The ElijahList - Chuck Pierce: "A Time to Watch Again! First 3 Days of 40-Day Plan and Devotion"
Shared via AddThis
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
WONDERING WHERE YOU'RE GOING?
Have you ever felt like you had something in your heart you wanted to pursue but you had no idea how to get there?
For years, about 21 to be exact, I have been in pursuit of more: more than just ordinary, more than average, more than the monotony of "eat, work, sleep and one day die!" - a purposeless existence of monotonous routine that doesn't amount to much at the end of the day/end of life.
I have something in my heart, that God has placed there, that longs to be fulfilled. Yet how?
Can anybody relate?
There was a call of God on Abraham's life to do something extraordinary, but how was he to get there? Abram had a good life: good family, good place to live, wealth... No real apparent issues with his hometown or family. Life was fine. Why did he leave? Because God had something more for Him!
"The Lord said to Abram,'Leave your country; your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you...' So Abram left, as the Lord told Him..."(Gen 12:1-4)
Yet, his journey was not as smooth as one might guess: Abram left his hometown, went to Canaan (promise land) but the Canaanites were there. He then went to two places and set up his tent. A famine hit the land, so he moved to Egypt. Following some problems, Abram then moved to another place, then "...he went from place to place until he came to Bethel..." (Gen 13:3). Eventually Abram settled in the land of Canaan where the Lord said to him, "Lift up your eyes... All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever..." (Gen. 13:14-17).
The Point?
We know of Abraham as "The Father of our Faith", this mighty man of God who obeyed God and did great things, but we often miss the difficult journey he endured. If Abraham had friends like some of us have, he probably would have been told that he is being foolish and irresponsible: "You need some stability in your life... you are going around aimlessly, that can't be God!..."
I hope Abraham didn't have friends like that, but if he did I sure am glad he didn't listen to their counsel! Where would we be now if he did?
Truth is, Abraham had no idea where he was going or how to get there. He was just obeying God! God said go to the land I will show you., so he went! Abraham didn't care how foolish he looked, he just cared to do the will of His Father!
I wonder how many of us are like Abraham.
There is more, but are we willing to obey God even if we look foolish! Keep this in mind as you dare to obey the Lord: "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise..." If you are not willing to look like a fool to the self acclaimed wise, then you probably will never find your "Promise land"! (1 Cor.1:27)
"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations... he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised." (Rom. 4:18-21)
There lies the key: God has the power to do WHAT HE HAD PROMISED, not what we think or try to accomplish in our own strength, but what he has promised!
My ending words of encouragement: If God says to do something, have the courage to go. If not, wait on Him.
Enjoy The Journey!
Bart
For years, about 21 to be exact, I have been in pursuit of more: more than just ordinary, more than average, more than the monotony of "eat, work, sleep and one day die!" - a purposeless existence of monotonous routine that doesn't amount to much at the end of the day/end of life.
I have something in my heart, that God has placed there, that longs to be fulfilled. Yet how?
Can anybody relate?
There was a call of God on Abraham's life to do something extraordinary, but how was he to get there? Abram had a good life: good family, good place to live, wealth... No real apparent issues with his hometown or family. Life was fine. Why did he leave? Because God had something more for Him!
"The Lord said to Abram,'Leave your country; your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you...' So Abram left, as the Lord told Him..."(Gen 12:1-4)
Yet, his journey was not as smooth as one might guess: Abram left his hometown, went to Canaan (promise land) but the Canaanites were there. He then went to two places and set up his tent. A famine hit the land, so he moved to Egypt. Following some problems, Abram then moved to another place, then "...he went from place to place until he came to Bethel..." (Gen 13:3). Eventually Abram settled in the land of Canaan where the Lord said to him, "Lift up your eyes... All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever..." (Gen. 13:14-17).
The Point?
We know of Abraham as "The Father of our Faith", this mighty man of God who obeyed God and did great things, but we often miss the difficult journey he endured. If Abraham had friends like some of us have, he probably would have been told that he is being foolish and irresponsible: "You need some stability in your life... you are going around aimlessly, that can't be God!..."
I hope Abraham didn't have friends like that, but if he did I sure am glad he didn't listen to their counsel! Where would we be now if he did?
Truth is, Abraham had no idea where he was going or how to get there. He was just obeying God! God said go to the land I will show you., so he went! Abraham didn't care how foolish he looked, he just cared to do the will of His Father!
I wonder how many of us are like Abraham.
There is more, but are we willing to obey God even if we look foolish! Keep this in mind as you dare to obey the Lord: "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise..." If you are not willing to look like a fool to the self acclaimed wise, then you probably will never find your "Promise land"! (1 Cor.1:27)
"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations... he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised." (Rom. 4:18-21)
There lies the key: God has the power to do WHAT HE HAD PROMISED, not what we think or try to accomplish in our own strength, but what he has promised!
My ending words of encouragement: If God says to do something, have the courage to go. If not, wait on Him.
Enjoy The Journey!
Bart
Sunday, August 02, 2009
WHERE IS THAT SLINGSHOT?
When asked what my desire is, I would often answer "ministry". In this season of extended time of contemplation, I have rethought that answer. While I want to do what I was created to do, I do not want to do ministry if it means we can't win. Now don't get me wrong, Jesus won the ultimate victory on the cross when he died and resurrected; the enemy is at His feet! Yet, when I look around it appears the enemy has the victory. Take a minute and think that over. By your own observation, does it look as if the Body of Christ at large has victory over the evil of the enemy? By some appearances, it looks as if the church is a defeated and oppressed foe.
I want to "play" for a winning team? Having played football at FSU back in the late 80's, and seeing our team my junior year struggle to beat the power-house teams (going 7-4-1), it was hard to feel that we were among the best. Yet, that same group of athletes, minus a few, found something within to become one of the best teams in FSU history in 1987, my senior year. We finished #2 in the Nation and were the catalyst for a football legacy. Following this triumphant season, FSU finished in the top 5 every year for 14 years. We went from average to dominant! Several friends played during the peak years of that era, from 1990's-2000's. They talk about how they knew they were going to win every time they stepped on the field, it was just a matter of how many points they would win by. That is what it is like to play for a winning team!
Now, let me clarify, this is not about football. While a great accomplishment, it is not what defines us. Football is merely a game played in the larger scope of life. I am talking about something much bigger, much greater - I am talking about Christ's Body, His Church! Perhaps not a fair question, but one worthy of contemplation: Do we, as the Church, know what it is like to win?
While I read that Christ won the ultimate victory, and He has all authority and has given us, His Church, all authority, frankly it is not what I see around me. Are we, by faith, meant to just hold onto some obscure theory that does not apply to us, or is there something we are to grasp and apply to our day?
Perhaps, like the people of Israel before us - who were God's chosen people - we are standing on the sidelines in terror of the taunting threats of "Goliath". This was one large foe, very intimidating to say the least. The Army of Israel had good reason to be afraid: He was bigger, stronger and more opposing than any of them. He was a beast who could devour anyone who stood before him. Why would anyone want to challenge him?
Yet, something in David rose up to the challenge. He had already defeated the lion and the bear while tending to his father's sheep, and David spent much time getting to know his God. David knew who he was and he knew who his God was. There was something in David that was different than all the other Israelites - in short, he was anointed by God. When David saw the giant Goliath taunting God's people and taunting his God whom he loved, he was indignant. David did what he knew to do, he rose up, took his slingshot and conquered the opposing foe!
The enemy of our soul and the enemy of Christ's Church is a very dominant opponent. His evil has taunted, intimidated and conquered many great ones throughout history. He is the most formidable foe ever. To stand up against the enemy without the authority to be victorious would be like standing before Goliath with no chance of winning!
Yet, we read that Jesus has already taken on and defeated this foe through the cross and resurrection! Great, "It is Finished!" Then why do we still hear his taunting threats and see the impact of his destructive ways among God's people?
Perhaps, like David, God has anointed us to apply the authority Christ gained and imparted to us, His Body! It appears we may be sitting on the sidelines in fear while he taunts and dominates God's people? Where is the "David" of our day? I am not sure that any one man can take on this daunting task, but if the Body Of Christ would rise up, be rightly fit together, with Christ at the head, we could conquer this formidable foe!
Short of that, why do "ministry" if we can't win? Who wants to play for a losing team? Are we really the weak and defeated church? We shall either rise up and be the victorious Church Christ died and resurrected for, or why bother playing church at all!
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32
WHERE IS THAT SLINGSHOT?
I'm just saying...
Enjoy The Journey!
Bart
I want to "play" for a winning team? Having played football at FSU back in the late 80's, and seeing our team my junior year struggle to beat the power-house teams (going 7-4-1), it was hard to feel that we were among the best. Yet, that same group of athletes, minus a few, found something within to become one of the best teams in FSU history in 1987, my senior year. We finished #2 in the Nation and were the catalyst for a football legacy. Following this triumphant season, FSU finished in the top 5 every year for 14 years. We went from average to dominant! Several friends played during the peak years of that era, from 1990's-2000's. They talk about how they knew they were going to win every time they stepped on the field, it was just a matter of how many points they would win by. That is what it is like to play for a winning team!
Now, let me clarify, this is not about football. While a great accomplishment, it is not what defines us. Football is merely a game played in the larger scope of life. I am talking about something much bigger, much greater - I am talking about Christ's Body, His Church! Perhaps not a fair question, but one worthy of contemplation: Do we, as the Church, know what it is like to win?
While I read that Christ won the ultimate victory, and He has all authority and has given us, His Church, all authority, frankly it is not what I see around me. Are we, by faith, meant to just hold onto some obscure theory that does not apply to us, or is there something we are to grasp and apply to our day?
Perhaps, like the people of Israel before us - who were God's chosen people - we are standing on the sidelines in terror of the taunting threats of "Goliath". This was one large foe, very intimidating to say the least. The Army of Israel had good reason to be afraid: He was bigger, stronger and more opposing than any of them. He was a beast who could devour anyone who stood before him. Why would anyone want to challenge him?
Yet, something in David rose up to the challenge. He had already defeated the lion and the bear while tending to his father's sheep, and David spent much time getting to know his God. David knew who he was and he knew who his God was. There was something in David that was different than all the other Israelites - in short, he was anointed by God. When David saw the giant Goliath taunting God's people and taunting his God whom he loved, he was indignant. David did what he knew to do, he rose up, took his slingshot and conquered the opposing foe!
The enemy of our soul and the enemy of Christ's Church is a very dominant opponent. His evil has taunted, intimidated and conquered many great ones throughout history. He is the most formidable foe ever. To stand up against the enemy without the authority to be victorious would be like standing before Goliath with no chance of winning!
Yet, we read that Jesus has already taken on and defeated this foe through the cross and resurrection! Great, "It is Finished!" Then why do we still hear his taunting threats and see the impact of his destructive ways among God's people?
Perhaps, like David, God has anointed us to apply the authority Christ gained and imparted to us, His Body! It appears we may be sitting on the sidelines in fear while he taunts and dominates God's people? Where is the "David" of our day? I am not sure that any one man can take on this daunting task, but if the Body Of Christ would rise up, be rightly fit together, with Christ at the head, we could conquer this formidable foe!
Short of that, why do "ministry" if we can't win? Who wants to play for a losing team? Are we really the weak and defeated church? We shall either rise up and be the victorious Church Christ died and resurrected for, or why bother playing church at all!
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32
WHERE IS THAT SLINGSHOT?
I'm just saying...
Enjoy The Journey!
Bart
Saturday, August 01, 2009
DESIRE
I will make this blog short and to the point.
Message of the hour: DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO?
Question: How?
It is worth exploring, don't you think?
Today is 8/01/09. The #8 means new beginnings. I am just saying...
Enjoy The Journey!
Bart
Message of the hour: DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO?
Question: How?
It is worth exploring, don't you think?
Today is 8/01/09. The #8 means new beginnings. I am just saying...
Enjoy The Journey!
Bart
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
