy brought circumstances that caused Abram to doubt God’s word. We even see that Abram took matters into his own hands when working to have a child through Hagar. This child was never the child God intended, but was a result of the enemy sneaking his way in and twisting the prosperity that God intended for Abram. With this picture in mind, I say again that when we receive God’s promise or calling, we must be ready for an attack of the enemy. When we start to act on what God has said, the enemy is right there and ready to sway us off track.
God is faithful. When He speaks, His words come to pass. What He has spoken concerning you will come to pass as well. If not, God would be a liar. That is not His character. So we must understand that we need to be prepared. Just as in war, a soldier receives his orders and knows there is a good chance he will be shot at or somehow detained by the enemy. We must also have this same understanding. Our enemy does not want to see us succeed, so he will work to stop us from getting to the end point that God has promised us. We cannot afford to let him win. We cannot afford to be distracted saints. We must be determined to reach the goal, and we must be prepared for the enemy’s distractions.
On the heels of avoiding distraction comes the next lesson seen in our Genesis 13 passage. This principle may be the hardest yet, at least it seems to always be for me. The fifth principle is the principle of endurance. Although the text doesn’t necessarily state Abram waited and endured, we see in reading the remaining account of Abram’s life that he did. From the time that Abram received the word of God in Genesis 13:16, to the time when Isaac was born in Genesis 21:2, a total of twenty-five years passed. With only a promise of a nation coming from him, Abram had to do something, right? So he did. He endured.
To endure means to continue in the same state without perishing. It means to refrain from giving in and instead stand firm. This explains a great deal of Abram’s life. Although we know that his stance at one point was weakened and with the persistence of his wife he agreed to intimacy with Hagar, for the most part he remained solid and stood firm. Even after the birth of Ishmael, it was another fourteen years before Isaac was born. That was another 14 years of enduring for the promise which God had originally given. I am doing well to endure from breakfast to lunch some days.
But I too have had to, and in many ways am still having to, learn about endurance. I have been given promises from God that have not yet come to pass, and I see my Abram characteristics in my season of enduring. As I shared earlier, it was prophesied over me that I would be a minister. I received this word around age ten. Currently I am 37. I have been holding on, enduring, and standing firm on God’s words now for about 27 years. And in those 27 years, like Abram, I have had many times when I could have given up on the promise and let it go. I could have dropped the promise when job offers didn’t come to me, when my divorce happened, or when my mistakes cost me my job. Honestly, though, there have also been times when I did drop it, just as Abram did. Yet even though all the ups and downs in those years, I have remembered God’s promise and have found myself fighting back to not allow the current circumstances to override the promise God has given me any longer. I have chosen to endure, and as such I have the faith that what God promised He will deliver on. My personal choices may delay His timing, but His promise still remains.
God does not want us to be double-minded. This is an easy trap to fall into when we do not see life happening as quickly as we think it should. When Abram gave in to his wife’s offer concerning her slave, he gave into double-mindedness. He believed God at one point but then began doubting God the next. Friends, let us not fall into this trap. Yet still I offer this encouragement from Abram’s life. Abram got right again. Abram saw his error and changed his trust in God. With this change he was able to endure till the true appointed time when the promise first given was birthed. This can be our story as well. Perhaps we have dropped our promise – then let us pick it back up again and endure to the end. The seed of endurance is harvested with the promise made manifest in due time.
“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, ‘Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to the seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.’”
Genesis 13:14-17
Continuing on in our study, I want to bring our attention to the forth principle that I have learned. In reading the above passage we see God give Abram the promise of land and of child. His land would be composed of everywhere he placed his feet, and his offspring would be so numerous that counting them would be impossible. Yet when God gave this promise to Abram, he was a childless old man who had no land to call his own. His physical position didn’t match the promise God had given. Yet he held on to the words of God, for they were life. In this stance lies the forth principle – be prepared for distractions.
I have seen in my own life this principle at work. As I have shared in the past, at a young age it was prophesied over me that I would be a pastor. Once I embraced the calling I began to pursue the training and practice needed for the call. But as I was training for the call, the enemy was at work to steer me from the call. My teenage years were pretty tame, but still I was bombarded over and over with distractions and ultimately an addiction that stayed with me for several years. The addiction was not from God; never did I feel that it was Him testing me. But instead I knew it was the enemy. And why not? The enemy does not want to see us victorious over him.
We must keep in mind that when God gives us a revelation the enemy will send whatever he can our way to nullify God’s word. He did this in my life, bringing about an introduction to pornography soon after God brought His calling to me. And he did this with Abram as well. As we read further in the account of Abram we see that the enemy brought circumstances that caused Abram to doubt God’s word. We even see that Abram took matters into his own hands when working to have a child through Hagar. This child was never the child God intended, but was a result of the enemy sneaking his way in and twisting the prosperity that God intended for Abram. With this picture in mind, I say again that when we receive God’s promise or calling, we must be ready for an attack of the enemy. When we start to act on what God has said, the enemy is right there and ready to sway us off track.
God is faithful. When He speaks, His words come to pass. What He has spoken concerning you will come to pass as well. If not, God would be a liar. That is not His character. So we must understand that we need to be prepared. Just as in war, a soldier receives his orders and knows there is a good chance he will be shot at or somehow detained by the enemy. We must also have this same understanding. Our enemy does not want to see us succeed, so he will work to stop us from getting to the end point that God has promised us. We cannot afford to let him win. We cannot afford to be distracted saints. We must be determined to reach the goal, and we must be prepared for the enemy’s distractions.
On the heels of avoiding distraction comes the next lesson seen in our Genesis 13 passage. This principle may be the hardest yet, at least it seems to always be for me. The fifth principle is the principle of endurance. Although the text doesn’t necessarily state Abram waited and endured, we see in reading the remaining account of Abram’s life that he did. From the time that Abram received the word of God in Genesis 13:16, to the time when Isaac was born in Genesis 21:2, a total of twenty-five years passed. With only a promise of a nation coming from him, Abram had to do something, right? So he did. He endured.
To endure means to continue in the same state without perishing. It means to refrain from giving in and instead stand firm. This explains a great deal of Abram’s life. Although we know that his stance at one point was weakened and with the persistence of his wife he agreed to intimacy with Hagar, for the most part he remained solid and stood firm. Even after the birth of Ishmael, it was another fourteen years before Isaac was born. That was another 14 years of enduring for the promise which God had originally given. I am doing well to endure from breakfast to lunch some days.
But I too have had to, and in many ways am still having to, learn about endurance. I have been given promises from God that have not yet come to pass, and I see my Abram characteristics in my season of enduring. As I shared earlier, it was prophesied over me that I would be a minister. I received this word around age ten. Currently I am 37. I have been holding on, enduring, and standing firm on God’s words now for about 27 years. And in those 27 years, like Abram, I have had many times when I could have given up on the promise and let it go. I could have dropped the promise when job offers didn’t come to me, when my divorce happened, or when my mistakes cost me my job. Honestly, though, there have also been times when I did drop it, just as Abram did. Yet even though all the ups and downs in those years, I have remembered God’s promise and have found myself fighting back to not allow the current circumstances to override the promise God has given me any longer. I have chosen to endure, and as such I have the faith that what God promised He will deliver on. My personal choices may delay His timing, but His promise still remains.
God does not want us to be double-minded. This is an easy trap to fall into when we do not see life happening as quickly as we think it should. When Abram gave in to his wife’s offer concerning her slave, he gave into double-mindedness. He believed God at one point but then began doubting God the next. Friends, let us not fall into this trap. Yet still I offer this encouragement from Abram’s life. Abram got right again. Abram saw his error and changed his trust in God. With this change he was able to endure till the true appointed time when the promise first given was birthed. This can be our story as well. Perhaps we have dropped our promise – then let us pick it back up again and endure to the end. The seed of endurance is harvested with the promise made manifest in due time.
Monday, June 18, 2012
SEEDTIME AND HARVEST part 1
“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, ‘Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to the seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.’”
Genesis 13:14-17
Allow me first to start off by admitting that I normally do not read from the King James Version, but something about this passage in this version connected with me. Over the next few days I would like to share a few of the lessons I have learned, and am learning, concerning seedtime and harvest. For those of you do not know, I am a graduate of Oral Roberts University. I say this not as a issue of arrogance or pride, but to simply point out that it was Oral’s theology of seed faith that shaped for the longest time my understanding of harvesting. That is to say, until recently when in studying, truths began to jump off the page.
In looking at Genesis 13:14-17, I see a series of principles that speak to me concerning this teaching. While we will not get to all of them today, I want to at least start. The first principle involves separation and embracing. If you recall the early days of Abraham, when he was still called Abram, you may recall that his father was an idol sales man. Genesis 12 states that God called Abram away from his father’s house to a land unknown, and that by this step of faith a great nation would be birthed. When we see Abram later in chapter 13, we see him apart from his father, but joined still with his nephew, Lot. It is then in verse 14 that God is again prompting in Abram the need to separate once more, this time from his nephew. Through a series of circumstances, the two do split and go their separate ways, but not before Abram is promised the land in each direction.
The first principle, then, should be easy to see. The promise of God was not able to be fulfilled until first Abram separated from his father and his nephew. In other words, for us to take possession of what God promises us, we first have to separate from the people and things that go against God. Worship of an idol does not mix with worship of the one true God. As long as Abram was connected with either of these two parties, he was unable to put God first and cleave to Him. And rightly so, until Abram embraced fully God alone, he would simple be placing the promised end result on hold.
How does this fit with seedtime and harvest? The answer to this lies in the fact that we must separate from our own hindrances. God cannot bless sin. Now I am not saying that all your friends are sinful, or that you need to live the life of a hermit. What I am saying, though, is that if anything or any person is greater in our lives than God, we are in sin because we are then making that item or person our god instead. We must leave the sin so that we may embrace God alone. In surrendering to Him, we leave the bondages of sin in exchange for the blessings of God. Remember that it was not until Abram and Lot did separate that God began to reveal further to Abram the next step in his life. It very well may be with us that God has given us a nugget, but will give us much more when we fully embrace Him as our God.
Let us continue in looking at another principle for seedtime and harvest from our Genesis text. This principle is found in the words of God to Abram. “’Lift up thine eyes.’” This second principle is based on where Abram was focused verses where he was being told to focus. Instead of just looking down at his current position, God told him to look in all directions, north, south, east, and west. All this land would be his. In essence, God was telling Abram that He was going to change his current situation. From that point, Abram had to stand on the words of God, believing that what He said would come to pass.
Now notice that the promise did not transpire right at that moment. Abram had to do the exact same thing that we are to do – he had to call those things that are not as though they are (Rom 4:17). Although God may choose to have us remain in our current position after giving us the promise, our perspective and attitude need to be one of faith. Our faith in the revelation God gives us will release the moving of God. To us God also says, “Lift up thine eyes.” Ecclesiastes 4:11 reminds us that he who regards the wind does not sow and he who regards the clouds does not reap. Basically, if we are stuck looking only at our current situation instead of being focused on Him, all we will ever see is wind and cloud. In changing our perception so that He is our focus, we are taking a right step in the blessing that He longs to pour out, for it is not what is that makes up our future but rather what is perceived to be in faith.
And from the second principle we jump right into the third, the grabbing of the vision. In Genesis 13:15, God declares to Abram the promise that all the land that is seen in each direction would be his. Once perception is changed, vision should change. We have to see the promise in faith in order to receive it in reality. I am reminded of my college days when I broke my leg. The news from the doctor was not positive concerning if and how I would be able to walk. The doctor’s words to me were that a surgical procedure would be needed to go in and have the bone screwed back together. I said bluntly, “No.” I trusted that God would heal me. I even wrote on my crutches that God would heal me. I had the promise of healing from Isaiah 53, as well as from each of the gospels. So with the sight of this promise I began to receive it in reality. Within two weeks I was crutchless, and within six weeks I was walking again, never having had the surgery. When I went back for my check up and saw the x-rays, the bone that was once split was congealed and no split was seen.
Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without a vision we perish. I had a vision; I was not about to perish and go through surgery when I knew God could heal. But the promise has to become what we see in faith. Abram could have heard the words of God and thought it was cool. Instead, he heard the words of God, looked in the directions, and grabbed by faith what was promised. Keep in mind that before we can take possession of the promise we must have vision. It must be seen by faith in order to be received in reality.
Like Abram, God desires to bless us. This can only happen, though, when our lives and our faith are in sync with Him. I encourage you to move in these principles, and ones yet to be talked about. I encourage you rid the Lot in your life, lift us your eyes, and have the vision so you can receive the blessing.
“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, ‘Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to the seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.’”
Genesis 13:14-17
Allow me first to start off by admitting that I normally do not read from the King James Version, but something about this passage in this version connected with me. Over the next few days I would like to share a few of the lessons I have learned, and am learning, concerning seedtime and harvest. For those of you do not know, I am a graduate of Oral Roberts University. I say this not as a issue of arrogance or pride, but to simply point out that it was Oral’s theology of seed faith that shaped for the longest time my understanding of harvesting. That is to say, until recently when in studying, truths began to jump off the page.
In looking at Genesis 13:14-17, I see a series of principles that speak to me concerning this teaching. While we will not get to all of them today, I want to at least start. The first principle involves separation and embracing. If you recall the early days of Abraham, when he was still called Abram, you may recall that his father was an idol sales man. Genesis 12 states that God called Abram away from his father’s house to a land unknown, and that by this step of faith a great nation would be birthed. When we see Abram later in chapter 13, we see him apart from his father, but joined still with his nephew, Lot. It is then in verse 14 that God is again prompting in Abram the need to separate once more, this time from his nephew. Through a series of circumstances, the two do split and go their separate ways, but not before Abram is promised the land in each direction.
The first principle, then, should be easy to see. The promise of God was not able to be fulfilled until first Abram separated from his father and his nephew. In other words, for us to take possession of what God promises us, we first have to separate from the people and things that go against God. Worship of an idol does not mix with worship of the one true God. As long as Abram was connected with either of these two parties, he was unable to put God first and cleave to Him. And rightly so, until Abram embraced fully God alone, he would simple be placing the promised end result on hold.
How does this fit with seedtime and harvest? The answer to this lies in the fact that we must separate from our own hindrances. God cannot bless sin. Now I am not saying that all your friends are sinful, or that you need to live the life of a hermit. What I am saying, though, is that if anything or any person is greater in our lives than God, we are in sin because we are then making that item or person our god instead. We must leave the sin so that we may embrace God alone. In surrendering to Him, we leave the bondages of sin in exchange for the blessings of God. Remember that it was not until Abram and Lot did separate that God began to reveal further to Abram the next step in his life. It very well may be with us that God has given us a nugget, but will give us much more when we fully embrace Him as our God.
Let us continue in looking at another principle for seedtime and harvest from our Genesis text. This principle is found in the words of God to Abram. “’Lift up thine eyes.’” This second principle is based on where Abram was focused verses where he was being told to focus. Instead of just looking down at his current position, God told him to look in all directions, north, south, east, and west. All this land would be his. In essence, God was telling Abram that He was going to change his current situation. From that point, Abram had to stand on the words of God, believing that what He said would come to pass.
Now notice that the promise did not transpire right at that moment. Abram had to do the exact same thing that we are to do – he had to call those things that are not as though they are (Rom 4:17). Although God may choose to have us remain in our current position after giving us the promise, our perspective and attitude need to be one of faith. Our faith in the revelation God gives us will release the moving of God. To us God also says, “Lift up thine eyes.” Ecclesiastes 4:11 reminds us that he who regards the wind does not sow and he who regards the clouds does not reap. Basically, if we are stuck looking only at our current situation instead of being focused on Him, all we will ever see is wind and cloud. In changing our perception so that He is our focus, we are taking a right step in the blessing that He longs to pour out, for it is not what is that makes up our future but rather what is perceived to be in faith.
And from the second principle we jump right into the third, the grabbing of the vision. In Genesis 13:15, God declares to Abram the promise that all the land that is seen in each direction would be his. Once perception is changed, vision should change. We have to see the promise in faith in order to receive it in reality. I am reminded of my college days when I broke my leg. The news from the doctor was not positive concerning if and how I would be able to walk. The doctor’s words to me were that a surgical procedure would be needed to go in and have the bone screwed back together. I said bluntly, “No.” I trusted that God would heal me. I even wrote on my crutches that God would heal me. I had the promise of healing from Isaiah 53, as well as from each of the gospels. So with the sight of this promise I began to receive it in reality. Within two weeks I was crutchless, and within six weeks I was walking again, never having had the surgery. When I went back for my check up and saw the x-rays, the bone that was once split was congealed and no split was seen.
Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without a vision we perish. I had a vision; I was not about to perish and go through surgery when I knew God could heal. But the promise has to become what we see in faith. Abram could have heard the words of God and thought it was cool. Instead, he heard the words of God, looked in the directions, and grabbed by faith what was promised. Keep in mind that before we can take possession of the promise we must have vision. It must be seen by faith in order to be received in reality.
Like Abram, God desires to bless us. This can only happen, though, when our lives and our faith are in sync with Him. I encourage you to move in these principles, and ones yet to be talked about. I encourage you rid the Lot in your life, lift us your eyes, and have the vision so you can receive the blessing.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
WITH LONG LIFE
“With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91:16
I love reading, and in many ways wish I could read faster and more frequent than I do now. It wasn’t always this way, however. In junior high and high school when I had to do a book report, I would read just enough to get by. I figured if I hit the main points by reading a little from the beginning, the middle, and the ending, I would know enough of the story line to make a decent grade on the paper. Now that I am older and have taken up this pastime, I find myself reading from beginning to end. That doesn’t mean that in the middle of a book I don’t feel like skipping to the end to see the fate of the characters without reading the details in between. This thought probably crosses my mind way too often still. But today, I want to do just that. In fact, today I want to start at the end and work our way backwards.
Psalm 91:16 tells us that with long life, God will satisfy us and show us His salvation. He will show us His salvation from what exactly? For this we must move back a few verses. In Psalm 91:3-13 we read of many things that tend to come against us that He will indeed save us from. The list includes the enemy’s snare, the terror of night and the arrow of day, the pestilence and the plague, the falling and striking of our foot on a stone, and the great lion and serpent who take us as prey. That is quite a bit to be saved from, wouldn’t you agree? But there are two other factors that need to be looked at that define our salvation. In Psalm 91:1-2, we read from the beginning that these benefits come to the one who dwells under the covering of El Elyon (God Most High) and rest in the shadow of El Shaddai (God Almighty). It is He who must become our refuge and fortress. We see in Psalm 91:4 that He covers us with His feathers, hiding us from the enemy. And we read in Psalm 91:14-15 that the benefit of salvation comes to those who declare a love for Adonai, and who call upon Him. The salvation is there, but the factors must also be in line.
Yet, let us look a little deeper to the truth of this passage and the truth on III John 2. In John’s third letter he writes in the greeting that he wishes the reader to be in good health and prospering just as his soul is prospering. I have written on this verse a couple times and encourage you to go back and maybe re-read those devotionals. But let us focus in on the word ‘health’. Looking back at our main text in Psalm 91:16, we read that with long life we are to be satisfied and see His salvation. The word ‘salvation’ here is the Hebrew word YESHUAH. The meaning is salvation, but is also defined as healing, prosperity, and victory. Does it remind you of another word? Perhaps YESHUA, the name of Jesus? Did not Jesus come to be our salvation, healing, prosperity, and victory? So consider this verse again in using the actual Hebrew term. “With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation, My healing, My prosperity, and My victory.” Taking this same understanding to III John 2, that verse also takes on a new meaning. John is greeting us by saying that he hopes we are in good salvation, good, health, good prosperity, and good victory in the physical sense, just as we should be in the spiritual sense.
With long life Adonai wants to bless us and show us His salvation in every area we face. He wants to show us His healing. It is not His intention that we should be in pain and suffering in our body, and because of this He offers His healing. Just as truthful, He does not want us to be lacking but rather prosperous. In Deuteronomy 28:1-14 we see the areas where Adonai wants us to have more than enough as opposed to be lacking. So for this reason we see again in Psalm 91:16 that He will show us His prosperity. And as one who is to be the head and not the tail (Deut 28:13), Adonai does not want us to be defeated but instead living in victory. This definition is not a pile of empty words, though, but a truth that comes to those who live the full extent of Psalm 91 and dwell in Him. He who dwells in Adonai will constantly see the YESHUAH of Adonai. This is the long life I am after. This is the long life that far exceeds the fountain of youth. This is the truth of Adonai’s Word.
“With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91:16
I love reading, and in many ways wish I could read faster and more frequent than I do now. It wasn’t always this way, however. In junior high and high school when I had to do a book report, I would read just enough to get by. I figured if I hit the main points by reading a little from the beginning, the middle, and the ending, I would know enough of the story line to make a decent grade on the paper. Now that I am older and have taken up this pastime, I find myself reading from beginning to end. That doesn’t mean that in the middle of a book I don’t feel like skipping to the end to see the fate of the characters without reading the details in between. This thought probably crosses my mind way too often still. But today, I want to do just that. In fact, today I want to start at the end and work our way backwards.
Psalm 91:16 tells us that with long life, God will satisfy us and show us His salvation. He will show us His salvation from what exactly? For this we must move back a few verses. In Psalm 91:3-13 we read of many things that tend to come against us that He will indeed save us from. The list includes the enemy’s snare, the terror of night and the arrow of day, the pestilence and the plague, the falling and striking of our foot on a stone, and the great lion and serpent who take us as prey. That is quite a bit to be saved from, wouldn’t you agree? But there are two other factors that need to be looked at that define our salvation. In Psalm 91:1-2, we read from the beginning that these benefits come to the one who dwells under the covering of El Elyon (God Most High) and rest in the shadow of El Shaddai (God Almighty). It is He who must become our refuge and fortress. We see in Psalm 91:4 that He covers us with His feathers, hiding us from the enemy. And we read in Psalm 91:14-15 that the benefit of salvation comes to those who declare a love for Adonai, and who call upon Him. The salvation is there, but the factors must also be in line.
Yet, let us look a little deeper to the truth of this passage and the truth on III John 2. In John’s third letter he writes in the greeting that he wishes the reader to be in good health and prospering just as his soul is prospering. I have written on this verse a couple times and encourage you to go back and maybe re-read those devotionals. But let us focus in on the word ‘health’. Looking back at our main text in Psalm 91:16, we read that with long life we are to be satisfied and see His salvation. The word ‘salvation’ here is the Hebrew word YESHUAH. The meaning is salvation, but is also defined as healing, prosperity, and victory. Does it remind you of another word? Perhaps YESHUA, the name of Jesus? Did not Jesus come to be our salvation, healing, prosperity, and victory? So consider this verse again in using the actual Hebrew term. “With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation, My healing, My prosperity, and My victory.” Taking this same understanding to III John 2, that verse also takes on a new meaning. John is greeting us by saying that he hopes we are in good salvation, good, health, good prosperity, and good victory in the physical sense, just as we should be in the spiritual sense.
With long life Adonai wants to bless us and show us His salvation in every area we face. He wants to show us His healing. It is not His intention that we should be in pain and suffering in our body, and because of this He offers His healing. Just as truthful, He does not want us to be lacking but rather prosperous. In Deuteronomy 28:1-14 we see the areas where Adonai wants us to have more than enough as opposed to be lacking. So for this reason we see again in Psalm 91:16 that He will show us His prosperity. And as one who is to be the head and not the tail (Deut 28:13), Adonai does not want us to be defeated but instead living in victory. This definition is not a pile of empty words, though, but a truth that comes to those who live the full extent of Psalm 91 and dwell in Him. He who dwells in Adonai will constantly see the YESHUAH of Adonai. This is the long life I am after. This is the long life that far exceeds the fountain of youth. This is the truth of Adonai’s Word.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
REMEMBER
“And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
Recently I have been reading a book concerning the principles of seedtime and harvest. This isn’t anything new to me since in college it was part of the structure that the school I attended was built upon. But I must admit that in reading on this topic again, and refreshing my mind, I have learned something new. One of the biggest problems within the church concerning seed time and harvest, according to the author, is ignorance. What people do not know becomes the issue that cripples them. And this concept is stated also within the Bible when we are told the people perish from a lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6). So first I would like to point out that it may be to our advantage to learn of seedtime and harvest.
In order to give a start in this learning, I would like to point your attention to Leviticus 27:28. “’But nothing that a man owns and devotes to the LORD--whether man or animal or family land--may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.’” While we could be here and study this verse and its depth for quite some time, I want us only to pull out the word ‘devoted’. We read the words of Adonai here stating that everything ‘devoted’ is most holy to Him. This word ‘devoted’ is the Hebrew word CHARAM, meaning consecrated or first fruit. In truth, the verse is telling us that what is God’s, be it man, animal, land, money, whatever, cannot be given for another purpose because it is for God alone. The first fruit is His and we must give it to Him. When we do not give Him the first fruit, we set ourselves up for the curse that comes. I know this seems harsh, but this is in God’s Word. It may not be the fluffy preaching we want to hear from the stage on Sunday morning, but isn’t it time we come back to the truth within His Word?
Yet let us move on to the main text I want to pull from in Deuteronomy 8:17-18. It is easy to assume and declare that we are rich because of the work we do, things we make, stocks and bonds we invest in and such. The people of Israel also faced this thought. It is here in this passage, though, that Adonai reminds His people that their wealth is not based on what they invest in and such, but based rather on their obedience to giving their first fruit. He states, “’ But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth…’” We cannot go on here without defining a couple key words. First, the word ‘power’ is the word KOACH, meaning anointing or ability. We do not become wealthy based on our own talent, but rather we mix our talent with His ability to become wealthy. And for the record, wealth is not money. Wealth, or prosperity, is a wholeness which includes spirit, soul, mind, and emotion. This is the wealth that we read of in III John 2, that we would be prospering and in good health as our soul is prospering and in good health.
The second word I want us to define from the Deuteronomy text is ‘remember’. The word in Hebrew is ZAKAR. Remember is many times defined in the Old Testament as honor or reference. But translated from Zakar, it takes on a different meaning. This definition is the calling to mind, or the purposeful reminding. Think with me to the times when the covenantal head of the family was called to do something. That one act was done as a covering or on behalf of the entire tribe. The covenantal head was set apart for God, in essence as the first fruit of His family. In context to our verse, again it is not us who brings forth our own prosperity, but it is the first fruit mixed with the power of Adonai. The two must be hand in hand in order to see the prosperity flow. This is what we are to call to remembrance. This, then, is what I am learning to do, and am now encouraging you to do as well.
We all know the economy of the word is tight. But praise Adonai, my prosperity in every arena is not based on the world’s system. My prosperity is based, founded, established, and secure in offering to Him the first fruits. He is turn will mix it with His power and His blessings will flow. I may not have all that I want, but I know based on the track record that I have everything I need. I give unto that which is His and He continually opens unto His prosperity.
“And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
Recently I have been reading a book concerning the principles of seedtime and harvest. This isn’t anything new to me since in college it was part of the structure that the school I attended was built upon. But I must admit that in reading on this topic again, and refreshing my mind, I have learned something new. One of the biggest problems within the church concerning seed time and harvest, according to the author, is ignorance. What people do not know becomes the issue that cripples them. And this concept is stated also within the Bible when we are told the people perish from a lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6). So first I would like to point out that it may be to our advantage to learn of seedtime and harvest.
In order to give a start in this learning, I would like to point your attention to Leviticus 27:28. “’But nothing that a man owns and devotes to the LORD--whether man or animal or family land--may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.’” While we could be here and study this verse and its depth for quite some time, I want us only to pull out the word ‘devoted’. We read the words of Adonai here stating that everything ‘devoted’ is most holy to Him. This word ‘devoted’ is the Hebrew word CHARAM, meaning consecrated or first fruit. In truth, the verse is telling us that what is God’s, be it man, animal, land, money, whatever, cannot be given for another purpose because it is for God alone. The first fruit is His and we must give it to Him. When we do not give Him the first fruit, we set ourselves up for the curse that comes. I know this seems harsh, but this is in God’s Word. It may not be the fluffy preaching we want to hear from the stage on Sunday morning, but isn’t it time we come back to the truth within His Word?
Yet let us move on to the main text I want to pull from in Deuteronomy 8:17-18. It is easy to assume and declare that we are rich because of the work we do, things we make, stocks and bonds we invest in and such. The people of Israel also faced this thought. It is here in this passage, though, that Adonai reminds His people that their wealth is not based on what they invest in and such, but based rather on their obedience to giving their first fruit. He states, “’ But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth…’” We cannot go on here without defining a couple key words. First, the word ‘power’ is the word KOACH, meaning anointing or ability. We do not become wealthy based on our own talent, but rather we mix our talent with His ability to become wealthy. And for the record, wealth is not money. Wealth, or prosperity, is a wholeness which includes spirit, soul, mind, and emotion. This is the wealth that we read of in III John 2, that we would be prospering and in good health as our soul is prospering and in good health.
The second word I want us to define from the Deuteronomy text is ‘remember’. The word in Hebrew is ZAKAR. Remember is many times defined in the Old Testament as honor or reference. But translated from Zakar, it takes on a different meaning. This definition is the calling to mind, or the purposeful reminding. Think with me to the times when the covenantal head of the family was called to do something. That one act was done as a covering or on behalf of the entire tribe. The covenantal head was set apart for God, in essence as the first fruit of His family. In context to our verse, again it is not us who brings forth our own prosperity, but it is the first fruit mixed with the power of Adonai. The two must be hand in hand in order to see the prosperity flow. This is what we are to call to remembrance. This, then, is what I am learning to do, and am now encouraging you to do as well.
We all know the economy of the word is tight. But praise Adonai, my prosperity in every arena is not based on the world’s system. My prosperity is based, founded, established, and secure in offering to Him the first fruits. He is turn will mix it with His power and His blessings will flow. I may not have all that I want, but I know based on the track record that I have everything I need. I give unto that which is His and He continually opens unto His prosperity.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
BIRKAT HABANIM
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
As I continue to learn more about prayer, I continue to see more areas and opportunities in which I need to pray. One of these such areas is over my family. As the spiritual covering of my home, I am charged by God to pull them under my covering, and then in turn under His covering. In this charge I am urged to lead my family in the ways of God, but I am also urged to pray His protection and guidance over them. I want to see my family succeed, and even surpass me, but the chances of this being done outside of prayer are slim. Allow me to give you an example.
Best known for his monotone sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards was a man determined to pray. With a schedule that had him up at 4:30am, the father would take time to read and study the word of God before entering the workforce of travels and meetings. One thing, however, was always made time for. Jonathan Edwards always made time for his children. It is stated that Edwards would prayer over his children daily. Not only praying for them from a distance, but he would actually lay his hands on his children and bless them when able. This legacy changed his family line. History shows that of Edwards’ descendants, 13 were college presidents, 65 were college professors, 30 were judges, 100 were lawyers, 60 were physicians, 75 were army and navy officers, 100 were pastors, 60 were authors of prominence, 3 were senators, and one was Vice President of the United States.
Contrast this stunning legacy to that of a lesser known Max Jukes, who also lived in the same time as Edwards. Jukes suffered from a drinking problem. As a result he was unable to keep a job. His drinking would take him away from home for days at a time, uncaring about the concerns and spiritual life of his family. History shows that within a five generation time span, 310 descendants died as paupers, 150 were criminals including 7 murderers, more than 100 were drunkards, and more than half of the female descendants entered prostitution. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the difference.
I refuse, though, to be the next Max Jukes. I refuse to let my family go down in flames. It is in this simple comparison that I feel God speaking to me to take my place as the spiritual leader of my home, and begin praying daily over my children. And while I may not know always what to pray, I know that the Birkat Habanim is a great place to start. In simple terms, the Birkat Habanim is the Blessing of the Children prayed by the head on each Shabbat. In Israel, as well as in many Jewish homes, the custom has become to bless the children, despite the age, when celebrating the Sabbath. So now I share this blessing with you.
For the boy: “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.”
For the girl: “May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.”
Over both: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
The blessing over the male states Ephraim and Manasseh because these were the first two brothers within the scriptures that did not war against each other. The blessing over the female gives us the list of our faith’s mothers, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. The final blessing is the priestly blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26. It was first spoken by Aaron, Moses’ brother, over the congregation of Israel. It is now spoken within the Jewish homes over the family as we, the fathers, are called as the priest of our home.
Whether you decide to engage in the Birkat Habanim or not is your decision. My challenge to you, however, is the same challenge I am facing. Let us begin, or maybe continue, to pray for our family. Let us continue to bless our children, expecting that God will bless them and all that follow. Let us pronounce His protection, kindness, and peace to those who are our legacy. Let us make a purposed effort to pray over what God has entrusted to us.
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
As I continue to learn more about prayer, I continue to see more areas and opportunities in which I need to pray. One of these such areas is over my family. As the spiritual covering of my home, I am charged by God to pull them under my covering, and then in turn under His covering. In this charge I am urged to lead my family in the ways of God, but I am also urged to pray His protection and guidance over them. I want to see my family succeed, and even surpass me, but the chances of this being done outside of prayer are slim. Allow me to give you an example.
Best known for his monotone sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards was a man determined to pray. With a schedule that had him up at 4:30am, the father would take time to read and study the word of God before entering the workforce of travels and meetings. One thing, however, was always made time for. Jonathan Edwards always made time for his children. It is stated that Edwards would prayer over his children daily. Not only praying for them from a distance, but he would actually lay his hands on his children and bless them when able. This legacy changed his family line. History shows that of Edwards’ descendants, 13 were college presidents, 65 were college professors, 30 were judges, 100 were lawyers, 60 were physicians, 75 were army and navy officers, 100 were pastors, 60 were authors of prominence, 3 were senators, and one was Vice President of the United States.
Contrast this stunning legacy to that of a lesser known Max Jukes, who also lived in the same time as Edwards. Jukes suffered from a drinking problem. As a result he was unable to keep a job. His drinking would take him away from home for days at a time, uncaring about the concerns and spiritual life of his family. History shows that within a five generation time span, 310 descendants died as paupers, 150 were criminals including 7 murderers, more than 100 were drunkards, and more than half of the female descendants entered prostitution. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the difference.
I refuse, though, to be the next Max Jukes. I refuse to let my family go down in flames. It is in this simple comparison that I feel God speaking to me to take my place as the spiritual leader of my home, and begin praying daily over my children. And while I may not know always what to pray, I know that the Birkat Habanim is a great place to start. In simple terms, the Birkat Habanim is the Blessing of the Children prayed by the head on each Shabbat. In Israel, as well as in many Jewish homes, the custom has become to bless the children, despite the age, when celebrating the Sabbath. So now I share this blessing with you.
For the boy: “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.”
For the girl: “May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.”
Over both: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
The blessing over the male states Ephraim and Manasseh because these were the first two brothers within the scriptures that did not war against each other. The blessing over the female gives us the list of our faith’s mothers, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. The final blessing is the priestly blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26. It was first spoken by Aaron, Moses’ brother, over the congregation of Israel. It is now spoken within the Jewish homes over the family as we, the fathers, are called as the priest of our home.
Whether you decide to engage in the Birkat Habanim or not is your decision. My challenge to you, however, is the same challenge I am facing. Let us begin, or maybe continue, to pray for our family. Let us continue to bless our children, expecting that God will bless them and all that follow. Let us pronounce His protection, kindness, and peace to those who are our legacy. Let us make a purposed effort to pray over what God has entrusted to us.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
AND PRAY…
“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”
Jude 20
I remember while in college the interview and application process I journeyed on to become a student chaplain. First, after showing interest, I was given two short interviews with current chaplains. The standard questions were based on why I wanted to be a chaplain, what had God been teaching me, and the like. Then I remember being assigned to a chaplain to teach a devotional to his group of guys. Once that was completed I was called in for my last interview with leaders from the spiritual life team. It was in that interview that you may recall, I commented that Esther was hot. Later, with all the interviews now behind me, I embarked in the adventure of assisting men on their spiritual journey. I was not left hanging, though. As part of the training process each chaplain was given pages of verses to memorize over the summer and be able to answer to once returning on campus. It was from these pages that I first learned and committed to memory Jude 20, which has helped me many times since.
The verse is short and sweet. “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Easy enough, right? Yet within the words is a depth that maybe we have not considered. Within the words is more than just a statement, but rather a charge in how we are to build ourselves up.
Let’s face it, the world is full of traps and temptations, and around every turn the enemy is looking to take us down. Just recently I was reminded about this again in my own life. About a week back, while in prayer, I felt God urging me in a deeper path of seeking Him out. The following day, after embracing this path, things began to happen that felt like an attack. While I did find myself with a renewed strength to take my next steps, I also felt the enemy coming at me in greater force as well. As I was in prayer about this onslaught, I felt I heard God say that the enemy was working to scare me into believing that serving the enemy was less dangerous than serving God. The counter attack to this was to keep in prayer, keep resisting the enemy, and keep expecting him to flee (Jms 4:7). While as of today I can still feel the enemy’s attempts, I know that God has sent His protection.
But let us look back at our text for today. We are charged first to build ourselves up in the most holy faith. This is something you must do for yourself. The verse reads, “build yourself up in your most holy faith…” Notice it doesn’t say to let your pastor build you up, your friends build you up, or even your parents build you up. While they can be a support and strength, you have to do your own building. And the building must be done in the most holy faith. What is that? This is PISTIS, the Greek word defined as conviction of truth and the belief in a relationship with God. This is the same word used to define our shield in Ephesians 6:16. Without PISTIS it is impossible to serve God (Heb 11:6).
It is in this assurance then that we move to the next part which continues, “…and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Prayer is a key in our building of ourselves. I think of this in terms of a body builder. The body builder works to build muscle, but it is more than just simply lifting weights. A true body builder knows that there is a regiment of sleep, diet, and physical training that will affect his final outcome. Having pistis is good, but not enough. We must also have prayer. And Jude explains we build ourselves up additionally with praying “in the Holy Spirit.” In the Greek it actually states praying “with the Holy Spirit.” We build ourselves up by praying as the Spirit leads us, praying how the Spirit leads us, and declaring as the Spirit leads us.
I leave you then with this challenge in your prayer life. Build yourself up! Take it upon yourself to strengthen your own muscles in prayer. Be secure in your faith so that you can please God, and pray in that security. Remember, nothing is impossible with God, but faith is needed to make the impossible possible. And finally, pray with the Holy Spirit. Pray in agreement to what is placed on your heart, trusting it is His leading you in your prayers. Do it now. Go to God’s gym now! Pray and pray and pray and pray...
“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”
Jude 20
I remember while in college the interview and application process I journeyed on to become a student chaplain. First, after showing interest, I was given two short interviews with current chaplains. The standard questions were based on why I wanted to be a chaplain, what had God been teaching me, and the like. Then I remember being assigned to a chaplain to teach a devotional to his group of guys. Once that was completed I was called in for my last interview with leaders from the spiritual life team. It was in that interview that you may recall, I commented that Esther was hot. Later, with all the interviews now behind me, I embarked in the adventure of assisting men on their spiritual journey. I was not left hanging, though. As part of the training process each chaplain was given pages of verses to memorize over the summer and be able to answer to once returning on campus. It was from these pages that I first learned and committed to memory Jude 20, which has helped me many times since.
The verse is short and sweet. “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Easy enough, right? Yet within the words is a depth that maybe we have not considered. Within the words is more than just a statement, but rather a charge in how we are to build ourselves up.
Let’s face it, the world is full of traps and temptations, and around every turn the enemy is looking to take us down. Just recently I was reminded about this again in my own life. About a week back, while in prayer, I felt God urging me in a deeper path of seeking Him out. The following day, after embracing this path, things began to happen that felt like an attack. While I did find myself with a renewed strength to take my next steps, I also felt the enemy coming at me in greater force as well. As I was in prayer about this onslaught, I felt I heard God say that the enemy was working to scare me into believing that serving the enemy was less dangerous than serving God. The counter attack to this was to keep in prayer, keep resisting the enemy, and keep expecting him to flee (Jms 4:7). While as of today I can still feel the enemy’s attempts, I know that God has sent His protection.
But let us look back at our text for today. We are charged first to build ourselves up in the most holy faith. This is something you must do for yourself. The verse reads, “build yourself up in your most holy faith…” Notice it doesn’t say to let your pastor build you up, your friends build you up, or even your parents build you up. While they can be a support and strength, you have to do your own building. And the building must be done in the most holy faith. What is that? This is PISTIS, the Greek word defined as conviction of truth and the belief in a relationship with God. This is the same word used to define our shield in Ephesians 6:16. Without PISTIS it is impossible to serve God (Heb 11:6).
It is in this assurance then that we move to the next part which continues, “…and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Prayer is a key in our building of ourselves. I think of this in terms of a body builder. The body builder works to build muscle, but it is more than just simply lifting weights. A true body builder knows that there is a regiment of sleep, diet, and physical training that will affect his final outcome. Having pistis is good, but not enough. We must also have prayer. And Jude explains we build ourselves up additionally with praying “in the Holy Spirit.” In the Greek it actually states praying “with the Holy Spirit.” We build ourselves up by praying as the Spirit leads us, praying how the Spirit leads us, and declaring as the Spirit leads us.
I leave you then with this challenge in your prayer life. Build yourself up! Take it upon yourself to strengthen your own muscles in prayer. Be secure in your faith so that you can please God, and pray in that security. Remember, nothing is impossible with God, but faith is needed to make the impossible possible. And finally, pray with the Holy Spirit. Pray in agreement to what is placed on your heart, trusting it is His leading you in your prayers. Do it now. Go to God’s gym now! Pray and pray and pray and pray...
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
UNISON IN PRAYER
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”
Acts 2:1
I want to bring our attention again to prayer. Recently, I brought our attention to Matthew 18:19-20, where Jesus says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” In using the Greek, I found that the word ‘agree’ here was the word SUMPHONEO, which means all together. It is from this word that we have the word symphony or concert. When we come together in agreement on earth, believing in God and praying His ways, then we are in symphony with Him. But I want to go one step further with this thought today and look at this symphony in motion, and how it further still relates to our own prayers.
I bring you to the text of Acts 2:1. To set the stage, Jesus had already been crucified and resurrected. Within the forty days that followed, Christ made Himself evident with many convincing proofs until He ascended into heaven. His last command to the disciples, however, was to stay in Jerusalem and await the gift the Father promised, that of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). In the ten days that followed Jesus’ ascension, the disciples waited in prayer in the Upper Room for the gift they had been reminded of. And then, on Pentecost, the gift was given.
This verse is so rich and I have so much I could share, but I will work to be brief. In the King James Version, the verse reads, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come…” In regards to prayer I want to first point out that it doesn’t always bring results on our timing. These men prayed for ten days before the time had fully come. If we recall in the book of Daniel, Daniel prayed for understanding. His answer was not given right away, but rather was answered twenty-one days later (Dan 10:13). This goes back to the idea I shared yesterday that we cannot come to God only with a shopping list. It also goes to prove that we have become so fast-food service oriented that we expect to have what we want now. It was not until the time had fully come that the Spirit fell.
The last point I want to make, though, is based on the second portion of this scripture. “…they were all together in one place.” The word ‘together’ is the Greek word HOMOTHUMADON. The meaning is quite simple. It means to be with one mind, in one accord, with one passion. Literally it is the compound of two words meaning to ‘rush along’ and ‘in unison’. To put it in musical terms to match our symphony, this is where the Holy Spirit blends together the voices and lives of the members within the choir. This illustration is how I want my prayer to be. I want to find myself praying in one accord with the will and desires of God. I know that I could easily become a solo artist in prayer, but in so doing I also know that I would never sell one album. Therefore I am determined to pray to Him concerning His will. It is true that I want to join with others and pray in SUMPHONEO, but I want the prayers that I am joining up with others in to be prayers that are in HOMOTHUMADON to His will.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”
Acts 2:1
I want to bring our attention again to prayer. Recently, I brought our attention to Matthew 18:19-20, where Jesus says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” In using the Greek, I found that the word ‘agree’ here was the word SUMPHONEO, which means all together. It is from this word that we have the word symphony or concert. When we come together in agreement on earth, believing in God and praying His ways, then we are in symphony with Him. But I want to go one step further with this thought today and look at this symphony in motion, and how it further still relates to our own prayers.
I bring you to the text of Acts 2:1. To set the stage, Jesus had already been crucified and resurrected. Within the forty days that followed, Christ made Himself evident with many convincing proofs until He ascended into heaven. His last command to the disciples, however, was to stay in Jerusalem and await the gift the Father promised, that of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). In the ten days that followed Jesus’ ascension, the disciples waited in prayer in the Upper Room for the gift they had been reminded of. And then, on Pentecost, the gift was given.
This verse is so rich and I have so much I could share, but I will work to be brief. In the King James Version, the verse reads, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come…” In regards to prayer I want to first point out that it doesn’t always bring results on our timing. These men prayed for ten days before the time had fully come. If we recall in the book of Daniel, Daniel prayed for understanding. His answer was not given right away, but rather was answered twenty-one days later (Dan 10:13). This goes back to the idea I shared yesterday that we cannot come to God only with a shopping list. It also goes to prove that we have become so fast-food service oriented that we expect to have what we want now. It was not until the time had fully come that the Spirit fell.
The last point I want to make, though, is based on the second portion of this scripture. “…they were all together in one place.” The word ‘together’ is the Greek word HOMOTHUMADON. The meaning is quite simple. It means to be with one mind, in one accord, with one passion. Literally it is the compound of two words meaning to ‘rush along’ and ‘in unison’. To put it in musical terms to match our symphony, this is where the Holy Spirit blends together the voices and lives of the members within the choir. This illustration is how I want my prayer to be. I want to find myself praying in one accord with the will and desires of God. I know that I could easily become a solo artist in prayer, but in so doing I also know that I would never sell one album. Therefore I am determined to pray to Him concerning His will. It is true that I want to join with others and pray in SUMPHONEO, but I want the prayers that I am joining up with others in to be prayers that are in HOMOTHUMADON to His will.
Monday, June 4, 2012
BRING IT ON!
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31
I awoke this morning with two songs in mind head, but both pounding out the same lyrics. The first was Bring It On, a song by Steven Curtis Chapman on his 2001 album. The words of the upbeat driven chorus are simple. “Bring it on / Let the lightning flash, let the thunder roll, let the storm winds blow / Bring it on / Let the trouble come, let the hard rain fall, let it make me strong / Bring it on.” The second song to flood me as I awoke was another simple song by newcomer Izzy Ray, who in her own words paraphrased Romans 8:28-31. Her smooth chorus lyrics state, “If my God is for me, who can be against me / If my God is for me, who can bring me down / If my God is for me no one can defeat me / If my God is for me, bring it on.”
Now with the topic of prayer being my focus for this season of June, you may wonder what these sets of lyrics have to do with prayer. In my opinion, they have much to do. Travel back in time with me to II Kings 6:8-23. It is in this account that we read of the King of Aram being at war with Israel. The king had advised his inner court that he would set up camp in a specific place. Now without an inside man to report back to Elisha this place, Elisha knew of the plans and reported this plot to the King of Israel. When this warning came true, Elisha earned the respect of the king and his future warnings were also heeded.
The King of Aram, however, wasn’t so excited about the constant foiling of his plans and became outraged. For sure there must be a spy within his own court. But no one came forth. Instead, they confessed what was really taking place. In seeking God in prayer, Elisha was being given the words of the king spoken in private, as if being right there in his very room. Aram’s order then became to find Elisha and capture him. Aram’s army went out and in the morning had the place located and surrounded.
In the morning, when Elisha’s servant awoke, panic struck him as he saw the massive army of Aram surrounding the city. In fear he questioned of the prophet what they should do. But, with a calm ease, Elisha encouraged him not to worry. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (II Kin 6:16). At that moment Elisha prayed for the eyes of his servant to be opened to the spiritual world, as when he did so the servant saw the even greater army of God. As the army of Aram came forth, the prayer that God would strike the enemy with blindness was heard. From there Elisha led them away from him into Samaria, and the plundering of them in Israel ceased.
It is in this account I want to point out two important factors. First, God hears our prayers. While we have turned prayer into us bringing our shopping list before God, it really is meant to be a two way street of communication. He desires to hear our hearts, but He also desires to share His heart, His plans, and His desires with us. Elisha was able to hear the inner chamber chat of Aram because he took the time to question what was on God’s heart as opposed to spilling out only what was on his own. But the second point, which brings me back to the two songs I woke up to, is that God is for us. God brought His army, more massive in size, when Aram brought his soldiers to confront Elisha. God brought blindness which in turn ended the plundering of Israel. God fought for His people, and He will fight also for us today. So it is to this I say, boldly, as in these songs, “Bring it on!” I know my God is for me, and if He is for me then NO ONE can stand against me.
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31
I awoke this morning with two songs in mind head, but both pounding out the same lyrics. The first was Bring It On, a song by Steven Curtis Chapman on his 2001 album. The words of the upbeat driven chorus are simple. “Bring it on / Let the lightning flash, let the thunder roll, let the storm winds blow / Bring it on / Let the trouble come, let the hard rain fall, let it make me strong / Bring it on.” The second song to flood me as I awoke was another simple song by newcomer Izzy Ray, who in her own words paraphrased Romans 8:28-31. Her smooth chorus lyrics state, “If my God is for me, who can be against me / If my God is for me, who can bring me down / If my God is for me no one can defeat me / If my God is for me, bring it on.”
Now with the topic of prayer being my focus for this season of June, you may wonder what these sets of lyrics have to do with prayer. In my opinion, they have much to do. Travel back in time with me to II Kings 6:8-23. It is in this account that we read of the King of Aram being at war with Israel. The king had advised his inner court that he would set up camp in a specific place. Now without an inside man to report back to Elisha this place, Elisha knew of the plans and reported this plot to the King of Israel. When this warning came true, Elisha earned the respect of the king and his future warnings were also heeded.
The King of Aram, however, wasn’t so excited about the constant foiling of his plans and became outraged. For sure there must be a spy within his own court. But no one came forth. Instead, they confessed what was really taking place. In seeking God in prayer, Elisha was being given the words of the king spoken in private, as if being right there in his very room. Aram’s order then became to find Elisha and capture him. Aram’s army went out and in the morning had the place located and surrounded.
In the morning, when Elisha’s servant awoke, panic struck him as he saw the massive army of Aram surrounding the city. In fear he questioned of the prophet what they should do. But, with a calm ease, Elisha encouraged him not to worry. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (II Kin 6:16). At that moment Elisha prayed for the eyes of his servant to be opened to the spiritual world, as when he did so the servant saw the even greater army of God. As the army of Aram came forth, the prayer that God would strike the enemy with blindness was heard. From there Elisha led them away from him into Samaria, and the plundering of them in Israel ceased.
It is in this account I want to point out two important factors. First, God hears our prayers. While we have turned prayer into us bringing our shopping list before God, it really is meant to be a two way street of communication. He desires to hear our hearts, but He also desires to share His heart, His plans, and His desires with us. Elisha was able to hear the inner chamber chat of Aram because he took the time to question what was on God’s heart as opposed to spilling out only what was on his own. But the second point, which brings me back to the two songs I woke up to, is that God is for us. God brought His army, more massive in size, when Aram brought his soldiers to confront Elisha. God brought blindness which in turn ended the plundering of Israel. God fought for His people, and He will fight also for us today. So it is to this I say, boldly, as in these songs, “Bring it on!” I know my God is for me, and if He is for me then NO ONE can stand against me.
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