INTERCESSORY PRAYER!

Thursday, April 30, 2020

INTERCESSORY PRAYER!

Acts 12:5

5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

           Intercessory prayer is a conversation with God about the BURDEN He has given you regarding a situation or another person. It is powerful – although we don’t always know WHY God would need us to be part of His rescue operation.

           This kind of prayer makes us an active player in God’s drama of rescue and redemption. It is not that God could not act without us but that He chooses to include us. It makes us part of the community and links us with others.

           Warren Wiersbe quotes Puritan preacher Thomas Watson who said: "The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel."

Acts 12:5

5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

           What or who is on your heart? When I say “on your heart,” I mean that you can’t stop thinking about them. You can’t lay aside your concern for them and you can’t get their need or their danger out of your thoughts. This is reason enough to pray.

Dear Lord, I have been the recipient of prayers more often than I am aware. Please take the concerns and burdens of my heart and dispatch the appropriate resources. In the same way you released Peter from prison, so release those for whom I pray. AMEN

A LONG OBEDIENCE IN THE SAME DIRECTION!

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

A NOTE: Yes, this is a “classic” written during the time when church attendance was not forbidden. It is interesting how our value of things changes when they are taken from us. RA

A LONG OBEDIENCE IN THE SAME DIRECTION!

1 Cor 4:2

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

           Eugene Petersen wrote a book called A Long Obedience in the Same Direction – discipleship in an instant society. The question in my mind is “Why are so many ‘good’ Christians unfaithful?” Well, of course, that is a judgmental question, but one born of observation.

           I have observed the elderly, usually widows, who are as faithful as a heartbeat despite painful arthritis and an empty bank account. Yet they manage to hobble to church and contribute to the offering. I have also observed the healthy and wealthy who can’t manage to do either. What makes a man or a woman FAITHFUL? It is a continued pattern of doing the right things.

           I once had an old 1964 Volkswagen beetle. It was that ugly green so familiar to many. It had no air conditioner and no radio, but it was faithful. It managed to climb a snowy hill when other cars were stalled on the side of the road. It didn’t ask for much either. It was stingy with gasoline. It did, however, develop a problem. There were times when it simply would not start. I would have to let it coast backward down the driveway and then “pop the clutch” to start it. At other times it would crank just fine. It was not dependable in that regard.

           Some Christians are like my old Volkswagen. They are constantly in need of a shove, yet they think of themselves as faithful. They faithfully attend worship once or twice per month. Their lives are plagued with sin and sin’s consequences, but they talk of how much they love God. They can’t understand why, since they love God, life is so hard.

A steward is a servant who manages everything for his master, but who himself owns nothing. The responsibility of the steward is to be faithful to his master. A steward may not please the members of the household; he may not even please some of the other servants; but if he pleases his own master, he is a good steward.

2 Tim 2:4

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Master, in many ways I am an unfaithful steward. Help me to develop a long obedience in the same direction. AMEN

CHURCH: NEW NORMAL OR OLD MODEL!

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

CHURCH: NEW NORMAL OR OLD MODEL!

Acts 2:41-47

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

           The recent pandemic and all its cautions and aggravations have changed the face of what we call “church.” I think it might be wise to review the early church model and return to its simple system.

           Verse 41: The dazzling numbers have nearly blinded us to the simple fact that healthy church life always begins with a glad reception of the gospel. Salvation is the starting point and it is glorious and glad. This is followed immediately with “whatever is next” which is baptism. Healthy and growing believers are always asking and submitting to “whatever is next!”

           Verse 42: Healthy and growing churches are populated with members who are consistent in their participation of church life. They do not consider the events on the church calendar as items on a buffet from which they pick and choose but items of a full course meal. It does not say “teaching or fellowship” but teaching AND fellowship AND communion AND prayer meeting AND whatever is next. Unhealthy churches are populated by inconsistent members.

           Verse 44: In the healthy and growing church there is a generous sharing of resources. Within the healthy church, resources are shared and nobody feels that he has suffered any loss by giving. Verse 45 explains that the membership felt that resources belonged to “us” instead of “me.”

           As church life continued, in verse 46, God added to the church. Outreach and evangelism was simply an outgrowth of healthy church life. As we live the Christian life in community and harmony with others, God gives numerical increase. In the numbers game, there was no guilt and no pride for it was God who produced numerical growth. Our job is healthy and harmonious community with other believers. Members who are part of a church like this just can’t keep from talking about it. The members publicly were praising God and the result was that they won the admiration of their city.

Dear Lord, let me improve the health of my church by being an active and excited member of it. Let me share generously feeling no sense of loss in sharing. Add to your church as you see fit. AMEN