FAVOUR

OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

2012-01-26T20:14:00.001+01:00

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" - (2 Cor 9:8).

Have you ever been given an assignment at work that was beyond your perceived ability? Read Os Hillman testimony; When I was in my late twenties I made a career change which necessitated a job change. I decided to apply for a job that involved selling advertising on golf score cards. Usually this meant going into small towns and making sales calls to small business owners in that community. Not an easy job for a rookie in his first sales job.
At first the two non-Christian owners refused to hire me because my answers to their questions led to me discussing my faith in Christ. They felt I should be in the ministry, not sales. However, they reluctantly decided to take a chance on me and sent me to small towns in Kentucky to sell golf scorecards in the middle of winter. Little did I know that they were trying to set me up for failure and did not think I had any chance of success.
I got into my Volkswagen bus and headed for the hills of Kentucky. As I took on my new job I told the Lord I was not qualified for this and He would have to help me to be successful. After a week of selling and sleeping in my car at night, I returned with a full inventory of sales from several cities. When I walked into the office and met with the owners, they looked at me with total surprise. They could not believe I had been successful. I would go on to work two years at this company, become an executive with them, and play a key role in leading one of the partners to Christ.
Do you have a major challenge in your work life? Ask God to help you be successful in your assignment. God delights in showing His children His power so you can abound in your good work.

GREEK VS HEBRAIC

2012-01-25T19:19:00.001+01:00

"I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a warrior's sword" - (Zech 9:13).

In the early church there was an emphasis on developing a heart toward God. This was the Hebraic way. The scriptures were not accessible like they are for us. So, the relationship with God was the key focus. God related to his people on a personal and intimate level. And obedience was the key to a healthy relationship with God. Decisions were not made based on reason and analysis, but by obedience. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. 111:10).
This is why many of the miracles performed in the Bible went against natural reason, (i.e. feeding five thousand, crossing the Red Sea, retrieving a coin from a fish's mouth, walking around Jericho to win a battle, etc.) God constantly wanted to check the leader's obedience, not his knowledge. Knowledge and reason came into the early Church with the Greek scholars in subsequent centuries. This is when the church began to affirm oratory skills among Church leaders. Gradually, over many centuries the focus on knowledge and reason has become more accepted in the Church.
Loss of intimacy with God has been the fallout as a result of the influence of the Greek spirit. The primary focus has been teaching and discipleship instead of the development of a personal and intimate relationship with God. This has resulted in a form of religion, but one without power.
In the early church, the rabbi was there primarily for quality control, not as the primary teacher and speaker. He did not even address the people from an elevated platform. The whole congregation was in a more circular format, each sharing what they believed God was saying. The focus was on the power of God working through each individual, not one individual (1 Cor. 14:26).
Is your focus on gaining more knowledge or growing in intimacy and power with Jesus? He desires to know you intimately.

NO MORE REPROACH

2012-01-23T11:28:00.001+01:00

..."Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you".... - Joshua 5:9

Joshua and the people had just crossed the Jordan River. They were camped at Gilgal. But before they could proceed they were required to circumcise all the males, because a whole new generation had grown up while living in the desert. This is where Israel, like a worm in a cocoon, was transformed. Circumcision is bloody, personal, and it exposes all that you are. God was saying that before you can become His army, you must roll away the reproach of the Egyptian way of life. You are no longer a slave to the ways of Egypt. It is a time to put aside the old way of life. Many are walking around as goats in sheep's clothes, practicing a form of religion without the true source of truth and power.
Sin in our midst testifies against us. It keeps us in Egypt and never allows us to enter the Promised Land. Our lives must be circumcised in order for us to come out of Egypt into our own Promised Land of spiritual blessing with God. This transformation marks the first time Israel begins to taste the fruit of the Promised Land. No more manna from Heaven. The manna stopped the day after they were circumcised. There was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate produce from Canaan.
God is turning our plowshares into weapons of love to usher in a new generation of workplace warriors. But we will not be effective if we have the reproach of sin in our lives. Ask God to show you what needs to be confessed this day so that no reproach exists. The cross of Jesus takes away all reproaches. Enter the Promised Land with power.

GOD'S CHOSEN FEW

2012-01-21T16:42:00.002+01:00

"But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them
in their affliction." - Job 36:15

He was born with cerebral palsy in South Africa. He barely survived his
birth. He did not walk until he was four years old. One leg was longer
than the other and he could not speak well. For most of his life, his
hands shook and he had little control over them. Feelings of rejection
and bitterness at his plight were common occurrences during his
growing-up years. During his school years, he was chastised by kids and
generally rejected by society.
At age 17, his father felt led to take his son to a healing service.
That night, the young boy's leg divinely grew two inches. He no longer
walked with a limp. Bradley met the Savior and began to grow in his
intimacy with Him. God began to speak to him and show him things. Prayer
became his source of comfort and strength. God gave him insights about
people and situations, bringing blessing to all who encountered him.
Today, this young man travels around the world as an internationally
known intercessor and founder of a school of intercessory prayer.
Literally hundreds of hours of knowledge about the way God speaks to His
children have been birthed in and through this young man.
One evening Bradley walked forward in a meeting of about 40 workplace
believers and handed a note to the leader during a Christian business
conference. The note was for someone in the room, but Bradley did not
know whom it was for. It was the last day of a 40-day fast for this
writer. The message gave a specific description of what I had been
experiencing the two years leading up to that night. Nobody would have
known such details. I knew it was for me. It was a miraculous "telegram
from God" that provided confirmation and encouragement of where God was
taking me. God used one broken man to speak to another broken man.
God's ways are not our ways. His preparation of His warriors seems cruel
and hurtful at times. His ways are much higher than ours. Trust the God
of the universe that He can orchestrate the events of your life when
they seem the darkest.

WORKING WHOLEHEARTEDLY

2012-01-19T19:10:00.000+01:00

"In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in
obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked
wholeheartedly. And so he prospered." - 2 Chronicles 31:21

Hezekiah was a godly king. He was also a very talented businessman and
builder. He was responsible for many noteworthy projects that are
described in detail in the Old Testament. We discover from the passage
above that King Hezekiah had two major attributes that contributed to
his success and prosperity: He sought God, and he worked wholeheartedly
upholding God's laws.
Godly success involves a partnership between you and God. Success in
God's economy means achieving the purpose for which God made you. That
purpose can never be discovered without seeking Him with a whole heart.
You may achieve great things without seeking God, but you will never
achieve the things God set out for you to achieve without seeking Him.
Unless you seek Him, you may find yourself one day climbing to the top
of the ladder only to find it leaning against the wrong wall.
What does it mean to seek God? It means creating time to sit before His
throne in quiet places. It means reading His Word in order to know Him
more intimately. It means developing an ear to hear His voice so that we
know when to turn to the right or to the left. God desires to know you.
Are you willing to take the time to know Him? If so, you can be sure He
will guide you into those things that will bring success to every aspect
of your life.

WRESTLING WITH GOD

2012-01-09T19:16:00.000+01:00

"The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because
of his hip." - Genesis 32:31

Jacob was a man who was a controller. He connived and manipulated his
way to get what he wanted. It was a generational stronghold passed down
through his mother, who encouraged her son to play a trick on his
father, Isaac, by pretending to be Esau. This trick led Isaac to give
the family blessing to Jacob, which meant Jacob would eventually inherit
the land God had promised to Abraham's seed. Jacob also learned control
from his uncle Laban who caused Jacob to work for 14 years to take
Rachel as his lifelong mate. One must ask which was more ugly in God's
sight, the self-centered nature and worldliness of Esau, or the control
and manipulation of Jacob?
Control is a problem for men and women. Many women use sex to control
their husbands. Many men use power and force to control their wives.
Control is at the core of that which is opposite the cross-self-rule.
What delivers us from this fleshly nature of control? A crisis. Jacob's
crisis came when he was faced with the prospect of meeting a brother who
said he would kill him the next time he saw him. Esau had built his own
clan and was about to meet Jacob and his clan in the middle of the
desert. Jacob was fearful, so he retreated. There he met a messenger
from God who wrestled with him. Jacob clung to God and refused to let go
of this angel. It is the place where Jacob was given a painful but
necessary spiritual heart transplant. From that point on, Jacob would
walk with a limp, because God had to dislocate his hip in order to
overcome Jacob's strong will.
For workplace believers, God often has to "dislocate our hip" through
failure and disappointment. Sometimes it is the only way He can get our
attention. Our nature to control and manipulate is so strong that it
takes a catastrophic event to wake us up. Yet God did not reject Jacob
for these character traits. In fact, God blessed him greatly because He
saw something in Jacob that pleased Him. He saw a humble and contrite
heart beneath the cold and manipulative exterior of Jacob's life, and it
was that trait that God needed to develop. He did this by bringing about
the crisis in Jacob's life that led to total consecration. This event
was marked by Jacob getting a new name, Israel. For the first time,
Jacob had a nature change, not just a habit change. What will God have
to do in our lives to gain our complete consecration to His will and
purposes?
"Beware of the Christian leader who does not walk with a limp."
Bob Mumford (Used by permission.)

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

2012-01-06T16:28:00.000+01:00

"This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be
Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in
heaven." - Matthew 6:9-10

Imagine that you have never driven a car. You are not aware of all the
features of a car. Up to this point, you have had to walk everywhere you
go. All you are told is that you are about to receive something that
will get you anywhere you need to go. The day arrives and you are given
a brand new car. You get in and drive the car. However, the emergency
brake is on, preventing you from going faster than 20 miles per hour. No
one tells you that you should unlock the brake. Regardless, you are
excited because you no longer have to walk to your destination. You are
not told that the car has lights, which would allow you to drive at
night. Neither are you told about the many other wonderful features of
the car. You just know you have a new car that will get you anywhere you
want to go at 20 miles per hour. For the rest of your life, you drive
this incredible car during the daytime only at 20 miles per hour.
Why would Jesus pray that things in earth would be like they are in
Heaven if it were not possible? When Jesus came to earth, He came in
order to penetrate the very kingdom of darkness with light. He came to
bring healing to sickness, replace sadness with joy, and fill
meaninglessness with purpose. He came to change things for the better
for a world that had no hope outside of God.
Using the illustration above, Jesus did not come to merely give us a
ticket to Heaven (a car that you drive only in the daytime at 20 miles
per hour). He came to bring us much more-the Kingdom of God on earth.
Nowhere in the Bible will you find the term, gospel of salvation. The
Church does not exist for Heaven, but for earth. If it existed only for
Heaven, then each of us would immediately be taken to Heaven. There
would be no reason for us to remain on earth. So why has God allowed us
to receive this new birth and remain on earth? It is so that we might
bring the Kingdom of God into our world-our families, our workplace, and
our communities.
God wants you to bring the Kingdom of God into the territory He has
given you so that His will can be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Your
domain is your workplace, family, and community. Ask God to show you how
He wants to penetrate the darkness of your domain with His light. Then
you will see and experience all the features of this gift that has been
given to you.

HEARING GOD'S VOICE

2012-01-02T18:41:00.000+01:00

"Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet
been revealed to him." - 1 Samuel 3:7

Samuel was born to Hannah, a woman who had a deep commitment to God. She
was barren, but she cried out to God for a son. The Lord gave her
Samuel, whom she completely gave to the Lord for His service. After
weaning him, she took him to the house of the Lord to be reared by the
priests. Eli was the priest of Israel, but he was not a godly leader. He
had allowed much corruption, including the sins of his sons, in God's
house. God was not pleased with Eli and later judged him and his
household.
Samuel grew up in the temple serving God. He also grew up seeing the
hypocrisy of Eli's household, yet this did not change the young man. God
was with him. We learn that even though young Samuel had a belief in
God, he had not yet experienced a personal relationship with Him. God
called to Samuel three times, but Samuel thought it was Eli, the priest,
calling him. Finally, Eli told him to say, "Speak Lord, for your servant
is listening" (1 Sam. 3:9b). This is what Samuel did, and God began
telling Samuel important things to come.
Many of us grow up in religious environments. We go to church every
week. We have a head knowledge of God, but we do not recognize God's
voice in our lives. There comes a time when we must recognize God's
voice for ourselves. God does not want us to have a religion; He wants
us to have a two-way relationship with Him. Samuel was never the same
after this encounter. He would know God's voice and would respond to Him
in obedience.
Do you know God's voice? Can you recognize it when He speaks? In order
to hear God's voice, you must be clean before Him and listen. Listen to
God's voice today and follow His plans for you.

ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD

2011-12-30T16:07:00.000+01:00

"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them
also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and
one shepherd." - John 10:16

A friend of mine told me a story about an experience he had in Israel.
They were in the country visiting some of the famous biblical sites when
they saw a group of sheepherders. A shepherd brought his flock of sheep
into a round pen for the night. Then, a few minutes later, another
shepherd brought his flock into the pen. Then, a few minutes later, yet
another shepherd brought his sheep into the pen. There were three groups
of sheep in the pen with no identifying marks among any of them. My
friend wondered how in the world they would separate their sheep the
next day.
The next morning, a shepherd came over to the pen and made a comment to
his sheep. One by one, the sheep filed out to follow him. Only his sheep
followed his voice. My friend said it was an amazing scene to see only
that shepherd's sheep follow him and the others remain in the pen. What
a picture of Jesus' words spoken centuries earlier.
Hearing and responding to Jesus' voice is the key to having a two-way
relationship with God. It is the difference between having religion and
a relationship. Can you recognize God's voice in your life? Are you
listening to the Shepherd's voice? Do you respond when He calls? Ask
Jesus to help you increase your ability to hear. Give more time to
spending quiet moments in His presence to hear His voice. He wants to be
your Good Shepherd.

DESERT PREPARATION

2011-12-28T19:53:00.000+01:00

"Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I
was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus." - Galatians 1:17

The apostle Paul tells us in the first chapter of Galatians some of the
facts surrounding his own conversion. He tells us that he clearly
understood the call Jesus placed on his life. He did not have to consult
other men about this calling. But before he was released to begin his
own mission, He went to Arabia for three years. Why did Paul have to go
to Arabia for three years before he ever met another disciple of Jesus
Christ?
The Scripture does not tell us plainly why Paul spent three years in
Arabia. However, based upon many examples of God placing special calls
on people's lives, we know it often requires a time of separation
between the old life and the new life. No doubt, Paul had plenty of time
to consider what had taken place in his life and time to develop an
intimate knowledge and relationship with the newfound Savior. His life
was about to change dramatically.
So often, when God places a call on one of His children, it requires a
separation between the old life and the new life. There is a time of
being away from the old in order to prepare the heart for what is
coming. It can be a painful and difficult separation. Joseph was
separated from his family. Jacob was sent to live with his uncle Laban.
Moses was sent to the desert.
When God began a deeper work in my own life, it required a separation
from all I had known before. He removed all that I had placed confidence
in up to that point. It was very painful and very scary since I was in
my mid-40's. In my mind, it was not the time to start life over. I had
been making plans for early retirement. God had a different idea. He
removed all my comforts and security in order to accomplish a much
greater work than what I could see at the time. The picture is clear
now. I understand why it was necessary, but I didn't at the time.
Perhaps God has placed you in your own desert period. Perhaps you cannot
make sense of the situation in which you find yourself. If you press
into God during this time, He will reveal the purposes He has for you.
The key is pressing into Him. Seek Him with a whole heart and He will be
found. God may have a special calling and message He is building in your
life right now. Trust in His love for you that He will fully complete
the work He has started in you.

CHECK UNDER THE HOOD

2011-12-21T15:28:00.000+01:00

"But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger,
rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." -Colossians 3:8

"The root issue you are dealing with is fear. The physical symptom is
control, and when you cannot control, you get angry because of unmet
expectations." These were the words I spoke during a conversation in a
restaurant to my friend who was separated from his wife. He described
his anger and how he never saw some of these characteristics in his life
until he entered this marriage.
A friend once said to me, "Anger is like the lights on a dashboard. They
tell you something is going on under the hood. You must find out the
source of the problem." Whenever we have expectations of another person
and those expectations do not materialize, our tendency is to get angry.
The source of the anger is often the fear that the unmet expectation
will negatively impact us. We fear that our finances, our well-being,
our image, or any number of things may be impacted by the unmet
expectation. My friend's wife had not met his expectations in many areas
of his life, so then, many times it resulted in harsh words that damaged
his wife's self-esteem. Now, it was leading to a marriage crisis.
Jesus often spoke of living as though we were dead. How can you live as
though you are dead? "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but
alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6:11). It is a choice each of us
must make. Once you become dead to that which stirs an emotion in you,
God is free to change that situation. Until then, you can expect God to
allow that situation to remain until you reckon yourself dead to the
effects of the issue that causes you to struggle.
Is there something that causes anger within you? Ask God what the source
of that anger is. You might be surprised at what you find. Then ask God
to give you the grace to reckon yourself dead to that issue. You will
find new freedom in your relationships and your own peace of mind.

ANGER BORN OF THE SPIRIT

2011-12-19T18:08:00.001+01:00

"When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power,
and he burned with anger." - 1 Samuel 11:6

There are occasions in which God justifies righteous anger. It is a type
of anger that does not lead to sin, but fulfills God's purposes.
Saul had just been crowned as the new king of Israel. His first battle
was upon him, and he had to bring a new nation together to fight the
Ammonites. The Spirit of God fell on Saul and resulted in righteous
anger against God's enemies. God led him to send an unusual
"direct-mail" package to all the regions where the people lived. He cut
up pieces of oxen and sent the pieces throughout Israel with a
warning-"Join the army or your oxen will be as these!"
Sometimes God uses strong measures to accomplish His purposes. In this
case, fear and intimidation were used to motivate the army of God to be
as one. God must have felt this is what was needed to drive this army to
become a unified force.
God knows the only way to achieve success is if the army is one. A house
divided cannot stand. What will it take to unify your company, your
church, and your family to be one? Unless you are one, you cannot win
the battles you will face. Ask God to make you and those you walk with
to be one in mission and one in spirit.

DO YOU NEED REFRESHMENT?

2011-10-18T08:00:00.001+01:00

Life giving water sources always have an incoming source and an outgoing flow. If either one of these stops, life stops. The same is true in our own lives and ministry.
Each of us in ministry need to be refreshed on a continual basis. Without refreshment, our well will ultimately run dry. On the other hand, we are called to be the source of refreshment to others. They depend on us for encouragement and help. Without our encouragement, they will fail. There is a giving and receiving side to refreshment; we need both to experience true Life in Jesus Christ.
In a recently added sermon titled, "The Ministry of Refreshment", Rev. Phillip Harrelson shares great insight into the Apostle Paul's ability to encourage and refresh others in ministry. Paul was able to do so because there were men in his life who encouraged and refreshed him. One of these men is a man rarely spoken of; His name is Onesiphorus. In this sermon, Rev. Harrelson shares the story of Onesiphorus's devotion to encouraging and refreshing Paul during his darkest hours. When Paul was locked down in Rome, It was Onesiphorus who turned Rome upside down until he found him and encouraged him.
2 Timothy 1:17 KJV But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
Rev. Harrelson states;
This is how great churches are built, by people who are willing to shoulder the responsibility and do the work of the ministry of refreshment. Great churches don't just happen, they are populated by men and women who have great-hearts and are inclined to help somebody with their chain.
Responsibility rings out of that passage of Scripture. He sought me out very diligently. He searched hard.
· This means traveling the high, stormy seas from Asia to Italy.
This means putting life on hold for an extended period of time.
· This means leaving the warmth of family and the camaraderie of friends.
· This means getting there at your own expense to do the will of God.
Onesiphorus was a noble-minded and strong-hearted man who had determined to give himself to the ministry of refreshment.
This kind of devotion will knit the hearts of people in a church together.
Paul was successful because he recognized the importance of the ministry of refreshment. There was always an incoming source and an outgoing flow of this ministry in his life.

PAUL'S PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

2011-10-04T13:15:00.001+01:00

"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the
fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11

We hear a lot these days about planning and goal setting. Proponents of
planning say, "If you aim at nothing, chances are you will probably hit
it." They say that to wander aimlessly through life is like sailing a
boat without a sail and rudder. You end up wherever the wind takes you.
Paul understood his personal mission, which should be the personal
mission of every believer in Jesus Christ. It is the one summary
statement that best describes the purpose of our existence on earth and
the goal of our Christian experience. It can be reduced to three
important characteristics.
To know Christ.
To know and experience His power.
To identify with His sufferings.
All that flows from these three objectives becomes a by-product.
Salvation is a by-product. Miracles are a by-product.
Christlikeness is a by-product. Paul's focus was on relationship. He
understood that the deeper the relationship, the more power he would
experience. He also understood that as he grew in this relationship,
there would be suffering. Whenever the Kingdom of Light confronts the
kingdom of darkness, there is a battle, and this often results in
casualties. Christ confronted these earthly kingdoms and suffered for
it. If we are living at this level of obedience, we, too, will face
similar battles; it simply comes with the territory.
Does this sound like your personal mission statement? Is your focus in
life centered on knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection? If
not, press into Him today in order to begin experiencing Christ more
intimately.

RECEIVING ONLY FROM GOD

2011-09-21T13:36:00.001+01:00

"To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from
heaven." - John 3:27

"God never gave you that property," said my friend who had entered my
life at a time of great turmoil. These were hard words at the time. I
was separated in my marriage, and my financial resources were drying up
on all fronts. It was like rowing a boat with five big holes in it, not
knowing which one to try to plug. My business, my personal finances, my
marriage, all seemed to be drying up at the same time. My friend had
made an observation about some land we had purchased years before. His
point was that I had acquired something that God had never given me. In
other words, it was not a Spirit-directed purchase that was blessed by
God. It was not a by-product of God's blessing; it was a source of sweat
and toil born out of the wrong motives of the heart.
When John's disciples came to him and asked if he was the Messiah, he
responded that he was not and that one could only be what God had given
him to be. He was a forerunner to the Messiah, and he was fulfilling a
call God had given him. We cannot acquire and become anything that God
has not given us. God gave John that anointing. We must ask whether we
are trying to be or trying to acquire anything God has not given us.
When we seek to acquire anything that God has not given us, we can
expect God to respond to us like any good father would to a child. He
will remove that which the child is not supposed to have.
David understood this principle. When he was preparing to furnish the
temple, he told God in his prayer, "Everything comes from You, and we
have given You only what comes from Your hand" (1 Chron. 29:14b).

STAY CONNECTED

2011-09-12T14:04:00.000+01:00

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my
trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." -Psalm 143:8

Two of the greatest inventions of my time have been the laptop computer
and e-mail. The laptop means I no longer have to stay in one place to be
productive in my business life. E-mail has allowed me to stay connected
to people all around the world with the touch of a button.
My greatest frustration is when either of these does not work. Sometimes
e-mail cannot be used because I can't get a connection. Sometimes I
cannot use my laptop because I have not properly charged it, and then
the charge runs out while I am on an airplane. Both of these situations
mean I am unable to tap into the resource that allows me to fulfill my
calling in my work to the fullest.
The morning time with God is much like these situations. God pours His
Word into my spirit, and I am recharged. This recharging has an
important effect on my day. It allows me the greatest opportunity to
hear the small voice that directs my steps. If I refuse to "get
connected," I risk following my own ways of fulfilling the duties of my
day. It sets forth the opportunity for God to speak into my spirit what
He desires for me each day. It allows me to focus on God's purposes, not
mine.
The only way to know someone is to spend time with him or her. The only
way to discern the voice of another is to hear that person's voice.
David, the author of this psalm, was a warrior, king, and businessman.
He understood this principle of connecting with God in the morning. His
morning allowed him to connect with God's love, renew his trust in Him,
and hear His directions for his life. Shouldn't you and I do the same?

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

2011-09-05T18:33:00.000+01:00

No doubt, there are so many situations that can trouble the heart of many in marriage relationships in our world today. No matter how strong we are, there are times when our strength seems not enough to bear the weight of the burdens, problems, challenges or vicissitudes of life that are certain to confront us in this world. Is it in the area of our finance, child-bearing, in-laws palaver, way-ward husband, quarrelsome wife, childlessness, worrisome child, sickness, period of unemployment, general economic downturn, etc.? Infact, it sometimes looks as if we are so overwhelmed to the point that we fear being ultimately consumed. Sometimes, it’s as if we are the only one in the whole world that seems to have been singled out for troubles!
However, the Lord would not want us to be troubled by troubles. “Let not your heart be troubled” is a demand upon our strength of character. It’s you who should not “let” [allow, permit] your heart be troubled. This means that you have the power, as well as the choice, to “let” or “not let” your heart to be troubled by troubles! Jesus here seems to acknowledge that troubles will surely approach unto you [your heart] one way or the other; but He leaves you with the option to open the door of your heart unto it or not. Actually, He categorically told us that we are going to have troubles as long as we remain kicking upon this earth (Jn. 16:33). No man or woman or marriage is wholesomely immune to this common visitation; the only difference comes in their varieties, timings and dimensions.
Why did the Lord say that we should not let our “heart” be troubled? Why the heart? Because our heart is the “Central Processing Unit” of our life. Our heart is the fountain or spring of every issue of our life (Prov. 4:23). What ever troubles our heart troubles our whole life – our word, our thought, our actions, our disposition, our reaction, our health, our peace, our joy, our finance, etc. God knows that our heart will be negatively affected and heavily weighed down if we accommodate even the least of trouble in it. He did not configure our heart with the tiniest compartment for residency of troubles! Apparently, in the way we were made, our heart and troubles are incompatible; indeed, antagonistic! So, He has full audacity to warn us not to open our heart to be troubled by troubles.
We’ll do ourselves a great good by heeding this heavenly warning. It’s to our benefit so to do; otherwise, the consequences are debilitating – heart-ache, high blood pressure, broken-heart, relationship break-down, hypertension, loss of peace, loss of appetite, sorrow of heart, hopelessness, suicidal tendencies, etc.
There will always be troubles! They will visit you [not a curse]! They visit everybody (1Cor. 10:13). Don’t let the Devil cajole you into assuming you are the only one or that yours is the worst. You may have to leave this world to be absolutely free from them [that is, if you aren’t actually going to hell!]! Are you ready to go now? If not, you let not your heart be troubled!
Believe in God
But could we be un-troubled by troubles on our own strength? Far be it. We cannot on our own withstand and stand against the forays of this world’s many and diverse challenges or troubles. We definitely need external and definitely superior help to be able to “stand”, having done all that we could.
Jesus told His disciples not to be troubled, and He showed them the spiritual wherewithal, the first of which is:
“Believe in God”, says the Lord.
He wants us to have faith in the ability and will of God to be our Help in the times of trouble. He wants us to in faith lift our eyes unto the Lord whenever troubles come knocking at the door of our hearts rather than holing them in there (Psa. 121). He wants us to focus on the God who’s far bigger than all our problems, whatever they may be, rather than focusing on the troubles themselves. Do you really believe that God is bigger than all your problems, whatever the shade and shape? The Angel asked, “Is anything too hard for the LORD”? (Gen. 18:14). Sir/Ma, do you really believe your distressing circumstances of life cannot be too hard for the Lord of the universe to resolve? If so, why carrying it on your own, rather than casting it upon Him, just as His word encouraged, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1Pet. 5:5)? Why pine away under the unbearable weight of life’s adversities, whereas you serve a Living God? Only unfaithlessness or unbelief could be the reason. Ask God to help your unbelief right now (Mk. 9:24) and, henceforth, start living by your faith in God (Hab. 2:4).
Believe [also] in Jesus
Believe in God, believe also in me [Jesus], the Lord says. Why the added-on prescription to “also” believe in Jesus? After all, Jesus once said “I and my Father are one” (Jn. 10:30). Why the separate need to believe in God [the Father] and God [the Son]?
First, this statement makes it clear that it is possible to “believe” in God and not to believe in Jesus. How can this be, one may ask? You too consider it, is it every one out there who profess to believe in God that also believe in Jesus? There are many religions in the world that teaches their adherents to have faith in God but which do actually teach the same souls that Jesus is neither God nor the Saviour, and so it does not worth believing in Him and worshipping Him as such.
Why the need to believe in Jesus by the way? What’s there to believe in Him for? It’s because He’s the only Way to the Father. Nobody comes to the Father except by Him (Jn. 14:6). No salvation (redemption, deliverance, lifeline, help, etc.) except in His name [Acts 4:12]. Everything God had done for us had been in and through Him. In Him all things are consisted, including our help in times of troubles (Col. 1:12-17). He is the One that bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him (Isa. 53:4-5). He’s the One who had overcame the world [and its troubles] for us (Jn. 16:33). It is in and with Him that God had given us all things freely (Rom. 8:32). Asking God the Father for intervention in the time of trouble can only avail if channeled through Him (Jn. 14:13-14).
It therefore becomes understandable why we not only need to believe in God the Father, but also the need to believe in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The summary of all these is that troubles will surely come visiting your home. We need not take it as something strange or peculiar. It’s the lot of all the living, in diverse shade and shape. However, as God’s own children, here’s our Father assuring us that we could live above whatever trouble by our faith – in God, and in Jesus. Through our faith, we can overcome all the troubles in the world (1Jn. 5:4-5). When trouble comes, all you need do in faith is to call upon your heavenly Father, Who’s ever prepared and willing to answer you and, in His love and mercy, intervene and deliver you (Jer. 33:3, Psa. 34:15-22).
If you will heed this advice from the Lord, His peace shall surely reign in your heart and home. The strength of adversity shall surely fizzle out, and new song shall ultimately feel your mouth!

WORKING VERSUS STRIVING

2011-08-22T09:06:00.002+01:00

"So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by
might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6

Your greatest obstacle in fulfilling God's purposes in your life is the
skills you have acquired to perform well in your work life. One of the
great paradoxes in Scripture relates to our need to depend on the Lord;
yet at the same time, we're instructed to use the talents and abilities
God gives us to accomplish the work He gives us to do. It has been one
of the most difficult principles to live out. How do we know that what
we achieve is by the power of the Holy Spirit in our life versus our
own
abilities, and is there a difference? When we reach a level of
excellence and performance in our fields, it actually becomes an
obstacle to seeing God's power manifest in our work. What we naturally
do well becomes the object of our trust. When this happens, God
retreats. You see, God allows us to develop skills, but these must be
continually yielded to God's Spirit. There will be times when God will
use these skills to accomplish His purposes. There will be other times
that God will not use any of our skills just to ensure that we know it
is by His power that we can do anything.
It is the oxymoron of all oxymorons for Christian workplace believers.
Learning not to act until God shows you to act is a sign of maturity in
God. "Do not lean on the natural skill which you have been given. Let
God manifest Himself in what you are doing," said a mentor who has
learned this balance of skill and walking with God. "You must almost
restrain from doing those things you know you are prone to do and
actually go against them."
I was learning this lesson recently when I was asked to participate in
a large event that would give great exposure and much needed financial
increase to my ministry. It made all the sense in the world to
participate. Then I prayed with a friend and asked the Lord His mind on
it. The Lord showed us this was not His plan for me. I declined the
invitation.
Ask God to teach you what it means to walk according to the power of
the Holy Spirit in your business life. Develop a listening ear to the small
voice inside that wants to direct your efforts by His Spirit.

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

2011-08-15T09:43:00.000+01:00

"You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands
have produced this wealth for me." - (Deuteronomy 8:17)

We've all heard someone say, "He's a self-made man." What are
they saying in this statement? Are they saying that this
individual achieved success by his hard work and sweat? Many a
person has achieved success through honest hard work. There is a
danger for any of us who may have achieved significance through
our work. That danger is the belief that we achieved it through
our own efforts apart from God's grace and mercy. When we live in
this belief, we assert that we are entitled to certain rights and
privileges because of the position we have earned and feel we
deserve.
The prodigal son's brother who refused to celebrate the wayward
son's return was a man who felt he was entitled to certain
rights. He saw himself as one who had been faithful to his
responsibilities and deserving of more attention. He could not
appreciate his brother's failure and the pain of falling into a
sinful life because, in his mind, he had never failed. This pride
kept him from experiencing God's real grace. This is how legalism
develops in believers. It grows into a cold heart and an
insensitive attitude toward others who may have stumbled in their
lives. This same brother did not truly understand the love of his
father apart from works; for he felt he gained acceptance only by
doing his job.
Do you feel accepted by God, regardless of what you do? Have you
wrongfully viewed your works as something you alone have
achieved? These are the minefields of which each of us in
business must be aware. God has gifted us to accomplish anything
through His grace, not by our works.

WRESTLING WITH GOD

2011-08-03T15:49:00.000+01:00

YOUR WORK

2011-07-27T08:09:00.001+01:00

"I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to
do. " - John 17:4

The Lord has revealed to us that the number one thing we are to do is
love the Lord our God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as
ourselves. His desire is for us to know Him and the power of His
resurrection. These mandates deal with our relationship with Him. The
fruit of this relationship must then result in our glorifying Him by
completing the work He has given each of us to do. It will become a
by-product of this relationship, not an end in itself.
What is the work God has called you to do? Jesus never did anything the
Father had not instructed Him to do. He lived in such communion with
the Father that He knew when to turn left and when to turn to the right. Is
it possible to have such a relationship with our heavenly Father? I
think that if it weren't, He would not have given us such an example.
"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable
things you do not know" (Jer. 33:3). What has He called you to do?
Perhaps you are called to be the best CPA in your city or the best
advertising executive or the best office worker or assembly line person
in your company. Whatever work He has called you to do, He will use you
as His instrument to accomplish something that He has uniquely prepared
you to do.
When our life is complete, what a glorious day it will be if we can
each say, "I have completed the work You gave me to do." This will have
brought great glory to Him.

HARNESS YOUR MIND

2011-07-25T08:52:00.004+01:00

"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Phillipians 4:8

What happen in your mind is likely to happen in your future. Meditate on some specific scriptures today that will unlock your faith in God.
Make your mind your servant. Fill your mental warehouse with The Word of God.

RENAME YOUR MOMENTS OF BATTLE...AS THE SEASON OF DOUBLE PORTION

2011-07-08T09:49:00.002+01:00

"..also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." - Job 42:10

God your creator, carefully observes every attack against your life. He will get involved. It is inevitable. And, like Job, when your battle is over, you will receive a Double portion of His blessings.

REMEMBER THAT PAIN PASSES

2011-07-07T10:59:00.002+01:00

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." - Paslm 30:5

Pain is discomfort created by disorder. Every champion has discovered that pain is seasonal. It will pass.
It is your passage to promotion. Don't be discouraged by it. A new day is about to dawn in your life. Endurance is the seed for reward.

FIGHT BACK...ONLY ON YOUR TIME TABLE

2011-07-04T12:48:00.002+01:00

"Resist the devil and he will flee from you." - James 4:7

During the battle of life be bold and fight back. Satan is a bully. His tactics are always the same...threats and intimidation. Real Fighters intimidate satan and resist his lies.
Choose The 4 Scriptural Weapons: Worship..Words..Wisdom and ..the Word of God.
Whatever satan confronts you with today, resist him and he will flee. Never Telegraph your plan.

SEARCH FOR TREASURES HIDDEN IN WARFARE

2011-06-30T16:21:00.002+01:00

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and prosecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven." - Matt 5: 11-12.

Opposition is merely a signal that you are making progress. Herod sought to kill Jesus. Pharaoh sought to kill Moses. You will always experience warfare when you pursue your dreams and goals.
Warfare always surrounds the birth of a miracle.

UNCOMMON TREASURES REQUIRES YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PURSUE

2011-06-29T08:09:00.003+01:00

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." - Proverbs 13:20

You will never possess what you are unwilling to pursue. Joshua observed Moses, Ruth reached to Boaz, Elisha followed Elisha. Make a habit of pursuing greatness. Your respect for greatness is the first clue that you possess it your self.

TITHE HABITUALLY

2011-06-16T10:06:00.004+01:00

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God had prospered him, that there should not be any gathering when i return." - 1 Corinth 16:2

Obedience guarantee prosperity. Habitual sowing guarantee habitual reaping. Think like a sower. Your seed is any thing God gives back to you. The Tithe is proof of honour.

MOVING IN PRESUMPTION

2011-06-10T10:15:00.001+01:00

"Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord's covenant moved from the camp." - Numbers 14:44

The people of Israel were brought out of Egypt to enter a new land-the Promised Land. This land was not handed over to them freely; it required the removing of God's enemies through battle. It required a partnership between God and the people. As long as the people remained true to God, they were victorious.
The people were camped at Kadesh Barnea, near the border entrance to the long-awaited Promised Land. All the hardships of their journey from Egypt were now culminating at this important crossing. However, Joshua and Caleb were the only scouts who proclaimed faith in God to take them into the land and conquer their enemies. The other spies saw all the dangers and refused to take the risk. The people of the camp shrank in fear because of their report. They decided not to enter in.
God was angered at the people for their lack of faith. Moses had to intercede on their behalf. Once they realized what they had done, it was too late. But they thought their repentance was enough to right their wrong. They presumed this was all that was necessary.
Moses informed them they were deceived in their presumption of God's favor. They went to battle against the Amalekites only to be soundly defeated. Those who returned did not understand why they lost the battle.
It is important for us to know whether we have God's hand upon our endeavors. Presumption leads to failure. God's favor leads to success. Ask God to confirm His hand on your endeavors.
..."If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here" (Exodus 33:15).

DISSOLVING PARTNERSHIPS

2011-06-06T15:06:00.001+01:00

"So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre
at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord." - Genesis 13:18

One day Abraham and his nephew Lot realized that the land they were
living on could no longer support both families and all their flocks. It
was decision time. They were going to have to split up. This meant
someone had to go a different direction. But who should get first choice
of the land? Obviously, Abraham was Lot's senior and by all rights
should have that choice. Abraham could have pulled rank on Lot since he
was the elder. This story is the model for splitting a business
partnership. However, few workplace believers are willing to follow
Abraham's example.
Abraham took a totally different approach to solving this problem. He
told Lot to choose which land he wanted. Imagine, Abraham could have
been dooming himself and his family if he was unable to find adequate
land and water for them. He gave up his rights in the matter, and Lot
took full advantage. "Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the
Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of
Egypt, toward Zoar" (Gen. 13:10). So Lot left and took up residence in
the valley later to be known as Sodom and Gomorrah. Sometimes what seems
good on the front end turns out to be disastrous later. Such would be
the case for Lot and his family.
As for Abraham, he made a choice. He decided to take life's high road-a
choice that didn't necessarily mean his life circumstances would benefit
him. He was willing to leave that outcome to God. He made the decision
based on an eternal measuring stick. Interestingly, the place where
Abraham moved was called Mamre. In Hebrew, the name Mamre means
"strength." How can choosing the weakest position become "strength"?
Jesus must have asked the same question of His Father when faced with
the proposition of going to the cross. How can the cross be a place of
strength? The devil thought he had won, but the cross is what freed the
captives for eternity. The Bible tells us that when we are weak, then we
are really strong. To willingly choose the way of the cross becomes our
strength.

SEEING WHAT OTHERS CANNOT SEE

2011-06-03T15:33:00.002+01:00

"And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. "-
2 Kings 6:17

Several years ago, a movie was made called Field of Dreams. The story is about a man who had a vision to build a baseball field in the middle of a cornfield on his rural farm. He did not know why; he just knew he was to do it. To the chagrin of his neighbors, he built the baseball diamond in the farm community. One night some players showed up. The man realized these were no ordinary players, but were actually the great players from the past. When the skeptical neighbors came to view this phenomenon, they were unable to see what the farm owner could see. This made it even worse for him. Now he was really a lunatic in their eyes.
This fictitious story has a spiritual application for us. First, if God tells us to "build a ball field," we should do it. It is not for us to determine the reason we are instructed to do it. Once we are obedient, God will allow us to see what others cannot see. It is the rite of passage for those who are willing to risk all for God's purposes. God increases the spiritual senses to levels we never knew before. Those around us will observe this.
Do you want to see what others cannot see? If so, it will require a level of obedience that will go beyond human reason. It may require risk and ridicule from others. But you will see what others cannot see.

THE ISOLATION CHAMBER

2011-05-31T09:01:00.000+01:00

"Be still and know that I am God...." - Psalm 46:10

There is a time and place in our walk with God in which He sets us in a place of waiting. It is a place in which all past experiences are of no value. It is a time of such stillness that it can disturb the most faithful if we do not understand that He is the one who has brought us to this place for only a season. It is as if God has placed a wall around us. No new opportunities--simply inactivity.
During these times, God is calling us aside to fashion something new in us. It is an isolation chamber designed to call us to deeper roots of prayer and faith. It is not a comfortable place, especially for a task-driven workplace believer. Our nature cries out, "You must do something," while God is saying, "Be still and know that I am God." You know the signs that you have been brought into this chamber when He has removed many things from your life and you can't seem to change anything. Perhaps you are unemployed. Perhaps you are laid up with an illness.
Most religious people live a very planned and orchestrated life where they know almost everything that will happen. But for people in whom God is performing a deeper work, He brings them into a time of quietness that seems almost eerie. They cannot say what God is doing. They just know that He is doing a work that cannot be explained to themselves or to others.
Has God brought you to a place of being still? Be still and know that He really is God. When this happens, the chamber will open soon after.

A REMNANT THAT PRAYS

2011-05-27T08:44:00.000+01:00

"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." - Luke 11:1

God is calling out a remnant of workplace believers throughout the world who understand the role of prayer in their work. These people have learned that prayer is not a five-minute exercise in the morning devotion time, but it is a vital strategic tool to discern and know God's will and purposes in their work lives. You see they have learned that their business lives are their ministries to God and others.
These men and women have entered into covenant relationships with intercessory prayer partners who help discern the activities they should be involved in. Some even have paid staff, who intercede for the decisions and activities in which they will be involved. They are a small remnant of workplace believers who know that skill and technique are not enough to fulfill God's purposes.
A servant of the Lord has well said: Prayer is the rail for God's work. Indeed, prayer is to God's will as rails are to a train. The locomotive is full of power: it is capable of running a thousand miles a day. But if there are no rails, it cannot move forward a single inch. If it dares to move without them, it will soon sink into the earth. It may be able to travel over great distances, yet it cannot go to any place where no rails have been laid. And such is the relation between prayer and God's work. Without any doubt God is almighty and He works mightily, but He will not and cannot work if you and I do not labor together with Him in prayer, prepare the way for His will, and pray "with all prayer and supplication" (Eph. 6:18) to grant Him the maneuverability to so work. Many are the things, which God wills to do, and would like to do, but His hands are bound because His children do not sympathize with Him and have not prayed so as to prepare ways for Him. Let me say to all who have wholly given themselves to God: Do examine yourselves and see if in this respect you have limited Him day after day. [Watchman Nee, Let Us Pray (New York, New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, 1977), 11.]
Is prayer a vital part of your strategic business practices? Put prayer on the front lines, instead of making it an afterthought. You will begin to see renewed power in your work life.

TESTED FOR ABUNDANCE

2011-05-26T08:08:00.000+01:00

"We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance." - Psalm 66:12b

It is nice to hear that God desires to bring us into abundance. In fact, many a preacher has promoted the goodness of the Lord and His ability to prosper His children. Alas, my experience is that this gospel of material abundance has little to do with the gospel of the Kingdom as our Lord works in the realm of the sanctified soul. The passage above tells us that God does in fact bring us into places of abundance. However, upon further study of the entire passage, we learn the route to this abundance.
For you, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance (Psalm 66:10-12).
God's economy of abundance often has little to do with material blessing. In God's economy, abundance is often measured in wisdom and knowledge of Himself. It is then that we are truly blessed. Wisdom cannot be gained through intellectual pursuits. Wisdom comes only through experience. Real wisdom comes from the kinds of experiences that come only through the deepest tests. Lessons of refinement, including prison accompanied by burdens, lead us through the fire and water. This is the territory that must be traveled to reach that place of abundance. It would seem strange that a loving God would use such means with His children. What we often fail to realize is that God's measuring stick is the character and likeness of Jesus Christ Himself in each of us. This cannot be gained through a life of ease and pleasure. Ease and pleasure fail to refine.
Is God using your workplace to refine you today? Has He placed you in a prison or laid burdens on your back? Take heart if this is the place you find yourself, and realize that if you are faithful through the tests, you will enter a place of abundance that few will ever attain. The darkest hour is just before daybreak.

THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS

2011-05-25T12:13:00.001+01:00

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." - Hebrews 12:15

The enemy of our souls has a very specific strategy to destroy relationships. Whether these relationships are in business, marriage, or friendships, the strategy is the same. A conflict arises, judgments are made, and feelings are hurt. What happens next is the defining point of whether the enemy gains a foothold, or the grace of God covers the wrong.
When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown, it not only affects that person, but it also affects all others who are involved. It is like a cancer.
Breaking satan's foothold requires at least one person to press into God's grace. It cannot happen when either party "feels" like it, for none of us will ever feel like forgiving. None of us feel like talking when we have been hurt. Our natural response is to withdraw or lash out at the offending party. It is only obedience that allows God's grace to cover the wrongs incurred. This grace prevents the parties from becoming victims who will seek compensation for their pain.
The next time you are hurt by someone, realize the gravity of the crossroads where you find yourself. Choose grace instead of bitterness. Then you will be free to move past the hurt, and a root of bitterness will not be given opportunity to grow.

THE PITFALL OF BEING ENTREPRENEURIAL

2011-05-05T10:38:00.002+01:00

"When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his
hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger
burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his
hand
on the ark...." - 1 Chronicles 13:9-10.

There are good things we can do, but only God-things we should do.
Those activities not born out of the Spirit will result in wood, hay, and
stubble. What seems good in our eyes may be an abomination in God's
eyes. For instance, if you decide to build an orphanage but God has
never directed you to do so, then God will not see that work as good;
it was born out of your own strength, even though it was a "good work."
The most difficult challenge a Christian workplace believer will ever
have is to know what things to be involved in and what things not to be
involved in. Many workplace believers have a great ability to see
opportunity. What appears to be a "slam dunk" may come back to haunt us
if God never ordains us to enter that arena.
There are many good things we can be involved with. However, there are
God-things we are supposed to be involved with. Uzzah was a good man in
David's sight. It was a time of celebration, and David and the people
were transporting the ark of God. However, the ark hit a bump, and
Uzzah reached for the ark to hold it steady. He touched the ark, and he
immediately died. David became very upset with God about this
situation; he questioned whether he could serve God.
God's ways are not our ways. The most important quality God desires to
develop in us is our dependence on Him and Him alone. When we begin to
make decisions based on reason and analysis instead of the leading and
prompting of the Holy Spirit, we get into trouble with God. David later
learned the importance of this principle in his own life. This
encounter was one of the stepping-stones in his pilgrimage. David was an
extraordinary entrepreneur. He ran the nation very successfully, but
he,like each of us, had to learn the difference between "good things" and
"God-things."
Are you involved in anything in which God has not directed you to be
involved? Do you seek God about every decision, every action before you
take it? This is where God wants you and me to be. Ask Him to show you
how to walk with Him in this way.

THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS

2011-05-02T21:05:00.000+01:00

WHAT IS A FINANCIAL MIRACLE?

2011-04-27T08:32:00.001+01:00

" 'Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will
not throw open the floodgates of heaven '' " (Malachi 3:10)

We look now at God's fourth purpose for money: to show His divine
power. God is a supernatural God - something Christians seem to
forget - and He delights to demonstrate His reality and power among
His people. One means through which God has chosen to do this is
through His miraculous provision of money. What is a financial
miracle? It is a supernatural event whereby God provides one of His
children with the money required to meet a financial need - and
usually it involves such precise timing that it cannot fail to point
to the Lord's direct intervention. When a Christian prays about a
financial need, for example, and an unexpected gift is given to him
by someone who knows nothing about the need, the supernatural power
of God is demonstrated. In the days of Elijah, the nation of Israel
tried to worship God and serve Baal at the same time. Elijah knew
that this would inevitably lead to God's judgment, so he proposed a
simple test. The test involved building two altars, one for God and
one for Baal, and whichever answered by a display of supernatural
power was the one whom they would worship. The prophets of Baal cried
out to their non-existent deity all day, but nothing happened. Then
Elijah prayed, and in response to his prayer God sent fire from
heaven. One of the biggest of the false gods of this age is money. It
has become an idol because people expect from it what only God can
give - true security. As the world hankers after money, God wants to
prove to those who seek Him that they will not lack any good thing.

PRAYER:
O Father, help me to see that I grow into the image of the God that I
serve. I don't want to be like money - hard and metallic; I want to
be like You - gracious and beneficent. Help me to keep my focus only
on You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
2 Cor 9:1-15; Deut. 30:9; Psa.132:15

PAUL'S PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

2011-04-15T08:26:00.001+01:00

"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. " -Philippians 3:10-11 We hear a lot these days about planning and goal setting. Proponents of planning say, "If you aim at nothing, chances are you will probably hit it." They say that to wander aimlessly through life is like sailing a boat without a sail and rudder. You end up wherever the wind takes you. Paul understood his personal mission, which should be the personal mission of every believer in Jesus Christ. It is the one summary statement that best describes the purpose of our existence on earth and the goal of our Christian experience. It can be reduced to three important characteristics. To know Christ. To know and experience His power. To identify with His sufferings. All that flows from these three objectives becomes a by-product. Salvation is a by-product. Miracles are a by-product. Christlikeness is a by-product. Paul's focus was on relationship. He understood that the deeper the relationship, the more power he would experience. He also understood that as he grew in this relationship, there would be suffering. Whenever the Kingdom of Light confronts the kingdom of darkness, there is a battle, and this often results in casualties. Christ confronted these earthly kingdoms and suffered for it. If we are living at this level of obedience, we, too, will face similar battles; it simply comes with the territory. Does this sound like your personal mission statement? Is your focus in life centered on knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection? If not, press into Him today in order to begin experiencing Christ more intimately.

PREPARATION FOR GREATNESS

2011-04-13T08:38:00.000+01:00

"He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. " - 2 Samuel 22:35

David was a mighty warrior, and God described him as a man after His
own heart. God took David through a training ground that could be looked on
as cruel and unusual punishment by many a person. God chose him at a
young age to be the next king, yet King Saul rejected him and hunted
him down. David was a fugitive for many years. He had uprisings in his own
family, and he had relationship problems. He had a life of extreme ups
and downs. He certainly did not have a life free of problems; he made
mistakes. He was human like all of us, yet he learned from his mistakes
and repented when he failed. This was David's training ground; it made
the man. Without these hardships, it is doubtful David would have
accomplished what he did.
oward the end of David's life, he recounted his relationship with God.
It is a sermon on God's ways of dealing with a servant leader.
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes
my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You
give me Your shield of victory; You stoop down to make me great. You
broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn (2 Samuel
22:33-37).
God was David's source for everything. God gave him the ability to
achieve the many extraordinary things in his life. It was a lifelong
training ground that moved him from one plateau to another, often
dropping into a ravine of despair and hopelessness from time to time.
These are God's ways. They drive us deeper and deeper into the heart of
Him who has prepared a way for us. Let God take you to the heights or
depths He desires for you. He never promised smooth sailing during the
trip, but He did promise to be the captain and companion along the way.

10 LIFESAVERS FOR EVERY COUPLE

2011-04-12T08:42:00.002+01:00

1. They experience ongoing conflict without resolution.
No relationship can bear the weight of unresolved conflict. This “baggage”
wears you down, even if you’re able to ignore it on a day-to-day basis.
Couples need the skills to talk about tough issues and to resolve them.
2. They become insensitive and demanding of each other.
With respect dissolved, couples in crisis begin to treat each other badly.
Sarcastic and biting, their language is far short of edifying and
encouraging, further eroding marital integrity.
3. The relationship is filled with criticism and derogatory comments.
They begin to feel contempt for their mate, which erodes the love they once
felt. The criticism becomes pervasive as the couple “forgets” the positives
that attracted them to their mate.
4. They find more excuses to spend time away from each other.
Feeling anger and resentment, couples find reasons to spend time apart. They
get involved in other friendships or activities, instead of spending time
together.
5. They feel uncomfortable sharing intimate feelings with each other.
Finding their mate critical and insensitive, they begin withholding intimate
feelings and details of their daily life. They fail to provide a “safe place
for feelings to land.” This creates further distance.
6. They experience less and less physical intimacy.
Since intimacy is “into me see”, and this is seen as dangerous, the gulf
widens. Couples move apart physically, even to the point of sleeping in
separate bedrooms.
7. They compare their mate unfavorably to others.
The grass begins to look greener on the other side of the street.
Tragically, some begin flirtatious relationships and even affairs as a way
to cope with their pain. Others begin to look better than what they have at
home.
8. They make threats about separation and divorce.
As the pain increases, many begin to make plans, if only in their minds, to
leave their mate. They fantasize what it would be like to live alone.
If you find yourself with any of these warning signs, take action. Things
will never get better on their own. Time alone will not heal your marriage.
Stop telling yourself you should be able to fix things; you can’t. Denial
(Don’t Even Notice I Am Lying!) won’t help you. You must be honest about the
condition of your marriage and take appropriate measures to heal your
relationship. Don’t let pride stop you from seeking professional help. Get a
fresh, objective perspective as to what is wrong and learn the steps
necessary to save your marriage.
You can save your marriage, but not on your own. You need God’s wisdom:
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)
Get help now!

TEST FOR ABUNDANCE

2011-04-06T14:51:00.001+01:00

"We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance." - Psalm 66:12b It is nice to hear that God desires to bring us into abundance. In fact, many a preacher has promoted the goodness of the Lord and His ability to prosper His children. Alas, my experience is that this gospel of material abundance has little to do with the gospel of the Kingdom as our Lord works in the realm of the sanctified soul. The passage above tells us that God does in fact bring us into places of abundance. However, upon further study of the entire passage, we learn the route to this abundance. For you, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance (Psalm 66:10-12). God's economy of abundance often has little to do with material blessing. In God's economy, abundance is often measured in wisdom and knowledge of Himself. It is then that we are truly blessed. Wisdom cannot be gained through intellectual pursuits. Wisdom comes only through experience. Real wisdom comes from the kinds of experiences that come only through the deepest tests. Lessons of refinement, including prison accompanied by burdens, lead us through the fire and water. This is the territory that must be traveled to reach that place of abundance. It would seem strange that a loving God would use such means with His children. What we often fail to realize is that God's measuring stick is the character and likeness of Jesus Christ Himself in each of us. This cannot be gained through a life of ease and pleasure. Ease and pleasure fail to refine. Is God using your workplace to refine you today? Has He placed you in a prison or laid burdens on your back? Take heart if this is the place you find yourself, and realize that if you are faithful through the tests, you will enter a place of abundance that few will ever attain. The darkest hour is just before daybreak.

THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

2011-03-31T14:49:00.001+01:00

Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You, For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? Psalm 56:12-13 (NKJ) Matthew 19:23-26 And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?" And looking upon them Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:23-26 (NAS) Romans 3:23-26 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26 (NAS)

THIS IS WONDER

2011-03-30T15:59:00.002+01:00

Our journey began at Genesis through Exodus. On the way, we saw Leviticus recording the Numbers of people at Deuteronomy, while Joshua was waiting at the beautiful gate for Judges to see Ruth calling loudly "Samuel, Samuel". At a stage, the first and second Kings of Chronicles were coming to visit Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther for the misfortune of Job, their brother. Then they noticed that Mr. Psalms was teaching his children Proverbs concerning Ecclesiastes and Songs of Solomon. This coincided with the period that Isaiah and Jeremiah were engaged in Lamentation for Ezekiel and Daniel their friend. By that time, Amos and Obadiah were not around. Three days later, Hosea, Joel and Jonah travelled in the same ship with Micah and Nahum to Jerusalem . More also, Habakkuk visited Zephaniah who introduced him to Haggai a friend of Zechariah whose cousin is Malachi. Immediately after the old tradition, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John got involved in Acts with the Romans who were behaving like the Corinthians, who were also always at loggerhead with the Galatians. At that time too, the Ephesians realising that the Philippians were close to the Colossians, suggested to the Thessalonians that they should first of all see Timothy who had gone to the house of Titus to teach Philemon his younger brother how to read and write Hebrew. On hearing, James asked Peter to explain to him how the three Johns have disclosed to Jude the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have God’s love today!!!

LOSING YOUR LIFE FOR HIS PURPOSES

2011-03-28T16:22:00.001+01:00

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it." - Luke 9:24 When the time came for God to fulfill Joseph's dreams, Joseph himself had virtually no interest at all in it. Jesus said, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it" (Lk. 9:24). God wants to teach us a different set of values so that the kind of thing we start out wanting becomes secondary. God has something in mind for us that is far greater than the interest we began with. Joseph's day of exaltation had arrived. Yet, through it all, a very real humiliation had to take place. We know about the humiliation Joseph had experienced for 13 years after being sold by his brothers into slavery, then taken to Egypt. We know how he was falsely accused and cast into prison. Then came a different situation. Joseph had had a triumph and was given an exaltation, but the kind he really never asked for. He did not appear to be all that interested in what was about to happen. He watched as the Pharaoh took his ring off his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. Joseph never asked for that. All he wanted was to go home. He longed to go back to Canaan, to see his father, and to have his dreams fulfilled. Therefore, here we find an extraordinary incongruity: a humiliation in the heart of vindication. A triumph that was the opposite of everything he, himself, could have envisaged. Joseph wanted to go home, but a one-way ticket to Canaan wasn't available. Before he knew it, he had Egypt in his hip pocket. He had never prayed for that. But God wanted Egypt. What God wanted is what Joseph got. Joseph was given something that he could be trusted with because it didn't mean that much to him.

NEW THINGS

2011-03-18T15:45:00.001+01:00

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on
toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward
in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13b-14

Our past can be a hindrance or a help in moving toward God's purposes
for each of us. For some, the past has meant pain and heartache, and
grace is required so that we do not let our past dictate our responses
to the future. If we allow our past to make us a victim, then we have
not entered into the grace that God has for us. If we live on memories
of past successes and fail to raise our vision for new things, we again
are victims of our past.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" (Is.
43:19). Our past should only be viewed for what we can learn from it. We
must move forward and avoid viewing the negative or the positive for
more than what we can learn. Many have allowed their past to dictate
their future. God is always about doing new things in our lives. He
gives fresh revelation of His purposes in our lives. Do not live in the
past. Do not hold onto bitterness that may hinder God from doing new and
exciting things in your life. He turns our wastelands into streams of
water to give life, not death.
How have you viewed your past? Has it hindered you in some areas of your
life? Have you relied on past successes to dictate what you will do in
the future? Put aside such thoughts and allow God to do a new thing in
your life. Ask Him to help you see the new things He wants to do in and
through you today.
"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the
grave" [Author unknown].

PERCEPTION IS NOT REALITY

2011-03-15T15:36:00.001+01:00

"The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are
broken." - Job 4:10

In the advertising business we often say that "perception is reality"
for the person who views our advertising message. It does not matter
whether the audience believes the message to be true, only that they
perceive it to be true. Their actions will be the same whether they
believe it or only perceive it.
The enemy of our souls is very good at this game. He may bring on us
what we perceive to be true when it is a lie. It may appear that there
is no way around a situation. He may bring great fear on us. When we
buy into his lie, we believe only what we have chosen to perceive to be
true. It usually has no basis of truth. Such was the case when Peter
looked on the waters during a night boat journey with the other
disciples. At first glance, he and the disciples screamed with fear,
thinking that what they saw was a ghost. It was actually Jesus.
Satan's name means "accuser." He travels to and fro to accuse the
brethren. He brings an impressive front to all he does, yet behind that
front is a weak, toothless lion with a destination that has already
been prepared in the great abyss. He knows his destination, but he wants to
bring as many with him as possible; so he often has a big roar, but
little bite.
The next time some event comes into your life that creates fear and
trembling, first determine the source. Look past the emotions and
evaluate the situation in light of God's Word. Perception is not always
reality.

WANTED: PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY

2011-03-10T08:42:00.002+01:00

It was D. L. Moody who said, "Character is what you are in the dark."
When there is no one to impress, that's when true character, or
integrity, is revealed.
Humorist Will Rogers understood the meaning of integrity when he said,
"So live that you would not mind selling your pet parrot to the town
gossip."
How much influence can a person of integrity really have on others? If
we look at the example of Moses, we discover that a little character can
go a long way. As long as Moses was around, his influence was so
profound and significant that it kept people from doing the wrong thing.
After Pharaoh allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt and God miraculously
saved them from Pharaoh's armies at the Red Sea, He began to lead them
in a very clear and obvious way. During the day, He provided a cloud.
When the cloud moved, they moved. When the cloud stopped, they stopped.
At night, a pillar of fire led them in the same way. God provided for
their physical needs as well. Every morning, there would be fresh manna
waiting for them for breakfast. God faithfully provided it every day.
All they had to do was gather it up and enjoy it.
The Israelites were surrounded by miracles and God's supernatural
leading, yet in a relatively short period of time, they turned to
idolatry. Their problem came down to one thing: the shallowness and
superficiality of their faith. It was as though their relationship with
God depended on Moses' presence. They never seemed to develop a
relationship with God of their own. While this is a wonderful tribute to
the influence of a godly man, it is also a criticism of their lack of
personal faith. Their relationship with God depended upon Moses'
relationship with God, and that is never a spiritually healthy thing to
do.
It is true that God can and will use people in our lives, but here is
the problem: even the greatest men and women of God have the potential
to fall. If you look to people, you will be disappointed ultimately. We
must never let people take the place of God in our lives. We must look
to Him, because He will never let us down.
When Moses temporarily left the Israelites to go up to Mount Sinai and
receive God's commandments, everything fell apart. As soon as he was
gone, they began looking for something to take his place. Hence, the
plans for the golden calf began. This ultimately led to a pathetic scene
of sexual immorality and full-tilt idol worship.
We can't really blame Moses because, in his defense, it was his personal
godliness and integrity that had kept them in check up to this point.
That is pretty amazing when you consider that Moses was leading more
than two million people. It reminds us that God can do a lot with a
little.
Maybe you are the only committed Christian in your family. When you get
together for family reunions, you are the minority. Or perhaps you are
the only Christian at your workplace. Maybe you are the only Christian
in your classroom or neighborhood. It can be so awkward and
uncomfortable. Often, we want to get out of situations like these. But
did you ever stop to think that God put you where you are to be a godly
influence?
That is what Moses was. Imagine how hard it must have been for him.
These people were filled with unbelief and constantly whined and
complained. But through his personal integrity and godliness, he
influenced them for good. How we need more people like him who will make
a difference in the lives of those around them.
In Ezekiel 22:30, God said, " 'So I sought for a man among them who
would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land,
that I should not destroy it; but I found no one' " (NKJV). God is still
looking for men and women who will stand in the gap and serve as godly
influences in this world.
Are you seeking to be an influence on those around you right now? If
someone were to interview people who really knew you well, what would
they say about you? Would they say that you are a man or woman of God?
God help us to be men and women of integrity.

PAUL'S PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

2011-03-07T14:09:00.002+01:00

"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the
fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11

We hear a lot these days about planning and goal setting. Proponents of
planning say, "If you aim at nothing, chances are you will probably hit
it." They say that to wander aimlessly through life is like sailing a
boat without a sail and rudder. You end up wherever the wind takes you.
Paul understood his personal mission, which should be the personal
mission of every believer in Jesus Christ. It is the one summary
statement that best describes the purpose of our existence on earth and
the goal of our Christian experience. It can be reduced to three
important characteristics.
To know Christ.
To know and experience His power.
To identify with His sufferings.
All that flows from these three objectives becomes a by-product.
Salvation is a by-product. Miracles are a by-product. Christlikeness is
a by-product. Paul's focus was on relationship. He understood that the
deeper the relationship, the more power he would experience. He also
understood that as he grew in this relationship, there would be
suffering. Whenever the Kingdom of Light confronts the kingdom of
darkness, there is a battle, and this often results in casualties.
Christ confronted these earthly kingdoms and suffered for it. If we are
living at this level of obedience, we, too, will face similar battles;
it simply comes with the territory.
Does this sound like your personal mission statement? Is your focus in
life centered on knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection? If
not, press into Him today in order to begin experiencing Christ more
intimately.

PASSING THE TEST

2011-03-03T08:17:00.001+01:00

"The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of
your neighbors-to David." - 1 Samuel 28:17b

When God anoints a person, a pattern of testing appears to take place at
specific times in the leader's life. God often takes each leader through
four major tests to determine if that person will achieve God's ultimate
call on his or her life. The person's response to these tests is the
deciding factor in whether they can advance to the next level of
responsibility in God's Kingdom.
Control-Control is one of the first tests. Saul spent most of his time
as king trying to prevent others from getting what he had. Saul never
got to the place with God in which he was a grateful recipient of God's
goodness to him. Saul was a religious controller. This control led to
disobedience and ultimately being rejected by God because Saul no longer
was a vessel God could use.
Bitterness-Every major character in the Bible was hurt by another person
at one time or another. Jesus was hurt deeply when Judas, a trusted
follower, betrayed Him. Despite knowing this was going to happen, Jesus
responded by washing Judas' feet. Every anointed leader will have a
Judas experience at one time or another. God watches us to see how we
will respond to this test. Will we take up an offense? Will we
retaliate? It is one of the most difficult tests to pass.
Power-Power is the opposite of servanthood. Jesus had all authority in
Heaven and earth, so satan tempted Jesus at the top of the mountain to
use His power to remove Himself from a difficult circumstance. How will
we use the power and influence God has entrusted to us? Do we seek to
gain more power? There is a common phrase in the investment community,
"He who has the gold rules." Jesus modeled the opposite. He was the
ultimate servant leader.
Greed-This is a difficult one. Money has the ability to have great
influence for either good or bad. When it is a focus in our life, it
becomes a tool of destruction. When it is a by-product, it can become a
great blessing. Many leaders started out well-only to be derailed once
prosperity became a part of their life. There are thousands who can
blossom spiritually in adversity; only a few can thrive spiritually
under prosperity.
As leaders, we must be aware when we are being tested. You can be
confident that each one of these tests will be thrown your way if God
calls you for His purposes. Will you pass these tests? Ask for God's
grace today to walk through these tests victoriously.

MOVE ON

2011-02-28T12:39:00.002+01:00

..."Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on." - Exodus 14:15

Moses had brought the whole nation of Israel, approximately 600,000, to
a dead end in the desert. The only thing between Israel and Pharaoh's
pursuing army was the Red Sea. This was after nine plagues God had
inflicted on Pharaoh to motivate him to free the Israelites. Finally,
Pharaoh had freed Moses and the people, and they left Egypt. They
thought they were home free. "Freedom at last," they said. But God did a
strange thing. He directed Moses to take a route that led to the Red
Sea, instead of the northern route around the Red Sea. God explained
that He didn't want them fighting the enemies they would have
encountered on this route. But still, there was the issue of the Red
Sea.
They finally arrived at the Red Sea, and the people were wondering where
they would go from there. News hit the camp: Pharaoh had changed his
mind. He was coming after them with his army. Panic set in. The
defenseless Israelites cried out, "Was it because there were no graves
in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?...It would have been
better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" (Ex.
14:11b-12)
God sometimes brings each of us to a "Red Sea" in our life. It may be a
work problem that can't be solved. It may be a marriage that seems to be
failing. It may be a debilitating disease. Whatever your Red Sea, God
tells us one thing: "Keep moving." The Red Sea was before them, yet God
was angered at Moses and told him to "Keep moving."
"But Lord, the Red Sea is before me." "Keep moving." When we live by
sight, we act on what we see. God sets this stage in dramatic fashion.
God is into the dramatic. There is no way out without God here. That is
just the way He wants it. No one will get glory except God.
A friend once admonished me when I was in the midst of a marriage
separation, "You must not withdraw from
being proactive in your faith just because of this trial that you are
in. God's hand is on your life. There are too many who are depending on
you to fulfill the purposes God has in your life. Keep moving! Keep
investing yourself in others." I didn't feel like it. I was in too much
pain. But I did it anyway. God met me at the point of my greatest need
once I decided simply to be obedient. Getting past myself by investing
myself in others helped heal the pain. There is great healing when we
look past our own problems and seek to invest ourselves in others for
the sake of Christ. This is when our own Red Seas become parted. We
begin to walk to freedom. But we will never experience the miracle of
the Red Sea in our lives if we don't first "Keep moving."

PERFORMING MIRACLES WITH YOUR STAFF

2011-02-25T08:07:00.001+01:00

"But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs
with it."- Exodus 4:17

What is the staff God has put into your hand? Is it being a builder? Is
it being an office worker? Is it being a doctor? Moses' staff
represented his vocation as a shepherd. God had something in mind for
his vocation - to perform miracles. And awesome miracles He did! God
turned the Nile river into blood with the touch of the staff. He turned
the staff into a snake. He parted the Red Sea with it. These are just a
few of the miracles God did with that staff.
When we yield our talents and abilities to the Lord, God can perform
miracles through them. First, Moses had to yield what He had in his
hand to God. Only after this took place could God use that staff. As long as
Moses held onto it, God could not and would not perform miracles
through it.
Until we come to this place with our heavenly Father, we will fail to
see miracles performed in our work. He delights in showing His power
through us. When we become an open vessel, we can expect to see things
happen.
Have you given your staff to the Lord? Offer it to Him and see what He
might want to do through it. Your life will never be the same.

MARITAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION

2011-02-23T08:35:00.001+01:00

Confrontations are unavoidable in marriage. But the most important
factor in marital harmony isn't whether you get into a confrontation,
but how you handle the confrontations. James gives us God's formula for
handling marital debates: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man
be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19).
Three Don'ts of Conflict Resolution:
Here are three things from which to steer as you find yourself in
inevitable marital conflicts.
1. Don't Practice Avoidance. Do you avoid all conflict with your spouse?
Perhaps you are frightened of your spouse's anger. Perhaps you don't
want to lose an argument or you're afraid an argument will ruin your
marriage. Could it be that you're terrified you'll have to admit
something about yourself that you'd rather keep silent. Or are you so
afraid of seeing a problem inside yourself, that you just retreat?
Avoiding conflict never solves conflict; it only postpones the
inevitable. You may stuff it and repress it, but your stomach will keep
score. Don't practice avoidance. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6).
2. Don't practice appeasement. Some people don't avoid conflict; they
appease. They automatically concede, in every discussion. One person
always wins; one always loses. One person always dominates; the other
simply gives in and gives ground. Godly compromise happens when both
spouses give a little. But appeasement is something else. Appeasers may
think they solve problems, but they don't.
Appeasement smolders in the heart like oily rags in a closet. They can
break out and burn the house down. What's more, appeasers are given to
self pity. They develop martyr complexes. They feel trapped because they
know they'll never win. And while marriages with appeasers may stay
together, they often suffer from emotional divorce, which is as tragic
as physical divorce.
3. Don't practice aggression. You must face your partner, but don't
attack. There are few problems husbands and wives can't solve if they
will attack the problem, rather than each other. The Bible says, you
must speak the truth in love (see Ephesians 4:15). To attack the
problem, choose your time wisely.
Psychologists say that 90 percent of family arguments begin just before
mealtime, when your blood sugar is low. Another time not to bring up
problems is on the way to a social event or to church. "A soft answer
turneth away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1). The right time. The right tone. The
right turf. All three are so important.
Three Do's of Conflict Resolution
1. Practice accommodation. We all want our partners to change. But we
need to focus on ourselves. The most effective way to change your
partner is to change you. Because when you change, your partner has to
react to someone different. To change yourself, practice accommodation.
Suppose a wife says, "My husband and I don't spend enough time together.
He doesn't give me enough time." How can she accommodate her husband?
She could learn a sport he loves - that they can play together. That way
she gets what she deeply desires: time with her husband, but she does so
by accommodating herself to him.
2. Practice acceptance. By practicing accommodation, you say, "I
change." By practicing acceptance, you say, "My spouse might never
change. I accept it. I accept my partner." There are simply certain
things we have to accept about others. We're different.
In my wife's family, the Gentry household, there were never jokes and
witticisms. In the Rogers' household, they flew back and forth all the
time. I thought if you loved somebody, you showed that by teasing him or
her. To Joyce, you say what you mean and mean what you say. Who's right?
Nobody, of course. We're just different.
3. Practice adjustment. This is the best "do" of all. In accommodation,
I change. In acceptance, I make up my mind to love my spouse despite the
fact that he or she can't change. But in adjustment, we both change
together. And when that happens, it's wonderful.
Joyce turns into a pumpkin about 9 p.m. The longer I go, the faster my
engine runs, but it's hard to get the bed off my back in the morning! On
the other hand, Joyce wakes up immediately and starts singing. Now what
do you do when you have a lark and an owl married to each other? You
practice adjustment.
Practice accommodation, practice acceptance and practice adjustment.
Those are the ways to resolve conflicts.

MY GOD SHALL PROVIDE

2011-02-21T16:35:00.001+01:00

"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious
riches in Christ Jesus."- (Philippians 4:19)

Have you ever gone through a time of complete dependence on God
for your material needs? Perhaps you lost a job and could not
generate income on your own. Perhaps you got sick and could not
work. There are circumstances in our lives that can put us in
this place.
When God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt through the
desolate desert, they had no ability to provide for themselves.
God met their needs supernaturally each day by providing manna
from Heaven. Each day they would awake to one day's portion of
what they needed. This was a season in their lives to learn
dependence and the faithfulness of God as provider. By and by,
they entered the Promised Land. When they did, God's
"supernatural provision" was no longer required. "The manna
stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was
no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of
the produce of Canaan" (Josh. 5:12). In both cases God was the
provider of the need.
For most of us, we derive our necessities of life through our
work. Like the birds of the fields we are commanded to go out and
gather what God has already provided. It is a process of
participation in what God has already provided. Sometimes it
appears it is all up to us; sometimes it appears it is all up to
God. In either case we must realize that the Lord is our
provider; the job is only an instrument of His provision. He
requires our involvement in either case.
You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands
have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your
God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth,
and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers,
as it is today (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).
Acknowledge the Lord as the provider of every need you have
today. He is a faithful provider.

KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE

2011-02-20T19:42:00.001+01:00

As children, many of us played "the gossip game." After forming a line,
the child at the beginning would tell his neighbor a story. Then, the
narrative would be passed down, with each child having the opportunity
to hear and relay the message.
The point to the game was to see how the story had changed by the time
it reached the end of the line. Interestingly enough, the final tale was
rarely similar to what was said at the beginning.
Sadly, the Gospel can be distorted in the same manner. When Jesus
ascended into heaven, He commanded the disciples to spread His Word
throughout a lost and sinful world. His message of truth was untainted,
one hundred percent pure.
They followed Jesus' command, but, as the Gospel spread, the opportunity
for error arose. Wherever the apostles preached, false teachers would
quickly follow, instructing the early church to obey legalistic rules
and regulations that God Himself did not require.
Two thousand years have passed since Jesus walked the earth. With this
inevitable passage of time comes more opportunity for God's truth to be
distorted. Teachers from all faiths are prepared to tell you whatever
you want to hear. Paul warned Timothy about this when he wrote:
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but
wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves
teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their
ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
False doctrine is rampant in our world. We are surrounded by beliefs and
guidelines that fail to match up with the litmus test that is the Word
of God. The Lord not only wants us to come to know Him as Savior, He
also desires that all men "come to the knowledge of the truth" (1
Timothy 2:3-4).
In the Great Commission, Jesus commands His followers to reach the world
with His Gospel. But how are we as Christians to spread His Word if we
do not understand what we believe?
The Apostle Peter tells Christians to:
Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a
defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is
in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so
that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good
behavior in Christ will be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:15-16)
Even as false doctrine was widespread in Peter's day, he realized that
believers would always be tempted with the lure of doctrinal error. In 2
Peter 2:1-3, he says:
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also
be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive
heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift
destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and
because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their
greed they will exploit you with false words.
In order to defend our faith from false doctrine, we must first examine
our beliefs. We shouldn't read through the Bible only to pull out verses
that confirm what we already hold true. Instead, we should take all of
what we believe and examine it against the entirety of truth found in
the Bible. Are your beliefs firmly set in the Word of God?
If someone asked you, "tell me about the Bible," what would you say? If
they asked you why baptism is important, what would you tell them? If
you were asked to explain the Trinity, how would you answer?
We should be entrenched and deeply rooted in God's Word, formulating a
mental grid of beliefs in our minds. If we understand the Bible's truth,
false teaching will not infiltrate this mental grid. God will alert us
to error, allowing us to eliminate untruths from our understanding of
His Word.
Why should you want to defend your beliefs? The world may tell you that
as long as you believe something, then you will be okay. This is not
true. When we believe the truth-the Bible-we are:
Prevented from being misled by false doctrine
Protected from those who attack our faith
Prepared to answer those who are honestly seeking truth
Persuasive in our expression and presentation of what we believe
Prosperous in our personal relationship with Christ
We are surrounded by those who are eager to tell us that salvation is
based on works and legalistic rules, that Christ was a "great teacher"
but not the Son of God, that Jesus is not coming again, and that baptism
is the only requirement to being saved.
Rarely will we find someone that believes exactly as we do. However, if
their values are not rooted in the Word of God, then they are adhering
to false doctrine.
Jude tells us that false teachers are like "clouds without water,
carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead,
uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam;
wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever"
(Jude 1:12-13).
There are thousands of teachers that are attempting to sell us something
that sounds good and appeals to our "sensuality." However, when we are
grounded in the principles of the Bible, we can wisely discern the
difference between truth and error.
In a world saturated with untruth, let God guide you to all the answers
that you seek. Know what you believe!

MOTIVATIONS TO CALL

2011-02-16T11:04:00.000+01:00

..."Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." - Mark 10:49

Do you recall the circumstances when God first called you into
relationship with Him? Were you in need of something? Were you in a
crisis situation? Every day God calls someone into relationship with Him
through different circumstances. More often than not, the circumstances
relate to a need in their life that only God can meet.
Bartimaeus had the need to see again. He was a poor blind beggar, who
had heard about Jesus and the miracles He had done. The crowds rebuked
him for seeking Jesus, yet he continued to cry out. "Many rebuked him
and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David,
have mercy on me!'...Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and
came to Jesus" (Mk. 10:48,50). That day, Bartimaeus saw for the first
time. But more than that, he saw with spiritual eyes for the first time.
Each workday, we rub shoulders with someone who has not met this Jesus
we know personally. God uses needs to draw us to Himself. What need has
He placed in a coworker that only Christ can meet? Perhaps you are the
instrument He wants to use to introduce that person to Himself. It
requires availability and a willingness to look for people with needs;
then point them to Christ to meet their needs. Pray for divine
appointments today.
There are four types of Christians in the workplace. Which one are you?
Read Os Hillman's article Four Types of Christians in the Workplace.
Send an email to 4types@quicktell.com for a free article.

LOVE AT NO COST

2011-02-14T11:57:00.002+01:00

While society has changed greatly since creation, one thing has
remained
constant: man's desperate desire for love. As far back as Adam and Eve,
man has constantly sought after an ultimate connection.
Modern society is no different when it comes to the need to be loved,
evident in the glitz and glamour of the world around us. If you listen
to any music station on the radio, at some point you'll likely hear a
love song that includes the ageless romantic mantra, "I'll be there for
you." The recent reality show craze on television has focused on
society's inherit longing for love. Similarly, every February 14th we
load up our credit cards with material displays of affection-roses,
chocolates, and exquisite dinners.
From a relationship standpoint-whether it is marriage, friendship,
family, or dating-it's assuring to know that there is someone out there
who always has our best interests in mind. But how often do we display
that same unconditional attitude towards those we love?
Thomas Merton said, "Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one
loved. It leaves all the other secondary effects to take care of
themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward." Yet, how often do we
view love as something to be bartered for, rather than something to be
freely given?
One of the most poignant examples of unconditional love comes from Luke
15-the story of the Prodigal Son (also referred to as "The Parable of
The Forgiving Father"). In this parable, Jesus describes a young man
who
takes his father's inheritance, runs away, and spends it all on "loose
living" (v. 13). Penniless and driven to the point of working in a hog
pen, the boy realizes that even his father's servants have ample
food-something which he lacks.
Returning home, expecting to be cast off to live in servitude, the
young
man discovers that his father welcomes him with open arms. (v. 20)
Instead of lecturing his son or delegating him to servant status, the
father requests the best clothing, sacrifices a "fatted calf," and
extravagantly celebrates the boy's return. (v. 23)
In telling the story of the Prodigal Son, Christ describes the
characteristics of God's love, while also illustrating the standard by
which we should treat each other. The parable gives six characteristics
of unconditional love: acceptance, touch, quality time, giving, acts of
service, and encouragement.
The father wholeheartedly accepts his son, and even runs to meet the
young man outside. (v. 20) The father could have cast him off, refusing
his return because of the son's ungratefulness. Yet, with open arms, he
offers a warm welcome.
Upon reaching his son, he hugs and kisses the young man-demonstrating
his love through physical touch. As the boy explains his guilt and
humility, the father listens and allows him to vent his feelings of
shame and frustration. The father gives quality time.
He also gives the young man gifts-a new robe, ring and sandals. This
act of giving is an outward display of his affection. In addition, he
serves by sacrificing the fatted calf and throwing a party. He chooses to make
his son's return an event to celebrate.
Finally, the father provides encouragement, assuring him that though he
was once dead, he is now alive-a reminder of the restored relationship
we experience with God when we ask for forgiveness. (v. 24)
Now these are certainly characteristics of God's love for us, but they
are also the ideals that God wants us to follow in our relationships
with others. Consider the relationships in your life-how often do you
express your love and gratitude through these characteristics?
One of the most important things to remember is that love is not a
feeling; it is a decision, a commitment. God chooses to love us, not
based on anything we do, but based on His holiness. He chooses to love
us unconditionally in spite of our sin.
When we love others based on commitment and not our fickle emotions,
then our relationships will become much more stable and grounded.
Feelings will always change. A commitment grounded in unconditional
love will never change.
Our relationship with God is clearly evident through our relationships
with others. By striving to treat others as God treats us, we can begin
to realize what He has in store for our lives. As Henry Ward Beecher
said, "I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love."

LOSING YOUR LIFE FOR HIS PURPOSE

2011-02-11T09:39:00.001+01:00

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for Me will save it." - Luke 9:24

When the time came for God to fulfill Joseph's dreams, Joseph himself
had virtually no interest at all in it. Jesus said, "For whoever wants
to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will
save it" (Lk. 9:24). God wants to teach us a different set of values so
that the kind of thing we start out wanting becomes secondary. God has
something in mind for us that is far greater than the interest we began
with.
Joseph's day of exaltation had arrived. Yet, through it all, a very
real humiliation had to take place. We know about the humiliation Joseph had
experienced for 13 years after being sold by his brothers into slavery,
then taken to Egypt. We know how he was falsely accused and cast into
prison.
Then came a different situation. Joseph had had a triumph and was given
an exaltation, but the kind he really never asked for. He did not
appear to be all that interested in what was about to happen. He watched as
the Pharaoh took his ring off his finger and put it on Joseph's finger.
Joseph never asked for that. All he wanted was to go home. He longed to
go back to Canaan, to see his father, and to have his dreams fulfilled.
Therefore, here we find an extraordinary incongruity: a humiliation in
the heart of vindication. A triumph that was the opposite of everything
he, himself, could have envisaged. Joseph wanted to go home, but a
one-way ticket to Canaan wasn't available. Before he knew it, he had
Egypt in his hip pocket. He had never prayed for that. But God wanted
Egypt. What God wanted is what Joseph got.
Joseph was given something that he could be trusted with because it
didn't mean that much to him.

MOVING WITH THE CLOUDS

2011-02-09T11:32:00.001+01:00

"Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out." - Numbers 9:21b

God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, and they had to pass through
the desert on their way to the Promised Land. God was their guide by
means of a cloud that appeared overhead. When it moved, they moved. When
it stopped, they stopped - sometimes a day, a week, even a year.
Imagine living with the uncertainty of this situation. One day you work
at getting your "house" in order, only to have to pick up the stakes and
move. Your ability to plan is totally gone. But even greater is the
temptation to move when the cloud did not move because you felt it was
time to move. For the Israelites, perhaps the grass was no longer green.
Perhaps the water was not easily accessible. Perhaps the bugs were a
problem. Whatever the case, they were strictly prohibited from moving if
the cloud did not move.
It is still the same today. We are not to move unless the Holy
Spirit instructs us to do so. We are not to make that business deal on
the basis of whether or not it makes sense, but on the leading of the
Holy Spirit's "cloud" in our life. It is a difficult process to move
only when we are directed, and to remain if we are not. The pressure is
always upon us to move, to plan, to act. But if we act, we may move into
a place where the presence of God may not be. Hence, the rub. The
Christian workplace believer must learn to move when God says move; it
is a sign of complete surrender and dependence on God's Spirit to direct
our steps.
Ask God today if you are sitting under His cloud. Or, have you moved
when He said stand still? He will show you.

MAKING THE LORD OUR BANNER

2011-02-07T14:04:00.001+01:00

"Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner." - Exodus 17:15

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. God
instructed Moses to stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in
his hand. Moses' staff represented something that God said He would use
to bring glory to Himself. The staff represented what Moses had done for
most of his life - shepherding. It was his vocation. When God first
called Moses at the burning bush, He told him to pick up the staff; He
would perform miracles through it.
God wants to perform miracles through each of our vocations. At
Rephidim, God defeated the Amalekites only when Moses held his staff to
Heaven. It was a symbol of dependence and acknowledgment that Heaven was
the source of the Israelites' power. When he dropped his hand, the power
was removed and they began to lose the battle.
Each day we are challenged to reach toward Heaven and allow God to be
the source of victory in the workplace or be defeated. God calls us to
let His banner reign over the workplace so that others may know the
source of our victory. "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Write this on a
scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it,
because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under
heaven' " (Ex. 17:14). The Lord wants those behind us and around us to
know that He is the source of our power and success. With each victory
is a testimony that is to be shared with our children and our
associates.
Is the Lord your banner today? Reach toward Heaven today and let His
banner wave over your work so that He might receive glory from your
life.

THE PITFALL OF BEING ENTREPRENEURIAL

2011-02-04T08:20:00.002+01:00

"When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his
hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger
burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his
hand on the ark...." - 1 Chronicles 13:9-10

There are good things we can do, but only God-things we should do.
Those activities not born out of the Spirit will result in wood, hay, and
stubble. What seems good in our eyes may be an abomination in God's
eyes. For instance, if you decide to build an orphanage but God has
never directed you to do so, then God will not see that work as good;
it was born out of your own strength, even though it was a "good work."
The most difficult challenge a Christian workplace believer will ever
have is to know what things to be involved in and what things not to be
involved in. Many workplace believers have a great ability to see
opportunity. What appears to be a "slam dunk" may come back to haunt us
if God never ordains us to enter that arena.
There are many good things we can be involved with. However, there are
God-things we are supposed to be involved with. Uzzah was a good man in
David's sight. It was a time of celebration, and David and the people
were transporting the ark of God. However, the ark hit a bump, and
Uzzah reached for the ark to hold it steady. He touched the ark, and he
immediately died. David became very upset with God about this
situation;he questioned whether he could serve God.
God's ways are not our ways. The most important quality God desires to
develop in us is our dependence on Him and Him alone. When we begin to
make decisions based on reason and analysis instead of the leading and
prompting of the Holy Spirit, we get into trouble with God. David later
learned the importance of this principle in his own life. This
encounter was one of the stepping-stones in his pilgrimage. David was an
extraordinary entrepreneur. He ran the nation very successfully, but
he,like each of us, had to learn the difference between "good things" and
"God-things."
Are you involved in anything in which God has not directed you to be
involved? Do you seek God about every decision, every action before you
take it? This is where God wants you and me to be. Ask Him to show you
how to walk with Him in this way.

MIXING FAITH WITH COMMERCE

2011-02-02T20:12:00.001+01:00

"Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little
oil."
2 Kings 4:2b

Her husband had died. There was no way to fulfill her debts. Her
creditors decided to take her two sons as slaves for payment of the
obligations that still remained. She pleaded for assistance with the
only man of God she knew.
"Is there anything in your house?" Elisha asked.
"Nothing at all," she said, "except a little oil."
Elisha then instructed her to go and collect all the empty jars that her
neighbors might possess. "Ask for as many as you can," he instructed.
When the jars were collected, he instructed her to pour what little oil
she had into the jars. The oil was more than enough to fill the jars. In
fact, there was more oil than jars to fill. "Go, sell the oil and pay
your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left" (2 Kings 4:7b).
God often mixes faith with the tangible. The widow believed she had no
resources to meet her need. God said she had more than enough resources.
She did not see the one jar of oil as a resource. It did not become a
resource until it was mixed with faith. Her need was met when her faith
was mixed with the practical step of going into the workplace to sell
what she had in order to receive her needed income. In fact, there was
so much income she was able to pay her debts and live on the money
derived from the sale.
Quite often we forget that God works through commerce to provide for our
needs. It is wrong to place total trust in commerce without faith in
God. God often requires simple obedience to an act that seems ridiculous
to the logical mind. It is this faith mixed with the practical that God
honours.
Do you have a problem that is perplexing to you? Do you see no way of
meeting your need? God may have already given you the skills and talents
to meet your need. However, He may be waiting for you to mix them with
faith. Ask God to show you the steps necessary to solve your problem. Be
willing to take the next step.

BACK TO THE BASIC: MARRIAGE AS GOD'S DESIGN

2011-01-31T08:51:00.005+01:00

How should we as Christians react to the current issues surrounding
homosexual marriage? A clear understanding of God's purposes for
marriage helps us understand what's at stake if our culture redefines
what He originally created.
If you feel flustered when someone asks you to explain your views on the
issue of homosexual marriage, you are not alone. Many Christians may
perceive instinctively that gay marriage threatens the "sanctity" of
marriage and the world their children will live in, but what does that
mean?
Let's start by recalling God's blueprints that we find in Scripture.
When we speak of the "sanctity of marriage," we mean to say that
marriage is a holy and sacred institution created not by man, but by
God. That means it's not ours to tamper with or redefine.
Our authority is the Scripture. Two different passages in the first two
chapters of Genesis tell of the purposes God set forth for marriage. The
first is Genesis 1:26-28: Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness ... God created man in His own image, in the
image of God He created him; male and female He created them ... and God
said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth ..."
1. Mirroring God's Image
The first critical purpose for marriage described here is to mirror
God's image. The Hebrew word for "mirror" means to reflect God, to
magnify, exalt and glorify Him. We are to be God's representatives to a
world that desperately needs to see who He is.
The union of a man and woman reflects the image of God by forming a
picture of the intimate relationship between Jesus Christ and His
followers. This is a theme that appears throughout the New Testament in
passages such as Ephesians 5:22-33. A husband's love and sacrifice for
his wife, for example, are pictures of Christ's love and sacrifice for
the Church.
Homosexuals have suggested for years that their practice is an
acceptable alternative lifestyle. Yet God makes it clear in Scripture
that homosexuality is not part of His design - it's actually rebellion
against the Designer. Romans 1:21-27 tells us that, as humans failed to
honor God, "God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women
exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the
same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and
burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing
indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of
their error."
2. Multiplying a Godly Legacy
A second purpose for marriage is found in Genesis 1:28 when God commands
Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth ..." The
most obvious aspect of this command is that God designed male and female
to join physically and reproduce children. Procreation is an integral
part of God's design for marriage.
In addition, God set up the family as a nurture center where children
grow up to learn character, values, and integrity. Psalm 78 instructs
parents to teach their children to "... put their confidence in God and
not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments ..."
Male-male or female-female relationships cannot produce children unless
something is done to assist them. While it is true that gay couples can
raise children, and can adopt needy children ... they will not multiply
a godly legacy when they are living in rebellion to God.
3. Mutually Completing One Another
Another of God's purposes for marriage is found in Genesis 2:18-24: Then
the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make
him a helper suitable for him." ... The Lord God fashioned into a woman
the rib which He had takenfrom the man, and brought her to the man. The
man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She
shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." For this
reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his
wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Adam was in isolation in the Garden of Eden, and so God created woman
for him. In 1 Corinthians 11:11, the Apostle Paul echoes the teachings
in Genesis 2 when he writes: "However, in the Lord, neither is woman
independent of man, nor is man independent of woman."
Male and female were created to be complementary to one another in every
way - from their emotional and spiritual needs to their anatomical
structure. The physical act of a husband and wife becoming one within
marriage is easily understood. They were designed by God for one
another.
However, two men or two women were not designed by God to become one
flesh with one another. The physical joining of two men or two women is
not a natural act.
Speak the truth in love
As you interact, balance truth with love and compassion.
No doubt you have joined most of America in watching news footage of
homosexuals coming out of the courthouse doors- new marriage license in
hand - and celebrating their "marriage" with a big kiss for the cameras.
How did that make you feel?
Now read instructions from Colossians 3:5-8: ... consider the members of
your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things
that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in
them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you
also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive
speech from your mouth.
This passage makes it clear that God's wrath is coming one day on those
who are the sons of disobedience, those who practice immorality, and
those who indulge in lustful passion. But without skipping a beat, it
also instructs us to not respond to those practices with anger, wrath,
malice, slander, or abusive speech.
The Bible doesn't stop there. Colossians 3:12-14 tells us: So, as those
who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with
one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against
anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all
these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
To be honest, the Christian response to the homosexual movement in our
country has often not been Christ-like. Not only is God displeased, but
also our views are easily dismissed when our opponents see anger and
disgust rather than kindness and compassion. Try these two steps before
you speak out on this issue:
Step One: Look in the Mirror
Before engaging homosexuals, ask for forgiveness for the things
Christians have said, done, or thought about homosexuals.
Jesus is very clear in His instructions to us. Before we stand to
address the sin we see in the life of another person, we need to spend
some time in front of the mirror (Matthew 7:4-5 and Galatians 6:1-2).
The reality is, there is enough sexual sin present in the church today
that we may find ourselves disqualified from being able to address
sexual sin in others. A fresh look at our own sexual sinfulness should
drive us to the foot of the cross, where we can again find hope and
forgiveness. Now, as those who have received the grace of God, we are
ready to offer it to others.
Step Two: Cultivate Compassion
Remember Jesus' encounter with a woman who was guilty of sexual sin?
John 8:1-11 tells the story of the religious leaders who brought a woman
to Christ who had been caught in the act of adultery. How did He
respond?
First, He rebuked the self-righteous religious leaders; He knew that
they were not motivated by compassion or kindness. He then turned to the
woman and with humility and gentleness, granted her forgiveness, and
exhorted her to holiness.
In the place of hearts that are full of anger and contempt for those who
practice homosexuality, God wants to cultivate in us a heart for those
who are living broken lives - whether they realize it or not. We are not
ready to speak to this issue until our hearts are broken for the person
who is caught in the snare of homosexual sin.
Remember the parable of the unmerciful slave? In Matthew 18:23-25, Jesus
tells of a man whose master had forgiven a huge debt. This man then
refused to forgive someone who owed him a little. Christ has forgiven us
of our great sin. How can we do anything but to humbly hold out the same
grace to others who are caught in sin?
In the months and years to come, some people who have either sampled or
participated actively in homosexual activities will be looking for a way
to deal with their shame and their guilt. They are going to be looking
for a way out of the lifestyle. Would these people even think to look to
the church for help?
Would they think of us as "kind people who really care about me" or as
angry, hate-filled men and women who will only make them feel more
ashamed of where they have been? Let's make sure that as we stand for
truth, we do it in a way that honors Christ.

MAMA

2011-01-31T08:51:00.002+01:00

LIVING AS IF YOU WERE DEAD

2011-01-28T09:48:00.001+01:00

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ
Jesus." - Romans 6:11

What are the things that arouse the strongest emotions in you? Perhaps
it is a rude motorist who cuts you off in traffic. Perhaps it is the
anger you feel when you are wrongfully accused. Perhaps it is
frustration that results from not having enough money to meet perceived
needs. When do emotions turn into sin?
Whenever our peace is upset over events and circumstances in life, we
have moved past emotions into sin. Sin says that circumstances of life
now dictate anxiety, worry, fear, or anger. Consider the attributes of a
dead man. He does not get angry when slandered. He does not worry about
the future. He does not fear what can be done to him. Why? Because he is
dead. Nothing can harm a dead man.
Christ said we are to live as if we are dead - dead to the temptation of
responding to stimuli in our life that are designed to stir up the
sinful nature that resides in each of us. We do not have to respond to
that nature; we can consider it dead. Christ said He is enough. When He
is our all in all, nothing can move us. If we are moved, then Christ is
not our all in all.

WILL YOU ENTER?

2011-01-26T08:16:00.001+01:00

Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his
staff. - (Numbers 20:11)

Will you fulfill the destiny God has for your life? Perhaps you
have never thought about it. God had a perfect plan for Moses to
lead the people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. It's
been said the hardest place to score a touchdown is from the goal
line. You're almost there. But there is something about crossing
over that makes those last few yards the most difficult. Moses
failed at the goal line, and it prevented him from finishing well
a glorious life of service for God.
The people of Israel were complaining that they did not have
water to drink. It was another of many tests for Israel. Moses
inquired of God and God said, "...Speak to that rock before their
eyes and it will pour out its water" (Num. 20:8a). Moses, in his
frustration and anger with the people, began to act on his own
and made a strategic mistake. Instead of speaking to the rock, he
struck the rock twice with his staff. In spite of his
disobedience, the rock poured forth water.
God was calling Moses to a different dimension. Moses was to use
his words to speak the miracle. However, he not only lost his
temper, but he also took credit and dishonored God. He used his
staff, the symbol of his work life as a shepherd, to force the
provision.
When we become callous, we can use our skills and abilities to
force what we believe should happen. We take control. When we do
this, we are in danger of failing to enter the Promised Land of
blessing from God. Living in life's spiritual dimension requires
patience and obedience. Beware of solving problems in your own
strength. God wants to bring you into the Promised Land of His
blessing. But it will require walking in the spiritual dimension.

LEADERSHIP THAT FREES

2011-01-24T15:42:00.000+01:00

"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of
them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the
behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your
lives." - 1 Peter 3:1-2

"I am having a real problem with something that I need input from you
guys," said the lady in our fellowship group. "My husband wants to make
a major purchase that I am opposed to. We cannot afford it right now. I
understand what the Bible says about headship in the home, but what do I
do when I totally disagree with his decision?" The men in the group
looked at each other, realizing the sensitive nature of such a question,
especially in today's society.
Then someone said, "You really only have a few options if you adhere to
the principle that God has entrusted the man as the leader in the home.
God has placed you under the umbrella of His protection as well as your
husband. There are times when he will not make the right decision. Does
that mean God is not protecting you? No. There may be several things
working here. God may be testing your own obedience to this principle.
He may use you to open up your husband's spiritual life due to your
obedience and submissive spirit. Your obedience may cost your family
something, but it will be beneficial in the long term. Your alternative
is to rebel and pay him back for his decision by withholding your love
from him, which is often what a wife does in this situation. It becomes
a vicious circle of paybacks. My suggestion is to tell your husband how
you feel about his decision and the impact you feel it will have on you
and your family. If he still wants to make the purchase, you must let
him do it and support him. What happens next will rest in God's hand as
your ultimate protector."
A few weeks later our sister in Christ came to our meeting. "I have some
wonderful news. We did make the purchase. However, we were able to make
it in such a way that we did not go into debt and I was able to support
my husband. I have already seen a change in his attitude toward me by
the way I responded to him in this. It has been a real lesson for me. I
see him much more open to spiritual things since I made this decision
and supported him, even though I disagreed with it."
God has made man and woman equal in His sight. Yet He has given each a
different role to play in marriage. Husbands must answer to God for
their leadership in the home. They will be judged for that leadership.
When a wife submits to that leadership, God protects her from wrong
decisions of that husband, although sometimes it may not appear that way
at first.
You can trust God to protect you in your decisions that are made in
obedience to His Word.
The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it (1 Thessalonians
5:24).

LIVING FOR A GREATER CAUSE

2011-01-19T16:32:00.000+01:00

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13

What does it mean for workplace believers to live for a cause greater
than themselves in our day and time? Jeremiah Lanphier was a
businessman
in New York City who asked God to do this in his life in 1857.
In a small, darkened room, in the back of one of New York City's lesser
churches, a man prayed alone. His request of God was simple, but
earth-shattering: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" [John
Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press,
1992), 337]
He was a man approaching midlife without a wife or family, but he had
financial means. He made a decision to reject the "success syndrome"
that drove the city's businessmen and bankers. God used this
businessman
to turn New York City's commercial empire on its head. He began a
businessmen's prayer meeting on September 23, 1857. The meetings began
slowly, but within a few months 20 noonday meetings were convening
daily throughout the city. The New York Tribune and the New York Herald
issued articles of revival. It had become the city's biggest news. Now a
full-fledged revival, it moved outside New York. By spring of 1858,
2,000 met daily in Chicago's Metropolitan Theatre, and in Philadelphia
the meetings mushroomed into a four-month long tent meeting. Meetings
were held in Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, New Orleans,
and Mobile. Thousands met to pray because one man stepped out. Annus
Mirabilis, the year of national revival, had begun.
This was an extraordinary move of God through one man. It was unique
because the movement was lead by businessmen, a group long considered
the least prone to any form of evangelical fervor, and it had started
on Wall Street, the most unlikely of all places to begin.
Could God do something extraordinary through you? Take a step. Ask God
to do mighty things through you.

PASSING THE TESTS

2011-01-17T08:17:00.000+01:00

"The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of
your neighbors-to David." - 1 Samuel 28:17b

When God anoints a person, a pattern of testing appears to take place
at specific times in the leader's life. God often takes each leader
through four major tests to determine if that person will achieve God's
ultimate call on his or her life. The person's response to these tests is
the deciding factor in whether they can advance to the next level of
responsibility in God's Kingdom.
Control-Control is one of the first tests. Saul spent most of his time
as king trying to prevent others from getting what he had. Saul never
got to the place with God in which he was a grateful recipient of God's
goodness to him. Saul was a religious controller. This control led to
disobedience and ultimately being rejected by God because Saul no longer
was a vessel God could use.
Bitterness-Every major character in the Bible was hurt by another
person at one time or another. Jesus was hurt deeply when Judas, a trusted
follower, betrayed Him. Despite knowing this was going to happen, Jesus
responded by washing Judas' feet. Every anointed leader will have a
Judas experience at one time or another. God watches us to see how we will
respond to this test. Will we take up an offense? Will we retaliate? It
is one of the most difficult tests to pass.
Power-Power is the opposite of servanthood. Jesus had all authority in
Heaven and earth, so satan tempted Jesus at the top of the mountain to
use His power to remove Himself from a difficult circumstance. How will
we use the power and influence God has entrusted to us? Do we seek to
gain more power? There is a common phrase in the investment community,
"He who has the gold rules." Jesus modeled the opposite. He was the
ultimate servant leader.
Greed-This is a difficult one. Money has the ability to have great
influence for either good or bad. When it is a focus in our life, it
becomes a tool of destruction. When it is a by-product, it can become a great
blessing. Many leaders started out well-only to be derailed once
prosperity became a part of their life. There are thousands who can blossom
spiritually in adversity; only a few can thrive spiritually under
prosperity.
As leaders, we must be aware when we are being tested. You can be
confident that each one of these tests will be thrown your way if God calls
you for His purposes. Will you pass these tests? Ask for God's grace
today to walk through these tests victoriously.

MANAGEMENT BY FORCE

2011-01-14T08:40:00.000+01:00

"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly
together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its
water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they
and their livestock can drink." - Numbers 20:8

Moses and the people had been traveling for days without water. The
people were thirsty. They were complaining and grumbling about their
plight, and Moses became the object of their complaining. Moses sought
the Lord for wisdom on how to handle the situation. The Lord instructed
him to speak to the rock and water would flow. This would be a sign that
God was still in control, that Moses was still the leader, and that God
was their provider.
When it came time to speak to the rock, Moses' disgust with the people
became so great that instead of speaking to the rock, he angrily
addressed the people and then struck the rock twice. The water came out,
in spite of Moses' disobedience. But the Lord was not pleased with
Moses.
This was a time for Moses to operate at a higher level. No longer was he
called to touch things with his staff to perform miracles; it was a time
for him to speak to the problem. His very words would have changed the
situation. Moses' staff represented two things-his physical work as a
shepherd of sheep and his spiritual work as a shepherd of the people.
God was calling him to move into a new dimension of using his staff. Up
to now, Moses had always been commanded by God to touch something to
perform the miracle. Now it was time to speak God's word to the problem.
However, Moses made the mistake many of us make. He used his instrument
with force to accomplish something for God. He took something God wanted
to be used in a righteous manner and used it in an unrighteous manner.
He used force to solve the problem. This disobedience cost Moses his
right to see the Promised Land.
Have you ever been tempted to use your power, skill, and ability to
force a situation to happen, perhaps even out of anger? God is calling
us to use prayer to move the face of mountains. The force of our ability
is not satisfactory. God is calling each of us to a new dimension of
walking with Him. Pray that God will give you the grace to wait on Him
and not take matters into your own hands. Then you will not be in
jeopardy of failing to move into the Promised Land in your life.

HUMILITY IN RELATIONSHIPS

2011-01-12T08:44:00.002+01:00

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
because,"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." - 1 Peter 5:5b

I'll never forget the first time I discovered what a feeling was. It
was in my early forties. Surely not! .you may be thinking. Yes, it is true.
Since then, I have discovered many men still live in this condition. It
took an older mentor to help me understand the difference between
information and a feeling. Wives are frustrated because their husbands
share information, but not their feelings. They want to know what is
going on inside their man. The fact is, most men have not been taught
to identify feelings, much less how to share them. It is something that
men must learn to do because it is not a natural trait. If they do share
their feelings, society often portrays them as weak. No man willingly
wants to be portrayed as weak.
In order to become an effective friend and leader, one must learn to be
vulnerable with others and develop an ability to share feelings. It is
a vital step to becoming a real person with whom others can connect
emotionally. This is not easy to do if your parents did not teach you
to share your emotional life with others. Emotional vulnerability is
especially hard for men. Author Dr. Larry Crabb states,
Men who as boys felt neglected by their dads often remain distant from
their own children. The sins of fathers are passed on to children,
often through the dynamic of self-protection. It hurts to be neglected, and
it creates questions about our value to others. So to avoid feeling the
sting of further rejection, we refuse to give that part of ourselves we
fear might once again be received with indifference. When our approach
to life revolves around discipline, commitment, and knowledge [which
the Greek influence teaches us] but runs from feeling the hurt of unmet
longings that come from a lack of deeper relationships, then our
efforts to love will be marked more by required action than by liberating
passion. We will be known as reliable, but not involved. Honest friends
will report that they enjoy being with us, but have trouble feeling
close. Even our best friends (including spouses) will feel guarded
around us, a little tense and vaguely distant. It's not uncommon for
Christian leaders to have no real friends.
If this describes you, why not begin on a new journey of opening up
your life to others in a way that others can see who you really are? It
might be scary at first, but as you grow in this area, you will find new
freedom in your life. Then, others will more readily connect with you.

KNOWING OUR LIMITS

2011-01-10T12:38:00.000+01:00

"He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases
fantasies will have his fill of poverty." - Proverbs 28:19

Webster's defines entrepreneur: "one who organizes, operates, and
assumes the risk in a business venture." [Merriam-Webster's Collegiate
Dictionary, Tenth ed. (Springfield, Massachusetts, 1993),
"entrepreneur."] Entrepreneurs can smell an opportunity a mile away.
However, what is often their greatest asset can become their greatest
downfall. The road is littered with entrepreneurs who have been
successful in one venture only to fail in countless others. Is this the
natural way for an entrepreneur, or is there a better way?
King David was an entrepreneur. He grew up as a shepherd boy and later
became Israel's greatest warrior. He responded to opportunities, like
the time when no one would fight Goliath. He saw this as an opportunity.
He ultimately became king of Israel and faced many opportunities placed
before him. David learned an important lesson somewhere along the way
that each of us as workplace believers should learn.

As an entrepreneur the greatest danger is engaging ourselves in
activities in which God never intended us to be involved. This is poor
stewardship of what God has entrusted to us. When the Philistines
attacked David, he always inquired of God as to if and when he was to
counterattack. When he was attacked a second time on one occasion, David
inquired of God as to whether he was to attack yet. This time God said
yes, but with a condition, "Wait until you hear the sound of marching in
the balsam trees" (see 2 Sam. 5:24). This story tells us that David had
learned an important lesson about staying vertical in his relationship
with God at all times. David had learned the important principle of
staying focused on what God wanted for him, not what seemed logical. He
was an opportunist, but only through the filter of the Holy Spirit in
his life.
How do you approach opportunities? Do you consider the merits of the
opportunity only? Or do you inquire of God as to whether He desires you
to pursue? It may be a wonderful opportunity, but it may not be God's
will for you to be involved. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you as you
seek to use the skills He has given you.

LIVING AN OBEDIENCE-BASED LIFE

2011-01-07T08:15:00.000+01:00

"They trusted in Him and defied the king's command and were
willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any
god except their own God." - - (Daniel 3:28)

Have you ever known someone who lived an outcome-based Christian
experience? What I mean by this is that their decisions are made
based on the positive or negative outcome, not on absolute
obedience.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three men who lived an
obedience-based life. When King Nebuchadnezzar passed a law that
said all were to worship his idol, these young men determined
they would not worship anything other than God. You can be sure
these men did not make this decision at the time of the decree.
Their decision actually had been made years earlier. Their
convictions were already in their hearts.
Each of us must come to a place of knowing what our boundaries
are in given situations. What will you tolerate from your
employer? What situation crosses the line for you? Where are the
boundaries for questionable practices in your life? If these are
not worked out ahead, you will live a life of situational ethics,
determining what decision to make based on the merits of the
situation.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to die for what they
believed. In this case, they were delivered from the fiery
furnace. God used their faithfulness to impact a king, and they
were promoted to higher positions.
Are you an obedienced-based Christian? Or are there situations
that can move you based on the outcome? God wants to know that we
will stand firm on the issues that are important to Him, no
matter what the outcome may be. God is looking for those who are
radical in their obedience. Does this describe your commitment to
Christ? If not, pray for this kind of conviction. The Lord will
honor you for this.

KEEPING OATHS

2011-01-05T16:22:00.001+01:00

"This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath
will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them". - Joshua 9:20

Joshua and the people of Israel were in the Promised Land. They were
winning battles and were feeling good about their progress. One day a
band of Gibeonites came by dressed as travelers in order to fool Joshua.
They wanted to make Joshua believe they were merely travelers instead of
enemies. The Gibeonites asked Joshua to make a peace treaty with them.
Since Joshua chose to believe their story, he did just that. That was a
mistake on Joshua's part. The Bible says Joshua did not inquire of the
Lord about the Gibeonites. This forced Joshua to uphold the peace treaty
with the Gibeonites, even though it was made under false pretences.
Keeping our oaths before the Lord is a serious matter. One might think
that Joshua had every right to consider the agreement with the
Gibeonites null and void since it was done on false pretense. However,
Joshua knew how God viewed oaths. He knew that a man's word, once it was
given, should be good as done. There was no reversing it. He also knew
that if he did not keep his oath, he was subject to God's disfavor,
which meant his ways would not be blessed.
Whenever we become a child of God, we represent Him. When His children
follow unrighteousness, He takes this personally. Unrighteousness opens
us up to satan's attack. God's protection shield is removed. So Joshua
knew that if he did not honor his oath, he would be subject to God's
judgement.
Is there any unfulfilled oath you have made to anyone? Ask God this
morning if you have not fulfilled a commitment to anyone. Then, if there
is, go and fulfill. Otherwise, you will be subject to God's judgment for
your unrighteousness.

HUNGERING FOR GOD

2011-01-03T16:29:00.002+01:00

"God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any
who understand, any who seek God". - Psalms 53:2

"Are you coming to the conference?" I asked my friend.
"I really don't understand why I should come to this. How can I really
benefit?" was his response. At that moment, I realized that I was
wasting my time with this man on whom I had invested much throughout his
Christian walk. He was often like a roller coaster-up one minute, down
the next.
"You simply aren't hungry enough," I commented to my friend.
Whenever someone must always rationalize and examine whether the things
of God are beneficial to them, you know that they are not hungry enough
for God. I recall one time when I was in a difficult place. I received
an audiotape from a man who gave me some insights into my problem. I was
hungry enough to book a flight to a city 500 miles away just to meet him
and find out more. My finances were at a very low point, so it took some
real faith to do this. That meeting turned out to be a divine
appointment and became a turning point in my life.
God is looking for men and women who hunger to know Him. When we believe
that we know all we need to know, we are in a dangerous place. God has
placed men and women in the Body of Christ who have had different
experiences and gifts that can be helpful in our own spiritual
pilgrimages. It requires humility of heart to realize that we can learn
from others. We can easily rationalize our business pressures and time
commitments to discount such opportunities.

KINGS AND PRIEST

2010-12-31T07:23:00.001+01:00

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on
the earth." - Revelation 5:10 KJV

The Bible describes two distinct roles in the Old Testament-kings and
priests. Kings were the rulers; priests were the religious leaders. The
New Testament reveals we all are kings and priests because of the
redemptive work of Christ.
Today, kings are most often represented by business and political
leaders, while pastors represent the priestly roles. God calls each of
us to fulfill both roles in our lives today. However, our vocational
roles often create a division that is misunderstood by both workplace
believers and pastors. These misunderstandings have led to a weakened
and less effective Church.
Pastors have been guilty of viewing their workplace believers as dollar
signs. They sometimes see them for what they can contribute to their
ministries instead of equipping them to use their gifts and talents to
impact the workplace believer's mission field-their workplace.
Workplace believers have tried to get pastors to operate their churches
like businesses, and have used their worldly ways for spiritual
purposes. They often view the pastor as the primary ministry worker
instead of taking on the responsibility themselves to do the work of the
ministry.
This is a grievous sin that exists in the Body of Christ, and it
requires repentance from both groups. Unless we recognize this, we will
never see the reality of revival that God wants to bring to the business
community, and pastors will fail to gain an ally to fully complete the
work of the Church in their community.
Are you a pastor who has failed to see the calling that workplace
believers have received to the workplace? If so, ask God to forgive you
for viewing your workplace believers as those to be used for your own
purposes.
Are you a workplace believer who sees your church as another business to
be run based on worldly measurements? Do you see the pastor's role as
one who is primarily responsible for the work of the ministry? If so,
you must repent and ask God to forgive you of this unbiblical view. God
has called both of you to fulfill His purposes together through your
gifts and talents.

INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT

2010-12-29T07:22:00.002+01:00

"' that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God
should be made known '" (v.10)Ephesians 3:1-13.

Today we ask: What does it mean when we say that God is sovereign?
Sovereignty simply means to possess supreme power. What we have to be
careful about when we talk of the sovereignty of God is that we do
not fall for the idea (as some have) that this is God's greatest
attribute; His greatest attribute is love. And because He is love
this means (so I believe) that He delights to have His redeemed
children become involved with Him in bringing His purposes to pass.
Anyone who writes on the subject of revival has to come to a point
where these two great and important truths - the sovereignty of God
and the involvement of man - have to be harmonised. I am at that
point right now. A way of thinking about this issue which has always
satisfied me is to see these two thoughts like two rails that run
from one end of the Scriptures to the other. One rail is the
sovereignty of God and the other, the involvement of man. If you try
to keep to only one rail you finish up being derailed. Those who
focus only on the sovereignty of God inevitably result in minimising
the responsibility of man. And those who focus only on the
responsibility of man end up minimising the sovereignty of God. When
we move along both rails, making sure that we do not place a
disproportionate emphasis on either truth, then we are more likely to
arrive at sound judgements and correct conclusions. God is sovereign
but He is also a loving Sovereign and by virtue of this fact delights
to involve His people in the affairs of government.
PRAYER:
Gracious and loving Father, how can we Your Church sufficiently thank
You for the fact that You love us enough to involve us in Your
government? Help us to see that we are there not because we deserve
it, but because You desire it. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 12:1-19; Luke 1:10; Acts 1:14; 4:24
1. What was the result of corporate prayer?
2. How did the believers respond to Peter's appearance?

DECEMBER 25TH

2010-12-25T10:35:00.000+01:00

“ And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that evil-merodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison, And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life”. - Jeremiah 52:31-34.

To all readers and visitors to this web site I want to share with you the significance of the Christmas day, it is a special day Jesus Christ was born into this world to deliver mankind from his sinful way. I have studied the weather pattern over the years of that particular day the firmaments bear witness to this unique day across all countries and tribes. There is a glory over the surface of the earth while some are having snow, others fog, or harmattan haze.
In the text above King Jehoiachin of Judah was delivered on a Christmas day (in the twelfth month in the five and twentieth day of the month) hundred of years before Jesus was born. Seven significant events will happen in your life on this particular glorious day.
1. Your head will be lifted. You may have been experiencing downward trend in your life, marriage, business and workplace, you will no longer be the tail but the head. God is about changing your situation for the better because Jesus came into the world this same day to deliver you. Everyone that sees you as nobody will begin to see you as somebody very special your head will no longer be bowed but be lifted high.
2. You will be brought out of prison. Some people have been bounded without freedom under bondage of their task masters for quite sometime, you will be set free now just like those that set up Daniel into the lion’s pit, your prisoners will replace you in the prison while you will be set free, Jesus will liberate you and grant you permanent freedom.
3. You will be spoken kindly of. People have used their tongue to describe you negative. God will change their tongue and they will begin to speak well of you, they have said you are useless, good for nothing, cannot make it, never do well, under achiever all this negative qualities they describe you with they will no longer see you that way any more. A change for the better in you they will begin to see and speak of.
4. Your throne above the throne of the kings. You are meant to be a king because the son of a king is also a king, but you reign like a slave, God will dethrone everyone sitting on your throne and enthrone where you belong, to rule and reign in Christ Jesus.
5. Your garment will be changed. The garment you put on which has become a filthy rag casting aspersions at you. The way you dress is the way you will be addressed, you were addressed badly everywhere you turn to, today your garment or robe will change and as a king a sign of royalty is the kings garment. God is removing your present garment and replacing it with a new one.
6. You will continually eat bread. You may be lacking a daily bread but the great provider is already here to provide the bread you will eat all the days of your life. Every lack will be turned to abundance in your life because Jesus was born on this day like no other day.
7. You will be given a continual diet all the days until death. A diet is a food with all essential ingredients needed for growth and development. You might having lacking the essential nutrients needed for you to succeed and become great God is going to provide to you this day those nourishments needed by you for life.

LIVING FORWARD, UNDERSTANDING BACKWARD

2010-12-24T08:04:00.002+01:00

"The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Os Hillman said "When I was in my 20's, I participated in a wilderness-training course in a desert and mountain area. For our "final exam," we were blindfolded,
placed in the back of a pickup truck, and taken to a remote area. We
were dropped off and told to meet back at the camp in three days. We did
not know where we were. We had to determine our location with our
compasses. It was a frightening experience for four young people who had
learned to navigate through the use of a compass only a few days
earlier. With our food and water on our backs, we began our trek. It had
just snowed that morning, so the way was difficult. We walked through
valleys, canyons, snow-covered hills, and forests. In all, we walked
more than 60 miles in three days. There were times when we did not think
we could go another foot. Exhaustion and frostbitten feet were taking
their toll. However, we finally made it to our base camp successfully,
and to our surprise, we were the first ones among the other patrols to
make it back.
At the conclusion of our journey, we were able to stand on top of a
ridge, look behind us and see the beautiful terrain that we had just
scaled. The pain of what we had just endured seemed to subside. We could
not believe we had actually walked through those valleys and snowcapped
hills. There was a sense of accomplishment.
Life is very much like this. It is often lived forward, but understood
backward. It is not until we are down the road a bit that we can
appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual
deposits He has made in our life as a result. When you begin to realize
some of this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know
that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time,
but He was.
Are you in the midst of a difficult journey that seems almost impossible
to continue? Be assured that God is providing grace even now to equip
you for that journey. There will be a time when you can say, "Wow, look
at what God has done because of what I gained through that valley."
Trust Him with the outcome of where you find yourself today.

HARD TIMES OFFER A CHANCE TO GROW

2010-12-22T09:06:00.001+01:00

"God does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of
the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you
done?'" - Daniel 4:35

The economy is in recovery, but most people don't seem to find it very
comforting. They're more preoccupied with the world's political scene
than they are on the rising expectations for corporate earnings. And no
wonder. It's not easy to focus on your investment portfolio when the
news of the day continually reminds us of terrorist threats and the
inadequacies of our homeland security. These are scary and potentially
deadly times.
Most Christians, at one time or another, will ask God why He allows
pain and disappointment to touch His children. When we meet the Lord face to
face, we'll have an opportunity to ask Him in person. I wouldn't be
surprised if part of His answer turns out to be: "Those things happened
because I was answering your prayers, to give you what you asked for!"
Can you imagine God saying to you as His child:
"You prayed that you could become mature, didn't you? I'm teaching you
how to depend on me more."
"You prayed for more faith, didn't you? I'm giving you a chance to
trust
me more."
"You prayed that you might know Me better, didn't you? I'm helping you
to seek Me more."
"You prayed that you might glorify me with your life, didn't you? I'm
refining you more."
When we pray prayers that contain such "spiritual" requests, we can
have confidence we're praying according to God's will. We expect Him to
grant us, in His own timing, these qualities of the Christian life we're
seeking. But I think that subconsciously we might also believe that God
answers them with a kind of supernatural lightning bolt. Something
like,
"Well, bless your heart, dear child, here's all the faith, love and
Christ-likeness you'll ever need." Zap!
Guess what? It doesn't usually work that way.
. Do you want to mature in your Christian walk? Then expect some
suffering. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because
we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;
and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has
poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has
given us." (Romans 5:3-5)
. Do you want to have your faith strengthened? Then expect your faith
to be tested. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)
. Do you want to know God better? Then expect to give up the things of
this world that are holding you back. "I consider everything a loss
compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, so that
I may gain Christ and be found in him... I want to know Christ and the
power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his
sufferings." (Philippians 3:7-10)
. Do you want to receive praise from Him for the life you've lived?
Then expect to go through trials. "In this you greatly rejoice, though now
for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of
trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than
gold,which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and
may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
(1 Peter 1:6-7)
I encourage you to immerse your mind in words that will help you to
know God more intimately, and that will remind you that your God is always
present, invariably loving, inevitably faithful, and absolutely worthy
of all your confidence. Consider this look into God's fatherly heart
found in Jeremiah 32: "I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I
will never stop doing good to them....I will rejoice in doing them
good...with all my heart and with all my soul." (Jeremiah 32:40-41)
The only condition we must meet to be a part of this wonderful covenant
is "to put our hope in Him as the all-satisfying Refuge and Treasure.
God takes pleasure in this response with all His heart, because it
magnifies the glory of His grace and satisfies the longing of our
soul."

INDEPENDENCE THAT LEADS TO SIN

2010-12-20T08:38:00.001+01:00

"So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way
off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran
to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." - Luke 15:20

The two young men had worked for many years in their family business.
One day one of the sons decided he wanted to venture out on his own. He
had been under the employment of his dad's business long enough. He
felt he had learned all he needed to know. He wanted his independence. He
wanted to take his stock options early, which would allow enough
capital to begin on his own. The other son remained behind, working day in and
day out, faithfully doing his job.
The first son went out on his own only to find it was more difficult
than he had ever imagined. The immediate cash gained from the advance
from his dad's business was a temptation that was too great for him. He
spent all of the money, fell into sin, and failed to invest it in
another business. He failed miserably. Finally, he came crawling back
to his dad, seeking to be taken back as a mere laborer. The father took
him back with open arms, fully restoring him to his original place. He
experienced grace and love in a way he had never known before.
When we desire independence so much that we launch out without God's
full blessing, we can expect to fall on our face. When pride enters our
lives, it discourages us from dependence on anyone but ourselves; yet
God says that we are to depend on Him alone. If we think we can go it
alone, we will fail. On the other hand, in spite of the prodigal son's
failure, he learned a great lesson of grace that he had not known
before. This resulted in humility of the heart, which had a lasting
impression for the rest of his life. Therefore, God even turns our
failures into successes spiritually when we are willing to admit our
failure.
Pride always goes before a fall. Check your heart today and ask God if
there is any pride that is encouraging independence from total trust in
God.

IS YOUR CLOCK ON GOD'S TIME?

2010-12-17T09:17:00.002+01:00

A 70-year-old man walks down the aisle to receive his college degree. A
55-year-old woman marries for the first time. A 40-year-old former
housewife settles into a career. Even though it seems as though our
lives follow similar patterns, everyone operates on a different
schedule.
Have you ever known someone who reached a milestone in life at a
non-traditional age? Did you wonder what took so long or assume
something must have been wrong with him or her?
Too often, we get caught up in traditions that tell us when certain
things should be accomplished. Society says we should graduate, start a
career, get married, buy a house, have a child, and retire-in that
order, and each at a certain age. In following guidelines that our
culture sets before us, we tend to rush into life-changing decisions
without considering what God wants for us.
Have you ever wondered why so many people are unhappy with their
careers, why divorce is so rampant, or why people are often completely
unprepared to raise a family?
When we shortcut God's timing and attempt to accomplish our goals within
our own strength and on our own schedule, we will fail every single
time. We will not live a life of contentment or experience the peace
that comes from a sincere understanding of God's purpose.
To truly be in God's will, we must synchronize our clock with God's
clock. We must be willing to do what He asks of us when He asks us to do
it.
The life of Moses is an unmistakable example of the consequences of
shortcutting God's will. Instead of waiting on God's timing, Moses acted
on his own strength: he killed an Egyptian, was forced to flee from
Pharaoh, and remained in relative isolation for forty years. (Exodus
2:11-15)
Moses acted on reason rather than revelation. He asked himself, "What
can I do?" rather than, "What does God want me to do?" His irrational
mind convinced him that he could free two million Hebrews by killing one
Egyptian. He failed to see God's big picture.
Later, when he followed God's schedule, he was able to confront
Pharaoh's army and liberate an entire nation of people. Through Moses,
God performed the supernatural: He parted the Red Sea, defeated an
entire army, and freed the Hebrews.
So how can we apply the knowledge of Moses' life to our own modern
existence? First, we must realize what causes us to get ahead of God:
• Impatience - We aren't willing to wait on God's direction.
• Doubt - We question whether we heard God correctly.
• Pride - We think we can do it on our own or better than God can.
• Selfishness - We expect God to conform to our will.
• Rationalization - If our actions fit "what everyone else is doing," we
believe they are justified.
• Distorted view of God - We fail to realize that He knows all the
answers to our questions, even before we ask them.
Next, we must understand the consequences of following our own desires
and shortcutting God's will:
• Disappointment - Moses experienced the frustration that came from
acting on His own strength rather than waiting on God.
• Disharmony - Conflict and discord will inevitably come from acting on
our strength. For true peace, we must be in communication with Him.
• Denial of God's best - Was God's will accomplished through Moses? Yes.
Did Moses experience God's best? No. Moses spent forty years as a
fugitive because of his actions. Yet God used Moses regardless, and,
ultimately, molded the situation in accordance to His will.
• Spiritual defeat - When we live outside of God's will, we will
constantly experience defeat. Without God, we are relying on our own
flesh; and, as Christ says, "the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). We
cannot win without the Lord.
Finally, we must realize that God will always fulfill His promise to
"cause all things to work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, emphasis
added). When God gives us a promise, we must have:
• Faith - Faith believes the promise. We sincerely believe God will do
what He says.
• Hope - Hope anticipates the promise. We anticipate and look forward to
God acting on His vow.
• Patience - Patience quietly waits on the promise. Even as time
passes-in Moses' case, it was forty years-we must patiently wait on God
and realize He never forgets a promise. He will not overlook you, and He
has an appointed time to act on your needs.
You may think God has passed you by, or that your life is a waste. But,
if you are a believer and are open to God's call, that could not be
further from the truth.
Moses was 80-years-old when God called him into service. Even though he
lived for 120 years, he did not experience the true power of living in
God's will until the final one-third of his life.
Think about that. One of the most recognizable figures in the Bible-an
average man whom God utilized in a manner never seen before or since-did
not discover God's will until two-thirds of his life had passed! And
look at what God was able to accomplish in that final period of Moses'
life!
Does this mean that we should remain idle and apathetic to God until the
twilight of our lives? Of course not. But Moses' life is a clear example
of how God can use us anytime and anywhere, despite what we may have
done in the past and regardless of our circumstances. God can take the
most difficult, painful, or sinful situation and mold it, prune it, and
completely reverse it for His ultimate purpose.
Perhaps you're mired in an adverse situation or struggling with
conforming to society's standardized, inflexible timeline. If so, the
only way you will ever experience true peace is through surrendering
your will to God's timing.
When we're on God's clock, we'll never be late.

HOW DO REVIVALS BEGIN?

2010-12-15T08:12:00.002+01:00

"l you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" - Psalm 85:6

Now that we are at the half-way point in our meditations on revival
we pause for a moment to remind ourselves of some of the points we
have been considering. Revival, we have said, is God bending down to
the dying embers of a fire just about to go out and breathing into it
until it bursts again into flame. The pattern for all revivals is
Pentecost, which was an extraordinary visitation of God accompanied
by extraordinary happenings. God is after the recovery of a
fully-orbed New Testament Christianity and He has invariably used
revivals to this end. The reason why we need revival is because the
Church turns from its first love and falls into decline. And when
revival comes it achieves, sometimes in a few weeks, what could never
have been achieved in years of normal Christian activity. The next
question we must consider is this: How does a revival begin? Is it
something that forms in the minds of devoted Christian people and is
then brought into being through powerful intercessory prayer? Or is
it something that originates in the mind of God and comes down to
earth irrespective of the desires or the prayer life of His people? I
have no hesitation in saying that in my opinion revival begins in the
mind of God. It is something that God plans; men and women have
little to do with it. There are many things that Christians, by
dedicated and committed spiritual effort, can bring to pass in the
Church, but revival is not one of them. For instance, evangelism,
preaching, teaching, and counselling is work that we do for God;
revival is work that God does for us.

PRAYER:
Father, let the wonder of Your sovereignty and power sink deep into
my soul today. Help me see how much bigger and greater You are than
my imagination could ever conceive. In Christ's Name I pray. Amen.

THE WAY OF GOD (GOD'S PREPARATION FOR LEADERS)

2010-12-13T08:45:00.002+01:00

"If My people would but listen to Me...." - Psalm 81:13

God has a specific training ground for leaders. There are three
patterns of preparation that have been common among most of God's leaders.
First,there is a time when the leader is separated from his old life.
Consider Moses, Joseph, Abraham, and Paul. In order for God to mold and shape
them into His nature, it appears that He had to remove them from the
life of comfort. A teacher once said, "You cannot go with God and
remain where you are."
Next, there is usually a time of solitude. God often brings leaders
into a time of solitude in order to speak to them without other
distractions.
Hosea 2:14b says, "I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly
to her." Paul was sent to Arabia for two years for a time of solitude.
Joseph spent years in the solitude of prison. Moses spent 40 years in
the desert herding sheep.
The third characteristic of God's preparation for leaders is
discomfort.
The setting in which the preparation takes place usually is not a place
of comfort. Abraham traveled through the difficult deserts. David lived
in caves fleeing Saul. Paul was frequently persecuted.
Are you ready for the classroom of leadership preparation? If God
chooses to bring you into this class, you may have one of three
reactions to the events.
First, you may say, "I don't need it." Perhaps you know intellectually that you do need this, but God wants you to know it in your heart. Pride prevents us from entering this classroom.
The second reaction may be, "I'm tired of it." You decide you've had
enough.If so, this will disqualify you from leadership.
Finally, God's desired response from us in this preparation is, "I accept it." To accept it with joy is the place of maturity in Christ. God often keeps us in
these places until we come to accept and agree that Jesus is enough. Is He
all you need?
Like the people of Israel, I think we have something to do with the
timetable of our education. "If My people would but listen to Me, if
Israel would follow My ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn My hand against their foes!" (Ps. 81:13-14)
Are you ready for the process required for being a godly leader? Ask
for His grace to willingly embrace these times of preparation.

HOW GOD MAKES FISHERMEN

2010-12-10T15:24:00.001+01:00

"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19

Our calling has three distinct stages, which we can see in the lives of
many called before us, to become mature fishers of men who greatly
impact God's Kingdom. First, there is the gestation period. This is the
development stage of our lives. It may involve years of normal work
experiences. You may be a Christian during this time, or you may be
following after worldly success as a non-Christian. Paul spent years in
religious and political training, persecuting believers most of his
early life. Moses spent years in the court of Pharaoh and 40 years
tending flocks in the desert. Jesus spent 33 years living at home and
working in His father's carpentry business. However, all these years
were part of their preparation.
Next is the crisis stage. Sooner or later, God calls you into
relationship with Him. For many, like Paul, it comes through dramatic
encounters like being knocked off a horse, blinded and spoken to
personally by God. Some people are more difficult than others to reach
and so require this level of crisis. This is a time when God requires
major changes so that you follow Him fully. It can be a time in which
God harnesses years of experience for a new life purpose. Paul's earthly
experiences would be used in his calling to the religious and political
leaders of his day. For Moses, the burning bush experience would begin
his journey in which he would discover his ultimate calling after years
of preparation. For Peter, it was his denial of Jesus three times that
allowed him to face his shallow commitment to Christ. For Jesus, it was
the cross. These were the benchmark turning points for men who made an
impact on their world.
Last is the fruit-bearing stage. In it, God's power is manifested in
your life like never before. God takes all your experiences and uses
them to build His Kingdom in and through your life. Your obedience to
this final call results in fruitfulness you could never imagine without
the long preparation process. For Abraham, it resulted in becoming the
father of many nations. For Paul, it resulted in bringing the gospel to
the Gentiles. And for Peter, it meant becoming the rock the Church was
built on. For Jesus, it was salvation for the entire world.
What does God want to achieve through your life? God has a plan that is
so incredible you cannot comprehend it. It requires only that you love
Him and follow Him. Then you will become fishers of men like the world
has never known.

HOW AND WHERE GOD SPEAKS

2010-12-08T08:27:00.002+01:00

"The hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, "Get up and
go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you." - Ezekiel 3:22

God speaks in many different ways to His children. He spoke through a
bush to Moses. He spoke through a donkey to Balaam. He spoke through
prophets to His kings. He speaks through other believers. He speaks
directly to us through the invisible Holy Spirit. And He speaks even
through circumstances.
When God wants to speak a very important word directly to us without
interruption from the noise of our busy lives, he will take us "into
the plain." The plain is a place of no distractions and no other persons.
It is a place of silence. It can be a place of great need as it often
fails to have the normal provisions we are accustomed to. It can be a place
we go to voluntarily to seek His face, or we can be moved there without
choice by His supernatural ability. More often, it is the latter method
that brings us into the plain. In modern times, it often means a
separation from our normal activities such as jobs or families.
The plain can also be a place where we discover afresh that God's hand
has been on us all the time. When we are so busy with life, we
sometimes forget that God's hand is still there, gently leading our path. When
our lives get so busy that we are not listening or responding to His gentle
touch, He must take more aggressive measures to get our attention.
Thus,the plain is one of those appointed times of one-on-one communication
with our heavenly Father. No distractions, no people, no beautiful
surroundings to capture our thoughts. It is a barren place designed to
allow us to seek and hear clearly. When He speaks, we need to be able
to listen. We hear much better in the plain.
Do you need to hear God's voice today? Is your life such that you
cannot even hear His voice? Each day God calls us to our own mini-plain in
order to speak to us and for us to hear. If we neglect this time of
open communication, we may be invited to His plain in order to hear without
distraction. Pray that you might make time to hear.

HORIZONTAL VERSUS VERTICAL

2010-12-07T14:17:00.002+01:00

"Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and
hid him in the sand." - Exodus 2:12

Moses saw the pain of his people. He saw the bondage and the injustice.
His heart was enraged, and he decided he would do something. He would
take matters into his own hands. The result was murder. The motive was
right, but the action was wrong. He went horizontal instead of vertical
with God. Moses fled to the desert, where God prepared the man who would
ultimately be the deliverer of a nation. But it took 40 years of
preparation before God determined Moses was ready. He was a professional
businessman—a sheepherder. It was during the mundane activity of work
that God called on him to be a deliverer.
Moses was like a lot of enthusiastic Christian workplace believers who
seek to solve a spiritual problem with a fleshly answer. The greatest
danger to the Christian workplace believer is his greatest strength—his
business acumen and expertise to get things done. This self-reliance can
become our greatest weakness when it comes to moving in the spiritual
realm. We're taught to be problem solvers. But, like Moses, if our
enthusiasm and passion are not harnessed by the power of the Holy
Spirit, we will fail miserably. Peter had to learn this lesson too. His
enthusiasm got him into a lot of trouble. But God was patient, just as
He is patient with each of us. Sometimes He must put us in the desert
for a time in order to season us so that Christ is allowed to reign
supreme in the process.
Before you act, pray and seek the mind of Christ until you know it is
God behind the action. Check it out with others. You may save yourself a
trip to the desert.

HINDRANCES TO CHRIST'S RULE

2010-12-03T09:46:00.001+01:00

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the
contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." - 2 Corinthians 10:4

The Bible says when Christ comes to live in your heart, old things are
passed away, all things become new (see 2 Cor. 5:17). The Lord has put
a new Spirit in us. Previously, I could not understand why so many of us
who proclaimed Christ had such little impact on the kingdom of
darkness.
It seemed to me that our culture should be impacted much more if His
children walked in the light as Jesus did. Jesus impacted His culture
like no other man.
I saw many workplace believers, who proclaimed Christ, living no
differently than a person who had not claimed Him as Lord. These men
and women had a form of religion, but little power that reflected Christ's
rule in their lives. Then one day God took me through a time of testing
that led to a discovery of generational influences that impacted the
way I viewed people and circumstances on a subconscious basis. I discovered
this was a stronghold that had been implanted many generations earlier.
Because the stronghold operated on a subconscious level, it was not
easily recognizable. Strongholds keep us from being free to reflect
Christ in and through our lives because they require allegiance until
they are dealt with. Strongholds can often be so hidden that we would
not even identify them as evil. A stronghold of fear, control,
rebellion, insecurity, idolatry, pride, or bitterness may be hidden
until it is revealed through circumstances.
All strongholds are built in our lives as a result of seeking to meet
one or more of seven basic needs God has created in us. Once we believe
a lie that God cannot meet a need without our effort, we open our
spirit to a stronghold. The more lies we believe, the more we invite these
strongholds to take root in our lives.
Are you ineffective in your Christian experience? Are there besetting
sins that seem to recur in your life? You may find that satan has built
a fortress in your heart that has been there many generations. You must
ask God's forgiveness for entertaining this stronghold, and you must
renounce it. Then as Christ renews your mind and heart, you will see
Christ's power released in your life like never before.

HEARING THE FATHER SPEAK

2010-12-01T22:34:00.002+01:00

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me." - John 10:27

An Englishman tells a true story of his encounter with a Muslim man
while walking in the country. The Englishman wanted to share the gospel
with this man but knew little of Muslim beliefs. The two men talked as
they walked and agreed they would each share their beliefs with one
another. The Muslim went first and dominated the time of sharing. The
Englishman asked the Holy Spirit how to share his faith with the Muslim
man. "Do you consider your god your father who speaks?" asked the
Englishman.
"Certainly not," replied the Muslim man.
"That is one of the big differences between your god and my God.
I consider my God as my Father who speaks to me personally."
"You cannot prove that," stated the Muslim man.
The Englishman again prayed to himself, "Lord, how do I prove this to
this man?" A few moments later the two men began walking toward two
young ladies on the other side of the road coming toward them. As they
approached, the Englishman spoke to the ladies and made small
conversation. He then said to one woman, "I believe you are a nurse, is
that correct?"
The woman was startled that a man whom she had never met had just
informed her of her occupation. "How would you know that? I have never
met you before," she questioned.
He replied, "I asked my Father and He told me." The Muslim had his
proof.
Many of us do not hear God's voice because we do not believe He speaks
or desires to speak to us. In order to hear, we must listen. In order
to
listen, we must believe that He speaks. Ask the Lord today for a
listening ear so that others might know that you have a heavenly Father
who speaks.

HEALING BEFORE MINISTRY

2010-11-29T10:18:00.001+01:00

"And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where
they were in camp until they were healed." - Joshua 5:8

Before the nation of Israel could go into the Promised Land they had to
be circumcised. Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal. God
requires each of us to be circumcised in heart before we are allowed to
enter and receive the blessings that await each believer in the
Promised
Land.
This circumcision can often be very painful. Circumcision requires
losing our old way of life. The process of spiritual circumcision may
mean a loss in areas that have been a part of our lives in order to
draw
us to the Savior. God understands this. Consequently, like the people
of
Israel, we must wait until we are healed before we begin to be
effective
in our calling. If we launch out too early, we will be ineffective and
may risk infection and disease and will not be at our full capacity.
God
wants each of us to walk in His healing grace.
The people of Israel fought only two battles when they were coming out
of Egypt. In the Promised Land they fought 39 battles. Each of us must
be prepared to enjoy the benefits of living in the Promised Land.
However, we must also be prepared to wage war against the enemy of our
souls. Make sure the Lord has provided the needed healing to your
circumcision experience before you enter the Promised Land.

GREAT PRAYER WARRIORS

2010-11-27T21:12:00.001+01:00

"' I will not let you go unless you bless me." (Gen v.26)

-- For reading & meditation: Genesis 32:22-31

We look now at the second characteristic of "revival praying" -
tenacity and persistence. Read the record of revivals and you will
find that this quality is also present. In the days prior to revival
people not only pray zealously but they pray persistently. For over a
period of thirteen years Evan Roberts prayed for revival to come to
Wales. "There was never a day," he says, "when I didn't fling myself
before God and cry out for Him to send the Holy Spirit to my native
land." Dafydd Owen also prayed every day for over ten years for a
great outpouring to come to the Principality. And concerning David
Morgan it was recorded "that for ten years before 1858 a petition for
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was never absent from his prayers".
We must recognise that often this persistence was not something that
was natural but was given by the Holy Spirit. It was said of Evan
Roberts that when he was a boy, "he hardly ever saw anything through
and would give up a task most easily". Listen to what Jonathan
Edwards, another great revivalist, had to say about the importance of
persistence and perseverance: "It is very apparent from the Word of
God that the Lord is wont often to try the faith and patience of His
people, when crying to Him for some great and important mercy, by
withholding the mercy sought for a season; and not only so but at
first to cause an increase of dark appearances. And yet He, without
fail, at last succeeds those who continue instant in prayer with all
perseverance and will 'not let Him go except He blesses'."
PRAYER:
O Father, search my heart today and see if there is any hidden thing
in me that holds me back from persistent and perservering prayer.
Bring it to the light so that I can deal with it. I ask this in
Jesus' Name. Amen.

GRACE

2010-11-24T08:06:00.000+01:00

..."Peace be with you!" - John 20:19

How would you respond to a group of fellow workers if you were their
leader and you poured your life into them, teaching them all you know
for three years, only to have them disband and go their own way when
troubles came? What would you say to them after you were reunited for
the first time? Perhaps you might scold them. Perhaps you might cite
each one's offense. At the least, you might shame them for their lack of
faithfulness and courage.
After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He appeared to the
disciples. His first words to them were, "Peace be with you!" The word
grace means "unmerited favor." When someone loves you unconditionally,
without regard to your behavior in return, it becomes a powerful force
in your life. Such was the case for the disciples when Jesus appeared to
them. They could have expected reprimand. Instead, they received
unconditional love and acceptance. He was overjoyed to see them. They
were equally overjoyed to see Him.
Jesus understood that the disciples needed to fail Him as part of their
training. It would be this failure that became their greatest motivation
for service. Failure allowed them to experience incredible grace for the
very first time. Grace would transform them as human beings.
Have you experienced this grace in your life? Have you extended grace to
those who have hurt you? Can you let go of any wrongs that have come
through friends or associates? The grace you extend may change their
lives—and yours.

GOOD THINGS VERSUS GOD-THINGS

2010-11-22T14:26:00.002+01:00

"Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." - Romans 8:14

The greatest sign that you and I are maturing in our walk with God is
when we can discern the difference between "good things" and
"God-things." When the people of Israel journeyed out of Egypt through
the desert, the cloud led them by day. They could move only as fast as
the cloud. If they went ahead, they went without God's presence. If they
lagged behind, they also lost God's presence.
Each of us must have the discernment to know when God is leading in a
matter, or if it is simply a good idea. There are so many things in
which you and I can be involved, and the more successful you become, the
greater the temptations to enter into things where God has not called
you. Entrepreneurs are especially prone to see all the opportunities.
I recall one time when I entered into a project that I thought was a
great idea. It would help many people. After two years, the project had
to be discontinued. It was a great lesson on understanding what projects
have God's blessing on them. There are some projects you and I might get
involved in that result in little fruit compared to the investment put
into them. That is because they may never have been birthed by the Holy
Spirit.
As sons of God, we are called to be led by the Spirit. This requires a
level of dependence on God in which many of us really do not want to
invest. It requires listening, waiting, and moving only when God's
Spirit tells us to move. Workplace believers are "action" people. We
know how to get things done, but our greatest strength can be our
greatest weakness.
Today, ask God to make you a Romans 8:14 man or woman who is led by the
Spirit of God. Pray against lagging behind or moving ahead. Ask God to
reveal whether the next project you consider is a "good thing" or a
"God-thing."

FAITHFULNESS IN OUR CALLING

2010-11-19T07:45:00.002+01:00

"He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all
Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you
seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will
forsake you." - 2 Chronicles 15:2

Asa was the king of Judah from 912-872 B.C. He reigned for 41 years and
was known as a good king who served the Lord with great zeal. He
reformed many things. He broke down idol worship to foreign gods; he
put
away male prostitutes and even removed his own mother from being queen
because she worshiped an idol. The Scriptures say that as long as he
sought the Lord, the Lord prospered his reign.
However, Asa was not totally faithful in his calling. There came a time
in his life when he made a decision to no longer trust in the God of
Israel. He lost his confidence in God as his deliverer. The prophet
Hanani came to Asa to inform him that God's blessing was no longer on
his life because of an ungodly alliance he had made.
Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of
chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delivered
them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the
earth
to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have
done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war (2 Chronicles
16:8-9).
There are no guarantees that if we began well we will finish well. The
life of Asa tells us this. It is only through God's grace that we can
be
faithful to our calling. Each of us is capable of falling away from
God.
Pray that God will keep you faithful to the purposes He has for your
life. He strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

GOING AGAINST THE FLOW

2010-11-17T11:09:00.001+01:00

"But the whole assembly talked about stoning them." - (Numbers 14:10)

Have you ever had to stand up against the majority for a cause
that wasn't popular? God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and
promised He would lead them into a land of milk and honey. The
process of moving out of Egypt was difficult. They could no
longer do things the old way, for the old ways didn't work in the
desert. God provided for them during this journey. But there came
a point in which the people forgot what God had said. Their
discomfort changed their belief about God.
Whenever God is slow to answer our prayers, what we believe about
God is revealed. Do we change our plans and move in a different
direction when pressure mounts? Or do we continue on the path God
has directed for us? Four men believed what God said and were
willing to stand; however, the crowd wanted to stone them.
Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole
Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb
son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land,
tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly,
"The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If
the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a
land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do
not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of
the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is
gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." But the
whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the
Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites
(Numbers 14:5-10).
Notice Joshua and Caleb's response to the situation. They had
spied the land. They believed God. They challenged the crowd.
They seemed to know that if the Lord was not pleased with them
they would not enter into the Promised Land. Those who grumbled
did not enter the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb and a new
generation saw the fulfillment of God's promise.
Has God called you to stand for a cause bigger than yourself? You
will have opposition to His call; sometimes it even comes from
those in your own camp. But if God has called you, then you can
be sure He will make a way. He has already opened the way before
you. But you must walk in faith, joined with Him to take the
land.
...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be
discouraged, ffor the Lord your God will be with you wherever you
go (Joshua 1:9).

ERROR OF POSITIVE THINKING

2010-11-15T08:50:00.001+01:00

..."Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord
Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6

God's people should be the most positive, joyful people on earth. This
joy should be a by-product of a healthy, intimate relationship with
Jesus. In today's business climate, we are barraged with every possible
means of becoming more productive workplace believers. Positive thinking
and self-help philosophy are promoted as tools for workplace believers
to fulfill their potential and overcome the mountains in their lives.
God calls each of us to be visionary leaders, but we must be careful
that vision is born out of His Spirit, not the latest self-help program.
These ideas lead us away from dependence on God to a self-based
psychology designed to give us more power, prosperity, and significance.
The result is heresy. Our faith in God becomes faith in faith. It is
born out of hard work and diligence rather than obedience to God's
Spirit. The problem lies in that these philosophies sound good, and can
even be supported by Bible verses. Beware of anything that puts the
burden of performance on you rather than God. There are times in our
lives when God doesn't want us to climb every mountain. Sometimes He
wants us to go around. Knowing the difference is the key to being a man
or woman led by the Spirit.
God has called us to affect the workplace through His Spirit, not by our
might. Have you tapped into the real power source of the soul? Ask the
Lord to reveal and empower you through His Spirit today. Then you will
know what real positive thinking is.

GOD'S TESTS

2010-11-12T08:17:00.003+01:00

"..."What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father,
that he is trying to take my life?" - 1 Samuel 20:1

The cost of being one of God's anointed can be great. Those whom God has
anointed for service and influence in His Kingdom go through a special
preparation. David was anointed to be the next king over Israel. Shortly
after this, while still a young boy, he was brought into King Saul's
service to play music in Saul's court. While there, the opportunity to
stand up against Goliath elevated David for his next stage of
development as future king. As his popularity grew so did Saul's
jealousy. However, even Saul's jealousy was God's instrument for molding
and shaping David.
Saul finally decided he could no longer tolerate David's success and
popularity among the people, so he tried to kill David. The confused
young shepherd boy spent many years hiding in wilderness caves before he
was able to see the hand of God in all of this. No doubt David thought
that when Samuel anointed him he would be conveniently raised up to be
king with all the accompanying benefits of kingship. Not so. God's
preparation of David involved much persecution, disloyalty, and
hardship. These were the lessons necessary to be a godly king. God
brought many tests in David's life, just as He did with Saul. David
passed these tests. Saul did not.
When God anoints us, it often is accompanied by some severe tests. These
tests are designed to prepare us for the calling God has on our life.
Should we fail these tests God cannot elevate us to the next level. For
a workplace believer, these tests often involve money, relationships,
and other issues of the heart.
What if God has chosen you for a specific purpose in His Kingdom? Are
you passing the tests He is bringing about in your life? These tests are
designed to bring about greater obedience. In most instances, it will
involve great adversity. The Bible tells us that the King of kings
learned obedience through the things that He suffered (see Heb. 5:8). If
this is true, why would it be any different for His children? Be aware
of the tests God may be bringing before you in order to prepare you for
His service.

GOD-INSPIRED DELAY

2010-11-10T08:54:00.002+01:00

"Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more
days." - John 11:6

Delays in our life are not always easy to handle or to reconcile in our
minds. Often, when God does not answer our prayers in the time that we
feel He should, we appoint all sorts of characteristics to God's nature
that imply He does not care. Such was the case with Lazarus' sisters
when Lazarus became ill and died. Jesus was a close friend to Lazarus
and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. (Mary, you may recall, was the
woman who came and poured perfume on Jesus' feet.) When Jesus arrived
two days later, Martha shamed Him by saying, "If You had come he would
not have died." She implied that He didn't care enough to come when sent
for. It was a matter of priorities for Jesus, not lack of love.
God often has to delay His work in us in order to accomplish something
for His purposes that can be achieved only in the delay. Jesus had to
let Lazarus die in order for the miracle that was about to take place to
have its full effect. If Jesus had simply healed a sick man, the impact
of the miracle would not have been as newsworthy as resurrecting a man
who had been dead for four days. This is Jesus' greatest "public
relations act" of His whole ministry. What many do not realize is that
the key to the whole story is in the next chapter.
Many people, because they had heard that He had given this miraculous
sign, went out to meet Him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See,
this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after
Him!" (John 12:18-19)
If Jesus had not raised Lazarus from the dead, there would have been no
crowds to cheer the Lord when He came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
God often sets the stage so that His glory is revealed through the
events that He orchestrates. He did this with Moses and Pharaoh,
allowing delay after delay for release of the Israelites from Egypt. He
did this with Abraham and Sarah for the promised child, Isaac. God
granted Sarah a baby past the age of childbearing in order to
demonstrate His power.
God did this in my own life. He delayed the fulfillment of what I
believed He called me to do for several years. But the delays provided
the necessary preparation and greater glory that God was to receive. My
friend, don't take the delays lightly. Do not faint as God places you in
what seems to be a holding pattern. God is at work. God knows the
purposes for His delays. Don't give up, for they are for His greater
glory; so we need to remain faithful.

GOD'S SELECTION PROCESS

2010-11-08T13:14:00.000+01:00

"So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him,
"Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from
those who kneel down to drink." - Judges 7:5

Would you ever take on an army of 100,000 with only 300 men? Sound
preposterous? I agree. However, this is exactly what happened with
Gideon. It was bad enough that he began with 10,000 against 100,000, but
this was too many men according to God. He would not allow Gideon to
fight with this many soldiers, because the temptation would still remain
to believe that it was the strength of his army that won the victory.
God told Gideon to pare down his army to a mere 300. This would ensure
that God would receive total credit for the victory. This is a law in
the Kingdom of God. All glory must go to Him. "Announce now to the
people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount
Gilead.' So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained"
(Judg. 7:3).
Now there are 10,000 men left but that was still too many. God gave
Gideon an interesting selection method for the 300 as he took the men
down to the water. There the Lord told him, "Separate those who lap the
water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink"
(Judg. 7:5b). What was the significance of this? Those soldiers who
lapped water like a dog were soldiers who were more aware of the enemy
around them compared to those who kneeled to drink. The lappers were men
who were on constant guard to the danger around them, keeping their eyes
up and looking about them. The others could be easily picked off.
If you and I are going to be one of God's elite, we must be battle
ready. We must be sensitive to the spiritual dangers around us. We must
be trained to go about our business while, at the same time, discern
when the enemy of our souls is prowling about seeking to destroy us. "Be
self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). Beware of the
spiritual dangers around you.

OUR PLANS AND GOD'S PLANS

2010-11-05T08:12:00.002+01:00

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose
that prevails." - (Proverbs 19:21)

Have you ever heard of someone who spent years of preparation for
one vocation only to end up doing something completely different?
Perhaps this could be said of you. Quite often we have in our
minds what we believe we want to do only to have a course
correction. Often the course correction comes through a major
crisis that forces us into an area that we would never have
considered.
Such was the case for Samuel Morse. Born in 1791, Morse grew up
desiring to be an artist, and he eventually became very talented
and internationally known. However, it was difficult to make a
living as an artist in America during that time. A series of
crises further complicated his vocational desire when his wife
died; then his mother and father also died soon after. He went to
Europe to paint and reflect on his life. On his return trip
aboard a ship, he was captivated by discussions at dinner about
new experiments in electromagnetism. During that important
occasion, Morse made the following comment, "If the presence of
electricity can be made visible in any part of the circuit, I see
no reason why intelligence may not be transmitted by
electricity." In the face of many difficulties and
disappointments, he determinedly perfected a new invention, and,
in 1837, applied for a patent that became what we know today as
the telegraph. He also created Morse code. It was only later,
after many more setbacks and disappointments, that his projects
received funding.
Samuel Morse later commented, "The only gleam of hope, and I
cannot underrate it, is from confidence in God. When I look
upward it calms any apprehension for the future, and I seem to
hear a voice saying: 'If I clothe the lilies of the field, shall
I not also clothe you?' Here is my strong confidence, and I will
wait patiently for the direction of Providence." Morse went on to
create several other inventions and can be recognized today as
the father of faxes, modems, e-mail, the internet and other
electronic communication. ["Glimpses," Issue #99 (Worcester,
Pennsylvania: Christian History Institute, 1998).]
God's plans may not always seem to follow our natural
inclination. Perhaps God has you taking a path that may not lead
to His ultimate destination for you. Trust in the Lord, lean not
on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all you do, and He
shall direct your path (see Prov. 3:5-6).