Where Did The Church Go?

An indisputable characteristic of the church, as established by Jesus, is unity: unity in purpose, unity in fellowship, unity in worship, and much more. His plan has not changed.

On the other hand, one of reoccurring enemies of this unity in the church is focus on self. The early church was most effective when it could be said that they had "all things in common." But, then as now, the temptation to "serve self" threatened the church.

Sometimes a member of the Lord's church can be heard speaking of the church as "it" or "they." To often it is a result of not being "happy" with the state of a particular congregation. The truth is that every member is responsible for the solution to the problem. And the solution is never brought about without obedience. That obedience will lead us to seek, and find unity through the "positive" process of the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps the level of our joy is directly connected with that obedience to the positive instruction of the Lord. When the church seems strangely "absent," it is often pursuing self-fulfillment. Perhaps we need to refocus.

Jesus never intended for the child of God to be an independent loaner, pursuing his or her own way to purpose. We cannot be disobedient to His will and expect to maintain the meaning, purpose and vitality we need. Has that been your attempt? We are so intertwined that we cannot help but affect each other, for good or bad. The way we affect each other is up to us. "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ." (1 Cor. 12:12)

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A Prayer

"Lord, how do I cry out to you? Instead of what I read in your Word, how do I know that the things that fill me with pain and fear are not the truth? My desire is to know You, and to know Jesus, more and more each day. Yet my pain and struggles overwhelm me. They seem more than I can bear. How do I release this burden to you and receive the peace that is yours?

"Lord, I have learned that any 'peace' that is not of You is a lie that can never stand. If we could be truly happy and 'right' without You, then why did you come? The truth is, 'there is no way to peace and happiness without the living Word working within us.'

"I cry out to you, sometimes in frustration, sometimes in deep pain, sometimes in confusion. I seek to know all that I can and should do to find You. It is your Word that brings the guidance and assurance I need. It guides me like a light on a dark path. It speaks truths that will lead me to your life. It helps me help others, desiring that the Father be glorified. It tells me that 'all things... ALL things are possible through you.'

"How do I cry out to you? I will use only what I truly have. I will cry out to you with my words that, when given in truth, will reveal my heart. May it be a heart that is consistently changing into the likeness of your Son, speaking only the things that are true. May you grow me away from the world and toward your heart. May my desires be the desires of YOUR heart. Help me to seek your will in my life and in the lives of others. I cannot obtain your righteousness otherwise.

"Let me remember that if I 'call to You, You will answer me and show me great and mighty things.' May I desire them for Your glory and Your glory only. I will use what you have given me as I cry out to you... the words of my mouth that reveal the truth of my heart. Then I will seek your Words that reveal Your will to me. May you renew me with your will. Amen."

When We Need Help

We have all come to times of deep distress when there seems no way out. What do we do? Where do we turn? Who can help us when life and its circumstances seem so hopeless?

Our tendency is to cover up the pain. We have many "tricks up our sleeves" as we try to do so. They never do the job. They will only postpone and make worse the pain. They all lead us to denial of the problem.

Jeremiah delivers to us God's invitation: "'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'" (Jeremiah 33:3) The Psalmist said, "As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me." (Psalm 55:16) God has preserved His Word and provided for us the stories of His faithfulness in the midst of the life struggles of many in this world. His works among His people, even though we are separated by time, remain timely to our need today.

As for me, I will also call upon God, in the name of Jesus. I have set my mind and heart to do so. Why in His name? It is because He alone has made a way for us to God. No amount of effort on our part, through works, good intention, or anything else, can win the ear of God. We can come only in Jesus name. We are all in need of His grace in the midst of our struggles and need.

Spurgeon said, "Yes, I must and will pray. What else can I do! What better can I do? Betrayed, forsaken, grieved, baffled, O my Lord, I will call upon Thee." (From Faith's Checkbook, by C. H. Spurgeon, Friday, August 28) Even the churches "giants" struggled and knew the value of the help of God.

Jesus said, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:13-14, NIV) But our hearts must be right, and they can be... right now, through the grace of God. Then what we ask will be to "bring glory to the Father." Our rightness with God is not based on our personal goodness, but our pursuit of God through Jesus Christ, even in the midst of our stumbling. Paul speaks of the war that goes on in his mind. He says, "What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25, NIV) When we need help, only Jesus Christ our Lord can meet the challenge.

If prayer doesn't work, we must look for the reason. There must be a right motive. James said, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3) There is often our problem. A right motive is when our intent is for the glory of God. When it is for His glory, it is always for our good. Then we will experience the joys of heaven. And that is the life we truly desire.

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God's Enthusiasm About You

God has some very good news for you. He says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer." (Matthew 21:22) If we will accept that truth, and work on our belief system, nothing will be impossible. The key is to learn more about Jesus, seek Him, and "remain in Him and He in us."

Jesus says to "abide" in Him. "He that abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5, NKJV) "Abide" means to dwell or to live. We are to live in Jesus, day in and day out. When our lives are given to Him in such a way, HE will do the work to become one with us. It is then that God will do amazing things in your life.

With this relationship, we can see God's enthusiasm about you and me in Christ. He says, "You may come up to my throne and make your request with boldness and great expectation." (see Hebrews 10:19) God's plan is that His children deliver His blessings to this world by being connecting with Him... and that relationship will flow over into the new heaven and new earth. But it is to begin with our lives in Christ today.

God's enthusiasm should be ours. Jesus has opened the door. And He has offered the relationship to anyone who will accept it.

When We Are Overwhelmed, Then What?

I woke up in the early hours feeling overwhelmed spiritually. I know I have responsibilities and expectations God Himself has given me. And those spiritual responsibilities have naturally overflowed into the my physical life. Family, friends and acquaintances with their fears, hurts and needs are involved. Then, on top of that, the world in which we live seems to be out of control. What do we do? How do we pray?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed in life? Do any of my struggles sound familiar? It happens to me often. And when it happens, sometimes waking me from sleep, I must be honest with God, and seek Him. I pray and turn to His Word.

I sought Him in the early morning hours. As I prayed I needed to know that what I heard was from God Himself. I asked for His help, and I waited for Him to defeat the enemies of my battle--the fear and doubt that had awakened me. He spoke to me through His Word and said, "Don't be afraid.... Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (2 Kings 6:16) I wanted to be closer to Him so I could hear more.

The king of Aram, Israels enemy, had sent a large company of his army to Dothan to capture Elisha, God's prophet. With these words, Elisha was assuring his young servant that he had nothing to fear. He then prayed that the servant could see the spiritual forces God had provided for the battle. God answered and the servant saw chariots and horses of fire all around Elisha.

Are you a servant of God? Do you have spiritual enemies that seek to defeat you? God is the same today as He was in Elisha's day. He will do battle for you. Just trust Him and obey Him.

"Lord, give your servants of this day spiritual eyes that we may see the great forces or our Lord doing battle in this day of doubt. Send a revival to your people. Provide these things that we might glorify you in our lives. Amen."

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Who Will Pray For Us? (Part 2)

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God. He tells us that there is a great struggle taking place, a battlefield for allegiance. Satan loses the souls of those who choose God through Jesus Christ. After that happens he seeks to destroy the joy of the Christian and the effectiveness of his Christian life on earth. Jesus gives us guidance that will help us to avoid the pitfalls of Satan in this battle. How are you doing? If you feel you are losing the battle, there is hope. It is found in the guidance of Jesus. Part of the guidance Jesus gives us has to do with our prayer life. Jesus starts with the words, "When you pray...."

The warning Jesus gives us has to do with HOW we do good things. He doesn't tell us not to do righteous things "before men," but we are warned not to do them "to be seen by men," if it be giving to the needy, fasting or, as we see here, prayer. He says, "Do not pray like the hypocrites," (Mt. 6:5), and "do not keep on babbling like the pagans." The hypocrites prayed to be seen. We should not have such a selfish motive. The "pagans" prayed thinking their repetition of words would get the attention of the gods. We should not be so ignorant.

Our prayer life is not rightly influenced by how it "appears" to others, or how it "sounds" to God. It is influenced only by our right relationship with the Heavenly Father. Even Christians
can appear like hypocrites and speak like pagans. God raises up people to pray for the great things of the kingdom as well as kingdom people. They are those who have spent time seeking and finding God in a right relationship. God is not flattered by our eloquence nor our wordiness. But He is moved by our communion with Him.

As we see the "evil day approaching," where the ministry and even the faithfulness, and sometimes the survival of God's people is truly dependent on our prayers, who will pray for us? Who will be prepared? Who will have spent the time in the "school of prayer" to be able to come before God with such familiarity and experienced expectation to pray for God's people? Powerful prayer is "time tested." It is based on faith that must grow. Have you noticed, rising up from deep inside you, an occasional longing for a real person of prayer to come into your life? Maybe He is calling you.

And He will say... "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven....'" (Mt. 6:9) Start a newer relationship with the Father today.

Who Will Pray For Us? (Part 1)

Christian have you noticed, rising up from deep inside you, an occasional longing for a real person of prayer to come into your life? Perhaps that longing comes as an intense interest in true prayer grows inside you. Or maybe you have appreciated the stories of great pray-ers like George Mueller, or "Praying" John Hyde, or E. M. Bounds. Maybe you have longed to relate with God in such a powerful way. Such desires come from the Holy Spirit. If you have had such longings, He has been talking to you.

God's great pray-ers are a unique group from todays average believer. These followers have learned the "work of waiting." They have learned to patiently seek the Father in heaven. They have learned to seek diligently through the scripture, waiting for it to release its truths that point the way. They have learned the discipline of carefully considering the presence of the Holy Spirit as they speak to the God of the throne.

Considering the number of professed believers today, very few have learned to pray in this "school of prayer." It isn't an easy school. It may be the most difficult endeavor you have ever undertaken. But a life without prayer is far more difficult.

Jesus promised, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:13-14, NIV)

Jesus invites you to know Him in such a way. It is here that life finds it's true purpose. In a day when true pray-ers seem so few and far between, and our own prayers seem to never leave the room, where is our hope? Who will pray for us? Jesus invites you to take the journey. He says, "When you pray, pray like this..." (Matthew 6:9ff).

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Why We Fail to Experience God

I paused today, and thought about something. I thought about the tragedy of going through life and walking past the ultimate experience God wants to have with me while I'm on this earth. Then I thought about all those I come into contact with in life. I thought how each of us could affect the other for the glory of God, if we experienced God as He offers Himself to us. Think of how your family, especially your children or closest loved-ones, would be affected. Think of the many lost friends and relatives who may see God as they, otherwise, never would, simply because you and I took the time to experience what God is already offering.

Jesus has opened the door for us. We may "boldly" approach God because of what Jesus has done for us. Every believer has received the Spirit of God. But to experience God in His fullness, we must walk in His Spirit. Much of the opportunity to know and understand God is lost because we do not take the time seek and accept the change needed for that experience. Here are some things to consider.

Our Mind: We need a new mind. We go through many unnecessary struggles because we are functioning with a mind that has not been changed by God. He will not force the change, but He will respond to our willingness to let Him change us. Romans 12:2b tells us we must initiate the process. " (through God) be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Becoming a Christian does not mean we suddenly have a renewed mind. It is a process and it is God who does the renewing.

Our Heart: A renewed mind is revealed in a new heart. That new heart becomes evident in the way we interact with God and with those around us... in the things we say and do. We begin to experience God in greater ways and in more areas of our lives. He begins to change everything, and we begin to experience a whole new life. The new heart becomes evident.

Our Lives: Our tendency, as immature believers, is that we want to hear God's instructions regarding our "job." Then we want to leave Him behind and go about doing the task He has given us, checking back with Him from time-to-time to see how we're doing. With a renewed mind, and the evidence of a new heart, we can find life as we have never imagined it. Regardless of our surrounding circumstances, we can find rest and peace in Him...day and night. We not only benefit from it, but others do as well. It is truly "supernatural" as God's presence is amazingly evident. "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (John 10:10, Amplified Bible) If He came for this reason, why don't we accept it?

We need to be "totally committed." Total commitment does not mean we never sin. But it does mean that with deal with sin properly when it happens. Total commitment means we have a constant, ongoing walk with God. We need to hear His guidance moment by moment. He is waiting.

The Problem With "Being Good"

Have you ever struggled with trying to be good enough to please God? Have you ever wondered if you are going to "make it to heaven?" The reason "living a good life" will not get us into heaven is that "being good" does not change our nature. Being "fit for the kingdom" requires a change of nature, something we cannot do on our own. We need a "spiritual nature." There are certain principles that the liar, Satan, wants to keep from you. It is important that we know the truth.

First, we don't make it to heaven because our "good deeds" outweigh our "bad deeds." It is important to remember that we can never "earn" our way to heaven. The bible makes that very clear. (Ephesians 2:8-9) At first that may cause a person to say, "Well, why even try?" But when we think it through we can see the hope. It will open up a whole new world for us. We need a change of nature, and being good will no more change our carnal nature into spiritual nature than teaching a parrot to talk will change it into a human.

Second, knowing we could not be His without a new nature, God sent Jesus to provide the new nature for us. It was the only way. The price that had to be paid had to measure up. For "eternal life" there had to be an eternal payment. No man could offer anything eternal. But Jesus could, and did. When He finished, essentially God said, "I accept Your payment for man's sin. Now whosoever will may come. I will give them a new nature fit for heaven." He didn't start it for us to finish. He "finished" it. (John 19:30)

Third, we are eternally secure. Since Jesus won our salvation through His faithfulness to God, those who accept Him are "given" to Jesus as His crown and reward. God will never take us away from Jesus. No sin can cause us to lose our salvation. Sin will cause us to lose our fellowship and oneness with God here on earth, but not our salvation. That is a permanent result of Jesus' work. Eternal means eternal. If you could lose it, it wouldn't have been eternal to begin with. Many of those who "leave the faith" were never part of it to begin with. (I John 2:19)

What freedom that brings. We are free from the struggle FOR salvation. And we are free to let God work, through the circumstances of life to become like Him. Accepting these truths opens our understanding of God's Word and brings new LIFE to life, a life of joy. "Being good" is no longer a chore...it is no longer a problem. Through Jesus it becomes truly possible.

Ask God to make you what He wants you to be. Give Him permission and He will do more than you can imagine. (Ephesians 2:10, Jeremiah 33:3)

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God Loves Those Who Have "Messed Up Their Lives"

Some people are pretty proud of themselves. They reflect on their "good lives" and think, "God must be quite proud of me. I'm better than most people in the world. I do more good than bad and if you compare me with most people I know, I would rank very high on the 'good scale.' My good 'definitely' outweighs the bad." There is danger with this attitude.

Then there are those of us who have made some serious blunders in life. We've messed up. And some of us are struggling, even now, to rise up out of it. We think, "How could God even LOOK at me, much less love me?"

The truth is that those of us who have recognized our "miserable failure," are closer to being right with God than those who are "secure in their goodness." The path to God (or back to God), MUST pass through the "valley of remorse and repentance."

God's love for us is never based on our goodness or accomplishment. His love is always the same, and that is greater than our capacity to comprehend. It is always through Christ. His response to us, in our "messed up" lives, is always a result of His love. He has made time for us to receive His forgiveness and help during this time of need. Without His help, we will still be without hope.

Those in desperate need and the greatest danger are those who trust in their own goodness. Because of false security they do not recognize the danger. (see Rev. 3:15-16) A "good" life without Christ is still "messed up."

"Today" is the day for you. Turn to the only hope. Start your journey today. God's Word will show you the way. "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:12, NIV)

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