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

I Come Running

Verse 1

Jesus I am blind be my light
Darkened in my mind be my wisdom
Bend my stubborn will to Your own
Open up my ears to hear Your Spirit
Melt my conscience once again
Help me hate the slightest sin
And when Satan comes to tempt me

Chorus 1

I come running to You when I fear when I'm tried
I come running to You to Your blood to Your side
And there my soul finds rest
There my soul finds rest in You

Verse 2

Shepherd of my soul lead me on
To the pastures green in Your scriptures
Make me to lie down by waters still
Fill me with Your peace in the tempest
I take my refuge in Your cross
By Your sacrifice I'm washed
And when Satan comes accusing

Verse 3

Once I was Your foe a slave to sin
A stranger to Your love a hopeless outcast
But You have brought me near
I'm bought with blood
Now I'm Your precious child an heir with Jesus
You pour heaven into my soul
Your wondrous love it overflows
And I marvel how You love me

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

Church Planting - Living the Dream Baby!!!

"Church Planting will make you feel alive, and it can push you to the brink of insanity. It will give you a new sense of God's presence and convince you that Satan is alive and well. You will celebrate the birth of a new church with unearthly joy, and experience betrayal from friends and family in ways you never thought possible. As a church planter, you will experience high highs and low lows. It's dangerous and dramatic. As they say on television - kids, don't try this at home."
~Stephen Gray

It is as the man says it is. Buckle up - were living the dream baby!!!

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.

Feel the Burn

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
~Hebrews 12:28-29

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
~1 Peter 1:6-7

Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts: "Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.
~Jeremiah 5:14

The Devil's fiery arrows fall to the ground harmlessly, but fear the LORD who is a Consuming Fire! Feel the Burn! Consume me Jesus, set me on fire and let people watch me burn!!!

Storming the Gates of Hell

I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
~Matthew 16:18

The LORD Jesus Christ is building Pointway Church and the gates of hell are being stormed by the army of Kingdom Warriors the King is raising up. I continue to be in awe of the way the LORD is working in our midst. I am absolutely astounded by his grace and his glory.

We are feeling the hot breath of the roaring lion who prowls around looking for someone to devour. We do not fear traveling in lion country because we wear the full armor of the Living God.

It is pure joy to walk on this battlefield as a warrior of the Kingdom of God. I can not think of one other thing that I would rather do with my life than to live in this place, at this time engaging the enemy and bringing the gospel to the walking dead.

May God be glorified in this work and may his name be feared by all.

Soli Deo Gloria

Spiritual Warfare 101

Read this post about Spiritual Warfare.