Day Eleven - January 21, 2012

Blessed are the FLEXIBLE for they shall be flexed.  A lack of flexibility is why we're often attracted to "pre-packaged" ministry.  We prefer that our lives have a regimented schedule so we know what to do and when.  Just thinking about coming up with a 5-year plan is intimidating.


If you're going to serve in ministry...YOU MUST BE FLEXIBLE.  The Scriptures teach us about being "instant in season and out" and ready to be used of God at any time in any way.  If you're not flexible...YOU WILL BREAK.


Life is full of interruptions...especially in the ministry.  However, interruptions are just OPPORTUNITIES for God to use you to share His love with others.  If we live our lives guided by the Holy Spirit, we need to be open to hearing and obeying His voice as He speaks to us from his Word.


I have found that having a schedule is CRUCIAL for my sanity!  However, I must be careful not to become a slave to it.  I may purpose to take care of administrative details only to have the Lord shift me to minister to someone one-on-one in prayer.  When we walk in the Spirit we are open to having our schedule rearranged.  Believe me, everything God wants done will get done.


If we're going to see measurable success in our lives and ministry then we must be good stewards of our time.  At the same time, we must be flexible and open to change.  Being willing to go wherever the Lord leads is essential to the Kingdom of God being shared.  Sometimes you'll be called upon at a moments notice to teach a class, pray with someone, counsel another, plunge a toilet and fix the boiler.  (All in one service...ha ha ha)


The flexible never break!


PRAYER
It's me Lord.  Once again, I'm coming to You with a heart of gratitude.  Thank you for loving me, saving me and placing me in the ministry.  You're not a burden!  Living for You is a privilege and never a chore.  Thank You for waking me up today and thank You for leading me in a clear path.  Regardless of what happens today, may I respond as You would.  May I love as You would.  May I give as You would. May I be flexible in all my efforts. In Jesus' name.  Amen.  

Day Ten - January 20, 2012

If we're building our kingdom, we'll find the work strenuous.  However, if we can relax, rely on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, with all of His gifts and glory, we'll find ministry to be delightful.  We may get tired in the work, but never of it.  "Burn out" is unthinkable if we're resting in Jesus.


Friends, God wants INSPIRATION not PERSPIRATION.  We will simply become exhausted if we spend all our energy trying to "pump up" ministry with programs, "hyped up" worship or "charged up" emotionalism.  


True inspiration comes from a heart yielded fully to God, a life in a state of being continually FILLED with the Holy Ghost, "speaking to ourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs."

It's exciting to take steps of FAITH!  Stepping out and seeing if God wants to do something is part of the journey.  If he doesn't desire to move in that way, that's fine, we withdraw and move on.  But sometimes, God will move mightily, He was just waiting for someone to step out of the boat.


When we recognize that God is the one leading and Jesus is building His own church (without our help if need be), we can RELAX, not STRIVE, not PUSH, not WORRY.


Sometimes it will become obvious through the lack of fruit that God's not in a particular venture.  If so, fine, if God's not in it...LET IT GO.  


Let God be God and go with the flow.


PRAYER
Dear Lord, hallowed be thy name.  Thank You for a purpose to live for.  Thank You for a hope that fadeth not away.  Thank You for a heart that is passionate for Your Kingdom purpose.  In all of my endeavors to serve You, live for You and fulfill the mandate You've given me...I don't want to do anything that will take away from what You're blessing just to prop up something I may want to do on my own.  Let Your Kingdom come...let Your will be done.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

The Long-suffering Leader (Part 1)

Long-suffering is the ability to love people when they act adversely or don't meet up to our expectations.  

• In every group of people there are some that are chronically "ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3:7)  A long-suffering leader will be patient with these people.  
• In every group of people there are some who are "weak and feeble-minded" who must be "comforted and supported."  
• In every group of people there are some who will insult, criticize or misunderstand the leader.  

A wise leader must practice the proverb; "A soft answer turneth away wrath."  (Proverbs 15:1) He must learn never to strike back, but to fight evil with good.  


A "long-suffering" leader is one who is dedicated to people's growth over the "long-term."  Of Jesus it is said, "A bruised reed shall he not break and the smoking flax shall he not quench." (Matthew 12:20)


In other words, "a wounded person He shall not hurt, and a struggling believer He shall not take advantage of."


A long-suffering leader will not give up believing in God's people!


The Bible is full of examples of men and women who served with excellence.  King David was one of those leaders.  He was a GREAT leader because he was a GENTLE leader.  He said, "Thy gentleness has made me great." (Psalms 18:35)

GREATNESS comes from GENTLENESS

If you want to be a great leader, you must let God develop the fruit of gentleness in you.  Apostle Paul said: "But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear unto us."  (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)


Leaders who think they can get away with treating God's people brutishly are in for a big surprise.  God won't tolerate leaders who treat HIS SHEEP wrong.  "For pastors are become brutish and have not sought the Lord; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered." (Jeremiah 10:21)


Wise leaders lead by example.  Jesus never requires of us something that He doesn't require of Himself.  Paul commanded pastors in 1 Peter 5:3 not to "be lords" (dictators) over god's heritage, but examples of the flock."  


The servant leader should always see himself ON THE BOTTOM LIFTING GOD'S PEOPLE UP rather than ON THE TOP BARKING OUT ORDERS TO PEOPLE.


"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves our servant for Jesus' sake."  (2 Corinthians 4:5-6)


A Godly leader will lead by example in...

• TITHES, OFFERINGS, CHARACTER, COMMITMENT, SUBMISSION to AUTHORITY, LOVE and FORGIVENESS.  

If you want people to follow you in something, simply set the example.  "Be an example to the believers..." (1 Timothy 4:11-16)

• We cannot LEAD where we've never BEEN.
• We cannot teach the 10 Commandments if we aren't living them ourselves.

Day Nine - January 19, 2012

A life lived in the Spirit makes the law irrelevant.  When you walk in the Spirit, the desire to fulfill the lust of the flesh is obsolete.  The law is able to point out what I shouldn't do...the Spirit ensures that the desire to sin is starved out of me.


An Eskimo fisherman came to town every Saturday afternoon.  He always brought his two dogs with him.  He had taught them to fight on command.  Every Saturday afternoon, in the town square, the people would gather to watch these two dogs fight and the fisherman would take bets.  On one Saturday, one of the dogs would win and on the following Saturday the other dog would win. (The fisherman always won.)  His friends began to ask him how he did it.  He said, "I starve one and feed the other.  The one I feed always wins because he is stronger."


When we are full of the Spirit, the manifestation of the fruit of the spirit will be evidenced in our lives.  When these virtues are evident among us...there is no need of law to say to people:  Don't gossip...don't lie...don't cheat...don't fornicate...etc.


The fruit of the spirit is evidence of the law being written on the heart.  We are people of the Spirit.  We must respond to the Spirit.  If we respond properly it will be evidenced by fruit.


Love
Joy
Peace 
Longsuffering
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance


At conversion, the goal is for us to bear the fruit of the Spirit.  In other words, to be transformed into God's own likeness, the likeness of Christ.


When we receive the Spirit at conversion we do not receive perfection but we do receive a sort of "divine infection."  We have been invaded by the living God Himself.  The Holy Spirit lives with us, and the goal of the Holy Spirit is to infect us thoroughly with God's own likeness.  This infection grows into what the Bible calls the "fruit of the Spirit."


Prayer
Heavenly Father, today I yield my body, soul and spirit to You entirely.  Please help me to live a life filled with the Spirit.  I realize that it is not anyone else's responsibility to fill me...but mine alone.  So I ask You for your help and divine enablement that I may search for every possible means to remain full of You. I realize today, staying full of Your Spirit is not an option if I'm to live the overcoming life of a Jesus follower.  Take me, mold me and fill me with Your presence, passion and power!  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Day Eight - January 18, 2012

Where did your joy go? Did it run out?  Is it hiding?  How do you find real joy?  I still believe that if you take the attention off of yourself and focus on meeting someone else's needs...you'll find joy in it.


To give yourself for the benefit of someone else out of pure joy is not common today.  Joy comes when we find a way to make deposits in other people's emotional banks.


Jesus said in John 16:24 "...ask and you will receive, and your JOY will be complete."


"The disciples were filled with JOY and with the Holy Spirit." Acts 13:52


"May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13


"In my prayer for all of you, I always pray with JOY." Philippians 1:4


Share

• Are you afraid to give to others for fear you'll end up with nothing in the end?  If you maintain that train of thought you'll end up holding to a "what about me" attitude that will ultimately keep you confined to a lifestyle of stinginess.  One way to walk in JOY is to consider yourself a "giver," someone who adds value to others.

Pray

• A lifestyle of prayer will keep your heart hot!  When your heart is hot, there's very little room for pride, envy, jealously and other JOY-killers.  When we live in the realm of prayer, the fire of the Holy Spirit will burn within us.

Focus

• When we attempt to do too much we can become extremely frustrated.  The truth is, you can't be all thing to all people.  Rethink your busy schedule and focus on the things that are essential.  You'll rediscover your JOY as you major on your strengths and delegate your weaknesses to others.

Smile

• Smiles are contagious.  If you give one away, it always comes right back.  The principle is if you give away JOY you'll receive it back.  One way this can happen is when you praise the accomplishments of others.  Be quick to offer a smile and a kind word.  If you'll become a person who makes others feel good about themselves, they will return the favor.

Recapture your JOY today!

PRAYER

Lord, You are the reason for my joy.  You have saved me, delivered me and rescued me from the clinch of sin.  The very fact that I can breathe brings me joy.  Thank you for giving me a hope beyond this world.  I commit myself to sharing Your joy to others today.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Day Seven - January 17, 2012

The power of the Holy Spirit helps our weakness.  We can know what the Word of God says and yet lack the power to fulfill it.  But the Spirit of God comes and helps us do what we cannot do.  The Spirit of God enables us to serve God.


Often, I've been asked if I ever feel inadequate, and my response is "you'd better believe it!"  In fact, I feel inadequate in almost everything I undertake.  That is why we must depend upon the Holy Spirit if we are to accomplish anything for God.  If I am full of the Holy Spirit I can enjoy the benefits of that fullness.  We should saturate ourselves with the Word of God and be filled with the Holy Spirit, together they are an unbeatable combination.


Friends, if we have ALL WORD and no HOLY SPIRIT we will DRY UP.  If we have all Holy Spirit and no Word, we will BLOW UP.  But when you have a balance of the two, you GROW UP!


God seems to confirm this in His Word...2 Corinthians 3:5-6 "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the later killeth, but the spirit giveth life."


We are weak in the flesh under sin.  But we are STRONG in the Spirit having been washed and cleansed.  We must be weak in the flesh as to dependence on our own strength.  But we must be endued with power and be filled with the Spirit so we can utilize the Spirits gifting and in His presence follow His promptings and enjoy His fellowship.


So you see, the power is to support you in your weakness.


PRAYER
Lord, may my heart be opened to receive the entirety of Your Spirit and all the benefits of Your Spirit's leading in my life.  I recognize my weakness today and embrace Your strength.  Come Holy Spirit...I need You.

Day Six - January 16, 2012

One thing most of us have in common at the start of a brand new year is making resolutions.  


One young boy asked his father what his new years resolution was, and his father said he was going to do everything possible in the new year to make his mother very happy.  The boy asked his mother what hers was and she said, "To do everything possible to make sure your father keeps his resolution."


Why do we make those anyway?  We make them because there are areas in our lives we are either unhappy with or areas in our lives we want to be better.  They did a survey a few years back and the number one resolution in America was to lose weight.  



A wife came into the bathroom to see her husband standing on the scales with his stomach sucked in.  She told him that sucking in his stomach wouldn't make in any better.  He said it would, because if he didn't pull his stomach in he couldn't read the numbers.  


Today, consider what you should leave behind...


#1 Leave it COMPLETELY behind

• We are notorious for asking God for help in dealing with our problems...and then what do we do?  Instead of leaving them with Him, we take them back with us as we finish praying.
• Anything in our lives that keep us from fully focusing on the Lord should be left behind.

#2 Leave RESENTMENT behind

• Each of us resent something.  We might resent something we have said or done or we might resent what someone else has said and done.  But along with resentment comes unforgiveness.  Unforgiveness is a very dangerous thing to keep in our lives.
• Now understand...to forgive does not mean the same thing as forget.  We cannot erase our memories, but we can erase our resentment.
• Instead of looking at your resentment from the negative side, start looking at it from the positive side.  In other words, when you remember those things, as you surely will, look at them as an example of what not to ever feel again.

#3 Leave WORRY behind

• Worries are very much like rocking chars.  They give you something to do, but they never take you anywhere while you're doing it.  We only worry about two things:
• Things we can change and things we cannot change.
• Why waste time doing something that not only hurts us and never helps us?
• When we worry, it ends up taking over our every thought and it becomes the predominate thought of our lives.
• Yet, it is also worry that causes mental illness, stress, and many other things that destroy our lives.
• Worry has killed more people than hard work ever did.  Worry is the cause of fear.

#4 Leave FAILURE behind

• We try so hard to be the best we can be, but we don't always succeed.  And it is in those times when we don't succeed, that we get discouraged because we have failed.  But what have we failed in?  We may not have achieved just what we originally set out to achieve, but we haven't failed.
• The only time you fail is when you don't try to do anything!  We need to understand that God has called us to have faith long before He ever called us to achieve.  We are called to be in Christ, and as long as we are in Him, we are successful.

PRAYER

• Lord, thank you for a brand new year and a brand new start!  During this time of corporate fasting and prayer, I'm asking you to help me focus on the future and release the past.  You have a marvelous plan for my life and I'm wide open to receive it in detail.  Thank you for keeping watch over my life and for PUSHING me forward toward my destiny.  I choose today to leave behind those things that would slow me down.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Day Five - January 15, 2012

In 1 Samuel 1 the bible tells us about a man named Elkanah who had two wives.  

• Hannah, whose name meant "Grace / Favor" and 
• Peninnah, whose name meant "Jewel, Ruby, Precious and valuable." 

Anytime you have two wives...you know there's going to be trouble.  


Hannah was favored by her husband.  Although her name meant Grace & Favor - she was unfruitful, barren and her womb was dead.


When Elkanah gave out portions he gave to Penniah and all her sons and daughters portions.  But to Hannah he gave a "worthy portion" (DOUBLE PORTION)


Elkanah had come to the conclusion that it didn't matter if Hannah ever bore him any children because Peninnah was very fruitful.  So Elkanah was adjusted to the situation and so was Hannah.  She was satisfied with the circumstances because she knew she was the FAVORED wife and she had Elkanah's attention and affection.


Everything was FINE.

• They had an arrangement; they had it all figured out (ever been there?)  You thought you had everything figured out, you had all your ducks in a row, it was perfect but you knew you could make it serve your purposes.
• Then out of nowhere (SHAZAM!) something happened that messed everything up!  All your plans and schemes and networking and tweaking and playing just "aint" working anymore!
• Peninnah starts to PROVOKE HANNAH over her barrenness, her words are harsh and hateful, filled with resentment and jealousy and her words are like arrows that stick in Hannah's heart.
• At first they just seem to bounce off and have no effect, but Penniah does not let up and eventually it becomes clear the arrows have hit their mark.
• Now we see that Hannah is now disturbed over the fact that she is barren and has not borne any children to Elkanah.
• But Elkanah tries to pull her back and get her to settle down...and just enjoy what they have.
• In fact, he says "Am I not better to thee than 10 sons?"

But Hannah has been AWAKENED (she has become UNCOMFORTABLE and DISSATISFIED and DISCONTENT with things as they are!

• And now DISCONTENT and DISCOMFORT and FRUSTRATION change into a DESIRE and a CRAVING and EXPECTATION and a need for more!
• Hannah begins to realize..."there's more than this, I was created for more than this!"
• Now she looks past Elkanah, all the love, all the favor, all the material blessings cannot satisfy her, they cannot open her womb, they cannot meet her need!

Friends, inside the womb of every child of God is a cry for the miraculous, for signs and wonders and miracles, a cry from your spiritual womb for the MANIFESTATION of the power of God...to be fruitful, to birth souls into the KINGDOM!

Peninnah provoked Hannah!  She was her adversary...her thorn in the side...she made her feel uncomfortable...she irritated her...she couldn't stand her!

Yet, Peninnah provoked Hannah OVER her barrenness!  The point is this... Hannah had more in her but she was satisfied to have the love of her husband and be blessed and favored and never reach for more or believe for more to expect more.

UNTIL...SHE WAS PUSHED....UNTIL...SHE WAS PROVOKED!

Friend, the most valuable thing in Hannah's life was the thing that provoked her to CRY out to God for more!

Elkanah loved her but he wouldn't push her...he wouldn't provoke her...he didn't want to upset her.  it's nice to be loved and appreciated and pampered...but sometimes you need somebody to PROVOKE you!

Remember...Peninnah's name meant JEWEL.  The jewels in your life are the most valuable things in your life...and the people that PUSH you and provoke you to become the best that you can be!

I am what I am by the grace of God.  I would not be where I am today if my spiritual leaders and teachers always patted me on the head and agreed with everything I did and never CORRECTED me or REBUKED me.  

If it hadn't been for some men and women of God that told me the truth, and corrected me, even when it made me mad, I would have spent my life just going through the motions, holding on and hanging out waiting for the RAPTURE BUS.

But thanks be to God, I had some people that loved me enough to tell me the truth and instruct me in the way of righteousness and PROVOKE me!

Today, there's a SAMUEL in you trying to get out!

• There's a prophet in you trying to get out!
• There's an apostle in you trying to get out!
• There's an evangelist in you trying to get out!
• There's a pastor in you trying to get out!
• There's a teacher in you trying to get out!
• There's a song in you trying to get out!
• There's an author in you trying to get out!
• There's a deacon in you trying to get out!
• There's an elder in you trying to get out!
• There's a businessman in you trying to get out!
• There's a book in you trying to get out!
• There's music in you trying to get out!

PRAYER

Lord, I'm going to thank You for my adversary today!  I'm praising You that you allowed me to be provoked...else I'd still be stuck in the land of nowhere!  Lord, thank You for believing in me and challenging me to rise above my place of comfort and casualness!  Thank you for putting leaders in my life who not only love me but correct me...even when it doesn't feel good.  I'm a better person today...because I've been provoked!

Day Four - January 14, 2012

We read in the Scriptures where Jesus says, "The works I do shall ye do also and greater than these shall ye do.  And these signs shall follow them that believe.  In my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them, and they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." (John 14:12; Mark 16:17-18)

• We are told to desire spiritual gifts...
• We are told to be the salt of the earth... 
• We are told to be the light of the world...  

And yet, we look around us and we see a tremendous lack of DOING the works of Jesus.  We look around and see a tremendous absence of Spiritual presence (Spiritual Gifts) and the lack of DESIRE for the gifts of the Spirit to be used to do the WORKS of Jesus.


What we need is a DESPERATION to see at least some measure of God's power manifested today!


It is my heart that everyone reading this would become DESPERATE enough for an encounter with the power of almighty God!

• Desperate beyond comfort.
• Desperate beyond reputation.
• Desperate beyond tradition.
• Desperate beyond cosmetics.
• Desperate beyond emotions.
• Desperate beyond reason.
• Desperate beyond good fellowship of friends.
• Desperate beyond family who are satisfied to stay in the boat.
• Desperate enough to risk ridicule.
• Desperate enough to risk failure.

If you haven't risked anything then you have never become desperate.

• When you become DESPERATE people will criticize you.
• You will lose a certain amount of religious standing.
• You will be looked at as OVERBOARD, EXTREME, UNUSUAL and WEIRD.
• People will try to hold you down and shut you up.
• You may get your fingers stepped on.
• You for sure will get your feelings stepped on!

But the bottom line is this...if you truly become DESPERATE then you will get what you are asking for!

BLESSED ARE THE DESPERATE FOR THEY WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED THEM!

PRAYER

Lord, I'm desperate for a move of Your Spirit.  Nothing will satisfy me but You!  Nothing will fill me up but You!  Not entertainment, not friendships, not material possessions, not position, not notoriety!  NOTHING BUT YOU!  Lord, shake me...shake me...shake me...shake my foundation  and release your FIRE in my soul!  I give you all praise and all glory!  Amen.

Day Three - January 13, 2012

Are you desperate enough for God?

• Desperate people do not care what anyone thinks.
• Desperate people do not care what anyone says.
• Desperate people will go where no one else will go.
• Desperate people won't let anything stop them.
• Desperate people will do desperate things.

Emptiness is the prerequisite for desperation.  Desperation is the condition that exists when a recognized need is present.  All of God's people are needy, but few are willing to acknowledge that need.  It is when the need is acknowledged that a condition of desperation begins to be developed in us.


Why desperation?
Desperation only comes when there is a recognized need that is beyond our ability to meet.


Desperation:

1. Dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair.
2. Showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken as a last resort.
3. Showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire.

Contrary to the way we view things, desperation is not a bad thing.  We have let the world define things for us and by the worlds definition desperation is a condition to be avoided at all costs.  But from a divine perspective there are many blessings and even promises of God that cannot be obtained apart from being desperate.

It would be according to the will of God today that everyone of us should reach some measure of desperation conceding the huge gap between what God has made available to us, and what God expects of us, compared to where we are actually at. 

When we see in the Word the life that is available to us, and we see in our own lives and churches the low level of spiritual life and the absence of spiritual power it should create a sense of emptiness within us...a recognition of falling short of the glory that has been prepared for us.  This in turn should serve to stir in us a sense of desperation.

Desperation because we have recognized the need of spiritual power to reach the lost, to heal the hurting and to deliver the oppressed.  Only God can give us what we are lacking.

• Blessed are the desperate...for they will tear the roof off if and when necessary.
• Blessed are the desperate...for they will push through the crowd.
• Blessed are the desperate...because they won't be offended (even the dogs eat the crumbs.)
• Blessed are the desperate...for they will gladly give up dignity for an encounter with deity. (Zacchaeus proved that.)
• Blessed are the desperate...for they will break barriers. (lepers, woman with issue of blood.)
• Blessed are the desperate...for they will lay in the dirt or climb a tree or jump in a lake.
• Blessed are the desperate...for they will not argue about what God does or how He does it. (Jesus put mud and spit into the blind mans eyes.)
• Blessed are the desperate...for if it was not for them the presence and the power of God would never be manifested in our churches at all.

It's not religion, ceremony, tradition, methods, programs, preaching or singing that brings the power of God into church...IT'S DESPERATION!

PRAYER

Lord, I'm desperate for You.  I desire a move of Your presence more than ANYTHING else!  I just want You!  I just want You!  I just want You!  Father, I don't ever want to become numb to Your presence.  If You see me growing cold and indifferent, please do whatever it takes to set me on fire again!  You are my hope, life, breath and reason for living!  I give You my whole heart today...I'm desperate for you!  Amen.