Showing posts with label humility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humility. Show all posts

Thursday, March 27, 2025

THINK" SERIES: PART 11 - "WHATEVER IS NOBLE OR OF GOOD REPORT"

" Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things". (Philippians 4:8)

The world views "nobility" as royalty. The British royal family, or some European elites, are regarded as the "standard" in terms of class, wealth, and nobility. This is, of course, a product of centuries of class divisions, and in modern times, an obsession of the media and culture.

Nobility means something else to God. In our passage above from Philippians 4:8, the word "NOBLE" (or 'of good report') is an adjective with quite a punch. The original Biblical Greek is "euphémos". In this context, euphemos means of good report, reputable and praiseworthy (Strongs 2163).

If we look across the spectrum in public life, not many can fulfill the demands of these attributes. They are attributes. The original meaning of the English words found in this verse (Phil. 4:8) for "meditate or think on these things" imply action. The Biblical Greek word is "logizomai" which means reckon, conclude, decide, reason and more.....all verbs of action. We also get the word "logic" from this Bible word.

The Bible is not just true, inspiring, encouraging and more, but it inspires logic, thought, and positive action. I have a few friends who teach character development. One of them has made a living out of it, by developing an international ministry. Why is so much of the world, especially in certain areas of the United States, the Far East, and some developing countries, captivated by this concept of Nobility in thought, word, and deed?

Why? Because it is an attractive quality and leads only to good things - for families, churches, communities and business. People of Noble Character (which is the true meaning of GOOD REPORT) are:

- Pleasant to be around

- Dignified and courageous, yet as gentle as a lamb.

- Always willing to lend a helping hand of love, friendship and cheerful giving

- Genuinely generous with their time and resources

- Strong and humble. But do not mistake their humility and strength under control as a weakness. What they are exhibiting is the "meekness" which our Lord and Savior Jesus exhibited.

- Willing to mentor, share with, or instruct others in the paths which they can follow to become better-engaged and grounded children of God.

There are many more,  but these main qualities of Noble Character, inspired by Godly and a clean mind focused on making the main thing, the main thing, will not just glorify God through our actions, but they will serve to honor Him by showing His people as ones of people of truly "good report". 

As stated many times before, our actions are the results of our thoughts. Think on these pure and noble things, and we will stand before God and man, blameless and shining the Truth of His Gospel. Amen

Dear Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, help us to seal these truths in our minds: the Truths to the point where if any one of them is not yet second nature, that by the cleansing Blood of Jesus and the washing of Your Holy Word, each attributes or item listed in Philippians 4:8  will become to us, an integral part of our lives, in thought, word and deed, that we may glorify You and become living testimonies to the Glory of God, before God and man, in Jesus' Strong Name, amen.


Thursday, April 25, 2019

TOWARDS HOLINESS, PART 4: PRAYER POWERS PROCLAMATION

Whether one is a pastor, public speaker or professional "life-coach", there is one common denominator. The principle is this - no preparation, no power.

Not being a full time pastor, but a bi-vocational ministry leader for a couple decades now in area-wide men's ministry in Central Illinois, affords increasing opportunity to share the message of the Kingdom, in various venues (including secular ones).

Recently, the privilege to speak at my first Good Friday service was such a time. It demanded a level of preparation and prayer which has led me far into a place, I have never previously been. In reflection, it should have been the first stop. I was asked to speak on Statements 3 and 4 of the Seven Final Statements, which Christ delivered from the Cross. He made those statements just minutes before He paid the ultimate price for all sin, of all mankind, for all time.

For weeks, I struggled with how to present Statement 3 from the Cross, which can be found in John 19:26b-27: "“Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” That is, until days before I was to speak, I cried to Jesus and asked Him "Lord, these are Your Words....how do I present them at this service?"

As I sat outside the church in my car, half hour before the noon service, in tears, the enormity of what had occurred during Holy Week, how I got there and what it took was just too overwhelming. Operating within the confines of the Word and the Holy Spirit is not only empowering, but liberating at the same time. In essence, it drives us to even more distance between us and the foolishness of this current world. In practice, it moves us towards Holiness.

Several lessons were taught to me which can be universal, if observed by anyone who is called to inspire, encourage and/or move others to action in service of the Kingdom of God. In short, here they are:
     -  Jesus has all the answers! We may think that we are wise. We are nothing outside of Christ. It does not matter if you are "Reverend Dr. So and So", or a seminary dropout like me - without His Knowledge and Power, we can DO NOTHING!

     -  Humility is key. You can read all the Hebrew and Greek and google Bible passages on every topic under the sun. Until we realize that we are like the disciple in John 19:27 who was "volun-told" by Jesus "Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.", we are operating in pride.

    -  Put your own agenda to the side. One of the greatest speakers in America in 1863 was the former Secretary of State Edward Everett. On November 19, 1863, on the National Cemetery Dedication at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He spoke for 2 hours at this event. The very next speaker spoke for only 2 minutes.  That final speaker was President Abraham Lincoln, whose two-minute "Gettysburg Address" remains one of the greatest speeches in history.  We, who speak in the Name of Jesus, from the Bible, represent the King. We are commissioned, from Scripture, as His Ambassadors. We are not here to promote ourselves, our products or our performances. We are to proclaim the Savior and love His people, by encouraging them. Strangely, this sounds like the Two Greatest Commandments!

     -  Listen, then follow directions. The Holy Spirit is not just the Power of God living in the lives of authentic born-again disciples of Christ. He is God. When He speaks, we should listen. We all have ignored the prompting of the Spirit's leading too many times to count. When we do listen, however, the results are incredible. The key to listening is all of the above: Jesus, humility and putting Him first. All three items above reduce our tendency to operate in the flesh, to even sin and to remove obstacles which prevent the Spirit's free flow in us. When we ask a question in Prayer, He will respond 100% of the time. Then when we pay attention AND DO what He says, the fruit is immediately obvious. 

It is really this clear-cut. The simplicity and beauty of the Lord and the Kingdom, to which where ordinary men and women are fortunate to be blessed to be called, are not to be dismissed. This brief discourse may seem elementary and ho-hum or even trivial to the over-educated or the weak and non-believing, but yet, it remains the internal combustion which ignites great men of great power and preaching like D.L. Moody, Billy Graham, Luis Palau and Greg Laurie to lead countless millions in total, over a lifetime.

Do not neglect the basic road map to the exciting life in His Kingdom. This road map will surely direct our journey towards the life powered by prayer, to a place called "the realm of Holiness". Many will seek, few will find. Those who are wise, will shine.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER, PART 2 - OUR PRAYER LIFE

Most praying Christians may disagree with this statement. However, in order to have a truly fulfilling prayer life, one must next, in this process of Spiritual Growth, surrender that life to the Lord.

Why should we do that? There simple answer can actually be found in one little verse from Romans 8:26. Please note every word in this verse "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words".

The key words here for our discussion is directly from God, in context: 
     -  Weakness
     -  The Spirit helps us
     -  We do not know HOW to pray
     -  As we should
     -  The Spirit Himself intercedes for us

We may be the person who prays down heaven in the group prayer meeting at noon, or before church, or during a special prayer assembly.  But we are still mortal, weak and vulnerable to spiritual attacks humans who are completely dependent on Holy God, even if we do not wish to admit it. 

We may be in prayer ministry for 10-15-30-50 years, but we still must stay plugged into the Source and rely on Him. We must do this daily.

We may even write books on prayer, like I did, still - that means absolutely nothing if we are not, first acknowledging our weaknesses right now, and then surrendering to the Lord.

So what do we surrender? How do we surrender? Let us proceed to pray like this:
Father, in the Name of Jesus, I know I am a completely frail, weak and mortal creation, susceptible to the influences of world and noise around me, no matter how passive I may think it is. You said to concern ourselves about today, because today has its own evil. Help us to NOT gloss over that. Help us to not rely on the mountaintop prayer moments with you from the past. Help us not to jump ahead of today to the next thing down the road in the future, when the giant is in front of us right now. So Lord, I surrender, by that acknowledgement, my entire Prayer Life to You. I pray that Your Spirit - the Holy Spirit Who is God Himself - will not only assist me, guide me, direct me, protect me, but I pray that He shows me the way I should pray. Not in mindless repetition and chants like the pagans and the religious do, but in a humble, surrendered spirit, which confirms that You are my Helper, my Advocate and my all in all. I willingly give my prayer life to be directed ONLY by You now, in the Mighty and Strong Name of King Jesus, amen.

This prayer, or a similar one, doubles back to Romans 8:26. A winning strategy, for a successful prayer life, is one which blossoms out of a surrendered humble heart. Building on Praise and Scripture, this foundation can only grow us closer to the Lord, in the way which He would have us approach Him. If you add prayer and fasting unto this, on a regular basis, the resulting life of true Christian Faith, is one full of peace, joy and fulfillment in the Lord.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

SERIES ON PRAYER: BE HUMBLE IN PRAYER

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’  But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”(Luke 18:9-14)

Jesus was the best teacher on Prayer, both by His example and His first hand illustrations. Right off the bat, we know one significant characteristic of the Messiah from the Apostle Paul, which the early Christians would be grounded in. Consider these two things about Christ:
1. Philippians 2:5-8 "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross".
2.  Hebrews 5:8 "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered".

Look at the words, above, in BOLD RED. Jesus was the Essence of Humility. He was the Humble Savior Who lived the way He wants all His disciples to live - then and now.  He is the fulfillment of all Scripture, which proclaims everywhere that God resists the proud but gives Grace to the Humble. He even fulfilled Micah 6:8 and walked HUMBLY before His God -Who was/is His Father.

Knowing how Jesus, the Son of God was and is, the God of Heaven will only respond to prayers offered and requested with a humble heart. There is no room in the Heavenly Realm for pride and selfishness. The great author and pastor of the 19th Century, E.M. Bounds wrote the following about humility in prayer, which will provide emphasis and explanation to this most important attribute :
      Humility is born by looking at God, and His holiness, and then looking at self and man's unholiness. Humility loves obscurity and silence, dreads applause, esteems the virtues of others, excuses their faults with mildness, easily pardons injuries, fears contempt less and less, and sees baseness and falsehood in pride.
      Humility holds in its keeping the very life of prayer. Neither pride nor vanity can pray. Humility, though, is much more than the absence of vanity and pride. It is a positive quality, a substantial force, which energizes prayer. There is no power in prayer to ascend without it. Humility springs from a lowly estimate of ourselves and of our deservings. (EM Bounds)

What about you and I? How do we approach the Lord? We have been thought a formula to prayer over the years. This is the ACTS formula (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). This is perfect for our discipline in prayer. However, it must never become so automatic that it is routine liturgy.

We must remember that we cannot fool God, so there is a need to approach Him the very first thing in the morning with Thanksgiving, that we are even alive...and can wake up, get off the bed and get going.  This very fact should activate instant humility in us that we can ready ourselves to first, read the Scriptures, and then pray, before leaving home. This assumes we have ordered time to do this. Windshield Prayer time is fantastic and many of us have done decades of this, but there is nothing like early morning fellowship with God.


It is a very worthwhile thing to reread the words of EM Bounds above (in italics), to grasp why we must truly remain humble and submitted and committed to Christ. May this be embedded in our spirit, not only today, but every day from now on. We don't have to sit in the dust and pour hot ashes and coal dust over our heads, while dressed in onion sacks. But we do have to come to the Lord with a lowly heart. We can and SHOULD always live this way!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

"KNEE-MAIL"..... ENERGIZING PRAYER STARTS WITH HUMILITY

(JESUS)... in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear. (Hebrews 5:7)
Now think about this for a second - the Ancient of Days, Whose goings are from long ago (Micah 5:2), is offering up prayers and supplications. The Oxford Dictionary defines Supplication as "the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly".

Now, double down on this - Jesus Christ - Yahweh, Who actually created all the Heavens and the Earth and everything on them, is pleading with humility to the Second Person of the Holy Trinity - our Father Who art in Heaven. File this at the top of the Holy Stack.

Then the very Savior of the World, Who gave up His very Throne in Heaven to come down and live as a mere man. The very Savior Who speaks and the winds obey. The very Savior Who commands a fig tree to wither and it shrinks from His presence. This very God, the Great I am, is crying literal tears and crying out loud. The vehement prayers and pleadings indicate a passion and intensity which we can come close to replicating.....if we pray to the Father, as the Son showed us here!

Jesus not only showed us WHAT and HOW we should pray in the Lord's Prayer. In Hebrews 5:7 (above), He gave us the example of the proper attitude for the man, woman and child of God with which we should approach our kind, gracious, wonderful heavenly Father. This attitude of humility is more than significant, it is the very essence of our foundational understanding of just Who God is.

Therefore, here is the kicker. We know, from the testimony and teachings of the Holy Spirit, God is pure, sinless and self-existent. He was always God. Before Abraham was, "I Am". There was never a time in eternity past, when Father and Son - Elohim and Yahweh - never existed. YET JESUS HIMSELF, CO-EQUAL WITH THE FATHER, HAD GODLY FEAR!!


It says so in the God-breathed inspired verse above. The Prayers of Yahweh, called Yeshua (Jesus) in the Hebrew language since He saves His people from their sins, feared God! How could God fear God? This is an obvious truth. Remember just who Jesus was when He was praying, pleading and passionately calling out to His Father as recorded here. He was God Who became mortal. He did not release His Diety in becoming such a mortal. He just chose to set it aside for 33 years. However, He did know Who He was!

He was also wise! The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom! Solomon, whom God called the wisest man on earth, never had a fraction of the wisdom of Jesus. For most of his life, Solomon disrespected and dishonored God until he returned to his senses in the Book of Ecclesiastes.  Jesus never was like that because He, the God/Man, knew the fearsome, awesome Power of the Father Whose Glory will not be denied. He knew it FOREVER! So the Creator himself, respected and showed the proper reverence in prayer.

Here is also what this great verse tells us: Christ was heard because of His godly fear! Because He pleaded and cried out to the Father in all humility with reverence, respect, honor and humility - Jesus' prayers were heard....and so can ours.

They can be heard because the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead on Resurrection morning, lives in us. The same Holy Spirit Who is given to EVERY believer from every part of this world, at the point of conversion to a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, has the same power to release power prayers like Jesus did throughout His entire time here on the earth, 2000 years ago.

All we have to do release that power in prayer and energize our prayer lives, is to follow His pattern. It could not be any more clear. For our "knee-mail" to be read in Heaven, after we click SEND- we MUST have the same and proper FEAR of the LORD which comes from a spirit of humility and which will them configure our thinking and attitudes into the mindset we need. It is this mindset which reaches the Throne Room, in Jesus' Name. It is this mindset which will then cause our prayer offering to rise up like a bowl of fragrant incense before our Father, Who art in Heaven. Amen

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

PRAY FOR.....PERSISTENCE

Jesus said that we, Christians, should pray to the Father “In My Name” is so much that whatever we asked, will be granted unto us.  He also said, we have not because we ask not. Prayer is the only means by which we can communicate with our great God in Heaven and the Savior. We are doubly blessed among all people in that our Savior – Jesus Christ – also intercedes for us. Now, wrap your mind around that for a second: the Creator of untold galaxies; the human body and everything that lives and breathes – prays for us! (Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them - Hebrews 7:25).

One of the most important qualities the Messiah imputed and embedded in us, is the ability to persist, press on, press forward and stay glued to Him, in prayer. Notice, He gave us the ability. For some reason, most do not access this part of the spiritual brain, choosing instead to let others pray for them when the chips are down.  But we should – God has not given us a spirit of fear but the ability to defeat it and conquer through prayer. He does want us to persist in our prayer and worship life – DAILY.

Jesus gave us an example of persistence here in Luke 18:1-5: “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

So how does this look, on the ground –where the rubber meets the road? How do we persist in prayer when we, as a people,  hardly ever pray because of culture, wealth or  whatever?  From personal experience,  Persistence in Prayer begins with Fasting.  Jesus did not do away with Fasting in the New Testament and in fact, in His Great Sermon on the Mount,  He explained Fasting as a given (i.e. “When you fast”  …three times - click link here to read ).  He also rebuked His own disciples who were unable to cast the demon out of a man’s son in Mark telling them that this type of divine victory can only be accomplished by fasting!

But what does fasting have to do with anything? In essence, it reminds me of discipleship on steroids. Jesus told us that unless we are willing to take up our Cross and follow Him (i.e. deny ourselves and our worldly desires) we cannot be His disciples. Fasting is a proactive step in denying our physical wants and needs for a day or two per month, or for as long as you wish. It is saying, in our spirits to the Lord,  “Lord, I desire You more than that sirloin steak or chocolate ice cream after a cheese burger. Lord, I want to put aside the desires of the flesh today, so I can pursue a closer walk with You, in spirit and in truth….a closer walk which will set me on a path in the pursuit of a more powerful prayer life. Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief and help me to press on and press in and forge ahead, just like the woman and the unjust judge in Your Parable, in Jesus’ Name amen”.

The Lord will not despise such a prayer, such an action or such longing for holiness even if we are new at this process of Fasting. Some may say they are medically unable to go without food for more than 4 hours etc. This is fine. Consult a doctor and see if a vegetable diet once a week will harm you. I use vegetable broth which is found in small containers in the organic aisle of the local grocery store. Nothing fancy.  The main idea is to give up something of earthly value, then to come to the Lord humbly with a repentant heart, and your bible, then to sit, pray, persist and worship and press on in His Presence.

Persistence in Prayer is very important if you and I are the only ones praying for a certain matter, concerning another person,  issue or condition. We stick with it and travail along in prayer until the Holy Spirit sends Word from heaven that we can stop praying now for this or that person or issue, because the answer is at hand.  We never let go until such time. However, this point is never attained to, unless we first understand the starting point – coming to the Throne of Grace completely in pursuit of His Presence and Power in our Prayer.
Amen

Therefore Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, I surrender myself at the Altar of Christ to be taught by You, just how I can lay a hold of what You have already pre-destined for me.  I desire knowing all there is about You and the Lord Jesus Christ and I pray for release from my bondage of self, sin and smugness so I can humbly yet boldly see You through prayer and fasting and supplication. Lord, please strengthen my ability to first start on the path to persistent and travailing prayer and to stay that course, no matter what the distractions and disappointments in life.  Lord, I pray  You take the focus of my heart, mind body and soul away from the mundane things of life this very day, and reorient me into the foundation of Prayer, so that I may flow naturally into the stream of sweet fellowship with You, according to Thy Will and Thy Purpose, in Jesus’ Name amen.

Friday, June 10, 2016

THE PRAYER OF MOSES, PART 1


 Psalm 90 verse 1“You have been our dwelling place in all generations”.
Moses the most humble man on the world here in Numbers 12:3 "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth". It is my humble opinion that this statement still stands over 3500 years later because there is no one alive today who fits this description....or can come close to the Face to face relationship the great prophet Moses had with the Lord Yahweh!

Many in the Bible, and now - from personal experiences - have had brief life-changing encounters with the great God of Heaven, but Moses was different. Jesus met so many times with Moses in the Tabernacle and for those extended periods on Mt. Sinai where He not only instructed Moses, but gave him the Law and the direction to lead his people to the point where Joshua could cross them into the Promised Land.


As great and humble as He was, God never forgave the last big sin Moses committed- pride in striking the Rock when he was told specifically to speak to the Rock (which was Christ). This is a perfect example of the extremely high standard God has for those who are His leaders- then AND now!

To understand the final recorded prayer of Moses, please grasp the full meaning of what he actually did! Yahweh, through the Holy Spirit, had Moses physically write down the ENTIRE first five books of the Bible – the Torah/Pentateuch. These greatest ever writings include the COMPLETE revealed knowledge of human history for its very beginning!! Moses was and is the only person in the entire history of mankind, who KNOWS what happened at Creation and in those early days. While he was not there at the moment of Creation, Moses heard it  directly from the One Who actually created the earth- Jesus! No matter how many big named preachers who ever lived preach or no matter how many times we read the Bible cover to cover, we will  never have the original intent and insight that Moses had because of this – never in this world!

Therefore, when Moses writes in verse 1“You have been our dwelling place in all generations, he is speaking from the position of Authority of one who spent more than 40 years in the Sinai desert.

As Christians, we are not in the Heavenly Realm as yet, since the plans and purposes of God are still in place, until the completion of time. What the Holy Spirit is saying through Moses’ prayer is that just as He – God – was within a breath and a prayer’s reach of Moses at all times after he was called at the Burning Bush, He (the Spirit and Person of Yahweh) is there for us as well!  This is SOP – Standard Operating Procedure – for ALL the people of God who have put their Faith and Trust in Him from Adam and Enoch to the last person under the wire before Jesus shuts it down for good! This is for ALL Generations – Old AND New Testament saints, Jew, Gentile and every configuration in between.

God Himself provides the proof in the very next Psalm – Psalm 91:1  where He says “He who dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High, shall ABIDE (dwell, live, set up camp, settle down) in the shadow of the Almighty”.

How can a person dwell and live in God, when he or she currently lives among the most disgustingly corrupt times in all humanity – by Faith! By Faith!  Read John 15:1-11 and marvel and love and be blessed by the Savior – Jesus Christ/Yahweh – who said in Verse 7 “If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done”.

This is the good, kind, loving, and wonderful merciful Savior, Savior Redeemer and friend who rescued the souls of all who seek to follow Him, love Him, obey Him…..and turn from all sin, repent and trust/obey/accept Him as Lord of all. 

Moses knew this Jesus personally and relationally. Hebrews 11:26 tells us that Moses “esteemed (held high and dear to his soul) the Reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward”! How did Moses know Jesus Christ 1500 years before He was born in Bethlehem Ephratah in a cold damp cave? Moses knew Him from the Burning Bush, the Mountain, the Pillar of Cloud, the Pillar of Fire, Face to face, in the Tabernacle and in the Voice of the Spirit dictating the Oracles of God. We, who are called by the Name of the King – Christians – have no idea who fortunate and blessed beyond measure we are heirs to the Kingdom of Yahweh, the same Jesus Who walked and talked with Moses!. Meditate upon this, and fall on your knees in gratitude. 

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE SERIES: THE BOOK OF EXODUS #2

....OF HUMILITY & GRATITUDE
The man Moses is an incredible human being. Contemplate, for a while, just who Moses really is. He was the Prince of Egypt, placed in that position by the Hand of God, second in command in the most powerful country on earth (at the time). Yet within a few years, he is a wanted fugitive in the hot burning deserts of Midian. There he becomes a shepherd from age 40 until he is age 80, and raises a family. He is married to the beautiful daughter of the high priest of Midian, Reuel (Jethro) – a descendant of Abraham’s second wife after Sarah died. Then one day he is chasing one of his sheep up a mountain and Jesus Christ (Yahweh, I Am Who I Am) appears to Moses in a burning bush and all history is changed. 
From the face to Face encounter with Jesus, Moses goes through the Ten Plaques; the Passover; the Exodus; the Parting of the Red Sea; the Manna from Heaven; Gushing water from a Rock; the Ten Commandments and so much more! The people had seen the victories against the Amalekites when Moses arms were raised, and the defeats when his arms got tired and fell to his sides. Miracle after miracle – clothes and shoes which did not wear out for forty years. No illnesses that required medical attention.  The bronze serpent which drove away the snakes when they looked upon it…and so much more.  
After witnessing some of the miracles, immediately after crossing the Red Sea , and having beheld the Mighty Hand of God, Moses composed this song and prayer of praise which should be an example for us, when WE consider His Majesty, His Might and His Magnificent Manner of dealing with us. Prayers do not always have to be about serious tough issues (surgery, tragedy or depression etc.) Sometimes the Lord is pleased when we just pray to Him via the means of lifting up our praises to Him. We did not have to go through all the hardship and extravagant one time major events of the oceans parting for us, but all of us have come of our own personal "Egypts". We were all delivered from the bondage and slavery of sin and crossed over, on “dry land” to the other side. We crossed over from death and darkness to eternal life and light when we were born again into Salvation through the Sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Christ parted that previously uncrossable sea for all mankind, for all time, at the Cross where He paid our sin debt IN FULL!
In this way, therefore, let us adopt the prayerful and worshipful Song of Moses, to be our own, our song of Gratitude as to what the Lord has done for us.
MOSES PRAYER OF PRAISE:
Exodus 15:1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:
         OUR GOD FIGHTS FOR US!
“I will sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
The Lord is a man of war;
The Lord is His name.
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
The depths have covered them;
They sank to the bottom like a stone.
“Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power;
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
And in the greatness of Your excellence
You have overthrown those who rose against You;
You sent forth Your wrath;
It consumed them like stubble.
And with the blast of Your nostrils
The waters were gathered together;
The floods stood upright like a heap;
The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, ‘I will pursue,
I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied on them.
I will draw my sword,
My hand shall destroy them.’
10 You blew with Your wind,
The sea covered them;
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
PRAISE AND GLORY TO HIS NAME!
11 “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
12 You stretched out Your right hand;
The earth swallowed them.
13 You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To Your holy habitation.
PROCLAIM THE NAME OF THE LORD!
14 “The people will hear and be afraid;
Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;
The mighty men of Moab,
Trembling will take hold of them;
All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.
16 Fear and dread will fall on them;
By the greatness of Your arm
They will be as still as a stone,
Till Your people pass over, O Lord,
Till the people pass over
Whom You have purchased.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
In the mountain of Your inheritance,
In the place, O Lordwhich You have made
For Your own dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.
 
"The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”(verse 18) Amen

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE SERIES: THE BOOK OF GENESIS #5

 HUMILITY PRECEDES GRACE
18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” (Genesis 17:18)
This is the prayer of a man, who may have not heard clearly what God has said to him about an heir. In the previous verses of Genesis chapter 17, God had said emphatically two verses earlier that He was going to give Sarah - Abraham's legitimate wife - a child who will be the latter's true heir.

We all know, in review, that the son Abraham prayed to God for blessing for (above) - Ishmael -was not from the one whom God had designated. Ishmael's mother, Hagar, was the pawn in a disastrous scheme by Sarah which Abraham could have said "no way" to. When he agreed to have a child by proxy with his wife's maiden, knowingly, he committed an error which still plagues the world more and more today as we witness all over the Middle East.

Like Adam, Abraham listened to his wife instead of God. Both men made fatal errors which God still papered over for them and blessed them indeed for generations. Adam forsook permanent blessings and face to Face fellowship with the pre-incarnate Jesus. Abraham sowed the seeds of thousands of years of conflict.

However Adam had great descendants like Enoch, Methuselah and Noah. Abraham had a great line of heroes of the Faith like Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel and David. We know Scripture is written as the model for us to live (or not to), so making mistakes at the critical time of testing - while gamechangers - is not the end of the story.

God went on to promise to take care of Ishmael. He sai

d in verse 20 "As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly". But our Heavenly Father did re-emphasize that HIS Covenant and Promise for the Son of the Promise - Isaac.

There is a huge lesson for us in this prayer because each and everyone of us have prayed for some kind of resolution of a problem WE have created and for God to help us find a way out.  We sin knowingly, or get blindsided because we are not where God instructed us to be and then get stuck with the consequences of our actions. This truth covers just about every area of life, you and I can fathom. How we resolve it is how Abraham did here.

Go back to Genesis 17:3 "Abram (Abraham) fell on his face and God talked to him". This is the action point in our prayer life - full surrender, in humility and with the knowledge that we are completely, totally and fully at His mercy, grace, compassion and longsuffering. Not just that, we are absolutely dependent on Him for everything in life, not just for ourselves but for those with whom we are entrusted to care for. The sooner we come to terms with this, we will know how to pray more effectively for our shortcomings to be dealt with.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

PRIDE AND THE FALL OF SATAN, PART 1: "I WILL"

There has never been a time where pride, ego and self-aggrandizement combined with social gospel -which has nothing to do the real Gospel, have all come together to confuse even some of the faithful. This has always been the intention of the Evil One, who was created along with the main angels of God - led by Gabriel and Michael - yet fell from his lofty perch as worship leader in the Heavenlies when he thought he was more important than God.

We read about this incident in Isaiah 14:12-15 where God Himself, through the Holy Spirit inspiring Isaiah to write, revealed exactly how Lucifer (Satan) fell from grace to the detriment of him, one third of the angels and all created mankind. We read here thus:
How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!


For you have said in your heart:
I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit"

The five "I Wills" (highlighted in BOLD above) shows the pride and self-importance of the being now known as Satan which has billions from creation and billions now and until the end of time, to end up in eternal destruction in a place called hell. If that is too strong, try this one: "Eternal Seperation from God". Lucifer used his high position as the worship leader in Heaven or "son of the morning" and his freedom to be his own personality, yet under the final Authority of God, to promote his own agenda. Since then, he has been spreading lies, deception and worse and contributed 100% to the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden as recorded in Genesis Chapter 3. So how do we avoid that "fall" today? How do we, in the land of the living, go from "I will" to "Thy will"?
Tomorrow: "Humility"

Monday, January 5, 2015

THIRTY ONE DAYS OF PRAYER AND THE WORD:JANUARY 1-31, 2015 THEME: "ABIDE"

DAY FIVE:
VERSE:
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving....
(Colossians 2:6-7)
PRAYER:
Oh Most High God and Ruler of the Universe, You are not a God Who created and left us to our own devices but "walked with Adam" daily, in the beginning, until he sinned and walked away from you. You told Abraham to "walk before" You and be blameless (Genesis 17:1) and everyone of Your faithful generals walked before, along and then behind Your leadership. Father, Your requirement is laid out for us in Micah 6:8 "....what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? 

It is our fervent wish to be resolved, as Your servant Jonathan Edwards once did, to walk with You in that way. Oh that we would have the testimony of Enoch of whom it is written twice that he walked with you and then You "raptured" him Home. All Your faithful servants of old, from the prophets to the warriors like Joshua and David to the Apostles walked the sacrificial walk with You as they would a friend.

But Lord, You oh God, You are more than a friend. You are the God of all salvation, all truth, all majesty and all power, and we worship, adore, magnify, glorify and lift up the Name above all names, we lift up the blood-stained banner of Jesus Christ as warriors of the Cross and we loudly proclaim, from the mountaintop that Jesus Christ IS LORD and there is no other. Hallelujah to the Lamb!

Lord, give us this day the power and perseverance, as adopted sons and daughters and friends of God, to walk with You - not ahead of You, not way behind You, but WITH YOU. We know, oh God, why You told us to "walk humbly WITH" You and not all the other things.  It is because we need to recognize that the humble Savior Whose meekness in tribulation was our example, has called us to His Walk, when He ministered almost 2000 years ago. It is in humility we silence our noisy pride and self-righteousness and is in surrender we become empowered and strong in You, so much so to the point that if it were possible, post-flood, we would be able to walk 300 years with you as Enoch did!

Thank You, dear Abba Father, that we even had the opportunity to RECEIVE Christ as Colossians 2:6 says, which prequalifies us to be able to even be on that path with You! This act of Salvation, through the Spirit's regeneration and not some mindless repetition of a cheap evangelist, reminds us to also "be still and KNOW that You are God" - the ultimate act of obedience through humility. 

Thank You, most Gracious Father for this teaching that our stillness is not weakness about a proactive dwelling in Your Presence knowing that You have all our situations, troubles, cares, tears and fears under control.


Thank You, most Sovereign Lord, for the gift of Faith, with which we are indwelled and constantly maturing in, so that we can recognize the Hands and Handiwork of God weaving the narrow path through which we should walk with You. I do so with abundant and joyful thanksgiving in my heart, through Jesus Christ, our soon-coming King. Amen.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

777 - SEVEN DAYS OF PRAYER (JULY 1-7, 2014)

DAY 6 (JULY 6, 2014):

TODAY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL FASTING?
TOMORROW (DAY 7 - RESTORATION)
As all students of Scripture know, Fasting is a biblical discipline, recognized in both Old and Testaments.  The old Bible heroes - from Moses, to Daniel to Ezra the Scribe to the Messiah Jesus Himself - fasted. Daniel fasted from the corrupt food of the pagans to show himself approved of the Lord. Though he ate a diet full of vegetables and water, the Lord allowed him to gain weight (for this purpose only). 

Ezra, the spiritual leader of the Return from the Babylonian Exile, found that things were needed to correct the direction his people were going in and he said in Ezra 8:21 "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods." We see a specific reason for his corporate fast in this verse and it should serve as the guiding post for us, on this day as we prepare to fast across America and the world for Seven (7) hours on July 7, 2014 or 7/7/14.


Here is why Ezra proclaimed his fast for the returning Hebrews (from Ezra 8:21):
- To seek a safe journey for the people and their possessions
- To seek the protection of God rather than that of man (read verse 22 here)-
- To show his humility.

This is a solid reason to fast. Christians today are under increasing bondage and persecution around the world and here at home in the US. Now is the time to humble ourselves and seek God's Hand of Protection rather than the promises of politicians, and quite frankly - even those of the majority of preachers. Fasting is the best first step in humility before the Lord as by doing so, we are willingly telling Him we love Him more than that meal(s) or thing or distraction which sometimes put Him in second place in our daily lives.

Fasting is for our benefit because it is by fasting, after we have temporarily surrendered that portion of our lives which we love the most, we are then reprogrammed to be tuned into the high frequency transmission from Heaven. In my own life, I know that Fasting has brought revelation of Spiritual things and events, which I do not speak about publicly. Fasting brings healing from past hurts.
Fasting brings restoration of our relationship with God, through Christ, as fasting also brings Repentance to the fore, more prominently that in normal times. The reason for this is Fasting lays our spiritual condition bare, so that the Holy Spirit now has free and unfettered access to minister to us, in correction and revelation, BECAUSE we are now open to the discipline and direction of the Lord.

So how does one fast when you have never done so and how do we answer folks who said "the Bible never told me to fast"..."that was old Testament" etc. Well, Jesus did say “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:16-18).

Therefore, the first thing we do in fasting is not to post in on Facebook and Twitter or boast to your friends. 
The second thing is - clean up - physically and if you need to, throw out all questionable books, movies, music etc from your home. 
Third - prepare to meet the Lord in a special way, but anointing your own head with oil, as some of us do and then begin praise and worship and preferably - getting on your face for as long as it takes or as long as you can. Then pray the Scriptures back to Abba Father.

Father in the Strong Name of Jesus I thank You for the discipline of Fasting, which though not commanded in the Law and the Book of the Law, is necessary for Your people to get even closer to you than before! I thank You that You have strengthened us in the inner man to be able to turn aside from the ways and wiles of the world to the Wonder and Wisdom of Jesus Christ 

Lord, when we think of Jesus in the Wilderness being tempted by the evil one and going without for forty days and nights...when we think of Moses on Sinai getting the Law from You for those long periods of time, we realize that You are our Bread, You are our Life, You are our Food. There is no other. This body may need sustenance in the natural, but in the Supernatural, all we need is You!

Father, as we fast together for 7 hours on 7/7/2014, may our prayers of repentance and pleas of Restoration for first,  our fellow Christians worldwide and secondly, our country, rise up to You as an aroma, pleasing to the Lord. Help us to prepare our hearts, minds, bodies and souls for a powerful divine encounter that we may be empowered to then proceed and do the Work of the Kingdom, with urgency and power, in Jesus' Strong and Holy Name, amen.