Praying for Revival for 31 days

Join me in praying for Revival for the next 31 days and lets see how God answers our prayer.

Prayer Focus Day 1:
Pray that we as Christians will bow our knees before the Lord at the beginning of each day, so that we may receive His grace daily to live as we should (Jas. 4:6-10).

Thanks Devil

I am learning to be thankful in the midst of opposition from the enemy. The devil has been active to derail the great work that Jesus Christ is doing in planting Pointway Church in Brainerd/Baxter, MN. 

This morning as I cried out to the LORD of all grace and mercy he encouraged me with the truth he has revealed in his glorious word.

"For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God your may receive what is promised.

For, yet a little while,

and the coming one will come and will not delay;

but my righteous one shall live by faith,

and if he shrinks back,

my soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

~Heb. 10:36-39

I am so thankful for the devils attacks because they drive me to the throne of God and there I find comfort and strength to wage the good warfare. I know that we will prevail and the gospel of the kingdom will advance.

Soli Deo Gloria

Timely Encouragement

This morning I met with the LORD Jesus Christ and he spoke to my spirit a timely word of encouragement.

"But the LORD is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one...May the LORD direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ."

~ 2 Thess. 3:3 & 5

I thank the LORD for his timely encouragement and praise his holy name today and forever.

Soli Deo Gloria

I AM SURE - AND I AM AMAZED!

I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able o separate us form the love of God in Christ Jesus.

~Rom. 8:38

Thought Bomb

"Any purported belief without change is nothing but a base counterfeit...To say you trust without living as though you do is not to trust in any biblical sense."
~ Mark Dever

"There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have enough - a cheap Christianity which offends nobody, and requires no sacrifice - which costs nothing, and is worth nothing."
~J.C. Ryle

Are you transformed in your inner most being or are you just like the world with a little self-righteous morality sprinkled into your life?

I Remember...

I remember June 12, 1998

• I remember the man I was before that day.
• I remember the pain, the sorrow, the hate, the despair, the hopelessness.
• I remember that man - a slave to sin, in bondage reveling in debauchery.
• I remember wanting it to end, but being powerless.
• I remember longing for something to hope in, something to free me.
• I remember that day - June 12, 1998
• I remember that I was on my own road to Damascus: a path of sin, death and destruction.
• I remember the light that overcame me.
• I remember the deep conviction of my sin that crushed me.
  
• I remember the sobbing and the weeping at the realization of what my sin produced.
• I remember the understanding of the wrath of God rightly resting upon me.
• I remember the fear and terror of that realization.
• I remember the joy and relief at the revelation of your grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• I remember understanding that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty of my sin.
  
• I remember the tears of sorrow in godly grief that lead to repentance.
• I remember feeling the Holy Spirit come into me.
• I remember the new eyes with which I began to see the world.
• I remember the overwhelming compulsion to share the gospel with anyone who would listen to me urge them to repent and believe.
• I remember the path that You set before me. A path filled with trials and tribulations; a path that brought suffering and opposition; A path of glory fueled by the Holy Spirit and driven by the Gospel.
• I remember and I am encouraged to press on in the calling that I have received.

In remembering

• I will seek You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength Father.
• I will walk this path You have set before me with passion and zeal for Your glory.
• I will give my last breath in service to the Kingdom of God.
• I will give my life as a slave of Christ Jesus.
• I will meditate on the gospel of grace daily.
  

Hallelujah I am free in Jesus Christ

Resting on God

O GOD MOST HIGH, MOST GLORIOUS,

The thought of your infinite serenity cheers me,
For I am toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed,
but you are for ever at perfect peace.
Your designs cause you no fear or care of unfulfillment,
they stand fast as the eternal hills.
Your power knows no bond,
your goodness no stint.
You bring order out of confusion,
and my defeats are your victories:
The Lord God omnipotent reigns.
I come to you as a sinner with cares and sorrows,
to leave every concern entirely to you,
every sin calling for Christ's precious blood;
Revive deep spirituality in my heart;
Let me live near to the Great Shepherd,
hear his voice,
know its tones,
follow its calls.
Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth,
from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit.
Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities,
burning into me by experience the things I know;
Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel,
that I may bear its reproach,
vindicate it,
see Jesus as its essence,
know in it the power of the Spirit.
Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill;
unbelief mars my confidence,
sin makes me forget you.
Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots;
Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to you,
that all else is trifling.
Your presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong and happy.
Abide in me, gracious God.

The Razor Light

"the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." ~ Is. 9:2

I have seen the great light! I saw it and it pierced me like a razor. I broke through my heart of stone and delved into the deep. It carved out the disease within. It sucked out the poison and washed me clean.

I have been set free. Sin and death no longer have power over me. Today I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, and I am very strong in Him!

Worship the LORD Jesus Christ in the spender of holiness and ascribe to Him the glory due His name. Heaven and earth are full of his glory!

Holy is the LORD God Almighty who was, and is and is to come.

I am thankful for Satan.

What!? Did I really just say that I am thankful for Satan? Yes!!! The reason is this: he drove me to my Father this morning.

I have been having a difficult time sleeping lately. There are probably a number of reasons for this, but one is that the Devil has been tormenting me in my sleep. Early this morning I was awoken by a vile and wicked dream that was so disturbing I can not even tell anyone about it.

I know where this dream came from. I am not unaware of the schemes of the Devil (2 Cor. 2:11). I was deeply troubled by this dream and, praise be to God, I was compelled to get out of bed and seek my God.

Why am I thankful for the Devil? Because he was the catylist that got me out of bed 45 minutes early. This allowed me to spend an extra 45 minutes in prayer and in the word seeking the grace of my Father.

What a loser the Devil is now and forever. Does he not know that my Father will guard me and lead me in the everlasting way? Does he not know that the love of Jesus Christ is upon me in glorious and magnificent ways?

Whether he knows it or not my God used him like a dishrag to bring glory to his holy name.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
~Ephesians 6:11-13

A PSALM OF DAVID.
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
~Psalm 29:1-11

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
~John 10:27

What Wondrous Love Is This

This morning I woke up and felt the heaviness of darkness around me. It has been a while since I have slept peacefully. Lately I have felt the presence of the Adversary. Our work, which had seemed to be moving ahead unhindered, has hit a bump in the road. The clouds have moved in and have obstructed my vision.

Just as discouragement and despair began to pursue me my faith brought sight. This morning I did not know how to proceed with our work so I found a quiet place and set myself to seeking my LORD. He seemed distant and my heart longed for his presence with me.

“Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. My soul is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD – how long?...I am wary with my moaning…My eye wastes away because of my grief… ~Ps 6:2, 3, 6, 7

In my sad state I knew of only one thing to do. I bowed down and worshiped my God. I cried out to him in prayer and I asked him to draw near to me. My heart sang to him and he heard my cry.

…the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. ~Ps. 6:8, 9

I sat and starred out of my window into the sky and through the thick gray clouds I saw a faint light. It was the sun piercing through the darkness. As I sang… “What wondrous love is this that caused the LORD of bliss To bear the dreadful curse for my soul ” the clouds parted and the sun shone brightly upon me and I could feel the heat of it on my face.

I sank back into my chair and realized that my Father was reminding me that he is never far off, but always near to me. Sometimes things cloud our vision, but be assured the LORD is near. I have been reminded again today that my God is faithful and true. I have been reminded again that his hand is upon me and that no one can thwart his plans.

The Adversary may come and shoot his fiery arrows at me; he may come and torment me in my sleep; he may try to steer me off the path that Jesus Christ has set before me, but I will never ever ever believe his lies!

I am a child of the living God! I am a disciple of Jesus Christ! I know in whom I believe and I will serve him until I breathe my last breath.

What Wondrous Love Is This

American Folk Hymn

What wondrous love is this,

O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this

That caused the Lord of bliss

To bear the dreadful curse

For my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down,

Sinking down, sinking down,

When I was sinking down, sinking down,

When I was sinking down

Beneath God’s righteous frown,

Christ laid aside His crown

For my soul, for my soul,

Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb

I will sing, I will sing,

To God and to the Lamb I will sing,

To God and to the Lamb

Who is the great “I Am,”

While millions join the theme,

I will sing, I will sing,

While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free,

I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.

And when from death I’m free,

I’ll sing and joyful be,

And thro’ eternity

I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,

And thro’ eternity I’ll sing on.

Meditation

"...God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." ~ Romans 5:5

As I was meeting with the LORD this morning I was studying Romans 5:1-11. Verse 5 stirred something up deep within me as I considered the application and implication of it.

I share it with you and ask that you consider the following question: How does the truth of this verse impact the way you are living today?

Think about it!!!

This is Why I am a Church Planter!!!

This morning I was praying and asking God to give me an "open door" for the gospel. I pray this prayer almost every day and the LORD is good to grant me my request. This morning I also asked the LORD to let me see his salvation come upon someone.

Tonight our community group met and one of our flock, who has been a Christian for only a few months, brought two new friends to the group. He soon got a call from a friend whose car had broken down and was asking for a ride. So he and one of his friends went to help the friend and they left Charlie all alone with us.

We could tell he was a little uncomfortable and we tried to put him at ease. He was eager to be there and we proceeded with our time in the word. Knowing that Charlie was not a follower of Christ we changed our regular format and read our passage and I asked if anyone had any questions about the passage.

Someone asked why Jesus had to suffer and that opened up an opportunity to talk straight forwardly about the gospel. We challenged Charlie with regard to his sin and asked him if he would like to receive the forgiveness that is found in Jesus Christ alone. The Spirit of God was moving powerfully among us and Charlie indicated that he wanted to repent of his sins and commit his life to following Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah!!! The angels are rejoicing in heaven!

Please pray for Charlie. Pray that the LORD would give him new life and that the Holy Spirit would take up residence in his soul.

Praise the LORD! This is Why I am a Church Planter!!!

Resolved:

It is that time of year when you look back on the past and look forward to the future. It is a time to reflect back and dream forward. Many resolutions will be made and most will probably be broken before the first month of the year is over.

Real and enduring life transforming resolutions cannot be kept in the power of the flesh. They may only be kept as we abide in Jesus Christ, the true giver and sustainer of life.

Jonathan Edwards is well-known for his Resolutions. He knew that he could not keep his resolutions in his own power. He wrote,

"BEING SENSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GOD' S HELP, I DO HUMBLY ENTREAT HIM BY HIS GRACE TO ENABLE ME TO KEEP THESE RESOLUTIONS, SO FAR AS THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS WILL, FOR CHRIST' S SAKE."

In the wisdom of Jonathan Edwards and the power of the Holy Spirit I resolve to feed my appetite for God alone. May all other my other appetites fall in submission to my hunger for intimacy with the Almighty.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." ~ Matthew 5:6

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Remember ~ It is not about turkey ~ It is not about family ~ It is not about football!
This is a day set aside to express our thanksgiving to the LORD who gives us life. Try to make room for thanksgiving this Thanksgiving!

The words of Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation, in 1863 and the first declaring Thanksgiving as a national holiday, seem particularly apt for this Thanksgiving also.

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God . . . Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, (sic) have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. . . the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility (sic) and Union.” Abraham Lincoln

These excerpts are taken from the collection of Lincoln's papers in the Library of America series, Vol II, pp. 520-521.

Filled or Flowing?

I was studying Jn. 7:37-43 this morning and I was struck with Jesus' statement, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink, Whoever believers in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'"

As I meditated upon this statement a number of thoughts flooded my mind and heart. One question is sticking with me.

What is the connection between being filled with the Holy Spirit and having the Holy Spirit flowing out of your inner most being?


I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this one!

I Rejoice in My Scars!!!

I came to saving faith in Jesus Christ in June 1998 after 28 years of living a life of celebratory debauchery. I clearly remember the sensational feeling of the Holy Spirit coming into me and bringing life to my dead soul. The LORD did an amazing work in my life that afternoon and the scales fell off of my eyes and revealed a life to me that was beyond comprehension.

Since that day I have alway rejoiced in my salvation and also grieved and regretted my past life before Christ. The closer I have walked with my LORD the more I have come to understand the great offense my sin was to God and how much that sin damaged my soul. My willful and deliberate sinful living inflicted wounds deep within me.

When Jesus Christ transformed my life he healed my wounds. In fact it is by his own wounds that I am healed! Now when a wound is healed it leaves a scar. Sin has consequences! Sin is forgiven 100% and there are times when we must deal with the consequences that result from various sins we have committed.

For too long I allowed the scars to remind me of my sinful past and the damage that was inflicted upon me as a result. My wounds have been healed, but the scars remain I would lament. I believe that it is healthy to lament over your past sin, but one can easily focus on past sin and the damage it cause rather than the healing that has taken place.

Scars are reminders of wounds, but more than that they are a testimony to the healing that has taken place in our lives. John Ensor in The Great Work of the Gospel, reminds us that...

"We may choose to hide the scars of our past sin in shame and guilt, or bear them graciously as a testimony to the grace of God. The ongoing consequences of some of our sins are not reminders of our sin, they are reminders of the Great Work on our behalf. In this way, our triumph ovr shame is completed. What guilt and shame once used to black mail us into silence, God now uses to make our testimony ring authentic and glad of heart."

My scars testify to the glory of God and the grace of the gospel. They speak of the wonderful healing that God has done in my life. My wounds were so severe that certain death awaited me, but God, being rich in mercy, because of the great live with which he loved me, even when I was dead in my sin, made me alive together with Christ.

I have been rebuked, and rightfully so. Now I will rejoice in my scars. Jesus himself bears scars that testify to the grace of God. I am thankful that the LORD saw fit to reveal the power of the gospel to me in a deeper and more profound way.

Soli Deo Gloria

For God so loved the world...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ~ Jn 3:16-18

This may be one of the most famous passages in all of Scripture and for good reason. As I was meditating on this passage this morning I was struck with the picture it paints of what Jesus did and the reality of the human predicament.

Jesus came on a rescue mission to save those who were and are already condemned. Many times I have been sharing the gospel with someone only to have them respond with "that is a pretty condemning message!" or the predictable "who are you to judge me?"

The reality is that we are all condemned and are in danger of having the wrath of God pour out upon us. As you encounter people in your day to day activities let this truth penetrate your thinking.

Jesus was sent in order that the world might be saved through him and as the Father sent Jesus, Jesus has sent us into the world (Jn 20:21) to point people to the cross.

The verdict is in and the judgment has been rendered. GUILTY!!! I have a renewed sense of urgency to save others by snatching them out of the fire (Jude 23).

I thank the LORD of His Word and the mission He has given us in this life.

The Incarnation of Christ

This morning I was studying Jn. 1:1-18 and was struck once again with the beauty and glory of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ Jn 1:14

The magnitude of this event has gripped my heart afresh today and this truth has given me great cause to praise our LORD. I was also gently rebuked by the LORD because I do not reflect on this amazing truth nearly as often as I should.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. What a powerful truth. I encourage you to meditate upon it for a while and think through the implications of the Word becoming flesh. I trust that you will be blown away by the magnitude of this event.

Soli Deo Gloria