714PRAYER – January 8, 2019

Open Blinded Eyes

In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement about this those who have turned their back on God. They not only practice unrighteousness, but they give hearty approval of those who practice these things. (Rom. 1:32)

This comment is lived out on the streets, in the news, and on screens across the country. Things that would have made our society blush just a few years ago are now flaunted before the world with pride. Now they are even encouraged and viewed as normal.

Their sin has allowed Satan to blind them to the truth. They are living out Judges 17 where “every man was doing right in his own eyes.”

Today we’re asking God to open blinded eyes across our county. Giving spiritual sight to those who have been blinded to the sin their lives and those around them. They need a healing touch from the Father’s hand. Before they can repent, their eyes must be opened to their sin. They need a vision of the holiness and righteousness of God. (more…)

714PRAYER – God Moves in Response to Our Prayer

God moves in response to our prayer. Prayer is at the heartbeat of the Christian life. God invites us to bring our every need to Him in prayer. He invites us into His presence as His children. The very throne room of God is open to us, and we are to come boldly into His presence.

As Christians, we are often reluctant to pray. We consider prayer as a last effort instead of a first response.  Too often we talk about prayer, but don’t spend the time before God in prayer. The book of James puts it this way,

 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. – James 4:2 (NASB)

We do not have because we do not ask. Could it be that God is waiting for us to pray before He moves in power? How many nights have we spent in worry instead of in prayer? How many days have we lived in fear because we haven’t brought our needs and concerns to the Lord? How many times have we spend 2 minutes in prayer and then 2 hours in distress?  (more…)

When You Walk Through the Waters

God placed a verse on my heart this week, that I have not been able to get off my mind. Although I don’t normally share in this format, I felt I just had to stop and share this teaching with you.

Over the past few days, I have really been reminded of how many people are facing some pretty major challenges. Medical, relational, financial or even vocational problems can come against us like a flood washing away our options, or a raging fire burning through everything we hold dear.

God never promised us a problem-free life. I here teaching sometimes that describes the Christian life like the opening scene of an old Disney film. The sun is shining, the bird are singing and little squirrels bring us the morning paper. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. The sun isn’t shining because dark clouds have gathered. Birds pooped all over our car. Those cute little squirrels eat through the cable and shorted out our Internet connection.

We live in a fallen world and sometimes bad things happen to good people. We get a report from our doctor about a recent test that “concerns” her and she wants to see us. Our car breaks down and there’ no money for repairs. We find an email on our spouse’s phone that reveals a hidden affair, or our company no longer needs our services. (more…)

714PRAYER – The Priority of Prayer

Read through the book of Acts and one theme is repeated again and again. The church prayed, and God moved. From Pentecost to freeing Peter from jail to sending missionaries to spread the Gospel, prayer played a significant role in the life of the early church.

When we pray, we confess our need and dependence on God. When we pray, we step beyond our strength and into God’s abundance. When we pray, the doors of heaven open and God’s power is poured out on us.

God calls us to be a people of prayer. His church is to be a house of prayer. How often is prayer a priority in your church? Let’s make it personal, what is the priority of prayer in your life?

Prayerlessness is the great sin of our day. It’s an indicator of our self-reliance and pride. A prideful person will never be a person of prayer.

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714PRAYER – Pray for Pastors

714PRAYER is all about praying for spiritual awakening and revival in our nation, our church and in ourselves. Thank you for your commitment to join me each week in praying for spiritual renewal.

This week our focus is on praying for our spiritual leaders.

Rarely a week goes by without a news story of a pastor or Christian leader who has been caught or confesses a moral defeat.

It seems the Kingdom of darkness is working overtime to bring down our pastors and spiritual leaders. Satan knows that if he can destroy a pastor, it will affect the church, the Christians in the church and the Kingdom’s reputation in the community.

If he is not successful in tempting a pastor with compromise, he will try and beat him or her down with discouragement. With so many churches struggling, it’s easy for a pastor to feel discouraged and disheartened. (more…)

714PRAYER – Pray for Our Leaders

Today we are praying for our nation’s leaders. Our President, Vice President, and other national leaders have a significant impact on our nation’s culture. They can move a country back toward God, or remove God from the national conversation.

In 1 Timothy Paul encourages us to pray for our leaders.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)

We may not always agree with our leaders, but we are commanded to pray for them. As Christians, We may disagree on politics, but we can all agree that our national leaders need our prayer.

Here are five prayer topics we can agree on for our national leaders.

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714PRAYER – The Next Step in Awakening

As 714PRAYER warriors, we are claiming 2 Chronicles 7:14 for spiritual awakening in our country, our churches, our families and our own lives.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
As the Children of God, we are invited to humble ourselves, seek the face of God and pray. However, there is a next step that separates those who really desire spiritual renewal and those who simply talk about it. God commands us to turn from our wicked ways.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the idea of having wicked ways. Sure, I have sins, I’m not perfect, but wicked ways? That sounds so strong, so unchristian. I like to think that I have some weaknesses, some mistakes, sure some sin, but not serious ones, not wicked ways.

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714PRAYER – Seek His Face

 

Each week we are praying the principles of 2 Chronicles 7:14 together. 

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

God calls us to humble ourselves, pray and seek His face. Seeking God’s face is the beginning point for spiritual renewal and awakening.

Seeking His Face is Seeking His Presence

When we seek God’s face, we are seeking His presence and blessing. Spiritual awakening comes as Christians begin walking in the presence of God moment by moment.

My youngest daughter is a people person. When she shares a story, she wants your attention. When she was younger, if I wasn’t paying close enough attention, she would take her hand and move my face toward her. She knew that when I was looking at her, she had my attention.

Seeking His Face Reveals My Need

The more we experience God’s face (His presence) the more we realize our need. 

When the prophet Elijah saw into the throne room of God, and saw the king of Glory high and lifted up, his first response was that he was a man of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5)

The more we see God for who He is, the more we see ourselves for who we are. Our pride is made evident when we see His face.

Seeking His Face Reveals Who I am in Him

In that same scene from Isaiah 6 and angel comes and touches the prophets lips and proclaims his sin has been forgiven. As we walk in the presence of God, we see who we are in Christ. We are children of the most high God. Our sin has been removed and we can come boldly into His presence. 

God Hides His Face from the Unrighteous

God only reveals Himself to those who seek after him. God hides His presence to those who are opposed to Him. 

But I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods. – Deuteronomy 31:8

Seeking His Face Must Be Our Priority

God makes a promise to us. When we seek after His face, we have the promise that we will find Him.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13

If we are to experience the presence of God in our life, we must seek His face with all that we are. Above all else, we must make walking in His presence the priority in our life. God never hides His face from those who seek after Him.

The Psalmist made seeking the face of God his priority. He heard God’s call to seek after him, and his immediate response was to seek Him

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” – Psalm 27:8 (NASB) 

Let’s Agree in Prayer

Father today I commit myself to seeking Your face with everything I am. I want to walk in Your presence every moment of my life. My desire it to make seeking Your face the most important thing in my life.

Father, I pray for the leaders in my church. I pray that their priority will be to seek Your face. I pray that in everything they do today will be out of an overflowing desire to walk in Your presence. 

Our country is in desperate need of Your presence and blessing. I know that because of our country’s sin, You are hiding Your face from us. Bring about repentance and awakening in our country. Turn us back to You.

Thank You for the promise that when we seek You, we will find You.

In Jesus Name I pray, 

Amen!

Five Lies Christians Believe – Part 3

As Christians, we know we are to confess our sin. However, how we define confessing our sin and what the Bible means by confessing our sin may not agree.

Our definition of confession means to agree or admit something. Television shows like Law and Order play out the scene in the courtroom. The tension builds as the attorney grills the person on the stand. “Were you with the victim the night of the murder? Is this your knife that was used in the crime? Did, in fact, you no longer loved your wife? As the person on the stand becomes more emotional and sweat forms on his forehead, the District Attorney points to him and says, “Sir, did you kill your wife?” The man on the stand burst into tears and confesses “yes, yes I killed her.” I confess.

When we confess our sin, we are acknowledging to God that we committed a particular sin. We have the promise of 1 John 1:9 that God forgives our sin when we confess the sin.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

Now here is the lie, what if nothing changes? What if after confessing that sin, I continue to repeat that sin again and again? (more…)

Five Lies Christians Believe – Part 2

A few years ago, I had a co-worker who was Buddhist. Even though we had radically different religious views we developed a great friendship. One thing my Buddhist friend loved was Scotch. He was well educated on what brands were best, even had a story of how he learned how to drink Scotch.

One day while at dinner I noticed he didn’t order a Scotch. So, I asked him about it. He told me that he had stopped drinking because he was trying to be a good Buddhist. As I have thought about his comment, I have wondered, what is the difference between trying to be a good Buddhist and trying to be a good Christian?

How many Christians are trying to be good Christians?

Trying to be a good Christian is a lie.

If you try to be a good Christian your life will be filled with defeat and disappointment. God never intended you to try to be a good Christian. (more…)