The Wind Ceased

I am so grateful that almost everyone I know was spared from any significant damage by Hurricane Irene. Leading up to this weekend, news reports and weather forecasts warned us about the coming storm. Winds approaching 100 miles per hour, flooding rain, widespread power outages, shattered windows and other damage to homes were the things we were warned about. Grocery store shelves quickly emptied of non-perishable food, bottled water and batteries. Everybody was preparing for the worst. Most people prayed.

As we put my daughter to bed and prayed with her the night of the storm, my mind went to Mark 4. Here Jesus and the disciples were on a boat and a great windstorm arose and began to fill their boat with water (v. 37). Jesus was awoken from his sleep as the disciples were afraid they would perish (v. 38). But then our Savior awoke, rebuked the wind and said to the sea "Peace, be still" and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm (v.39). As I recalled this passage and prayed for protection from the coming storm, I was reassured that only the Lord had the power to rebuke the wind and that He was our only source of true protection. All of the emergency preparedness in the world couldn't protect me and my family from hurricane-force winds. But God could.

Isn't it amazing that we can so easily fall on our knees and pray at the sign of impending disaster, yet fail to seek the One who made the wind cease in our day-to-day lives. When we recognize that we have an enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), we realize that we need to have a spiritual disaster-readiness plan in place 24/7 that is build upon the Lord who came so that we could live life abundantly. The storms of life are real, they are constant and they create a need for protection. Praise God that through Jesus, we can have peace and great calm.

Do Everything

In our multi-task driven world, the notion of "do everything" seems to be a desired fit. We esteem those who appear to seamlessly handle a wide variety of tasks. Businesses usually promote such individuals. But the badge of honor we attempt to wear by doing many different things and juggling multiple priorities can often turn into a millstone around our neck; dragging us down into defeat and despair.

Scripture has a different take on the "do everything" notion. Colossians 3:17 says: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. This verse tells us we are not called to do everything; we are called to do whatever we do in the name of Jesus. Our Heavenly Father takes greater pleasure in us doing the few things he's called us to do with excellence and joy rather that a wider variety of tasks done poorly or grudgingly.

Stephen Curtis Chapman has a new song out entitled Do Everything which you can hear right here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVTeIMursb8 His song reminds us that everything done for God's glory has importance; now matter how trivial or insignificant it may seem. Everything we say or do is designed to be an act of worship to the Lord. Everything from hooking up mergers to cooking up burgers.

Imagine for a moment the impact that God's men can have in this world if we viewed our work as our worship to Him. If we gratefully gave thanks to the Lord for where he's placed us and what he has gifted us to do. 1 Timothy 6:6 reminds us that godliness with contentment is great gain. The most important performance appraisal of our lives awaits us when we stand before Him and give an account of our lives (Romans 14:12). May we all grade excellent.

All Things To All People

Above all else, we are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Our Savior's final instruction to his disciples was to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). This is a very simple instruction; be a disciple--a follower of Jesus Christ---and go make disciples---other followers of Jesus Christ. Of all nations eliminates selective discipling. So the question becomes, "How do we make disciples of all nations?"

The Apostle Paul--arguably the greatest discipler--shares with us one of the keys to discipleship in 1 Corinthians 9:22 ...I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. Paul was secure in the freedom he had in Christ (v.19) and his motivation was to share the blessings of the Gospel (v.23). Like his Savior, he developed a servant's heart to help him reach as many people as possible. But he also knew a foundational relationship needed to be established first before discipleship could be accomplished (v.20-22). A willingness to meet people where they are was critical. Common ground had to be identified and used to bridge cultural gaps.

While we have much is common with fellow believers; we should never underestimate how much we have in common with the lost. First and foremost, we are sinners just like they are. This is all the motivation we need to share the life-saving power of the blood of Christ. We also have common demographics such as occupation, family, hobbies and experiences that can open doors to making disciples. I can honestly say that every person I've ever helped lead to Christ or have significant spiritual impact in their lives began by building relationship.

Paul knew that in order to reach people in places as diverse as Rome, Corinth, Thessalonica, Colossae, Philippi and Galatia he needed to enter into their world and relate to their challenges and struggles. The same mindset holds true for us today in our own personal mission fields. The moment we stop looking at the differences we have with others and focus on the similarities instead is the moment we can ignite the fuse of discipleship.

Being Led By The Spirit

Scripture has much to say about the notion of being led by the Spirit. We see Jesus at the start of his earthly ministry being led by the Spirit; who was with him when he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1). The enemy hammered away at our Lord with temptation after temptation to misuse his godly power. Christ countered the lies of the enemy by stating the truths of Scripture (v. 4, 7 & 10).

The same Spirit that ministered to Jesus in the wilderness is the same Spirit that He promised to his disciples (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7) to teach them and help them. The same Spirit available to them is actively working in our lives as well. Don't miss the significance of being led by the Spirit. The enemy came at Jesus when he was fasting; undoubtedly trying to attack him at his weakest moment. The evil one's tactics haven't changed--he will attack you at your weakest moments as well. When you are hungry. When you are angry. When you are lonely. When you are tired. These are the times we need our Helper.

In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul explains the many benefits of being led by the spirit. The Spirit gives us the mindset of God (v. 5) and enables us to live in peace (v. 6). The Spirit keeps us free from the bondage of sin (v. 8-10) and identifies us as children of God (v. 14-17). The Spirit helps us in our weakness and even intercedes in prayer on our behalf (v. 26-27).

We cannot do the will of God apart from the help of the Holy Spirit. We cannot overcome our natural tendency to sin apart from the help of the Holy Spirit. We cannot comprehend the amazing truths of the Bible apart from illumination by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 says walk in the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The Spirit is here, ready to lead us. Going solo is a bad option.

Praying Over Your Children (Part 2)

While attending a Promise Keepers event in 2005, I heard another powerful prayer for children that spoke to my heart. As I shared in my last post, I'd already been praying the Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) over Amanda every night before she went to sleep. The theme of the event was unleashing the raw power of your heart and that this is done when we willingly and joyfully serve others in love in His name.

Serving our families is the place where this begins for God's man. Our greatest godly desire for our children is that Our Heavenly Father would pour out his blessing upon them. The prayer I heard that night, which Amanda has heard every night since, is this: Lord, protect her from evil. Cover her with Christ's blood. Fulfill your purpose in her life.

Our hardwired fatherly instinct is to protect our children. This prayer asks the One who overcame evil to protect her from the source of all evil. This prayer asks for the reality of the Gospel to not only provide the foundation of her life, but permeate every single part of it. This prayer asks that when people see her, they see a child of God who loves Him with all of her heart, soul, mind and strength. This prayer asks God to take the gifts and talents that He was written on her heart and to use them to advance His Kingdom and to allow her to fulfill His purpose in her generation (Acts 13:36).

Praying over our children is serious business. It is our God-given responsibility. It is our great privilege. It is our chance to impact the next generation. It is our opportunity to unleash the raw power of God in their lives.

Praying Over Your Children (Part 1)

Several years before I became a father, my pastor at the time preached one Sunday about blessing your children. He reminded us that children are a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). He also reminded us that we have an enemy who prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8) and that our children are especially vulnerable. His message was so convicting that I decided that if the Lord ever blessed me with a child, I would pray a blessing over my child every night.

The blessing that I pray over my daughter Amanda is known as the Priestly Blessing. This blessing was given directly by God to Moses with the instruction that he and Aaron were to pray this blessing over the people of Israel: The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

Consider for a moment what is packed into this powerful blessing. I am praying that God will give blessing to Amanda out of the abundance of his goodness. I am praying that the Almighty Creator of the Universe will protect her from evil. I am praying that the Father will find favor with her and extend to her his all-sufficient grace. I am praying that He will keep his eyes on my precious little girl and be blessed as she grows to know and love Him. I am praying that Amanda will receive and know the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Numbers 6:27 contains the promise from God that He will bless those who are given this blessing. I urge each and every father not only to pray every day with your children, but to pray a blessing over them. As our heritage given from the Father, let us not deprive our children of the blessings that He stands ready to pour out to them.

Lost and Found

For those of us who may occasionally have doubts about how much God loves us and desires a relationship with us, it may be a good idea to bookmark Luke 15. In this chapter, Jesus tells three parables--all in response to the grumbling Pharisees who saw him eat with sinners. Our Lord saw the lack of compassion from those who supposedly knew God the most for those who needed God's love and mercy the most.

In the first two parables--the lost sheep (v. 3-7) and the lost coin (v. 8-10)--there was diligent effort spent to find what was lost. There was sheer joy in the return of what was once lost but since been found. And these weren't private celebrations. Friends and neighbors were gathered to share the good news.

The third parable--the prodigal son (v. 11-32) has some slight differences but the same result. The father; knowing his son's desires were foolish, grants them anyway and patiently waits for his return. Upon squandering all that was given to him, the son returned home humbled and prepared to offer himself as a servant rather than a son. Before the son could even confess his sin, the father ran to him and embraced him. Though the stories differ, the reaction is the same: It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found (v. 32).

Our Lord has always been in the lost and found business. Seeking the lost and rejoicing in what is found. Verse 10 reminds us that there is joy in Heaven among the angles when one sinner repents. The God of the Universe is always ready, always willing, always faithful and always merciful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we confess and return to him (1 John 1:9). When we go from being lost to being found.

To Those Who Are Perishing

At one time or another, all believers have undoubtedly experienced some frustration in attempts to share the Gospel. The life saving message of hope that Jesus died on the cross to pay our sin debt and allow us to have a right relationship with God for eternity is so real to us, yet so foreign to unbelievers. Not to mention the many who attend church and have a works-based view of salvation that totally misses the truth that is it solely through faith alone in Christ alone.

We can easily dismiss those who don't know the saving power of the Gospel as being so wrapped up in their own sinful pleasures that following Jesus would be unappealing to them anyway. Invalidating God's grace and the saving power of Christ through the Holy Spirit is a slippery slope we need to avoid. History is full of strong Christians who've shipwrecked their testimony by making a few bad decisions. For us to have any hope of reaching the lost, we must never forget that they are truly lost.

1 Corinthians 1:18 reminds us that the word of the cross--the power of God to those of us who are saved--is folly to those who are perishing. We must always remember that the Gospel is our only basis of hope. We must always remember that those who don't know the Gospel are going to perish. And we must always remember that the Gospel is foolishness to the mind of an unbeliever. To them, the thought of us being saved from death by someone who was nailed to a cross is ridiculous and beyond belief.

John Newton, who penned the famous hymn "Amazing Grace", summed up our before and after condition: I once was lost but now I'm found. Was blind but now I see. When we witness to others, we must remember that we too were once lost; just as they are. To those who are perishing--lost and blind--we must let them see the grace of God through us who are found.