A Stone With Ears

Rocks!  We see them every day, but they are so common we pay little to no attention to them.  But according to the Bible, they pay attention to us.

I’m sure that’s messed with your theology a bit.  I can hear you saying, “Pastor, rocks don’t have ears!”  "Are you sure?" “There you go again…" Let me read to you from Joshua's last words to Israel before they buried him with his ancestors:

"See!" he said to all the people. "This  stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."   (Joshua 24:27, NLT)

So, now do you believe rocks have ears?

Throughout the Old Testament, stones served as memorial altars and significant markers of events: 

• When Joshua led Israel across the Jordan River into the new land of Canaan, he had twelve men take twelve stones from the river bed and pile them at Gilgal.  God commanded them to tell their descendants, when asked, that these stones were intentionally placed there as reminder of how the LORD dried up the river so they could cross over on dry ground.
• Elijah took twelve stones to build the altar on Mt. Carmel as he confronted the prophets of Baal.  God came in fire, proving he was God. (1 Kings 18:31). 

In the New Testament, stones were personified:

• "Speaking to the religious leaders of his day, John the Baptist told them, 'Out of these stones God can raise up children from Abraham.' " (Matt. 3:9).
• Even Jesus said God would use stones to praise Him if the people would not (Lk. 19:39-40).

But maybe the most challenging biblical reference to a stone is that of the human heart. 

Listen to the prophet: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26).  In God’s sight, my heart can become as hard as my granite kitchen counter.  (But if my granite counter starts talking to me, I’m going to have a problem!)

Two things intrigue me about Joshua’s words:

First, the promises the people made.  God didn’t put a gun to their head and require them to take an oath. Moses had set before them blessing and curses and then instructed them to choose blessing.  If they obeyed God He would bless them and they said they would.  How many promises have you made to God in your life?  Were you serious?  Have you kept them?  Your words will judge you someday, so being a Promise Keeper is more than joining a national men’s organization! It means honoring your very word to God.

Second, there is always someone or something present when your words were spoken.  For Joshua, there was a stone, and that stone became his witness.  In our case you have been at an old fashion church altar, or in your bedroom, or in the forest on a spiritual walk and you spoke a promise to God.  The altar heard it, the walls of your bedroom heard it and so did the trees you were praying near. 

In othere words, your promises never fall on deaf ears. There are witnesses around you, and you are accountable to God for those promises.

We have been fasting and praying for 21 days. Our prayers are our words and are pleasing to our God.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve made some promises to Him and I am now obligated to carry them out in obedience.  The power of the Holy Spirit will assist us in doing as we’ve promised, but we must never forget, God remembers and requires obedience.

I am very proud of you for the sacrifices you’ve made to bring your flesh into godly submission throughout these days of fasting.  We will do this again next year, but you don’t have to wait to fast until next January 2013! Why not make it a part of your spiritual discipline throughout the year?  Be sensible with it as the Lord leads and make this a priority. You will benefit profoundly; I know I have!

Be assured of my prayers for all my blog friends as you honor our God with your words, for they are a covenant between you and your eternal King and Lord!

I’ll keep meeting you at the Throne,
Pastor George

Day 20 How Do You Feel?

It's Day 20 of our 21-day fast and you're almost at the finish line. So...how do you feel? 

I've spoken to some who feel invigorated while others are exhausted.

How should you feel?  Is either one wrong?  Absolutely not!  Our fasting hasn't been about how we feel, but about our obedience to divine direction. 

Fasting is to the soul what physical exercise is to the body.  You may not always see results. For every 30 minutes of daily exercise you do, doctors say you add two days to your life span. As for fasting, Paul tells young Timothy, "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:8).

I love to exercise; it's been a passion of mine for years.  I'm a member at a local health club where I try to visit three times a week for my personal sanity and health benefits.  I have made that part of my fasting these 21 days.  I've missed exercising as much as the absence of food.

Physical training is good, but what really matters is that my personal godliness has increased, which benefits me both here and in the hereafter. 

How has it benefited me now?

•        I've been obedient to my Savior's command.
•        My flesh knows it's not number one, God's word is.       
•        I've spent extra time in God's presence.
•        I know my efforts are not in vain.
•        I fasted all 21 days; I finished what I started!

But what are the eternal benefits?  Only God knows what's been done through my obedience as I've interceded for individuals, our church, and our nation.  Prayer is my privilege, but the outcome is God's responsibility. I must leave all I've done in His hands, trusting that eternity will reveal all that's been accomplished.

Don't try to look for outcomes. If they occur, great! But if they don't, remember your fasting and prayer is a personal offering unto your God. You have done it for eternal purposes and not just for what you can account for at this moment.

So how do you feel now?  Hopefully you are encouraged knowing God has witnessed your best gift of obedience. One day you'll hear your Savior say, "Well done!"

I'll meet you at the Throne,
Pastor George

Day 19 Atmosphere

If there is one thing we take for granted, it's the atmosphere we live in.  I don't think I've ever woken up in the morning asking the question, "Will there be air to breathe?"  But I have asked about the temperature of that air and if the atmospheric conditions are right for storms.

I bet few people ever think about the spiritual atmosphere!  We assume that when we gather for a church meeting the atmosphere will be right.  If there's good music and the preaching/teaching is good then the Holy Spirit can and will do His work. 

But that couldn't be further from the truth.

Yes, it is true that the Bible teaches us that when two or three gather together in Christ's name He is there in our midst.  Our God is omnipresent, meaning he's present everywhere, but that truth alone doesn't assure that He will be allowed to work in the hearts and lives of those who are there.  People create an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit is welcome or not.

Whether He is grieved, quenched or resisted is all determined by those of us who gather.

Pastor John Kilpatrick pointed out something in this morning's Bay Revival meeting here at Calvary that I have never observed before concerning spiritual atmosphere.  He pointed out that when Jesus sent out the 72 at the beginning of His ministry, He gave them specific directive as to which home to enter.  When they were

approaching a home they were to call out to the occupant's "Peace to this house!" (Luke 10:5).  Jesus then said; "If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you." (Lk. 10:6).

I'm sure you asking yourself, 'What's that got to do with atmosphere?' Everything according to Pastor Kilpatrick!  He then illustrated the thought in more modern terms.  If you arrived at the front door of the

house and called out "peace to this house" and there was no response, you would know you weren't welcome. 

Then my eyes were opened.

What if the Holy Spirit comes to our church and stands at the front door and calls out to His people "peace to this house" and, because the atmosphere is one of division or criticism or strife we don't reply. Will  He then enter the house? No! And if the atmosphere isn't charged by the Spirit as we would assume it should be, and it's not the Holy Spirit's fault, then it's mine or ours as a Church Body, because we weren't creating a welcoming atmosphere!

We must admit we place the responsibility of the atmosphere of our services on how well things are done. but the Holy Spirit isn't into perfectionism or a well executed service. He is into unity.  Our singing isn't as important to the Holy Spirit as our love for one another.  He cares more if He is welcomed by all then how good the sermon is.

As long as the earth exists as we now know it, there will be air to breathe and the atmosphere will sustain human life.  But we must never assume that as long as there are church services the Holy Spirit will be present unless when He calls out to our spirit there He recognizes us as those who promote peace.

I want to be where there's peace in the atmosphere. I want to be where those gathered truly believe God can and will do anything.  And I will do my part to be one who responds positively to the Spirit's call. 

Will you?

The last church Jesus speaks to in Revelation 3 is the Church at Laodicea.  What concerns me about this text is that Jesus in verse 20 is outside the church as He says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."  Jesus was promising fellowship to those who would open the door and welcome Him in.

Church, this is just as important to us as air is to the human body. Without either one, we will die!

Keep praying and fasting! We can and it will change the atmosphere.

I'll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George

Day 18 Which Is Stronger? Your Spirit or Your Soul?

The following is from the devotional God’s Word for You Today by Bob Gass:

“Have you read the story of Isaac blessing his two sons when he was old, almost blind, and nearing death (See Genesis 27)? When Jacob, the younger son, wanted his older brother Esau’s part of the family inheritance, which was twice as much, his mother Rebekah helped him steal it. Here’s how she did it. Esau was hairy and Jacob had smooth skin. So Rebekah wrapped Jacob’s arms and neck in goat hair and gave him some of Esau’s clothes to wear. When Jacob went in to his aging father pretending to be Esau, his father asked him to come near so that he could feel him. His father told him that he sounded like Jacob but he felt like Esau, so he decided to trust what he felt over what he heard. As a result, he gave the birthright that was destined for his firstborn, Esau, to his second-born son, Jacob. Bottom line: he was deceived by what he felt. Now we know God was at work in all this. But the point here is, you can’t always trust your feelings because they don’t always line up with God’s Word and they can deceive you. You say, “I got my feelings hurt so I haven’t spoken to my family in over a year.” Get over it! Learn to forgive. Refuse to remain offended. Practice love. If you let feelings rule your life they will mess you up. Feelings are like spoiled children: the more you indulge them the more they will control you. You shouldn’t suppress your feelings or deny them, but you must not be led by them.”

I am so much like this story that I’m embarrassed to say it, but it’s true.  I so often trust what I feel over what I’ve heard God say to me through his Word and by His Spirit.  The feelings of being overwhelmed, abandoned, rejection, anger, discouragement, fear, guilt, shame, grief, sorrow and loneliness are some of the emotions I’ve felt in my life.  Yes, I know God has spoken in his Word about every one of these feelings giving wisdom and direction, but why is it they are so pesky?  They haunt us like a bad dream on a stormy night!

The answer lies in knowing the difference between your spirit and your soul.

Your spirit is where God lives and gives witness to the Holy Spirit. Your soul is that part of you where your will, mind and emotions dwell.  It flows from your brain but encompasses so much of who you are and how you were raised and conditioned in this world.  It is from your soul that you allow feelings to rule and reign in you. This can produce a stinky attitude, cause you to watch a raunchy movie, or not be willing to forgive someone who has hurt you.  

If your soul is stronger than your spirit, you’re in BIG trouble.

When Adam and Eve sinned their spirit was destroyed.  Since one's spirit is where God lives, and because they broke fellowship with God, He was removed from their spirit.  Sin took control and their soul became stronger than their spirit.  

Now you can understand why the Apostle Paul would write;  “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery (the soulish desire).  Instead, be filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:8. The Holy Spirit lives in your spirit.   The stronger you are in your spirit, the weaker the influence of your soul will be as it will submit to the authority of God’s Spirit dwelling in you.

Prayer and fasting bring your soul into submission and build up the spirit part of you!  You can’t afford to not let God fill you daily; the the consequences are too great.  The words from Genesis 27:22 are haunting me, in a good way, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”  Spiritual people trust what they have heard and know as true NOT by what they feel. 

So which part of you is stronger?  The Soul? Or Spirit?  The answer is critical to your spiritual success and future!

I’ll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George    

Day 17 Spiritually Jealous

I love compliments, and so do you! 

Words of affirmation that stroke the spirit with assurance of how others feel about us never get tiring.  But we don't want to go fishing for it.  Never make a statement about yourself to generate a positive response.  If compliments come, then let them; but don’t be insecure by seeking them.

Compliments tend to come because people notice acts of kindness or generous offerings from a sincere heart of concern.  We all like and want compliments, but are we willing to give them? When you see commendable actions and characteristics in others, you should endorse them with verbal affirmation.

In my daily Bible reading this morning, three times in two chapters I came across how God felt about Daniel, with a specific compliment spoken to him.  Check it out in Daniel 9:23; 10:11, 19 (New Living Translation).  The compliment:

“Daniel, you are very precious to God.” 

I became very aware God wanted to reveal something to me about this when I read it.  Sitting quietly, the Holy Spirit prompted me with the question, ‘Why would God say that about Daniel?’  So I began to review Daniel’s life from the beginning, and here’s what I found:

• He had a great heart for God as a young man.
• Fasting and prayer were already a part of his early faith disciplines.
• God observed these qualities and honored him for them.
• Prayer and fasting was a sustaining discipline throughout his leadership, even in difficult times.
• Daniel prayed three times a day every day facing Jerusalem, which showed his love and respect for God’s holy city.
• His faith didn’t waver in a foreign land under foreign laws and culture.
• He didn’t compromise when facing death in the lion’s den.
• Under the three kings he served, he remained the same person, kept the same priorities, and never compromised.
• He was willing to humble himself and repent of his own sins and the sins of Israel.
• He was willing to be used by God to interpret dreams and visions given to evil kings and with destructive outcomes.
• He was bold and never ashamed of his heritage as a Jew and man of God.
• Like King David, Daniel was “a man after God’s heart.”

How many of these qualities do you and I possess?  Yes, the Word tells us we are all precious in God's sight, but not everyone in scripture had this compliment specifically spoken to to them.  As I concluded my quiet time, I found these qualities making me spiritually jealous!  I asked the Holy Spirit to work in such a way in my life that I would reflect such a faithful life like Daniel's that God could say the very same thing to me.

The prayer and fasting we’re doing together is noticed by God, will bring great dividends, and possibly a divine compliment!

I’ll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George 

Day 16 Priming the Pump

Legend has it that a man was lost in the desert with no more water to drink.  Parched by the scorching sun and knowing his time for survival was growing short, he staggered over a dune and saw the remains of a shack left to the elements years ago. 

Looking for anything that would assist his survival, he saw an old rusty water pump.  With what little remaining strength he possessed, he began to pump the handle up and down, up and down. No water came out.

He slumped beside the old pump, assuming the end had come, when he noticed a jug covered with dust and cobwebs.  He wiped the dirt and grime away and there was a message attached to the jug which read,

“You have to prime the pump with all the water in this jug, my friend.  

P.S. Be sure you fill the jug again before you leave.”

He shook the jug and, sure enough, it was full of water. But now he had a decision to make.  Would he drink the water or use it to prime the pump?  If he drank the water ,his thirst would be quenched; but if he poured the water down the pump, it could yield cool water from deep down, and all the water he wanted.

He took the time to think about his choices.  Drink it?  Risk it?  Have it now?  Enjoy an abundance?

Reluctantly, he poured the water into the old pump.  Grabbing the handle he began to pump with all his remaining strength.  Pump, pump, squeak, squeak!  Nothing.  So he tried again--pump, pump, squeak, squeak!  Then to his surprise--first a dribble, then a slow flow, and finally, water began to gush!  The cool water promised on the old jug was really there.  So he refilled the jug first and then drank to his heart’s content.

Before he left the old pump he added this to the note on the jug, 

“Believe me, it really works.  

You have to give it all away before you can get anything back.”

And so it is with Fasting and Faith, which go hand in hand; you can't remove one from another. You just might have to give it all away before you get anything back, but what you get back will be more valuable than anything you could possibly know on this earth.  

When you fast by faith, you don’t know what your fasting will accomplish, but you have this promise that God sees and hears the prayers and sacrifices of his followers.  And you will get something of eternal value flowing from the well of your soul. 

Jesus promised, “Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:38)  If you will pour yourself out completely for Him, the One Who makes this promise to you will be faithful to prime the pump.

I'll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George

Day 15 Contrasts

"I never hear God's voice," was the comment of a regular attendee at the altar this morning.  I immediately asked, "Do you read your Bible?"  He answered yes. "Then you hear from God.  Hearing God isn't the issue; doing what God has said is!"

The next person I prayed with had never been to Calvary.  I asked how I could pray with her and her response was, "God spoke to me yesterday and told me that I was angry. I want to be forgiven and free."  I asked if she had ever given her life to Christ. Her response was, "Yes. Yesterday."

What a contrast in responses.  One has known the Lord but can't hear His voice; the other heard His voice for the first time the same day of her salvation and responded.

My intent is not to be critical of either response, but there are observations and questions to be considered in these two scenarios that should not be ignored.  

• Length of time knowing the Lord doesn't automatically assume we have developed our ability to hear the voice of God.
• When God wants to speak, are you open to hear?
• God is always speaking, but have we learned how to listen?

How can you know the voice of the Lord?  Other than the obvious--reading God's Word, there must come an element of faith that causes your spirit to recognize the prompting that could come only

from the Holy Spirit.  Let me give you an example.

This morning while spending time in my personal devotions I asked the Holy Spirit what He wanted to do in the service today.  Immediately my spirit was prompted that there would be someone in the service with either a pinched nerve or injured neck. He even showed me what section of the sanctuary the person suffering would be sitting in. 

I responded to that prompting by waiting for the opportunity in the service to speak what I knew was from the Lord.  After the service, a man who sat in the very section God showed me came and said, "I was the person with the pinched nerve in my neck."  Later a young boy about 8 came with his father to tell me he also came to church with his neck hurting and God healed him.

What I am sure of today is this: God speaks and those who train their spiritual ears to hear will know His voice and see His power.  As you fast and pray this week, ask the Holy Spirit to give you greater awareness of His voice, but then be prepared to act.  You will hear and see the difference.

I'll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George

Day 14 A 40-Year Fast

The longest fast in scripture is 40 days, when Jesus started his ministry with a fast. During that fast He encountered His arch enemy in the wilderness.  He was face-to-face with the one who in three years He would defeat on the cross.

40 days is a long period of time to fast. But what if a fast lasted 40 years?  If you answered, 'Impossible!' you would, of course, be right when it comes to food.

But what if you weren't fasting food? 

What if you were 'fasting' your time, in the process of waiting? 

The number 40 in the Bible is used by God as a time of testing and judgment.  

• It rained forty days and night in judgment during Noah's day (Gen. 7:4)  
• Moses was with God on Mt. Sinai forty days (Ex. 24:18)        
• There are at least 32 portions of scripture in both the Old and New Testament which mention the number 40 in this context.

But the one that strikes me the most is the 40 years Joshua and Caleb spent in the wilderness waiting to enter the Promised Land.  They fasted 40 years of their lives and it wasn't their fault they were there. They had not been disobedient.  Neither had they doubted what God promised. But they were required to spend 40 years wandering with the Israelites until God's testing and judgment was over and the new land was opened for their right to conquer.

So what's that got to do with you and me? 

Maybe a lot more than you think.  Has God made you a promise and not fulfilled it yet?  Have you prepared yourself for something in ministry and the door hasn't opened yet? 

You just may be in a time of testing which, like Joshua and Caleb, requires you to remain faithful no matter the length or duration of the season before God fulfills his Word in your life. We can use specific verses in the Bible to comfort us in lots of different situations, but let me help you try one on for size when it comes to waiting. 

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  (Isaiah 40:31)

The promise of God through the prophet is that strength will come while you're waiting! Thankfully, fasting isn't prolonged beyond our human ability, but when God asks of you more than you think you can possibly do, you can certainly trust Him to provide what you need for what you are facing.

That's a divine promise!

Keep praying and, no matter how long it takes, don't get discouraged--God's Word will come to pass. As you 'fast' your time in the waiting process, strength will rise as you wait upon the Lord.

I'll meet you at the Throne,
Pastor George

Day 13 Brain Gain

How do you know if your fasting has been successful? 

Do your clothes fit better?  Are you fasting more days than ever before?  Have you finally received an answer to a spiritual question?  Maybe all three, and more!  

I would like to attempt to answer the question by returning to God’s Word and focusing on what fasting did for Daniel and his three friends.  Read Daniel Chapter 1 for the back story.

Daniel is in the hostile environment of Babylon because of the sins of his people.  Sin always brings captivity.  But he’s different than most of the captives--he’s  from an elite family and is well-educated (Dan. 1:3). 

Daniel is grouped with other young men who were in the process of being culturally brainwashed to make them an asset to the Babylonian people. King Nebuchadnezzar commissioned special treatment for these outstanding candidates, providing special food and drink from his own table. His provision appealed to the candidates who weren’t willing to do whatever it would take to please the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob while living in a foreign culture.

However, there’s one thing the king didn’t consider--the spiritual, moral and nationalist values of the other candidates, Daniel and his three friends. What made the difference between these two sets of candidates? Fasting made the difference! 

In our day we call what Daniel did 'The Daniel Fast'.  He and his friends abstained from the meat and wine from the king’s table, exchanging them for vegetables and water.  In just one week his fasting produced something the king’s servant thought he would never see!  Rather than their fasting producing pale and thin men they looked healthier and better nourished than those eating from the king's table (Dan. 1:15). 

But, if you stop reading there you miss the real success of their fasting.  Please don’t get stuck on fasting being about food or what you’ve chosen to give up. It’s far more important than that! 

Their success is defined in Daniel 1:17: Here are two things I see in this verse. First, fasting opened their hearts and minds to learn. It’s not just about literature and science but the ability God gave them to understand and become true students. 

“God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for learning the literature and science of the time.  And God gave Daniel special ability in understanding the meanings of visions and dreams.”

What have you learned about God during these days you didn’t know before you started?  What have you learned about yourself?  Fasting opened their minds and it should be opening ours too for divine revelation and insights.  I’m not saying your IQ will increase, but your spiritual intelligence should be increasing as you search to hear the voice of truth.

If you are struggling in either of these areas, remind God that if He would do that for Daniel, then He can do it for you too.  Be bold in asking and expect growth.    

Secondly, Daniel was also given the spiritual gift of understanding the meaning of visions and dreams.  In the very next chapter Daniel uses this gift and it elevates him and his friends to the highest offices of leadership in the land. 

Please don’t misinterpret what I’m saying.  I am not saying that if you fast God will make you automatically smarter than you are.  What I am saying is that during the fast God knew the revelation and intellectual ability that Daniel would need and He graciously opened his mind and provided the right gifts so he would be effective. 

And God knows what you need during these days of self-surrender! He wants you to be successful and will use these days to increase the spiritual level of your soul.

I’m excited for you!  I can’t wait to hear what God did during your days of fasting!  One thing for sure I’m expecting for you is greater spiritual intelligence. May God grant it to you today!

I’ll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George

Day 12 Confirmation or Clarification from God?

There is no way all our decisions are going to be right ones. 

Try as we might, we make decisions based on the information we have. If you’re like me,  you pray often that your choices will be pleasing to the Lord.  Even so, we can be deceived or just plain negligent in our human attempt to make friends, make major purchases, choose a location to live, or make a right investment.  Sometimes it goes wrong and we don't always know why.

The life of faith is just that--faith.  Faith doesn't see every detail or understand every outcome before it happens.  Faith trusts first the ‘God factor’, believing as we commit our actions to prayer that God will bless them. 

But sometimes we are like Abraham and try to ‘help’ God, and Ishmaels are born. 

Ishmaels are generally born because, more often than not, we do not take the time to seek and receive confirmation in our decision making.  Then, when things don't turn out right, we can get discouraged at our lack of spiritual discernment. Or worse, we grow disappointed with God for not stopping us before we got into trouble.

Our quick prayer, "God please bless my decision" becomes more of an appeasement to our conscience than an earnest appeal for divine guidance and assistance. 

I made a decision some years ago that I really felt was God-ordained.  I entered into it with a pure heart and right motives.  I had spent time seeking God's wisdom,  but it went terribly wrong.  In fact, it blew up in my face and left me confused, frustrated, hurt and feeling spiritually foolish that I didn't see it coming.

I had originally moved forward in that decision thinking that I had confirmation from God, but now I was in need of clarification from Him.

I met a friend today who I had not been with for a couple of years. My friend asked a question regarding that situation and my answer opened a door of clarification as to why my decision had gone wrong.  I needed that clarification to put the whole situation into perspective and the Holy Spirit used my friend to bring it.  What I thought might never come came…deeper understanding and an answer to my “Why?” question. And now I have peace.

We serve a God who knows when and where to confirm and clarify the good and bad in life. Whether you need confirmation or clarification today, keep your heart pure and spirit right and God will bring you His perspective!

I'll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George

Day 11 Lunch With Barnabas

I know what you're thinking. What's a word like 'lunch' doing in a fasting and prayer blog? Actually, this particular fast I am doing a partial fast, abstaining from two meals per day. For those of you doing a full fast, please forgive any suggestion of food!

This past August, Cheryl and I stopped at a store we had never been in before in a town we rarely visit.  I was looking for something specific and didn’t find it.  As I was walking out, I heard a voice call my name.  I turned around and was instantly reunited with a college classmate I had not seen since we graduated in 1974.  Surprised would be an understatement of my emotions! 

We have now stayed in touch and today I found out why God brought him back into my life.  He is a biblical Barnabas. Barnabas was a New Testament convert better known for being the Apostle Paul’s traveling companion.  But he was something more important than that!  Why would Paul take him on his ministry travels?  Acts 4:36 answers that question by giving the meaning of Barnabas’ name: “Son of Encouragement”.  Yes, even the spiritually powerful Paul needed encouragement in his life and the Holy Spirit was gracious enough to give him Barnabas.

The question could be asked, "Does God still have people with the ministry of encouragement in His church today?" 

Of course!  I know--I had lunch with Barnabas today!  We sat together and he poured into my life words of encouragement and affirmation.  He said meaningful things that spoke to my circumstances--things he couldn’t have known because I’d shared them only in my devotional time with my Savior.  But God knew how to lift my spirits, so He sent me a Barnabas.

Have you ever thought God might want to use you as a Barnabas to someone?  Have you found yourself in the presence of someone and the Holy Spirit prompted you to speak edifying words to them?  Words to affirm their character. Words to help them handle a very difficult situation. Words of praise for them for keeping their cool when they could have given someone a piece of their mind.

We don’t know if Barnabas ever preached a sermon, but we do know he was a friend to one who preached a lot of them. Men and women of position and influence may seem powerful in your eyes, but they are just as human as you are and need encouragement from time to time, just like you do. Never forget, no man is an island.

When you’re praying, be sensitive enough to ask the Holy Spirit if someone you know needs a Barnabas. When He speaks that person's name, then go, be a “Son [or Daughter] of Encouragement"!

I’ll meet you at the Throne,
Pastor George

Day 10 Cat Got Your Tongue?

I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard a follower of Jesus tell me why they can’t share their faith with a stranger.  Their reason is normally fear, and then they ask, “What would you say?”  

Jesus knew his followers would be faced with just that scenario and He told them exactly what to do.  You’ll find His words (in red) in Mark 13:10-11: Now don’t get worried, going to jail isn’t probable for us, but what Jesus said would happen in their defense is the same thing that will happen when you are sharing your personal spiritual journey with a friend.

“And the Good News must first be preached to every nation.  But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry about what to say in your defense.  Just say what God tells you to.  Then it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” 

What can we take from that? Don't let the cat get your tongue! Let the Holy Spirit speak!  Often we find ourselves too concerned about appearances, what people will think of us and our ability to share rather than what’s really important--your story of personal transformation.  When we are more concerned with what others say about us than what the Spirit says through us we are in dangerous territory.  Jesus was simply saying, When you pray today, I challenge you to spend some serious time praying for opportunities to present Jesus through your life story.  When the door opens, trust the Holy Spirit to speak the exact words that the person needs to hear. Then rest in the fact that God loves them more than you could ever possibly love them and wants to see their lives changed, just as He did with yours. 

"Just say what God tells you to say.  Don’t be concerned with your reputation. It’s God’s reputation which is at stake, not yours!”

Fast and pray for an explosion of evangelism to occur in Orlando.  Trust the Spirit to prompt divine appointments.  Pray that our Harvesting Lord will send labors with a readiness to “just say what God tells you to” and see what the Holy Spirit will do.

It will be worth whatever you’ve fasted and pray for to see a life saved and changed by the power of God!

I’ll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George

Day 9 Big Blessings Can Come In Small Ways!

Today I made a visit to the hospital to visit one of our men who was undergoing a cardio test.  After our visit, I stepped onto the elevator with a woman who was also leaving. As the door opened on the first floor, I motioned for her to exit before me.  She then spoke the following words:

"There are still gentlemen left on this planet."

It wasn't an act of chivalry. My father drilled into me that women were to be honored and shown respect at all times.  It happened without thought, just personal courtesy and instinct.  Her comment was appreciated but not necessary.

But as I walked from the hospital lobby, I couldn't help but think how kind acts make a noticeable difference when least expected.  Who would have thought that allowing a person to exit an elevator first would be met with such appreciation, but it did. 

And then I wondered, "What if we lived our lives with more intentionality toward others?"  I ask God constantly to allow me to be a blessing, wanting to make some major difference in the life of another. Today I was reminded that we can be a blessing in small ways, with just a simple act of kindness that can be so meaningful to someone else.

Jesus touched those who were looking for Him. He found them in a moment, and with the kindness of His words or actions, He made such a difference that they were never the same. 

His conversation at a well changed a woman's life forever. 

His visit to grieving sisters returned their dead brother. 

His sensitivity to the touch of a sick woman brought her total transformation. 

Why?  Because Jesus sought to live His life with others in mind, and His encounters with them were intentional. When you pray to be a blessing, don't place restrictions on how big or small that blessing may be.  Allow the simplest, intentional act to be what Jesus would do, and see how others will assess your presence in their life.

I went to the hospital to be a blessing in the life of one of our men, but ended up being one to a women I'd never met; all because I simply allowed her to exit an elevator before me.  Jesus gets the glory, no matter if the blessing we are to others is big or small.

I'll meet you at the Throne,
Pastor George

Day 8 Asking Boldly...Expecting More



It's my daily routine in the early morning to ask God with specificity by writing out my prayers.  I have found it to be very fulfilling, especially when God produces the answers so quickly. 

This morning I found myself writing and asking for God to minister to unexpected individuals--- those obscure ones in our service today who would be quietly but persistently searching, like the woman with the issue of blood. Those who needed something very special from our gracious God.

Let me tell you about how God answered that prayer and for whom.

A young mother waited patiently at the end of our service to ask for prayer.  Her story broke my heart.

"Someone told me about this church, so I came with my five children on Wednesday night.  It took us two city buses to get here, but I was so glad we came." 

Her request for prayer was simple, that God would help her as a mother.  I was moved by her simple faith to believe for special grace.

The second person was also a young lady.  Her quiet sincerity emanated as I simply asked, “What do you need from our God?”  Without hesitation she said, "My heart is hard and I want once again to feel compassion for others."  Instantly, her heart broke and tears rolled down her cheeks.  “Thank you, Jesus," was the response coming from her lips over and over again.

She continued, "Please pray, I'm desperate!" 

When our Lord was walking the dusty roads and streets of Israeli towns, I am amazed how He found that one obscure individual and ministered to them because they asked boldly.  We are a culture so enamored with big crowds but Jesus was excited about the ONE!  No one was obscure to Him.

My excitement continues to grow as I see answers to my prayers coming quickly.  I would encourage you to be very specific during this fasting and prayer season.  Ask BIG and believe you will receive, for you must never forget, we serve a God who does not withhold any good thing from those who fear him (Psalm 84:11).  "Ask and you will receive" (Matt. 7:7)… that's God's promise!  So ASK!

I'll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George

Day 7 The Power of a Praying Mother

I just returned from a 900-mile round trip in 24 hours. The whirlwind trip had one purpose and that was to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday.  There are few people in my life I would make that speedy trip for!

As I ponder my life under the spiritual wing of Irene Cope, I couldn't find a more fitting description of her personal passion and reason for admiration than this:

"A woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.  Reward her for all she has done.  Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." (Proverbs 31:30-31).

First, Irene Cope's driving passion in life from the beginning of her early ministry as a late teen was to serve and please the Lord. Consumed is an appropriate description of her walk with Jesus. Her fear of the Lord has always been her education and evaluation for all she has done in life.  At 90, the fire in her soul has not been extinguished in any way. Just the opposite, it continues to intensify.

As her two grandchildren sat at the table this weekend, their praise for her centered on her prayer life. They knew all of their lives that she was in constant intercession for their spiritual victory.

My sister Judi and I also realize that our spiritual foundation was forged at the feet of a mother who knew how to touch heaven and hear God's heart.  We have more than our mother's DNA in our genes. We have her PNA (Prayer Nurturing Attention), which has impacted every decision we've made from marriage partners to our daily decisions.  Our mother taught us that prayer was our greatest spiritual asset and weapon of choice when fighting the good fight of faith.

What do you give a mother who is celebrating her 90th birthday? Public Praise!  For an extended period of time we sat sharing stories which praised our mother for her genuine faith and authentic godliness.

During these days of fasting and prayer, remember that as a father or mother you are impacting your children in a profound way by your example.  As they observe you sacrificing for the purpose of drawing closer to your Savior they, too, will find reason to praise you for being a godly influence in their life.

I'll meet you at the Throne,
Pastor George

Day 6 What's The Big Deal With Fasting Anyway?

"What's the big deal with fasting anyway?"  

Have you been tempted to ask yourself the question in the last six days during this corporate fast,

"Why in the world am I doing this? What's the big deal with fasting anyway?"  

It's okay, God won't strike you for asking the question! I must confess that over the years I've asked the same question. Spiritual disciplines are like physical exercise--after a while, it can get monotonous and we lose interest.  But that doesn't stop trained athletes, because they know consistent training is what brings them to their peek performance.

Fasting and prayer does more for you than you think.  Here's some benefits...   

1. It builds faith.    
2. It says "no" to our flesh.    
3. It develops obedience.    
4. It shows Lordship.    
5. It creates more time for God in our lives.    
6. It builds perseverance.    
7. It tenderizes the soul.    
8. It empties self.    
9. It proves itself serious.    
10. It pleases God!

We know Jesus practiced prayer and fasting as a regular discipline. He taught it in His Sermon on the Mount.  If Jesus did it, then His disciples were taught to do it as well.  

I wonder if Peter would have gotten out of the boat without the benefits of fasting and prayer.  I wonder if he would have repented after his colossal denial of His Lord had he not fasted and prayed.  I wonder what the benefits of fasting and prayer were for the spreading of the gospel after Pentecost when they were faced with unspeakable odds, yet in obedience they took the message of a resurrected Christ everywhere!

You may not know right now what the benefits of fasting are, but there will come a day when you will look back and say, "I'm glad I disciplined myself and learned to fast!"

I'll meet you at the Throne,
Pastor George

Day 5 When Time Stands Still

Everybody Needs Somebody Sometime is the title of an old song popular when I was a teenager.  It came to mind this week when I received an email from an old friend at a most strategic moment.  I was praying about a situation when my email sounded and I was drawn to who might be trying to reach me.

When I saw the name on the email I knew this was going to be a God moment; one of those moments when time stands still. There was no prophetic word, nor was it an ego-building message. It was three words of epic proportion that let me know Heaven was paying attention to my prayers and knew my situation. 

The email message simply said; "I'm praying for you."

What had burdened my soul and caused spiritual consternation was now soothed by a friend half way around the world, who, although five time zones ahead of me, knew I was in need and allowed the Holy Spirit to communicate how deeply concerned God was for me. 

During this season of fasting and prayer I would ask you to be very mindful of others that just might need what I needed from my friend.  The tendency of our prayer lives is to focus on ourselves forgetting that the Spirit of God just might want to use us in an extraordinary way in the life of another. 

As you ready yourself for bed or responding to the alarm in the morning why not breathe the following prayer: 

"Holy Spirit, I am your hands, mouth and feet.  Use me to bring encouragement, hope and strength to someone today."  Then listen to that inner voice and when a name or face appears make the call, send the email, reach out and touch them in Jesus' name.

Everybody does need somebody sometime...and that somebody just may be YOU!

I'll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George

Day 4 What Do Politics, Pundits, Preachers and the Pew Have In Common?

Everyone's angry and looking for someone to blame for the state of our nation. I am praying for our nation, president and the candidates that are lining up to take him on, but I get distracted by the pundits and their commentaries, which have become more like hateful attacks than political rhetoric. 

We are deeply embedded in the 2012 political season.  The many political ads and the rise in national hostility are too much of our daily media diet.  Everybody who is speaking seems angry about something. It doesn’t matter the political issue, they're just angry! Are you?

  

So, what’s a Christian to do? 

Two things.  

1. We must change our perspective.

It must be clear to us that any person elected to the highest office of our land isn’t perfect, and brings with them agenda items we are not interested in.  As Christians, we assign too much blame on our nation’s leaders and their agendas as reason for our moral decline as a nation; we can’t. The blame should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the Church, where it belongs. 

God never intended morality to be legislated through government edicts or judicial laws.  The government is only a reflection of the constituents it is made up of.  We the people have allowed our moral anchors to be moved and they now rest in murky and polluted waters. If America is to survive moral decay, the citizens of this nation must return to the Word of God. Morality should begin with the Church, and must start with each of us.    

2. We must stop placing blame and humble ourselves and pray. 

 

While praying during this fast, please ponder these verses and ask yourself what changes you should make before you begin expecting change from our political leaders.

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Ps. 34:18)

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Ps. 51:17

“…This is the one I esteem; he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.” (Isa. 66:2)

“Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”  (Joel 2:13)

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”  (2 Cor. 7:10)

If we who make up the Church will humble ourselves and in contrition seek our God and stand for what is righteous, there is help. But the choice is ours.  God’s words through Moses still has meaning and merit for the Church today:

 “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for your or beyond your reach…See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.  For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the Land you are entering to possess.  But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed….This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.  For the Lord is your life…” (Deut. 30:1, 15-18, 19-20)

Keep humble and keep praying…who knows what our God will do in and for America, but I’m not angry! By faith,  I am hopeful and believe that prayer can change a nation.

I’ll meet you at the Throne,

Pastor George