Posts Tagged ‘prayer’
Scripture reading for June 8th: Acts 6:1-15
Every organization rises or falls on leadership. Gifts of leadership are given to individuals by God to help the church function smoothly. No one person is more important or higher than another in Christ’s body, but each person has a different function based on their gifts and talents. Faithfulness and maturity are foundational to strong leadership.
A crisis in the early church was recorded in Acts 6:1-7. There was strife and complaining between Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews over the treatment of their widows. Some were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food and the apostles gathered together to tackle the problem. “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.” (Acts 6:2b-4)
The apostles recognized their priorities as prayer and ministry of the Word. They understood that leadership must be expanded. But just warm bodies would not do the proper job. These men must be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Known character and infilling with the Spirit would enable them to have the power necessary to properly function in this important ministry. God cares deeply about widows and orphans! (James 1:27)
“This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judiasm. The presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” (Acts 6:5-6) The men were selected from a variety of backgrounds and then prayed over by the apostles. They gave the responsibility of caring for the widows away to responsible people who had the Holy Spirit, faith and wisdom!
The recorded result was an increase in the word of God and number of disciples, even priests were coming to Christ! When godly leadership functions in the proper tasks, God’s church expands. Preaching the Word is a priority for those so gifted and called! Pastoral care is also a vital need that those gifted and called can do. Are you full of the Holy Spirit with godly character that God can put you into His service?
Dear Friends,
Greetings in the Glorious Name of Jesus Christ! Another week begins with worship, prayer, and gathering with the people of God. I pray that you are motivated to gather today to worship! We need each other and God commands us to gather together, all the more as we see the day approaching of His sudden return. It could be today!
As we look back on the last week, I am impressed by the strength of Ezra and Nehemiah as leaders of God’s people. Their strength is evident in ways that men in our day would not easily relate to. Ezra was strong because he was a priest and student of God’s word. He studied and taught the law of God. He was a man of faith who lived by what he believed and this took him into a place of leadership. (Ezra 7:10,12) When you study God’s word and desire to apply it, God gives you wisdom and insight. He puts others of a like heart around you to accomplish His work. (Ezra 7:25-28) God gives you humility and courage to lead the people in repentance when there is a spiritual problem. Ezra’s holy fit took humility and courage to walk through! (Ezra 9:3-4)
Nehemiah was a man with a heart for God and for Jerusalem. His sensitive heart and willingness to fast and pray took him into a place of leadership he never expected. His life of prayer opened him to incredible opportunity to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. His focus on God’s will and direction gave him courage to face opposition and succeed! His holy burden brought a miracle of restoration to Jerusalem and it’s discouraged people. The work of God was quickly accomplished to His glory!
As you gather today with God’s people, listen for the word of God to show you a holy burden. Begin to pray and seek the Lord, offering yourself to God. Watch and see what He will do! Praying leaders are what God is watching for! Have a great week in the Lord! In His Love, Pastor John
Scripture reading for May 8th: Nehemiah 1-2
Today we find Nehemiah with a “holy burden” concerning Jerusalem and it’s people. Nehemiah, was an exile in Babylon, held an important position. He was cup bearer to the king. As cup bearer, he was responsible to taste all the wine and drinks that the king received and make sure that they had not been poisoned. His face reflected sadness as he came before the king, and the king asked him what was wrong. Nehemiah prayed quickly to himself, then shared his holy burden with the king. (Nehemiah 2:1-5)
Nehemiah’s burden came from pondering a report about Jerusalem and it’s inhabitants. It had been some time since Ezra had taken men back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and this work had been hindered by opposition. As Nehemiah heard about the discouragement, the broken walls of the city and the burned gates, his heart broke for its restoration and deliverance. He prayed and fasted, confessing sins that had brought about the terrible conditions of the once beautiful city and it’s great temple of the Lord. (Nehemiah 1:3-7) He reminded God of His promises to restore His people if they would return to Him. He asked God for favor with the king as he went before Him. (Nehemiah 1:11) This was why Nehemiah was now able to share his burden with the king!
God graciously turned the heart of the king to allow Nehemiah to go back to his beloved city and work on the walls. Nehemiah went quietly and surveyed the city walls for himself. He then shared the plans with the Jews living there and told them of the provision of God and His guidance. This sparked encouragement and the willingness to begin the work! There was some opposition from locals who opposed both the rebuilding and the Jews themselves. Nehemiah declared in faith to them, “The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” (Nehemiah 2:20)
Prayer is always the place to start when we have a holy burden. We lay it before the Lord, confess our sin and offer ourselves as a resource. God takes over and leads us onward. A holy burden is His heart’s burden placed on us. Faith then takes us to action that lifts the burden like a balloon filled with helium.
Dear friends,
Greetings again this first day of a new week! Hopefully, you are spending it gathering with God’s people to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week. He began a new day, called ‘today’, a day of salvation and good news for all mankind! He is alive and we have the hope of eternal life in Him alone! There is no other name given under heaven among men by which we must be saved! (Acts 4:12)
As I reflect back on this week’s readings, I am quickly brought back to the prophet Daniel. His life of dedication and prayer lived out in the country of Babylon in the midst of pagan culture is amazing! His world was radically changed with the captivity and move to a strange culture. He kept his spiritual bearings by praying three times a day. This habit got him into trouble later in his life. He was probably nearly 90 years old when this habit caused him to be thrown into the lion’s den during the reign of the Persian king Darius. His faithfulness to pray stopped the mouths of hungry lions. (Daniel 6:19-22) He got to share with this king about His God and brought Him honor! (Daniel 6:26-27)
Another time, Daniel was reading the Book of Jeremiah where he saw that the captivity would last 70 years and realized that it was almost over. He began to seek the Lord by fasting and prayer, confessing again the sins of the nation that took them into captivity. (Daniel 9:4-19) This beautiful prayer of repentance brought a swift answer from God by means of Gabriel, the Archangel! The amazing answer was the word concerning the “Seventy ’seven’s” which tells the number of years until the Messiah would come. Prayer is an awesome privilege and God loves to share with His servants.
God’s House is to be a “house of prayer” for all nations! (Mark 11:17) We gather to worship and to pray for His kingdom and will to be done. There is power when God’s people gather together and agree together. Don’t miss out on gathering today and take time to pray! Read the Word of God and pray for it’s completion in you and your family! God hears and will answer! What a privilege we have!
Have a great week in Jesus! In His Love, Pastor John
Scripture reading for July 2nd: Psalms 140-145
Have you ever experienced a prolonged time of sickness or trouble that seemed would not end? Have you felt like God didn’t hear your prayer or wasn’t answering your call? David’s life was one of deep trouble and prolonged times of pursuit by his enemies. Often these enemies were from his own friends or family! His brothers were jealous of him and spoke in a derogatory manner about him. His boss, King Saul, tried to kill him and hunted him mercilessly for a number of years. His own wife, Michal, despised him for dancing before the Ark! His son Absolom tried to take his throne by force and hunted him for a time! David had a habit of prayer that helped him to keep his soul steady and in tune with the Lord. These psalms are written down for us to give us encouragement to pray!
In Psalm 140, David is crying out to the Lord for rescue from evil men. These men have sharp tongues and plot violence and war against him. They would love to trap him and trip him up. David realized that he needed God’s mercy to make it through the battles. He prayed that those who surrounded him would be covered with the trouble that their own lips had caused! (Psalm 140:9) In other words, he wanted them to reap what they sowed! He prayed that they would have burning coals fall upon them and that they would be thrown into the fire and miry pits. He assured himself that the righteous will praise God’s name because God secures justice for the poor and needy!
In Psalm 141 David asked the Lord to come quickly and help him! He asked that his prayer would come before God like incense. The priests would add incense to the burnt offerings to make the smell of the burning meat more fragrant. As they offered the prayers before the golden Altar of Incense in the Holy Place, the incense on the coals would rise in sweet fragrance to the Lord before the veil. In Revelation 8:3-5, John the Apostle sees an angel offering incense with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before God’s throne. As the prayers and incense ascended, the Angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and hurled it toward the earth producing thunder, lightning, rumblings and an earthquake! David knew the power of prayer and expected God to help him!
As we read this series of psalms, we realize that we are totally dependent on God. He can be depended on! One of the best prayers is found in Psalm 143:10-11. “Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, our coming king and eternal savior! “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24) It is a choice to rejoice in the Lord each and every day! Each day is a new day with new understanding of how great our God is! As we begin another week, set aside time to reflect on God Himself. Take time to commune with Him! Take time to be with others of like-precious faith who gather to worship, study, and thank Him in community! We especially need this as we see the day of the Lord approaching! (Hebrews 10:25)
We have been reading this past week about Ezra and Nehemiah, two great men in the history of Israel who relied on God and lived lives of prayer and obedience. Ezra offered praise and thanks to the Lord for granting him favor to rebuild the temple. (Ezra 7:27-28) Ezra prayed for traveling mercies for his party with all the gold and silver articles for the temple. (Ezra 8:21-23) After God brought them safely to Jerusalem, they met with others and offered sacrifices and thanked the Lord. Ezra heard about the unfaithfulness of those who had married outside of the faith and he again humbled himself to pray and fast and confess the sins of his countrymen. (Ezra 9:5l-15) Others gathered with him and they sought the Lord. God brought repentance and cleansing as they prayed together.
Nehemiah carried a burden for Jerusalem and it’s broken walls. He began to pray to the Lord about his burden. (Nehemiah 1:5-11) He had opportunity to speak with the Persian king, Artaxeres, and prayed again. (Nehemiah 2:4) God granted him favor and he was sent by this pagan king to rebuild the walls. He was given materials and money as well as willing workers. As he arrived, God gave him a vision and plan to put the people to work by families, assigning them personal responsibility near their own homes. He shared his vision and God granted favor! Prayer was offered to combat discouragement and stop opposing forces. (Nehemiah 4:4-5) Nehemiah armed the workers and encouraged them to work and fight for their own children, homes and families! (Nehemiah 4:14) He had a trumpeter near him at all times to sound a call to fight (or pray) when an attack might come. (Nehemiah 4:20) Prayer was important for Nehemiah and those who worked together to rebuild the walls. It brought a focus on God as the source of all help and a vision of God’s plan and purpose!
Take time today to praise the Lord, thank him for who He is, and enjoy sweet communion with Him. Do this for yourself and for your family! Meet with God’s people and pray and praise Him in community! He is coming soon!
Scripture Reading for April 11: 2nd Kings 4-8
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you were outnumbered and under-equipped? I recently spent time with my father who is 89 years old and a veteran of World War II. He enjoys telling stories about his time in the service of our country. He was drafted in 1941 and spent 4 years in the Army as a messenger and driver for the officers of the Third Armored Division. He went ashore a few days after D-Day on Normandy beach and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He recently told me how he was driving an officer out in the front lines away from the company when he suddenly came upon a German tank. He did a u-turn before his officer passenger could say a word and beat a path for the cover of his company. As he topped a hill, a shell landed behind his jeep but he soon passed one of his own tanks who covered him. These memories are still vivid for my father who knew what it was like to be in enemy territory and out-manned! However, there were more for him than against him that day!
In today’s reading, Elisha and his men are cutting trees to enlarge the building housing the company of prophets. Church growth brought the need for expansion then, too! As they were cutting, the borrowed axehead flew off and fell into the water. Elisha cut a stick, threw it into the water, and the axehead floated to the top. There was more for them than against them!
Next, the Arameans were angry at Elisha, who was warning the king of Israel about their plans of attack. They found out Elisha was staying at Dothan, and came at night and surrounded the city with soldiers, horses and chariots. Elisha’s servant went out the next morning and saw the great army and came back to Elisha alarmed. (2nd Kings 6:15) Elisha prayed that the servant would be able to see the forces on their side and his eyes were opened to see more for them than against them! (2nd Kings 6:16-17)
As this enemy approached, Elisha prayed again to the Lord to strike his enemy with blindness and God answered. He then led this army to Samaria to the king of Israel and then prayed to open their eyes. God again answered! There is more for us than against us!
A great lesson to learn today is this wonderful truth that remains true for us! Thankfully, God is no respecter of persons! God answers prayer and responds to faith. Elisha, under the direction of the Spirit, could see the unseen realities of God’s power and provision. He prayed for his servant, and the servant could see as well! Do you need fresh vision today? Why not ask the Lord to open your eyes!
“And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened his servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2nd Kings 6:17
Scripture reading for March 13: Judges 13-16
The story of Samson is a mix of the supernatural power and anointing of God and the lowest of our carnal nature. Samson was born by supernatural intervention to a couple who was childless. His parents carefully listened to the instructions of an angel and raised this boy as a Nazarite, one set apart by God. (Numbers 6:1-21) God’s Spirit began to stir Samson early in his life. God was going to use him to deliver the Israelites from 40 years of bondage to the Philistines. This bondage was a result of idolatry and evil in God’s sight. (Judges 13:1)
As Samson grew, he was attracted to a Philistine woman in the town of Timnah. He asked his parents to get her for him. The Bible states that this was from the Lord, although his parents did not understand and sought to direct him to get a bride from his own people. (Judges 14:3-4) This is difficult to understand. God specifically warns us not to intermarry with those outside the faith. (2nd Corinthians 6:14) In this instance, God used Samson’s carnal tendencies to accomplish His purposes in attacking the enemies of his people. It is not meant to be a pattern at all!
Samson’s marriage to this woman never happened. She was given to one of his friends in the bridal company! This seemed to fill Samson with the desire for revenge. His anger and impulsiveness moved him to get even. God used this too, but how much better to follow the Lord by prayer and listening to His instructions! Samson impulsively ate honey out of a lion’s carcass, a violation of the Nazerite vow. He was attracted to prostitutes and carnal women. These proved to be his downfall! How often men of God are distracted by their flesh! How the mighty have fallen!
At the end of his life, Samson was in captivity, both of his eyes gouged out. There, he was mocked at a gathering of Philistine officials. The first recorded prayer where Samson asks for God’s help is recorded here. (Judges 16:28) God faithfully answers the cry of this man who could have been such a mighty force to deliver. He was once again given supernatural strength and God used him to destroy more of the Philistines in his death than in his life!
What can we learn today? God chooses to use us in spite of our sinfulness and carnal nature but there are consequences. What we sow we will reap. God is never mocked! (Galatians 6:7) We, however, can be deceived! We must guard against the carnal nature. It has the potential to blind us and take us to our death! How much better to walk in the Spirit and humbly follow Jesus each day! God bless you in doing that today!
Samson’s only recorded prayer: “O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” (Judges 16:28)
Scripture Reading for March 10: Judges 1-5
When I was younger, we heated our home on the farm with wood. When it was extremely cold, we had a small bin of coal to help with the heat through the long winter nights in Iowa. One of the jobs right before bed was to go down and stoke the fire. More wood would be added and ashes removed so a good flow of air would cause the fire to heat up and blaze. A scoop of coal would be tossed in too. A short time later the damper was shut so all the coals and logs would glow with a steady fire all night. If no one stoked the fire, it would often go out and the house would quickly cool down to nearly outside temperature.
Good and godly leaders stoke the fires with the wood of prayer and pour on the coals of God’s Word to keep zeal burning through the long night. But when the leader is gone and the fire is not being stoked with fresh wood and coal, complacency sets in with our walk with the Lord. This happened in the time after the death of Joshua. Joshua left some elders who stoked the fire for a time. They passed from the nation as well. The next generation arose without a personal experience of God’s mighty miracles and deliverance. This generation began to drift into idolatry and the bondage of sin. Isn’t it funny, drift is always away from the Lord!
The cycle is recorded in Judges. After the death of Joshua and the elders, the nation drifted into sin and idolatry. God got angry and sold them into slavery to an oppressing nation. The people cried out to the Lord and he heard them and raised up another leader who would deliver them. Then there would be a time of peace during the life of that leader (Judge). After the leader’s death, the cycle would begin again. (Judges 2:10-19) This is repeated seven times in the Book of Judges!
I see this kind of cycle also present in our culture today. A godly leader teaches and preaches and lives out God’s Word and a revival springs up in a home or church or city. (That leader can be a father or mother, pastor or Sunday School teacher, or a janitor who loves the Lord.) The fires of the Spirit are stoked with prayer and faithful, anointed preaching of the whole counsel of God. A generation is set on fire and the wind of the Spirit brings salvations, healing, and deliverance. The land enjoys peace until another generation arises who did not experience God moving. They fall into bondage as they drift away from the Lord. God looks for another godly leader who will pray and preach to stoke the fire again! Will you stoke the fires of the Spirit today by praying and reading God’s holy Word? God will anoint you afresh with the Holy Spirit and Fire from on high! (Matthew 3:11)