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Monthly Archives : October 2015

Prayer Life…Rom. 12:12
October 21, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer. Romans 12:12 ESV 
     Have you ever had moments when you struggled just to pray?   Yet there are other times you feel like a prayer warrior ready for battle.  Sometimes you may even become discouraged because you have prayed and prayed and prayed, yet nothing seems to happen.  You may even ask, “God, can you hear me?”  Personally, I have felt all the above and many other things /emotions in my prayer life, but the one pattern of prayer that I am sure we should all maintain is the pattern of Romans 12:12.
1. To Rejoice in Hope
     Rejoicing, especially with hope, is always a good place to start.  It does not matter how bad life becomes; there is always something we can rejoice in because of the Lord’s blessing in our life.  I remember years ago a sweet dear saint in the Lord. Her body racked with so much pain  that she could hardly speak yet trying to communicate.  I leaned over and placed my ear close to her whispering breath to hear the words she was trying to say.  In a clear whisper she stated, “God is good all the time.”
Here are some rejoicing starters for you.
    His Salvation ~  Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.  Psalms 35:9 ESV
    The gift of today ~ This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalms 118: 24 ESV
     In God’s word ~ I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.  Psalm 119: 162 ESV  
     
2. Be Patient in Tribulation
     A person does not need to go looking for difficult situations in life, for difficult situations will come to a person if they are endeavoring to live for Christ.  Christ himself warned us difficult times will come but does not want us to be discouraged.      “I have said  these things to you, that in me you might have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV  Concerning the last days Jesus said this, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.”   Matthew 24: 10 ESV  May we have a prayer life in difficult times that will causes us to pray like Paul when he said,  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV
3.  Be constant in Prayer
      
          I believe prayer should be an all day on going conversation with God, but I also believe everyone needs a time when they get alone with God to pray intentionally and specifically.  Jesus himself practices this often.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountains by himself to pray.  When evening came, he was alone.  Matthew 14: 23 ESV  (Luke 6:12..Mark 1:35…Luke 5:16)  Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5: 17 ESV which I believe is simply an all day conversation a person has with God.  Pray when you are driving, at your desk, pounding nails, in the kitchen or shop, and on and on I  could go with the possibilities of places and times to pray.  The point…..make God the center of your thoughts.
Prayer is absolutely essential in the life of every Christian.  The above only scratches the surface in all the Bible teaches concerning prayer and its importance. We were made to be with God, but sin separated us from this privilege.  God so desired to reconnect with us that He sent His only Son to die.  Because of this perfect sacrifice, anyone who repents of sin and calls upon Him will experience talking with Him as His child.  Yes, it is true anyone can pray but to pray and talk with Him as one of His children goes to a whole different level than just a casual conversation.  So this next week let me encourage you to rejoice everyday , be patient in difficult situations, and constantly be praying / communicating with God who is every Christians heavenly Father.
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David
Holy Spirit + God’s Love = Hope … Romans 5:5 ESV
October 14, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  
Romans 5:5 NKJV
The world is full of disappointments, and there is more than enough to go around, yet there is one place where no disappointment can succeed… In the heart that God has poured His love into. Not a trickle, sprinkle, or a splash but poured . It would be like trying to get a drink from a fire hydrant; it drenches you, and it will be more than you can hold. The person who has the love of God poured into his heart will not be able to contain it. It will spill out upon other people even when they might not deserve it. It is the kind of love that Jesus showed, lived, and walked in. How do we get this love? Not by praying harder, serving more or living morally although those can be evidences of its presence in our lives. There is only one way to receive it, and that is by the Holy Spirit who is given to us. There it is in a nutshell- “by the Holy Spirit”. Everything that we are as a Christians is because of the Holy Spirit. Pure love you are not able to create, but He is, and this is the hope…..that He moves us beyond ourselves and pours in His love that shines through us. The hope, that does not disappoint, is because of the Holy Spirit. 
1. How do we experience the Holy Spirit?
But when the goodness and loving kindness of GOD our SAVIOR appeared, HE SAVED US, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the HOLY SPIRIT, whom he POURED OUT on us richly through JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOR. ~ Titus 3: 5-6 ESV
2. How do we Love?
And this is his commandment, that we BELIEVE in the name of his SON JESUS CHRIST and LOVE ONE ANOTHER, just as he has commanded us. 1 John 3: 23 ESV 
Also read 1 John 4: 7-21 for it describes it well… God’s love, and how we should love.
Jesus spoke these word to us, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friend if you do what I command you.” John 15: 12-14 ESV
3. The experience of Hope…. It comes from God!
May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15: 13 ESV
By His Grace ~  Pastor David
In His Presence Daily…Psalm 84:10
October 7, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.  Psalm 84:10 ESV
    Being near God and walking with him daily is the greatest privilege a person can experience.  Being with God is not something that happens by accident but is a conscience decision of the person seeking to do so.  What causes a person to daily live desiring and acknowledging God’s presence the way the Psalmist does in verse 10?   There are many attributes of God that can move a person to bask in His presence, but let me suggest a few things to start the process of building this type of relationship for yourself.
      The first one can be the most difficult, yet it is the best place to begin.  Just be still, whatever thoughts or questions that continually race through your mind attempt to silent them and be still.
Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalms 46:10 ESV   Let the exaltation of God begin in your mind.  I believe everything begins in the mind, and what dominates our thoughts will affect how we view God.
 I believe many have missed what God is accomplishing because they are  busy with life and settling for second best- the tents of wickedness instead of being near him even if it is just a door keeper. The word of God can help the mind be still when reflecting upon it.  Many times God  will use scripture to speak to us when we slow down, become still,  and meditate on Him and His word.  I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.  I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.  Psalms 119:15-16 ESV
       Secondly, God must become more real to you than the clothes your back.  God must not be just an acquaintance you see every once in a while, but a person whom you converse with through prayer often.  Let your conversation / pray with God be real…. talk with Him as you would if you could physically see him.  And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7 ESV     Have  private personal conversations with God. Have times in your life for just  you and  God.  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 ESV  Jesus himself would go out from the crowds to get alone with his father.  And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35 ESV
      Thirdly, come to Him with singing, praise and worship in your heart.  Lets come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalms 95:2 ESV    Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into his presence with singing.  Psalms 100:2 ESV   Anticipate being with  God; it will change how you view church / His courts.  Rather than just a place of attendance, it will be a place of intentional participation with God’s working presence.
         I pray your desire to acknowledge God’s presence will trump your desire for anything less.
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David