Prayers Related to Church Construction

Below is a paper/prayer that I wrote a few years ago. At the time, our church was on the brink of building a new sanctuary. The pastor asked me to write something bind the people together in unity as the project got underway. I have removed the specific names of the church and pastor so you may fill in the blanks with the particulars of your church/pastor and type of project to be built.

This may also be a guide to building or remodeling your "heart house" wherein your Savior resides.

If you/your church is beginning  a  project, and in need of a similar prayer/paper; feel free to copy/share the following guide.

____________________________________________________________________________

Prayer Topic: Prayer for the Construction of  the new building.

Scripture Reading: I Chronicles 16:8-16, Nehemiah 3

Declaration: “The God of heaven Himself will help us succeed; therefore, we will arise and build!” Nehemiah 2:20

Scriptural Prayer: Omnipotent Father, we thank You for the Vision for this building. Thank You for being Jehovah Jireh, the One who will provide all the resources we need to complete this project. Thank You for giving our leaders wisdom, discernment, and favor as we move forward with this project. Thank You for entrusting this task to our body of believers. You are the Lord and beside You, there is no other. We can do all things through Christ, Who is our strength.

We stand in agreement for God’s Kingdom to come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven for the construction of our building . Lord, as we commit the plans for this construction project to You; we decree that these plans will succeed. In Proverbs 11:14, Your Word declares “Where there is no counsel, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Therefore, we confess that we will seek the counsel of the godly as we proceed with this project.

Father, we expect You to call forth competent and skilled laborers for this project, just as You called forth the artisans for the building of the tabernacle. We decree that everyone involved in this project will focus their attention and efforts so that they can successfully complete their assignments and bring glory and honor to Your Name. By faith, favor surrounds this project and we will have good success with every person associated with the completion of this project.

Father, we are confident that our building will be completed because You spoke the idea/plan to our pastor and Your word will not return void; it will accomplish all that You send it to do. We commit to praying diligently for all involved in construction. We commit to praying throughout the course of this project, from beginning to full completion.

Lord, please bless our building & our body,  to provide ministry that will promote growth, development, education, and enjoyment for our church family, and the people of our community. As Your Light shines through us, help us to love, and lead by example, to reach the hurting and the lost.

Hide our Pastors, deacons, and building committee members under the shelter of Your wings and protect them from any opposition as they continue to manifest Your Kingdom here on earth, as they oversee the construction of our new facility.

In the Name of Jesus, we rebuke satan and any evil force that he would send our way. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God; and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” II Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV

Stir up the faith in our congregation so that we will walk by faith and not by sight. Stir up the faith in me so that I will walk by faith and not by sight. Grant us generous resources to support Pastor's vision through our giving, service, and prayers. Fill every participant, including the building contractors, permitting officials, architects, and engineers with Your spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and excellence.

Merciful Father, please convict and forgive anyone in our congregation who is speaking against the vision that You have given to our Pastor. Correct those who are not willing to submit to his authority. Convict and forgive those who have loose lips and speak idle words against this project.

Help our church family to work together in unity. Convict and forgive us when we demand our own way and fail to function as one body. Please forgive us for all of our sins. Lord, forgive me for ___________, ____________________, ____________________ (list any sins that you have committed).

Holy Spirit, remind us all of those we need to forgive and help us to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (As He shows you, say aloud, “I forgive ____________, ______________, ___________________name of person(s).” Then, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)

As a Church Family, help us to overcome temptation and deliver us from the evil one. Almighty God, we put our trust in You. Help us to be consistent in our prayers and support. Help us to be a beacon of hope to everyone that we encounter. All these things we ask in Jesus’ Name, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Additional Scripture References: Genesis 22:14, Isaiah 45:18-19, Matthew 6:10, Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 15:22, Habakkuk 2:2, Exodus 31:1-6, Psalm 5:12, Philippians 1:6, Psalm 91:4, IICorinthians 5:7, Matthew 6:13, Isaiah 40:22-25

The Heart of the Cup Bearer

"The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem." Nehemiah 1:1,2 KJV

"...For I was the king's cupbearer." Nehemiah 1:11 KJV Full chapter, here.

As you read the entire chapter, take note of the parallel between his earthly (flesh) actions and what is required (spiritually) to be a faithful servant/minister of the Lord.  

Humble, Faithful, Trustworthy, Unselfish, Willing to go the extra mile, Wise, Worked within the protocol/boundaries/rules of the kingdom.... these are a few of the character traits of Nehemiah. Traits that we will exhibit, IF we strive to have them in our spirit.

The last verse of chap 1 sets the tone for the entire reading. He was the cup bearer..... SERVANT. Nehemiah had the training/skill set needed to serve the king. More importantly, he had the HEART of a servant. When driven by the heart to serve (in general) one will learn the skills needed to do whatever could be required by the recipient. In serving the earthly king,, the standards were set high and required full attention of the servant. Nehemiah applied this same observance to the work of the temple.

My greatest take away from today's passage is this: we cannot serve God any better than we serve our fellow man. For. Christ came not to be ministered into, but to be a minister. And, as we have done to to least (mankind) we have done into Him.

Additional scripture references:

Mark 10:43-45, "....even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Matthew 20:26,27, "...whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:"

Luke 12:48, "..... to whom much is give, much is required"  

Matthew 25:31-46  "....Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Routed by Routine

Often we under-value the importance of our daily routines  Take for example, brushing our teeth. Our parents taught us how and reminded us to do it, until it became a regular habit for us. As grown ups, it is just something we do, without giving it a thought. We understand the importance of brushing, but rarely think about it, until it is time to see the dentist.....(smile)

In I Samuel chapter 16, we read about the first anointing of David, future king of Israel. God instructed Samuel to go to Jesse's house and there he would anoint the next king of Israel. After passing over seven of Jesse's sons, Samuel was convinced that there had to be another son. Verse 11 reveals the eighth and youngest son, David. He was out in the countryside, tending to the sheep.

His job was to keep the sheep together as a flock and lead them to water & grass. He had to study the elements, lay of the land, weather patterns & etc to know the best places/times to feed, stay put, or travel.  He was to keep them safe from lions, bears, & other predators. Which meant, he had to learn the signs of the predators & their deceptive ways of getting their prey. All of these things became parts that made up his ROUTINE.

If we want to excel at any task, sport, hobby, or skill, we have to study every aspect of it as we learn it. Besides having a teacher/mentor,  we learn through regular repetition. In time, we will be able to go through the motions without actually thinking about what comes next. Our reactions become automatic just like a reflex action.

Fast forward to I Samuel chapter 17. The taunts of Goliath brought fear upon the entire Israeli army. They essentially had no hope of defeating him. They cowered at his challenge. For forty days, the giant had stood and belittled the army of Israel. King Saul as their leader, had no idea what to do next. 

In verse 17, Jesse sends David to the battlefield with food for his brothers. David hears the railings of Goliath and puts the whole scene into perspective.  And proceeds to  volunteer to answer the challenge of the giant. You see, David had been faithful to the routine of keeping his father's sheep. He had been faithful to protect them. God had enabled him to kill both a lion and a bear; and he knew this beast of a man would be no different. The precedent had been set.

The rest is history. David killed Goliath. Israel routed the Philistines and plundered their belongings. All because David had been faithful in tending the sheep. All because David recognized the battle as a spiritual skirmish that could only be won by operating in the the power of God. All because David was the right man, with the right heart, at the right time, to deliver God's people.

Want to be an agent of deliverance for the lost, bound, sick,or destitute? You can be the right person at the right time for the right purpose, if you are in right standing with God and have made it your routine of life to be fully dependent upon Him.

Context: I Samuel 17:16-58

Side bar: David played the harp, SKILLFULLY.  ...... had to have been some routine practice.

Responsible With the Routines

Recently, Pastor Earl shared a few memories with me. Just a sketch of what it was like to be eight years old and how his daily chores, if left undone, could drastically impact the entire family.  As he talked about life on the farm, a panoramic picture formed in my mind. I could see a home place; complete with laundry on the line, chickens scratching about the yard, a tractor peeking out from an old barn, cows resting in the shade, and the fields of corn, ripening in the sun. Overall, a peaceful image, yet one that brought to mind the countless hours of labor required to maintain a rural homestead.

Watering the corn was one of his primary duties. Without water, there would be no corn. Without the corn, there would be no feed for the livestock. Without the livestock, there would be no meat on the table. Without meat on the table, there would be no physical strength in family members.

Why was he faithful to water the corn? Was it because he saw the big picture of how things would unravel if he didn't? Was it because of the punishment that would await him, if he did not? Or was it because that was his routine? While all of those reasons influenced him, it was the look of his father's approval that spurred him to do what was asked of him & do it to the best of his ability.

 Proverbs 11:30 says this, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise". Soul winning should be at the forefront of our Christian lives. We are commanded to  go into all the world and preach/teach & baptize believers. (Mark 16:15,16, & Matthew 28:18,19) Most often, we think of it in terms of the actual act of "leading someone to the Lord". That is, we tell them the Good News that Jesus saves. We testify to them about what Jesus has done for us. We explain the plan of Salvation and then lead them in the Sinner's Prayer. And just like that, they are "won" for the Kingdom.

However, there is much more to the process of winning souls.The process begins (John 6:44) & ends with the love, mercy, & grace of God.  I Corinthians 3:6-9 lends the following insights; one plants the seeds, another waters, another takes in the harvest, yet all are laborers together of the harvest that God brings to fruition. 

Man was created with a void that only God can fill and given a measure of faith, with which he could seek & reach God. That measure of faith is like a seed planted in the soil of the heart. Water activates seeds to sprout. Genuine acts of kindness, mercy, or generosity will act like water upon the seed. Hearing he Word of God/the Good News can definitely water & activate the seed/measure of faith. 

So my brothers & sisters, we need to be responsible Christians & develop a routine of sharing the Gospel & watering the seeds. In doing so, we will experience the approval & favor of God.

It's Not About the Place, It's About People

Recently, I was talking with a friend about how the Church (at large) has weathered this Covid -19 season and what measures could be taken to restore those that have drifted away from gathering with the saints. We talked about how many have become satisfied with watching online services and have no immediate plans to return to the church buildings. And about others, that have fallen prey to fear, apathy, depression, mediocrity, sloth, and/or any number of temptations that are bound to occur during an extended separation from being in FELLOWSHIP with the Body of Christ.  

The faithful church members have been hindered by the public gathering restrictions. The Easter/Christmas attendees have been excluded from hearing the Gospel. Even the souls that would normally only hear scriptures at a funeral or wedding, have been denied the opportunity of being affected by the Word of God.

Now many of the sanctions are being lifted. Churches are reopening, yet attendance is a fraction of what it once was. What can be done to re-fill the pews? More importantly, how can we re-claim those who have become disconnected during the pandemic? And even more pressing as the return of Christ nears; how can we reach the the back-sliders and those who have never accepted the saving grace of Jesus? 

In reality, the church building is merely a tool to assist "The Church" (believers) in fulfilling her mandate to reach, teach,and equip........ With that; my friends, reaching souls today is no different that it was in Christ's day. We must proclaim the Good News. We must offer what the original disciples offered; hope, healing, & heaven. We must LIVE what we proclaim. And when wayward return, we must extend mercy and forgive them, embrace them, and help them find their place within the Body, again.  And when souls are converted, we must be willing to disciple them/help them to mature in their Christian walk.

So, you see..... if we reach the PEOPLE, the people will re-fill the pews......

Can You Hear Me Now?

Ever have the feeling that God is not listening to your prayers? We've all been there. We pray and pray and it seems the heavens are brass. Frustrating, isn't it? So, we try a different approach, a alternate format, or modified version of our request. Or we cry, complain, and quit praying altogether. In essence, we do everything except, patiently wait for His reply. Sometimes that is all that is necessary. Yet, sometimes it is necessary to check our hearts/motives.

I'm sure Alexander Graham Bell tried hundreds of modifications to get his invention to work. He probably said, "can you hear me now", thousands of times before he finally got an answer. One thing is certain, the recipient had to be within reach of the phone in order to hear it and reply. The only way to make or get a call was to be located close to the phone when it rang. 

Technically, that is still true. However, mobile phones have eliminated the need to be where a phone is mounted in a physical structure. One can be anywhere and make or receive a call. Almost anywhere...... there are still "dead spots" and places where calls are "dropped". Generally those limitations have to do with the distance from a tower or the obstructions that exist between the tower and the phone.

I am reminded of an old hymn entitled Royal Telephone.  Let's look at verses 3 and 4. "Fail to get the answer, Satan's crossed your wire, by some strong delusion, or some base desire; Take away obstructions, God is on the throne. You will get your answer through this royal telephone. (4) If your line is grounded and connection true, has been lost with Jesus, tell you what to do; Prayer and faith and  promise, mend the broken wire, til your soul is burning with the Pentecostal fire."

Romans 8:35-39 states clearly that we can not be separated from God's love. However, I submit to you; we can be separated from His presence. Another saying that I'm fond of using is this: "when you feel far away from God, guess who moved? God is omnipresent, so it had to be you".

In 2002, Verizon came up with a campaign that made them millions. Basically, "the test guy" went from place to place with his cell phone, asking "can you hear me now?". Their competitors were touting great prices for x amount of minutes/data. Verizon capitalized on the fact that a price break was useless if the connection was flawed or non-existent.

No matter how eloquent your prayer, how long, short, lofty, or humble it is, if your heart is cluttered with bitterness, envy, strife, jealousy, a grudge, or any other sin; you are not likely to get the answer for which you have prayed. Sin obstructs the way into God's presence. You will have to repent/seek His forgiveness first, then make your requests known.

God is beckoning us to a closer relationship with Him. He is calling, "can you hear me, now". He is omnipresent (everywhere) and omnipotent (all powerful). Nothing wrong with His signal. He knows where we are at all times (omniscient).

The Dew of God's Mercy

Nebuchadnezzar reached a place in his life where he was no longer the ruler of his kingdom or of his own directives. As the dream went, his kingdom was a tree laid bare & cut down, all except the stump. The stump was then encircled with a band of iron and left open in the field to receive the dew that fell upon the earth. Daniel 4:10-18

 

You see; even though his kingdom was cut down, there remained hope for its restoration. The stump had no choice in the matter. As the dew & rain fell upon the earth, it fell upon the stump. The stump soaked up the moisture and eventually was revived with new growth. The band around it had kept it from rotting & being absorbed back into the ground. 

Job 14:7-9 sheds light on this process: "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant." 

 

It is my prayer that you will never suffer as King Nebuchadnezzar, and that your "kingdom" never be cut down to just a stump. But regardless of what takes place in your life, I believe it is prayer that will be the band that will preserve your "kingdom", your spirit-man. Prayers for mercy, grace, love, and conviction will be instrumental in keeping the rain and dew of heaven, falling upon you.

Swerving or Serving?

Drunk and/or Distracted vs Sober and Serving  Text: I Peter 5:5-10

According to the (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA), in 2018, over 2800 people died and approximately 400,000 were injured by "distracted drivers", that is; drivers who were engaged in other activities while driving.

According to  NHTSA.com , more than 10,000 lives are lost each year because of  crashes related to drunk driving. That is, driving while impaired by the use of alcohol and/or drugs. Yet, it has been proven that sobriety check points cut down on the number of accidents, at least in the general area of the check point and during the time frame that the check point is active. Even so, check points are only regularly used by a handful of states. 

I just wonder how many church folk have been injured or killed by distracted "saints". And how many have been wounded, maimed, or cut off/killed on purpose?It is an old quote, but I have heard that "The Christian army is the only one that shoots its own wounded". 

The Church must have check points, i.e. methods of accountability to the standards of faith & the Gospel. Most have standards, but only a small percentage actually have a policy of how to check, evaluate, and maintain the accountability of their ministers and members.  

A few ways to describe a "sober" person; is to say that an individual is not intoxicated, he has an even temper, he has a sound mind, and lives in a defined manner, focused, and stable.  

The Psalmist proclaimed that his heart was fixed/set/steadfast. Psalm 57:7 and Psalm 108:1 And then states in Psalm 112:7 "he shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord."

Acts 3 gives us the account of the lame man at the Gate called Beautiful. Peter and John said to the man, "Look on us'. The lame man had to change his focus if he was to receive a miracle. His original focus was on his need for income. When he looked upon the disciples, his focus shifted to the reality of healing/abundant life.

Church, it is time to regain proper focus. It is time to sober up! We already have what it takes to do this. According to II Timothy 1:7 we have been given a sound mind.  I Peter 4:7  says we are in the end times and we are to be sober and watch in prayer. I Peter 5:8 says we must be sober and vigilant. But, we will not be sober until we release our worries/cares; see full verse of I Peter 5:7 . And in general, we will not release our cares until we are humbled enough to seek help. See I Peter 5:6 

Another example of how God will make you steadfast & sober. He made Ezekiel strong in the face of the hardened audience.  Ezekiel 3:4-9   

And what about the prophet Isaiah? He knew the Lord would always be his help because he was committed to the call of God. Isaiah 50:7

side bar:  I Timothy 1:6 From (love, pure heart, good conscience, & faith) which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling...

Acts 2  These men are not drunk.......     

We can/should be drunk in the Holy Ghost.... yet sober & vigilant 

God Uses the Broken Pieces

God Uses Broken Pieces

Acts 27:14,15 references a horrendous storm. The King James version refers to it as a tempestuous wind. The NIV refers to it as a wind of hurricane force. Euroclydon was not just a passing storm, it was one that could last for days. In this account, its destructive forces battered Paul's ship for fourteen days.

It was so powerful that the ship's crew had to relinquish control of the helm. Then they brought the lifeboat aboard. Additional precautions were taken to keep the ship together. The sails were lowered in efforts to keep them from being driven into the sandbars. And everything that could be thrown overboard was tossed. They lost all hope of being saved.

Everyone that is, except the Apostle Paul. He had received a message from an angel of God. He explained it to the centurion. Their salvation was dependent upon staying with the ship. The storm worsened. Even when daylight came, they could not discern a shoreline. In a last ditch effort to save themselves they hastened the destruction of the ship.

As the ship broke apart, those that could swim headed for the shore. Others clung to the remnants of the boat and floated to safety. Because they stayed with the ship, even the broken pieces, they survived. Not one life was lost.

The storms of our life may range from little sprinkles to devastating typhoons. It is certain that we will try everything in our power to stay intact as we ride through them. At times we may lose our grip. And there may be times that we will feel hopeless. It is in those times that we must seek the Lord, listen to His voice, obey His commands, and trust that He will keep us safe in His care.

Miracles are Messages

 His anointing working through y'all will break down barriers that seem to be holding back the progress of your church. Preach & teach about miracles.Testify every chance you have (in & out of the church) so that others will be encouraged and drawn to Jesus.

Miracles paved the way for the Word & for many to profess their faith in the Lord.  I believe in medicine & I believe in miracles.  Remember the time Jesus spit on the ground made mud, & put it on the eyes of the blind man? Mud/medicine was applied. The man followed  Christ's instruction to "go & wash...". He received sight. It caused a stir in the church. The religious mocked. But the healed one acknowledged Christ as his healer & believed on Him.

God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of bondage. In Exodus 33:14, God told Moses that His presence would go with him & that He would give Moses rest.

 

It is God's presence that will give you the rest that you need. It is not a far stretch to relate the "coming out of bonds of slavery" to the coming out from the confines of cancer/chemo.

It is my earnest prayer that His presence be as near to you as your very own breath. Yes, breath. He breathed into Adam and brought him to life. He breathed on the disciples and they received the power of the Holy Ghost. He breathed on the valley of dry bones & they came to life.

 

In His presence is the fullness of joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength. His strength is perfected in our weakness. The weak can say I am strong in the Lord & in the power of His might.  And we are built upon the Rock & the gates of hell can not prevail against us.

 

You, Precious are in His tender care. No enemy, physical, spiritual, or other wise can take you away from His presence. When you haven't the strength to audibly praise, worship, or petition, He hears your heart's cry. And as an old song says, "tears are a language, God understands".

Deeper

"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." Ephesians 3:16 KJV

His riches are infinite and no less is His supply of strength. The effects of any illness or problem can only be lessened by His power 

working in us. The drain of daily work, interactions with co-workers, bills and how to pay them, the caring for sick family members, 

and etc can only be countered by the rivers of living waters that He so graciously supplies.  

While I have no need to remind you of the power of the Holy Spirit, I am driven to make the following statement: Now, is not the time to just float lazily in the pool. Get into His river of life giving waters. It is time to pray in the Spirit. 

Immerse yourselves in the flow of the Holy Ghost. Leave the shallows of the shore. Dive deeper into His Word. Let His Word and 

His Spirit flow over you, in you, and through you.

Naaman sought for one thing; to be cleansed of the leprosy. He had only one request. His answer came with one act of obedience. to a dip, a 

Our petitions are not limited. As a matter of fact, our prayer requests multiply daily. We even have needs that we can not put into words.

Therefore, it is imperative that we are consistently obedient to constantly immerse ourselves in the Living Waters.

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.: Ephesians 6:18 KJV

Step into the water,
Wade out a little bit deeper.
Wet your feet in the water of his love.
Ohh Step into the water (children)
Wade out a little bit deeper,
Come join angels singin',
Praises to the Lamb of God.
It's time we the people,
Stand up for what is right.
It's time we squared our shoulders back,
And raised our swords to fight.
For the Bible is our weapon,
And the spirit is my sheild.
The church needs more of its members to be workers in the field.
There is victory for the christian,
Who walks the narrow way.
There has been a prize appointed,
For the soul who does not stray.
Oh I want to live for Jesus,
Be all that I should be.
So that I can rest with him forever,
Live eternally.

Written by Kirk Talley

Sermon Too Long? Not Really

Have you ever fussed about being in church for a couple of hours or thought the sermon lasted too long? Sure you have. I have too. Just basic complaints borne out of our flesh. There are many excuses as to why we are disgruntled, but I would like to submit the following as a reason why we give way to complaining. It is because our natural ears are open but our spiritual eyes are closed, and our hearts are cold. 

Let's take a look at what happened as Jesus joined some fellows as they walked for two to three hours down the Emmaus Road. Luke 24:13-35 says these two men were discussing the events of the past three days. They were in a quandary about what would happen now that Jesus (the one they expected to be the Messiah) was dead.  

They described Jesus in fleshly terms, based on their "head knowledge" of him. They said, he was a prophet, miracle worker, and mighty teacher  vs19. They had hoped that he would be the messiah of Israel vs 21. Yet, he was crucified, buried, and now his body was missing vs 24.

Before Jesus reveals Himself to them, He calls them fools or unwise, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken vs 25. In other words, they were depending solely upon their fleshly understanding of what had taken place. Then He proceeds to expound upon all the scriptures that were written concerning himself. 

While I know that it takes the Holy Spirit to open our spiritual understanding, it takes faith to receive and act upon that understanding. It was during this two to three hour journey, that their faith was being built. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. They could not have heard it any better than hearing the incarnate Word declare it to them directly.  

As the narrative continues, we read how they compelled Jesus to go home with them. A meal was prepared. And as Jesus broke the bread and gave it to them, their eyes were opened. Jesus vanished. They became evangelists who went back to Jerusalem proclaiming/confirming that Jesus had risen from the dead.

The preaching of the Gospel is the breaking of the Bread of Life. If we will but receive it by faith and allow our eyes to be opened; our minds will be illuminated and our hearts will be set on fire for God. Then, we will set ourselves about fulfilling the Great Commission, telling the world that Jesus saves.

Additional notes:

"burn" same Greek word as "light" a candle  in Matthew 5:15  per Strong's Concordance 

Burn- start a fire, creation of light, illuminate

Their hearts burned within them as Jesus OPENED the scriptures/WORD. Yet, they only acknowledged the "burning" after their eyes were opened.

They were walking with the living Word.... the living Word was speaking to them...sharing the written Word (John 1:1) 

In the KJV as per translation from the Greek, "opened" is the same word in vs 31 as it is in vs 32.

*Average walking speed is 2.5 to 3 mph. The distance between Jerusalem and Emmaus was approximately 7 miles.

Post resurrection times that Jesus reveals Himself around the table, breaking bread Luke 24:41-43. John 21:9-15 , Acts 1:1-9 (during 40 days prior to ascension).

While They Slept

Every where you look, you see or hear something related to this "holiday" called, Easter. While there is so much wrong with the commercialization of it, there is everything RIGHT about the Bible account of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Read about it in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John chapter 18. These passages are rich with principles that we need to apply to our lives daily. 

One such principle: When Jesus says, "watch & pray", WE NEED TO WATCH & PRAY! The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, & Luke, all record Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying three times. All three times, He returns to his closest friends (Peter, James, & John) and finds them sleeping.

When we sleep (I'm talking about spiritually sleeping) , we MISS out on opportunities to labor (bear burdens) with Jesus. We MISS sharing in His sufferings, which causes us to  lack in sharing His glory. We MISS what Christ models as true intercession. 

Not only do we miss out on important things, we open ourselves up to be tempted. When we are spiritually asleep, we let down our guard, we leave the door open, and basically welcome the enemy to come and rob us blind. 

We are truly living in perilous times. We can not survive without the Lord Jesus Christ. We must have the power of the Holy Ghost in order to keep our spirits and minds alert for the devil's attacks as well as prepared for opportunities to labor for the cause of Christ.

As Sunday approaches, we are preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. However, there would be no resurrection with out the cross. My prayer is this, "Lord, help me to crucify my flesh so that I will  live the life that you bought for me on Calvary."

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41

Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 18

An Agent of Healing

 Thinking I had given adequate time to the Good Samaritan narrative, I turned my attention to a different thoroughfare; the road to Emmaus. However, that will have to wait; for the Lord has continued to bring the Good Samaritan to my mind/heart.

 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him." Luke 10:33,34 KJV

In general, wine is a liquid that can be made from most any fruit, but most commonly made from grapes. It is consumed as a beverage, poured on like cleansing agent, applied as an antiseptic, used as a base for an elixir, and in large quantities will dull the senses. Primitive cultures use it medicinally and others serve it with meals as we would serve iced tea. 

From cooking oil to massage oil, olive oil has millions of uses. In biblical times, it was used as fuel for lamps. Today, it can still be found listed as an ingredient in custom made candles. It's consistency makes it an excellent medium for herbal enhanced salves. As for it's fat content, it is considered as a "healthy" fat to be included in our diets. 

Scripture makes no mention of the Good Samaritan going to buy wine and oil. This tells me that he had those items with him for his personal use. Perhaps the wine was to refresh him on his journey or it could have been a part of his "first aid kit". Same could be said of the oil. He may have planned to use it to soothe his sunburned skin or fuel a lamp, once the darkness came. At any rate, it was his and he freely gave it to the wounded traveler.

Giving what we have to help heal another, is what being Christ-like is all about. Material things help. Yet, giving of the spiritual gifts that we possess, will bring eternal benefits. Today, I want to encourage you to stir up the gifts within you. Apply the oil/Balm of Gilead  to the wounded. Proclaim the wine/blood of Jesus as the cure for the sin filled life. Expound upon the scriptures that speak of the "new wine", the Spirit-filled life. Be that Good Samaritan in this world of "priests and levites".

 

bearing burdens together

 I Corinthians 12:12-27 full context

"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." Romans 12:4, 5 NLT

"But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it." ICorinthians 12:18 NLT

"If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it." I Corinthians 12:26,27 NLT

"Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Ephesians 4:15,16 NLT

Scriptures for Reflection

Three scriptures to bolster the message of the past few posts. I encourage you to read them & meditate on how they apply to your life and how you can live them out in your day to day walk with the Lord.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" I John 3:16,17 NIV

"So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith." Galatians 6:9,10 NLT

"And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us." IJohn 3:23,24 NLT

"Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 11 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. I John 3:7 - 10 NLT  

The Road Home

This is my third post in a series rooted in Luke chapter 10, dealing with the account of the "Good Samaritan". However, no where in our text is the Samaritan referred to as "good". That designation has come about due to the humanitarian acts that he performed. It is simply a descriptive word to set him apart from the rest of the population of Samaria, who were by some accounts rogue; in that they held religious beliefs that were in opposition to traditional Jewish doctrine. In Bible times, the Samaritans were generally considered a people of mixed heritage; many of which were the offspring of the captive Jews (that remained after the Assyrian conquest) and the Assyrians who took over the land. ( A brief summary can be found on Wikipedia).

My point is this, Jesus makes it obvious that the "Good Samaritan" is the traveler's neighbor and vice versa. He does not indicate that either of them were necessarily godly or Christian. He simply describes the Samaritan as doing the right (righteous) thing. In this case, that is showing mercy to one that is needy. 

We read no more of the lawyer, but I'm sure he had much to think about. He had no problem with the loving God part of the requirements to inherit eternal life, but was looking for an "out" when it come to what persons he had to love in order to live forever. Apparently the lawyer had not heard Christ's discourse on the Mount of Olives. (See Matthew 25:31-46)  Verse 40 states, " Verily I say unto you , inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

What were the righteous acts of the Good Samaritan? He looked upon the traveler with compassion. He dressed and medicated his wounds. He gave up his own ease of transportation by placing the traveler upon his beast. He took him to a place of safety and comfort. And he anticipated the future need of the traveler and made arrangements to pay whatever expenses that followed.

It is one thing to see a need make an effort to meet it. Yet, quite another to help a person to reach a place that they can then take care of themselves. There is this thing called "time". We tend to value it more than the balance in our bank accounts. I have been guilty of giving a few dollars to assuage my conscience, when it was "time" that I should have spent with the needy person. 

Ummmm, seems this post has taken a turn. No longer talking about being a Good Samaritan or being neighborly. Now, I'm talking about living the righteous life, the Christ-like life, the part of eternal life that we live here on Earth. You see, the road home (heaven) begins in the here and now. Let's get about our Father's business, let's be what He has called us to be, let's put the passion back in our walk with Him. There are untold millions, struggling to find the road home. It is up to us, to show them the way and walk with them until the way is plain before them.

 

The Other Side of the Road

 Many of you are familiar with the account of the "The Good Samaritan" but for the sake of those that are not, I have provided the following scripture reference:  Luke 10:29-37 KJV.

The entire point of Christ's answer to the lawyer, is simply this; your neighbor is anyone that you encounter along life's journey. And you are to love that person in the same manner in which you love yourself. 

My previous post deals with the traveler and the thieves. This post will target the religious men that saw the traveler, passed by him, and went on their way. It is saddening to recognize the parallel that exists between this pair of religious men and many of today's ministers. However, it is not my aim to point out the flaws of various ministers, but rather, it is to cause you to take inventory of your own motives and actions.

We can glean from verses 32 & 33, the fact that both the priest & Levite were traveling along the same side of the road as where the robbed, beaten traveler lay. And the scriptures are clear that these two saw him and crossed to the other side of the road. They did not want to engage with him in any way. And certainly, they did not want to become "unclean" by reason of any physical contact that might occur, if the beaten man was, in fact dead. See  Leviticus 21:1-4 . 

In other words, the priest and the Levite were more concerned about reaching their destinations "clean", than they were about rendering aid to a poor soul that had been robbed, beaten, & left for dead. Perhaps  they were on their way to Jerusalem to minister. If that was the case, then they simply could not afford to become unclean; else they would have to forfeit their ministering for seven days. See Numbers 19:11. And that would prevent them from receiving any offering/compensation for that days's labor.

So, it might not have been about their state of cleanliness. It may have been about missing out on what they had planned to do and what they had expected to receive. Hmmmm... how many times do we hurriedly pass by the homeless, lonely, the stranded motorist, and etc? How many times do we do just "a little something"instead of taking the time/effort to fully see to another's needs? How many times do we avoid the nerd in the class, the noisy co-worker, the broke friend, or even the social media posts requesting prayer?

Just think about it. Question yourself. Examine yourself.  Do you really love your neighbor as you love yourself? Matthew 22:39 KJV  Love is kind and love is patient. You may not be a priest or Levite, but you are called to be like Christ, you are called to be a minister/servant. If you need a refresher on what real love is all about, read I Corinthians chapter 13. Think I'm going to stop right here & read it again.

The Road Taken

Let's take a closer look at Luke 10: 25 - 37. The lawyer wanted a specific definition of who indeed  was his neighbor. Rather than spilling off the answer, Jesus presented him with a "story" that allowed the lawyer to draw his own conclusion. And I believe there was a bit of Holy Ghost conviction that fell on all those who, in their mind, had asked that same question. 

" A certain MAN went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and FELL among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead." Luke 10:30 KJV

Most folks would understand the phrase, "fell among thieves" as to mean; the thieves surrounded the man. That is certainly true, but I would like to add that the thieves were already there, waiting for a victim.

No doubt the man knew that his chosen route from Jerusalem to Jericho was a dangerous one. The road itself was commonly referred to as "The Way of Blood". Yet, still traveled by many people because it was the shortest distance between the two cities. And many of the travelers were priests, Levites, and others who were either going to Jerusalem to worship or returning to Jericho from there.

The traveler did not choose to be beaten and robbed. He did not choose to be left for dead. However, THE MAN MADE THE CHOICE TO TRAVEL A DANGEROUS ROAD. 

Life in and of itself is dangerous and getting more so, every day. The main choice we have in life is the way in which we choose to live it. If there is a less dangerous route to get where you are going, then take the safer path. If you have no choice but to travel a perilous road, then cover yourself in the blood of Christ and go. He has promised that He will never leave nor forsake you. In the mean time, "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" I Peter 5:8 KJV

What of the thieves? I have little to add about them. They behaved as thieves. They accomplished their goal. We read no more of them in this passage. Yet, their actions served to create the opportunity in which the Good Samaritan displayed true Christian compassion. Hmmm.... instead of looking at the times you have been "beaten, robbed, & left for dead", ponder the intervention of Jesus and the good Samaritans that He sent to rescue and restore you.

There is so much to glean from this passage. I will be posting additional observations in the coming days. Meanwhile, study it for yourselves. Feel free to leave comments or questions (anytime). Let's grow in God's Word, together. 

Christian, Be the Minister You are Called to Be

"I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters,[fn] that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them." Romans 15:14 NLT

In this verse, Apostle Paul clearly lays the mandate of ministry before the Roman believers. He affirms the fact that they were saved (brothers/sisters), that they were of people of exceptional character (good), knowledgeable of the Word of God, and able to teach/instruct.

The following verses are those that would have been part of the common teachings of Christ. 

"But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:" Matthew 20:26,27 KJV

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 

When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you? “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[a] you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:34-45 NLT

"But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:43-45 KJV

"For to whomsoever much is give, much shall be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him, they will ask the more." Luke 12:48 KJV

So, my brothers, my sisters, with Apostle Paul, I encourage you today, to be about the Father's business. You are saved, good, knowledgeable and are able to teach (speak) the biblical truths that will set the captives free, heal the lame, deliver the bound, and save the lost.

Tempted, Tried, but Triumphant

The temptation to "give up" is one that everyone has experienced at some point. Perhaps it was while trying to tie a neck tie for the tenth time or in the middle of an argument with your spouse, or when you were trying to get your child to eat green veggies.....at any rate, the temptation to quit, is very real.

The Apostle Paul begins chapter 10 of I Corinthians, reminding the Church of their forefathers' journey through the wilderness. He states clearly that "they all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual water". And that with many, God was not pleased. 

---I want to pause here and say to the Bride/Church, we may be eating and drinking of the same spiritual food & water, but with many of us, God is not pleased. It was the lack of gratitude, the grumbling, & complaining that displeased God then, and when we display those same failures, He is grieved with us as well. But, I digress. What I want you to glean from this post, has to do with God's faithfulness to strengthen us through our trials and temptations.

The Corinthians were experiencing "growing pains". Paul's letters to the church there, were to instruct them in righteousness, to expand on what he had taught them, and to quell the divisions among them, and to ENCOURAGE them. I find the following verse extremely encouraging in these difficult days in which we are living.

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." I Corinthians 10:13 NLT

One of satan's most successful ploys is to convince a person to give up on what they perceive to be an impossible outcome. This essentially causes one to dismiss the truth that faith sees the substance that the God of the impossible will bring about on their behalf, if they will believe.

Today, I ask you to take God at His word. When you feel like giving up on your dreams, read the Word & pray. When you feel like your prayers are going no where and you see no use in praying, read the Word & pray. Don't quit! Don't give up! Don't give in! Refuse to listen to the enemy. Speak out loud; "Though I am tempted to quit, God is faithful. Though I am weary with the trial, God is faithful to show me the way out of it. Though I feel like there is not an ounce of power left in me, God is faithful to strengthen me." 

When you fill your mind/heart with the Word of God, your faith will grow. When your faith begins to grow, you will experience His strength perfected (perfectly displayed) through your weakness.

Beloved, we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.