John 20:19
On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
Recently, we lost a great man of God, a colleague in ministry. Zachary Timms was just 42 years young, pastor of New Destiny Christian Center in the Orlando, Florida area. He died in a Manhattan hotel room of a heart attack behind locked doors. The hotel security had to break through the door to discover his body. After blessing so many people with his life and ministry he died alone searching for peace. I wish some of his friends and colleagues could have been behind those closed doors to intercede with him and help him get the peace that only Jesus could offer.
Ministry can be demanding and draining. The toll it takes on you can make you want to hide behind locked doors in fear for your life. Even when we are in the will of God, fear can still get the best of us. Fear sometimes is False Evidence Appearing Real but it can still be paralyzing. The enemy can get you behind closed doors and make you think your ministry is over, you don’t have “it” anymore, nobody loves you, you’re doomed, and if you are not careful you can give into those lies.
The disciples were hiding behind closed doors because Jesus had been executed. They thought they were next because all of the haters hated their teacher enough to kill him so why shouldn’t they experience the same fate?
Even though Jesus had been teaching them and showing them he had the power over life and death they allowed fear to wipe out what they already knew to be true. To their credit they did something right. They were together. As fearful as they were they were still together behind locked doors. The enemy can break you if you are by yourself but Jesus promised, “Where two or three are gathered together there I will be in the midst.”
As Christians, ministers, and human beings we must make sure we are connected to 2 or 3 people who we can call no matter what we are going through. You should never be alone when you are hiding in fear. There is nothing so bad that God can’t fix and help you face. When you come together with 2 or 3 believers Jesus will show up and help you with your fear. Jesus came through the locked door and:
1. Stood amongst them. Jesus told us that he would never leave us nor forsake us. When we are together Jesus is standing in the midst of us.
2. Spoke peace to them. Peace is Total well-being, prosperity, and security associated with God’s presence among his people or the cessation of conflict.
3. Showed them his wounds. I think Jesus did this not just to prove that it was him, but to show them that in spite of his wounds he was still alive. We are all wounded healers. Our wounds shouldn’t stop us from God using us.
4. Gave them their new assignment. This was important because all of them felt like failures for running out on Jesus but he assured them by telling them he still had work for them to do.
5. Filled them with the Holy Spirit. He told them to receive the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, when we are empty we need to be refilled with the only thing that can get us back in the right place, the Holy Ghost.
No matter how bad it looks right now don’t give up on your dreams, your purpose, your ministry. We‘ve all made mistakes like the disciples. Peter denied him, Thomas doubted he was alive; James and John fell asleep while Jesus was under stress. They all ran away but Jesus still loved them enough to come behind locked doors to give them peace. Open your door today. Jesus wants to come in.
Dear God,
Touch my brothers and sisters who are hiding behind locked doors. Let them know that you are still with them. Let them know you have a new assignment for them. Let them know this is not the time to die! Come through the doors and heal them and fill them.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Trouble Don't Last Always!
Jeremiah 24:6
My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down. I will plant them and not uproot them.
There seems to be so much trouble in the land right now. People are suffering in disproportionate number. Jobs are seemingly impossible to come by. Families are being displaced. There hasn’t been much to celebrate lately. Everyone seems to be waiting for this storm to lift.
Jeremiah 25:32 “look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.”
There is something corrective in this storm that we haven’t seemed to figure out yet. When we finally turn back to God, and take care of the poor, practice justice, stop striking each other with wicked fists; I believe God will heal this land.
Like the remnant during Jeremiah’s time, God has a remnant of people who still believe and have hope. God has promised to that remnant that he would:
1. Watch over us for our good. There is a blessed assurance that the believer has over everyone else. God’s eye is watching over us and all things work for the good of those who have the Lord and are called according to his purpose.
2. I will bring them back to their land. Like the widow woman during Elisha’s time, who had to abandon her house during the famine only to come back seven years later to find favor with the king; we will get back what the famine took away if we come back to God.
3. I will build them up and not tear them down. After deconstruction comes reconstruction. Some of us have already been broken down. If you are down to nothing God is up to something. God now wants to build you back up stronger than you were before.
4. I will plant them not uproot them. In order to grow, plants must have uninterrupted growth in a place where they’ve been planted. After this period of correction that we are going through God will once again plant us in a place where we can flourish without interruption.
Dear God,
We receive your correction. We don’t have to go through this again. Your people have suffered and your remnant is ready for a new day. Please turn this day of darkness into a day of promise. We are ready for a New Direction.
In Jesus name,
Amen
My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down. I will plant them and not uproot them.
There seems to be so much trouble in the land right now. People are suffering in disproportionate number. Jobs are seemingly impossible to come by. Families are being displaced. There hasn’t been much to celebrate lately. Everyone seems to be waiting for this storm to lift.
Jeremiah 25:32 “look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.”
There is something corrective in this storm that we haven’t seemed to figure out yet. When we finally turn back to God, and take care of the poor, practice justice, stop striking each other with wicked fists; I believe God will heal this land.
Like the remnant during Jeremiah’s time, God has a remnant of people who still believe and have hope. God has promised to that remnant that he would:
1. Watch over us for our good. There is a blessed assurance that the believer has over everyone else. God’s eye is watching over us and all things work for the good of those who have the Lord and are called according to his purpose.
2. I will bring them back to their land. Like the widow woman during Elisha’s time, who had to abandon her house during the famine only to come back seven years later to find favor with the king; we will get back what the famine took away if we come back to God.
3. I will build them up and not tear them down. After deconstruction comes reconstruction. Some of us have already been broken down. If you are down to nothing God is up to something. God now wants to build you back up stronger than you were before.
4. I will plant them not uproot them. In order to grow, plants must have uninterrupted growth in a place where they’ve been planted. After this period of correction that we are going through God will once again plant us in a place where we can flourish without interruption.
Dear God,
We receive your correction. We don’t have to go through this again. Your people have suffered and your remnant is ready for a new day. Please turn this day of darkness into a day of promise. We are ready for a New Direction.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Hold Your Position!
Psalm 112:4
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
In these turbulent times everyone seems to be struggling trying to keep a grip on their lives in this uncertain financial climate. Famine has claimed a corner of the Globe as it darkens the continent of Africa. The middle class in America have become the new poor and new homeless. The prison system has been used to try and make blacks into a permanent underclass as it replaces slavery as the new racial caste system. Thousands of people are still unemployed looking for hope that this economy is finally going to turn around. In the midst of all this darkness there are still points of light that illuminate the hopelessness of this nightmare. It is the light of the upright. God has been keeping us in the midst of it all in spite of our inconsistencies.
The psalmist exclaims that God still illuminates the darkness for the upright. Upright does not imply perfection but position. There are people still in a posture of seeking God and attempting to live right, these represent the upright. Every now and then I attempt to do yoga and there is a position where we do a head stand (or try to). You must engage your core to stand on the crown of your head, supported by your forearms with your feet straight up. Holding this position is challenging. I can do it but I keep falling out of it, but then I get back into it because my teacher says, “be patient and do your best.” I believe that’s what Jesus says to us, he sees us struggling, wobbling, and falling in and out. But he honors our effort knowing that we are saved by grace and not works.
Living Holy is like trying to hold that yoga position. It is counter cultural or counter intuitive to live upright when everyone else’s core values are upside down. It is living upright that God honors our attempt to hold our position. We must engage our core values to stay upright. God takes care of the upright even in dark times there are three core values we should employ to hold our position:
1. Gracious. Grace is unmerited favor shown by God. When God give us grace it is underserved. When we have been recipients of this grace it is only right that we show it. We ought to be gracious in how we show grace to others. Giving keeps the window of heaven open for God to shower us with blessings. When we show grace it keeps grace coming our way.
2. Compassionate. Compassion is when you are moved in your sprit to do something about a situation that troubles you. The world is full of what Marty Neumeier calls, “wicked problems,” problems for which there seems to be no solution but which we should have compassion. Pastor Wayne Lomax of the Fountain church was asked by a Haitian pastor to come to Haiti with his mission team. Pastor Lomax asked him, “What do you need?” He said, “Come and see.”
3. Righteous. Being Righteous is living right. It’s when you delight in the Law of the Lord and you meditate on it day and night. It’s like Spike Lee’s character the ‘Mayor” played by Ossie Davis in the movie, “Do the Right Thing.”
Mayor says to Mookie, “Dr. …..I have to tell you something….Always do the right thing.”
(Mookie) “is that it?!’
(Mayor) “That’s It!”
(Mookie) “I’m Out!”
What the Mayor was telling Mookie is what Jesus is telling us, if you want God to keep you during these hard times always do the right thing, and hold your position. Stay upright.
Dear God,
Help me to do the right thing, to live upright, in a world that is upside down. Thank you for keeping me in these dark times. I pray my character would keep me where my talents take me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
In these turbulent times everyone seems to be struggling trying to keep a grip on their lives in this uncertain financial climate. Famine has claimed a corner of the Globe as it darkens the continent of Africa. The middle class in America have become the new poor and new homeless. The prison system has been used to try and make blacks into a permanent underclass as it replaces slavery as the new racial caste system. Thousands of people are still unemployed looking for hope that this economy is finally going to turn around. In the midst of all this darkness there are still points of light that illuminate the hopelessness of this nightmare. It is the light of the upright. God has been keeping us in the midst of it all in spite of our inconsistencies.
The psalmist exclaims that God still illuminates the darkness for the upright. Upright does not imply perfection but position. There are people still in a posture of seeking God and attempting to live right, these represent the upright. Every now and then I attempt to do yoga and there is a position where we do a head stand (or try to). You must engage your core to stand on the crown of your head, supported by your forearms with your feet straight up. Holding this position is challenging. I can do it but I keep falling out of it, but then I get back into it because my teacher says, “be patient and do your best.” I believe that’s what Jesus says to us, he sees us struggling, wobbling, and falling in and out. But he honors our effort knowing that we are saved by grace and not works.
Living Holy is like trying to hold that yoga position. It is counter cultural or counter intuitive to live upright when everyone else’s core values are upside down. It is living upright that God honors our attempt to hold our position. We must engage our core values to stay upright. God takes care of the upright even in dark times there are three core values we should employ to hold our position:
1. Gracious. Grace is unmerited favor shown by God. When God give us grace it is underserved. When we have been recipients of this grace it is only right that we show it. We ought to be gracious in how we show grace to others. Giving keeps the window of heaven open for God to shower us with blessings. When we show grace it keeps grace coming our way.
2. Compassionate. Compassion is when you are moved in your sprit to do something about a situation that troubles you. The world is full of what Marty Neumeier calls, “wicked problems,” problems for which there seems to be no solution but which we should have compassion. Pastor Wayne Lomax of the Fountain church was asked by a Haitian pastor to come to Haiti with his mission team. Pastor Lomax asked him, “What do you need?” He said, “Come and see.”
3. Righteous. Being Righteous is living right. It’s when you delight in the Law of the Lord and you meditate on it day and night. It’s like Spike Lee’s character the ‘Mayor” played by Ossie Davis in the movie, “Do the Right Thing.”
Mayor says to Mookie, “Dr. …..I have to tell you something….Always do the right thing.”
(Mookie) “is that it?!’
(Mayor) “That’s It!”
(Mookie) “I’m Out!”
What the Mayor was telling Mookie is what Jesus is telling us, if you want God to keep you during these hard times always do the right thing, and hold your position. Stay upright.
Dear God,
Help me to do the right thing, to live upright, in a world that is upside down. Thank you for keeping me in these dark times. I pray my character would keep me where my talents take me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Monday, August 15, 2011
Give Him Glory!
John 17:4
I have brought you Glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
Glory
1.
1. A: praise, honor or distinction extended by consent
2. Worshipful praise, honor and thanksgiving
3. A. Something that secures praise or renown (the Glory of a brilliant career)
You’ve heard people in the church exclaim, “Give Glory to God saints!” Usually that follows with people giving God praise, erupting in Hallelujahs because they are acknowledging the worth of God’s awesomeness. It's giving God honor through thanksgiving but this is just one part of the definition. Some of us do pretty good on Sunday’s giving God the Glory but it's also important to give him the Glory in the way we live.
The way we choose to live out our lives either secures praise for God or takes it away.
Jesus was talking to God the Father when he said, “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” The question for us is, ‘are we doing the work God called us to do?’ Is the work we do giving Glory to God or bringing attention to ourselves? Are we are building God’s kingdom or trying to build our own? When we help other people to see God we are giving him Glory. Glory is not about you, it’s about what we do for others on God’s behalf. Sometimes, God has to get us out of the way because he will not share his Glory with another. Jay Z and Kanye have a new CD called the “Watch of the Throne.” One of the songs is called "No Church in the West", where they ask “What’s a God to an unbeliever.” One writer compares Kanye and Jay Z to gods in the rap game and they have earned the right to sit on the throne. It’s dangerous when we put ourselves on thrones when God is the only one who should ascend. Whenever anyone tries to make you a god make sure you correct them real quick!
Acts 14: 11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
We are to be like the moon and not the sun. The only function of the moon is to reflect the light of the sun so there will be light in the dark. We are supposed to reflect the light of God’s son so his people will see his Glory.
Dear God,
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
I have brought you Glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
Glory
1.
1. A: praise, honor or distinction extended by consent
2. Worshipful praise, honor and thanksgiving
3. A. Something that secures praise or renown (the Glory of a brilliant career)
You’ve heard people in the church exclaim, “Give Glory to God saints!” Usually that follows with people giving God praise, erupting in Hallelujahs because they are acknowledging the worth of God’s awesomeness. It's giving God honor through thanksgiving but this is just one part of the definition. Some of us do pretty good on Sunday’s giving God the Glory but it's also important to give him the Glory in the way we live.
The way we choose to live out our lives either secures praise for God or takes it away.
Jesus was talking to God the Father when he said, “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” The question for us is, ‘are we doing the work God called us to do?’ Is the work we do giving Glory to God or bringing attention to ourselves? Are we are building God’s kingdom or trying to build our own? When we help other people to see God we are giving him Glory. Glory is not about you, it’s about what we do for others on God’s behalf. Sometimes, God has to get us out of the way because he will not share his Glory with another. Jay Z and Kanye have a new CD called the “Watch of the Throne.” One of the songs is called "No Church in the West", where they ask “What’s a God to an unbeliever.” One writer compares Kanye and Jay Z to gods in the rap game and they have earned the right to sit on the throne. It’s dangerous when we put ourselves on thrones when God is the only one who should ascend. Whenever anyone tries to make you a god make sure you correct them real quick!
Acts 14: 11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
We are to be like the moon and not the sun. The only function of the moon is to reflect the light of the sun so there will be light in the dark. We are supposed to reflect the light of God’s son so his people will see his Glory.
Dear God,
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Raising the Deficit of Healing
Jeremiah 8:20-22
The crops are in, the summer is over, but for us nothing’s changed. We’re still waiting to be rescued. For my dear broken people, I’m heartbroken. I weep, seized by grief. Are there no healing ointments in Gilead? Isn’t there a doctor in the house? So why can’t something be done to heal and save my dear people? (MSG)
I keep wondering if this intense heat will ever lift. Today, there is a pleasant overcast with a promise of rain. I never thought I’d be relieved by an overcast. Many of us keep waiting for something to break while we sit under an overcast of dissension, political jockeying and economic uncertainty. All of the gains we made in the Dow Jones this year have been lost, our school system is closer to being consolidated but yet still divided, and people are still looking for work with threats of more layoffs. Memphis feels like Israel when Jeremiah said, “the harvest is past, the summer has ended and we are not saved. Since my people are crushed; I mourn and horror grips me.”
In the midst of all that is going wrong in our world, I’m still helpful that there is a balm in Memphis as well as the United States of America. Jeremiah asked a rhetorical question when he asked “Is there no balm in Gilead?” He knew there was a balm, that is a medicinal extract from a tree in Gilead, he just didn’t know why his people didn’t have access to it. We have the ability to create one equitable school system in Shelby County. Why are we still divided? We have the ability for every person to get healthcare. Why are we still arguing over Universal healthcare? We have the ability to bring our troops home. Why are we still fighting? We have the ability to create jobs by focusing our energies on rebuilding America’s infrastructure. Why are we sending more jobs overseas?
A house divided against itself cannot stand. The sooner we can come together for the good of the people, for the good of the children, for the good of the least of these we can see the balm or the healing we need for our city and nation. The way we see that relief get to where it’s needed the most is to put into practice what God told Jeremiah for the people of Israel in Jeremiah 7: 5 Change the way you are living and stop doing the things you are doing. Be fair in your treatment of one another.6 Stop taking advantage of aliens, orphans, and widows. Stop killing innocent people in this land. Stop worshiping other gods, for that will destroy you.7 If you change, I will let you go on living here in the land which I gave your ancestors as a permanent possession.
The effects of healing in our city and our land have been blocked by self interest, partisan politics, and a lack of concern for the least of these. Whether it’s an unjust shooting by police officers in London, Five million starving people in Somalia unable to get food and water, or unemployed teachers in Memphis, we must put our difference to the side and create an equitable school system, create jobs for our people, bring our troops home, and work together for liberty and justice for all. In short, we must heed what God said to us in 2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. New International Version (NIV)
The crops are in, the summer is over, but for us nothing’s changed. We’re still waiting to be rescued. For my dear broken people, I’m heartbroken. I weep, seized by grief. Are there no healing ointments in Gilead? Isn’t there a doctor in the house? So why can’t something be done to heal and save my dear people? (MSG)
I keep wondering if this intense heat will ever lift. Today, there is a pleasant overcast with a promise of rain. I never thought I’d be relieved by an overcast. Many of us keep waiting for something to break while we sit under an overcast of dissension, political jockeying and economic uncertainty. All of the gains we made in the Dow Jones this year have been lost, our school system is closer to being consolidated but yet still divided, and people are still looking for work with threats of more layoffs. Memphis feels like Israel when Jeremiah said, “the harvest is past, the summer has ended and we are not saved. Since my people are crushed; I mourn and horror grips me.”
In the midst of all that is going wrong in our world, I’m still helpful that there is a balm in Memphis as well as the United States of America. Jeremiah asked a rhetorical question when he asked “Is there no balm in Gilead?” He knew there was a balm, that is a medicinal extract from a tree in Gilead, he just didn’t know why his people didn’t have access to it. We have the ability to create one equitable school system in Shelby County. Why are we still divided? We have the ability for every person to get healthcare. Why are we still arguing over Universal healthcare? We have the ability to bring our troops home. Why are we still fighting? We have the ability to create jobs by focusing our energies on rebuilding America’s infrastructure. Why are we sending more jobs overseas?
A house divided against itself cannot stand. The sooner we can come together for the good of the people, for the good of the children, for the good of the least of these we can see the balm or the healing we need for our city and nation. The way we see that relief get to where it’s needed the most is to put into practice what God told Jeremiah for the people of Israel in Jeremiah 7: 5 Change the way you are living and stop doing the things you are doing. Be fair in your treatment of one another.6 Stop taking advantage of aliens, orphans, and widows. Stop killing innocent people in this land. Stop worshiping other gods, for that will destroy you.7 If you change, I will let you go on living here in the land which I gave your ancestors as a permanent possession.
The effects of healing in our city and our land have been blocked by self interest, partisan politics, and a lack of concern for the least of these. Whether it’s an unjust shooting by police officers in London, Five million starving people in Somalia unable to get food and water, or unemployed teachers in Memphis, we must put our difference to the side and create an equitable school system, create jobs for our people, bring our troops home, and work together for liberty and justice for all. In short, we must heed what God said to us in 2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. New International Version (NIV)
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
What's On Your Account?
John 12:11
For on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
It’s good to regularly check your account to make sure you are not in the negative. Sometimes, you can think you have more in your account then you actually do. If you make more withdrawals then you do deposits you can be penalized for an overdraft unless you have overdraft protection. Really that’s the only reason many of us have been making it is because God give us overdraft protection. We have a tendency to take out more than we’ve put in. God’s grace has covered us time and time again when we have taken far more than we have put in. Every now and then God even puts something on our account even though we didn’t make a direct deposit.
What have you done lately that God can put on your account? Do you have a positive or negative balance with God? The way we get in the positive or as Biggie Smalls said, “I went from negative to positive and it’s all good” is to allow God to use the negative in our lives and make positives out of them.
Dave Ramsey gave an interesting perspective on the Dow Jones being down the other day when everyone was anxious about a double dip recession, he said, “It’s like a blue light special at K-mart, everything is on sale. Rather than panicking this is a good time for people to buy stocks while they are low and sell them when they go back high.” The key is that we don’t panic when things are in the negative but instead look at what you can add to your account.
When your life is at its lowest that’s when God is getting ready to put something on your account. Lazarus died. That’s the lowest you can go. Jesus raised him from the dead. That’s the highest you can go. On account of Lazarus’ turn around, the Jews were coming over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. When our lives reflect the Glory of God, that goes on our account. Like the stock market our lives might take a turn for the worst but if we remain steadfast God will come in when everybody else walks out and put something on our account to give us value again! What has God or Jesus done in your life lately that is on your account? How many people have put their faith in Jesus because of your life going from negative to positive?
How to put more on your account:
1. You must be born again. When we are spiritually reborn through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross people are able to see us go from death to life.
2. Share your testimony. We overcome by the word of our testimony. What we are going through today will help somebody else get through tomorrow. On our account others will put their faith in Jesus.
3. Bring people to Jesus. We must continue to bring people to Jesus and it will be credited to our account as Righteousness.
Dear God,
Thank you for putting something on my account. I went from negative to positive now it’s all good. You’ve been better to me than I’ve been to myself and I just want to say thank you.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
For on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
It’s good to regularly check your account to make sure you are not in the negative. Sometimes, you can think you have more in your account then you actually do. If you make more withdrawals then you do deposits you can be penalized for an overdraft unless you have overdraft protection. Really that’s the only reason many of us have been making it is because God give us overdraft protection. We have a tendency to take out more than we’ve put in. God’s grace has covered us time and time again when we have taken far more than we have put in. Every now and then God even puts something on our account even though we didn’t make a direct deposit.
What have you done lately that God can put on your account? Do you have a positive or negative balance with God? The way we get in the positive or as Biggie Smalls said, “I went from negative to positive and it’s all good” is to allow God to use the negative in our lives and make positives out of them.
Dave Ramsey gave an interesting perspective on the Dow Jones being down the other day when everyone was anxious about a double dip recession, he said, “It’s like a blue light special at K-mart, everything is on sale. Rather than panicking this is a good time for people to buy stocks while they are low and sell them when they go back high.” The key is that we don’t panic when things are in the negative but instead look at what you can add to your account.
When your life is at its lowest that’s when God is getting ready to put something on your account. Lazarus died. That’s the lowest you can go. Jesus raised him from the dead. That’s the highest you can go. On account of Lazarus’ turn around, the Jews were coming over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. When our lives reflect the Glory of God, that goes on our account. Like the stock market our lives might take a turn for the worst but if we remain steadfast God will come in when everybody else walks out and put something on our account to give us value again! What has God or Jesus done in your life lately that is on your account? How many people have put their faith in Jesus because of your life going from negative to positive?
How to put more on your account:
1. You must be born again. When we are spiritually reborn through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross people are able to see us go from death to life.
2. Share your testimony. We overcome by the word of our testimony. What we are going through today will help somebody else get through tomorrow. On our account others will put their faith in Jesus.
3. Bring people to Jesus. We must continue to bring people to Jesus and it will be credited to our account as Righteousness.
Dear God,
Thank you for putting something on my account. I went from negative to positive now it’s all good. You’ve been better to me than I’ve been to myself and I just want to say thank you.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Take Away the Stone
John 11:39
"Take away the stone" he said, "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
There are some issues we don't want to deal with because they stink. The longer we delay the more they smell. when we fail to address issues in our lives we will experience the decay of delay. Sometimes it's easier to just bury our feelings instead of raising the issue but at some point if you want to see God work on your issue you have to roll the stone away.
Jesus' friend Lazarus had died and had been laying in his grave four days. Jesus came to raise him from the dead; but it seemed it was too late. There are some things that appear to have sit too long for us to raise but if Jesus is present we don't have to be afraid of the odor.
We cant leave unresolved issues in our marriage stagnant in our relationships, mired in our ministry, or buried in our business. When we have issues we have to speak to the issue and take away the stone. In Jesus day, whenever they buried someone, they put them in a cave and rolled a stone over the entrance. There was no embalming fluid instead the body would decompose at a fast rate because of the desert climate. For Jesus to ask them to roll the stone away was a shock to the already grieving family because the body would have been offensive to the senses after laying there for four days. No matter how long your issue has been laying there if Jesus is there he can cause what should be offensive to have new life.
I like what Samuel Chand says in his book, Breaking your Churches Cultural Code, "we need to have HOT conversations, Honest, Open, and Transparent." His thesis is that if we really want to know what's going on in our organizations we have to roll the stone away and have HOT conversations in Love.
The way we have HOT conversation is that we have to:
1. Take Away the Stone. Don't be afraid to face your mess even if it looks like it's dead.
2. Call him out. Speak truth in Love to whatever appears to be dead. Some people appear dead when all they need is for you to speak life back into them.
3. Loose him and let him Go. Lazarus came out stumbling because he was wrapped in grave clothes. Jesus told them to take the grave clothes off and let him go. Resentment and unforgiveness are grave clothes. In order for you to move past your issues you have to release others through forgiveness.
Dear God,
Help me to face what I've been trying to keep buried. I'm afraid of the stink but I love them too much to let them lay there, especially when I have Jesus standing here with the power of resurrection. Give me discernment to know what needs to die and what needs to be raised. Show me what stone to roll away today so I can speak life and not death.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
"Take away the stone" he said, "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
There are some issues we don't want to deal with because they stink. The longer we delay the more they smell. when we fail to address issues in our lives we will experience the decay of delay. Sometimes it's easier to just bury our feelings instead of raising the issue but at some point if you want to see God work on your issue you have to roll the stone away.
Jesus' friend Lazarus had died and had been laying in his grave four days. Jesus came to raise him from the dead; but it seemed it was too late. There are some things that appear to have sit too long for us to raise but if Jesus is present we don't have to be afraid of the odor.
We cant leave unresolved issues in our marriage stagnant in our relationships, mired in our ministry, or buried in our business. When we have issues we have to speak to the issue and take away the stone. In Jesus day, whenever they buried someone, they put them in a cave and rolled a stone over the entrance. There was no embalming fluid instead the body would decompose at a fast rate because of the desert climate. For Jesus to ask them to roll the stone away was a shock to the already grieving family because the body would have been offensive to the senses after laying there for four days. No matter how long your issue has been laying there if Jesus is there he can cause what should be offensive to have new life.
I like what Samuel Chand says in his book, Breaking your Churches Cultural Code, "we need to have HOT conversations, Honest, Open, and Transparent." His thesis is that if we really want to know what's going on in our organizations we have to roll the stone away and have HOT conversations in Love.
The way we have HOT conversation is that we have to:
1. Take Away the Stone. Don't be afraid to face your mess even if it looks like it's dead.
2. Call him out. Speak truth in Love to whatever appears to be dead. Some people appear dead when all they need is for you to speak life back into them.
3. Loose him and let him Go. Lazarus came out stumbling because he was wrapped in grave clothes. Jesus told them to take the grave clothes off and let him go. Resentment and unforgiveness are grave clothes. In order for you to move past your issues you have to release others through forgiveness.
Dear God,
Help me to face what I've been trying to keep buried. I'm afraid of the stink but I love them too much to let them lay there, especially when I have Jesus standing here with the power of resurrection. Give me discernment to know what needs to die and what needs to be raised. Show me what stone to roll away today so I can speak life and not death.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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