Mark 13:18, 19 refers to the Signs of the End of the Age. It says, "Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning when God created the world until now--and never to be equaled again."
Last week I was talking to one of the men after men's group. I was sharing how blessed I felt that a very lengthy, eighteen month trial, that had involved trusting the Lord for finances had taken place during better economic times than we are experiencing now. I shared that if it had happened at the onset of establishing Grace Church in 2000, then I might have been overcome with doubt that I had done the right thing by planting the church.
I also shared that if the trial had started during this severe economic down turn, then I might looked to the economy for my trust rather than the Lord. i.e. God's provision works while the stock market is high but He cannot do the same when it is low. Again, however, the Lord had graciously prevented me from having to learn that hard lesson during times that would have made a normally difficult time harder.
As soon as I shared all of this, my friend blurted out...."Pray that this will not take place in winter!" When I heard it, I realized that he had spoken a very important truth from a verse that I had really never quite understood.
Winter is a hard time. Normal jobs become harder the colder it is. There are greater hindrances in winter as well as greater discomfort. Having to trust financially at the onset of a new ministry is normal, but if it is a severe testing, it can discourage and cause doubt. Or as times are now, learning to trust would just be more difficult than even a year ago when money was more readily available, etc.
Pray to the Lord that He will teach us His lessons when it is not winter so that when winter comes, we will be prepared and ready to serve Him to an even greater degree.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Washing With The Water of the Word
Last night, during Soaking Prayer, the Lord showed us another tool that was in our spiritual tool box. As we prayed for various people, issues and situations, the Lord said to wash them with the water of the Word.
As we prayed for different people, we would speak forth verses from Scripture that the Holy Spirit put into our hearts, whether they seemed pertinent or not to the situation. What we were doing was speaking the Word over depression, chaos, physical sickness, and so on.
Later, the group was led to wash the church with the water of the Word. As we stood around the chairs in the sanctuary, we spoke forth the verses the Lord put into our hearts. He made it abundantly clear that this was what He wanted and that it would have great effect in the heavenlies!
Next, the Lord showed us another aspect to this kind of prayer. We did not have verses memorized in order to wash others with the Word. The Holy Spirit directed us to stories in Scripture that would be too lengthy to memorize. He had us name the story and pray that particular event over the situation we were praying. Naboth's vineyard was one such story. Joseph's captivity and then later elevation as Prince of Egypt was another. We spoke the woman at the well encounter over a prayer situation, and so on.
The key to the tools that God gives us is that they be used under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit rather than us just thinking up verses that would apply or stories that would "preach the sermon better". Listen for His voice today. As problems arise in your life or in the lives of your "congregation", see if the Holy Spirit might not direct you to wash that problem with the water of the Word. Pray whatever God gives you over the person or situation. Declare the power of the Word over each and then wait to see what God will do.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
As we prayed for different people, we would speak forth verses from Scripture that the Holy Spirit put into our hearts, whether they seemed pertinent or not to the situation. What we were doing was speaking the Word over depression, chaos, physical sickness, and so on.
Later, the group was led to wash the church with the water of the Word. As we stood around the chairs in the sanctuary, we spoke forth the verses the Lord put into our hearts. He made it abundantly clear that this was what He wanted and that it would have great effect in the heavenlies!
Next, the Lord showed us another aspect to this kind of prayer. We did not have verses memorized in order to wash others with the Word. The Holy Spirit directed us to stories in Scripture that would be too lengthy to memorize. He had us name the story and pray that particular event over the situation we were praying. Naboth's vineyard was one such story. Joseph's captivity and then later elevation as Prince of Egypt was another. We spoke the woman at the well encounter over a prayer situation, and so on.
The key to the tools that God gives us is that they be used under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit rather than us just thinking up verses that would apply or stories that would "preach the sermon better". Listen for His voice today. As problems arise in your life or in the lives of your "congregation", see if the Holy Spirit might not direct you to wash that problem with the water of the Word. Pray whatever God gives you over the person or situation. Declare the power of the Word over each and then wait to see what God will do.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Cloud Between
Exodus 14 details the drama of Israel's exodus from Egypt. It was a harrowing experience for God's people! Pharaoh, with 600 chariots, were moving at great speed towards the slow moving mass of people who had been trained to make bricks not to wield weapons.
The Israelites got to the very edge of the Red Sea and found themselves trapped between a mass of water and the army of the Pharaoh. There was no evident of hope. Death was on either side of them. Yet listen to what God says: "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on! Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water..." (Ex 14:15-16).
Exodus 14:19-20 continues with, "Then the angel of God, Who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long."
That is a marvelous and mysterious passage. The cloud that was leading God's people went from the front of the line to the back of the line. That night, there was nothing between the most powerful army of that day and God's people except the angel of God (Jesus) and the pillar of cloud (God the Father)... Nothing but the condensation of water between these two groups all night long.
Isn't it interesting also that the cloud between each people was darkness to one and light to the other. How great is our God?! All through the night the winds blew and created a way of escape for Israel where there had been no way.
The power of this event is that God stood between two opposing groups...protection for one and prevention to the other. Whatever you are struggling with today, ask the cloud to move from before to behind and give you light while giving darkness to your enemies.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
The Israelites got to the very edge of the Red Sea and found themselves trapped between a mass of water and the army of the Pharaoh. There was no evident of hope. Death was on either side of them. Yet listen to what God says: "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on! Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water..." (Ex 14:15-16).
Exodus 14:19-20 continues with, "Then the angel of God, Who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long."
That is a marvelous and mysterious passage. The cloud that was leading God's people went from the front of the line to the back of the line. That night, there was nothing between the most powerful army of that day and God's people except the angel of God (Jesus) and the pillar of cloud (God the Father)... Nothing but the condensation of water between these two groups all night long.
Isn't it interesting also that the cloud between each people was darkness to one and light to the other. How great is our God?! All through the night the winds blew and created a way of escape for Israel where there had been no way.
The power of this event is that God stood between two opposing groups...protection for one and prevention to the other. Whatever you are struggling with today, ask the cloud to move from before to behind and give you light while giving darkness to your enemies.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Watchmen on the Wall
In Biblical times, cities had walls. The walls protected the people within. The city gates were opened at dawn and closed at dusk. As a secondary precaution, watchmen were posted on the walls. This gave them the advantage of height so that they could see great distances, preventing enemies from sneeking up on the city.
Watchmen were the city's lookouts. They watched for encroaching armies. They gave commentary to those in the city during battles. They sounded the alarm if they saw smoke or fire during peace times, and signaled the king's return to the city.
God has posted watchmen over His church throughout the centuries. Men and women in every generation have been raised up to watch on behalf of God's people and to sound the alarm in the day of battle. Isaiah 62:6 says, "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord give yourselves no rest." Jeremiah 6:17 says, "I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But you said, 'We will not listen.'"
Billy Graham and Mother Theresa have been watchmen during our time. There are others. Recently, a number of the watchmen have all been sounding the alarm. David Wilkerson, head of Teen Challenge and of "The Cross and the Switchblade" fame, has sounded the alarm: a judgment is upon us. Kay Arthur, founder of Precept Upon Precept Bible Study, has sounded her trumpet: judgment is upon us. On Sunday, after worship, I heard from two of Grace Church's watchmen. Both their messages that they received from the Lord Sunday (one was a picture and the other a brief word) was that judgment is upon us (our nation). Each of these are warnings beyond what the United States is currently experiencing in this economic down turn.
So what do we inside the walls do with this information? First, we do not fear. "Fear not, I am with you. Be not dismayed, I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness." Fear can prevent blessings from arriving at their destinations. Fearalso caused unnecessary stress and havoc in our lives.
We remind ourselves that God has said that this area is a Goshen area (Cindy Jacobs prophecy in October, 2008). Goshen was the province in Egypt where the Israelites lived during their sojourn in Egyp. The plagues that ravaged Egypt, stopped at the very border of Goshen leaving God's people untouched while decimating the Egyptian culture and economy!
Finally, we pray. We listen for God's Spirit to carefully guide us in each day's activities. We look for open doors to minister in the Name of Jesus. Judgment was never sent out of hate. It was God's way of getting people's attention. They were missing His best by wanting God out of their lives. They were speeding through life without Him and were being continually being clawed by the enemy. It is God's hope that since blessings have not turn our nation back to Him that judgment might. We'll see.
God has placed His watchmen on our walls. They see things we do not. We can ignore them to our down fall or we can heed their call and live.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Watchmen were the city's lookouts. They watched for encroaching armies. They gave commentary to those in the city during battles. They sounded the alarm if they saw smoke or fire during peace times, and signaled the king's return to the city.
God has posted watchmen over His church throughout the centuries. Men and women in every generation have been raised up to watch on behalf of God's people and to sound the alarm in the day of battle. Isaiah 62:6 says, "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord give yourselves no rest." Jeremiah 6:17 says, "I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But you said, 'We will not listen.'"
Billy Graham and Mother Theresa have been watchmen during our time. There are others. Recently, a number of the watchmen have all been sounding the alarm. David Wilkerson, head of Teen Challenge and of "The Cross and the Switchblade" fame, has sounded the alarm: a judgment is upon us. Kay Arthur, founder of Precept Upon Precept Bible Study, has sounded her trumpet: judgment is upon us. On Sunday, after worship, I heard from two of Grace Church's watchmen. Both their messages that they received from the Lord Sunday (one was a picture and the other a brief word) was that judgment is upon us (our nation). Each of these are warnings beyond what the United States is currently experiencing in this economic down turn.
So what do we inside the walls do with this information? First, we do not fear. "Fear not, I am with you. Be not dismayed, I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness." Fear can prevent blessings from arriving at their destinations. Fearalso caused unnecessary stress and havoc in our lives.
We remind ourselves that God has said that this area is a Goshen area (Cindy Jacobs prophecy in October, 2008). Goshen was the province in Egypt where the Israelites lived during their sojourn in Egyp. The plagues that ravaged Egypt, stopped at the very border of Goshen leaving God's people untouched while decimating the Egyptian culture and economy!
Finally, we pray. We listen for God's Spirit to carefully guide us in each day's activities. We look for open doors to minister in the Name of Jesus. Judgment was never sent out of hate. It was God's way of getting people's attention. They were missing His best by wanting God out of their lives. They were speeding through life without Him and were being continually being clawed by the enemy. It is God's hope that since blessings have not turn our nation back to Him that judgment might. We'll see.
God has placed His watchmen on our walls. They see things we do not. We can ignore them to our down fall or we can heed their call and live.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Self Saving-Savior Saving
One of the problems in being a Christian is that we often forget that we have a Savior. Since birth, we have been trying to save ourselves. The child that tells a fib is trying to not get caught. They are convinced that their lie will save them. The adolescent who cheats on a test is trying to save him/herself from failing. The adult who worries and schemes about how to solve whatever problem is on that day's agenda is trying to save him/herself.
After Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they hid, thinking that they could save themselves from the one person who could actually save them. They made apron's of fig leaves and chose darkness rather than light, thinking that by hiding, they would not be seen. Ever since, we, as fallen men and women, have unsuccessfully tried to make broken situations work. We have tried to save ourselves from unforseen consequences.
MostChristians spend the majority of their time trying to save themselves. We might not do it intentionally, but it happens. Why do we worry? Worry is our attempt to work out a plan to save ourselves.
When we become our own saviors it never works. The only way we can save ourselves is to turn to the darkness to hide us. Darkness, however, always betray us. Darkness will never save us, yet we believe its lie and agree with it by our actions. Look at Judas. Look at Ananias and Sapphira.
One of the most powerful prayers that we can ever pray is, "Lord, I cannot save myself. Will you come into the problem and solve it for me." That is the prayer of surrender....."I cannot save myself." "I need a Savior." It is powerful because we are turning to the light rather than to the darkness for aid.
Ask the Lord to show you areas in your life today where you are trying to save yourself. When He shows you, rejoice! Declare, "Lord, I cannot save myself!", and then wait for Him to act on your behalf. He is both Savior and friend.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
After Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they hid, thinking that they could save themselves from the one person who could actually save them. They made apron's of fig leaves and chose darkness rather than light, thinking that by hiding, they would not be seen. Ever since, we, as fallen men and women, have unsuccessfully tried to make broken situations work. We have tried to save ourselves from unforseen consequences.
MostChristians spend the majority of their time trying to save themselves. We might not do it intentionally, but it happens. Why do we worry? Worry is our attempt to work out a plan to save ourselves.
When we become our own saviors it never works. The only way we can save ourselves is to turn to the darkness to hide us. Darkness, however, always betray us. Darkness will never save us, yet we believe its lie and agree with it by our actions. Look at Judas. Look at Ananias and Sapphira.
One of the most powerful prayers that we can ever pray is, "Lord, I cannot save myself. Will you come into the problem and solve it for me." That is the prayer of surrender....."I cannot save myself." "I need a Savior." It is powerful because we are turning to the light rather than to the darkness for aid.
Ask the Lord to show you areas in your life today where you are trying to save yourself. When He shows you, rejoice! Declare, "Lord, I cannot save myself!", and then wait for Him to act on your behalf. He is both Savior and friend.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
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