Past Devotions

In the third month following the Exodus, the Israelites ended up by the mountain Sinai. God called Moses up to the mountain and promised to meet with him there.  God explained His purpose for doing so. “The LORD said to Moses, ‘I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.’” [Exodus 19:9]

Moses needed to prepare the people for this event; they needed to consecrate themselves.  At the end of three days the mountain was covered with a dense cloud, there was thunder and lightning and the sound of a trumpet. Moses left the people at the base of the mountain while he climbed up to meet God.

“Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder.”  [19:18-19]

Moses climbed up to meet with God and God came down to meet with Him. The whole mountain trembled violently because the LORD descended on it fire. There was no denying the Presence of God was there.

We need men and women willing to climb the mountain and meet with God. We need the church to consecrate herself. These things must happen … only then will the Presence of our LORD descend.  Only then will people hear what we are saying and come to believe in and surrender to the LORD Christ Jesus.

It’s beginning … God is calling us to the mountain. God is calling us to consecration to Him. The fire is coming!

Acts 16 reports on the adventures of Paul and Silas as they were on their missionary tour. At one point they ended up at Philippi. A slave girl, who had a spirit that predicted the future, began following them around and shouting about them. That got Paul’s attention fast (nothing like having a demon promote you).  Paul cast out the spirit, which caused her handlers to take revenge on Paul and Silas for their now diminished income. They ended up being beaten and then cast into a Roman prison without a trial.

That’s when the shaking happened.  “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” [v25-27]

Oh, the shaking!  Not just a little this time, but a lot! They were praying and singing and praising in their chains and suddenly the very foundation of the prison anchoring those chains shook “violently.” Then the doors of their prison flew open and “everybody’s chains came loose.”

Amazing … “everybody’s chains came loose”—not just the chains of the believers!  When the church finally gets on her knees and prays, when she begins to worship and praise God Almighty in spirit and in truth, when she becomes obedient to the Word, not only will her chains come loose, everybody’s will!

We want to influence this world?  We want to break the chains of bondages and slavery to sin … then we are going to need to do it God’s way.  The world’s way doesn’t seem to be working too well. And if we are trying to do it their way so we don’t offend them, then the chains are only going to get stronger. Praying & Worshipping will cause a whole lot of shaking and a whole lot of liberty!

That little shake?  I did. Others are also feeling it.  It’s not an earth-quake … it’s a spiritual ground-quake. I was talking with another pastor recently and he told me he felt it too.  Just a little shake, a tiny quake in the status quo. He said that his church was getting a few visitors who were looking for a church that preached the Word of God in truth and power. I understood … it’s beginning.

In Acts 4 Peter and John were seized by the religious rulers because they were “were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” [v2]

They were told to “sit down and shut up.” They refused to do so, and eventually the rulers not knowing what else to do, threatened them and released them.  Peter and John headed right back to the new church and had a prayer meeting.  “Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [Vs29-30]

And then it happened … “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”  [v31]

Our society has been telling the church for a long time, “Give us what we want to hear!” “Otherwise,” they shout, “sit down and shut up.”

The church is finally beginning to rebel against that demand. She’s starting to speak out with loving boldness in truth, and the spiritual ground is starting to shake.  Not a lot, yet, but enough that hungry people are starting to feel it!  I know I am, are you?

Only a few more days and I’ll be off to my personal prayer retreat.  I am getting more excited each day. And, if there was more confirmation needed that I must go somewhere else to spend three days in prayer, this morning I got it.

First Bob turned on the television. Then he carried on a running conversation, first with the local weatherman, then the local news reporters. He argued with the Today Show hosts. He stood at the sliding door and talked to the birds as they ate up all the food in his feeder. He talked to Miss Molly Magee the cat at least 10 times (and what’s worse she talked back). He made a list of things to do today—out loud.  In between all this, he talked to me.  All that before 9 AM.  If I desire quiet, I need to seek it somewhere else!

One of my favorite Scriptures is found in Mark 6. “Then, because so many people were coming and going that [Jesus and the disciples] did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”  [v31]

I love being around people. I enjoy sitting and talking about the LORD. As a young person I got bored so easily. I needed to be doing something, talking to someone, all the time. I hated quiet, and I hated being alone.  That’s changed.

Now I love being alone. I find great pleasure in the quiet. I read, pray, study, praise. Maybe I like being “alone” because I don’t feel alone in the quiet anymore. I feel as if I’ve accepted Jesus’ invitation to “come with Him” to that quiet place.

I’ve read a number of books and articles about prayer, taken a few classes/seminars. I learned about the different styles of praying and probably done a few messages on prayer myself.  If they gave me a test on prayer, I think I’d pass.

All that doesn’t matter. True, it’s nice to know all about how to pray, but the key is not knowing all there is to know about prayer.  The key is praying, or as Paul said: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” [Col 4:2]

I love that word “devote” or as some translations render it, “continue.” According to Strong’s Greek/Hebrew dictionary, it means, “to be earnest towards…to persevere, be constantly diligent…adhere closely to.” Not sure you can get much clearer than that in how we are to approach prayer as a Christian.

Paul added that our devotion, our diligence, is first to be “watchful.”  “Watchful” is a Greek word which means to “keep awake.”  I’m laughing. Oh, how often I’ve gotten drowsy when praying. Of course, Paul was speaking of keeping awake in more than physical terms … we are to keep awake to what is going on in the spiritual realm. We can’t fall asleep to what the enemy of our soul is trying to accomplish in this world.

We are also to be “thankful.”  “Eucharistia” is actively being grateful to God, as an act of worship. I am thankful. I am thankful that God knows my name, that He invites me to come to His throne of grace, that He has promised to hear me, never leave me and love me! I am thankful for so many things before I even get to my list of prayers He has answered!

Thank you Father!

Ever think about whom you’d like to talk to when you get to heaven … I mean besides Jesus.  The list doesn’t need to be short—after all, we have all of eternity!

One of the people I want to meet is Epaphras. His name means loving, charming and handsome. Paul regarded him highly and refers to him three times, twice in Colossians and once in Philemon. He describes him as “our dear fellow servant,” “a minister of Christ on our behalf,” “a servant of Jesus Christ,” and “my fellow prisoner.”

I want to talk to him because he was a man of prayer. “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” [Col 4:12-13]

Notice his prayer ministry? Paul notes that he was not a quitter … “[Epaphras] is always ….” That is where I sometimes fail … I give up or become haphazard in my prayer life.

Paul also noted that he was “wrestling” when he prayed. The word means “striving in agony.” There was an intensity in prayer that I often lack … I want that to change.

And notice the emphasis of Epaphras’ prayers … that those he prayed for would “stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” His prayers were intelligent, specific, not just some generalized “bless ‘em Lord” style of praying.

I would love to sit with him and discover how he became such a great warrior.  I guess I will have to wait until I see him, but in the meantime, I can follow his example—persistent, intense, intelligent, and focused in my prayers.

I am so excited, I am going on a personal prayer retreat beginning Sunday, February 24, to Wednesday, February 27. I had thought to go with other pastors in our area to a prayer summit on those same dates, but that door was closed to me. It turned out that summit was only open to men.

While that did not surprise me, I was disappointed at first. Then I heard God tell me that He and I could have our own prayer summit. I didn’t have to be with others to pray. So, I booked a hotel room locally and my church and its members are graciously providing the funds for three days and food. I saw a picture of the rooms in this new hotel. They are mini-suites with fridges, stove tops, microwaves, coffee pots, and instead of those horribly uncomfortable chairs, a recliner!

Prayer is becoming more important to me. I am finding I need to pray, I want to pray, I am desperate for times of prayer, both alone and with others. I feel God moving when I pray, when we pray! Paul told the Colossian church, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” [Col 4:2-3]

While the men are praying on the mountain top the end of February, I will be praying in the valley. While they are together in unity (for which I am immensely thankful), I will be alone with my Lord and Savior, no distractions, nothing to draw me away from my focus on Him.

Father, I am no longer disappointed, now I can hardly wait for the 24^th! Thank you, Lord, Amen.

Happy Valentine’s Day!  This is the day when romantic love is king in our society with flowers, candy, wine, dinners out or special dinners at home. Companies love this holiday. The stores have been packed with heart-adorned items of every kind.  “I LUV U” in every form is printed on everything. I like romance, it’s a nice treat.

Tomorrow when you visit the store, Valentine’s Day items will be on the discount racks and clerks will be restocking the stores with Easter items. Easter baskets, stuffed animals and chocolate bunnies will be the new thing. The Cadbury Easter Bunny will be laying his chocolate eggs everywhere.

Between these two holidays, the true meaning of love and sacrifice has been trivialized. Love is so much more than romance. It’s facing the menial tasks and the momentous times with patience and giving. I’ve been married almost 52 years. Bob has been faithful. He has worked hard to support his family. I remember when our first child would suffer a kidney infection (10 in her first year) and run high fevers. I would be exhausted. Even though he worked a tough day, he’d get up in the middle of the night so I could get some sleep. He would walk the floor with her, sponging her with a cool cloth to help reduce the fever. He’s been there always. Not always good with romance, but always good at love.

The greatest display of love and sacrifice is seen in the life and death of our Savior.  “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” [Eph 5:1-2]

God sent His Only Son, Jesus, to overcome every obstacle that separated us … sin, punishment, and death were His so that we might experience holiness, freedom and life. Resurrection Sunday is so much more than Easter baskets and the Cadbury Bunny. It is the greatest expression of love and sacrifice ever given.  Let’s not lose sight of what true love is. Let’s imitate the life of love and sacrifice of our Father and His Son.

Memories are a good thing, unless you can’t forget. 

I have memories, good memories, of people I love who are no longer with me. They have gone before me into the presence of our LORD. I remember my Aunt Julie and her kind and compassionate way of drawing me toward salvation. I remember my friend, Nella, who would pat my cheeks and call me “Sweetie.” I remember my pastor and mentor who taught me about the love of God. Good memories. They make me smile, sometimes bring tears, but always refresh my soul.

Then there are other kinds of memories, memories I should forget, but often can’t. These are the memories of hurts, disappointments, pain inflicted by others. These are the memories, when they are resurrected, that once again try to bind me to the pain and anger.

I was reading an interview by a young woman whose father—that she adored—was disrespected by someone. Her pain over his death was palpable, but even more her anger was vivid and alive. She commented that she would never forgive the wrong committed.  I felt such sorrow for her because I understand that if you can’t forgive, you will be bound to that wrong and its pain forever.

Paul reminds us that, as Christians, we are to “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” [Eph 4:32]

Forgiveness releases us and sets us free from the bondage of bitterness and hurts, but, the one thing I’ve also learned is that the enemy of our soul doesn’t want us free.  He brings back those memories, the difficult ones, of betrayal, rejection, offenses, to entrap us once again in unforgiveness.  Forgiveness is a life-long process. We must learn to reject the memories that seek to return us to bitterness. We must forgive the offender, even if we need to do it again and again. It’s the only way to maintain our liberty.

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.’” [Matt 18:21-22]

At one point in Jesus’ ministry, he took 72 disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. When they completed their assignment, they came back to Jesus to report. They were extremely excited, as we all would be, that even the demons had “to submit to us in [Jesus’] name.”

Jesus’ response was that He had given them all power to trample the power of the enemy, but if they were going to rejoice it should be rejoicing that their names were written in heaven. [Luke 10:1-20]

Then Luke reports Jesus began to pray.  “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.’” [v21]

Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, praised His Father. That Greek word for “full of joy” means “to jump for joy, be exceedingly glad, and rejoice greatly.”

What made Jesus jump for joy? His Father’s pleasure in revealing great spiritual truths to those who come to Him as little children. It was not the wise, the religious counsellors, the kings, the rulers or the priests who saw the power of the enemy submitting to the name of Jesus, it was the common, every-day people who came to Jesus and trusted Him when He sent them out “like lambs among wolves.”  [vs 3]

Beloved, it may seem like we are “lambs among the wolves” and that the wolves have all the power, but when Jesus sends His lambs into the battlefield, He gives them all the power they need to trample the works of the enemy. And while we rejoice in that, our greatest rejoicing – our jumping for joy – comes because our names are written in heaven.