A Moment With God: Year 3

A Moment With God – Year 3

Samuel R. Hall

Copyright 2015 By Samuel R. Hall

Smashwords Edition

ISBN: 

Title: A Moment With God - Year 3

Author: Samuel R, Hall

Publisher: Smashwords, Inc.

All Scripture Quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NIV (New International Version)

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. You are welcome to share it, reproduce it, copy or distribute it for non-commercial purposes.

Thanks for your support!

Dedication:

To Tina, Josh, MaryAnne and Kristen, and my friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord. I pray that this book, along with our conversations and living our life together may encourage you all in your own walk and relationship with our loving Savior.

Table of Contents

Author’s Note:

Introduction – Establishing a Moment With God in Your Life

2014 - January

Waiting for the Messiah - 2014-01-02 07:27

Repentance Isn't So Bad... - 2014-01-03 07:33

Dealing With Unclean Spirit in Church - 2014-01-04 11:12

Unbelief and Religion - 2014-01-09 02:02

Bless and Be Blessed - 2014-01-10 07:06

God's Promises Are Good And True! - 2014-01-12 07:47

Unforgiveness And Stumbling Blocks - 2014-01-13 07:25

Forgive Me As I Forgive - 2014-01-14 07:06

Beyond Our Imagination - 2014-01-15 07:04

The Bad List - 2014-01-17 07:10

It Is For Freedom That I Have Been Freed - 2014-01-18 07:51

Treasure Our Relationship - 2014-01-19 08:13

God Is Relationship - 2014-01-20 07:48

The Fellowship Of The Trinity - 2014-01-21 06:35

Talking Or Walking - 2014-01-23 07:14

One Body, Many Parts - 2014-01-30 07:34

Relationships - It’s All About Them - 2014-01-31 06:58

2014 – February

Upward First, Then Outward - 2014-02-02 07:39

Judging Significance - 2014-02-03 07:32

Just Cry Out... - 2014-02-04 06:38

Living As A Child Of God - YES! - 2014-02-05 06:23

Hold Onto Hope - 2014-02-06 06:48

It Is All About Jesus - 2014-02-08 14:50

Change Is The Operative Word - 2014-02-10 07:04

Spiritual Pride and Judgment - 2014-02-12 07:10

Wisdom From Heaven - 2014-02-13 06:57

Mercy and Compassion, Our Calling Cards - 2014-02-14 07:58

Up On The Mountain - 2014-02-18 07:37

Opposition Brings Opportunity - 2014-02-19 06:41

Jesus, The Perfect Offering - 2014-02-20 06:35

The Next Great Move Of God Is... - 2014-02-23 06:40

Perception and Reality - 2014-02-24 07:27

Hope Does Not Disappoint! - 2014-02-26 07:15

An Amazing Mystery - 2014-02-27 07:10

His Loving Gaze - 2014-02-28 07:21

2014 - March

Worries, Fears, Concerns and Treasure - 2014-03-01 09:34

The Care Of The Good Shepherd - 2014-03-02 08:48

Waiting On The Lord - 2014-03-03 06:39

I Am Known And Loved - 2014-03-04 06:58

Precious, Honored and Loved - 2014-03-05 06:33

His Awesome Creation - 2014-03-07 06:59

We All Are Good - 2014-03-11 06:12

A Right Pursuit - 2014-03-12 05:59

I Wait For The Lord - 2014-03-13 06:25

The King's Shalom - 2014-03-14 06:01

Prayer Is Our Life-Blood! - 2014-03-17 06:01

His Mercy and Forgiveness - 2014-03-18 06:05

His Overwhelming Goodness - 2014-03-21 05:35

Our Approachable Father - 2014-03-22 19:26

Asking For Directions - 2014-03-23 06:55

God's Love - 2014-03-24 05:50

God Who Comes Down - 2014-03-25 05:52

His Words Will Never Fail - 2014-03-26 06:24

It Is Our Choice - 2014-03-27 06:05

That Which Matters Most - 2014-03-28 05:30

Fellowship of Suffering - 2014-03-30 06:44

Purpose, Primacy and Changing Seasons - 2014-03-31 06:07

2014 – April

Praise, Love And Serve - 2014-04-01 06:14

Be A Shining Light - 2014-04-02 05:50

The Calling of the Lord - 2014-04-04 05:01

We Are Chosen - 2014-04-04 05:55

Steadfast Trust - 2014-04-06 06:25

What Do You Want? - 2014-04-07 06:24

Answering The Call - 2014-04-08 06:07

The God Of The Impossible - 2014-04-09 06:19

Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks! - 2014-04-10 05:49

Come, Follow Me - 2014-04-11 06:22

What Do You Want? - 2014-04-13 06:02

Palm Sunday - The Coming King - 2014-04-13 06:23

Conviction or Offense? - 2014-04-14 06:26

The Father's Crazy Love - 2014-04-16 05:54

Don't Be The Older Son - 2014-04-17 05:43

Freedom From Sin And Death - 2014-04-18 05:25

He Is Not Here, He Has Risen! - 2014-04-20 07:55

Hades is For Real - 2014-04-22 06:05

A Glorious Inheritance - 2014-04-23 06:00

Drink for the Thirsty, Food for the Hungry - 2014-04-24 05:57

A Culture of Honesty - 2014-04-25 05:57

Of Exercise, Faith and Deeds - 2014-04-27 05:56

A Sin Exchange - 2014-04-28 06:12

Hard Choices and Stumbling Blocks - 2014-04-30 06:27

2014 – May

Representing the Father - 2014-05-02 05:48

Struggles and Persecutions - A Right Mindset - 2014-05-03 07:39

Scripture and Revelation - 2014-05-04 07:07

Thoughts On Sin And Forgiveness - 2014-05-05 06:24

Light To The Lost - 2014-05-07 06:01

The Least of These... - 2014-05-08 06:30

Mother's Day - I am Blessed - 2014-05-11 06:03

Overcoming a Lack of Belief - 2014-05-11 07:18

Obeying Into Weakness - 2014-05-12 06:32

We Were Once Lost - 2014-05-13 06:55

Neither Do I Condemn - 2014-05-14 05:53

Bringing Back The Lost - 2014-05-15 05:50

A New Heart and Spirit - 2014-05-16 05:18

Why Do We Follow Jesus? - 2014-05-18 06:46

Purveyors of Hope - 2014-05-19 05:57

Wealth and Prosperity - 2014-05-20 06:36

The Revelation of Jesus - 2014-05-21 05:38

Waiting On God To Move - 2014-05-22 07:25

Waiting On God To Move -2 - 2014-05-23 06:18

Jesus Is The Way - 2014-05-24 08:21

A Deep Personal Relationship With Jesus - An Invitation - 2014-05-25 07:51

Jesus' Proof He Is The Messiah - 2014-05-26 10:13

Taking Time To Pray - 2014-05-27 05:55

Jesus Delays His Visit to Jerusalem - JOHN 7 - 2014-05-29 05:33

The Dynamics of Prayer - 2014-05-30 05:39

Reflections On Jesus As A Baby - 2014-05-31 07:31

2014 - June

The Gift of the Gospel - 2014-06-01 06:50

God is Engaged in Our Futures - 2014-06-02 06:31

Jesus Understands Our Struggles - 2014-06-03 05:43

Jesus, Creator and Child - 2014-06-04 05:14

Drink Deep, My Soul - 2014-06-06 05:22

Dealing With Anxiety - 2014-06-07 10:06

New Directions Via The Holy Spirit - 2014-06-08 06:04

The Invitation Of Christ - 2014-06-09 06:11

The Cost and Reward of Following Jesus - 2014-06-11 06:19

Keep Pressing On! - 2014-06-12 05:37

Uncovering the Temptations of the Enemy - 2014-06-13 05:42

A River of Love - 2014-06-14 07:43

Restoration of Worship - 2014-06-20 08:51

Thousands Are Touched - 2014-06-21 09:29

Led by His Presence - 2014-06-22 06:24

Jesus of Nazareth (it's important) - 2014-06-23 06:27

Jesus' New Teaching - 2014-06-24 05:50

A Step Toward The Lord - Be Encouraged - 2014-06-25 05:35

Persevering In Pursuing God - 2014-06-27 05:33

2014 - July

On Sinners... - 2014-07-01 04:21

The Name of Jesus! - 2014-07-01 05:50

The Deceitfulness of Sin - 2014-07-03 06:07

Sin and Punishment Revisited - 2014-07-07 06:39

Jesus And Sinners - 2014-07-08 06:07

The Reality Of The Kingdom Of God - 2014-07-09 05:51

Foundations Of The Kingdom Of God - 2014-07-10 05:58

Sin, Discipline, Judgment and Love - 2014-07-13 10:42

Hearing What We Want To Hear - 2014-07-14 05:19

The Resurrection - The Cornerstone of Our Faith - 2014-07-15 05:35

Revelation, Relationship and Rest - 2014-07-16 05:26

Healed of Blindness - 2014-07-17 06:31

Healed of Blindness (2) - 2014-07-18 06:27

Adding To Our Righteousness? - 2014-07-20 08:32

Context Matters - 2014-07-21 06:28

The Path To Eternal Life - 2014-07-22 05:37

God's Great Unfailing Love - 2014-07-25 03:46

A Focus On Life, Not Sin And Hell - 2014-07-26 10:19

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - 2014-07-27 08:36

Approaching The Father With Shameless Audacity - 2014-07-28 05:49

Soaring Above Our Situation - 2014-07-29 05:41

The Greatest Commandment - 2014-07-31 05:20

2014 - August

On Denying Oneself - 2014-08-01 06:20

Confirming The Gospel - 2014-08-02 05:55

Sowing Peace - 2014-08-03 07:19

Salvation For The Really Lost - 2014-08-05 06:18

Kingdom Authority And Rule - 2014-08-06 05:54

We Are All Working Deacons - 2014-08-07 05:54

Seeds of Change - 2014-08-15 03:11

The Kingdom and Power - 2014-08-16 05:55

Doing The Stuff, Our Inheritance - 2014-08-17 06:02

More On Our Inheritance - 2014-08-18 06:08

Love: God, Ourselves, Others - 2014-08-19 05:51

Faith And Belief - 2014-08-21 05:46

His Plans Are Better - 2014-08-22 05:38

Operate In Our Gifts - 2014-08-23 05:38

Rescued From That Which Binds Us! - 2014-08-25 05:04

If A Brother Sins Against You... - 2014-08-26 06:00

His Kingdom Rules Over All - 2014-08-27 05:55

Eternity In Our Hearts - 2014-08-28 05:24

In Christ Alone - 2014-08-29 06:01

Preaching Through Love - 2014-08-30 10:36

The Father Responds To Repentance - 2014-08-31 08:25

2014 - September

Faith and Forgiveness - 2014-09-01 09:37

Jonah the Angry Prophet - 2014-09-02 06:09

Do Unto Others, Even Your Enemies - 2014-09-03 06:01

The Storm Stopped - 2014-09-04 04:38

Keep Pressing Onward - 2014-09-05 05:50

Followers of Jesus - 2014-09-06 06:02

Dueling Ministry Styles? - 2014-09-08 06:06

Contentment and Hope - 2014-09-09 05:57

Kindle A Fire - 2014-09-11 05:11

He Is Good And Faithful - 2014-09-12 05:58

Choose Love Over Position And Authority In The Body! - 2014-09-14 06:31

The Role of the Holy Spirit - 2014-09-15 05:34

Remembering Who We Are! - 2014-09-16 05:50

Further Up And Further In! - 2014-09-17 06:04

Phoebe the Deacon - 2014-09-20 13:04

Unmet Expectations and Doubt - 2014-09-22 05:24

A Bit of Encouragement - 2014-09-24 05:13

Getting Out of Boats and Such - 2014-09-28 07:42

Set Free From That Which Binds - 2014-09-29 06:12

Set Free to Become Who We Really Are... - 2014-09-30 06:38

2014 - October

When We Don't Understand... - 2014-10-02 05:45

Living Up To What We Have Attained - 2014-10-03 07:02

Fighting For The True Gospel - 2014-10-06 07:03

He (God) Has Made Us Clean - 2014-10-07 06:29

Worship Flows Out Of Relationship - 2014-10-08 06:27

The Fellowship and Glory of Suffering - 2014-10-09 05:42

Jesus Is THE Way - 2014-10-10 06:18

The Cost of Following - 2014-10-13 06:14

Belief and Love AND Action - 2014-10-14 05:16

Sincere Love! - 2014-10-17 05:08

Truth and Conviction - 2014-10-18 06:41

Sowing And Reaping: A Natural and Spiritual Principle - 2014-10-20 06:04

Come Away With Jesus and Rest - 2014-10-21 05:20

Dealing With Defilement - 2014-10-23 04:38

A Rewired Brain - 2014-10-24 05:49

Jesus Our Priest - 2014-10-25 09:08

Real Speech, Real Answers - 2014-10-26 06:03

Love and Obedience - 2014-10-28 05:53

Provision, Restoration and the Holy Spirit! - 2014-10-29 06:03

Pursue That Which Endures - 2014-10-30 06:24

Responding To A Father's Love - 2014-10-31 06:42

2014 - November

We Are A Letter From Jesus - 2014-11-03 07:17

The Plans of the Lord - 2014-11-04 06:22

Paul's Peace and Perspective of His Purpose - 2014-11-05 07:17

Miraculous Provision - 2014-11-06 06:41

Let Our Light Shine - 2014-11-07 07:03

Testified by Power - 2014-11-09 07:16

Consider Others First - 2014-11-10 19:25

Freedom, No Matter the Circumstances - 2014-11-11 06:53

Becoming Like Christ - 2014-11-12 06:55

It’s All About Relationship - 2014-11-13 06:26

The Glorious Name of Jesus - 2014-11-14 07:15

Missing the Big Moment. - 2014-11-15 21:29

The Power to Live and Love - 2014-11-16 07:25

Laying Down One's Life - 2014-11-17 07:16

Dead To The Law And Its Punishments - 2014-11-18 06:44

No Stain, No Accusation Even - 2014-11-19 05:50

Love, Faithfulness, Righteousness and Peace - 2014-11-20 05:39

Living In Reality - 2014-11-21 07:22

The Cure for Powerlessness - 2014-11-23 05:42

Distraction Nor Persecution Stop The Lord - 2014-11-25 05:51

Interruptions and Guidance - 2014-11-26 07:19

No Enemy Can Stand - 2014-11-27 09:39

Choosing To Live Like Him - 2014-11-29 08:39

2014 - December

Ambassadors of Relationship - 2014-12-03 06:34

A Gospel of Love and Salvation - 2014-12-04 06:27

Our Sanctification, His Glorification! - 2014-12-06 20:59

A Kingdom of Power - 2014-12-07 07:31

The Importance of Signs & Wonders - 2014-12-10 07:18

Doing What The Father IS Doing! - 2014-12-11 07:10

The Folly of Impatience - 2014-12-12 06:52

Presenting Jesus Effectively - 2014-12-13 10:36

Miracles and Repentance - 2014-12-14 08:32

Inclusion and Revelation - 2014-12-18 06:37

Living Triumphantly - 2014-12-19 04:15

Blessing and Thanksgiving - 2014-12-20 09:23

Hunger, Compassion and Action - 2014-12-21 09:35

Building The Body Individually - 2014-12-23 06:56

Training and Transformation by the Holy Spirit - 2014-12-24 07:10

Christmas: Immanuel and Incarnation - 2014-12-25 07:03

Living to Bring Him Glory - 2014-12-26 08:00

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - 2014-12-28 10:42

Transition: Wilderness and Trouble - 2014-12-29 07:52

Final Comments

Author’s Note:

I am so blessed that you have taken time to even dip your toe into this book, my third volume which was authored over the course of the year 2014. These entries come directly from my time before the Lord, excerpts from my prayer journal. I pray they are encouraging, possibly enlightening, and hopefully they draw you deeper into relationship with Him.

I will take a moment to say that I am not a theologian, nor have I been formally trained in pastoral ministry. I am a husband and father, and I work in the telecommunications industry. I have worked in youth and men’s ministry on and off through the years, but these journals do not come out of those times. I have been journaling and taking personal prayer, for the most part daily, since the early 1980s. I didn’t always write as much nor have nearly as much time as I have now days. These journals reflect the daily interaction and conversations I have with the Lord. I have left the original dates of the entries, as sometimes the date is important to the body of the entry.

As I normally take my prayer time early in the morning (5:15am is the rule these days) my mind is often not fully functioning, so my writing suffers. Also, as this is a prayer journal, often times my expressions to the Lord, do not flow out in perfect English, but rather in the heart felt language I normally speak. So I ask that you forgive my lapses of correct English and occasional fragment or run-on sentence, but I decided to leave them in, for I know the Lord doesn’t mind. He is after my heart not my writing.

Finally I ask your pardon for another slight of proper English, but throughout my journals I always try to capitalize You or He, or their variants when referring to the Lord. It is a form of respect I started many years ago when journaling by hand, and I find it a habit I choose not to break.

May God Bless you and reveal to you His intimate love for you and your significance to Him!

If you are interested in following the next book in the series as it is being written, my blog can be found at: http://amomentwithgod-srh.blogspot.com/.

Peace,

Sam

Introduction – Establishing a Moment With God in Your Life

It is God's desire that we each have an intimate relationship with Him.  John 17:21  I know it’s amazing to think that God would want a relationship with you, but it is VERY true.

So the question is whether it is possible to have a real relationship with God?  By real relationship, I mean talking, sharing, communicating - the same things that make up a normal human to human relationship.  For a relationship to work there must be two-way communication, and time together.  I like to think that if God wants us to do something, He will provide the way.

History is full of people who talk about prayer time, prayer, quiet time, and their conversations with God. It is here that we find examples of how to have a relationship with God!  For all of these people, you will generally find four things in common:

They know how to quiet themselves

They talk to God in their own words

They read the Bible (God's written Word)

They know how to listen and discern God's voice speaking into their lives at that moment

So how does one start all this?  Simply develop these same four things in your life.  Start simple, dedicate a little chunk of time and try these steps.  Establish a moment with God in your daily life.

Learn how to quiet yourself - turn off the TV, Computer, Cell-Phone, etc.  Try to stop the constant flow of thoughts for just a few moments.  It takes a little practice - but is worth it!

Some people feel awkward praying to God in their own words, having been taught to pray in church by reciting rote prayers.  Others feel weird talking to God at all.  I like to think the conversation internally - imaging the words I would say.  God can hear our thoughts, so that is just fine with Him.  Whatever you do, God is not worried about how you might sound, or the words you might say - He wants to know what is on your heart!

Start reading the Bible even a few minutes every day. When I started reading the Bible, I was in 9th grade and would read maybe a paragraph a night, right before going to bed.  I would recommend starting with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).  One other technique I use is to just open the Bible and start reading.  I am amazed at how often what I read is directly related to something I just prayed to God about! 

Finally, learning how to discern God's voice, as He is speaking to you, is probably the most difficult.  The good news is that God REALLY wants you to learn, and will help you.  When I first started, I found God's voice pretty easy to pick out - it was almost like He was shouting.  I would read from the Bible and a sentence would almost jump off the page, or I would silently pray something, and within a short period of time I would hear someone repeat my thoughts with an answer.  God is very capable of speaking, we just need to be aware that He is speaking.  The more we practice the better we get.  The Bible is full of God speaking to people, sometimes in dreams, sometimes visions, other times with an audible voice (I haven't had that experience yet), sometimes through other people, or through His written Word.  One thing that is very constant - God is always speaking!

A couple of encouragements:

Start simple and easy - maybe 5 Minutes a day

Don't give up, try to develop this into a habit

Don't think it has to be all spiritual, candles lit, darkened room, etc.  I take my time with God in the morning, with a cup of coffee, sitting on the couch

The more time you take, the more you will want to spend - a relationship with God is live changing and life giving!

God does want a real relationship with you!

Blessings! Sam

2014 - January

Waiting for the Messiah - 2014-01-02 07:27

This morning I decided to start reading the Gospel of Mark, which I read the least of the 4 Gospels. I thought it would be a refreshing change. I like Mark's Gospel for he jumps right into it, and Jesus ministry is quickly evident.

Jesus starts His ministry by teaching in the synagogues and teaching with authority (Mark 1:21-22). He announces the good news that their time of waiting has come to an end, and the Kingdom of God was near.

A few thoughts here, since He is the Word of God, it would make sense that He could teach the word with an authority and insight that had never been heard before. I love listening to inspired teachers, those who draw deep connections and parallels between different scriptures, those who can take a single passage and mine it for incredible riches. I imagine that Jesus was better than anyone we have ever heard, or will ever hear - no wonder the people were amazed.

Second the proclamation of the end of their wait (Mark 1:15), is a very significant statement, one that we really can't comprehend, as it is something that had been building for 400+ years. The Jews were waiting to hear a fresh word from God, for the last prophet had spoken 400+ years ago. This is also a fulfillment of a prophecy of Daniel, given during the time of their exile in Babylon (605 BC, although some believe it wasn't written until much later around 165BC) proclaiming an end to the time of waiting, or as Jesus said, waiting for the time to be fulfilled or completed (His words based on the original Greek). Regardless of how we date the books or the time of waiting, it had been significant, and something that was on the common psyche, as the fulfillment of time was when the Messiah would come and restore Israel.

They were a country and a people who were occupied, but they never forgot their identity as God's chosen people, so they were waiting for His promise of a Messiah to be fulfilled. I think the closest we could get to understanding the communal anticipation for a messiah, would be the tearing down of the wall in Berlin, the setting free of those people from an oppressive government. There was an almost worldwide waiting for the day that wall would be torn down, almost from the day it was built nearly 30 years earlier. The East Germans never forgot who they were, what freedom was like, and never stopped resisting the wall. In much the same way, the Jews never forgot who they were, never stopped calling to mind the promise of the coming messiah, and reminded themselves for hundreds of years that God would establish His Kingdom through the Messiah and save them all.

The awesome nature of the Gospel is that it is still good news today! The same message of God's Kingdom present, the Messiah who has come to set us free, the healing of disease, the cleansing of lepers and sin, is available to us all today! So whether we have waited hundreds of years, tens of years or only a few days, Jesus is present to change our lives. He is the Lord, the Messiah and He has established His Kingdom here on earth. Let us turn to Him, as the leper did in Mark 1:40 and ask Him for His help, whether we need cleansing, healing, restoration, hope, health, or freedom.

Amen Lord!

Repentance Isn't So Bad... - 2014-01-03 07:33

This morning as I opened my Bible, my eyes were immediately drawn to the first statement that Jesus makes in Mark's Gospel - found in Mark 1:15 NIV

The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!

Yesterday I spent a bit of time on his fist sentence - the time has come - and today it was His third sentence that grabbed me. We often read the word repent, and immediately assume He is talking about sin, as we commonly only use repent in that context. The Greek word translated repent is Metanoeo:

Definition

1. to change one's mind, i.e. to repent

2. to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins

Further breaking down the Greek word, it is a contraction of two other Greek words, Meta and Noeo. Meta means after, and Noeo means thinking, pondering and understanding something. So the Greek word Metanoeo could be translated - after thinking about this and understanding it more - in other words hind-sight.

So going back to Jesus statements, He says:

1) The time of Israel's waiting for a Messiah has been completed.

2) God's kingdom is approaching, coming near, soon to be seen (demonstrated by healing, signs, miracles, etc.)

3) Because of these two facts you need to change the way you are thinking. You are no longer waiting, but rather are now experiencing that which you have waited for, and you must believe, accept the good news, and spread the good news.

I like what Graham Cooke says about the good news, it’s so good it’s almost too good to be true! I think that is the context that Jesus makes His statement in. The people are overwhelmed by what He is saying! They are in a daze, saying to themselves, 'this can't be happening, this can't be the Messiah can it?'. Jesus is speaking very clearly and makes sure that they perceive this correctly, bringing their hind-sight into the foreground and helping them change the way they are thinking.

That is in reality what repentance is, being convinced of something, often because we have had a chance to think about it and recognize we are wrong, and then choosing to change our mind, and then our actions. Whether the issue is sinful behavior, or just some wrong thinking, it is usually in hind-sight that we gain our perspective, and see things more clearly. It is a great gift when our hind-sight is pulled forward into our present perspective, which is what I think what the Holy Spirit does when He brings conviction. Oh, that I could live more of my life being guided in the present by hind-sight concerning the present situation. I think that is what we receive if we ask for the gift of repentance, or metanoeo.

I guess, in this light, repentance isn't so bad! So let us repent and believe the Good News! God is here, He is present, and His Kingdom is in our midst! Not only that but He wants us to be active participants in His Kingdom, not just observers. If we have been waiting for some sign, this is it! He is here!

This is what we are really celebrating in this Christmas season, the real and present Jesus, Christ the King! It’s time for us to live our lives in line with this reality - change the way we think and believe and live accordingly. Repent! Amen!

Dealing With Unclean Spirit in Church - 2014-01-04 11:12

This morning I am continuing my reading from the first chapter in Mark's Gospel - Mark 1:21-28 NIV:

[21] They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. [22] The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. [23] Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, [24] What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are---the Holy One of God!"

[25] Be quiet! said Jesus sternly. Come out of him! [26] The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

[27] The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, What is this? A new teaching---and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him. [28] News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee."

As I was thinking about these verses, I had a couple of insights and thoughts based on experience and teaching concerning oppressing spirits.

1) Most likely the other people didn't know the man had an unclean spirit, for he was allowed inside the synagogue.

2) Often times the type of spirit that shows up in church is a religious spirit. The religious spirit generally wants to distract, cause disruption, and focus on rules rather than relationship.

3) The religious spirit will generally not make itself known unless the presence of God, this time in the person of Jesus, shows up.

4) The religious spirit will always try to distort the word of God, and try to paint a portrait of God that is not accurate.

5) The man with the unclean spirit was in church, and sometimes we think that could never be the case, but churches are filled with many who are oppressed or affected by unclean spirits. What better place to cause disruption and distortion than from the inside.

We see this behavior here, and the man is accusing God of wanting to destroy them all, in other words saying He is an angry God. It’s amazing how often we hear these same themes preached in churches today.

Earlier in Nazareth, in Luke's Gospel, we find Jesus first message is one of hope and visitation from Isaiah 61. We don't have a historical record of what Jesus was teaching on here in Capernaum, but my conjecture is that it was something similar, as Jesus was just launching His public ministry and drawing parallels to what was said prophetically. Isaiah has what's known as the Servant of the Lord sections in Isaiah 42, 49, 50 and 53, and I think it's likely that Jesus was reading out of one of these.

Regardless, Jesus came to reveal the Father's heart and in the famous passage from John 3:16-17 we hear this heart: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

I think it’s safe to say that Jesus wasn't preaching a fire and brimstone message in Capernaum, yet that is what the man with the unclean spirit accused Him of planning. Jesus, in His authority silenced this spirit and set the man free. We need both in the church today - freedom from the bindings of the enemy, whatever they are, and the truth about the Lord preached clearly and without interruption, distraction or distortion.

Lord, we pray that You will be present in Your church and bring freedom and truth to all!

Unbelief and Religion - 2014-01-09 02:02

Recently I was reading from John 7:21-24 NIV:

[21] Jesus said to them, I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. [22] Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. [23] Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? [24] Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly."

When I was reading this, I was amazed by the attitude of the people (specifically the religious people) that Jesus was addressing, namely that they thought He had broken the religious rules by healing on the Sabbath (see John 5:1-15 for the story). I was thinking about the fact that Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years, and people were saying this couldn't be from God because He did it on a Sabbath. They were offended that God didn't follow the rules. They couldn't say they didn't believe the healing, because the man was whole and visible for all to see. But they were bound and determined not to believe that Jesus was the Messiah for any reason they could find, and breaking the rules of the Sabbath was enough reason.

I was reading an autobiography by Aimee Semple McPherson and she was talking about a time when God miraculously healed her broken foot and ankle. She had severely broken it, so bad that she had torn ligaments and the foot would hang straight down. She broke the foot and had it cast in one town, and then traveled to the next town with her husband. In the next town the Lord healed her foot instantaneously, completely restoring the broken bone and all the ligaments, even cleansing it of any of the bruising. What I found interesting was that many of the people in the town where she was healed didn't believe she was healed because they had no proof it was broken in the first place, despite the fact that you could see her black and swollen toes sticking out of the end of the cast. When word got back to the town where she broke her foot and ankle, they didn't believe that she had been healed because they couldn't see her running and dancing.

As I was thinking about this story, I felt like the Lord tied it back to the verses from John. I felt like the issue being addressed is the issue of unbelief. So many people have a propensity to unbelief, and their first reaction on hearing anything miraculous is one of doubt, followed by trying to find a reason to prove the report wrong. Whether it doesn't fit their 'rules' for the way God works, or whether they don't have proof of one thing or the other, people are trying hard to not believe that God is alive and well and fully capable of healing people, and doing miracles. If they can't discredit the miracle, as happened in John 5, they try to discredit the one who God used. If they can't discredit them by finding something they have done wrong, they will try to attack their character, and label them radicals, zealots, holy-rollers, crazy, of the devil, etc.

I remember reading an author, I don't remember who, who was saying that the spirit of unbelief is one of the most prevalent anti-Christ spirits in the Church. At the time, it made some sense, but I see this more and more clearly. The enemy is actively trying to discredit anything that the Lord does through the power of the Holy Spirit, even in His own church.

Many of our churches are fine with worshipping God, reading the Bible and even preaching about God, but if strange things start happening like healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, laughing, crying, shouting, dancing, resting in the Spirit, or any other assorted experiences that are common under the power of the Holy Spirit, they start getting uncomfortable, and start trying to limit their exposure and try to bring things back into order. This order is the set of rules they have constructed within which God can work, and if it fits inside their rules, than it is God, anything else is questionable, and highly discouraged. While this might seem like good administrative process and can be passed off as protecting the body, it is really at its core the spirit of unbelief, for they refuse to believe God is capable of being God, continually creative, and sovereign over all.

I know, in my life, growing up with western thought and logic, I am quick to doubt, as I want proof. My prayer is that I will be open to the Lord in all His glorious ways, and that, even though it doesn't fit into anything I might have seen or experienced previously, my first inclination will be to believe and trust that God is alive and we'll and perfectly able to defend His own name and reputation.

Bless and Be Blessed - 2014-01-10 07:06

I was reading from 1 Peter 3 last night as my night reading of scripture. I think these two verses are quite challenging, more so the second verse:

1 Peter 3:8-9 NIV

[8] Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. [9] Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

The first verse is easy to read, difficult to live out. Peter is challenging us to live in such a way that we consider others, look at their situations, love them, have compassion on them, and works to understand how they think and what they think. Again, it all sounds nice, until we try to live that way. Our society (America} is very self-focused. We value our independence, we value our freedom to be the person we want to be, we love the fact that we can pursue the American dream. In this culture our focus is on ourselves, what we want, like and need.

Peter calls us to a selfless, other focused lifestyle. We are called to lay down our own thinking, our own opinions, and our own requirements and be like-minded with our brothers and sisters in the Church. The Greek word means literally having one mind, one perception, and one way of thinking. We are encouraged to be sympathetic, in other words to understand and actually feel or experience someone else's situation. This is far beyond just acknowledging their situation, but requires experiencing the same. We are called to have compassion and love one another. The word for compassion means a deep stirring in ones bowels, deep down, life changing, action altering compassion. We are called to stop and really see each other - Heidi Baker preaches about stopping for the one. I know I am so quick to walk past people and never really see them. We touch and operate on the surface, but we are called to go deep.

Finally, verse 9 is one I don't even like to read, let alone live out. It just goes against my natural inclination to defend myself, to resist and stand-up against that which is evil or those who would insult me. There is some deep call here, that we don't usually grasp, and that is the fact that this is how Jesus lived. His life says this is possible, and this is the heart of God, for Jesus came as an exact representation of God (Heb 1:3). As Bill Johnson says, Jesus is perfect theology!. Living as representatives of the Lord, means we must learn to live like this as well. Jesus blessed those who killed Him. He paid for ALL sinners with His own blood. He opened the door to relationship with God for ALL men, regardless of whether they are good or evil, sinners or saints.

Peter says we were ALL called to this, so its not an optional extra, or something we can let someone else do. There is a blessing that is available to us when we do this - blessing those that insult us, or do evil to us. I like the NASB version of this, for it reads slightly different and with better focus saying, ...for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9b NASB}.

If you have ever wondered what your purpose was in life, Peter says this is one of your purposes! Like I said earlier, I don't like reading this, let alone living it. The idea that one of my purposes in life is to bless those that insult me, or plan or do evil to me, is just hard to accept. Regardless, this is all of our call, and there really is a blessing that is purposed in God, for those of us that learn to live this way. When God promises blessing, this is not something to be taken lightly, like when we say bless you after someone sneezes. This is the blessing of God. In the blessing of God are protection, provision, relationship, direction, interaction and presence. I guess if we turned this sentence around it might be easier to digest. It would read something Ike this -'if you want God's provision, protection, direction, and presence in your life, then bless those that insult you and persecute you, loving and caring for those that plan evil against you'.

So let us love and bless all, and open the for the blessing of God to poured into our lives

God's Promises Are Good And True! - 2014-01-12 07:47

The morning I am reading from Romans 4:18-21 NIV:

[18] Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, So shall your offspring be. [19] Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead---since he was about a hundred years old---and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. [20] Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, [21] being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

What a great set of verses having to do with faith, God's promise and His ability to deliver on His promise. I was really grabbed by the last line - that God has the power to do what He promises. I think that we should also add that God has the will to do what He promised.

When I think about the struggles in my faith, I generally struggle with those two issues - does God want to do what He said, and is He really going to do it? Abraham wrestled with these same questions, and was able to answer yes to both of them, in spite of the fact that it was naturally impossible for him and Sarah to have a child. Now Abraham waited for many years to see the promise fulfilled, and every year he waited made the promise that much more unlikely and even impossible to see fulfilled naturally.

I like what Graham Cooke says about significant difficulties and even opposition, namely that where there is a big impossibility, there is an even bigger provision in God! I mean if we really think about the fact that God is sovereign over all things, that He is creator of the universe, that He is all powerful, and has all things under His control, that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, that all the silver and gold are His, that He is the Healer, the Provider, the Mighty Warrior, and on and on, we should never doubt His ability to do exactly what He says He is going to do! The problem for many of us is that we don't think about God this way. It is so important for us to understand His nature, His character and His will. The more we know God, the less likely it will be for us to doubt His promises and His ability.

So back to the two questions - Does God want to fulfill His promises? Is He really going to fulfill His promises? I immediately am reminded of Psalm 18 which speaks of the perfection of God's way and words: As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; ... Psalm 18:30. I am also reminded of Isaiah 55:11 NIV: ...so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. So God's word is flawless and it will always accomplish what He desires, and achieve the purposes for which He sent it forth. In other words, if He says it, He means it and it will happen! That is so true, and something we need to hold onto, and the very thing Abraham was able to hold onto through all those years.

The second issue (is He really going to fulfill His promise) also has to do with God's character, but also with our understanding of our value in His eyes. First, we need to know that His word is perfect, in other words, if He says it, He means to say it. Secondly, sometimes we just doubt God's word, because we don't think we are important in His eyes. The thought goes something like this, I know God could do it, but why would He bother with me? There are so many more important things for Him to do, or so many more people who are more worthy, or more holy, or who sin less. The real answers to these questions come from the place of relationship with God. In that place of relationship He reveals to us His heart for us. It’s one thing to hear someone else say that God loves you; it’s a completely different experience when He speaks those words into your heart. Those three words that change everything - I Love You - really can change our lives. The Bible is full of verses where God expresses His love for His people, but He wants that message of love to be firmly planted in our individual hearts.

In that place of relationship, we come to understand that He does love us, has given everything for us and to us, even to the point of dying for us. Jesus describes the Father and his heart toward us really well in Matthew 7:7-11 NIV:

[7] Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. [9] Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? [11] If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Paul writes about the fact that we are His sons and daughters - Romans 8:14-16 NIV:

[14] For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

I could quote hundreds of verses, but as I said before, it's one thing to hear the words from some other source; it’s totally different when they are spoken by the Lord. I was thinking about when I was in school when someone told me that someone else in my class really liked me. That message was wonderful, but it also brought with it a bit of uncertainty, and doubt. However all doubt was cast aside when the person delivered that message herself, that she liked me. That is what God wants us all to experience, that personal experience of His love for us. In that experience, the question of whether He would want to fulfill His promise, whether He loves me, whether He values me, or even knows me is answered for good.

So back to the original verse - let us be persuaded that God has the power and the will to fulfill what He promised to fulfill in our lives. His promises are true, and He will do what He said. We may need to wait for a while, but do not assume His delayed timing has anything to do with lack of love, or lack of will on His part! Amen Lord!

Unforgiveness And Stumbling Blocks - 2014-01-13 07:25

This morning I am reading from Luke 17:1-4 NIV:

[1] Jesus said to his disciples: Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. [2] It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. [3] So watch yourselves.

If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. [4] Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.

So often when we read the bible we focus on one specific verse or idea, often pulling it out of context. That is generally how I hear these two sets of verses preached, as if they are separate ideas, and with a separate meaning. It is interesting that verse 3, is seemingly split between the two different ideas, but I think it’s part of the same idea that Jesus is expressing. If we combine the two, we see that unforgiveness can be a stumbling block in people’s lives. As I think more about that, I realize it is very true, especially in relationships that are meant to endure, like family.

I am sure we all know someone who holds a grudge, which is really just unforgiveness. I know several people who are unwilling to forgive family members for past sins and injuries, and those grudges are huge stumbling blocks to themselves and to those that are unforgiven. They are unwilling to see the other person for who they are, unwilling to see repentance or accept it, and unwilling to trust again and grow. They stumble themselves over this grudge, and end up viewing everything through the lenses of unforgiveness. The person who is the object of their grudge cannot move forward themselves in these relationships either.

It is interesting that the focus of Jesus is on the one who places the stumbling block, and the one who must forgive, in this came the same person. So often the person holding the grudge feels justified in their stance, yet the words of Jesus here indicate the danger of that stance. In Matt 6, Jesus connects our forgiveness of others, to God's forgiveness of us. He is teaching the disciples to pray saying, And forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors (those who sin against us).. Matt 6:12. Reading this carefully, forgiveness from God is given to us in the same way we forgive others. So if we don't forgive, we are not forgiven, and we are not forgiven our hearts are in perilous danger.

So back to the verses from Luke 17, Jesus is saying that we have a responsibility to others to forgive them, regardless of how many times they sin had asked forgiveness. We are responsible to make sure we are not putting stumbling blocks in other people lives, and this is our only responsibility in this regard. We are not called to judge, to punish, or anything else, but to rebuke them. Here is a very interesting translation, for the word commonly translated rebuke is the Greek word Epitimao - Definition:

1. to show honor to, to honor

2. to raise the price of

3. to adjudge, award, in the sense of merited penalty

4. to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely a. to admonish or charge sharply

This word is a conjunction of two other Greek words, Epi and timao. They mean 'upon or against, positionally" and 'valuation, or setting value' which gives us the definition of getting or understanding or placing the true value of something or someone, and how its valuation is affected. So when rebuking someone, we should be sharing with them, how their actions speaks of our value in their eyes, and by forgiving them we are showing our perspective of their value to us. Unforgiveness says they have no value, and that is the danger, for we do not have the right to set someone else's valuation in the Body of Christ. Jesus has already expressed their worth by dying for them, shedding His blood for them, and paying the price for them.

If we find ourselves unable to forgive, then our cry should be the same as the disciples in verse 5, Lord, increase our faith!. In other words - Lord, I need Your help to belief in the worth of this person, and I need Your help in stepping back and seeing the person as you see them. If we can practice forgiveness, getting rid of grudges, unforgiveness and pain and doubt, we can receive the fullness of what the Lord has planned for us.

Amen Lord.

Forgive Me As I Forgive - 2014-01-14 07:06

When I opened my Bible this morning, it opened up to Matthew 6:14-15 NIV:

[14] For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

These verses obviously flow right out of my meditations yesterday on forgiveness and our need to forgive, so that forgiveness doesn't become a stumbling block to ourselves or to others. As I mentioned yesterday, there is a correlation between our forgiveness of others and God's forgiveness of us, as Jesus describes here. This is actually a significant theme, as Jesus speaks several times concerning forgiveness - see Matt 18:15-20 and Matt 18: 22-35.

The forgiveness available to us in God is complete and forever. There are several scriptures in the old testament that speak about the Father's heart concerning forgiveness.

Isaiah 1:18 NIV

Come now, let us settle the matter, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Psalm 103:10-12 NIV

[10]...he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. [11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; [12] as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 NIV