Tuesday, June 30, 2009

More Lazarus Lessons

I have enjoyed reading the story of Lazarus the last several days. I shared some of this truth on Sunday as we received the offering. Here is some more revelation about this man that Jesus loved that will apply to our lives.

(1) God has a bigger and better plan in mind. Lazarus was dead four days when Jesus arrived. When the Lord waits, it's for two reasons:
(a) That He may be glorified. I found out this week while studying that the Pharisees believed that your spirit left your corpse on the fourth day after you died. So if Jesus had intervened earlier they'd have said, "He wasn't really dead." Hence He told His disciples, "This sickness is ...for the glory of God" (Jn 11:4 NKJV). It's in looking back that we clearly see God's hand at work.
(b) That our faith may be strengthened and built up. Jesus said, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe" (Jn 11:15 NKJV). We will always have some form of difficulty or crisis. Our next crisis will be different from our last one, but the thing that must remain strong is our faith.

(2) God will ask us to remove the hindrances and deal with the stench. "Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha...said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days'" (Jn 11:38-39 NKJV). Are we praying for an answer in one area, while God's telling us to take away the stone and deal with a "stench" buried in another? Surrender, you can't win! When your heart's right with God your prayers will be answered.

(3) God wants to make us a living testimony. Everywhere Lazarus went, without even speaking a word, his life declared that Jesus is Lord. And the same should be true of us. God has saved and raised us up to be a testimony to His grace and goodness.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Lazarus Lessons

Lesson one: Jesus knows how you feel. At Lazarus' funeral, "Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, 'See how He loved him!'" (Jn 11:35-36 NKJV). This story proves we serve a God who can not only raise the dead, but can "sympathize with us" (See Heb 4:15 NKJV). So if you're grieving today turn to God and allow Him to comfort you.

Lesson two: Jesus can give you back what life's taken from you. He can "restore to you the years" that life has stolen (See Joel 2:25). Claim that promise; take it to the place where you've lost so much, and ask God to replace and renew. Martha said, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You" (Jn 11:21-22 NKJV). Instead of saying "if only," pray "even now I know." It's not too late, God can move on your behalf.

Lesson three: Jesus can set you free. "He cried...'Lazarus, come forth!' And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes...Jesus said...'Loose him, and let him go'" (Jn 11:43-44 NKJV). God's Word is greater than the thing that has bound, limited or enslaved you. Even though your mind doesn't fully comprehend it, let your spirit respond to God. Pray with the Psalmist, "Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it" (Ps 119:34-35 NKJV). When you pray such a prayer your faith will grow, and the circumstances that seem impossible will be changed by God.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Complete

When you disregard your positive qualities by telling yourself, "I'm too fat, I'm no good, I never do anything right," you'll always find verification of what you're looking for. Dr. Richard Carlson says: "Putting yourself down reinforces rather than corrects your imperfections by placing unnecessary attention and energy on everything that's wrong, rather than what's right with you.

Why would you do this knowing the only possible result is a negative outlook, more negative feelings and less appreciation for the gift of life? People who regularly put themselves down are often seen as complainers, not to mention the example they set. Everyone has aspects of themselves they'd like to improve, but this doesn't mean you should beat yourself up. Here on earth none of us is ever going to be perfect, but putting yourself down isn't the answer."

The Bible says God "has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Max Lucado writes: "Underline the word perfect. Note, the word isn't better. Not improving. Not on the upswing. God doesn't improve; he perfects. He doesn't enhance; he completes...I realize there's a sense in which we're imperfect. We still err. We still stumble. We still do exactly what we don't want to do...that part of us is 'being made holy.' But when it comes to our position before God, we're perfect. When he sees each of us, he sees someone who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect - Jesus Christ." It's okay to work on improving yourself, but go easy; stop often and remind yourself that you're "being made new...becoming like the One who made you" (Col 3:10 NCV).

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Picture the wind blowing through the cedars of Lebanon and some of them "humming" in response. And the greater the storm, the sweeter their song. These were called humming cedars. And God uses humming cedars to build strong churches.

In Acts, a couple of humming cedars were incarcerated in a Philippian dungeon, their hands and feet locked in stocks, their backs flogged, the contempt of society heaped on them. How did they respond? "At midnight Paul and Silas were...singing hymns to God...Suddenly there was a great earthquake...the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed" (Ac 16:25-26 NKJV). One old preacher said: "God got so caught up in their praises that He began to tap His big foot. And when God taps His foot, you get earthquakes."

Praise breaks chains and opens doors; it's the strategy for victory. Satan will try to stop you from praising God because he knows:
(a) The importance of praise. "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised" (Ps 48:1 NKJV). (b) The healing effects of praise. God's answer to "the spirit of heaviness" is "the garment of praise" (Isa 61:3). But like any garment, you must put it on.
(c) The power of praise in times of crisis. When Israel was outnumbered by the enemy, God told them to put a choir in front of the army and march into battle. And it worked! "When they began...to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the [enemy]" (2Ch 20:22 NKJV). Don't wait until the battle is over to shout; go to war with the praise of God on your lips and watch Him turn your situation around.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Fire Cedars

My friend Jerry always prays for me and others that we would be the oaks of God. Big oaks start with small cedars. Solomon used something called fire cedars to build the temple. It's said that shepherds used it to make fires at night because it was saturated in oil, would ignite easily, and burn a long time. What a picture.

God gathered 120 fire cedars in the upper room, and "suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ac 2:2-4 NKJV). That day 3,000 souls were won to Christ!

The church was born in the fire and has been sustained by the fire - and we must not let that fire go out! Even in the days of the Old Testament tabernacle, God commanded His people to take the fire that burned on the altar and carry it with them wherever they went. In other words we need a true revival. When revival comes it will focus on who we are not what we do. Let's ask ourselves this:

(1) Is it scriptural? (See Isa 8:20).
(2) Does it magnify the person of Christ? (See Jn 3:30 NKJV).
(3) Does it demonstrate God's love? (See Ac 2:44-45).
(4) Does it win souls and turn them into disciples? "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (Jn 15:8 NKJV).

If we can have this kind of move of God, we will be the Oaks of God. Keep on praying Jerry!!!!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

"It is well with my soul"

The peace Jesus gives brings a sense of assurance that no matter what happens, you know "it is well with my soul." He says to us: "My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and...afraid." The peace Jesus gives doesn't depend on conditions and circumstances. It comes from knowing you're God's child and that your Father controls the universe, loves you and always has your best interests at heart. That's why people who've lost everything will often tell you they wouldn't trade what they've learned, even if it meant recouping all their losses.

Joni Erikson Tada discovered a supernatural peace when an accident confined her to a wheelchair, and Corrie Ten Boom found it in a Nazi death camp. Missionary Elisabeth Elliot found it ministering to the Indian tribe who massacred her husband. She wrote, "Only in acceptance lies peace...not in resignation."

There's a big difference! Author Creath Davis points out that: "Resignation is surrender to fate. Acceptance is surrender to God. Resignation lies down quietly in an empty universe. Acceptance rises up to meet the God who fills that universe with purpose and destiny. Resignation says, 'I can't.' Acceptance says, 'God can.' Resignation paralyzes the life process. Acceptance releases the process for its greatest creativity. Resignation says, 'It's all over for me.' Acceptance says, 'Now that I'm here, what's next, Lord?' Resignation says, 'What a waste.' Acceptance says, 'In what redemptive way will you use this mess, Lord?' Resignation says, 'I'm alone.' Acceptance says, 'I belong to you, Lord.'"

Today, let's accept what God has in store for us because we know it is good and not bad. Be Blessed....

Friday, June 12, 2009

Today, encourage somebody

The nineteenth-century writer Walt Whitman struggled for years to get anyone interested in his poetry. In the midst of his discouragement he received a life-changing note from an admirer of his work. The note read, "Dear Sir, I am not blind to the worth of the wonderful gift of Leaves of Grass. I find it the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed. I greet you at the beginning of a great career." It was signed by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Whitman enjoyed a long career and is now considered one of the giants of American literature.

But when times were tough he needed encouragement to keep going. And he's not alone. When we're on the brink of failure, the right word at the right time can keep us in the game. When we're too tired or discouraged to keep going, an act of compassion can give us new strength.

Encouragement is one of the central themes of the Bible:

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad" (Pr 12:25)

"Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees" (Isa 35:3).

"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you,'Fear not, I will help you'" (Isa 41:13).

Encouragement doesn't deny the problem; it enables us to overcome it. It doesn't validate stubbornness or stupidity; it simply corrects and guides us in the right path. It doesn't leave us alone to carry the burden, it lets us know that God is present to help and strengthen us. So today, encourage somebody!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

If you want to succeed - prepare well!

"Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong." Proverbs 24:3 TLB

What happens when you're not well-prepared? Things you hope won't happen, do, and they occur with greater frequency than the things you hope will happen. The dividing line between winning and losing - is preparation! Tennis champion Arthur Ashe said, "The key to winning is self-confidence, and the key to self-confidence is preparation." Singing, "If you wish upon a star" won't make your dreams come true; you've got to prepare yourself.

Ever wonder what Jesus was doing during those pre-dawn risings and nights of prayer? Preparing! If you plan to keep growing, preparation must become a way of life. We must never stop asking, "Lord, what do You want me to do? What will it cost me in time, effort and resources? What obstacles must I overcome?" If we live with that mindset we'll be well on our way to fulfilling God's purpose for our life.

Asked how long it would take to bring his ship to a stop, the Queen Mary's captain replied, "A little over a mile." Then he added, "A good captain thinks at least a mile ahead." Your success in any venture is determined by how important it is to you, and your ability to prepare for it. The Living Bible paraphrases it this way: "Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts." Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States, said, "Men give me credit for genius, but all the genius I have lies in this: when I have a subject to hand, I study it profoundly." So, if we want to succeed - prepare well!

Man, I want to be better at this. We may not all have the same talent but we all have the same opportunity to make a supreme effort, be prepared and ready. Be Blessed. Remember this Sunday our new series, "Staying in Love"

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Are you a good listener?

Someone quipped, "God gave us two ears and one mouth because we need to listen twice as much as we talk." Good listening builds relationships. But good listeners aren't born, they're bred! So here are a few suggestions to improve our listening:

(1) Listen without interrupting. Resist the temptation to jump in and finish the sentence, or hijack the floor. Rein ourself in - just listen.

(2) Listen to understand. Try to understand their point of view, feelings, thinking and needs. Good listening is hearing what they actually think, mean or feel, not what we imagine they do. Instead of guessing, ask, "Am I understanding you correctly? Do you mean...? Are you feeling...?" In other words, don't assume - verify.

(3) Listen without judging. Don't rush to conclusions. If what they say doesn't quite add up, keep listening. "He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him" (Pr 18:13 NKJV). When we hear more, it may make sense.

(4) Listen without correcting, countering or devaluing. Saying, "That's not the way it was," or, "What did you expect? If you hadn't..." or, "You're just being too sensitive," puts people on guard and stops real communication.

(5) Validate the speaker. Accept their perceptions and feelings as valid expressions of a valued person. "If I understand you correctly, you're thinking...feeling...Am I right?" Ask them to help get you on the same page with them. "Given what you've told me, I can see why you'd feel what you feel," is very validating and will increase their confidence and willingness to consider the solutions you may offer.

God makes the most important tip about being a great listener. In James 1:19, He says, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak." I recommit myself today to be a great listener. It promises to build up our lives. Just think, If everyone is listening, the world would drastically cut down on noise pollution. Just being thoughtful of the environment. Be Blessed!!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

We don't always know the reason for our trials, but God revealed to Paul the reason for his "thorn in the flesh." It was to keep him from being "exalted" (See 2Co 12:7). Success can be intoxicating, and intoxicated people aren't known for being too bright or trustworthy!

What happens when you get a thorn in your flesh? It hurts. And you'll let everything else go while you focus on removing it. Three times Paul prayed for God to remove the thorn, but God had another plan. You see, God is at His strongest in us when we are at our weakest. When Paul discovered that God's power in his life was tied to the thorn that afflicted him, he responded, "I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities...For whenever I am weak, then I am strong" (2Co 12:10 NRS). In other words, "If it's for my good, bring it on, Lord!" If you've a thorny person in your life from whom you've prayed to be delivered and it hasn't happened, maybe God wants you to experience His grace and power through dealing with that person. But you won't experience this until you move from pain to praise.

The Bible speaks about "the sacrifice of praise to God" (Heb 13:15). A sacrifice means that something has to die on somebody's altar. So if we want to experience God's grace and power in our life, we must be willing to die to self-interest, ego, and independence. There's nothing wrong with asking God to remove our thorn. But when our prayer for deliverance turns to praise, we're on our way to power, because God is giving us grace.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Brokenness

Sometimes God allows us to hit the bottom in order to discover that He's the rock at the bottom. Gideon faced an army of 135,000 troops with just 32,000 men. And 22,000 of them left the battlefield and went home when he offered them the chance. Do the math. Gideon's thinking, "There's no way we can win!" Then God explains: "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, 'My own power has delivered me'" (Jdg 7:2 NAS). There it is again, the age-old battle of ego that we all fight daily. It's why the Lord's Prayer ends with: "Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen" (Mt 6:13). Where does our power come from? God! Who should the glory for our accomplishments go to? God! How long does this arrangement last? Forever!


God had to break Jacob of self-sufficiency so the "Israel" within him could come out. Sometimes God has to take you down before He can raise you up. Moses was called the meekest man on earth. But it took forty years of living as a shepherd in the wilderness to detox him of pride and get him submitted to God. Only then was he ready to stand before Pharaoh and perform miracles that demonstrated God's power - and vindicated Moses!


Brokenness doesn't mean being a wimp, suffering from an inferiority complex or having a case of low self-esteem. No, brokenness means praying, "Lord, if this job is going to get done, and done right, You're going to have to do it through me. So my trust is in You."

Psalm 51:17 declares, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit." What a great reminder of God's grace and provision.