Our One New Year's Resolution

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..."  James 4:8

On this New Year's Eve, many of us are reflecting on this past year - the ups and downs, and we look forward with great anticipation at making a fresh start in the new year.  We make resolutions or set goals for the upcoming year with high hopes that we will attain the aspirations we failed to meet in the past year. 

While it is good to set goals and to make plans, the Lord reminded me of a simple truth this morning in my quiet time.  No amount of self-discipline, effort, organization, or goal-setting will ensure success in the year to come.  Only by drawing nigh to God will we succeed.  We may be a success in the eyes of man, but in the eyes of God, the key to any success in life is to draw near to Him. 

We make such lofty goals and plans, which are not necessarily a bad thing.  But often times we make our plans, and then we expect God to bless our endeavors without ever consulting as to whether our plans line up with His in the first place.  We stand on God's promise to give us strength to accomplish the will of our carnal nature instead of drawing near to God and allowing Him to set our course.

As Christians our primary goal this year should be to draw nigh to God.  If we are abiding in Him every moment of every day, we will find the joy we need, the strength we need, the peace we need, the wisdom we need, the direction we need in every area of our lives.  We make life so hard, but it is really simple.  Everything we need will be found in spending time in His presence and drawing near to Him.  Then He will give us the grace we need to meet the challenges we will face this upcoming year.  James 4:6 states, "But he gives us even more grace..."  If only we will draw near to Him.  What a beautiful promise!  Thank You, God, for Your abundant grace to meet my every challenge, my every need.

Dear Heavenly Father,

My prayer, my one resolution for this year, is to draw nigh to You.  Not to accomplish anything in my own power or strength, but to learn the freedom and joy of surrendering myself totally to You and Your will.  I pray that in this upcoming year this would be our one New Year's resolution as the Church.  I pray that  revival would come to the Body of Christ as we totally surrender self and draw closer to You.

In the Mighty and Beautiful Name of Jesus, 
Amen.

The Old, Godly Way

"This is what the Lord says:  'Stop at the cross roads and look around.  Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.  Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.'  But you reply, 'No, that's not the road we want.'" Jeremiah 6:16

This Scripture is very fitting for the current state of our nation.  Many are rejecting the "old, godly way."  They label it old-fashioned and out-of-date.  They believe it is for the uneducated and the ignorant.  They think their way is better and that they know better than God Himself. 

Just like the children of Israel, they deliberately make the choice to reject God and His Word saying, "No, that's not the road we want."  We want our new progressive way of thinking based on our own ideas of what is right.  God's plan is archaic.  His ways are intolerant.  We know better.  We are more inclusive.  No one needs to feel ashamed of the way they choose to live.  We make excuses for our sin so that we can go our merry way and never feel any conviction.  After all, people should never feel bad about themselves. 

We do not want to see our sin as God sees it.  We do not want to go through the pain of crucifying the idol of self at the cross.  We do not want to share in Christ's death and suffering as the Bible commands.  We do not want our flesh to be buried with Christ.  We do not want to rise to life with Christ as a new man, a new creation.  It is too much pain.  It is too much sacrifice.  We are content to choose our own path where we can keep the lusts of our flesh all in the name of progressivism, tolerance, and inclusiveness. We will not choose the old, godly way. 

Sadly, this generation never realizes that the rest their souls are craving is not in holding onto and making excuses for their sin, but in traveling the path of the old, godly way that they so despise.  They never realize the freedom they are seeking can only be found when they allow the Holy Spirit to break the grip of sin in their lives.  Only in the old, godly way can true peace, freedom and abundant life be found.

Dear Heavenly Father, 
I pray that this generation would wake up from their slumber and realize not every thing that is old should be rejected.  There is wisdom in following the old, godly path.  Help them to realize they are not as smart as they think they are, and true wisdom comes only from You.  I pray for those who are rejecting what they have been taught and instead choosing their own paths.  I pray that the hold the enemy has on their minds would be loosened and that they would turn to You before it is too late.

In the precious Name of Jesus I pray,
Amen

The Importance of the Church

"But because the rest of you have forsaken the Lord and have forgotten his Temple..."  

Isaiah 65:11 NLT

As I read Isaiah, I see many parallels between Israel and America today.  One is that Americans have forgotten His temple.  While a vast majority of Americans still claim to be Christians, faithful church attendance is steadily on the decline.  Whether the cause is apathy, laziness, pursuit of pleasure or the cares of life, Americans have forgotten His temple.  Many churches have omitted Sunday evening services due to poor attendance and have morning services only.  Some churches have even began to omit the mid-week services as well, because people have forgotten His temple.

It stands to reason as followers of Christ, we as "Christians" would do as Jesus would do.  Remember the popular saying a few years back, "What would Jesus do?"  When Jesus was on the earth, He did not forsake the temple.  As a young boy, Jesus' parents could not find Him on the journey back home, and they began to search for Him.  For three days they hunted frantically for Him and finally found Him. Where?  In the temple!  Three days, Jesus had been in the temple learning and studying the law, and yet we can't get "Christians" to church for three hours a week!

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus can be found at the temple, honoring the Sabbath days, and participating in the sacred festivals.  If the temple was important to Jesus, shouldn't it be important to His followers?  Do we think in America that we know better than Christ who told Peter in Matthew 16:18 that "...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  The enemy has successfully deceived many into believing they do not need the church.  I'm afraid that he knows better than we do the power in the congregation of the saints.  Paul teaches extensively on the importance of the body of Christ and of each member to make up the whole, and the writer of Hebrews gives this warning regarding the assembling of the saints: "And let us not neglect our meeting together as some people do , but encourage one another especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."  Hebrews 10:25

Some reason that they are essentially a "good" person, so they are doing okay without the church.  Others say they can read their Bible and pray at home.   Then there are those who are in the church bashing crowd and blame their lack of attendance on hypocrites in the church.  Whatever the excuse or reasoning, when we stand before God, all those excuses will crumble.  No, church attendance does not save us.  Only the precious Blood of Jesus Christ has the power to save our wretched souls from sin and hell.  However, when we have truly believed on Him as Lord and Saviour, not just in our heads, but in our hearts, when we have become new creations in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will find that just as Jesus was on this earth, we cannot get enough.  Our hearts long to be in the assembly of the saints worshiping God with our fellow believers.  (There is something powerful when two or three are gathered together.)  We desire to fellowship with other believers, encouraging and being encouraged.  We enjoy studying and growing in His Word.

The church is powerful, and Christ knew we would need the church when He established it.  He knew in these last days we would need it more than ever before.  The gates of Hell cannot prevail against the church.  It is time for those who claim to be followers of Christ to follow Him to the temple.  I encourage you to find a Bible-believing church today and get plugged into what Christ is doing through His body.  It will change your life.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that Christians in America would wake up from their slumber and shake themselves from the deception and lies of the enemy.  More now than ever, we need one another to stand in these last days.  I pray that Christians would have the desire to worship, fellowship, and study with other believers.  I pray their desire for You and Your house would be greater than the desires of this world.
In Jesus' Name, 
Amen

The Goodness of God

"The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made.  One day he asked the woman, 'Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?'  

'Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,' the woman replied.  'It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat.  God said, You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'

'You won't die!' the serpent replied to the woman.  'God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.'

The woman was convinced...."   Genesis 3:1-6

It is a trick of the enemy that is as old as time.  He first used it on Eve in the garden, and men still fall for it today.  In the garden, the serpent convinced Eve that God was holding out on her.  "God knows if you eat of the tree you will be like Him," Satan whispered in her ear.  He tricked Eve into doubting the goodness of God.   But before we judge Eve too harshly, we must take a look at ourselves and the many times we fall into the same trap.  When times are tough, when things don't work out as we had hoped, the enemy comes and whispers in our ear convincing us just like he did Eve in the garden that God is holding out on us.

It is in those times of trial and testing that we must stand on the Word of God. Psalm 84:11 states that the Lord is our sun and our shield.  Just as the warm sun's rays shine down on us, there are times when God's blessings seem to rain down.  But God is also our shield, and even when we don't recognize it, He often protects us from the things that are not good for us.  We believe Satan's lie that God is holding back on us, when in reality, God is shielding us from the very things that could destroy us.

Psalm 84:11 continues, "...no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."  If you are in a right relationship with God, following His commands, abiding in Him and hearing His voice, you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is working all things out for your good and His glory.  Just as an earthly father knows how to give good gifts to his son, how much more our Heavenly Father longs to give us every good gift!  The gift may be patience, endurance, or long-suffering, but it is the gift the Heavenly Father knows is best for us, not necessarily the gift we think we need.  Choose today to close your ears to the lies of the enemy.  Choose today to stand upon God's Word and trust that your Heavenly Father is good and all the plans He has for you are good.

Dear Heavenly Father, 
Thank You that You always have my best interests at heart, that You are always watching out for me, and that you give me exactly what I need when I need it.  I pray that I would never doubt Your goodness.  It is Who You are.  You cannot help but be good.  May I never be convinced otherwise.  
In the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Advancing the Kingdom

"Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands -- to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute the judgment written against them.  This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones.  Praise the Lord!"  Psalm 149:6-9

Many times I will read a passage like this one and think in physical terms.  In Old Testament times, God often used physical battle to accomplish His purposes - to bring punishment to a wicked nation, to demonstrate His glory.  But as I was reading this passage yesterday, I began to understand the spiritual applications of this passage.  As God's ambassadors on this earth, we are to be advancing the Kingdom.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:10 that we should pray "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."   According to this passage, God's will on earth is that judgment would come to the wicked and righteousness would prevail.  Christians do not accomplish this through physical weapons, but through spiritual weapons.

First, we begin with praise.  The praises of God should be in our mouths.  When we open our mouths, our words should bring forth glory and honor to the King Whom we claim to represent.  James states in chapter three verse ten that blessing and cursing should not flow from the same mouth.  Our words need to draw others to God, not turn them away.  Many in the world have turned away from the Gospel because of the mouths of Christians.  It is vital that we remember as God's ambassadors on this earth we speak not merely for ourselves, rather we speak for the King.

Secondly, this passage states that we have a sharp sword in our hands.  The Word of God is described in the Hebrews 4:12 as "quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."   Many times we use the Word of God to cut people, to attack people, to beat them over the head,  but this is not how God intended for us to use this weapon.  To use a weapon properly, we need to be trained in how to handle it.  When it comes to the Word of God, we need to study the Word, meditate on the Word, live the Word, and pray the Word.  That is how we effectively use our sword.  When Christians really know God's Word, when it is a living, breathing part of their life, when they are battling on their needs in prayer using God's Word and not their own words, then we see God's will on earth as it is in Heaven.

I love the last part of this verse:  "...This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones..."  What a privilege, what an honor, to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords.  I cannot fathom any higher calling than to be in service of the King, to be called His faithful one.  Being a Christian should not be looked on as a duty, but a special selection, a privilege, a high appointment that we humbly accept.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that I would be busy about Your business.  Many times we get caught up in things here on earth that really do not matter.  Help me to remember why You have placed me here and what You have called me to do.  I pray that I would advance Your kingdom on this earth, that I would be a warrior in prayer, praying Your Word and seeing Your will accomplished.  It is such a privilege and honor to be counted as your faithful one, to be called into service for the King.  I pray I would not take it lightly, but that I would be faithful in what You have called me to do and that I would bring delight to Your heart.  In the precious Name of Jesus, I pray.  Amen.

The Times of Drought

"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."  Jeremiah 17:7-8

I love this Scripture.  I came across it yesterday while sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office.  It is amazing how God will speak right to your heart right what you need even in the strangest of places.  The image in this passage is of a tree that is planted along a riverbank.  The Scripture states that the tree has roots that reach deep into the water, and when the heat comes and when the long months of drought come, the tree is not bothered.  It stays green and keeps producing fruit.

What a beautiful illustration of our walk with Christ!  As we put our trust in the Lord, when we make God our Hope and our Confidence, when we abide in Him and allow our roots to grow deep into the Living Water, we will not be bothered when the heat of trials come into our life.  I know many people who are struggling right now with trials, and sometimes it seems like the trials will never end.  But if we let our roots grow deep in Him, we can remain "green."  The word green in this passage is a symbol of life.  As Christians, our life is in Christ and not the cares of this world, and nothing can steal the abundant life that is in Christ.  Jesus Culture has a new album out, and one of the songs on the album is "Alive in You."  The chorus states, "Even in the fire, I'm alive in You."  When the heat comes, when the drought comes, we are still green.  We are still alive in Christ.

Not only are we alive, but we are producing fruit.  We still produce joy in the midst of our circumstances, because our joy is not in our circumstances, but it is in Jesus Christ and the assurance of our salvation.  We still have faith in spite of what it looks like, because our faith is in the One Who holds us in the palm of His hand.  We still have peace - a peace that cannot be explained, because we are resting in His promises knowing that He is faithful.  We still have patience knowing God is using our present circumstances to refine us as gold and that when we make it to the other side, we will be more like Him.  We still demonstrate love for God and for others even in the midst of our hurt and our pain, because God has already given us the greatest Gift of love through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. 


Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You.  Thank You that You are so good to me.  All week You have spoken and encouraged me - through my personal devotions, songs I hear, Wednesday night Bible study, even at the doctor's office!  You confirm Your Word and Your love for me over and over again.  I am truly grateful.  I pray that my confidence would not be in what my circumstances may seem, but that my confidence would be in You.  You are my Hope, my Refuge, my Very Present Help in times of trouble.  I pray that I would continually abide in You, that my roots would grow deep in Your Living Water, so that when the heat comes, I will not even be bothered.  Wow!  What a picture of such contentment!  Life doesn't even ruffle my feathers, because You've got my back, and my front, and my sides, and my top, and my bottom.  With You, I am ready to face life, to live the abundant life full of love, joy, peace, patience, and faith.  Thank You, Jesus, for all You are to me.  I pray for my friends and family who may need to hear this word this morning.  May it encourage and uplift them so that they too can live the abundant life and produce fruit even in the times of drought.  In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen.

Warnings and Good News

"John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people."  Luke 3:18 NLT

As I was reading Luke 3 yesterday, the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart about the modern-day church.  This Scripture in particular jumped out at me.  In a culture where we do not want to "offend" anyone, where we desire to be "inclusive," we have lost the New Testament Gospel.  In this passage John was not worried about offending anyone or including anyone.  In verse 7 he calls the people who had come to hear him a brood of vipers.  How would that go over in our pulpits today? 

John's message was one of Good News - salvation has come, but it was accompanied by warnings.  Many preachers, teachers, evangelists, and prophets in our modern society share the Good News that salvation has come, but there are no warnings to repent and turn from our sins.  In verse 8 John tells his audience to "Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God."  There is very little "proof" in today's church of repentant hearts and transformed lives.  It is a "come as you are" message.  While it is true, we are to come to Jesus "just as we are," no where in the Scripture is it taught that when we come, we are to "stay as we are."  Throughout the Bible, we are promised that when we come to God with truly repentant hearts we will be transformed.  He will renew our minds and give us new hearts.  We will become new creatures. (Romans 12:2, Ezekiel 36:26, II Corinthians 5:17)

In Luke 3 John shares the Good News that the Messiah has come, but he doesn't stop there.  His Good News is accompanied by warnings of the judgment that comes if one does not repent.  Warnings of the chaff being separated from the wheat and of trees that fail to produce fruit being thrown in the fire.  Unfortunately, many in the church today do not want to hear the message of repentance.  The apostle Paul warned of those whose only desire is for the preacher to tickle their ears and make them feel good about themselves. (II Timothy 4:3) 

All the great revivals of the past began when the people's eyes were opened to their sins and true repentance occurred.  Instead of hiring marketing directors and using gimmicks to get people in our church doors, maybe we should try the New Testament method - sharing the Good News along with the need for repentance.  Maybe then we wouldn't simply see auditoriums filled, but we would see lives transformed.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for the church, Your body, Your bride.  I pray that we would turn from our ways of thinking and that we would get back to the basics of the New Testament - that we would share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through repentance.  I pray that a great revival would sweep across this nation and all over the world and that we would prepare ourselves to be a pure bride ready for our King.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.