Saturday, January 2, 2010

God Will Rescue Us -- In the Here and Now and in the Great Day to Come!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

God has a plan for us, a plan for this church, a plan for you, a plan for your family, and for their lives. His plan brings hope, a reason for our lives in the here and now, and a plan for our salvation as well. He has that same plan of salvation for us. Jesus has already died for our sins, and been raised to new and eternal life, so we can see the outlines of this plan with greater detail than some who went before us, but it is the same plan. His plan is to bring all that believe to eternal life and glory.

He also has a plan for your life here and now. I cannot preach about it in any detail because each of us may have entirely different plans, as far as this world is concerned. But the plan is for us to live our lives as His believing children. We are showing the world what true faith is, and who God is, and what He has done for us and what it means to us and to life in this world.

When people see the reflection of God in us and in our lives, they will come seeking the difference, and then we can also share with them the meaning of Christ for their lives in eternity. But they need to see and hear Christ in your life in the here and now. The here and now is so important and impressive to us who know about the gift of eternal life.

Imagine how central here and now is for those who do not know and cannot believe in the hereafter God has revealed. They need to see Christ in you. They need to see the faith, the hope, the confidence in God for this life and for everlasting life. Sometimes we show that by how we set our priorities. Sometimes it can be seen in how we face adversities.

Occasionally, people see our Lord reflected in how we handle the good times of life, too. It shows in humility and good cheer borne of the forgiveness of sins and the knowledge of the love of God. The words we use and the way we judge or do not judge others tells a lot about our faith and hope - or the lack of it.

A big part of the plans of God include your prayers. "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you." His plans include you talking to Him, seeking Him in times of trouble and need, pouring out your heart to Him, and finding that He is there, listening, answering. The best part of His plan is that you find Him, you know Him, and you talk with Him.

Of course, that searching with all your heart can only be done by believers, so your faith and salvation are central to His good plans for you. God promises us that we will call and He will listen.  Of course, in the Old Testament prayer was attached to sacrifices and priests in the temple.  But today, praise God, we don't have to go to the temple because we are the temple.

The Holy Ghost dwells in us. Our prayers aren't connected to physical sacrifices because the Pascal Lamb has been sacrificed - Jesus. So when we pray, our prayers are connected to Jesus, because we know that God loves us and will answer our prayers because of what Jesus did - and because of what Jesus said, in our Gospel today. We have those promises. What we don't have is someone telling us what the answer is. God want us to take that for granted: "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you."

Just as God rescued the Hebrew people from Babylon and returned them to Jerusalem -- and helped them in their lives, He helps us in our lives and He is planning that great rescue to come, that final day when God comes and takes us all home to the place from which were sent into exile. That place is His glory. We were exiled in sin, and the world corrupted for our sakes all around us. The good plans of God are to end that exile and end the influence of sin, and bring us home to perfection and glory.

It won't seem like a return for us, because we have never personally known the perfection of sinlessness. But it will be a return to what God originally intended, and to a life of full communion with Him. It will be glorious. 'I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope'. And on that day, we will all recognize that the full plans of God for us are - on that day we will be more inclined to say 'were' - marvelously good plans!  Heaven awaits us, and we will see Him in all of His glory and we will surely REJOICE!

Do Not Worry -- Be Happy and Pray! Take It to the Lord in Prayer!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus -- take it to the Lord in Prayer!  When you have a problem, don't gripe or complain -- instead, pray!  If a person is doing something that seems wrong, don't gossip about them, pray for them!  Pray -- and let the God of All Power be involved in your life.  He is a gentleman and He wants your permission to help you -- and He wants your obedience in serving Him!  He desires your praises and your worship!  So take the holy hint and DO IT!

God's help through the power of prayer is available for all kinds of requests and issues. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

If you need an example of a prayer, read Matthew 6:9-13. These verses are known as the Lord's prayer. The Lord's prayer is not a prayer we are only supposed to memorize and recite to God. It is also an example of how to pray and the things that should go into a prayer - worship, trust in God, requests, confession, protection, etc. While it is always good to pray the Lord's Prayer from your heart to the Lord, another good way to pray is to pray for these kinds of things, but speak to God using your own words.

The Word of God is full of accounts describing the power of prayer in various situations. The power of prayer has overcome enemies (Psalm 6:9-10), conquered death (2 Kings 4:3-36), brought healing (James 5:14-15), and defeated demons (Mark 9:29). God, through prayer, opens eyes, changes hearts, heals wounds, and grants wisdom (James 1:5). The power of prayer should never be underestimated because it draws on the glory and might of the infinitely powerful God of the universe! 

As Jeremiah 32:17 proclaims: "'Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You!"

Prayer Power -- the Power is God's When You Let Him Use You in Prayer!

As we go into the new year, God is calling upon us to press in deeper to Him in prayer.  We are to be prayer warriors for Him, fighting evil and brokeness with prayer, not bullets or knives.

Power Of Prayer - How do I tap into it?


The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." No matter the person praying, the passion behind the prayer, or the purpose of the prayer - God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. When our desires line up with His will, we will come to understand that in time. When we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully!

The power of prayer should not be underestimated. James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." God most definitely listens to prayers, answers prayers, and moves in response to prayers.

Jesus taught, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

Reading the Bible builds up faith.  Hearing Bible-based sermons builds up faith.  Hearing Bible-based songs builds up faith.  Praying itself builds up faith.  Grow strong in the Lord.  Let the Spirit build up your faith. Let new wave of Prayer Power begin  in 2010!

Monday, December 28, 2009

God's Great Love and Wisdom Are Revealed in His Holy Book!

Source of joy and peace


"Open my eyes to the wonderful truths in your law.  I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your laws.  Lord, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Then I will have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word. Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for my only hope is in your laws. I will keep on obeying your lay forever and forever. 

May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. I know, O Lord, that your decisions are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your law is my delight. +Those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble."
Psalm 119:18, 30, 41-44, 74-77, 165 NLT

Knowing the person behind the book

To own a Bible—to know we have it if we need it—brings a certain measure of peace. When we actually read and begin to understand it we are better able to receive peace of mind and heart. And when we apply what God's Word teaches, our lifestyle actually becomes a fertile place where peace can grow. But when we truly grow to love this wisdom given to us by its loving author, we have actually come to put our trust in the person behind the book. The writer of Psalm 119 grew to love God's law because it revealed who God was. We can rest assured when we follow the principles that issue from God's great love and wisdom.

from the TouchPoint Bible with commentaries by Ron Beers and Gilbert Beers (Tyndale) p 535

Thursday, December 17, 2009

A Merry Heart is Good Medicine -- Christian Jokes to Brigthen Your Day

Christian One Liners


Don't let your worries get the best of you; Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers..

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

People are funny; they want the front of the bus, middle of the road, and back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.

Quit griping about your church; If it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

If a church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

We're called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

God Himself doesn't propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches; What difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members singing 'Standing on the Promises' are just sitting on the premises.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch 'em - He'll clean 'em.

Stop, Drop, and Roll won't work in Hell.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified, HE qualifies the called.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruits of the spirit' over 'religious nuts!'

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions, just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don't change the message, the message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Pleading the Blood of Jesus in Prayer

Pleading the Blood of Jesus


When we talk about “pleading” the blood of Jesus, we are not talking about “begging.” “Pleading the blood” should not be considered a desperation exercise; God has not called us to come begging before Him. maybe you have heard people pray the words, “Father God, we come under the blood of Jesus.” Or, “Lord, we cover this matter with the blood of Jesus.”

As many of our great hymns proclaim, we believe in the power of the Blood, because we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that the Cross was the instrument of global redemption which broke the power of hell.

Pleading the blood of Jesus is not the superstitious application of a magic formula of words. Rather, a spiritual dynamic is being applied. The power of the blood of Jesus Christ is greater than both the energy of our own humanity and that of our Adversary. The power that saves is also the power that releases, delivers, and neutralizes the enterprises of hell and the weaknesses of the flesh. The appropriation of the power of the Blood in tough situations is intended for every believer in Christ to know, to understand, and to employ.

Dr. Jack hayford writes that there is an abiding presence of power in the blood of Jesus—all the time, in every situation in which we apply it. Pleading the blood of Jesus is a heaven-given resource that grants us a license to stand in dominion over the works of hell. We can use it in the same sense that an attorney stands before the court and makes a “plea” on legal grounds, based upon a body of evidence.

According to Dr. Hayford, when you and I come before the court of heaven—and in every circumstance we face in life—we have the legal right, through the blood of Jesus Christ, to enter a plea and to lay claim to the evidence (His slain body, His shed blood at the Cross) which is proven to neutralize the power of sin, the power of affliction, the power of death, and the power of hell. It is to that I make my plea when I plead the blood of Jesus, whether I face demonic, physical, or personal attack, condemnation or the temptation to sin.

There is no circumstance in life to which the blood of Jesus isn’t key to God’s releasing, protecting, resolving power, whether it’s removing the potential of confusion, overcoming the impact of rebellion, breaking the torment of fear, or the shame of the past. When we “plead the blood,” we are to do so in the understanding sense, with the firepower of the supernatural, and on the basis of the body of evidence that.  Tough the blood of Jesus Christ, all hell has been broken in its power, all sin neutralized, the power of death overwhelmed, and every human need paid for once and for all.

When you pray, utilize the power of the Blood of Christ. Pray, "I plead the Blood of Jesus over _______ (insert person or problem) and I ask the Holy Spirit to apply the power of the Blood of Jesus in Jesus' Name." It is a scripture-based way to pray and wage spritual warfare. For more on the POWER IN THE BLOOD

See my web-blog of Pastor's meditations Word and Spirit at http://www.burtchurch.blogspot.com/

The Miraculous Blood of Jesus

One of the great offensive prayers that we can pray is to "plead the Blood of Jesus" over people and situations. To enter a plea is a legal term, and God is a legal God. When we enter a plea of the Blood of Jesus in Jesus' name, we are calling on the highest power in the universe in our hehalf.

THE PASSOVER in the Old Testament Scriptures is the focal point of understanding the power of the blood. All sacrifice that proceeds after that in the Mosaic system is founded on this principle: through the blood of sacrifice, there is deliverance, protection, and a God-provided future. This mighty forecasting picture was fulfilled in the Person of Jesus. I recently heard a fine teaching by Dr. Jack Hayford (who wrote the classic chorus "Majesty") that explained pleading the blood very well. I include some of his thoughts here.

Jesus had not even begun his ministry when, appearing before the waters of baptism, John the Baptist announced of Him: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Everyone present understood the implication of his words, but it was difficult for them to come to terms with the idea that the Messiah, who is the King, is also the sacrifice, who is the Lamb. John was raising a signal not only to that day but also to all history.

When we deal with the subject of the blood, we are not dealing with some gory residue of ancient human superstition. When we talk about the blood of Christ, we are dealing with that which the Scriptures refer to as precious for its transcendent value to address human sin, need, failure, and bondage. Its value is related to the inestimable price of human liberty from the bondage of spiritual torment. The blood of Jesus is the central economic factor in all human order. Jack Hayford writes: So central is it that the Bible says Christ’s blood will the theme of our praise forever."
Here you will find inspiration and encouragement for your prayer life. Prayer is the great gift of God to us. Make use of it often. It is supernatural lightning in the Book. It is the Holy Spirit partnering with you. It is how you touch the face of God.

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