"And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem." Ezra 3:1
If you were to read Ezra 3 you would find that tens of thousands of people had been gathering themselves together with all their animals. They were gathering to build the Temple. They were being freed from captivity and heading to Jerusalem to help build the Temple and worship God. What makes this verse and the meaning of it so important is the phrase, "the people gathered themselves together as one man..."
Were we to gather together as one man we could accomplish the impossible.
Were we to gather together as one man we would have to let down our guard a while.
Were we to gather together as one man we would have to stop competing with one another, especially pastors.
Were we to gather together as one man we would have the influence of a mighty people.
I believe we should spend our time finding out what are the God attributes of others/other groups and build true Christianity on the common elements that bind us together. One group/denomination won't mingle with another because of so-called theological differences. I say those who make such a big deal bout it are babies in the faith. And those who nurture consistent separation surely won't be gathering together for the next big move of God as they did here in the Book of Ezra.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Daily Devotional February 13 - A time to cast away
"A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;..." Ecclesiastes. 3:6
We like the getting time, but the losing time is not so much desired. Why is that? Just as the wind culls the weak limbs from the trees, so the natural schema of life culls away our possessions. No one likes losing things, but the precious things cannot be taken. That which lasts forever is not encased in sterling silver or rubies or insurance or skin. That which lasts and lasts are the things of God. Since there is "a time to lose" maybe you should get on board with it and let it go graciously. God is next to you and God can easily fill the void.
We like keeping things, but the Bible tells us there is "a time to cast away." Can you imagine the feeling that would be encountered if we were to cast away the dross before it was taken away or lost to some greedy, self-serving friend or enemy. Listen to God. Pray about your business, your relationships, your investments. Don't hold too long and lose them to natures poker. Listen to God and He will tell you clearly when to hold and when to fold.
We like the getting time, but the losing time is not so much desired. Why is that? Just as the wind culls the weak limbs from the trees, so the natural schema of life culls away our possessions. No one likes losing things, but the precious things cannot be taken. That which lasts forever is not encased in sterling silver or rubies or insurance or skin. That which lasts and lasts are the things of God. Since there is "a time to lose" maybe you should get on board with it and let it go graciously. God is next to you and God can easily fill the void.
We like keeping things, but the Bible tells us there is "a time to cast away." Can you imagine the feeling that would be encountered if we were to cast away the dross before it was taken away or lost to some greedy, self-serving friend or enemy. Listen to God. Pray about your business, your relationships, your investments. Don't hold too long and lose them to natures poker. Listen to God and He will tell you clearly when to hold and when to fold.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Daily Devotional February 12 - Are you praying for others?
"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;" 1 Thessalonians 1:2
I wish I had friends like this. Are you waking up and praying for someone everyday? I want to be mentioned to God by others who talk to God. I want my name to come up with favor from those who have known me and understand my faith, my life, my struggles, my turmoils. I would that they were praying as if I was important and they wanted God to bring down from heaven His very best for me.
This might not be your experience, but as a pastor I have seen a lot of superficial praying; a lot of praying just to "get it out of the way and say they did" prayer; a lot of "if I have to" prayer; a lot of "why bother God doesn't listen anyway" prayer; a lot of "don't embarrass me" prayer; a lot of ten seconds or less prayer. Prayer is direct communication with God and deserves our deepest thought and full attention. God designed us to interact with Him and in that interaction, what we cannot do due with our human limitations is accomplished by God. Together with God we are a whole being. Together with God no thing is impossible. Together with God your prayers move mountains.
Praying as if you are praying to the wind brings about a faithless and powerless generation. If enough people see you pray pitifully and nothing happens, they will pray that way too and in just a short time, what should be prayer becomes nothing but confusion; There's no connection with Holy God and the next generation of young Christians pray because they have to and that's not prayer at all.
I wish I had friends like this. Are you waking up and praying for someone everyday? I want to be mentioned to God by others who talk to God. I want my name to come up with favor from those who have known me and understand my faith, my life, my struggles, my turmoils. I would that they were praying as if I was important and they wanted God to bring down from heaven His very best for me.
This might not be your experience, but as a pastor I have seen a lot of superficial praying; a lot of praying just to "get it out of the way and say they did" prayer; a lot of "if I have to" prayer; a lot of "why bother God doesn't listen anyway" prayer; a lot of "don't embarrass me" prayer; a lot of ten seconds or less prayer. Prayer is direct communication with God and deserves our deepest thought and full attention. God designed us to interact with Him and in that interaction, what we cannot do due with our human limitations is accomplished by God. Together with God we are a whole being. Together with God no thing is impossible. Together with God your prayers move mountains.
Praying as if you are praying to the wind brings about a faithless and powerless generation. If enough people see you pray pitifully and nothing happens, they will pray that way too and in just a short time, what should be prayer becomes nothing but confusion; There's no connection with Holy God and the next generation of young Christians pray because they have to and that's not prayer at all.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Daily Devotional February 11 - Can you hear God speaking?
"Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin,..." 1 Samuel 9:15, 16a
God has been speaking to you, in your ear, since you were born and to mankind since the beginnings at the Garden. God is speaking to you, in your ear about the day, your life, your future, what's best for all who will come into contact with you; about your private plans, about your foolishness, about your ways and about everything. If you are thinking that that was in the olden days, you are right. It was in the olden days that God spoke to listening men and women, teens and youth. It's just that God does the same thing today.
I don't want to say this, but the truth is, if you have not heard the voice of God, it's not really God's fault or that God doesn't speak anymore. Your hearing has been hardened to the things of God. Your mind is filled with all else. Your thinking has been programmed to listen to the world and the channel that tunes in God has corroded.
You don't really want to continue to go through life winging it, do you? It doesn't matter how good you are or how much you do, if you are not tuned in with God, you cannot participate with what God is doing. I agree that you can be right on track with what God is doing occasionally by default, simply because you are a good person, but it is very different to follow the voice of God than the voice of reason. You do not need to wing it. Tune in to the God channel and listen carefully. Oh and by the way, you will have to turn off the TV, Internet, and mobile phone for a moment. They distort the signal.
God has been speaking to you, in your ear, since you were born and to mankind since the beginnings at the Garden. God is speaking to you, in your ear about the day, your life, your future, what's best for all who will come into contact with you; about your private plans, about your foolishness, about your ways and about everything. If you are thinking that that was in the olden days, you are right. It was in the olden days that God spoke to listening men and women, teens and youth. It's just that God does the same thing today.
I don't want to say this, but the truth is, if you have not heard the voice of God, it's not really God's fault or that God doesn't speak anymore. Your hearing has been hardened to the things of God. Your mind is filled with all else. Your thinking has been programmed to listen to the world and the channel that tunes in God has corroded.
You don't really want to continue to go through life winging it, do you? It doesn't matter how good you are or how much you do, if you are not tuned in with God, you cannot participate with what God is doing. I agree that you can be right on track with what God is doing occasionally by default, simply because you are a good person, but it is very different to follow the voice of God than the voice of reason. You do not need to wing it. Tune in to the God channel and listen carefully. Oh and by the way, you will have to turn off the TV, Internet, and mobile phone for a moment. They distort the signal.
Daily Devotional February 10 - Are you just a caller?
"And why call ye Me, Lord, and do not the things that I say?" Luke 6:46
Getting serious with God is the call to this generation. It does not mean you have to become a preacher or run a ministry. It's about who you are, who you have become.
Living for God and following Christ can be the most beautiful experience. It's not about giving up everything you enjoy or like to do, but it is and always has been about getting a right understanding about what really brings you joy and what you could be doing that would best serve your life and those around you.
There is coming a time when calling on the Lord while serving the world is not going to be as popular as it is today.
Getting serious with God is the call to this generation. It does not mean you have to become a preacher or run a ministry. It's about who you are, who you have become.
- Is who you are the reflection of the essence of God?
- Is who you are the person you would want your child to emulate?
- Is who you are the best you can be with the measure of faith you have?
- Are you living up to your own understanding of what it entails to be a child of God?
- Do you fell free inside?
- Are you at peace with God?
Living for God and following Christ can be the most beautiful experience. It's not about giving up everything you enjoy or like to do, but it is and always has been about getting a right understanding about what really brings you joy and what you could be doing that would best serve your life and those around you.
There is coming a time when calling on the Lord while serving the world is not going to be as popular as it is today.
Daily Devotional February 9 - Justified by faith
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
If you have faith that Jesus is who He says He is and that He has paid the penalty for your sins, even the smallest morsel of faith, you have been justified; pardoned, reconciled to God. You are God's child and the recipient of all that was created for you. Even though what you inherit during your lifetime is not all that God has planned for you, what is available, now, is too big and too wonderful to measure. You have been justified; not you are going to if you do this or that. It is important to believe the WORD of God, for without faith you cannot see clearly what God has already done for you, nor what is ahead.
You are justified and you are at peace with God. So why don't you feel that way? It is in your thinking. If you don't know without a doubt that you are justified by God and at peace with God in every way, you have been conditioned by years of false teaching and some (self inflicted wrong thinking for your own so-called benefit). What a waste to live below your God given, God breathed potential. You need to believe what God says and not let anything that contradicts it even enter your ears. If you were to start believing God for all that He speaks to you, you would feel at peace with God. The only thing you would loose is the baggage you have been carrying.
If you have faith that Jesus is who He says He is and that He has paid the penalty for your sins, even the smallest morsel of faith, you have been justified; pardoned, reconciled to God. You are God's child and the recipient of all that was created for you. Even though what you inherit during your lifetime is not all that God has planned for you, what is available, now, is too big and too wonderful to measure. You have been justified; not you are going to if you do this or that. It is important to believe the WORD of God, for without faith you cannot see clearly what God has already done for you, nor what is ahead.
You are justified and you are at peace with God. So why don't you feel that way? It is in your thinking. If you don't know without a doubt that you are justified by God and at peace with God in every way, you have been conditioned by years of false teaching and some (self inflicted wrong thinking for your own so-called benefit). What a waste to live below your God given, God breathed potential. You need to believe what God says and not let anything that contradicts it even enter your ears. If you were to start believing God for all that He speaks to you, you would feel at peace with God. The only thing you would loose is the baggage you have been carrying.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Daily Devotional February 8 - Use Your Faith
"And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land. And He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night He cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw Him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." Mark 6:47-50
I wish we could see Jesus every time he is walking on water; every time He is standing right in front of us and saying, "Be of good cheer, it is I." Did you notice that Jesus saw them toiling? Jesus sees you struggling and toiling against the winds and water of your life. He" would have passed by them." What kind of Saviour would just pass by when your bills aren't paid and a love one dies, and someone lies about you and your heart has just been broken? The kind that answers your call.
Jesus isn't testing you by allowing you to wallow in the despairs of life. Jesus didn't bring on your troubles to see what you're made of. You and I both know that mos of our troubles are self induced, either through sin, indiscretion or ignorance. But when you've had enough and the winds of life are blowing real hard and you have tried to bail out your own boat, lift your eyes upon heaven and call out to Jesus. He will speak to your situation just like he spoke to the winds and the waves. Did you notice that before he stopped the wind and the waves and before the boat was emptied of the water that was about to sink it, and while they were trembling with fear, He said, "Be of good cheer, it is I." I can tell you from experience you won't even see Jesus passing by, to call unto Him, if you don't have your faith eyes turned on.
Use your faith. Muster up a real prayer. Call out to Jesus. Don't look around to see if anyone is watching. If you have to do that, your boat isn't really sinking, you're just uncomfortable.
I wish we could see Jesus every time he is walking on water; every time He is standing right in front of us and saying, "Be of good cheer, it is I." Did you notice that Jesus saw them toiling? Jesus sees you struggling and toiling against the winds and water of your life. He" would have passed by them." What kind of Saviour would just pass by when your bills aren't paid and a love one dies, and someone lies about you and your heart has just been broken? The kind that answers your call.
Jesus isn't testing you by allowing you to wallow in the despairs of life. Jesus didn't bring on your troubles to see what you're made of. You and I both know that mos of our troubles are self induced, either through sin, indiscretion or ignorance. But when you've had enough and the winds of life are blowing real hard and you have tried to bail out your own boat, lift your eyes upon heaven and call out to Jesus. He will speak to your situation just like he spoke to the winds and the waves. Did you notice that before he stopped the wind and the waves and before the boat was emptied of the water that was about to sink it, and while they were trembling with fear, He said, "Be of good cheer, it is I." I can tell you from experience you won't even see Jesus passing by, to call unto Him, if you don't have your faith eyes turned on.
Use your faith. Muster up a real prayer. Call out to Jesus. Don't look around to see if anyone is watching. If you have to do that, your boat isn't really sinking, you're just uncomfortable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
