James Bond in the 007 movies wanted his drinks shaken, not stirred. As I have read about a prayer meeting in Acts (4:31), I find that happening also to the people. God wants us shaken, not stirred. He wants us not just "touched" by the Spirit, but "shaken" by the Spirit, so that our commitments, our prayer times, our Bible study changes us rather than just stirring our emotions for the time and then we forget what we saw and heard. (Sounds like James speaking in James 1 about hearing versus doing).
In Nehemiah, where I am studying and preaching now, I notice that Nehemiah heard of a serious situation (chapter 1) and took it so seriously that he "wept and mourned and fasted and prayed." And apparently he did this for about 4 months before God moved him to act on the vision He gave him. In the meantime, the vision was formulating. Then Nehemiah took action and went to the king of Persia, a man who had earlier stopped the rebuilding of the wall that Nehemiah was requesting to go and rebuild. But God laid it on Nehemiah's heart, because of the serious concern he had for his people and their plight.
Boldness seems to come from genuine concern for need. Boldness seems to come from God's vision. Boldness seems to come from concern that leads to prayer.
So often we are stirred by situations, but not shaken as they were in Acts. Stirred will last for a while, but shaken will stick with us and cause us to change and live differently. I need more of the shaking, and I think God is beginning that for me. Shaken so that I am willing to take more action toward those who need God desperately.
The vision is forming--the concern is beginning--the prayer is in process. One day, the further action will come. Shaken, not just stirred.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
What is the Vision?
"Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18)
Today so many of our churches are dying for lack of vision and then lack of willingness to carry that vision toward fruition.
The word "vision" here literally means "revelation." Where there is no REVELATION. Where do we get revelation? From God is the best place for believers and churches. But so often we live in the "we've always done it this way," instead of the "What does God want now?" I know many churches who have the same fellowships every year, because we've always done this at this time of year. I know many churches still doing Sunday school and certain ministries the same way they've always done them because that's the way "we" do it. Are we open to God's revelation of new ways? Ralph Neighbor said many, many years ago that the 7 last words of the church were, "We've never done it that way before." Does that statement lack God's vision--His revelation. God continues to reveal Himself, His purposes, His ways. (Henry Blackaby, Experiencing God)
What we need is God's revelation--God's revealing His purpose, His direction, His way of carrying out His purposes and directions for His church. We don't need our ideas. When that happens we are in trouble. Our vision is not often God's vision. "For My ways are not your ways," says the LORD." (Isaiah 55:9)
Just because we had God's vision 10 years ago or 30 years ago doesn't necessarily mean we have God's vision NOW. But it also could mean, we are not living out God's vision any more. Maybe we are not doing what we used to do, and wondering why things are not happening now like they once did.
Where there is no revelation, the people perish. The word perish means "go their way." In other words they do their own thing--they all go off in their own directions--they lose their way with everyone being on a different page. The church though is to be a unified body, serving Christ together, not alone. (See John 17) If all of us go our own way--do our own thing--do what we feel is important but that is not the vision of all of us, then we are in trouble.
And this vision cannot be the vision of just one person. Notice it is "revelation"--God's vision. Therefore the people of God must seek God's vision together.
People perish--there are people leaving the church--there are people moving to other churches--there are many people who are not believers because we have lost our "revelation" and not been unified in purpose and direction and action. (Could 40% or more Americans be lost today?)
Are you seeking God's revelation with others from your body of Christ (that is a church)? Are you going on in your own direction without others going in the same way or are you working with others in a direction of unity?
What will serve our God best? But, who is church about--me and you--or Him?
I need to pray. Maybe you do too.
Today so many of our churches are dying for lack of vision and then lack of willingness to carry that vision toward fruition.
The word "vision" here literally means "revelation." Where there is no REVELATION. Where do we get revelation? From God is the best place for believers and churches. But so often we live in the "we've always done it this way," instead of the "What does God want now?" I know many churches who have the same fellowships every year, because we've always done this at this time of year. I know many churches still doing Sunday school and certain ministries the same way they've always done them because that's the way "we" do it. Are we open to God's revelation of new ways? Ralph Neighbor said many, many years ago that the 7 last words of the church were, "We've never done it that way before." Does that statement lack God's vision--His revelation. God continues to reveal Himself, His purposes, His ways. (Henry Blackaby, Experiencing God)
What we need is God's revelation--God's revealing His purpose, His direction, His way of carrying out His purposes and directions for His church. We don't need our ideas. When that happens we are in trouble. Our vision is not often God's vision. "For My ways are not your ways," says the LORD." (Isaiah 55:9)
Just because we had God's vision 10 years ago or 30 years ago doesn't necessarily mean we have God's vision NOW. But it also could mean, we are not living out God's vision any more. Maybe we are not doing what we used to do, and wondering why things are not happening now like they once did.
Where there is no revelation, the people perish. The word perish means "go their way." In other words they do their own thing--they all go off in their own directions--they lose their way with everyone being on a different page. The church though is to be a unified body, serving Christ together, not alone. (See John 17) If all of us go our own way--do our own thing--do what we feel is important but that is not the vision of all of us, then we are in trouble.
And this vision cannot be the vision of just one person. Notice it is "revelation"--God's vision. Therefore the people of God must seek God's vision together.
People perish--there are people leaving the church--there are people moving to other churches--there are many people who are not believers because we have lost our "revelation" and not been unified in purpose and direction and action. (Could 40% or more Americans be lost today?)
Are you seeking God's revelation with others from your body of Christ (that is a church)? Are you going on in your own direction without others going in the same way or are you working with others in a direction of unity?
What will serve our God best? But, who is church about--me and you--or Him?
I need to pray. Maybe you do too.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
My Father's Eyes
Years ago, I heard a song by Christian artist, Amy Grant, entitled "My Father's Eyes." It talked about having the eyes that her Father, God had, and that is good food for thought for us.
2 Chronicles 16:9a is a verse that talks about the kind of eyes one who has the Father's eyes will have. "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (NIV)
God is looking over all the earth that He created with eyes to help and support those who follow Him. That is comforting for me--it gives me hope and peace and strength for today.
But I also am reminded that as a follower of His, one who is filled with God's Spirit, and one who is supposed to be more like Jesus everyday, there is a challenge here for me as well. Do I have eyes like my Father? Is my heart open to helping those who are going through hardships? Am I compassionate toward the poor and oppressed? Am I seeking to find those who NEED a "heart fully committed to him"?
And am I only interested in people right around me--my family--my neighborhood and town--my state, or am I also interested in people around the world, most of whom I have never met nor will ever meet? Do I have a kingdom vision that is a world vision--or is my vision too small?
Do you have your Father's eyes? What would be different in your life today if that were true? And how do you and I develop eyes like our Father?
"Pray the Lord of the harvest" today.
2 Chronicles 16:9a is a verse that talks about the kind of eyes one who has the Father's eyes will have. "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (NIV)
God is looking over all the earth that He created with eyes to help and support those who follow Him. That is comforting for me--it gives me hope and peace and strength for today.
But I also am reminded that as a follower of His, one who is filled with God's Spirit, and one who is supposed to be more like Jesus everyday, there is a challenge here for me as well. Do I have eyes like my Father? Is my heart open to helping those who are going through hardships? Am I compassionate toward the poor and oppressed? Am I seeking to find those who NEED a "heart fully committed to him"?
And am I only interested in people right around me--my family--my neighborhood and town--my state, or am I also interested in people around the world, most of whom I have never met nor will ever meet? Do I have a kingdom vision that is a world vision--or is my vision too small?
Do you have your Father's eyes? What would be different in your life today if that were true? And how do you and I develop eyes like our Father?
"Pray the Lord of the harvest" today.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Who Do You Look Like?
The older I get, the more I see my parents in my siblings. I see a sister or brother, and I see how they favor my mom or dad--a certain look, a certain mannerism, a thing they say or do. And with the parents I had, I think that is a good thing.
But I wonder sometimes who I look like. I want to favor my Father so much more--my heavenly Father. And that is so much more than just an outward resemblance. It begins in the heart. When people see me, I hope they see how I favor the One who lives within me and teaches me and patiently forgives me. I hope they see more loving compassion like Jesus had, more commitment and more family resemblance to the One who died for me.
I am preaching through the gospel of Luke now, and I believe one thing to ask in reading it is,
"Who does Luke say Jesus is?" And then another question follows, "How am I more like Jesus for reading/studying/worshiping Him?"
Family resemblance can be good or bad. But Family resemblance to God and Jesus will never be bad!
Who do YOU look like?
But I wonder sometimes who I look like. I want to favor my Father so much more--my heavenly Father. And that is so much more than just an outward resemblance. It begins in the heart. When people see me, I hope they see how I favor the One who lives within me and teaches me and patiently forgives me. I hope they see more loving compassion like Jesus had, more commitment and more family resemblance to the One who died for me.
I am preaching through the gospel of Luke now, and I believe one thing to ask in reading it is,
"Who does Luke say Jesus is?" And then another question follows, "How am I more like Jesus for reading/studying/worshiping Him?"
Family resemblance can be good or bad. But Family resemblance to God and Jesus will never be bad!
Who do YOU look like?
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