This last week we looked at Jesus as a man of Prayer.
Often we allow our prayer life to become ritualistic, something we check off on our spiritual "to do" list.
It was never a "to do" list for Jesus. It was authentic, it was real and it was a way to engage God the Father on this earth.
The cool thing about this lesson is that we can engage the same God right now in our own life. We can call on the creator of the universe to show His power on earth right now. We can call on Him believing, kowing he will intervene. It may not be in our timing and may not be the way we want, but He does intercat in our lives through prayer.
We have to remember, that the way in which we approcah him is important. James 4:3 tells us not to ask with the wrong motives. We learn from Jesus to pray with a pure heart. It is not about us, it is all about God.
One of the problems is that we have gottne good at asking for stuff. Probably 90% of all our prayers are about asking for stuff. We need to spend some time with God building a relationship with Him through prayer. Send this week, telling God about what you have done and what you are going to do. Include Him in your life life this week. Spend some time without sying anything and listen to Him in your Spirit as he leads you through this week.
Let's all change the way we pray. Let's spend some time including God in our everyday life.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Jesus: Man of Warfare
Jesus is a man of warfare, spiritual warfare that is. This past week we saw how Jesus' ministry was centered around the idea that there are two kingdoms in conflict. It is God's kingdom verses the kingdom of the prince of darkness. From the beginning the enemy has fought to keep man from experiencing an authentic relationship with God.
Jesus has won the war, but there are spiritual battles that will continue until Jesus returns. So how does this affect you and me?
Once we discover the reality of the warfare that goes on in the heavenly realm we begin to pray differently and with more intensity. We call on God and his angels to intervene in this battle for lost souls and the advancement of his kingdom.
In Daniel 10 we have a perfect example of spiritual warfare and how prayer can make a difference.
Daniel is confronted with a heavenly being. He had been fasting for twenty-one days when this being came to him. The heavenly being came to let him know his prayer had been heard and he had come in response to Daniels prayer and fasting.
He told Daniel that his prayers had been heard from the first day but he had been detained by the prince of the Persian kingdom. Our first insticnt is to think that the prince of the Persian kingdom is a physical ruler. But the heavenly being said he was detained until Michael, "one of the chief princes, came to help him."
Michael, on of the arch angels intervened in the heavenly realm. The heavenly being tells Daniel, "Do not be afraid . . . Peace! Be strong now; be strong." The heavenly being said that he was going to return to fight the prince of Persia and when he leave, the prince of Greece will come.
This is a perfect description of what goes on in the heavenly realm. So what can we learn from this story in the Bible?
First, spiritual warfare is real. There really is a battle that goes on in the heavenly realm.
Second, our prayer affects the battles that go on in the spiritual realm. This means we need to be persistant, calling on God to fight for us against the spiritual forces of evil. We can not fight this battle on our own, we have to trust God's power because the enemy will do everything he can so that we lose that trust.
Finally, we have to realize there is a battle. As follwers of God we do not need to be passive, we need to be aggrssive with our prayers. And when it gets tough, we need to find peace in God and stand strong.
The encouragement this week is to pray as a warrior fighting against the principalities of this dark world. Pray for people to be healed. Pray for God to intervene. Pray for lost souls. Stop being passive with your prayers.
Pary hard, trust God's word, the kingdom of heaven is at hand and the gates of hell will not prevail!
Jesus has won the war, but there are spiritual battles that will continue until Jesus returns. So how does this affect you and me?
Once we discover the reality of the warfare that goes on in the heavenly realm we begin to pray differently and with more intensity. We call on God and his angels to intervene in this battle for lost souls and the advancement of his kingdom.
In Daniel 10 we have a perfect example of spiritual warfare and how prayer can make a difference.
Daniel is confronted with a heavenly being. He had been fasting for twenty-one days when this being came to him. The heavenly being came to let him know his prayer had been heard and he had come in response to Daniels prayer and fasting.
He told Daniel that his prayers had been heard from the first day but he had been detained by the prince of the Persian kingdom. Our first insticnt is to think that the prince of the Persian kingdom is a physical ruler. But the heavenly being said he was detained until Michael, "one of the chief princes, came to help him."
Michael, on of the arch angels intervened in the heavenly realm. The heavenly being tells Daniel, "Do not be afraid . . . Peace! Be strong now; be strong." The heavenly being said that he was going to return to fight the prince of Persia and when he leave, the prince of Greece will come.
This is a perfect description of what goes on in the heavenly realm. So what can we learn from this story in the Bible?
First, spiritual warfare is real. There really is a battle that goes on in the heavenly realm.
Second, our prayer affects the battles that go on in the spiritual realm. This means we need to be persistant, calling on God to fight for us against the spiritual forces of evil. We can not fight this battle on our own, we have to trust God's power because the enemy will do everything he can so that we lose that trust.
Finally, we have to realize there is a battle. As follwers of God we do not need to be passive, we need to be aggrssive with our prayers. And when it gets tough, we need to find peace in God and stand strong.
The encouragement this week is to pray as a warrior fighting against the principalities of this dark world. Pray for people to be healed. Pray for God to intervene. Pray for lost souls. Stop being passive with your prayers.
Pary hard, trust God's word, the kingdom of heaven is at hand and the gates of hell will not prevail!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Have Mercy!
Traditionally when we try to define mercy we say it means - Not getting what you deserve. The problem is we are getting to decide what others deserve. So there has to be something more to mercy . Jesus tells us in Matt 25 that "whatever you do for the least of these" (others) we do for him. If that is the case then when we look at others we need to see Jesus.
So when Jesus says "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Matt 9:13) what does this mercy mean? How does Jesus himself teach us to show mercy?
The first way is to be merciful to the hurting. In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus points out that if you show compassion for others you can be showing mercy. This kind of mercy isn't just a feeling of guilt or feeling sorry for that person, it is a feeling that moves you to take action. If you look at a hurting person and see Jesus you are going to act differently than if you are looking through your own eyes and setting your own "deserving scale."
The second way is to be merciful to the sinful. As in the story of the adulterous woman brought to Jesus, he teaches us to be merciful. If anyone had the right to condemn her it would have been the "perfect" man, Jesus. He said, "the one who is without sin cast the first stone." As the accusers walked away Jesus could have picked up a stone and killed this woman, but he showed mercy. Jesus is teaching us that mercy moves us to help, not condemn. If you look at a sinful person and see Jesus you will show mercy not condemnation. If you are looking through your own eyes you usually set your own "deserving scale."
The third way is to be merciful to the enemy. Jesus said "Love your enemy, do good to them." (Luke 6) We live in a culture that lives the opposite of this statement. We cheer for wrath and punishment. We would much rather see someone who has hurt us or offended us to pay for the wrong they've done rather than shown mercy. Some may be asking the question, "So are you saying that there shouldn't be consequences for their actions?" No. You’re asking the wrong question! What about asking, "If I see Jesus in this person how would I treat Him?" Maybe we would respond differently. Instead of looking through our own eyes and determining what others deserve we show the mercy of Jesus to them.
If mercy is not NOT getting what you deserve then what is it? Mercy is something you don't have to do but you choose to do it because you see Jesus as that person. What if followers of Christ would focus on this kind of mercy. Would this world be different? Whether or not it would, when we see Jesus he would tell us "come, take your inheritance" (Matt 25:34). When we see Jesus in others we can't help but show mercy. Just as when we put on Christ, God can't help but to see Jesus in us - the hurting and sinful!
Doug
So when Jesus says "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Matt 9:13) what does this mercy mean? How does Jesus himself teach us to show mercy?
The first way is to be merciful to the hurting. In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus points out that if you show compassion for others you can be showing mercy. This kind of mercy isn't just a feeling of guilt or feeling sorry for that person, it is a feeling that moves you to take action. If you look at a hurting person and see Jesus you are going to act differently than if you are looking through your own eyes and setting your own "deserving scale."
The second way is to be merciful to the sinful. As in the story of the adulterous woman brought to Jesus, he teaches us to be merciful. If anyone had the right to condemn her it would have been the "perfect" man, Jesus. He said, "the one who is without sin cast the first stone." As the accusers walked away Jesus could have picked up a stone and killed this woman, but he showed mercy. Jesus is teaching us that mercy moves us to help, not condemn. If you look at a sinful person and see Jesus you will show mercy not condemnation. If you are looking through your own eyes you usually set your own "deserving scale."
The third way is to be merciful to the enemy. Jesus said "Love your enemy, do good to them." (Luke 6) We live in a culture that lives the opposite of this statement. We cheer for wrath and punishment. We would much rather see someone who has hurt us or offended us to pay for the wrong they've done rather than shown mercy. Some may be asking the question, "So are you saying that there shouldn't be consequences for their actions?" No. You’re asking the wrong question! What about asking, "If I see Jesus in this person how would I treat Him?" Maybe we would respond differently. Instead of looking through our own eyes and determining what others deserve we show the mercy of Jesus to them.
If mercy is not NOT getting what you deserve then what is it? Mercy is something you don't have to do but you choose to do it because you see Jesus as that person. What if followers of Christ would focus on this kind of mercy. Would this world be different? Whether or not it would, when we see Jesus he would tell us "come, take your inheritance" (Matt 25:34). When we see Jesus in others we can't help but show mercy. Just as when we put on Christ, God can't help but to see Jesus in us - the hurting and sinful!
Doug
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Man Of Love
This next weeks teaching looks at Jesus as a Man of Love. I know it is Valentines Day Weekend, but I am not talking about the mushy kind of love that is normally associated with Valentines Day.
Jesus said: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).
Jesus showed us how to love people who are not like us. He was humble enough to love even those considered to be unlovable. It was this kind of love that can change the world.
We are good at loving people like us. We are good at loving our own people, but how are we at loving those who we find it difficult to love.
Maybe this video will inspire you to love even your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-48).
Copy and Paste link into browser: http://www.nbcdfw.com/sports/football/A_Game_of_Hope_Dallas-Fort_Worth.html
Jesus said: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).
Jesus showed us how to love people who are not like us. He was humble enough to love even those considered to be unlovable. It was this kind of love that can change the world.
We are good at loving people like us. We are good at loving our own people, but how are we at loving those who we find it difficult to love.
Maybe this video will inspire you to love even your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-48).
Copy and Paste link into browser: http://www.nbcdfw.com/sports/football/A_Game_of_Hope_Dallas-Fort_Worth.html
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Jesus--Man of no religion
Our next topic in our "Rediscovering Your First Love" series talks about how Jesus came and challenged the religious establishment.
The church should be saturated with Jesus. It should have Jesus' DNA all over it. But for the most part it doesn't. It has years of tradition and religious practices passed down from man that get in the way. Maybe this is why early in Jesus' ministry he challenged the religious establishment.
The teaching this week will walk through Mark 1:21-3:6; 7:6-8. Mark 7:6-8 says this:
"Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."
I had a Jewish friend of mine tell me that he had been studying Jesus. He said, "I am finding out that Jesus was quite Jewish." What he meant was that Jesus practiced Judaism. He is partly correct, Jesus practiced Judaism the way it was meant to be practiced. He did not however hold himself to the laws that were added to Judaism by man.
This attitude did not sit very well with the religious leaders and eventually led to Jesus' death. Instead of being saturated with God, Judaism had become a mixture of what God gave Moses and what man decided to add later.
Christianity has done the same thing. While Judaism has different schools of thought on the law like Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai, Christianity has Calvin, Luther and the Wesley. A mixture of God and man, with the man side of things taking precedent most of the time.
Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law. (Matthew 5:17)
It is important that we see Jesus as the leader of the church and strive to become saturated with him, not our religious practices.
The church should be saturated with Jesus. It should have Jesus' DNA all over it. But for the most part it doesn't. It has years of tradition and religious practices passed down from man that get in the way. Maybe this is why early in Jesus' ministry he challenged the religious establishment.
The teaching this week will walk through Mark 1:21-3:6; 7:6-8. Mark 7:6-8 says this:
"Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."
I had a Jewish friend of mine tell me that he had been studying Jesus. He said, "I am finding out that Jesus was quite Jewish." What he meant was that Jesus practiced Judaism. He is partly correct, Jesus practiced Judaism the way it was meant to be practiced. He did not however hold himself to the laws that were added to Judaism by man.
This attitude did not sit very well with the religious leaders and eventually led to Jesus' death. Instead of being saturated with God, Judaism had become a mixture of what God gave Moses and what man decided to add later.
Christianity has done the same thing. While Judaism has different schools of thought on the law like Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai, Christianity has Calvin, Luther and the Wesley. A mixture of God and man, with the man side of things taking precedent most of the time.
Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law. (Matthew 5:17)
It is important that we see Jesus as the leader of the church and strive to become saturated with him, not our religious practices.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Have you lost your first Love?
Through the history of the church we have slowly gotten away from our first love.
In Revelation 2:1-7, Jesus addresses seven churches. The first one is the church at Ephesus, He says, “I know your good deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you do not tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” There are many churches this can be said about. And for the most part that is what we hope to become. And when we become this church, we pat ourselves on the back and say, “A job well done.”
“Yet” is what Jesus says next. It is in the “yet” that we see there is something wrong. It is in the “yet” we begin to see the problem, we have lost our identity. Jesus says, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
The church is in danger of having its lamp stand removed. Why? Because it has gotten away from what it did at first. It has gotten away from its first love. It has gotten away from following Jesus—the man. He came to teach his bride how to live on earth and we have forgotten what that is because we have forgotten our first love. Our first love is not the church, it is Jesus. We have to stop selfishly loving ourselves and love Jesus.
The problem with making the church more like Jesus is that it is dangerous. The most religious fight against the ways of Jesus because it interferes with how they perceive their role in the kingdom. The church is not about following man, it is all about following a man—Jesus.
In Revelation 2:1-7, Jesus addresses seven churches. The first one is the church at Ephesus, He says, “I know your good deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you do not tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” There are many churches this can be said about. And for the most part that is what we hope to become. And when we become this church, we pat ourselves on the back and say, “A job well done.”
“Yet” is what Jesus says next. It is in the “yet” that we see there is something wrong. It is in the “yet” we begin to see the problem, we have lost our identity. Jesus says, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
The church is in danger of having its lamp stand removed. Why? Because it has gotten away from what it did at first. It has gotten away from its first love. It has gotten away from following Jesus—the man. He came to teach his bride how to live on earth and we have forgotten what that is because we have forgotten our first love. Our first love is not the church, it is Jesus. We have to stop selfishly loving ourselves and love Jesus.
The problem with making the church more like Jesus is that it is dangerous. The most religious fight against the ways of Jesus because it interferes with how they perceive their role in the kingdom. The church is not about following man, it is all about following a man—Jesus.
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