Over the next several days I would like to share with you an experience I had last week that greatly impacted me, especially as I seek to gain vision and direction for the very difficult and troubling times in which we live.
On Tue., Oct. 21, 2008, I was drawn "to the mountains" of Tellico Plains in order to spend quiet, uninterrupted time with the Lord. While there, I was drawn to the river. At first I parked beside it in a fairly busy pull-off, but sensed a leading of the Lord to another specific spot.
Again, I parked beside the road in a pull-off and opened the windows. I could hear the water of the river and enjoyed both the cool fall breeze and the bright sunshine that kept me warm. After reading the Bible for a while, I fell asleep. Upon awakening I heard the Lord say, "Go down to the river." I had been to this spot before and heard the Lord speak at that time. In my mind it was a little like Jacob going back to Bethel (Genesis chapters 28 & 35), so I went out on the rocks where He had spoken before. Very quickly I was led to go upstream to another set of rocks. On the way the Lord said,"Learn the lesson of the river."
I have found that usually when we need to hear clearly from the Lord, we also need to go to special places where we can be alone with Him. This whole experience related to the lesson of the river lasted only a couple of hours. When God is drawing, He is ready to speak. When we are seeking Him in our timing and ways, He is often silent. If you are needing to hear from the Lord, ask Him to draw you and then be ready to move quickly. Jacob was actually running both times He encountered God at Bethel. Until God is ready to speak, peacefully keep doing what He gave you to do last time He spoke direction, purpose, and/or vision into your life.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
"Back to Bethel"
I remember a sermon entitled, "Back to Bethel." I don't remember who preached it, but I do remember that I have had several "Bethel experiences" in my life. The text was in Genesis 28:10-22 and told Jacob's experience at Bethel, where he had the dream about the ladder into heaven with angels ascending and descending. God spoke to him at Bethel.
When it was finally time for Jacob to return home and face his brother Esau, God told him to go to Bethel and dwell (Genesis 35:1-15). As instructed, he also built an altar. As he worshipped, God appeared to Jacob again, changed his name to Israel, renewed the command to mankind to "be fruitful and multiply" and gave him a promise.
"Bethel" means "house of God" and is a special place in one's life at which God speaks. The first time Jacob was there, God surprised Him by appearing and speaking. The second time, God instructed him to go "Back to Bethel." When Jacob obeyed the command to go back to Bethel, he was incredibly blessed.
Many times we are seeking a "word from the Lord" and will do all sorts of things trying to hear from Him. Unfortunately during these times of seeking, many plans and ideas are fabricated and have God's name attached to them, when God didn't have anything to do with them. While it is essential to listen to God at all times, life changing words from the Lord come at His time and direction, and don't come often. Jacob had spent at least 14 years with his uncle, Laban, in between his experiences at Bethel where God gave Him life changing experiences.
In my "Bethel Experiences" I have found that it is important to keep on doing what God gave me to do at the last encounter until He calls for the next meeting. He calls us "Back to Bethel" when He is ready, not just because we go there seeking Him in our timing.
When it was finally time for Jacob to return home and face his brother Esau, God told him to go to Bethel and dwell (Genesis 35:1-15). As instructed, he also built an altar. As he worshipped, God appeared to Jacob again, changed his name to Israel, renewed the command to mankind to "be fruitful and multiply" and gave him a promise.
"Bethel" means "house of God" and is a special place in one's life at which God speaks. The first time Jacob was there, God surprised Him by appearing and speaking. The second time, God instructed him to go "Back to Bethel." When Jacob obeyed the command to go back to Bethel, he was incredibly blessed.
Many times we are seeking a "word from the Lord" and will do all sorts of things trying to hear from Him. Unfortunately during these times of seeking, many plans and ideas are fabricated and have God's name attached to them, when God didn't have anything to do with them. While it is essential to listen to God at all times, life changing words from the Lord come at His time and direction, and don't come often. Jacob had spent at least 14 years with his uncle, Laban, in between his experiences at Bethel where God gave Him life changing experiences.
In my "Bethel Experiences" I have found that it is important to keep on doing what God gave me to do at the last encounter until He calls for the next meeting. He calls us "Back to Bethel" when He is ready, not just because we go there seeking Him in our timing.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
"Praying 'The Word'"
A lot of people say they don't pray because they do not know how to pray. Of course, Jesus' response to the disciples' request for teaching on how to pray was the "Model Prayer" or "Lord's Prayer." That is a good place not only to pray but also to study this prayer for understanding of what Jesus was saying to pray.
Sometimes you hear people say, "Pray the word" by which they mean pray what the Bible is saying. A great example is in the "Apostolic Prayers" of Paul that can be found in his letters to the various churches and people.
This morning I was praying one of the "Apostolic Prayers" for the people of our church and others for whom I pray regularly. It is found in Ephesians 1:15-21 and is a prayer for spiritual wisdom and the knowledge of the power of the resurrection. When Paul said "you" or "your," I put the person's name in that place. Not only was I then "praying the word" but also was praying specifically for that person.
Sometimes you hear people say, "Pray the word" by which they mean pray what the Bible is saying. A great example is in the "Apostolic Prayers" of Paul that can be found in his letters to the various churches and people.
This morning I was praying one of the "Apostolic Prayers" for the people of our church and others for whom I pray regularly. It is found in Ephesians 1:15-21 and is a prayer for spiritual wisdom and the knowledge of the power of the resurrection. When Paul said "you" or "your," I put the person's name in that place. Not only was I then "praying the word" but also was praying specifically for that person.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Morning Prayer
Last night I went to bed with the news of a deadly shooting in a Knoxville mall, another huge drop in the Dow Industrial Average, the political pandering of a presidential election, and other reports I've already forgotten in the mountain of "bad news."
I SLEPT LIKE A BABY WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD!
I awoke with a prayer in my heart that pushed out of my mouth. It was a prayer of praise and joy because of the goodness of God who orders my footsteps and authors and finishes my life. I wrote a note of excitement to people for whom I pray. I prayed they would accomplish what was ahead of them in the next few days and gather on Sunday to celebrate because of what God had enabled them to do - and this in the face of all the bad news.
WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE ALIVE AND SERVING THE LIVING GOD!
I SLEPT LIKE A BABY WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD!
I awoke with a prayer in my heart that pushed out of my mouth. It was a prayer of praise and joy because of the goodness of God who orders my footsteps and authors and finishes my life. I wrote a note of excitement to people for whom I pray. I prayed they would accomplish what was ahead of them in the next few days and gather on Sunday to celebrate because of what God had enabled them to do - and this in the face of all the bad news.
WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE ALIVE AND SERVING THE LIVING GOD!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Peace or Panic
Last night I was teaching a Bible study from the 27th chapter of Acts in which Paul is shipwrecked. As I read about the chaos on the ship, I was reminded of a favorite little ditty that describes most people: "When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout."
My sense was that Paul acted like Jesus who slept in the back of a storm tossed boat, while professional fishermen feared for their lives. Rather than being in a panic, he was at peace and even had a divine visitation from an angel.
We are living in very stormy times. National and international news can easily produce feelings of panic, danger, worry and doubt. For some, personal issues easily produce blindness to the world, but produce the same feelings.
But born again believers in Christ Jesus have a choice to the feelings of panic. We can choose to "walk according to the Spirit" by focusing on the Lord and His purposes for our day and lives. We can choose to worship Him in the midst of the storms and give thanks for His grace and mercy. We can choose to sing a song of praise to Him or read a psalm of praise instead of listening to our 14th commentary of the days news. We can choose to minister to the needs of others rather than seek ministry for our. Doing any or all of these or other means of walking according to the Spirit produces the fruit of peace because we are recognizing that God is in control and we can trust our lives and circumstances to Him.
My sense was that Paul acted like Jesus who slept in the back of a storm tossed boat, while professional fishermen feared for their lives. Rather than being in a panic, he was at peace and even had a divine visitation from an angel.
We are living in very stormy times. National and international news can easily produce feelings of panic, danger, worry and doubt. For some, personal issues easily produce blindness to the world, but produce the same feelings.
But born again believers in Christ Jesus have a choice to the feelings of panic. We can choose to "walk according to the Spirit" by focusing on the Lord and His purposes for our day and lives. We can choose to worship Him in the midst of the storms and give thanks for His grace and mercy. We can choose to sing a song of praise to Him or read a psalm of praise instead of listening to our 14th commentary of the days news. We can choose to minister to the needs of others rather than seek ministry for our. Doing any or all of these or other means of walking according to the Spirit produces the fruit of peace because we are recognizing that God is in control and we can trust our lives and circumstances to Him.
Friday, September 5, 2008
"Preacher"
Recently I've had several contacts from people in my High School class from a long, long, long time ago. It's been interesting and fun to catch up. One was very complimentary about the fact that I had been a decent guy and knew I would be in ministry. While that was gratifying, it was sad when they said they had not even known about the Lord until their adult years even though they had attended church during those years. Maybe they weren't open, but obviously I was satisfied to be "a decent guy" and didn't share about the Lord.
"Life-style evangelism" is a "decent" concept, but usually indicates an unwillingness to talk about the Lord. I'm reminded that the Bible says people will NOT know about Him (believe)unless they hear, and they will not hear without a preacher. Of course a "preacher" is not simply one who has a pulpit in a church or on a street corner. A preacher is a proclaimer who speaks the Gospel, which is the power to salvation. Moreover, a "preacher" is not someone who hounds or pounds with the Gospel, but proclaims the whole truth about both the goodness of the Gospel and the requirements of living according to the Gospel.
"Life-style evangelism" is a "decent" concept, but usually indicates an unwillingness to talk about the Lord. I'm reminded that the Bible says people will NOT know about Him (believe)unless they hear, and they will not hear without a preacher. Of course a "preacher" is not simply one who has a pulpit in a church or on a street corner. A preacher is a proclaimer who speaks the Gospel, which is the power to salvation. Moreover, a "preacher" is not someone who hounds or pounds with the Gospel, but proclaims the whole truth about both the goodness of the Gospel and the requirements of living according to the Gospel.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Whistle While You Work
I've been re- reading John Piper's Let The Nations Be Glad and was reminded of a song that goes back to my childhood when TV shows were black and white and the afternoon included "Leave It To Beaver" and the "Mickey Mouse Club." I think it was a Mickey Mouse (probably in more ways than one) cartoon that had the song, "Whistle While You Work." My parents used it to teach me to display happiness by whistling while I worked. I must have learned well the whistling lesson about displaying happiness because I also remembered another experience from my childhood.
I had told my parents I didn't feel well and probably should stay home from school, which was rare for me. Apparently, I was sitting in bed whistling. On his way out the door to work my father stuck his head in my room and said, "Sick children don't whistle." Ooops!!
Anyway, Piper says about worship that it "is not a gathering. It is not essentially a song service or sitting under preaching. Worship is not essentially any form of outward act. Worship is essentially an inner stirring of the heart to treasure God above all the treasures of the world." (page 206) He includes three stages of worship as "right affections in the heart toward God, rooted in right thoughts in the head about God, becoming visible in right actions of the body reflecting God." (page 207)
If we could grasp this, we would worship (and whistle) while we work, play, relate, rest, or anything in life. We would find true happiness and fulfillment as we walk through life.
I had told my parents I didn't feel well and probably should stay home from school, which was rare for me. Apparently, I was sitting in bed whistling. On his way out the door to work my father stuck his head in my room and said, "Sick children don't whistle." Ooops!!
Anyway, Piper says about worship that it "is not a gathering. It is not essentially a song service or sitting under preaching. Worship is not essentially any form of outward act. Worship is essentially an inner stirring of the heart to treasure God above all the treasures of the world." (page 206) He includes three stages of worship as "right affections in the heart toward God, rooted in right thoughts in the head about God, becoming visible in right actions of the body reflecting God." (page 207)
If we could grasp this, we would worship (and whistle) while we work, play, relate, rest, or anything in life. We would find true happiness and fulfillment as we walk through life.
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